Making magic with glass and fire

It’s said art enables us to lose ourselves and find ourselves all at the same time. 

It’s a sentiment that makes sense, especially when viewed at the hands of a true craftsman — a master. Tim de Jong, owner of Wimberley Glassworks, is such an artisan and for most of his life, has been dealing with art that requires high heat; in a business that’s often high pressure.

“It’s challenging to be creative when you’re terrified,” de Jong said. “Especially when business slows and you’re wondering how you’re going to pull it all together.” 

De Jong has been making glass work since 1978, when he developed a passion for it while attending college at Alfred University in New York state.

“Yes, it’s every parent’s worst nightmare — art school,” he said with a smile on his face. 

How he came about discovering his passion, though, was a little “unconventional,” but de Jong said it was probably the best thing that could have happened to him.

Wimberley Glassworks Marketing and Sales Director Vanessa de Jong shows off a one-of-a kind Christmas ornament indicative of those now for sale.

Not long after he graduated high school in New Jersey, de Jong told his father he didn’t want to attend college. 

“So, my dad gave me a one-way ticket to Seattle and $300 in cash and told me to work my way back home. If I still didn’t want to go to college, we’d talk about it when I got home,” de Jong recalled. 

On his journey he ended up in Austin and even established residence under the Congress Avenue Bridge for about six weeks. It was there he developed his love for the area and promised to return once he made it back home.

It took him about four months to make it back home where he did attend college. De Jong would tell you he learned valuable life lessons along the way.

“To this day I still pick up change when I find it on the street or in the H-E-B parking lot,” he said. “My experience taught me where rock bottom really is.”

He said he also learned how far he could push himself and that if he fell … he knew he could get back up.

Tim de Jong, owner and creative force behind Wimberley Glassworks, works on a piece with assistance from Manda Barnes.

The creation

De Jong could easily add to his resume the word “scientist” for what’s involved in getting the right color or result he’s looking for — in one of his creations.

He showed those attending a recent demonstration the technique involved in making a large platter for a customer. 

It began with a “glob of glass,” which is in a liquid form, in a screaming hot oven. Once taken out it’s shaped at the end of a pipe. At this stage, it’s referred to as the first draw. The pipe has a small hole in it where the glass handler can blow air into the first draw to achieve the desired size and thickness.

From there more glass can be gathered or fine glass powder can be used to achieve a certain color. 

“The technique used to apply the color is a 16th-century Phoenician technique called marbling,” de Jong said. “Back then marble was very popular but expensive. This was their way of getting around it.”

Once a project begins it can’t be put down. The platter de Jong was making started about the size of a human fist but ended up measuring more than a foot across. 

“Think of it like a bowling ball on a spring at the end of a broomstick,” said assistant Manda Barnes. 

Along the way, the platter acquired additional color, more heat, shaping and cutting with a pair of shears. Then, it’s stretched and cooled.

“There’s a steep learning curve,” de Jong said laughing. “You’ll only touch the wrong thing once. If you touch it twice — well maybe you should be thinking of doing something else.”

When the platter was finished it was gradually cooled in an oven for more than 10 hours. During the cooling process, it underwent a chemical change too, thanks to the silver nitrate and sodium bromide he used to achieve the color he wanted.

“It’s extremely difficult to be successful in this business,” de Jong said. “But to be around 26 years is even harder. You must recreate yourself every year — every day.”

At 60, de Jong said he recognizes his limitations.

“Because of that I hire people better than me in certain positions,” he added. “There had to be a time in Michael Dell’s garage where he knew he didn’t have all the answers — so he hired people that did. I can’t do it all.”

Christmas ornaments are now on sale at Wimberley Glassworks.

Christmas ornaments

Wimberley Glassworks’ limited-edition Christmas ornaments are ready to be purchased.

This year marks the 26th special edition ornament, and the price, just $39.

Other Christmas ornaments are available as well as an assortment of handcrafted Christmas trees in green, gold and red.  

Wimberley Glass is located on Ranch Road 12 in San Marcos.