Entry No. 3 — the Santa Cruz file — filed under: glass fusing
Annieglass Craftbar
Inside the bright-orange Annieglass factory building on the edge of Watsonville's ag fields, the famous slumped-glass tableware maker runs a "Craftbar": local artists teach rotating hands-on sessions — glass coaster-making, ceramics, watercolor and ink, DIY jewelry, succulent gardens — while a wine and craft-beer bar pours next door. The Los Angeles Times called Watsonville a "secret" weekend escape and singled this out as the can't-miss activity; Forbes profiled founder Annie Morhauser's path from hippie potter to Smithsonian-collected glass artist.
The story
You don't expect a Smithsonian-collected glass operation to sit on Harvest Drive on the edge of Watsonville's ag fields, tucked between industrial packing sheds and row crops. But inside a bright-orange factory building, Annie Morhauser built her business making slump-glass tableware—shaping heavy glass sheets over custom ceramic molds inside industrial kilns.
What keeps the spot grounded is the Craftbar running right inside the production footprint. Instead of just treating the place as a high-end showroom, local artists rotate through to teach hands-on workshops: fused-glass coasters, ceramics, watercolor and ink, wire-wrapped kyanite earrings, color theory collages, or succulent plantings.
The real move is timing a visit with the free factory tour before sitting down to work. You get to watch the heat and industrial molds do their work, assemble your own glass or jewelry project, and then walk over to the on-site wine and craft-beer bar next door for a local pour and farm-fresh snacks.
What it's like
Drive past the agricultural fields on the fringe of Watsonville until you spot the bright-orange building. Inside, the space splits its energy between a high-end glass showroom, a working factory floor, and a casual setup for weekend crafting. Expect a laid-back mix of locals and day-trippers drinking beer or local wine while working with glass fragments, wire, or paints. Walk-ins are welcomed for select sessions, but booking ahead for structured artist classes is smart—and make sure to double-check their current hours before making the trek.
The move: Take the free factory tour, then sit down for a Craftbar glass-coaster or fused-glass workshop together and finish with a glass of wine or a farm-fresh snack from the on-site stand — no reservation needed for some sessions, walk-ins welcome.
- 📍 Watsonville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 310 Harvest Drive, Watsonville, CA 95076
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Botánica San Pedro — Drive under two miles down Freedom Boulevard to swap high-end studio glass art for a working Latinx botánica stocked with folk-Catholic spiritual supplies and custom saint candles.
- Sculpture IS: In the Garden (Sierra Azul Nursery) — Keep the visual art theme going four miles away by wandering two acres of Mediterranean plants packed with outdoor garden sculptures.
- Byrne-Milliron Forest — Jeff Helmer's Hidden Trail Sculptures — Head up into the Corralitos hills to contrast indoor glass crafting with a hike through redwoods filled with hidden folk-art woodcarvings.
Good to know
Do I need a reservation to make something at the Craftbar?
Not always. While specific weekend classes with guest artists (like jewelry making or color theory collages) require pre-registration, walk-ins are welcomed for certain casual sessions like glass coaster workshops.
Is the factory tour really free?
Yes, you can walk the Watsonville factory floor on a free tour to see how the slumped glass is melted and shaped before sitting down at the Craftbar.
What kinds of workshops are offered?
Rotating sessions run by local artists include glass coaster making, fused glass, ceramics, watercolor and ink, DIY jewelry (such as kyanite earrings), color theory collage, and succulent gardens.
Can you get food and drinks while you craft?
Yes, there is an on-site wine and craft-beer bar pouring local drinks next door to the workspace, along with a farm-fresh snack stand.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · latimes.com · lookout.co · santacruz.org
last checked: 2026-07-20