Award-winning glassware designed and made in Watsonville

A small group of skilled artists is creating award-winning glassware known around the world and it is made on the Central Coast.

Annieglass is the first business being featured on a new series by News Channel 5 called “Home Made.”

Every day each piece of Annieglass is carefully made by hand inside their shop in Watsonville.

“I think most people are surprised by how many steps it is, how laborious it is and how much time we put in to every piece,” said Annie Morhauser, owner of Annieglass.

Morhauser first fell in love with glass when she saw it being blown on a beach near Santa Cruz.

“It was fascinating. It was gorgeous and I thought I can do that!”

32 years later, Morhauser has her own luxury tableware company.

“We sell to 500 of the most beautiful stores in the country including Bloomingdale’s and Neiman Marcus,” said Morhauser.

Morhauser uses a different glass bending technique called slumping to create the one of a kind pieces.

“Slumping is where the glass is stretching into a ceramic mold and then we heat it up to melting temperature. The same reason why we do that is why you can put it in the dishwasher,” explained Morhauser.

The technique gives the glass a special texturizedfinish and remarkable durability.

“During Hurricane Katrina we got a lot of calls about destruction like my house is gone and there is a piece of Annieglass left. That is all we’ve got.”

Morhauser’s employees all share a passion for their pieces, each specializing in their craft.

“You know the way they cut the glass and paint the glass, they have a lot of time with their medium and they’re really quite skilled. I’m lucky to be surrounded by them,” said Biago Scarpello, Production Manager at Annieglass.

Hundreds of distinctive pieces are made at Annieglass every day and before they are shipped out, each piece is individually engraved with the Annieglass studio signature.

Once the glass is cut, cleaned, painted, placed on the mold and signed, it is ready for store shelves or to be shipped to your living room.

“There is a lot of pressure on someone like me to move offshore and to compete but that is not what we are about,” said Morhauser.

It is all home made on the Central Coast and Morhauser said she wouldn’t have it any other way.

“As someone once said, I’m just playing in my sandbox.”

To learn more about Annieglass visit their website at www.annieglass.com