Jobean Glass Art: Saba's Fire-and-Color Studio on Booby Hill
A colorful Windwardside studio where molten Venetian glass becomes sea creatures, beads, and wearable art you make yourself.
Why Go
Tucked into a candy-bright cottage on Booby Hill, Jobean Chambers has been melting Italian glass rods at 2000┬░F for more than three decades ΓÇö turning flames into mermaids, seahorses, and jewelry you can either buy off the shelf or, better, torch into existence with your own hands.
The Experience
You climb the hill above Windwardside and step from Saba's misty green into a burst of color: shelves of glass beads catching the light, frogs and starfish frozen mid-swim, and the low hiss of a lampworking torch. Jobean ΓÇö trained under Venetian masters Lucio Bubacco and Vittorio Costantini ΓÇö works right in front of you, drawing threads of molten Murano glass into shapes that look impossible until they cool. Sit down at a torch yourself and, within a couple of hours, you'll walk out with a bead or small sculpture that came out of your own hands, kiln-annealed and ready to travel. It's less a shop stop and more a small, personal masterclass with one of the Caribbean's most distinctive artists.
What to Try
Book the half-day beginner workshop ΓÇö the sweet spot for cruisers and short-stay visitors ΓÇö and make a signature Jobean-style sea creature bead or pendant. Short on time? Ask for a demonstration instead; watching her pull a seahorse out of a glowing gather of glass is worth the walk uphill. In the gallery, look for the sterling-and-glass jewelry, the tiny lampworked frogs, and the recycled plates slumped from Heineken and wine bottles ΓÇö quintessentially Saban souvenirs that actually fit in a carry-on.
Insider Tip
Call or email ahead (+599-416-7037 / dannerysglassart@gmail.com) ΓÇö Jobean is a one-woman operation, and workshops fill up fast when cruise ships are in port. Wear closed-toe shoes and cotton (not synthetics) for torch work, and don't wear your best clothes; you'll be sitting inches from an open flame. Bring cash as a backup ΓÇö card connectivity on Saba can be moody.
The Practical Stuff
Location: Booby Hill, just above Windwardside ΓÇö a steep but scenic 10ΓÇô15 minute uphill walk from the village center, or a quick taxi. Hours: MondayΓÇôSaturday, 10:00ΓÇô17:00 (closed Sundays). Workshops are offered as half-day or full-day sessions by appointment; walk-in gallery browsing is welcome during opening hours. Contact: +599-416-7037, dannerysglassart@gmail.com, jobean-glass.com. Payment: cash preferred, ask about cards when booking.
Pair It With
- Amonhana — An easy walk back down into Windwardside for a relaxed lunch after your morning torch session ΓÇö perfect timing when the workshop wraps around midday.
- Angelina's Saba By OwAiChie — Casual local food and drinks nearby, ideal for cooling off and comparing your new glass creation with a cold drink in hand.
- Barney's Ground — Pair studio time with a short Saba trail: Barney's Ground is a mellow lookout hike close by, giving you the island's classic art-plus-nature day.
- Big Stone — Another close-by outdoor stop ΓÇö combine Jobean's indoor color with a bit of Saba's wild volcanic scenery for a well-rounded half day on Booby Hill.