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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.

Friday, December 12, 2008

WV Janis' Holiday Photo Greeting



Merry BLENKO Mushroom Christmas!


Did you know that Christmas elves live amongst the BLENKO mushrooms? Don't think these glass mushrooms are languishing on shelves.


In the wee hours of the morning, the festive elves come out among the mushrooms and sing at the top of their lungs.


The vintage yellow and green mushrooms glow like Christmas lights as a backdrop for the red- clad elves.


Those "O" shaped mouths match the sweet yellow spots on the mushroom caps. OOOOOOOOOOOOh Holy night....................Merry Christmas to all (who love glass, hand-blown in West Virginia).


WV Janis

Note: Blenko Visitor Center has a new shipment of freshly made MUSHROOMS phone 304 743 9081.

11 comments:

WV Janis said...

Hillary:

Thanks for posting the Christmas Card. It was not easy to shoot. Those darn elves were slipping all over those mushrooms. By the way........

Do the new mushrooms look like the vintage ones? Or, can one determine whether or not a mushroom is from the 1970 Myers line? It would be a shame to duplicate the Myers line exactly!!! However, mushrooms (and owls) are very collectible right now and I'm all for BLENKO riding this wave!

WV Janis

WV Janis said...

Re: Christmas Tree with All WV Ornaments--

Elizabeth, I would LOVE to see a photo of a Christmas tree with all WV ornaments. Suggestions to find them:

BLENKO, Tamarack, WVU Bookstore, etsy.

Etsy is an online auction house for crafters. When I searched "west virginia christmas ornament" on www.etsy.com, three vendors came up: SopaCreekDesigns with a beautiful stained glass star (Mannington, WV) and a copper wire ornament from wirestormcreations (Mount Storm, WV). A third ornament is not made in West Virginia but is of a Santa Claus hand painted on a wooden chip shaped like the state of WV. The prices are $8, $20, $8 respectively.

Hope that helps.

WV Janis

Heart of Glass said...

The new mushrooms DO NOT look like the old and they are sandblaster with 2008 date.
Blenko trys very hard to make certain the lines aren't duplicated.
hjh
Thank you for the photo - your many photos - always well received by our readers.

Anonymous said...

Very nice. Just how did you get the little guys to set still? Bubble gum? Sol, we did not go to work in the flower beds and I did not know we were going until I got to Hillary's MOM's house. The lamps are nice and I hope to have a picture of my wish list item after Christmas. Have to make a new wish list then too. And read and think of old sayings. Just wondering what will be for Blenko in the year 2009. Is everyone ready for Christmas? Do you have your list ready for what you are grateful and thankful for? Just what is everyones New Years Eves resolution gonna be? ROXIE

WV Janis said...

Check out Charleston photographer Rick Lee's 12/12 entry to see a great photo of a BLENKO apple:

http://rickleephoto.blogspot.com/


WV Janis

WV Janis said...

My 2008 Birthday piece (signed and numbered) is flawed. It has chunks of sand embedded in the front middle. Very noticeable. My friend, whom I drove to get the birthday piece and introduced to BLENKO collecting, got a flawless one.

Now that I hear about extras floating around and getting frosted and turned into lamps, is there any way I can bring mine in and get it traded out for a flawless one?

I love the piece and would love to have my vase be a perfect one.

WV Janis

Anonymous said...

WVJanis
In 2000 I bought this vase for a wedding gift, stood in a long line.
My hair line cracked vase was exchanged at The Visitors Center approx 6 months later. Mr. Bill Blenko was the contact person.
Margie Hale

Anonymous said...

. WV Janis
This is a statement by the VP Katie about the WV Birthday vase,
I smiled, you will also.
Youth is wasted on the young!
Mr. Bill exchanged my vase and said "our quality control person was taking a smoke break when this one got out."
Statement copied :
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! Statement from Katie the VP

susan said...

I enjoy viewing the fruits of your photographic hobby.
Beautiful photo.

WV Janis said...

Thanks for the kind words Susan. Knowing that people like my photographs makes me want to take even more!

WV Janis

Anonymous said...

Love the photo with the elves! Just makes you want to smile.
I find it much more fun to incorporate Blenko into my decor as special objects, and not just line them up on shelves like a museum. Of course, I have a smaller enough collection, and many of them are "smalls", that I can do that. No mushrooms, tho.
Museum putty helps keep things in place quite well.
Car Girl