Glass fusing is quickly catching up in popularity with glass chewing and glass smashing against parade floats. Today’s Groupon lets you catch the wave with a selection of glass and metal art workshops at Wired Design Studios. For $67, you’ll be able to try one of four classes: introduction to stained glass ($135), beginning glass fusing ($135), basic jewelry soldering ($135), or introduction to BRONZclay ($125). All materials are provided. Bring your own lunch or dine on-site at Bin 555 Restaurant & Wine Bar.

Wired Design Studios, 15 minutes north of downtown’s Riverwalk, purveys uncommon jewelry and transmits semi-arcane elemental knowledge seven days a week. Experienced instructors and professional artists lead each of its many classes. Renowned glass-charmer Gail Stouffer heads up the glass works, while Analiza Connell will help you master your metal.

Wired Design’s relaxed, full-day classes are a great way to forge game-changing, inexpensive glass and metal jewelry that stands out and, unlike jewelry made with living birds, will never flap away. To ensure that each student receives the personal attention he or she needs, each class size is capped at 12. You can check the schedule and call ahead to reserve a space in one of the four classes:

• Intro to Stained Glass lays out the basics of using a soldering iron and thin strips of copper foil to fuse together pre-cut, beveled shards of stained glass in a variety of shapes, colors, and flavors. You’ll learn how to create your own stained-glass windows for your own cathedral.

• Basic Jewelry Soldering helps you quickly pick up the fundamentals of making your own metal and PMC earrings, rings, pendants, and more. You’ll learn to apply solder, fire a micro-torch, and finish your lovely creations to a spectacular polished shine.

• Beginning Glass Fusing encompasses three separate techniques of firing and covers the application of a multitude of fusing mediums such as ceramic fiber, adhesives, frit, sawdust, and papier-mâché. You’ll also learn how to use grinders, kilns, saws, and all the tools necessary to create your own jewelry, wall clocks, and fashionable glass T-shirts.

• Intro to BRONZclay teaches you how to manipulate bronze metal clay. Metal clay is unlike most any other craft material in that it looks like ancient metalwork when fired but has the ease of use, accessibility, and forgiving mutability of clay. Make earrings, bangles, or a towering bronze statue of yourself to commemorate your triumph over a complete lack of adversity.

Classes can be rescheduled with at least 48 hours notice and a $20 fee.

Reviews

The San Antonio Express-News recommends a jaunt to Wired Design Studios, saying: > * Wired Designs encourages you to take a creative, one-day vacation. And what amazing things you can do during your getaway — blow or weave glass, create stained glass jewelry or make glass plates, sinks, beads and more. – Jennifer Rodriguez

Two Insider Pagers give Wired Design Studios a solid four stars, and a lone Yelper awards it a perfect five: > * They have lots of different types of beads, stones and styles of jewerly [sic] that you can learn to make. You can also buy your supplies there. Each person on staff knows about everything and that really helps. Can’t wait to take another class. – KI B., Insider Pages > * Intelligent tutors explained and covered several aspects of knowing these gems and stones. They also covered few design classes helping me understand the intricases [sic] of designed jewelery [sic]. – Swapnil K., Insider Pages