Readers - Were you able to get a WV Birthday piece, Happy Afterhours vase or Moonshine jug?

If so, please share your experience and photos!
NOTE:  We're having an issue with blog uploads
I'll publish your photos in August when we know its working at 100%.
Please continue to send photos of the event and your pieces.

Blenko Limited Edition Moonshine Jug

For those of you who can't make it to Milton, there is a special edition piece being sold at the Capital Market in Charleston today - both in person and over the phone!

Birthday Peice on Sale tomorrow, 8am

The Visitor Center, located at 9 Bill Blenko Drive, Milton, will open 8 am tomorrow for the Birthday Piece Sale.  
Blenko is celebrating its 35th anniversary of creating the WV Birthday piece.
 This year’s birthday piece is called “Autumn Flame." This vase pays homage to the state’s trees.

The piece is limited to a quantity of 152 and will be sold for $152 plus tax. Each piece is hand signed by the designer Arlon Bayliss and Blenko President Walter Blenko, Jr.

Readers have reported there are already over 35 Blenko Die-Hards in Line!
Will you be there?

WV BIRTHDAY VASE / BLENKO GLASS

  Readers,
If you haven't made plans to visit Blenko for the WV Birthday Celebrations do so this day.
If you need info re: where to stay, what to wear, where to part the RV,
where to eat?
Email us we can help.
TheBlenkoProject@aol.com
You must be present and in line to receive a card that will allow you to purchase the vase.
Blenko Glass Company web site has all the info about this vase and also
other objects that will be sold during this weekend of celebration.
HJH
The lines for the Bday Vase are long...people start as early as Wednesday the day before....in the past as long as you arrive by 3am on Saturday you will be assured of receiving a vase. . . . each year the lines are longer.  Check with Blenko Glass to ask what they suggest.

BLENKO GLASS COMPANY - WV Birthday Celebration - You are Welcome to Join In

We've been doing the Blenko Project and this blog for nearly ten  years.
We are grateful to many collectors for their help in the development and of the Blenko Project and assisting with this blog.

I am especially grateful to Dr Vivek Yadav ( Penn State University) and Bruce Specht of Texas for their daily contributions.  Bruce and his family own one of the finest Blenko Collections.  He frequently shares photos and his extensive knowledge of Blenko with blog readers.
Dr Yadav is a PHD engineer, a researcher, and recently added glass blower to his list of skills.  . 

Our sole goal is to promote West Virginia Glass most especially BLENKO GLASS.   I've been a big fan of Blenko for more than 20 years.
Most everyone who visit the Blenko Glass Factory - visits with the talented craftsmen become a fan.  We do not buy or sell glass.   We have real jobs not pertaining to glass or selling glass.  We do assist Blenko Collectors with rehoming their glass or finding a particular Blenko item.  We are not employed by Blenko and receive no compensation of any type for Blenko Project or this blog.

Blenko Glass Company  is unique, its small, its friendly, its responsive.

I have yet to ask a craftsperson or an office person for assistance without getting a response.

Blenko Glass and Blenko Collectors are approachable and friendly if you don't collect, or have been fearful to call yourself a collector.
Consider joining Blenko for the WV Birthday Celebration.  If you don't feel like standing in line - - do what my Mom does ( she's over 65) go for the Friday Night Vase - its less expensive and you walk in and pick it 
up ...continue to shop while you are there.  Often time Mr Walter or Mr. Bill or Mr Andy Blenko will be there on Friday and Saturday to sign your glass.
I know the experts say signed glass isn't more value ............BUT....I'd rather have my glass signed. " It helps with the 'estate sale' later in life  "is a quote from Blenko Collector from Conn  Margie.

Every year the WV Birthday Vase is special and we all stand in long lines to purchase ....however since Arlon Bayliss began designing this vase.  It is UNIQUE and their is a story accompanying the vase.  Arlon Bayliss understands how important this item is to the Blenko Collector.
Acquiring the whole collection shouldn't be goal....its nearly impossible at this point.  We are now counting ten whole collections.
But  a goal could be owning all the vases designed by Bayliss - start now and add to your personal collection yearly.

Blenko - WVa Birthday Celebration - June 20th

This tradition began with a shared taxi in NYC.  

 

A Handmade Piece of History

West Virginia's 152nd Birthday WV Day Celebration Piece
Autumn Flame $152.00 each plus tax. Approx.. (12 1/4") High
Designer Quote - This year Blenko's WV birthday piece, pays homage to the states trees. "Their leaves in Spring and Summer refresh our air, and in the fall their parting gift is a dazzling blaze of color. They were here long before we were; and if we take care of them they will remain to shade and shelter long after we are gone". 
Available for Sale
 8am Saturday, June 20, 2015Only 152 Available for Purchase! Signed and Numbered byDesigner Arlon Bayliss and Walter Blenko.
One per person. Must be present at our Visitor Center to purchase.
No Advance Orders, No Phone Orders. No exceptions.
Excluded from discounts and coupons.Special gift shop hours 8 am to 5pm.

 

West Virginia Day Companion Pieces
Summer Shade and Spring At Last
 Two Companions to this years WV birthday vase were designed by Arlon Bayliss to continue homage to trees, a precious state resource. This pair of flattened, leaf shaped bottles represent foliage in summer and spring. 
SUMMER SHADE   is wonderfully blown in Desert Green
$55.00 9 3/4" High


The companion pieces will be available for purchase on Friday, June 19, at our Happy After Hours sale from 7pm to 9pm at our Visitor Center during the sale we will be offering 15% off your entire purchase during the special sale hours. Signing event with Arlon Bayliss and Walter Blenko. 



SPRING AT LAST is wonderfully blown in our new color Mountain Spring $55.00 9 3/4" High  
 



To order online
For our customers that can't make it to us we will be offering the companion pieces online starting on Saturday, June 20, at 12pm EST

Husted flame stoppered decanters-"big brother has arrived"

Husted flame stoppered decanters-"big brother has arrived"

 On the left is a Blenko Turquoise 6122S with it's Big Brother the Blenko 6122M in Amethyst. I located the Amethyst on Ebay and was able to clean it up after it arrived in a pretty dirty state. I really enjoy the elongated stoppers that  distinguish this design of Husted.

 Hope you enjoy too.
Bruce

Reader Has 80, 81, 82, 83, 84 and other WV Bday Vases for Sale

Hello.
Hillery I have about 20 WV Birthday Vases I need to sell.
My gmom was a collector she didn't go every year but she did have the first five and many others.
I'd like to have 1500$ for 80, 81, and $1000 for 82 - 85.  The others I'd like 500 to 850 for each piece, she has all the Bayliss pieces and many from the 90s . 
I'll try to send photos.
If there are collectors who wish to purchase I would like to know.
Do you think these prices are too high?  My gmom had written on a note that she turned down $1500 for 80 and and later turned down 1500 for 81
but perhaps prices have dropped?
Anna

Dear Anna,
   The value of glass / Blenko is determined by what the purchaser is willing to pay.  I have direct knowledge of a 1980 selling for $1650 in 1999.   We don't buy and sell glass at the www.blenkoproject.org  we do assist often readers and collectors with completing their collections by
connecting buyer with seller.
    Rehoming Blenko you no longer want or use is a good thing!
Please send photos and I'll post them here and forward you response from any interested person.
    Good Luck!   We have collectors needing 90 91 and 81 immediately.  I'll post this on the blog and forward you any email contacts.  Did your g-mom collect other WV Glass?
Hillary 

 

 

 

Husted Turquoise flame stoppered decanters

Husted Turquoise flame stoppered decanters

LArge grouping of Husted designed Flame Stoppered decanters. from the left is the Blenko #6310, Blenko #6122S, Blenko #6112, Blenko #627S, and Blenko # 627L. This is one of Shelley's favorite photos that I have taken to date.

Bruce S

Myers and Husted ground top vases

Myers and Husted ground top vases

 These two pieces have come home in the past several months from local dealers here in Weatherford, TX. and Oklahoma City, OK.  Shelley and I stumbled upon the Myers vase in OK but I wasn't sure of the identification on the piece until we returned home. I didn't buy it at the time and Shelley went out of her way to contact the dealer later and arrange the purchase and shipping. I was completely surprised to open a package on my birthday with this beauty inside. The Jonquil Husted design came from a dealer who I ended up purchasing another Myers designed vase from as well. On the left is the Myers designed Blenko #6923 in Tangerine and the Jonquil piece is a Husted designed Blenko #6317.

 Hope your readers enjoy too.
Bruce S

Predesigner Ruffle Vase from Bruce

Predesigner Ruffle Vase

As you are well aware by now I really enjoy finding the older designs of Blenko such as these examples of Predesigner vases. From the left is the Blenko #388 Footed ruffle vase in Lemon, Blenko #389 Ruffle topped vase in Ruby, and the Blenko #390 vase in Turquoise. I have several examples of the 388's and 390's but this is only the second #389 I have been able to locate and purchase. Ruby is always plus for any Blenko that I can find.

 Hope this will help your readers find one for their collections as well.

> Bruce Specht

Blenko Loves Blenko

This is the season for weddings!   If you haven't considered Blenko Glass,  go to the www.blenkoglass.com web pages and start to search for the ideal wedding gift.
To make this and most any BLENKO GLASS Company item even more special consider engraving your Blenko.
Blenko Glass can arrange to have this done for you, or you may contact ' A Touch of Glass  www.westvirginiaglass.com.   These ladies know glass and they are the best engravers in our area.
    Over the years I've had a dozen or more wedding gifts engraved. 
Blenko Glass has a gift for everyone and for every occasion.
     The ladies of Blenko headed by Christy Gibson consider customers as friends,  you'll be surprised at the attention your orders receive.
      HJH 

Some Brides enjoy receiving vases in their wedding colors!  Blenko has a wide variety of colors. 

To learn more about Blenko Glass Company located in Milton, WVa  visit the non profit site of The Blenko Project www.blenkoproject.org . 

Husted pulled spout decanters

Husted pulled spout decanters

 I have always enjoyed these pulled-spout designs by Husted and I know they must have been a challenge to execute. On the left is the Blenko #5921 and on the right is a Blenko #5823. Both of these are in Blenko's distinctive Tangerine.

Bruce S

Reader Glass ID

Reader Glass ID - Can you help ID this glass?

decanter approx 15" tall (13" w/o stopper)
thank you for any id help, also value?

Blenko to release commemorative annual birthday piece on June 20.

Taken from http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20150514/DM07/150519533/1420

TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL The commemorative piece is fired at Blenko Glass for West Virginia's 152nd statehood anniversary.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL Designer Arlon Bayliss looks over samples of his design at Blenko on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL Randy Rider, product supervisor, holds a numbered and signed commemorative piece for WV’s 152nd statehood anniversary that he created on May 14, 2015.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL Arlon Bayliss’ design is shown here, in the mold that the molten glass will be cast into, at Blenko on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL Arlon Bayliss looks over his designs at Blenko on Thursday, May 14, 2015. Bayliss has been designing the commemorative statehood birthday pieces for eight years.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL Daniel Chapman, who has been hand making glass molds at Blenko for 25 years of his 37 years being employed at Blenko, carves a mold on Thursday, May 14, 2015. He made the commemorative piece for WV’s 152nd statehood anniversary this year out of cherry wood.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL Each commemorative Autumn Flame is numbered and signed for WV’s 152nd statehood anniversary.

 TOM HINDMAN/DAILY MAIL The Autumn Flame, a commemorative piece for WV’s 152nd statehood anniversary, is displayed at Blenko Glass Company on Thursday, May 14, 2015.

MILTON — The Autumn Flame, an oak leaf laced with a golden amber and traced with the gradually fading tangerine red along the rim and base, embodies not only the unique skillset of Blenko Glass Company’s production team, but an aspect of the state’s natural beauty as well.

Standing about a foot tall, the annual Blenko state birthday piece is designed to pay homage to the state as West Virginia reaches 152 years of statehood.

To continue the tradition that began in the 1980s, only 152 Autumn Flame pieces are being released.

As production of Blenko’s 152nd birthday celebration piece slowly comes to a close, anticipation is rising as the final pieces in this year’s collection are manufactured and stored for their release.

Arlon Bayliss, retired instructor of glass studies and designer of each birthday piece for the last eight years, said creating a piece that represents the state and Blenko as a whole was more challenging than he expected.

“When I think about the theme of West Virginia or what’s important to West Virginia, I think about the countryside or the people of West Virginia: things that are natural resources,” Bayliss said.

Bayliss said though he was initially fixated on a tree shape for the year’s design, after producing a model and sending it to Blenko, he settled for a leaf shape, which would translate easily into an off-center vase or bottle.

“Oftentimes leaves are curved or bent and they look like they’re blowing in the wind, so I wanted to make the shapes lively and fresh and interesting, as well as the colors,” Bayliss said.

Bayliss said the company chose to pursue a red instead of the usual blues and yellows; something rare for the state piece.

“It was a joy to play with Blenko’s colors and to think about which color choice to make,” Bayliss said. “Often for us the problem is not finding a good color but choosing from several good solutions, and we have to get really fussy about our choices.”

“Blenko’s known for our tangerine red,” added Randy Rider, production supervisor. “We’ve never had — in 35 years — a tangerine piece.”

Bayliss said this year’s design was based on oak leaves, which account for 60 percent of the state’s foliage.

Although Blenko does seek profit from the state pieces, Bayliss and Rider agreed that designing a “knockout” piece was the primary concern.

“Designing and making the West Virginia piece is a really interesting challenge because every year we try to make something that’s different to the previous year,” Bayliss said. “As the designer, what I’m trying to do is to show what Blenko is capable of. I try to show the variety of skills that the glass workers have.”

In order to create each unique shape, the glass is first gathered from the furnace where it reaches a heated 2,100 degrees. Once the glass is heated thoroughly, it’s placed into a hand-carved mold made of cherry wood.

The molds are placed then in water to prevent further burns. Each mold lasts for about 200 to 300 pieces.

The glass blower then proceeds to blow a modest amount of air into the stem of the glass to expand from the inside out.

“When the hot glass is blown into the mold, the glass blower has to be really careful about the distribution of glass so that it’s got the right thickness and shape,” Bayliss said.

The glass is then taken off the rod and chilled with water around the top before the piece is cut. Lifted by the base by a second metal rod, the rod’s glass tip balances the shaping piece.

Glass is then placed in the “glory hole” to be reheated and manipulated into the proper shape.

“Sometimes it requires bending, sometimes it requires tweezering,” Bayliss said. “Once the piece is finished, it can’t just be put away. It has to cool down gradually from 1,000 degrees.”

The piece is then placed on a fork stick and carried to the lehr, a special glass cooling kiln. Achieving room temperature takes approximately five hours before a sticker is hand-placed on a spot unique for each product.

Determining if the glass is perfect is a skill Rider has honed over his 35 years at Blenko, Bayliss said.

“It’s a craft and a skill, and I love it,” Rider said. “There’s nothing like Blenko.”

“Like a lot of highly-skilled people, he’s always up for a challenge,” Bayliss said.

Rider recalled the day he started at Blenko with fondness.

“I interviewed that morning and went to work that evening. It was the best decision I ever made in my life other than marrying my wife,” Rider said.

Although every day is an adventure for Rider, he said he especially looked forward to Bayliss’ visits and the challenges that followed.

“I wake up before the alarm starts,” Rider said. “He stretches my abilities and makes me better.”

Bayliss said one of the most motivating aspects of the entire project comes from the collectors’ enthusiasm for their state and love for Blenko.

“I guarantee the day or the night before, collectors will be lining up and asking: ‘What are you going to do for next year? What do you have in mind for next year?’ And then they start telling us what they would like and they have their own ideas for what would be a good idea,” Bayliss said.

Bayliss added that the state’s value of environment and wildlife were visible in all aspects of the operation.

“West Virginia really treasures its national forests. They’re hugely important to the state and if it weren’t for the trees we wouldn’t have any of the wildlife or hunting,” Bayliss said. “The whole life cycle is rooted around trees.”

This year, Bayliss said Blenko would continue to release two additional companion pieces for the series, a trend that started two years ago.

The flattened Summer Shade, blown in Desert Green, and the Spring At Last, blown in Mountain Spring, a debuting shade, will cost $55 plus tax.

The Autumn Flame, which will release on June 20, will be $152 plus tax and is excluded from discounts and coupons.

Each piece will be signed and numbered by Bayliss and company owner Walter Blenko and will be available at the Blenko Visitor Center. Customers must be present to purchase the Autumn Flame but may purchase the companion pieces offline at midnight on June 20.

- See more at: http://www.charlestondailymail.com/article/20150514/DM07/150519533/1420#sthash.alAfBrob.dpuf

Sunday feature - Brenda Ellis

Sunday feature - Brenda Ellis

Readers:
I want to introduce you to  a Blenko Employee and Her ( yes HER) work.  We ask her to send a brief bio and some photos of her work to share with you.
Hillary



Dear Hillary,

Thank you for your interest in my pieces - I'm honored.


I was born in Huntington but grew up in Vicksburg, Mississippi.  As a little girl, I can still remember the magical, yet calming effect of sunlight pouring through the stained glass windows at our church.  So for as long as I can remember, I've been facinated with color and glass.
At seventeen, I moved back to Huntington to attend Marshall University.  In the photography lab at Marshall,  I spent many hours in the darkroom experimenting with exposure and contrast to distinguish my photographs from the other students.  Five of these prints were chosen during my freshman year to be displayed at the Huntington Museum of Art.

I've always enjoyed creating objects with my hands - whether it is designing original needlepoint canvases to reflect my choices in color, pattern and texture to constructing elaborate murals and stained glass mobiles.

Nearly two years ago I began working at Blenko as the quality control inspector.  I was immediately drawn to the challenge of transforming molten glass into pieces of usable and decorative items with the same basic tools that were used thousands of years ago.  Working at Blenko Glass has given me the opportunity to hone this skill and pursue my passion of creating unique and colorful pieces of art glass.  For over 120 years Blenko Glass has rightfully earned the respect and admiration of glass lovers throughout the world and I'm proud to be a part of this small company that provides an invaluable contribution to West Virginian culture.



I will send photographs of some of my favorite pieces, but if you would like a certain picture, please let me know.

Once again, thank you.
Brenda Ellis

We've ask Brenda for more photos - which we'll publish here - when they arrive.   If you visit the Blenko Glass Visitors Center - gift shop ask if
Brenda Ellis' paper weights and other objects of art are available for purchase.
Happy Shopping!   Remember when you purchase Blenko Glass.  Each items is handcrafted for you by the talented men and women working under the dynamic Randy Rider with the goal of making quality one of a kind items for You.
Buy Made in USA when possible.

Blenko Project www.blenkoproject.org

The Blenko Project is seeking applications for Board member.  We have two vacancies.
If you have interest please send email with your area of interest to
theblenkoproject@aol.com.
We are also seeking a volunteer with computer / IT skills to assist with the backload of email.  If you have this set of skills and four or five hours you
can donate each month please contact us at the above address.
HJH

Blenko - WV Birthday Vases

Do you collect the WV Birthday Vases?
If so we now have information on 80 - 85 that are for sale
and several ( 10) others.
Also Tammy Fowler from Trophy Antiques in Charleston
has the 81  and  three other Birthday Vases.

Let us know what you need to complete your collection and we'll add to our list and notify you when a collector is selling.

IF your WV Birthday Vase collection is complete please allow us to record your name and state to our list of folks who own -  Birthday Vase Complete Set.

We continue to have issues with 'blogger'  hopefully this will be corrected in the next few days. 
Thank you.
HJH

Husted and Baugh?

This was article  sent to us by

Blog follower Dr Maggie
Hillery, we know you adore Wayne Husted as do we - saw this post and thought it would be appropriate for blog readers.
Happy to help.
Maggie
Baugh ’53 decanter selected for Cooper-Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum collection 4/23/15 A Blenko Glass Co. decanter and stopper, whose concept, design, and execution are attributed to Betty Baugh, AU Class of 1953, was selected for a Cooper-Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum collection this past winter. The Cooper-Hewitt, which was renovated and reopened in December 2014, is the only museum in the nation devoted exclusively to historic and contemporary design. Housed in the former residence of Andrew Carnegie, the museum has undergone a transformative renovation over the past three years to restore its historic splendor and create 60 percent more gallery space in which to present 210,000-piece collection and showcase major design exhibitions. The museum opened to the public on Dec. 12, 2014 with 10 inaugural exhibitions and new visitor experiences featuring breakthrough technologies. The Cooper-Hewitt website notes: “The Blenko Glass Company represents the combination of technological advances in glassmaking with original designs noted for their focus on color, a key element of the glassware’s impact….The company earned national recognition, especially for the creation of a strong ruby red glass that could be double fired. Red, a notoriously fugitive color in glass, was generally unstable could not be fired a second time. Blenko’s glass could be double fired without loss of color, which enabled enamel decorators to paint on it. William Blenko, the company’s founder, patented the formula in 1924, ensuring its popularity with enamellers. “The subsequent decision to launch a glass tableware line meant this color entered a field previously reserved for ceramics….. Although the work of the company’s first designers achieved much critical acclaim, the designers were largely uncredited until Blenko hired company’s first design director, Winslow Anderson, in 1947. The role of design director was progressive for its time, as it was unusual to have a full time in-house position providing overall design direction to a firm’s output. Subsequent design directors, Wayne Husted, Joel Philip Myers, and John Nickerson, were all involved in the Studio Glass movement, as innovators or practitioners …. “The technical achievements of this decanter design, developed under Husted’s design direction, are ones of color and form. The tangerine-to-yellow effect results from the part of the heat-reactive glass going back into the fire to create the tangerine color while the part kept away from the fire remains yellow. “The form comes from the glass being blown between two pieces of ornate crown molding, creating a flat form shaped by the negative of the molding. The tangerine and double color pieces became some of Blenko’s best sellers produced during Husted’s time, even though he may have preferred his designs with uniform color. This decanter’s striking colors, combined with its undulating narrow form and irregular surface, shows a sense of the budding Studio Glass movement. “According to Husted, his ex-wife, Betty Baugh, was responsible for the concept, design, and execution of the decanter. Baugh, who trained as an industrial designer, produced glass designs for companies such as Anchor Hocking and Libbey. This is her only design for Blenko …. “ The decanter and stopper are dated 1956 and listed at the Cooper-Hewitt as Design # 566, glass - See more at: http://www.alfred.edu/pressreleases/viewrelease.cfm?ID=11325#sthash.87Zu4cVp.dpuf
Google search found the following about Betty Baugh.
Betty Baugh Design is an industrial design consultancy based in San Francisco, CA credited with developing award-winning product designs in glassware, metal, ceramics, housewares, foodservice, decorative accessories home products and architectural interiors. Headed by Betty Baugh FIDSA, she brings new design methodology in form development, tooling molds/patterns and prototypes to her work for clients including Nambe L.L.C., Gibson Overseas, Inc. Rogaska Slatina Glass, Focus Electrics, Libbey Glass, Anchor Hocking Glass, Lancaster Glass, Colony Glass, Owens Corning Fiberglass, Black & Decker, Progressive International, Villeroy & Boch, William Sonoma and Microsoft. Her glass architectural applications include concepts for USG Interiors and installations in the San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank and Comerica Bank in San Jose, CA.

Betty received her degrees from the NY State College of Industrial Design at Alfred University and Stephens College. She has served as an Industrial Design Instructor at California College of the Arts, (CCA), San Francisco Academy of Arts and guest Industrial Design lecturer at San Francisco State University, San Jose State University, Pasadena Art Center, Arizona State University and the University of Kansas. As a guest lecturer, she conducted a Housewares Workshop at LG Electronics in Seoul, Korea was a guest speaker at the International Design Forum at Dongguan in the Guangdong Province, China, and the ICSID design Forum, in Santiago, Chile.


Betty Baugh’s leadership role as an independent design consultant has included all aspects of product design while also serving as a leader in the design community. Betty was recognized internationally by being elected President of the Industrial Designers Society of America. She also represented the IDSA membership as a delegate to the ICSID (International council of Societies of Industrial Design) conferences in Seoul, Korea, Sidney, Australia, and Toronto, Canada.

Her work has received awards from the Toledo Museum, The Tacoma Washington Museum, was nominated for a product design award at the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, The Northwest Industrial Design Invitational and has been

Decanter at Afred University

Bella Boca

Arlon Bayliss -   Bella Boca!   Blenko Glass doesn't get better than this!