June 20th West Virginia will be 150 years old, and as always Blenko will be making a special WV birthday piece. Below are some words about it from the designer, Arlon Bayliss.
Written by Arlon Bayliss:
150th Birthday Piece:
“Birthday Hearts for West Virginia”
Loving 150 years of West Virginia.
Blenko has put their heart and soul into making a special commemorative piece to mark the 150thBirthday of West Virginia.
Designer Arlon Bayliss writes:
We wanted this piece to be extra special. As I thought about a theme for this important Blenko Birthday piece, my mind kept returning to how West Virginians hold each other in their hearts; to their generosity, hard work and love. The priceless skills of our mold-makers and blowers have led to a remarkable commemorative piece that not only celebrates love, but is made with love too.
Made of turquoise and crystal glass, to represent a mountaineer’s freedom, this eleven-inch tall, ballooning vase expands with billowing hearts from a narrow base to broad rounded shoulders, and a generous flared rim.
Blenko “hearts” West Virginia, and West Virginia “hearts” Blenko!
15 comments:
Wow, if that wire cage is the actual mold then I am blown away, (pun intended.) One of the other photos shows the piece on a pontil rod so it is not just a case to get it to the lehr. Imagine the control it would take to get the glass to stop expanding at just the right spot. Bravo Blenko for thinking outside the box. This will be a sought after piece for years to come. I am certain the line will start forming early for this piece.
agree, If the wire mesh is the mold, blenko out did it self.
This is amazing
more photos?
Hillary
this was worth the wait.
zRANDY RIDER ONCE AGAIN PROOVES HE IS AWESOME
zzzzzzzzzzzyyjtrr
yjtrr
three cheers to Randy Rider
and also to Ronnie Mounts he's the shop foreman who most probably made the metal mold.
Go Blenko.
Elle
I want to sell the birthday vases I own
80 to 84 $1500 each
85 to 95 $ 850
95 to 2000 $500
2000 to 2010 $450
2010 to 2012 $400
I do not have 87 89 or 82.
Otherwise I have everything.
Hilary I am sending my contact info to your blenkoproject@aol.com address
George D.
AWESOME AWESOME
WONDERFUL
WHAT ELSE WILL BLENKO SALE?
150 WILL GO TOO FAST.
who is the person helping Ronnie>
Thank you we plan to arrive on Tuesday afterwork.
See you there.
Hilary will you be there?
Susan P
The gentleman helping Ron is Daniel Chapman, mold carver for Blenko. This vase is outstanding, I have seen it from the prototypes that Arlon tweaked to the finished product. The Randy Rider team making this years vase has many talented craftsmen on it, from Perry Bays, blower, to Justin Chafin, stickup, and Jim Cremeans, gatherer, they are all talented. I know that team Rider has done at least 2 of the last 3 WV Birthday pieces, speaks well of the talent in that shop. Blenko has knocked it out of the park this year, no disappointments.
AMAZING A NEW BAR HAS BEEN SET!
What else is going to be offered?
More info plz
I miss those men!! Randy is great!
Hillary nice to see you are still doing this blog.
Can't wait to see the finished piece.
Hillary I just sent you a message..
Tammy Kosla
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