They started by super heating the glass and blowing out a very simple shape. They then used various tools to spin and shape the beginning of the vase. It was very interesting to watch, and you could tell that it does take years and years of practice to know just what you are doing and how to do it right each time. There is a stick of glass that comes from the bottom of blown glass vases while they are being made. They stick out from where the bottom of the vases will eventually be. This is what they can use to spin and shape the glass vases and make them into the desire shape. Once they have finished the top part, they again use heat to remove the stick of glass from the bottom.