Events

Everything You Need To Know Before GIFTY 2019 This Weekend

By Cathy Niland | 12.2.19

We’re gearing up for our biggest and best GIFTY yet! Are you ready for two days full of demos, hands-on family-friendly activities, and the best Bay Area artisan vendor shopping?

GIFTY 2019 is the best place in the Bay to find your holiday gifts made right here by local artists, craftspeople, and Crucible faculty. With jewelers, metalworkers, artisan bath suppliers, button makers, bottle cap fashionistas, candle extraordinaires, and so much more, you are sure to find something for everyone on your list.

While you shop, our expert faculty will be showing off their skills in live demonstrations in Glass Blowing, Blacksmithing, Foundry, Neon, and more! Enjoy seasonal treats, delicious beverages, and $25 off every Crucible class. This is a great way to support local artists and learn more about the many different classes offered at The Crucible.

See below for details on activites, scheduled demos, food, and more! And don’t forget to RSVP on Facebook for up to date information on everything in store for GIFTY 2019!

P.S. Are you a Crucible member? Don’t forget to get your ticket to the GIFTY Preview night on Friday, December 6! The access code is in your email. Crucible members who attend on Friday night will get a special suprise gift and access to an open bar of beer, wine, and soft drinks. 

All Day Activities

Play With Clay

Saturday & Sunday (Ceramics) – Free!

Find out how fun it is to create with clay in our Ceramics studio. This is a great activity for creatives young and old!

Stamp Your Own Copper Charm

Saturday & Sunday (Jewelry)

Get hammering away on your own your very own copper charm in our Jewelry studio. Stamp one for $5, two for $9, or three for $12.

Decorate Your Own Leather Bracelet

Saturday & Sunday (Leatherworking)

When people ask you where you got your bracelet, you can tell them you made it! Decorate your own leather bracelet for $5.

Crucible Scavenger Hunt To Win

Saturday & Sunday

Complete the GIFTY scavenger hunt and be entered for a drawing to win a a free kids bike refurbished by our bike shop or a gorgeous skateboard handmade by Jamie Kerester!

Every class is $25 off—including all youth camps! Stop by our info desk to register.

Schedule of Events

11am: Woodturning

Saturday & Sunday (Wood Shop)

Watch our Wood Shop come alive as instructor Jolie Karno turns a block of wood into a beautiful and unique piece of art using the lathe.

Glass Blowing GIFTY 2019 The Crucible

11:30am: Blowing A Fire Breathing Dragon In Glass

Saturday only! (Glass Blowing)

See Glass Blowing faculty member Lance Fraser bring a fire-breathing dragon to life using, well, fire! Head over to the Hot Shop a few minutes early for a good view!

TIG Welding GIFTY 2019 The Crucible

11:30am: TIG Welding Aluminum Stars

Saturday only! (ARC Welding)

It’s the season of light, and what better way to celebrate than by creating a spark?! Pop on some safety glasses and watch as our faculty welds decorative stars from aluminum.

11:30am: Glass Blown Decanters and Vases

Sunday only! (Glass Blowing)

Watch Glass Blowing faculty member Mathew Porkola bring decanters and vases to life in the Hot Shop.

11:30am: Bronze Brazing on Flame Carved Steel

Sunday only! (ARC Welding)

Join Welding instructor, Mark Metz for a demo on bronze brazing, a technique known for it’s strength!

12pm: Flameworking Candy Canes and Icicles

Saturday & Sunday (Glass Flameworking)

Watch our Glass Flameworking department expertly turn colored glass into icicles and adorably miniature candy canes.

slip_cast_in_five_steps_the_crucible_ceramics

12:30pm: Slip Casting Demo

Saturday only! (Ceramics)

How do ceramicists make multiples of the same thing? Find out when Crucible faculty member, Phoebe Deutsch, reveals the secrets of slip casting in the Ceramics studio.

12:30pm: LED Demo

Saturday only! (Kinetics)

LED lights have become commonplace, but how are they made? And what does LED stand for? Find out the secrets of LED lighting in this demo upstairs in our kinetics studio.

3D Printer GIFTY 2019 The Crucible

12:30pm: 3D Printing Broaches and Pins

Sunday only! (Kinetics)

Head upstairs to our Kinetics studio to see our faculty put our 3D printer to work making broaches and pins.

12:30pm: Playing with Underglaze

Sunday only! (Ceramics)

Ever painted glaze directly on wet clay? It’s possible thanks to underglaze, used to create colorful and surprizing visual effects. Ceramics Department Head Rosa Dorantes will show you the ropes.

1-3pm: Cookie Decorating

Saturday only! (Kitchenette)

This is the one time you can (and should) play with your food! Decorate your own sweet treats in our kitchenette.

1pm: Forge Welding From Billet Steel

Saturday & Sunday (Blacksmithing)

Renowned Blacksmith and Crucible instructor, Jeff Pringle, will be leading this special demo. Don’t miss the master at work!

1:30pm: Bronze Pour

Saturday & Sunday (Foundry)

Get acquainted with our Foundry and watch molten hot bronze turn to sculpture before your eyes!

1:30pm: Working with Pâte-de-Verre

Saturday & Sunday (Glass Fusing and Slumping)

See Barbara Bennett and LR Altman lead a demo in this centuries-old practice using paste, glass, and a mold to create unique glass pieces.

guide to gift making

2pm: Wooden Toys To Last Generations

Saturday & Sunday (Wood Shop)

Wood Shop Department Head Eric Blanpied will be demoing how to make adorable and durable wooden toys. If you get inspired, you can sign up for our Wooden Toy class on December 15 (and get $25 off registration at GIFTY!)

2:30pm: TIG Welding Aluminum Stars

Saturday & Sunday (ARC Welding)

Catch our faculty on Saturday and Sunday creating aluminum stars in our ARC welding studio–a toally metal way to get into the holiday spirit!

the_Crucible_Facepainting_Gifty_2019

3-5pm: Facepainting

Saturday & Sunday (Kitchenette)

Let your imagination run wild and become anything you want! Have your face painted by the talented Bridget Star Harrison for a sliding scale donation of $5-$20 per face.

3:30pm: Bronze Pour

Saturday & Sunday (Foundry)

If you missed our earlier pour, no worries! Head over to the Foundry to catch our faculty turning molten hot metal into sculpture with the help of a furnace and a crucible.

Don’t let the cold keep you away—we have spiced hot chocolate and hot toddies for sale in the upstairs bar!

Come to GIFTY 2019 Hungry (and thirsty)

Happy Dumplings Food Truck

Saturday & Sunday

These fresh, handmade Shandong-Style, pan-cooked dumplings are the perfect steaming hot option for a rainy GIFTY 2019. Happy Dumplings offers options for vegetarians, pescetarians, and meat lovers.

CACAO Milk Bar

All weekend!

Come for their delicious flavored organic milk, stay for their sweet and savory cookies, chicken and waffle cupcakes, and other great pastries options.

Crucible Snacks and Drinks

All weekend!

Find mimosas, specialty absinthe cocktails, mulled wine, Old Kan beer, and every La Croix flavor you can imagine at The Crucible bar. Upstairs, stay warm with a hot toddy or spiked hot chocolate.

Need new wheels? Our Bike Shop will be selling newly refurbished youth and adult bikes, ranging from $50-$400.

Giving Back At GIFTY

This year, The Crucible asked GIFTY Vendors to support our nonprofit by donating one of their unique wares to be sold with 100% of the proceeds supporting The Crucible. Come by the Registration table to purchase a gift while supporting our mission!

We are so touched by the generous vendors below who opted to participate:

Know Everything About GIFTY?

Complete the GIFTY 2019 crossword to prove it. The first 5 people to send us or show us a completed crossword will get a free 2019 Crucible Summer Camps t-shirt!