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Heart of Glass - Blenko Glass

Blenko Glass is a West Virginia treasure that spans generations. Nothing symbolizes the state of West Virginia better or more beautifully than Blenko Glass. We will discuss current and former craftsmen and designers and how important it is that Blenko and West Virginia glass be appreciated and valued by the younger generation.

Thursday, November 06, 2008

The Angels of Blenko - Blenko Glass www.blenkoglass.com

Les Womack a retired BLENKO GLASS foreman, returns to BLENKO GLASS http://www.blenkoglass.com/ each year to make ANGELS and SNOWMEN to be sold during the Holiday Season.
Wednesday, Les started making the Holiday Angels, his daughter Christy photographed the process from start to finish. We are publishing the photos. ' A Master Craftsman at Work'
















































































































Aren't we fortunate to have this process documented?

My suggestion is print the photos and give them to the recipient of the ANGEL, don't forget to buy one for yourself.

There are many sources of ANGELS in shops and on the Internet but ONLY BLENKO GLASS has Les Womack ANGELS, the very 'best' angels are found at BLENKO!

The supply is always limited.
When they are available in the Gift Shop - I'll POST A NOTE, please remember to purchase quickly. These are extremely time consuming, very detailed, beautiful pieces of West Virginia Glass.
Only the finest craftsman can make these ANGELS.

An angel is a spiritual supernatural being found in many religions. Although the nature of angels and the tasks given to them vary from tradition to tradition, in Christianity, Judaism and Islam, they often act as messengers from God.
An Angel is rarely used to represent anything other than the positive.
An Angel can be the perfect gift - or Holiday Decoration - Angels are appropriate for any time, season, place.
WEBMASTER STEVE provided us with the following info about ANGELS. our thanks to Steve and internet sources!

Angels: Other roles in religious traditions include acting as warrior or guard; the concept of a "guardian angel" is popular in modern Western culture.
Angels are usually viewed as
emanations of a supreme divine being, sent to do the tasks of that being. Traditions vary as to whether angels have free will or are merely extensions of the supreme being's will. While the appearance of angels also varies, many views of angels give them a human shape.
Islam is clear on the nature of angels in that they are messengers of God (Allah in Arabic). They have no free will, and can only do that which God orders them to do. Angels mentioned in the Quran include Gabriel, Michael, Israfil, Haroot, Maroot and the Angel of Death,
Azrael.
Angels can take on different forms. Prophet Muhammad, the last Prophet of Islam, speaking of the magnitude of Angel Gabriel has said that his wings spanned from the Eastern to the Western horizon. At the same time, it is well known in Islamic tradition that angels used to take on human form.
Bahá'í
Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í Faith, referred to angels as people who through the love of God have consumed all human limitations and have been endowned with spiritual attributes.
`Abdu'l-Bahá, Bahá'u'lláh's son, defined angels as "those holy souls who have severed attachment to the earthly world, who are free from the fetters of self and passion and who have attached their hearts to the divine realm and the merciful kingdom".
Furthermore, he said that people can be angels in this world.

*Complaints / Comments that are negative? email me theblenkoproject@aol.com Other comments or questions are welcome!

21 comments:

Anonymous said...

They are available we bought an angel on Wednesday.
Sol

WV Janis said...

So great to see these glass making angels at their craft. What I like about this process, as depicted in the pictures, is how well everyone must work together to make this glass-blowing process be successful. Everyone's timing must be spot-on focused! Nobody wants a crooked angel! Thanks for sharing.

Regarding the politics and nasty comments of late, I really think, if they are necessary at all, the better forum would be the Milton West Virginia Message Board and Cabell County Blog. http://www.miltonwv.org/

If you want to read, no need to join. If you want to comment, join. I'm sure some of the comments on our blog have been coming from people on the Milton list.

West Virginia Janis

Phani said...

I would like to be a part of this workshop if it is one.

Heart of Glass said...

Phani
You couldn't be on this team - years of experience
but you could take a class and make a glass panel, my parents are today making windows for their family room with Don Lemley at Blenko Glass - anyone can take classes from Don Lemley (304 743 9081) the results are fast and beautiful - I'll post photographs of the panels when they are finished.
hjh
ANGELS ARE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE VC

Anonymous said...

Yes, we went to Blenko yesterday and cleaned the glass in and around the flower beds. Looks nice and it also gives people a chance to look at what they just may find on the inside. Who makes those darling little hummingbirds? Add this to my wish list, I have already told Rog that I have to have some of those to hang in my windows. I feed those little birds ever year and find them mysterious and funny. One of my hobbies. The angels are there also and some were very pretty. Diane was working hard decorating for Christmas and had to take time out to wait on us for a broom, a water hose and getting someone to turn on the water. No we did not take a camera. The new color sweet pea looks frosted, or maybe that was the new pink. All you guys should go see the little pumkins, they are just the cutest things. The new Christmas oraments are wonderful. Only I see those little hummingbirds and wonder if Blenko could make them a feeder or a little nest. I will say that once inside you are greeted with the smells of autum. Nicely done when one's business feels like home. And Sol next time we will more than gladly let you know when we are going to work in the flower beds, we can always us a helpful hand. I will also say that they had a study business while we were there. Hillary's Mom and Dad spoke with Mr. Blenko, who happened to be going to lunch, as were we.Over all I had a good time. Janis I agree also. I like to learn about Blenko, see Blenko, and talk about good and interesting things going on at Blenko,or about WV and the world. I like history and the knowing the real pass and where we all descended from. I like seeing the simple beautiful things. Hay Hillary maybe Oprah might like a pair of those Blenko glass earrings. Just a thought and something that I always notice about her. She wears some beautiful earrings of all styles. Well, I have talked enough. Have a good time at the game. Go! WVU! Got to win this one, we are number 25. Love ya Roxie

Anonymous said...

Les Womack is a Blenko angel, thank you for this article.

Anonymous said...

Hilary
This is terrific, I will try to get down before Christmas. Is there a time when you are at Blenko?
Margie Hale

Anonymous said...

What is necessary for Christy do do more photos?
AWESOME this was AWESOME!

Anonymous said...

hillary i loved the info about the angels and will be looking forward to geeting one .its great to check your blog .and being able to stay informed about whats happing at blenko . thanksagain ..keep up the good work .barry.

Anonymous said...

As already stated, angels are now available at the shop. Dad will be coming in in the weeks leading up to the sale to make more so I hope we will at least have an adequate quantity available. Mark Davis has been making some great snowmen and Rodney Adkins has been making some of the cutest mushrooms. Allowing the guys to work outside the normal line items is a win-win for all of us because we have some very talented people here. Also a heads up. We have had such a good response to our Cardinal handpainted ornament so that (inquiry only since it doesn't go on sale until 11/28) that Diana & Mendy decided they wanted another one. So what we are going to do is make the cardinal ornament the 1st in a Seasonal series of birds. We will introduce a new bird ornament each season, and we will be doing another handpainted ornament for the holidays. It will be a frosted electric blue ornament with a handpainted snowman scene. It will be called the holiday series and we will be issuing 100 of these. As soon as they are back from the painter, we will begin selling these in our shop. We will not initially have 100 available, probably about 1/3 of that amount and as they sell we will have more made. I anticipate that these will probably become available maybe the week before Thanksgiving if everything works out okay. As soon as I have a sample I will photograph it so you can post it up. No doubt it will be as beautiful as the cardinal. Be sure to check out our early bird online discount starting 11/8 through 11/16. All orders will receive 15% off before s/h.

Anonymous said...

FIRST QUESTION ARE YOU SICK? YOU NEVER MISS 2 DAYS IN A ROW.
NEXT QUESTION WHEN DO YOU GRADUATE AND WHERE WILL YOU EITHER WORK OR GO FOR RESIDENCY?
WILL YOU STOP THE BLOG? I HOPE YOU DO NOT>
NEXT QUESTION< LAST YEAR YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS LES WOMACK AND THE ANGELS DIDN"T LOOK LIKE THIS PHOTO DOES HE MAKE DIFFERENT KINDS?
MOUNTAIN RITA
THANK YOU ALWAYS FOR THE INFO AND I LOVE _E E THE PHOTOS.

Anonymous said...

Hilly
I buy Xmas Gifts in early Nov or order most always before Oct.
Why are you just now talking about these items? I would have purchased all my gifts had I known earlier.
Sol

Anonymous said...

Nice! Very Nice!

Phani said...

Not sure if the author of the post knew this or anyone for this matter, there is a Bahai temple in Chicago which has good architecture. Someone might want to search it online.

Heart of Glass said...

Sol
From anyone else I would accept this comment, but you bought xmas gifts last year from Blenko, so you know where Blenko is and how to phone Blenko.
Let us plan for next year. I'll post a comment in July saying Sol please phone Blenko for your Xmas Gifts. Okay?
HJH

Heart of Glass said...

Margie
I'll be home for the Holidays but also doing interviews for my GPR, perhaps we can plan for the Blenko Collectors meeting in August!
However, you should go for the Big Holiday Sale, or call and ask them to ship your items.
hjh
Everyone - please keep open some time in August for the Blenko Collectors Convention, you will want to attend, more info coming early in 2010!

Heart of Glass said...

Note to Christy at Blenko:
I received about 10 blenkoproject email saying how great the angel
project photos were.
Thank you for doing this.
hjh

Anonymous said...

You're very welcome. Anything you need, just ask. I'll do my best to answer or get photos for you. Just a note we start production on Pink Ice on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed that we do not have any problems. Dad will be in on Wednesday this week making more angels and again next week. He may be working the whole week of Thanksgiving as we only have one small shop working so a lot of the guys can have the week off for hunting, etc. Also, heads up Bill Blenko will be signing glass on Friday, Nov 28 from 10-noon, Walter Blenko will be signing on Friday from 2-4 and again Saturday from 10-noon. Great chance to get some rare signatures on new glass.

andreerods said...

You should add this to www.blenkoproject Hillary.

Anonymous said...

Blown away by this.
Carl

SULEIMAN SAMI AZAR said...

i love the show american idol
bless all the youths with a desire for entertainment-amazing to see so many young people come out and try at a chance to live out their interests-

and what about other people-i see now american inventor- where so many people try to make something many would use- to try to use their talents in this world-

and what about all people- I am sure if there were shows for the best lawyers- beauticians- painters-artists/etc etc etc -

it should be apparent there are so many people just like us- no matter what your interests-

what about messengers of god- so many people believe in god- they say it casually in theirs words everyday- they say it with vigor during times of stress or peace- many feel the call to be a priest and such- what about those that feel it so strong- they believe they are a messenger-

well- thats me- and let me tell you- the welcome is terrible- poor jesus- words of peace and love only to be crucified- look how god shows man how we can be cruel to the innocent- even today with torture in war- whatever your reasons-

but more importantly for me- i have uncovered my belief for one whole year as i believed it my time as i uncovered the solution to the energy crisis- symbology of the lightning bolt and water- an experiment never before in science for clean safe nuclear fusion-

sounds wonderful on science- well it would be if i ever get noticed- but people kill the messenger still- they ridicule and abuse- people like bill maher and other atheists can say what they want on the media- so i will too-

but being the messenger has surely cause many to run away- even at the expense of the energy crisis- one in which our soldiers fight for-

but anyway-after so many months of being nice and saying please- i have recently for several months tried to be harsh as many seem lazy and ignorant not to listen as world crumbles under energy-

is the behavior of a messenger?

i love everyone- especially children- i love my child and family- and all children are way too cool- and WE ARE ALL CHILDREN-thus- i see that inside everyone and love the child within-

but you do not act like a child in the body of the cousin of the monkey-0especially in a tough world yet- you are mean and abusive at times- and a time has come to solve our energy crisis-'
thus- i am done with pleasantries-

uncover my experiment before the world economy crumbles and greater war comes for it- here is your chance followers of god- if you have any faith that is-