Cameo Gallery - Short North - Columbus, Ohio

It's no secret that I love Columbus, Ohio. Its a short drive, they have great art galleries, shopping, better theater, reduced air fare etc.

This week I found a new reason to visit Columbus - Kelsey Murphy's Studio. Kelsey Murphy it seems is from East Lynn, West Virginia. She often uses BLENKO GLASS - to make her cameo glass and her etched glass.

We found her CAMEO GALLERY by spotting the BLENKO GLASS in the window on the way to an appointment at an another Art Gallery. Quickly, we stopped went in, met the shop keeper, a very knowledgeable Daniel Stein. Daniel spent an hour showing us the many treasures in this gallery.

Kelsey Murphy is very talented.

It may be that I'm the only Blenko Collector who doesn't know about Kelsey....so for the Collector this is probably old news...but to many of you - like me - she will be an new artist - and a new way to buy BLENKO as gifts or to keep. Email the shop with your questions. My photos fail to capture the beauty of this glass.

Below you'll find the address for her gallery and a brief bit of info about the wonderful Short North.

Cameo Gallery

722 N. High Street Suite 101

Columbus Ohio 43215

Cameo772@aol.com

http://www.theshortnorth.com/

Visit Short North restaurants, art galleries, and shops! Visit the Gallery Hop, the first Saturday of every month. The Short North, Columbus Ohio is an eclectic, historic, urban neighborhood. It's the Art District of Columbus, Ohio. Near downtown, Arena District, German Village, OSU, Brewery District, and the Convention Center; its the place to be in Columbus.

THE PURPLE MOON 906 Quarrier ST. Charleston, WVa.

The Modern Guy and his bride Ms. Modern Gal have a new Home for their gallery of

Art Deco Etc. Goodies -906 Quarrier St - We visited Saturday May 9th, this was their 2nd day in the new location. It looks SO GOOD! Lots of space, filled with beautiful items from long ago. I wanted so many things!

BLENKO - BLENKO - and more BLENKO! Chuck likes the new Bayliss line and says its the only new BLENKO he's ever had in the shop.

I'm attaching a link to his website and his blog, and posting a number of photos from my visit to the shop. My thoughts about this Shop are - I COULD LIVE HERE! If you love fine VINTAGE items - this is the place. Looking for something special - don't see it - ask Modern Guy and his bride will find it for you!

Plan a visit to Charleston, or phone after viewing the website. PURPLE MOON is the place to shop for those very 'special' gifts....could be gift to yourself. hjh

1998 West Virginia Birthday - BLENKO

In 1998 Blenko Glass did the Birthday Piece in BLUE it was smaller in size, terrific

for cut flowers, with a ruffle top that has a delicate gold band.

NOTE: A copy of this 98 Birthday can be seem at Blenko Glass 2nd Floor Visitor Center.

1997 Blenko - WVa Birthday

The 97' West Virginia Birthday Blenko Issue was Crackle Glass in Crystal with a Gold

and a Blue Circle of Glass at the top. Very simple design.

See Photo.

This Birthday Piece may be seem at the BLENKO GLASS VISITORS CENTER 2nd Floor Musuem Milton, WVa.

India Center / Charleston, WVa

http://www.tibetanhealingcenter.com/ .

India Center is hosting the free lecture of Dr. Jumpa Yonton on Tuesday 13th of May 2008 at 7;30 pm. It is open to public.

VOTE TODAY!

Take time out to VOTE
before the days over.
You'll be glad you did.

Mark Your Calendar

Glass Art Society's 38th Annual Conference
Forming Frontiers
Portland, Oregon
June 19-21, 2008

President Bill Clinton Shops at BLENKO GLASS

Blenko Glass received a call - asking if they could stay open after hours for 30 minutes or so - - - President Clinton wants to do some 'Mothers Day' Shopping!
Well of course the answer was YES! We want very much to accomodate the former President in any way possible.
How did President Clinton know about the wonderful items at BLENKO GLASS?
I'd like to say, he reads HEART OF GLASS blog daily....but the true story is - Clinton said:" I need to buy some unique gifts for the holiday? Suggestions?" ....one of the six secret service men assigned to him grew up in Huntington and remembered touring the factory as a young grade school student. Clinton immediately liked the idea of handcrafted glass - said his family collects glass, so... The call was made and appropriate police departments were notified. President Bill Clinton was going to BLENKO GLASS in Milton, WVa.
You're wondering- what did he buy? - - well, he bought a large number of items, his favorite items were the BRAVO Line by Bayliss (Modern Guy - Purple Moon in Charleston also loves this line), he also purchased a couple pieces of Gibson etched Blenko, some perfume bottles, and a number of the delightfully unique Blenko paperweights.
Diane (who runs the gift shop) reports "he was so verrrrrry charming, handsome, and so sweet, he made you forget that he was someone special, you felt you knew him your whole life in the brief time he was there" , Diane said 'no one mentioned politics, he only ask about the glass, their lives and the town.'
Perhaps by being himself - President Clinton won the hearts and votes. For me just knowing they 'collects glass' adds weight to an undecided voter.
NOTE: Additional PHOTOS will be posted after I return from VET HOSPITAL with Ms B on Friday.

Additional news story mentioning Clinton's stop at Blenko

More Info than you wanted!

Questions and comments from Readers:

1) A BLENKO COLLECTOR recently had a Breast Cancer scare - she may have been saved by a mammogram being done in time.... If you have not had a mammogram in the last year please get one this week! If you can't afford one phone your local health department and ask about a reduced/free of cost mamogram. Early detection is KEY! www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/breastcancer Breast cancer affect one in eight women in their life time.

2) What BLOGS do I READ?

I must admit I do not regularly read blogs - twice a month I catch the following blogs -
(1) THIS IS NOT MY BLOG
(2) & (3)I love 2 of the Herald's blogs and actually learn from both -
Hot Topics: Taxes. Litter. The cost of living. Anything that makes news in the Tri-State is worth a thought or two.
By Ross
The Drawing Board Interested in illustration? Drawing images that accompany news stories is a privilege that news illustrator Thomas Marsh relishes. Here’s a chance to look over his shoulder and see how he does it.
by Marsh

(4)http://justamodernguy.com/ - Great blog from the fabulous Purple Moon

(5)WV Bloggers website

(6) ADA Website - I visit weekly

(7) A wonderful new BLOG by Tim Alonzo (Texas Blenko Collector)called Collecting BLENKO this will be a blog I check more than once a week.

3) Clubs - Organizations and where to Donate My Glass? The questions are what clubs or organizations should I join and where can I donate my glass? Wow! This depends on the amount of $$ you have and what your interest are. Many online things are free - Damon Crane offers a free newsletter, and many on line groups and newsletters are free. Check this out! IF you are reading this - I will assume you collect BLENKO and suggest you immediately try to join the BLENKO COLLECTORS SOCIETY and also the WV MUSEUM OF GLASS (Weston, WV) both memberships come with links to website - newsletters and a wealth of information. DONATIONS- Re read my disclaimer - I am a student with little knowledge - my first recommendation is to get an appraisal. Then carefully select an appropriate home for your glass. WV Museum of Glass - the West Virginia Division of Culture and History are the places one might consider. Start now - planning- it takes time.

Good luck! hjh