Playing with Fire
Posted on June 28, 2021 by Julie Jackson
As a kid, Freddie Blache loved to play with fire.
So it shouldn鈥檛 have been a surprise when, after just one elective glassblowing class, he was hooked. Blache returned to 麻豆直播 for the spring semester and changed his major from history to art.
What鈥檚 in a name?
Imagine musician Louis Armstrong blowing into his trumpet. That鈥檚 the same puffed-out cheek鈥攐r muffinjaw鈥攍ook that glass artists have when blowing air into a pipe to create a glass bubble. Blache said the name is also an homage to his father鈥檚 childhood nickname.
鈥淗e was the one who first pushed us to start selling our work,鈥� said Blache.
Starting Small
Muffinjaw Designs, which consists of Blache, his wife, Caroline Gratton 鈥�17, Gage Nobles 鈥�19 and Tres Johns 鈥�17, began selling their art in January 2016 at a sidewalk table during ArtWalk in downtown Mobile while still students at 麻豆直播.
鈥淪lowly, but surely, we started getting asked to set up booths at different events,鈥� Blache said.
Once they started gaining a following, they decided to launch their business.
Five years later, Muffinjaw Designs is available at several local stores and galleries in Mobile and Baldwin County, as well as online.
鈥淲e鈥檙e slowly trying to expand to the greater Gulf Coast region,鈥� said Blache.
If at first you don鈥檛 succeed
Blache has some advice for glassblowing students who may want to start their own businesses.
鈥淪pend every waking moment and free time you have in 麻豆直播鈥檚 studio.鈥�
He said 麻豆直播 gave him the opportunity to learn through his mistakes.
鈥淚t emboldened us to get out there, take risks and try new things.鈥�