Entry No. 45 — the Boulder file — filed under: hands-on
BGOLD Glass
A soft-glass hot shop in Lafayette, on the eastern edge of Boulder County (about 20 minutes outside Boulder), run by glassblower Bryan Goldfeder and a NoBo Art District member. Bryan opens his furnace for one-on-one and small-group studio experiences by appointment. You start with the tools and gather molten glass at the bench, then shape and blow a piece of your own with the artist guiding your hands. Because it is an appointment-only working hot shop rather than a class mill, the session is intimate and you are doing the real thing at the glory hole, not a watered-down demo.
The story
Bryan Goldfeder didn't build BGOLD Glass as an assembly-line workshop mill [1.1.4]. He learned the trade apprenticing in Frisco in 2012, bought liquidated hot-shop equipment from a closing Denver studio in 2018, and set up shop in an East Boulder warehouse before moving to a 14-acre farm property on Isabelle Road in Lafayette. His working studio shares land with agricultural fields, a hot-air balloon business, and the site of the future East Side Art Institute, giving the whole operation an unpretentious, back-forty workspace feel.
What sets Goldfeder’s studio apart is his focus on what he terms 'permaculture glass' and 'mindful materialism.' Instead of relying purely on new factory batch glass, he gathers discarded scrap and waste glass from area studios and remelts it, diverting thousands of pounds of material from local landfills to craft functional vessels, Judaica, and custom wedding glass. The practice ties directly into the Jewish concept of Tikkun Olam—gathering broken shards to repair the world—blending heavy physical furnace labor with intentional, recycled art.
You aren't handed a pre-melted glass rod while an instructor does the work for you. Goldfeder keeps his sessions strictly private or small-group by appointment. You step up to the bench, gather soft molten glass directly from the furnace on a blowpipe, and work side-by-side with Goldfeder at the glory hole as he guides your hands through shaping, turning, blowing, and adding color.
What it's like
When you pull up to the Isabelle Road farm site in Lafayette, don't look for a sleek suburban retail storefront—you're walking onto a working rural property. Inside the hot shop, the furnace keeps the air hot and the vibe practical. After a brief rundown on safety, tools, and color powders, you go straight to work at the bench. Goldfeder doesn't run a watered-down demo; he stays right at your elbow, physically guiding your hands as you gather molten glass, handle the heavy steel pipe, and shape your piece at the furnace. Wear closed-toe shoes and natural fiber clothing like cotton, tie back long hair, and remember that your creation needs hours in the annealer to cool down slowly, so plan to pick up your finished piece a day or two later.
The move: Book a private hot-shop session and gather and blow your own glass piece side by side at the furnace.
📍 Before you go Open by appointment only; contact Bryan directly (303-910-1277 / human@bgoldglass.com) to arrange a session and confirm the current studio location.
- 📍 Boulder County (NoBo Art District / Lafayette area)
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: Boulder County, CO (NoBo Art District member; by appointment)
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- The Slacksmith — Pair one high-heat, hands-on craft with another by spending your morning hammering out a steel blade in Louisville before shaping molten glass in Lafayette.
- Majick Soul LLC — Located less than two miles away in Lafayette, you can transition from physical labor at the hot shop to a quiet past-life regression session on a crystal mat.
- Nora's Speakeasy — Cool down after working near the hot furnace by slipping into this unmarked basement speakeasy four miles south in Louisville for a craft cocktail.
- Tilt Pinball — Trade the intense concentration of handling molten blowpipes for an unpretentious evening of vintage arcade games in downtown Louisville.
Good to know
How do I schedule a studio session?
BGOLD Glass operates strictly by appointment. You can reserve a slot via the studio's online booking calendar or contact Bryan Goldfeder directly by phone (303-910-1277) or email (human@bgoldglass.com) [1.2.1].
What should I wear for a hot shop session?
Wear closed-toe shoes and clothes made from natural fibers like cotton, which withstand heat better than synthetic materials. If you have long hair, bring a clip or tie to keep it secured back.
Can I take my glass piece home right after the class?
No. Hot glass must cool down slowly over 12 to 24 hours in an annealing oven to prevent cracking, so you will need to arrange a time to pick up your piece later.
Do I need prior glassblowing experience?
No experience is necessary. Sessions are designed for beginners as well as small private groups, and Bryan guides your hands directly through each step.
Where is the studio located?
The hot shop is located at 10500 Isabelle Road in Lafayette, on a 14-acre farm property about 20 minutes outside Boulder.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · colorado.com · Yelp · noboartdistrict.org · voyagedenver.com
last checked: 2026-06-23