Most holiday ornaments come from a store shelf in a plastic box. A few lucky ones in Oklahoma City start as a glowing glob of glass on the end of a long steel pipe, shaped by the same person who will later hang it on the tree.
A small studio on the north side of town lets families, couples, and even school groups do exactly that, with a patient glass artist guiding every step. You pick the colors, you blow the air, and you come back later to collect a finished piece with your name on its story.
Keep reading to learn where this studio is, who runs it, what classes are offered, and how to plan a visit before the holiday rush.
1. A North Side Address Worth Knowing
The studio hiding behind all this holiday fun is Bella Forte Glass Studio. It sits at 1012 NW 81st St, Oklahoma City, OK 73114, in the northwest part of the city.
On paper, it is listed simply as a glass blower. In practice, it is a working studio where the public can step up to the furnace and make something of their own.
The location makes it an easy trip for anyone in the metro. Families from Edmond, Moore, or Norman can reach it without planning an overnight stay.
That matters for Oklahoma day-trippers who want a hands-on outing close to home. Plenty of people also travel much farther, which says a lot about what happens inside.
Some guests have made the drive from Wichita. Others have said they live two and a half hours away and would happily repeat the trip just for another class.
The studio keeps things personal and small in scale. There is no giant gift-shop maze or crowded tour line, just a furnace, tools, glass, and the people who know how to use them.
For a state that loves its roadside surprises, a glass studio tucked onto NW 81st Street fits right in. Next up is the part that makes this place feel like family.
2. The Couple Behind the Furnace
Behind every great glass ornament is someone holding the pipe steady. At Bella Forte, that job belongs to a husband-and-wife team.
Chris leads the glass work and the teaching. His wife, Mary Ann, works right alongside him and is part of what guests remember most.
Names come up again and again when people talk about their visit. The pair is described as welcoming, kind, and genuinely glad to have people in their studio.
Families say they felt at home almost immediately. One group of six said the couple showed real patience with every member of the family.
Owner responses to messages often include a simple blessing for guests and their families. That warm, faith-filled tone carries into the studio itself.
Some guests even mention enjoying the owners’ personal story as much as the glass. It is not unusual for a class to feel like a visit with old friends.
For a craft that involves serious heat and real skill, having calm and caring teachers makes a big difference. It turns a slightly nervous first-timer into a confident maker.
Ask anyone who has been, and the people tend to get mentioned before the ornaments do.
3. Ornaments That Start on a Steel Pipe
Here is the headline act. The Christmas ornament class is the most talked-about offering at Bella Forte.
Guests pick up the steel blowpipe and help shape their very own glass ball. It is real glassblowing, not a craft kit with glue and glitter.
Finished ornaments are the most mentioned topic among people who have taken the class. Many describe them as beautiful once they are done.
Some guests make more than one in a single session. One student made three Christmas ornaments and chose different colors for each.
Families book the class together, and couples use it as a holiday date. Either way, everyone walks out with a keepsake made by their own breath.
The ornaments are not handed over on the spot. Glass needs time to cool properly, so guests return later to pick up their finished pieces.
That short wait adds a fun bit of suspense. It also gives the ornament a second little moment of excitement when it finally comes home.
Store-bought decorations rarely come with a story attached. These come with a whole afternoon of memories, ready to hang on the tree year after year.
4. A Demo Before Your Turn
Nobody gets tossed straight into the deep end. Classes start with a clear walk-through of the process.
Chris typically blows an ornament first so guests can see the whole thing from beginning to end. It is a helpful preview, especially for first-timers.
Watching the full process takes away much of the mystery. By the time it is your turn, the steps already make sense.
Clear explanations are one of the things people mention most. Guests say every step was explained in a way that was easy to follow.
One fun detail during the demo is how the glass changes colors as it heats. Guests often point to that as a highlight.
The demonstration also shows how much skill goes into each finished piece. Many leave with fresh respect for glass artists.
Learning by watching, then doing, works well for kids and adults alike. It is a smart setup for a craft that involves heat and careful timing.
Consider the demo the opening act. The main show belongs to you.
5. So Many Colors, One Big Decision
Choosing a color might be the toughest part of the whole day. Bella Forte offers a wide selection to pick from.
Color selection comes up often when guests describe their visit. Families mention being surprised by just how many options there were.
Every guest gets to make that choice for their own piece. It is a big part of what makes each ornament feel personal.
Some go bold and bright. Others choose softer shades that match their tree or holiday decor.
Making more than one ornament allows for a little experimenting. It is a good way to try a few combinations without overthinking a single pick.
Kids especially enjoy having a say in the design. The color choice turns them from spectators into true co-creators.
Watching the chosen colors come to life during shaping is another favorite moment. The final result is always a bit of a surprise until it cools.
Tip for indecisive folks: talk it through with the instructor. They have seen plenty of combinations and can help you land on something you will love.
6. Paperweights for the Off-Season
Ornaments get the holiday spotlight, but they are not the only option. Bella Forte also offers paperweight making classes.
Paperweights make a great year-round project. They work well as gifts, desk decor, or a keepsake from a family outing.
Some guests come back several times to try both. One regular has made a few different ornaments and a few different paperweights over multiple visits.
A paperweight class can be a gentle introduction for anyone feeling unsure. One guest admitted being very nervous going in, then left feeling at ease and surprisingly creative.
Couples and friends have enjoyed paperweight sessions too. Several said they would happily book another class afterward.
Because paperweights are not tied to December, they fit nicely into spring or summer plans. That makes the studio a solid indoor outing in any season.
It is also a smart way to test the waters before ornament season fills up. Learn the basics now, then return in the fall for holiday pieces.
Not every great gift needs a hook for hanging.
7. Sculptures and Shaping Sessions
Some guests aim a little bigger than a round ball. Sculptures are another project that has come out of classes here.
Guests who made sculptures describe the creation process as captivating. They also call the finished results gorgeous.
Shaping glass involves more than blowing air into a pipe. Students also learn how glass is formed and manipulated while hot.
School groups have worked on both blowing and shaping glass. Teachers praised the care and patience shown to their students during the process.
For anyone who has already done an ornament, a sculpture class offers a fresh challenge. It keeps return trips interesting.
The available projects may vary, so it is worth asking the studio directly what is offered when booking.
Variety is one reason people keep coming back. Each visit can bring a different kind of piece home.
Ornament first, sculpture next. Who knows what shape the third visit takes.
8. Art That Traveled All the Way to Florida
The skill behind these classes reaches well beyond Oklahoma. The studio has created art glass pieces for The River Church in Tampa Bay, Florida.
Those works were made using broken pieces of glass. The meaning behind that choice struck a deep chord with people who saw them.
Three of the pieces were built into a new podium at the church. Others were displayed as standalone sculptures.
It is a reminder that the person teaching your ornament class is a working glass artist. The craft here is not a sideline hobby.
Guests also mention that the owners show off pieces made in the studio. One couple was impressed enough to recommend the studio as a place to shop for glass art, not just learn.
Glass art is one of the frequent topics people bring up. The quality of the finished work clearly leaves an impression.
For local families, it adds a little hometown pride. A studio on NW 81st Street has art standing in a church more than a thousand miles away.
Not bad for a craft that starts with sand and fire.
9. A Field Trip Students Ask to Repeat
Teachers know a field trip is a hit when students beg to go back. That has happened at Bella Forte.
A gifted and talented program brought high school students to the studio for a workshop. The teacher called it the best experience and said students were already asking to return.
Chris kept the workshop fun while sharing the art behind each step. That mix of learning and laughter works well with teens.
Another teacher praised the care and patience shown to students while they learned to blow and shape glass. That is a big deal when heat and young learners share a room.
Glassblowing connects to art, science, and history all at once. Watching glass change color with heat is a pretty memorable science lesson.
The studio also earned praise from a parent for how well the owners worked with a teenager. Making young guests comfortable seems to come naturally here.
School groups, homeschool co-ops, and youth programs may want to contact the studio about workshops. Details on group sizes and scheduling are best confirmed directly.
Field trips do not always come with a souvenir this cool.
10. Date Night, Birthday, or Family Outing
Dinner and a movie has some serious competition. Couples have discovered that a glassblowing session makes an unusual date night.
One husband and wife chose it as a way to try something different. They loved the overall atmosphere and how welcoming the owners made them feel.
Another guest booked a class as a birthday gift for his wife. The two left planning to become repeat customers.
Families fit right in too. Groups have come together to make Christmas ornaments and described lots of laughs along the way.
Several guests specifically recommend the studio for date nights. The small, personal setting helps make it feel special.
First-timers are common here. It works for anyone into glassblowing as a hobby or trying it for the very first time.
Gift-givers who struggle with what to buy might find an answer here. An experience plus a handmade keepsake covers two bases at once.
Romance, birthdays, or a family holiday tradition, the furnace does not play favorites.
11. The Pickup Day Payoff
Patience gets rewarded here. Finished ornaments are typically picked up after the class rather than the same day.
Glass has to cool slowly after it is formed. Skipping that step would risk cracks, so the wait is part of the process.
Guests describe pickup day as its own small celebration. One group said their ornaments were beautiful when they collected them.
Planning matters for out-of-town families. Anyone driving from far away should ask the studio about pickup timing or other options before booking.
Local guests can simply swing by later. It becomes an easy second outing.
For holiday gifts, timing is key. Booking well before Christmas leaves room for cooling and pickup before the big day.
The wait also builds anticipation. Kids especially enjoy the moment they finally see how their colors turned out.
Good things come to those who let the glass cool.
12. Booking, Hours, and Planning Tips
A little planning goes a long way with a popular class. Bella Forte operates as a working studio, so classes are set up by booking rather than drop-in browsing.
The best way to check class types, current hours, and costs is through the studio website at bellaforteglass.com. Prices and schedules may change, so confirm before driving.
Holiday ornament classes are naturally in demand as Christmas gets closer. Booking early in the fall can help secure a preferred date.
Group visits, school workshops, and family sessions should be arranged ahead of time. That gives the owners a chance to prepare for your crew.
Ask about how many pieces each person can make. Some guests have made several ornaments in one session.
Comfortable, practical clothing is a sensible choice for a hot studio. The instructors will explain any safety steps at the start.
Remember to factor in the return trip for pickup. That detail is easy to forget when planning a gift.
A quick check ahead keeps the day smooth from furnace to tree.
13. Why This Studio Earns a Spot on the Holiday List
Some holiday traditions start by accident. A glass ornament class on NW 81st Street seems to spark a lot of them.
Bella Forte holds a perfect five-star mark across 40 public ratings. Guests consistently point to the kind owners, clear teaching, and beautiful finished pieces.
It is hands-on in the truest sense. You hold the pipe, pick the colors, and help shape a piece of real art.
The studio works for families, couples, school groups, and solo learners. Return guests keep coming back to try ornaments, paperweights, and sculptures.
For Oklahomans looking for something different this season, it is a close-to-home outing with a lasting souvenir. No long road trip required for metro families.
The skill on display reaches from local classrooms to a church in Florida. Yet the experience still feels personal and small.
Each December, those ornaments will come out of the box with a story attached. That might be the best part of all.
Grab the pipe, take a breath, and let this year’s tree hold something you made yourself.
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