Blenko Glass Blog. Heart of Glass.

Blenko Employees and Friends  - Vintage Photo

The Blenko Project IS SEEKING  Webmaster and volunteers to identify and help new collectors label their Blenko.
We have a need for person(s) with ability to identify glass - we'll provide catalogs
and data base.  We currently have 10 people - who have been doing more than the 3 hours per week that was their volunteer agreement.
We also need a webmaster - or someone with computer skills to help with keeping TheBlenkoProject www.blenkoproject.org  up to date and also add the bio data for former employees
and bios and photos for designers.
We are about 8 months behind in identifying glass and in updating the Web Site.

Please write to theblenkoproject@aol.com  if you have interest.
If you have volunteered in past we welcome your return.
Thank You
HJH

Blenko Glass Blog. Heart of Glass. Water Bottle Week.

Our inaugural Water Bottle Week is 23- 29 January, 2017. Nothing has become more icon for Blenko glass, and perhaps for West Virginia glass, than our classic #384 water bottle made since 1938! We have set aside one entire week to celebrate and play with this form.

Blenko will offer Make Your Own water bottle classes, follow us on social media to learn the registration date, etc.There will be a photo contest open to the public for images of water bottle collections, water bottles in use, etc. Two winning photos will be awarded a cash prize and those images will then be used by Blenko to produce postcards for sale in the company store. We will have photo opportunities with our very own living, talking human Water Bottle. Did we mention this is a FUN event? Special editions of color, new colors, and playful adaptation of the form will all be offered for sale in the company store. The event is a must for those who enjoy or love our #384 water bottles.

 

Almost immediately on the heels of the Water Bottle Week Blenko celebrates an entire month of The Animal Kingdom. We are making offhand and dump mouded animals calling upon our past to fill our ark of diverse critters. We will open our on-site and on-line efforts to populate a glass zoo at your home Wednesday February 1. Handmade penguins, large cast walrus, small whales, and on the list goes.

Follow us on social media to catch sightings of the animals we are making in anticipation of the event. Plan to visit us in Milton or go on your own safari on line to bag some Blenko members of the animal kingdom!

Exciting days are in store for you from the hot furnaces of Blenko Glass and our skilled artisans. Be sure to join us this winter.

contact us at dsix@blenkoglass.com with comments or questions

 Photos of Blenko Water Bottles from our Blog -  The Water bottle is said to be the most versatile item in the Blenko Glass line.  It is the longest running item in the Blenko Glass Company's line.

Big and Little - we use both or liquids and for holding flowers from our gardens.

This one was created for the MARSHALL UNIVERSITY FANS

The WVU - Water bottles can now be seen frequently at WVU Football pre and post game parking lot events.

This is another simple variation - frosted Water Bottle

Etched and Painted 

Blenko Glass Blog . The Heart of Glass

Since 2005,  I've written about the lovely lake and grounds surrounding Blenko Glass.  In 2007  The Blenko Project volunteers began an effort to add plants to the front of the factory and to 'spruce up' the grounds.  This was a group of about 15 - usually 3-4 at a time who went one or two days a week the first year, and one day a week 2008 -2009.   We have a couple master gardener folks, but mostly collectors with real day time jobs, who gave up a few hours each week  to give back to Blenko Glass.

The factory also had many employees volunteer,  Sue and Mary from shipping,  several of the clerks in the gift shop and 2 maintenance gentlemen.   This group added the circle of flowers in front of the gift shop entrance and added perennials to the BLENKO GLASS sign area in the middle of the parking lot.   BUT mostly they cut back and pulled weeds.   After November 2009, Blenko took over these projects.   

Most recently,  Dean Six with support from the Blenko Family has revamped the Blenko Glass Garden.   Using mostly Blenko Glass, using items you may purchase and use in your own garden.

The panels were designed and installed when Joel Myers was the Blenko Glass designer, and until Dean Six 's 2015-16 upgrade not much had changed since Ms. Marion Blenko decided to turn the area into a horticultural delight - Ms. Blenko ordered and had planted exotic ( for the time, and for West Virginia) and expensive trees and shrubs.  Until her death, it was Red Powers ( 2nd generation Blenko employee) responsibility to keep the area clean and properly pruned.

This area has a remarkable history -  it is  a focal point, and one you can visit with your school age children. Our readers report going several times and 'stealing' ideas for their own yards or the public yards they assist with as Community Gardeners.

The Lake, the Swans, ( Ducks), the glass....you will find something here to delight most everyone in your party.

Photos of the Blenko Glass Garden ( taken in 2016)   

 

BLENKO GLASS BLOG . The Heart of Glass

The Heart of Glass Blog - since 2005.   Blenko Glass.
It looks as if the weather will be nice for the First Annual Blenko Water Bottle Event!
We hope you are making plans to attend. 

January 23-27, 2017

Our Inaugural Water Bottle event. All you ever wanted to know about Blenko’s iconic 1930s designed Water Bottle.  Photo contest of images showing 384 in use or as “art”, special edition water bottles, contests, prizes and more.  A must for those who enjoy or love our #384 water bottles. NEW PRODUCTS introduced.
BLOW YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE CLASSES
Upon reviewing our staffing possibilities we will only be able to offer the blow your own water bottles on Friday Jan 27th as a part of our Water Bottle Week.
Class sessions held will begin at 9am, 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2pm. Please arrive a half hour prior to your class time to get checked in. Each class will be limited to 10 participants. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. Each class will cost $49 to make a regular 384 water bottle and $45 to make a mini 384 water bottle, should a cancellation be necessary Blenko will retain $10 and refund $39 or $35. ALL classes will make our regular 384 water bottle except ONE of the classes at 10:30am and one of the classes at 2pm, which will make the 384 mini water bottle.
WATER BOTTLE NIGHTLIGHT CLASS
We will offer two section of our popular Make A Water Bottle Lamp class on Friday January 27. A 10am class will guide participants through making an electric lamp with our classic 384 water bottle as the main element. It fits on a handmade wooden base. The second class will begin at 1pm and will feature making a nightlight with wooden base using the 384 mini-water bottle. Both classes are limited to 15 people. The full size water bottle class will cost $54 each and the mini water bottle class will cost $49 each.
Sign-ups will begin Tuesday, Jan 3, 2017 at 8am and are reserved on a first call in basis. Class spaces are limited. The class registration usually fills quickly, but the final date for registering would be Jan 20th at 3pm should there be any available spaces

Blenko Glass Blog - The Heart of Glass

Valentine's Day  2/14/2017  is a month away.

 

We'd like to again suggest you consider making Blenko Glass  www.blenkoglass.com your first stop.
This year Blenko has a number of special items - items made just for the 2017 Valentine Day.
Travis Mounts of the Blenko Glass Facebook page shared the following info and photos.

If February is near love is assuredly in the air. Blenko is now taking pre-orders online at for these special 2017 Valentine’s items.

 

Our Koala Love Bear is all handmade of crystal with blue eyes and a pinkish/purple heart. Approximately 4 inches tall and a solid little fellow with quirky ears and expression. A piece we have never before produced! Each $69.

 

The small Heart in a Heart Vase is offered in tangerine as shown. It measures 7.5 inches in height. It is a special smaller size rendition of our usual larger heart vase offered in the line. Each $49.

 

Our Sweet Perfume bottle is approximately 7 inches in height with a ground and fitted crystal stopper. The mouth blown bottle is our lovely red shaded tangerine with a ribbed pattern. Each $59.

 

To learn more about Blenko Glass,  we suggest you visit the Blenko Four website, the Blenko Project www.blenkoproject.org ,  the facebook pages devoted to Blenko Glass, and the Blenko Glass Waterbottle Blog

as a starting point.

Questions?  Or if we can help in any way - email - theblenkoproject@aol.com 

2017  Valentine Day Blenko 

Blenko Glass - For All Occasions - Customize awards

  Think of Blenko Glass - first - when you need a customized trophy or award.

 

Water Bottle # 348 Week

Water Bottle Week. 
As a child,  I started by collecting Blenko  animal figures and Water Bottles.
I hear from many readers they were first attracted to the 'water bottle',  #348 is the longest running item in the Blenko Glass catalogue.
Now thanks to Dean Six's innovative new programs, Blenko will be hosting a yearly Water Bottle event.  You'll want to plan to attend.
Check Blenko Glass Co web pages for updates.   Another exciting event - hosted by Blenko Glass Company Milton, W.Va.



January 23-27, 2017

Our Inaugural Water Bottle event. All you ever wanted to know about Blenko’s iconic 1930s designed Water Bottle.  Photo contest of images showing 384 in use or as “art”, special edition water bottles, contests, prizes and more.  A must for those who enjoy or love our #384 water bottles. NEW PRODUCTS introduced.
BLOW YOUR OWN WATER BOTTLE CLASSES
Upon reviewing our staffing possibilities we will only be able to offer the blow your own water bottles on Friday Jan 27th as a part of our Water Bottle Week.
Class sessions held will begin at 9am, 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2pm. Please arrive a half hour prior to your class time to get checked in. Each class will be limited to 10 participants. Participants must be 13 years of age or older. Each class will cost $49 to make a regular 384 water bottle and $45 to make a mini 384 water bottle, should a cancellation be necessary Blenko will retain $10 and refund $39 or $35. ALL classes will make our regular 384 water bottle except ONE of the classes at 10:30am and one of the classes at 2pm, which will make the 384 mini water bottle.
WATER BOTTLE NIGHTLIGHT CLASS
We will offer two section of our popular Make A Water Bottle Lamp class on Friday January 27. A 10am class will guide participants through making an electric lamp with our classic 384 water bottle as the main element. It fits on a handmade wooden base. The second class will begin at 1pm and will feature making a nightlight with wooden base using the 384 mini-water bottle. Both classes are limited to 15 people. The full size water bottle class will cost $54 each and the mini water bottle class will cost $49 each.
Sign-ups will begin Tuesday, Jan 3, 2017 at 8am and are reserved on a first call in basis. Class spaces are limited. The class registration usually fills quickly, but the final date for registering would be Jan 20th at 3pm should there be any available spaces. An alternate Blizzard day for the classes, should extreme weather require it, would be Friday Feb 3, 2017. On that same Friday Blenko will offer four classes making a VALENTINES special piece. The details of this will be shared prior to the end of 2016...

Happy New Year 2017

Happy New Year 2017.  May all your wishes for peace and happiness come true, and may you find vintage Blenko at each stop along the way.

HJH