Title

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.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

Pat White - Blenko


The Pat White - Blenko dalle made by Don Lemley sold for $139 on Ebay a real Steal for the buyer. Wish we'd had more time to advertise this one. Perhaps Don will do Coach Huggins (probably the most popular fella on WVU's campus) or another player. hjh





Winning bid:
US $139.38

Ended:
Dec-08-08 09:06:27 PST

Item location:
Milton, WV, United States
History:
13 bids

33 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hilary
Still looking for complete set of those WV Birthday vases.
We offered $25K but have no one yet with whole set will you post on your blog?
bgraham2007@gmail.com
seller should contact me with name address phone number
photos and number for each vase.
No partial collections please.
We are seeking for a buyer who wants only the complete set, there is a list of other items he needs if you are interested.
Graham

Heart of Glass said...

You just announced the offer Graham.
Let us know if you are successful.
HJH

Anonymous said...

MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Been busy getting that last minute gift giving wrapped and started making some of the treats for the kids. I make hard candy that looks like Blenko red glass, for one every year and the other one is always on a diet so I will be making pepperoni rolls for her husband. Got the tree up got the blenko oranaments on the tree, I got from you and your folks last year. We are leaving for my daughter's house early on Thursday the 18th of December and will leave there for Myrtle Beach early December the 20th and return home on December the 22nd we are deliverying the WII's that our children can'nt wait to play from the 32 year-old to the 2 year-old,who knows how to play Uncle's WII already. Enough of me and my kids. Jake the dog is going to have a birthday on the 27th of December and will be a ripe old age of ONE. I have to plan his dinner well. He is what you call spoiled just alittle. How is Ms. Be, saw her when I went to your Mom's, she did turn's and got all excited to play hard to get. Only Morti was letting all the girls know that he is first. Blenko glass and puppies is enough to put a smile on anyones face. Cashmere has a Christmas ribbon that I am sure Ms.Be picked out and she thought that she was lovely, gald to know the puppies. I understand why they say dog is a man's best friend after reading pass blogs. Some people will never get the whole picture of why we are really here, does not mean that we cannot enjoy what is beautiful in this material world while we are here. Just what does heaven look like anyway? Better than Blenko only we have to settle for what we have here and that is having beautiful glass to use and decorate with. Hope your interviews have been going well. You will need a rest over the holidays just to get rested up from being in the car. Roxie PS> Wish I had an airplane all locations are 45 minutes from Charleston, WV. Idea get Rog to take flying lessons.

Anonymous said...

Enuff of the Pat White and isn't Don Lemley great.

bridgett said...

Vacationing /working out of the country until 1/22/09
Did you get my fish photo?

Phani said...

Bridgett,

Please call me before you leave.

Anonymous said...

Hilly
I went to Blenko the ornaments in boxes are not available.
No $18-25 ornaments are available.
Also there was no real sale on anything. You ask us to buy, but they don't want to sell.
Anyone else have this experience?
Sol

Anonymous said...

Comment re: Blenko
My parents worked at the VA Hospital in Barboursville and are familiar with Marshall University.
Blenko turned down work for Marshall. Didn't want to make the Marshall Green, and didn't want Marshall's business. This doesn't sound like a company who needs our help.
Check out the management techniques. If this is a bad rumor I apologize but I am certain it is not.

Anonymous said...

Graham if someone has part of the collection forward them to me, I have only 3 pices. Another rumor is that they are selling this years Birthday Piece duplicates at the Visitors Center. If this is true I will not be driving the 500 miles to Milton in June 2009.

sweetdoc said...

If Blenko wants to keep a customer base, they need to honor the word sale.
This Blow Out sale advertisement all the time, and then no new items, no new prices is getting very old.
I am new to Blenko little over 2 years now, I've spent a lot of money at the VC
I have also watched the quality, and quantity go south while the prices increase.
I'm all for supporting your buy America but America has to cooperate? The girls in the VC need physical help on sale days.
Is there an address for the owners, I would very much like to give comments from my group.
Distressed wannabe collector in Ohio.

sweetdoc said...

I didn't see the Pat White item in time to bid, this 'll teach me to back off the blog.

WV Janis said...

Hillary: I sent you copy of a photograph that I took. Christmas elves and BLENKO mushrooms. Likely, your readers will enjoy it. I hope you received it and are able to post it.

I have no indication that the photograph before that was ever received. Some of my comments are missing. Hopefully, all of this will get ironed out as I miss the interaction!!!! And I am trying to help make the blog more visual for lovers of WV glass!!!

WV Janis

Heart of Glass said...

WVJanis
it had gone to spam thank you for letting me.
You are the best!
Chirtakahn
This must be incorrect information, Blenko provides all State Govt and most colleges with glass.
You can write to blenko by contacting them on the website.
I don't have private email addresses.
Bridgett- I did not get your photos, still searching spam.
Thank you.
Roxie
Merry Christmas and thank you for reading.
hjh

Anonymous said...

On this one you are wrong
totally incorrect.
My statement was 100% true.

Anonymous said...

The 2008 Birthday pieces in the VC are frosted. They aren't numbered or signed.

When Blenko produces the limited edition pieces, like the Birthday piece, they always produce more than the number that they need. This is because some will not make it through the lehr and others will not be first quality.

When the piece is a single color, they can use the glass that isn't used as the limited edition piece when making new batches.

When the piece is multi-colored, like this year's Birthday piece, there's pretty much only two things that can be done with the extras. One is to trash them and the other is to find a way to alter them and sell them in the VC. Trashing them is a loss of money and forces the cost of other products to be higher.

They also had a lamp that Charlie made of the Festival of Glass piece the day after Thanksgiving. It was frosted also and was cool.

Anonymous said...

IRON
BAD BUSINESS POLICY.
TRASH EM IS WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN,
OK WITH THE LAMP IDEA< BUT AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS WRITER.
NOT GOOD BUSINESS THOSE VASES WERE THOUGHT TO BE EXCLUSIVE AND SHOULD BE COLLECTOR ITEMS ONLY.
IS THIS DESIGNER STILL WORKING WITH BLENKO?
MOUNTAIN RITA

Anonymous said...

Mountain Rita,

What is the differnce in frosting the Festival piece and making it into a lamp, that was limited also, and frosting the birthday piece? Neither one is in the same condition as the limited piece and niether can be converted into a fake Festival or Birthday piece. The Festival and Birthday pieces are still exclusive.

If memory serves me correct, many were upset that they didn't get the Birthday piece and wondered how Blenko could offer more without harming the exclusivity of the maximum number each year. This is one way for those who liked the design but didn't get one. They can have a similar piece, but those who have the Birthday piece aren't harmed.

IMHO, if you have a problem with the frosted Birthday piece, then you should have a problem with the frosted Festival lamp. Both were limited, signed and numbered pieces.

mismgr said...

Chirtakahn; I just went to the BLENKO website (http://blenkoglass.com/blenkocowebsite/collegiate.htm)and saw several items in the Marshall Green with Marshall University Logos. Water Bottle, Pitcher, and plates. I don't know about any other pieces but have several pieces of contemporary BLENKO in the Green used for the Marshall pieces. Larry from TX
larry@serenityantiques.com

Anonymous said...

IRON MAN
THE LAMP HAS A HOLE IN IT SO COULD NOT BE MISTAKEN
I AND MOST PEOPLE I KNOW COULD CARE LESS ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO THE FESTIVAL OF GLASS VASE
THIS VASE AND A 23 YEAR OLD RUNNING BLENKO REPRESENT WHATS WRONG WITH THE GD PLACE.
HAVING THE MOLD DESTROYED AFTER A COLLECTION THAT IS LIMITED SEEMS TO BE A GOOD THOUGHT.

Anonymous said...

No one ask for my 2 cents
but I also collect Birthday WV (14 total)
and don't like the idea of duplicates.
My thoughts are it doesn't matter
there will be no 2009 Birthday WV
or even Blenko in June 2009
Elizabeth Conner

Heart of Glass said...

Re: Selling the 2nd of West Virginia Birthday Vases
I have no problem with this and I've collected this line since before I walked.
Blenko is a business.
HJH

Anonymous said...

Hello Bloggers!
I have responses to a couple of questions and comments contained within this section:

Chitrakahn: We have a number of jobs with Marshall University. I am not aware of a job that we turned down unless it was turned down by the people who are no longer with us! We support and enjoy working with Marshall. The WV Piece is still very collectable and because of the high standards that we hold this piece to there are a number of piece that are not up to par. even if these pieces were not frosted or made into lamps they would not hold a candle to the piece that you or any other WV Piece buyer has!

Sol: We still have ornament sets here at the Visitor's Center. We have around 7 Cardinal Ornaments, there is 1 Snowman Ornament still in stock and there are at least 20 still on order from Wendy Lemley. We also made more of the set of three stamped ornaments.

Elizabeth Conner: Blenko still has plans to make the 2009 WV Birthday Piece and we will still be here in June 2009. We apppreciate your support.

Sincerely,
Katie Trippe
Blenko Glass Company

Anonymous said...

Mountain Rita,

I had an idea that you didn't care about the Fesitval piece because you don't have one.

Most people I konw are intelligent enough to be able to tell the difference between a regular piece of glass and a frosted piece of glass. Again, the pieces in the VC are frosted versions that were over-runs during the making of this year's piece. They aren't making more, just altering the 2008 piece. Again, this gives those who didn't get the birthday piece and opportunity to get something close to it, like several suggested in June.

Since you have made your true feelings known about Blenko at this point in time, I guess it won't hurt to tell you that other nonsigned, non numbered Birthday pieces have been sold in the VC and I have one that was made into a lamp by Charlie.

Once upon a time there was only one Birthday piece also. A piece that is annual has to start somewhere. Just as the Birthday piece once did, so does the Festival piece this year.

The fact of the matter is that both are limited edition pieces. If you are going to apply one standard to one line of limited edition pieces, then you should apply the same standard to all lines of limited edition pieces, no matter if you collect them or not.

How do you feel about Department 56re-issuing retired pieces from their village lines?

Btw, Blenko trashing anything that can make them money at this point will only push them closer to closing the doors and you not being able to add to your Birthday collection. Again, there is no way that the frosted piece in the VC could be mistaken by anyone even remotely sane.

Anonymous said...

Mgn The item you are speaking of are not ordered by the university, they special order glass items from west virginia glass makers and get it personalized. Trust me on this, admin and other departments order frequently Chitrakahn is correct.
Linda

Blenko Glass Company said...

I recently had a meeting with the designer of Marshall newest buildings discussing how Blenko could be included in upcoming projects. What exactly have we not worked on with Marshall? Are there past projects that we bid on and lost out? I would love to know.

Blenko Glass Company said...

Sweetdoc: please mail any comments regarding staffing and other concerns to:
Blenko Glass Company
P.O. Box 67
Milton, WV 25541

Anonymous said...

KATIE TRIPP
SEE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW.
DID YOU READ WVJANIS COMMENT ABOUT THE QUALITY OF HER BIRTHDAY VASE?
DARLING YOU KNOW NOTHING ABOUT GLASS ASK THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED IN GLASS FOR YEARS ABOUT QUALITY.
YOUR CONCEPT OF BUSINESS IS FOREIGN TO ME. BUT AT YOUR AGE I THOUGHT I KNEW EVERYTHING TOO. ONLY DIFFERENCE IS I WAS A NEWLY MINTED LAWYER WITH LEGAL AID EXPERIENCE NOT A BA FROM MARSHALL W/O EXPERIENCE.
REGARDLESS I WAS AN IDIOT.
MOUNTAIN RITA
The WV Piece is still very collectable and because of the high standards that we hold this piece to there are a number of piece that are not up to par. even if these pieces were not frosted or made into lamps they would not hold a candle to the piece that you or any other WV Piece buyer has!

Dr.BOB said...

Bloggers:
Our goal is for blenko to be successful and remain in business is it not?
Dr. H ask us to remain positive.
I for one trust Walter Blenko (google the man) to make good business decisions, if anyone isn't performing he'll act. This isn't our domain.
Now how to we convince Don Ledly to make other art work for the sport blog?

Dr.BOB said...

Sweetdoc
The address provided is same as address on website, perhaps current management will forward your comments to appropriate person.

Heart of Glass said...

Bloggers:
Can we remain positive on the blog?
If you have negative comments email theblenkoproject@aol.com I'm happy to listen, but for the blog can we focus on the good things that are happening at Blenko?
As a group we want Blenko to be successful. If you haven't joined the Blenko Collectors Society this is a good place to meet other collectors, vent with a group of like minded people, and improve your collection all for a mere $50.
Membership would be for me a much sought after gift. Gift yourself or a friend a Blenko Collectors Society membership.
HJH

Heart of Glass said...

Sweetdoc
I'll be home on Monday, doing bootcamp for boards at CAMC daily but I will visit Blenko and ask about the boxed ornaments, its a bit late now to purchase isn't it?
hjh

Heart of Glass said...

Doc Bob
On May 9th I'll become a DDS until then I'm student H.
hjh

Anonymous said...

Hillary
This is for Kaatie who said:Chitrakahn: We have a number of jobs with Marshall University. I am not aware of a job that we turned down unless it was turned down by the people who are no longer with us! We support and enjoy working with Marshall."
perhaps she (katie) should check the VC I bought plates that were suppose to be for Marshall but couldn't pass inspection, I later learn Marshall didn't receive the plates they needed as they couldn't be made (now there is no excuse for this) Why could not a plate be made in a glass factory?
I suppose K.T. didn't know of this problem, as he predates her VP but it most certainly would not predate her employment or knowledge.
Denying problems don't make them go away, it makes the customer go away.
Rhoda