Entry No. 58 — the Missoula file — filed under: hands-on
Hearts Afire Pottery and Art Studio
Best known as a paint-your-own ceramics shop opened in 2016 by Caren Clarke, Hearts Afire also runs an Introduction to Glassblowing workshop that flies under the radar. In the class you work with molten glass to blow and shape your own pieces, choosing your color combos and crafting ornaments or aqua tubes, then taking home up to three finished glass creations after a short cool-down. Tickets run about $60 and include all materials, safety gear, and instruction. No experience needed; participants must be 18 or older.
The story
On the surface, 2426 West Central Avenue looks like your classic local art joint. Caren Clarke opened Hearts Afire in 2016 as a neighborhood paint-your-own pottery studio, filling shelves with unglazed mugs, stoneware, canvas projects, and even seasonal novelties like hand-painted pipes. Most folks walk in, grab a paintbrush, pick out a glaze color, and call it a day. But there is a much hotter reason to drop in.
Fly beneath the everyday ceramic crowd and you’ll find their scheduled Introduction to Glassblowing workshop. Rather than dabbing acrylics onto pre-made bisque, you strap on safety gear, sit at a torch station, and work directly with molten glass under step-by-step guidance. You get to melt, turn, and shape your own customized color combinations into small finished pieces like ornaments, torch-worked beads, or aqua tubes.
At around $60 a seat, it is one of the very few spots in Missoula where you can handle open flame and live glass work without committing to a full university arts semester. You leave with up to three of your own hand-shaped glass creations after a brief cooling period—and bragging rights over everyone else painting standard coffee cups.
What it's like
Inside, the space has the easygoing energy of a neighborhood workshop, packed with paint jars, canvas boards, and ceramic shapes ready for glaze. When the flameworking torch session starts, things get focused fast. You'll put on protective eye gear and work hands-on with molten glass right alongside your instructor. Just remember: the glass shop doesn't light the torches every day (and the studio is closed Mondays and Tuesdays), so you have to lock in a slot online in advance. Bring an ID showing you're 18 or older to get anywhere near the flame.
The move: Sign up for the Introduction to Glassblowing workshop and each make a set of colorful torch-worked beads or small ornaments, then compare whose color combos turned out wilder.
📍 Before you go The glassblowing/flameworking workshop runs on specific scheduled dates, not daily; closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Check the calendar and book ahead for the glass class specifically.
- 📍 Missoula
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2426 W Central Ave, Missoula, MT 59804
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
⚠ Seasonal or scheduled — always check before you go.
Pair it with
- OddPitch Brewing — After spending an hour over a molten glass torch, cool off a mile away with a house sour beer and a few rounds of pinball.
- Lookout Throwing Co — Trade torch control for raw momentum by moving from glasswork to chucking axes a mile down the road.
- Big Sky Arcadia — If you want to stretch a casual afternoon into full-blown oddball play, head half a mile over to the mall for card-swipe arcade games.
Good to know
Can I walk in and start glassblowing anytime?
No. While casual ceramic painting is available during open studio hours, flameworking and glassblowing workshops run on specific scheduled dates only. Check their calendar ahead of time, and remember the studio is closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
Do I need prior experience with torch work or glass?
None. The session is built specifically for beginners aged 18 and older. The $60 ticket price covers safety equipment, all glass materials, and hands-on instruction.
What do I get to make during the glass class?
You will shape molten glass into items like ornaments, torch-worked beads, or aqua tubes using custom color combinations. You get to take home up to three finished pieces after they cool down.
What other projects does Hearts Afire offer?
Beyond glass workshops, the studio offers paint-your-own traditional pottery and stoneware, acrylic canvas painting classes, and thematic paint nights like their 'Paint Your Own Pipe' events.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: missoulaevents.net · Official site · Yelp · Facebook
last checked: 2026-06-24