NO! These are not Williamsburg designs or even Blenko Glass.
This is the work of Vivek, an post doc scholar at Penn State University who like most of us loves glass.
Vivek has taken his love of glass to the next level, he now attends a glass making workshop and also goes weekly with a glass partner to try new things.
Several years ago my Dad and I did the full day at Blenko Glass attempting to make glass - the two of us made ( with a great deal of help from Randy Rider) three pieces.
From this experience I became more aware of the skill each member of the team needs - and I realized whatever the cost...the handcrafted excellent products from Blenko are worth what ever the asking price.
Glass is a difficult medium. My admiration of glassworkers is a big part of why we do the Blog.
Blenko Glass is unique. It is made in West Virginia, it is made by family men - men who hunt, fish, coach soft ball, bowl. Men who are involved in our communities. .
When you support ( by buying new glass) Blenko Glass you enrich our community and our State.
Be proud to gift Made In West Virginia items and most especially Blenko Glass.
If like Vivek, you want to make glass - Blenko offers courses each year, Check out the
www.blenkoglass.com website.
Thank you for reading. Thank you for your comments and even your criticism. Both Vivek and I work full time. The blog and the website are all volunteer activities.
Should you have time to volunteer we welcome you.
theblenkoproject@aol.com.
#### Update from Vivek ####
Here is photo of progression of wine glasses. It took 4 weeks, 1.5 hours a week as gaffer to get to this stage. The first 3 are from week 2 and 3, and last one is from week 4. If you like to improve your glass skills, you should take/register for classes as often as possible.
Week 1, made nothing, goblet cracked and feet kept falling.
Week 2, made the ones where foot fell off.
Week 3, shortened the stem, and got heat/flash right for the foot.
Week 4, the wine glass with longer stem.
I will start stretching stem more, and make glass bigger in up coming weeks.
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