THE HISTORY OF RAGSFEST

In August 2003, an historic event took place in Asheville, NC. An educational conference was held that offered a wide array of affordable classes, roundtable discussions, and social dinners. Hosted by Gary Newlin of A Touch of Glass, this was the first ever event of it's kind. Gary arranged for teachers, accommodations, restaurants, site seeing tours, travel, and scheduled everything for almost two weeks of education disguised as fun.

What made this event unique? Only the owners of retail stained glass stores could take advantage of the opportunity. Aimed at teaching the teacher to add diversity to the class schedule and increase the bottom line, the event was conceptualized, organized, and achieved by Gary Newlin and other volunteers from Retailers of Art Glass and Supplies (RAGS), a not for profit organization for stained glass retailers.

Some of the vendors from past shows: Olympic Kilns Miracle Mudd Spectrum Glass Pyros Glass Studio Morton Glassworks Armstrong Glass Co. Alice's Glass Release Hoevel Manufacturing DK Monorail Strippers Glass Art Fused by Phil Uroboros Glass Studio Stellar Technical Products American Hakko Products If you are a manufacturer and would like to attend RAGSfest, please contact: wentzsg@supernet.com

RAGSfest Vendor Show A one-day event of manufacturers showing and demonstrating their products. Not just a trade show. RAGSfest is an opportunity for the manufacturers and the retailers, who represent their products to the public, to meet one-on-one in a casual, friendly setting.

Past RAGSfest Events
Asheville, North Carolina 2003, 2004
Everett, Washington 2005
Omaha, Nebraska 2006
Denver, Colorado 2007

"Billets Casting" class with Bill Ward of Uroboros Glass

Sampling of Classes Offered at RAGSfest: •Beginning & Advanced Lead •Intermediate Beads: Critters •Borosilicate Beads •Beginning Beads •Hollow Vessels •Vitri-fusaille •Wet Glass Inlay: Frit •Designing & Marketing Classes •Intermediate Kiln Forming •Intermediate Fusing - Billets •Teaching Basic Fusing •Gold Leafing •Starting a Fusing Program •Teaching Fused Glass Jewelry •Color & Design •Morton System •Structure & Reinforcement

"Hot Frit" projects in Richard LaLonde's class.

These classes are professionally taught with the object being to train the teachers.
The more exciting workshops a store can offer, the more customers that store will attract. RAGSfest classes are affordable with the average cost being $75.00 per class day. Everyone taking a class at RAGSfest will take home a plethora of new ideas and techniques to pass along to their fortunate students in future workshops.

RAGSfest 2008
Wheaton Arts Center
Millville, NJ
July 26 - August 2, 2008
RAGSfest Schedule and Registration
RAGSfest events and classes are restricted to RAGS members only.