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& Ruth Dobbins, owners of Professional
Glass Consultants, have been teaching glass etching and other glass
techniques for 30 years. These seminars have been held in their
own studios and in numerous other locations around the U.S. and
in several other countries.
Students from all 50 states and over 35 countries have
learned glass etching techniques from the Dobbins, and many have
gone on to start successful businesses and new careers in glass.
With
the recent acquisition of a beautiful old adobe hacienda
compound, the Dobbins' have located their glass studio on the property
and founded a glass school there, as well as bed & breakfast style
accomodations for students. The glass studio is in operation and
seminars are regularly being held in the facility. There are 7 rooms
available for student accomodations during classes, ranging from
a large apartment down to economy rooms in the studio building.
These rooms are available to the general public when no classes
are scheduled.
You
can check the seminars being offered (in New Mexico
and elsewhere) by clicking on the Schedules/Pricing
button and check on the accomodations by clicking on the Accomodations
button.
With
the current interest in glass etching techniques, these classes
have been filling fast and the rooms as well. If you see a seminar
you like, don't delay - contact us right away to reserve your
space.
In the future,
t he school will start adding classes in other glass working techniques
like fusing, slumping, wheel engraving, design, and more. Nationally
and internationally recognized instructors will be invited to teach.
Keep checking this page for more information!
No,
New Mexico is not a foreign country!
Believe
it or not, New Mexico
really is a state in the United States! Thousands of geography
teachers must turn over in their graves every year when their former
students call the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce or the State Tourism
Department, asking what the exchange rate is between US dollars
and New Mexican money! Or when they ask what language is spoken
in New Mexico, or if you have to have shots before you come to New
Mexico. (Only if you have rabies.)
Fortunately,
we haven't had many of these types of inquiries ourselves.
Maybe most people wanting to learn etching are smarter than average
(we think so!) or they did better in geography. New Mexico was the
47th state and was admitted to the union in 1912, so if you took
geography after 1912, you have no excuse! Even if you do know we
are really part of the US, you still may not know how to get here.
Or, you may think it would cost an arm and a leg to fly here.
Not
true! The closest international airport to our studio
is in Albuquerque, 50 miles south. Most people flying in for a class
find that from almost anywhere in the US, you can usually
get here for $300 or less, with a 2-3 week advance ticket
purchase. The most reasonable airfares seem to be on America West
or Southwest, but you should always check around. Yes, you can actually
fly in to the Santa Fe Municipal Ariport, but the only reasonably
priced flights are with United Airlines (via Denver), and the connections
may not be good. Rental cars are readily available and you will
definitely want one, since we have so many beautiful things to see,
from wilderness mountains to Indian pueblos (and casinos) to museums
and galleries.
We
recommend that you try and come a couple of days early or stay
a few days after class to explore Santa Fe, the international
quality art and the unique local culture. When people come for
classes and they don't plan extra time, they usually regret it!
The
weather is great, and when you sign up for class,
we send you a complete package of info about what you need to know
and what you need to bring, as well as activities of interest and
things to do while you are here.
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