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.

Friday, April 30, 2010

Heart of Glass Needs Your Photos and Glass Stories

Computer problems continue to plague Heart of Glass - if you have sent photos or stories and they were not published. Please re send to: Theblenkoproject@aol.com THE BLENKO Project. Everything in our save file has been lost.
If you haven't sent photos of your Blenko or WV GLASS please do send photos to theblenkoproject@aol.com .
Thank you for your continued support of West Virginia Glass and Blenko Glass
Handcrafted Made in USA Glass.
hjh

Glass - You'll Want To Collect

We continue with the photos of Vintage Blenko you'll want in your collection. If you wish to share photos of your Blenko - one piece - or your entire collection. Email theblenkoproject@aol.com


Hi Hillary,
Just wanted to send you these four photos for the blog. Title these
"Oldies but Goodies". The first is of a pair of 390's in Chartreuse
and Tangerine crackle. The Tangerine piece is headed to Florida to
Debbie's sister who saw our collection over the Christmas holiday and
commented on how much she liked the 390 design with the ruffle edges.
I stumbled across one on Ebay a few days later in the tangerine color
that she liked. I could not pass up the opportunity to share a
little Blenko.
The second photo is two of three spiral wrapped vases that I have
been trying to find for my collection. A Ruby #374 and Sky Blue #371.
I have still to find a #372 but that is all part of the reason I keep
scouring ebay and the local and not so local antique shops and estate
sales.
Photo three is a nice pair of C 473's in Ruby and Turquiose.

The final pair is a Anderson design Sea Green decanter and a pre-
designer #442-P reed handle pitcher in Sky Blue seed glass.

Enjoy
Bruce Specht

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Blenko Glass


Shop Blenko Glass
New Summer Hours
To learn more about Blenko Glass
and Blenko Glass Collecting

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Jonquil #595 Blenko

From Blog Friend Beth this awesome photo!


vase # 595 in jonquil, circa 1959 and made for only two years.
The third is ashtray/bowl (although the 1959 catalog shows it holding a candle) # 5924 in jonquil, circa 1959. I think this was only made one year but I could be wrong...
Hope you enjoy the pics!!!I have more and will send later...
Regards,Beth

Monday, April 26, 2010

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog http://herald-dispatchblogs04.blogspot.com

Hillary
May I ask how people use the Blenko in their homes? Other than tableware what does one do with all that Blenko?
Cammie
Cammie
We'll ask for photos - in my home - we use glass shelves and display the Blenko. We also daily use our Blenko glasses, dishes, vases etc. Blenko was made to be used. My parents have more than 100 unique Blenko items displayed behind bushes and on the bird house etc in their downtown Charleston home. Blenko doesn't promote the glass as a garden item - however - for the last 20+ years the glass in my parents yard has withstood the WV winters. Readers - How do you use or display your Blenko? This photo is from the www.theblenkoproject.org page - this collector uses Blenko as a part of his decor. Send your photos, suggestions etc for using Blenko.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass blog - Great BLENKO!



Hi Hillary,
Here is a newer piece of Blenko from Wayne Husted's Atlantis line. I love the WV blue and gold colors! It is signed by Wayne on the bottom.
Enjoy!Beth
Thanks Beth.
Send photos of your BLENKO to theblenkoproject@aol.com for use on the Heart of Glass Blog....your Blenko and WV Glass photos and stories are always welcome.

Friday, April 23, 2010

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog - - A Mystery?


A reader from Missouri reports he received this plate as part of
an estate.
Anyone with information
re: WERE Glass Tour
please comment.

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

Blenko Glass. "Heart of Glass Blog"


Air Twist Paper weights.

West Virginia Glass Fiesta Tent Sale

Colorful, sturdy, Tableware made in West Virginia. You won't want to miss this sale! Last year my Mom bought teapots for less than $22. and many casserole dishes for less than $12, Canisters for $15-25. Prices are LOW.

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Blenko Crackle Glass

Can anyone help identify this crackle vase?





Dear THEBLENKOPROJECT,As you can see from below, we last corresponded in 2008. I never heard back from you with regards to my Blenko "decanter". I am attaching some photos of the piece. It is not signed nor dated but I have been assured that is was in the 1982 catalog and designed by Don Shepard. I would like to sell it.Thanks again,Teri
*** Note this email went to SPAM if you write to theblenkoproject@aol.com and I fail to respond within 10 days - please re send. In title use the word BLENKO to avoid SPAM folder. hjh

Monday, April 19, 2010

Blenko Glass. Mountain Made

Elizabeth sent this photo. She states its the buy of the year. Vase is stamped Blenko on the bottom.

This beautiful vase is available for $120 from the Mountainmade website.

www.blenkoproject.org

http://www.blenkoproject.org/
Want to know more about Blenko Glass?
History
Designers
Collections
Check The Blenko Project website. http://www.blenkoproject.org/ .
Send your photos and stories for Heart of Glass - http://herald-dispatchblogs04.blogspot.com/ to TheBlenkoProject@aol.com .

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Blenko Glass Heart of Glass Blog

Its a dull day . . . . bring some sunshine in to your home or office. Visit Blenko Glass www.blenkoglass.com to shop on line, or drive up to Milton West to shop in the Blenko Glass gift shop (prices up to 75% off retail daily). Bring some color into your day!

With color, for the price of a pot of paint ( or a Blenko vase) people can express their own style and individuality. But, as with style, a gift for color has to be developed by experiment. If you don't dare, you are doomed to dullness. Shirley Conran

Saturday, April 17, 2010

Blenko Glass Heart of Glass

Photo of Limited Edition Ornament from Blenko Glass. www.blenkoglass.com Heart of Glass blog http://herald-dispatchblogs04.blogspot.com announces the arrival of this ornament. You'll want to order immediately! The women in your life will welcome this gift.

What Women Want? Blenko Glass limited edition ornament is a most desirable gift.
While the question is old, long ago Sigmund Freud said: . ." The great question . . .which I have not been able to answer, despite my thirty years of research into the feminine soul is, "what does a woman want?"
Heart of Glass has the answer . . . its hand crafted tableware made in West Virginia.
Blenko Glass www.blenkoglass.com the online catalog is filled with gifts any lady would want.
Gift giving? Think BLENKO. Blenko Glass handcrafted in Milton, WVa.
Learn more about Blenko Glass check out The Blenko Project at www.theblenkoproject.org

Friday, April 16, 2010

Heart of Glass - BLENKO GLASS


Beauty? What is beauty?

Agatha Christie said " You agree - I'm sure you agree, that beauty is the only thing worth living for."

Just for today, be aware of the beauty in your world. Take some time to carefully look to your glass collection, observe the glass in the sun, shade, and evening light or candlelight. Appreciate the beauty of this and the details of life. Nurture yourself just for today.

Photo from the collection of Bruce S.

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog -

Changes - Several readers have been kind to inquire about my Residency and
where I'll be next year.
The residency ends June 30th. Ohio State University GPR Program was for me

a very good fit. I'll retun to West Virginia to work in rural area / health program - Public Health
Dentistry has always been my final goal.
Each semester I realize I like the profession and my respect the providers and lecturers deepens.
"Sometime during this year,
the butterflies lessen as graduation /termination
day approaches. Perhaps it is
around the same time that you
realize it isn’t simply that
the residency is hard.
There’s something perpetually
challenging and uniquely gratifying
about this profession. “
I appreciate your interest in my career plans, your deep interest in Blenko Glass and your joy in seeing Blenko Glass successful Thank you . hjh

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Blenko Glass Heart of Glass Blog


Blenko Glass Designers - Someone said an artist is merely someone with good listening skills who accesses the creative energy of the Universe to create. Well. . . .I decided long ago

I would pay for the art and appreciate the artist and his connection with the universe.

Jalai UD Din Rumi " Inside you there's an artist you don't know about . . . . Say yes, quickly, if you know, if you've known it from the before the beginning of the universe."


At Blenko Glass most all the skilled workers are creative and could and do design, however they are also very pleased and grateful to have a master designer work with them. They know their art form will be improved by having this trained master of design. The group works very well together without ego interference. This is the way of the artist.
This photo from the Blenko Glass Company in Milton, WV. www.blenkoglass.com Check out the blenko project www.theblenkoproject.org to learn more about Blenko Glass.
Thanks to Blog friend Ted for the Rumi quote.

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

The Man Above

More photos from our Texas Friends
Bruce is The Man Above. .. . . our guardian angel who provides documentation, photos, and responds so frequently to new collectors questions.
Thank you Bruce.

Hi Hillary,
A couple of Myers designed spiral wrapped #6815's. The Turquoise bodied 6815TO came from an estate sale in Dallas several years ago while the 6815OT came from a shop I frequent in Oklahoma. The owner who I was checking out with said his wife would be glad to see this one go since she disliked the colors. Who says $20.00 cannot buy beauty?
Enjoy
Bruce

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Marvin Lipofsky - Glass Artist

While most of my friends can't wait to buy a great car, a bigger TV or faster computer. My goal is to own something made by my friend Marvin Lipofsky.
Marvin is known as one of the founders of the glass art movement. He is a founding member of the GAS - Glass Art Society . One summer as a part of a special program - Marvin worked with the men at Blenko Glass.


SOFA NY - Marvin Lipofsky



SOFA NY Lecture Series Saturday, April 17 4:15-5:15pm50 Years of Glass, Almost Marvin Lipofsky presents a visual survey of almost 50 years working in glass factories and studios throughout the world.Dear Friends, This year at SOFA NY, we are proud to highlight the latest works by Sidney Hutter, Marvin Lipofsky, Charles Miner, Martin Rosol and Steven Weinberg; each artist an important figure in the contemporary glass movement. In addition we will feature some earlier examples from their personal archives. Represented in many private and public collections around the world, some of the works in this show are from series that have not been available in galleries for many years. Please feel free to contact us for further information or to receive SOFA NY passes. With best wishes,Jim Schantz & Kim Saul
Marvin Lipofsky Small California Loop Series #7 1978 8.5x18x9"

Marvin Lipofsky was one of Harvey Littleton's first graduate students working in glass. Lipofsky went on to introduce glass as an art form to the Design Department at the University of California at Berkeley and founded the Glass Program at the California College of Arts and Crafts. He has traveled extensively to work at glass studios through- out the world; collaborating and gathering inspiration for his sculptures.Selected collections include:Museum of Contemporary Crafts Corning Museum National Museum of Modern Art, Kyoto, Japan Stedelijke Museum, Amsterdam
___________________________________________________________________We hope you can stop by and see work by these artists at: SOFA New York67th & Park AveOpening Night Preview April 15, 5:30 - 9:00 pm
For more information on these and other works,please email the gallery at:contact@schantzgalleries.com3 Elm Street, Stockbridge, Massachusetts 01262(413)298-3044

=

Monday, April 12, 2010

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass - Sale & Deals











Blenko Glass. Blenko 'Heart of Glass Blog'

www.blenkoglass.com Upstairs in the Blenko Glass visitors center is a museum filled with stain glass panels and Blenko Glass tablewares from pre designer to current. Next time you shop Blenko, don't forget to walk upstairs. Thes glass panels pictured her were made using Blenko and other American Glass.














Stain Glass panels. Blenko Glass - this antique glass is used by most all the finest artist in the world.





Diane of California sent these photos of Blenko Stain Glass panels.





hjh

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Blenko Pitchers - How many do you own?


Most every Sunday I use a pitcher in this design for OJ - the one I own is a deep emerald green. hjh

Hillary:

I’ve been digging through my old photos, here are a few at random. The two 939 pitchers were bought as a wedding present for some friends who have decorated in plum and turquoise. Couldn’t have scored a better gift if I’d tried. The 1964 vase series A – E, and some of the 1968 airtwist paperweights are among my favorites. The Kaleidoscope decanter was bought at a preview in 2002 at Tammy Kosla’s Blenko Celebration. The stained glass panels were on display at the first Blenko Collectors Convention, all done in antique glass.

Hope that helps,
Thanks to Diane for this photos . All photos are welcome. Please send your photos and your stories of Blenko Glass or WV Glass to theblenkoproject@aol.com


Diane

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Blenko # 66


Hi Doc,
A couple of Blenko #68's in Ruby/Gold handles along with a companion in Sky Blue. Nice pair of Predesigner pieces.
Enjoy,
Bruce

Friday, April 09, 2010

For the Love of Myers


Hi Hillary,
By now most of your blog readers already know of my love of the Myers designed pieces, Gump's decanters in particular. I thought I had come close to having examples of all the colors that Blenko produced so I was taken back when I saw a piece listed on Ebay as "Charcoal". Can't be, they didn't produce Charcoal in '64 and '65. This must be a mistake and this piece they have listed is just a very dark version of Chestnut. The pictures were such that I couldn't tell, but I knew I had to pick it up. Well, I can tell you I was blown away when it arrived this week. And yes, it is Charcoal. The beautiful older 50's color that didn't appear again until '71. I will need to do a more thorough cleaning at a later date but for now I wanted to share this revelation. As for the Peacock piece on the right, I picked up a correct stopper that will come in later this week. So please forgive the #657S one that is temporarily keeping the dust out. Even though, as my daughter points out, it looks quite striking with it.
Enjoy
Bruce

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Blenko Glass . . . . Heart of Glass Blog


There is only ONE real deprivation . . . . and that is not to be able to give one's gifts to those one loves most. May Sarton


GIFT GIVING? Check out Blenko Glass http://www.blenkoglass.com/ .

The best gifts are handcrafted and made in West Virginia.

Photo from Blenko Glass.

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

I'll Take One In Every Color! Blenko Water Bottle


The Blenko Water bottle is a classic design, Blog friend DIane of California sends another of her water bottle paper designs.
Amazing. These cards always leave me breathless -

Hillary:

It’s been asked if I’ve done other Blenko shapes for iris folding. I have not. I picked the water bottle because it is such a distinctive shape, and the body of the bottle is basically a square. This allowed me to use a standard template for a square opening. Any other shape I would have to create a specific layout pattern, and I just don’t have time. However, as a consolation prize, I send you my tangerine water bottle card.

Cheers,

Diane

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

The Color Purple


Readers - Can we help Sali identify the color of this Husted decanter?
Hi,
If I send you a photo, could you identify the color for me? I don't need the # or value, but, I can't seem do decide whick purple color this Blenko decanter is. Please let me know either way if you can help. Thanks.

Sali

Monday, April 05, 2010

Heart of Glass Blog

the address for heart of glass blog / Blenko Glass and American Glass Blog is

http://herald-dispatchblogs04.blogspot.com/

The Blenko Project address was unchanged: http://www.theblenkoproject.org/

Hope this helps. If the links don't work please let us know. Readers, if you have a suggestion re: how to get the blog again listed with search engines
write to theblenkoproject@aol.com I sent the above email to readers writing The Blenko Project with complaints. HJH
Hillary,
I write to theblenkoproject@aol.com as I can not find the Heart of Glass blog. I did a google and bing search w/o success. Where is this blog? Perhaps the blog no longer exist. Jeff Maier from my work group suggested we follow the blog. Help.
R. Miller

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Azure 2000 - Blenko Glass







Goodmorning...I was given a Blenko art glass peice and was wondering how to find out more info and todays price on the piece. It is a limited edition Azure 2000 Vas Height 10in. Editionsize =numbered to 2000. Designer: DonShepherd Blower: David Osburn Signed: Richard Blenko Azure color with amber wrap. Excellent condition #304-743-9081. Please tell me the value and history. Thankyou, Camille Colonica(see picture)



Readers



Can we assist Camille with info about her beautiful Blenko art glass?



hjh

Saturday, April 03, 2010

U-Tube Yes. Blenko now has a Place on U TUBE

Tim and Karin Alonzo have raised the bar - regarding Blenko Glass
information.
Check out U TUBE
Karin and Tim have posted over a dozen U TUBE Blenko Glass lessons.
Check this out - and leave your comments or request for more Blenko Glass information.

Friday, April 02, 2010

Blenko Collectors


A new Blenko Collector picked up these items in the last month - he needs our help in labeling.
If you can identify these items, please share the knowledge with new collector P.P.
Thanks

Thursday, April 01, 2010

Do You Collect Ashtrays &/ or Lighters?

Weekly we get emails asking about Blenko ashtrays and cigar or cigarette lighters. If you have photos of these items, please send to theblenkoproject@aol.com
This photo is from the collection of Beth:
"
ashtray/bowl (although the 1959 catalog shows it holding a candle) # 5924 in jonquil, circa 1959. I think this was only made one year but I could be wrong "

Special Event

Return to HEART OF GLASS BLOG later this month for a very special blog post written by Wayne Husted - BLenko GLass designer ( 1954-63 ). Wayne has announced he will be offering a
special edition vase (s) for Blenko Collectors. The vase (s) are now in the process of being made.
Don't spend all your money on Easter Baskets and Designer Easter Clothes - - keep back
cash for this very special event. HJH

"I will confirm how these are going to be offered to collectors. at the end of your three section article." WH