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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.

Saturday, June 19, 2010

Blenko's WV Birthday Celebration


I'm certain most of the Heart of Glass Readers spent the night or else got up early to stand in line for the Birthday Vase!

This year the vase is beautiful, most everyone agrees Bayliss & Team's Birthday Designs stand out! My Dad would purchase - and most other collectors of this series will purchase the vase regardless of cost, time, or the design. However, its extremely nice to have a Blenko designer who also values this series.
Blenko Glass always has additional glassware and many one of a kind items available for purchase during this event - also Mr. Blenko is available to personally sign any item you purchase this day!
*" Its a Great Day To Be A West Virginia Glass Collector!"
* Pat White's statement altered to include Glass Collectors.

35 comments:

Anonymous said...

WHAT IS RANDY RIDER DOING THATS SPECIAL I BOUGHT THE PERFUME BOTTLE AND I WOULD LIKE TO BUY MORE RIDER.
WHILE HE IS YOUNG AND STILL WORKING TO COLLECT IS THERE A RIDER SERIES
FENTON DOES THIS FOR THE TOP FINISHERS IF RIDER HAS OTHER THINGS SOMEONE PLEASE TELL ME OR SEND TO GLASSLADY PHOTOS OR IF YOU OWN AND WANT TO SELL I WANT TO BUY.

MOUNTAIN RITA

Anonymous said...

I AM IN MILTON IT IS 6 AM AND THE LINE Is 101 IN NUMBER.
I HAD NOT PLANNED TO COME THEN MY PARTNER SAID LETS GO WE WILL SHOP IN HUNTINGTON ON FRIDAY AND STAY OVER THEN DRIVE UP EARLY AM.
THE LINE IS LONG. I THINK LONGER THAN LAST YEAR. THREE YEARS AGO
KATIE WAS ENCOURAGING US TO GET BACK IN THE LINE FOR A 2nd SO THIS IS PROGRESS.
I WILL SEND PHOTOS WHEN WE RETURN ON WED. THE GOV APPOINTED ME TO A COMMITTEE AND I HAVE TO MEET IN CHARLESTON ON MONDAY. IF OSBURN IS OPEN WE WILL STOP AT HIS SHOP.
OSBURN YOU SHOULD HAVE PEOPLE HERE GIVING OUT FLIERS.

MOUNTAIN RITA

sweetdoc said...
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Anonymous said...

Sometimes you have to loose in one area to win in another.
Words from my Spiritual Advisor and words for moaning collectors.

Anonymous said...

the blenko of old is dead!only a few customers ars treated descent most complain about the lack of service as i have .i was in the gift shop 2 weeks ago standing at the counter to be checked out the ladies were eating and talking and wernt paying attention when i said excuse me the one lady said she didnt see me standing there.Maybe the food and her tounge was cvering her eye teeth?they need to get people that care about service in there instead of what they have now.

Linda

Heart of Glass said...

Mountain Rita
I'll write Blenko to inquire about Riders works.
Re: WV Birthday Vase and the line - it is what it is -
The vase is beautiful and the people want the vase.
Sweetdoc - Often things aren't what they seem. Rumors fly - if you saw this that's one thing, if you merely heard the story - then
perhaps its a half truth.
Linda - I'm getting a lot of email about the customer service.
Perhaps with the number of customers and the high volumne Blenko needs to add to the Gift Shop staff.

Phani said...

I didnt touch the glass yet, but someone said that stopper on top is more like a funnel design, and has a hole at the bottom. I cant wait to take pictures when I get the piece.

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Anonymous said...

hey ironchef! you dont know the story at all!you must believe whatever they tell you dont you?i know for a fact there have been a lot of people that have gotten "reduced" rates on glass!so if your getting your info from the "office" then your getting smoke blown up yours! talk to some of the guys that work there or have worked there they know what goes on behind the glass doors!

AN employee

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sweetdoc said...

Whoa Iron chief TV Diner
At least 3 people from my clinic heard you make the
"special glass" cheap glass during the closure statement.
I don't know elizabeth but I do know if you are part of the young couple from Ga or NC you made statements about getting glass
at ridiculous prices.
Also someone Im not certain now this was over a year ago spoke of taking Blenko to the City for sale.
I'm certain you do have a much better knowledge of the factory than most.
I do know what I've written to be factual. I don't expect Glassdoc to publish my statement.

sweetdoc said...

One more thing I don't know how often you visit Blenko.
When I have been there
two or three customers during the 2 hours max.
100 customers a day? Maybe for a special event.

sweetdoc said...

IronchiefTV
If you are not a part of the 30ish couple then accept my apology.
If you are then you know
what is and isn't true.

Anonymous said...

MY COMMENTS ARE NOT SHOWING.

Heart of Glass said...

Note:
Please do no leave negative comments, ask yourself
would I be willing to say this
if people knew my identity?
If not, then don't make the comment.
Negative, and nasty comments do nothing to help Blenko.
Also they change nothing.
We are collectors we buy WV Glass few of us work for a Glass Company or have any influence.
Save the management tips and negative attitudes for another blog.
HJH

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Anonymous said...

I started reading this blog about two weeks ago and have very much enjoyed it. But now that I see all of this hate and anger about Blenko and how the collectors really "Act", I will not be coming back here anymore.

Heart of Glass said...

No more comments will be accepted on this subject.
No comments that attack another person.
Should you need to complain or praise Blenko employees
go to the factory or send an email to Blenko.

We're here to discuss glass, making glass in WV
and promote the WV Glass Factories and producers.
The focus is 99% Blenko until we run out of Blenko photos
then we move to other craftsmen or factories located in WV.

Anonymous said...

YOU SHOULD ALSO DELETE LINDA'S COMMENT.

lewisdvmphd said...

Each year this happens, many people visit Blenko then the comments, small people smaller minds.
Live with it.

Anonymous said...

For the person who said, they after 2 weeks stopped reading the blog due to nasty comments and mean evil people.
LMAO let me say you ain't seen nothing, the BCS was filled with backbiting and negatives.
Peace and harmony exist only in Hilary's mind.
Ellen

Dr.BOB said...

Hilary
Last year was my last year for the madness. I'll buy from the aftermarket.
My wife also heard the stories about inexpensive but vintage glass being sold at the factory to special people.
My thought is this happens at Fenton and we were once 'special people' at the Morgan Glass factory. A neighbor often brought special items from work for us to purchase. These events are common.
Sweetdoc is perhaps jealous.

Anonymous said...

Last year on 6/22 I posted a comment that addressed the issues mentioned ie The couploe being allowed to shower shave , eat and dress inside Blenko.
It was not published in the blog.
I offer this to say many people were aware of the boastful comments and 'cheaper special glass.'
My father owned a small grocery store in Lewisburg growing up he always told us to be very careful of " something for nothing" ie helpers who weren't on the payroll.
Are there others at Blenko performing these task? Are there workers on lay off who might do these tasks?
Gloria Dodd

lewisphddvm said...

Ms Dodd
As a member of the Blenko Project Garden group. I left my own clinic and work on 3 occassions to provide manual labor at Blenko Glass.
Sol came 6 or more times and brought a number of the ladies from this clinic. We worked very hard. We were not even offered a cold drink, nor did we ask for anything.
I may be mistaken but I believe Ms. Homburg designed the garden and paid for most all the plants in the front and in the back. Sol sent a truck load of mulch. No one to my knowledge received anything more than a Thank You from Ms. H.
The entry of Blenko glass was improved by 300% or more in the 2 l/2 years of this project.
As a group we were fired, without cause, when the current VP came into power.
As I read of the poor choices made by Blenko, I always laugh and think about how a group of giving volunteers were dismantled.
I came not to defend IronC
or anyone else, but to say "not all volunteers are looking for something." Also apparently not all volunteers are treated equally.
Another example is Hillary and this blog. The blog is 4 or 5 years old, the Blenko Project even older. We recently found out Hillary has never been offered free glass, or a discount on glass.
Sol and I became a part of the work crew to support Hillary. I feel certain her Mother - note this is the same lady Iron C spoke so highly of (not) in 2008 or 09- worked solely to support Hilary and because as they family they value West Virginia and see Blenko as a treasure that should be provided State and National funding.
Thank you for letting me let off steam.

Anonymous said...

LMAO
Lewis
I came for one work session on a Sunday. Several other blog readers
volunteered to assist Kay Humberg. I drove 8 hours spent the night prior in a hotel and the day after shopping for old glass.
Gloria and her Father are incorrect their assumptions.
I didn't know we were fired, I just stopped getting emails about work groups.
Terra G.

Anonymous said...

anyone have a 2010 and 2009 they want to part with?
I'll pay 950 for the two.
csampath377@gmail.com