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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.

Monday, September 25, 2017

Breast Cancer Awareness

The diagnosis of cancer, can be frightening.  It alters the life of the family and their friends.
In this month of Breast Cancer Awareness why not purchase a special PINK Blenko vase for your friend, survivor, or caregiver.   
Kindness isn't the cure, but it does make a large difference.  Small random acts of kindness during the illness.  


The 2017 Blenko Glass Co. Breast Cancer Awareness Vase
In prior years Blenko made a pink pumpkin to support Breast Cancer research. For 2017, we offer a new shape. The Breast Cancer Awareness vase is approximately 6-7 inches in height. Each vase is uniquely hand made so they will vary. The base of each vase will be marked "BLENKO" with our hand logo and the year 2017. The price is $55 with $5 from each sale going to local breast cancer research and support. Vases may be purchased at the Blenko Visitors Center in Milton, WV or on line at shop.blenko.com under the listing of special editions.  ( see Blenko Glass Facebook for additional info).

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Blog Reader sends Blenko Glass Facebook post. Rolling Pins. Heart of Glass Blog

Hillery,
You goofed big time.  You failed to let us know about the Blenko Glass Rolling Pin.  I want one now, is it too late?
Roxie 
Extremely Limited Quantity of "Rarely Seen" Glass Rolling Pins now available at shop.blenko.com
*Approx. 15'' long
*One end closed, the other opened and rough ground
*$69 each...
*We plan to make more of these in the future.

See More

Roxie,
I also want this item!  Let me know what you find out!  
Weekly we encourage folks to follow the Blenko Glass Facebook pages.  A young gentleman named Travis host this site.   Travis has daily connections to Blenko Glass.
We work full time at a profession not related to BLENKO GLASS.
The Blenko Glass Collectors  -  The Blenko Glass Four -  and many other sites are available on the net.  We suggest you read them and follow when appropriate.
Thank you for sharing this post.  We are now sharing it on the blog.
We WELCOME all information and photos about Blenko - and we most often publish your
photos or guest post.
Thank you.
HJH  

Monday, September 18, 2017

Blenko Glass Company. Blenko Hand Carved Blenko Cameo Glass . Blenko Glass Blog Heart of Glass

Our first ever piece of the New Hand Carved Blenko Cameo Glass is being offered through our ver
Our first ever piece of the New Hand Carved Blenko Cameo Glass is being offered through our version of an online auction done ONLY via email. Auction begins now and ends Tuesday, October 11 at 9AM. Auction rules and stipulations can be seen below. This is sure to be a highly sought after item. Bid early, Bid often by sending your name, phone number and bid to dsix@blenkoglass.com
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Sunday, September 17, 2017

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog. Blenko Glass Co. Milton, WVa

" LIFE IS EITHER A DARING ADVENTURE OR NOTHING AT ALL"    Helen Keller


It is said life is what we make of it.....
If you haven't taken the children and grandchildren to Blenko Glass Milton, W.Va.   Let me invite you to start planning this adventure.
www.blenkoglass.com   
Blenko Glass has a yearly calendar associated with their website.  The calendar has all major Blenko Glass events marked.    
Blenko is open daily and the observation tour is open for viewing most weekdays.  
Most children prefer going to Blenko when an event is happening....but you'll know your children, gkids, and how they react to crowds.   You'll want to come prepared with food for the ducks or a small fishing pole....bring your lunch and eat on the picnic tables in the glass garden.   The Glass Garden** has been revamped and spruced up by Dean Six & Co.  it is a lovely tree lined area with a small pond flowing near by.
Blenko Glass  let your childlike wonder be reignited!



* As a child I preferred going when there were no crowds and I could intently observe the craftsmen working.  My Dad and I always brought food for the ducks, and on occasion I would make brownies for Mr. Red - stain glass division.  He frequently helped me find scrap pieces of Ruby Glass for my small stain glass projects.  Life was simple.   
www.blenkoproject.org   to learn more about the history of Blenko Glass and to view a large collection of Blenko Glass catalogs.   The Blenko Project.
**  The Glass Garden was designed by Joel Phillip Myers at the request of Ms. Marion Blenko. Ms Blenko was an avid gardener and enjoy the more exotic shrubs and trees.  Blenko Glass has been used by gardeners to enhance their  green space for decades.    While Blenko does not promote the use of Blenko Glass outdoors - in my own family we have glass in the garden that precedes  my birth.    Occasionally a deer or raccoon will knock over and break an item, but thus far the elements of weather has not harmed the  Blenko Glass  in my Dad's garden.








Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog. WVa and American Glass.

Blenko Glass Company
Handcrafted in America since 1893

Discounted and Discontinued glass is  available at the Visitors Center on the shelves near the wall.

Recently  the Blenko Glass online store is also offering 'discounted and discontinued' items.  You'll want to weekly check www.blenkoglass.com www.blenkoglass.com  for these items.

This container was mostly recently among the items offer at discount.  
Its frequently less expensive to purchase from Blenko Glass  than to purchase on ebay or other sources.  

n

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog. Changes at Blenko



"  To improve is to change,  to be perfect is to change often."   Winston Churchill 


Hillery,
 You don't seem to write about the changes at Blenko.  Each time I come for a festival or event it seems there are changes.  Old  long time people leaving and new people, or changes to everything.
Can you start to write about the factory.  Who is in charge now and what is the future looking like?
Sam Tyree

Sam,
  We haven't heard from you in a good while.  I trust everything is good with your parents.  
Blenko continues to evolve and grow.  Most of the results of the changes are good.   Most folks dislike change of any kind.
I think this is very common, the fear or dislike of change.
    You are correct - its been a long time since I focused on the factory workers.   Truth be told, its been a good while since I've been to Blenko.   This week  I did ask several of the volunteers if they would collect photos of the factory workers and forward any information they picked up.
     What I do know is Blenko is alive, and well, and needs all of us promote the Hand Crafted Made In USA Glass they make.    I believe the  most important changes happened less than  2 years ago when Mr. Walter Blenko CEO recruited Dean Six and Ron Hinkle to take charge of the day to day operation of Blenko Glass.  *
Dean Six  who is considered by most to be one of the most prominent experts on American glass.
He has written books on the topic.   ( look for a post about Dean Six in Sept).

Over 520 beautiful color photographs display the fine quality, distinctive, handmade, modern glassware produced by the Viking Glass Company of New Martinsville, West Virginia, from 1944 to 1970. Viking animals, baskets, candelabras, novelties, smoking items, tablewares, and vases are shown in various patterns, cuttings, etchings, and other decorations, including Banford, Burlap, Crackle, Encore, Meadow Wreath, Three Foils, and Viking Star. Thorough listings of the Viking product lines, from Ancestral to Tundra, are accompanied by a company history, an extensive bibliography, index, and current market values. This book is a must for everyone with an appreciation for fine quality glassware.
Dean Six as we mentioned is the author or contributor for more than a dozen books about American Glass.   The avid collector will want to purchase all the Dean Six books for their reference library.


Ron Hinkle came on about the same time .You probably know and have purchased Ron Hinkle Glass.   He is known nation wide for his exquisite glass creations.
Hinkle had a long history of working in Glass Factories prior to his 10+ years as a successful entrepreneur  with DYING ART GLASS.
  * Ron Hinkle  in May of this year returned to his studio.   If you don't yet own Hinkle Glass,  please view his website.  Ron Hinkle is a West Virginia Treasure.   His glass work is reasonably priced and has a long history of increasing in after market price.   Below is a link for Ron Hinkle Glass.   

Ron Hinkle Glass



Address: Sago Road, Buckhannon WV 26201


Phone: 304.472.7963


Description: Discover history and be entertained at the same time.  Hand crafted glass comes to life through the use of variety of tools in the hands of master craftsman Ron Hinkle.  Techniques have been handed down for centuries from master craftsmen from around the world.
Factory Tours and Demonstrations are given Monday - Friday from 9 AM until 3 PM. You may also visit the Gallery and Studio Monday - Friday from 9 AM until 5 PM and Saturdays from 9 AM - 2 PM.

Friday, September 08, 2017

Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog. Gifts Under $20

 Some ten years ago as a freshman, I recall the person I admired most was University President David Hardesty.    President Hardesty frequently said 'wear your colors'....meaning the Blue and Gold of our great State University.

As a WV Glass collector and promoter  I see no better way to " wear your colors"  than the Blenko Glass T-Shirts now being sold online and in the Milton, W.Va gift shop.   This is one of the best designs and we think its a T-Shirt that most everyone would enjoy owning.   Available for under $20 and in several colors.

Sunday, September 03, 2017

Labor Day Holiday! Blenko Glass. Heart of Glass Blog.

RED.  WHITE.  BLUE   are you using your Blenko Glass this holiday?   If you don't own Red, White and Blue Blenko.   There is still time to place an order  www.blenkoglass.com.  The online store is open 24/7.

Over the years a number of designers have created special pieces with all three colors - most highly collectable are the Wayne Husted design.
However, most of us just use a combination of individual pieces of red and blue ( Blenko has the most beautiful ruby glass).  

Using your Blenko and WV Glass as a part of your daily and special holiday décor is a
"good thing."   Its also provides an opportunity to tell your gkids and others about the history of each item you are using.


Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September, that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers. It was first nationally recognized in 1894 to placate unionists following the Pullman Strike. With the decline in union membership, the holiday is generally viewed as1882, Matthew Maguire, a machinist, first proposed the holiday while serving as secretary of the CLU (Central Labor Union) of New York. Others argue that it was first proposed by Peter J. McGuire of the American Federation of Labor in May 1882,[ after witnessing the annual labour festival held in Toronto, Canada.[ Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday on February 21, 1887. By the time it became a federal holiday in 1894, thirty states officially celebrated Labor Day.

Following the deaths of a number of workers at the hands of the U.S. military and U.S. Marshals during the Pullman Strike, the United States Congress unanimously voted to approve rush legislation that made Labor Day a national holiday; President Grover Cleveland signed it into law a mere six days after the end of the strike.[ The September date originally chosen by the CLU of New York and observed by many of the nation's trade unions for the past several years was selected rather than the more widespread International Workers' Day because Cleveland was concerned that observance of the latter would be associated with the nascent Communist, Syndicalist and Anarchist movements that, though distinct from one another, had rallied to commemorate the Haymarket Affair in International Workers' Day.   All U.S. states, the District of Columbia, and the territories have made it a statutory holiday. a time for barbeques and the end of summer vacations

To take advantage of large numbers of potential customers free to shop, Labor Day has become an important sale weekend for many retailers in the United States. Some retailers claim it is one of the largest sale dates of the year, second only to the Christmas season's Black Friday.  Phone Blenko Glass or check website for gift shop hours during this holiday.   Remember the online store is open 24/7. 


Ironically, because of the importance of the sale weekend, some of those who are employed in the retail sector not only work on Labor Day, but work longer hours. More Americans work in the retail industry than any other, with retail employment making up 24% of all jobs in the United States.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that of those employed in the retail sector, only 3% are members of a Labor Union.

*  The above is from wiki and  was provided by Steve  - a Webmaster and Blenko Project friend.  Steve.  Steve reports he couldn't find photos of the Husted red/white/and blue glass so he sent 3 photos of glass.