Blenko Countdown

Blenko Glass www.blenkoglass.com
39 days til March 20 th SPRING!
39 days of clearance and mark downs - check out the BLENKO GLASS Visitor Center Gift Shop for wonderful Blenko Glass. Clearance shelves in the back of the store.
54 Days until EASTER - Blenko Glass Craftsmen are busy making Easter eggs and Easter Baskets.
Note: They also have a large selection of RUBY GLass for Valentine's Day
and GREEN GLASS for St Patty's Day!
At Blenko they gotcha covered for all occasions!
The Blenko Countdown begins today. . .

Enthusiasm

Henry David Thoreau " None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm."

Tressa R wrote to say " are you all on drugs, you are so enthuasitic and postive and silly when you speak about glass and glass makers, you make the process sound erotic, I don't get the high when I buy or see glass. I want to what am I doing wrong? Also can you put me in touch with other collectors in the DC area

Tressa,

I'm posting your note, I don't have a master list of collectors, may I suggest you contact the West Virginia Museum of Glass and attend their monthly meetings to learn more about Glass. Being with others who share a passion for collecting is important. Enthuasiam will return to your life. Another suggestion is to attend the Festival of Glass in Milton, or come on June 20th spend the night in the parking lot with Blenko Collectors and purchase a 2010 WV Birthday Vase.

Good Luck!

These photos are from Bruce. Ruby 3748S, Myers 6524S in Olive Green. Bruce reports "the olive green was on of my early 'finds' in a local antique store. The purchase price was $20.

Bruce uses old Blenko Catalogues and the Pina Books for reference.

NOTE: Bruce's ability to find and purchase beautiful vintage Blenko at very low prices, is an art, one most of us will never develop. Do not be discourage if you pay 300-400% more than Bruce.

Pre Designer Blenko

This photo is from our friend Bruce S of Texas.

2/8/10

A half dozen of you wrote to ask Bruce about this photo, his response:

This picture is of some earlier Blenko pieces, a 919C cruet in Chartreuse beside a great find I stumbled across on Ebay last month, a #56 vase from the '30's in Cobalt. I had actually seen this piece listed in late December and thought I had seen it in my Eason Eige reference book. The auction was ending in less than five minutes when I ran across the piece originally and I could not find it in the reference. After the auction ended, I stumbled across the page from the old catalog that showed it. I had not saved it to my watch page so I couldn't contact the listing party so I just hoped it might come up again. It did, so I quickly added it my predesigner collection. The cobalt #56 piece is 8" tall.

Enjoy

Bruce

Send Us Your Photos

of Blenko and American Glass. Mail to theblenkoproject@aol.com
Photos will be uploaded 14 days after receipt. Thank you hjh.
Heart of Glass Blog is searching for good photos of BLENKO and West Virginia Glass
and personal stories of collecting or glass making.
Please share your stories with our readers. hjh

The Artist's Way -

Hilary. I have been reading about the Blenko designers, Husted, Myers, Anderson, Shepperd, etc. Why would these people go to Milton, WV to work? All were accomplished in their area of study?

Jinny S.

Ms. S. The designers you mention came to Blenko Glass very early in their careers. Blenko was for most the 'first job' after design school. A quote from Carl Jung may explain better than anything I could say. . . perhaps if one of the designers reads he'll comment.

Carl Jung:

'Art is a kind of innate drive that seizes a human being and makes him its instrument. To perform this difficult office it is sometimes necessary for him to sacrifice happiness and everything that make life worth living for the ordinary human being.'

Note: Collectors photo of Vintage Blenko punch bowl, ladle and cups.

What to do on a SNOW DAY?

Call Blenko Glass 304 743 9081 for observation deck times - Mon- Friday
Saturdays on special occassions only.

Andrew Kuntz:


'I find working with glass meditative, almost therapeutic. I can the the world behind, and focus...The simplicity of form, the dram of rich, intense color, the joy of challenge, and the challenge of endurance...The piece, when it is over, is not what is made, but how it is made.'





Take your children to BLENKO GLASS, the observation room is open every weekday and an occasional weekend. Phone for information. 304 743 9081.





Having a SNOW DAY? Take the children to Blenko. Make it an educational day, a day of family experiencing handcrafted WV Glass. Increase your pride in our State, allow your children to learn about the art of glassmaking!

PM SALES - Purple Moon Estate Sale

I'm posting this without Mr. Chuck's approval, I don't think he'll mind that I'm inviting all of you to this estate sale.
See the 5929L this lovely piece of Blenko Glass is a part of the estate.
If you're a collector and you don't have a 5929L I'm certain you share my strong desire to own several. In my collection are three smaller 5929s. This 5929L is on my 'must have' but can't afford list.
You won't want to miss this estate sale.

Purple Moon http://www.purplemoon.com/ located in Charleston, WV
www.pmestatesales.com for the estate sale listing.

is conducting an estate sale Feb 6 & 7 - check out the listing on their website. A large selection of furniture and collectibles. This Blenko Glass vase caught my eye !

Bronze Look Cameo Art Glass Event Feb 6

Cameo Art Glass artisans Kelsey Murphy and Robert Bomkamp will make an appearance at The Bronze Look in Princeton, WV on Saturday February 6th. The Bronze Look has a nice selection of both one of a kind and limited edition Cameo Art Glass by Kelsey and Robert. As well as one of the largest selections of WV art glass in the state.

West Virginia cameo art glass extrodinare Kelsey Murphy and Robert Bomkamp joined forces with now extinct Pilgrim Glass in 1987. When they began their Cameo Glass journey the breakage rate was 95%, now a million shards of glass later the breakage rate is 4%. Even more amazing than the decrease in breakage rate Kelsey Murphy has successfully carved 12 layers of glass. According to Murphy "cameo glass with 12 layers has never been done before in the history of glass making". "The English glass people back in the early 1900's were able to do five color pieces but most of them blew up. There are only a few examples left in private collections and museums."

In the earliest years of cameo art glass only the wealthiest of families could afford even the smallest of pieces. It was so valuable that during World War II, when London was being bombed, entire collections were carefully packed up and secretly shipped to Canada for safe keeping. The Bronze Look, LLC has brought pieces of this amazing art glass to Princeton, WV with a selction of both "Made in Heaven" one of a kind pieces and Fenton Cameo Art Glass that has been designed by Kelsey Murphy and Robert Bomkamp. Not all cameo art glass is only for the wealthy. The Bronze Look has pieces that any collector can add to their collection.

But what is Cameo Glass? The best way to describe it is that it is hand-blown, hand carved, multiple colored glass in which the carved portions of each colored layer reveal the colors beneath. Kelsey says, "I thrive on challenge". She has actually counted 24,270 things that can go wrong with a piece of glass from the time the sand is dumped into the hopper until the finished art work comes from the lehr (cooling oven). "The glass is both magical an defiant," Murphy says, "Glass is alive, a kind of anachronistic poem. It's strong enough to hold up buildings, but fragile, one of the densest of materials, but you can see through it. You can manipulate glass, but it will turn on you in a second."

Michael Aram

Hillary
Is it true, please say its true. Is Micheal Aram doing a 2010 Blenko Glass special design?
Carolee M


Carolee,


NO! The Blenko Glass designer is the most excellent Arlon Bayliss http://www.arlonbayliss.com/ .
I'm certain you know Micheal Aram an artist, designer and sculptor http://www.michealaram.com/ Micheal is an internationally renowned designer who has lived and worked in India since 1989. Lyrical and often witty, his work encompasses a wide range of media ( I'm attracted to his metal and glass designs). Aram's work is a celebration of age old handworking traditions.

We know Arams' work with Waterford Crystal. His designs bring to the table organic and architectural designs. One of my holiday gifts was a set of Waterford metal napkin holders designed by Aram. We'll write to Aram's and ask for photos.
While NOT made in the USA. The handcrafted metal items are exceptional.

101 Pieces of Blenko -

Form, light and color rock the gallery at the Museum of American Glass in Weston, West Virginia with an incredible exhibition of 101 pieces of Milton West Virginia’s Blenko glass. This show, which continues until May 31, 2010, features objects well over three feet tall to some a mere 3 inches tall and is a romp of organic form, lovely light and bold color.
request. Museum of
American Glass located in Weston, WVa.

The Valentine's Day Countdown

Margaret Mead said, " Having someone wonder where you are when you don't come home at night is a very old human need."

A Swedish Proverb sent to me my a Blog reader " Shared joy is double joy; shared sorrow is half a sorrow.

Valentine's Day is the time to honor friendships, this year step out of your comfort zone and send V-Day cards to your friends, give Ruby Glass or other Blenko Glass http://www.blenkoglass.com/ to your friends. People you value.
The purchase doesn't have to be large, or perhaps gift from your collection.

One of my favorite quotes is from Annie : How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.

Make this month of Feb, a month of reaching out, tell others about your passions, perhaps introduce them to American Glass?
Margie Hale (blog friend) sent me a suggestion for V-Day - she suggest visiting with your elderly neighbors for 10 or 15 minutes, or sending a card to an elderly relative.

Valentine's Day has been taken over by vendors, it isn't just a day for lovers, its a month to focus on heart issues, to make new friends, to reach out to neighbors, to take some time to be grateful for the many blessings in our lives.

NOTE: Hearts are from Osburn Glass located in Milton, WV

www.miltonfloral.com

The Milton Floral is a family owned and operated florist in Milton, W.Va.
Phone 304 743 9079
800 242 8475

Milton Floral has BLENKO GLASS available and will upon request put your floral arrangement in a Blenko Glass made in the USA container.
Note: Adding the vase will increase the price, but the vase will last a life time.

Winslow Anderson # 947

Blenko Glass - Learn about Blenko Glass http://www.blenkoproject.org/ . Glass making, glassblowing, glass craftsmen. Check out Blenko Glass located in Milton, WVa.

Anderson design : 947's in the larger version 947L in Amethyst with a smaller 947S in Emerald Green.

Blenko Ram Head Paperweight

Dr Glasslady,

I'm attaching a photo of the best buy on EBAY for Blenko collectors.

A rare Ram Head paperweight, the current price is $49 but the site says there are 36 'watchers'.

I own this one and paid over $200 in 2002.

Steve P.

More Information on Osburn Hearts

For those with a sweet tooth, we have created these lovely heart-shaped candy dishes, which may also be used for votive or pillar candles. Shown in blue, pink, and multi-color. $40.00

Standing at approximately nine inches tall, it is the perfect choice for the longer stemmed flowers. Shown in irridized deep red, with additional color choices of blue, pink, muti-color, and caramel available. $45.00

(Osburn Modern Glass is located on AMOS Street in Milton about 1/2 mile up the road from Blenko Glass.)

Phone: 304-743-9280 or toll free at 1-888-743-9280

Fax: 304-743-9281

Website: http://osburnglass.com/

Orders are accepted by phone, fax, or email - get one for your valentine today!

Blenko Glass

A reader from Clarksburg sent photos of 2 ornaments from Blenko. She states: " Hillary when you wrote about the college logo items you neglected to mention the balls - ornaments. These are less than $35 and make excellent gifts for students or recent graduates. Thank you.
Dede M.


Dede
Thank you. These items are in the photos I have, and I have not visited the new Blenko Website. Thank you for finding and sending the photo.
hjh