Hidden Treasures is bringing more options to its fused glass line.
On Gimli’s Centre Street is an art shop offering products, services, and education for the community. Barb Fletcher and her husband own the shop, which hosts multiple events a week, has a drop-in program for people of all ages, and sells art goods. Perhaps one of its most popular offerings is its fused glass line, which allows people to make their own fused glass items.
Hidden Treasures offers its fused glass program as a drop-in activity for customers. People can come in whenever they want, choose an item the shop offers, and design it. They’ll first choose their object’s background/base colour, and the Fletchers will cut it. Then, the customer will choose from tons of glass pieces in all kinds and colours to build and create their item. Once they’re happy with the design, people leave their piece with the shop, and they’ll fire it in the kiln for them, fusing the glass. If the object has a shape to it, Hidden Treasures will fire it a second time on a mould so it takes the shape it’s supposed to.
At Hidden Treasures, people can make necklaces, sun catchers, plates, candle holders, and night lights, but there will soon be more options.
“It’s really starting to grow,” said Fletcher. As we’re gearing up for summer and tourist season, we just thought we would give our lineup a facelift and introduce some new projects—freshen things up a bit.”
She said they’ve realized that firing items in the kiln at a cooler temperature gives them a 3D look, making hanging items more visually interesting. Along with the new firing technique, Hidden Treasures is adding a lantern that holds a battery-powered light or a candle and is working on adding an actual lampshade.
“Everything is food safe as well,” said Fletcher. “Lots of times people don’t have space for more stuff that collects dust, but to be able to use your artwork and make it something practical is fun.”
The fused glass projects are also child-friendly. Hidden Treasures works to make all its classes and workshops family-friendly so everyone can have the opportunity to express themselves. It also offers pottery painting, with the objects changing by the season, paint nights, paint afternoons for children five and up, hand-building clay classes, bottle slumping, stoneware, and a lot more. Right now, it’s creating inuksuks and gnomes in the clay classes.
“There’s always tons of things that we’re busily working on,” said Fletcher. “We try to cater to kids who are creative and want something to do.”
She said there aren’t always many options for children interested in the arts that aren’t music-based, so offering them an outlet is something they strive to do. They have an after-school art program and are planning a summer program for youth.
Every activity offered at Hidden Treasures is for people of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities. Different price points are available for each project and with the Fletchers always around, there is tons of help for beginners. To learn more about the studio or to keep up-to-date with Hidden Treasures, follow them on Facebook at Hidden Treasures Studio or go to hiddentreasuresstudio.square.site.
