Show and Tell

Blenko or other WV GLass - Do you have a 'great piece of Blenko or WV GLass ? Send a photo, tell us about the glass. Also if you have found a great place to buy glass - WV glass of course - new or previously owned - let us know. I get emails about where to buy...and honestly I live in Morgantown, West Virginia most all year long. I also am a college student with very little disposable income, and to be honest, I am NOT a shopper - so I am asking for your help. What are the best places in the Huntington - Charleston area for Glass Shopping? Note: If you send photos to be published make certain they are not copywrited photos.

New Antique/ Stain Glass Colors

Blenko Glass In Milton, West Virginia has long been known as one of the makers of the finest, and most colorful glass for the artist. Don Lemley reports Blenko has many new colors (Keep looking - we've ask him to write about the new colors and I'll post it soon) While many manufactures are going out of business or cutting back significantly on colors - Blenko is adding new and very interesting colors. If you are an artist, a decorator, builder, craftsperson Blenko Glass has most everything you need, they also have on staff a trained and very talented stain glass instructor to answer questions and / or help with projects. The antique/ stain glass department is available by phone 304 743 9081

BLENKO GLASS - stain glass artist shop here!

Blenko Glass not only sells the product for all stain glass compositions, they can help you find an artist to create the special window or door for your home. Blenko Glass has long been the place to go for both professional and hobby glass artist. I made my first documented (photos) trip to Blenko for stain glass items in 1987. For me its nearly 2 decades of shopping at blenko. . . recently I spoke with a stain glass artist in Columbus Ohio whose family has bought Blenko Glass to sell in their German Village shop for more than 50 years. Blenko Glass is superior. Phone 304 743 -9082 - Don Lemley - antique Glass Department

Don Lemley's Antique Glass Department

BLENKO GLASS COMPANY.
Buy made in West Virginia.
Buy quality - buy beauty!
This door with the beautiful matching side panels is an example of made in West Virginia.
This item was designed and constructed by Don Lemley using Blenko Glass. Blenko Glass Company can work with you and or your designer to make your entry doors and windows unique and special. Building...Think..Made IN West Virginia.
Think BLENKO!
Phone Don Lemley at Blenko Glass (304 743 9081).

Favorite ON Line or Other Place to Buy BLENKO?

We have several emails about where to buy BLENKO. I buy my glass at the BLENKO Visitors Center in Milton, West Virginia. IF you are reading this and You have a favorite on line or in town place to buy BLENKO - send an email or post the blog with the information, and I'll research the site and do a post to share the information. My goal is to have you buy Made In West Virginia Glass! To see the beauty in this product, to start collecting the items - most especially BLENKO. It has been my experience that glass cost at the Visitors Center are much less than the cost at other locations . When you write about your 'favorite' Blenko seller, include the address and items you find most often at this location. Thanks for sharing. HJH

Blenko Glass - Holiday Decoratons!

Looking for something unique, perhaps a house warming gift, a gift for your hostess, Blenko Glass has some unique one of a kind items at the Visitors Center. The Visitors Center has some Holiday inspired items - (not available on line or in the catalogue) - if you didn't get to Blenko for the opening of the Holiday Season Sale - plan to go this week. HJH

Blenko - Colorful glass awards...etc.

Blenko Glass located in Milton, W.Va. (phone 304 743 9081) produced these special pieces to be used as Awards. Blenko Glass produces pieces that may be engraved for most special occasions. HJH

Photos of Charlie Chapman at Blenko on 11/25/06

Photo of Richard Blenko signing

Line are always long, when Mr. Richard or Mr. WIlliam Blenko are available for signing - this is the photo from the Holiday Sale on friday.

Photo of Mr.Blenko and Rick Steelhammer

Another photo from the Friday Holiday Sale. Mr. Rick Steelhammer of the Charleston Newspapers interviewing Mr. Bill Blenko.

WE ARE MARSHALL !

Marshall University Fans and supporters looking for Holiday Gifts. Blenko Glass is the place to go.... they have buffalos (is it a buffalo mascot?) This NEW water bottle made especially for MARSHALL - certain, because of its limited availability, to become a sought after 'collector's item', can now be ordered. The initial production sold out in less than 12 minutes. Phone or go to the Blenko Glass Visitors Center to order your Marshall University waterbottle. HJH

Angels and Snowmen 2

Today LES WOMACK and a group of retired employees join BLENKO employees to do a demonstration of glass making. Each year Mr. Les Womack, returns to Blenko Glass for 3-4 weeks to make Christmas items. His special items are SNOWMEN and ANGELS. Les Womack produces the most beautiful Angels and Snowmen, he is exact in placing the eyes, buttons, wings. He is very particular about color, and form. Mr. Les Womack has no need for a quality control or inspector - as he would never allow a flaw in one of his Angels or Snowmen. IF you only purchase one new item for your Christmas Decor this year - - - consider the Angel and / or Snowman. I have a small collection setting on the fireplace, in October I bring out the Snowmen and I keep one Angel out all year long. They are so lovely, you don't really think Christmas . The Angel is ART! These items will make great gifts for CHILDREN of all ages. They are NOT mass produced, they are made only once a year for a short period of time. A great investment or the beginning of a collection. About three years ago - I met Les Womack for the fist time, he is a retired Blenko shop foreman. Very unassuming extremely strong,.yet when he speaks of Blenko and his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, you realize he is very gentle. His knowledge of Blenko and the glass making procedure is vast. Mr. Womack and his wife live in this lovely home, near the water - with a perfectly manicured lot, a home and garden that could be on the cover of any 'Ladies Magazine.' Mr. Womack is a perfectionist. Hunting, fishing, gardening, whatever he does there is a neat professional air to the procedure. After spending a few hours with him I could understand why he is considered a most valued friend, co-worker, shop foreman. Mr. Womack hasn't lost his ability to work in the chair, his ability to lead by example, his zest for work.
HJH

Blenko Glass

BLENKO GLASS & West Virginia University for me the combination is AWESOME! Blenko Glass is currently taking orders for this water bottle , these water bottles are the oldest/longest running item in the Blenko line. Actually BLENKO has MARSHALL UNIVERSITY and WVU 'specialty items' currently for sale at the Visitors Center. The initial product run of WVU/Marshall water bottles sold out in less than 12 minutes. You may order on line, at the Vistors Center or with credit card by phone. Note: This item may be available for a limited time - ideal gift for the WVU graduate. I hope to add photos of the Marshall items later this month - no photos were available to me.

Christmas Gift Giving / BLENKO

It's time to start shopping for the Holidays. . .and Blenko is the place to begin, the Visitors Center has many one of a kind items and they have a large assortment of items under $20 . If you can't get to the Visitors Center in Milton check out the online catalogue at the BLENKO GLASS website. I personally love looking for 'bargains' and those 'unusual items' at the Visitors Center, but the online catalogue is filled with gift ideas. When you give Blenko Glass, you are giving a piece of West Virginia, a piece of our state and nations history. If you aren't a Blenko Collector - let this be the time you become a Blenko Collector, or you start a collection for the young person in your life. NOTE: This photo was taken 11/25 of the Visitors Center - Blenko Glass Milton, W. VA. phone 304 743 8091

Made in West Virginia & Tidbits

At a recent talk someone ask if I buy only things made in WVa...the answer of course is NO! But I do have Fiestaware, it was my grandma's. I use it daily as did she. It is a quality product. Fiestaware is now available emblazoned with West Virginia Mountainteer and Flying WV logo ( if I can get a sample I'll post a photo) - IF - I ever have disposable income I will own a set or two of this WVU tableware. Before I knew Fiestaware was made in WVa I loved it for the color and the fact that it didn't break easily, and I was allowed to 'wash it', (this was long ago). Fiestaware is made to be used. It has become highly collectible. The Fiesta collectors, like the Fenton, Fostoria and Blenko collectors are a very knowledgeable and helpful group. The membership fees for these glass collector groups is minimal and they provide one with invaluable information and resources. We are in the process of sending letters to the six WVa Glass Collectors Clubs (if you know of others - please send email and I'll add them) to ask for information about membership , how many members they have, how they meet, how officers are selected, what perks one gets with membership etc.- I'll post the information here. We do or have belonged to Blenko, Fenton, Fostoria, Cambridge& Imperial so I have an email address for each of these groups. If you know someone who collects, or just wants to know more about WVa. Glass consider getting a membership as a Holiday Gift. I'll try to post the information about each group before 12/14.
hjh
As an adult I try to buy products made in the USA - my car is not but that's the subject of another post.

BLENKO HOLIDAY SALE

Friday November 24th was a beautiful sunny day in Milton, West Virginia. More than 2,00 people came to the Blenko Glass Company Visitors Center. Sales on glass - there were wonderful mark downs (still going on), great items for holiday gift giving. The sale area was filled with people, long lines awaiting Mr. Richard Blenko's signature on their special purchases. NOTE: IF someone is available to sign, stand in line and say Thank You!. Signed glass is much more valuable. The Blenko family (Mr. W and Richard) once again so generous with their time, taking the time to sign glass, speak with the public about glass making, the history of the company, and just answering most any question. HJH

Specials Items - For Christmas by Les Womack

Today LES WOMACK and a group of retired employees join BLENKO employees to do a demonstration of glass making. Each year Mr. Les Womack, returns to Blenko Glass for 3-4 weeks to make Christmas items. His special items are SNOWMEN and ANGELS. Les Womack produces the most beautiful Angels and Snowmen, he is exact in placing the eyes, buttons, wings. He is very particular about color, and form. Mr. Les Womack has no need for a quality control or inspector - as he would never allow a flaw in one of his Angels or Snowmen. IF you only purchase one new item for your Christmas Decor this year - - - consider the Angel and / or Snowman. I have a small collection setting on the fireplace, in October I bring out the Snowmen and I keep one Angel out all year long. They are so lovely, you don't really think Christmas . The Angel is ART! These items will make great gifts for CHILDREN of all ages. They are NOT mass produced, they are made only once a year for a short period of time. A great investment or the beginning of a collection. About three years ago - I met Les Womack for the fist time, he is a retired Blenko shop foreman. Very unassuming extremely strong,.yet when he speaks of Blenko and his wife, daughter, and granddaughter, you realize he is very gentle. His knowledge of Blenko and the glass making procedure is vast. Mr. Womack and his wife live in this lovely home, near the water - with a perfectly manicured lot, a home and garden that could be on the cover of any 'Ladies Magazine.' Mr. Womack is a perfectionist. Hunting, fishing, gardening, whatever he does there is a neat professional air to the procedure. After spending a few hours with him I could understand why he is considered a most valued friend, co-worker, shop foreman. Mr. Womack hasn't lost his ability to work in the chair, his ability to lead by example, his zest for work.

HJH

Thanksgiving Day - Family of Man

- Family of Man
Pictured here is a BLENKO GLASS item designed by Don Shepperd. There is some mystery to this figure - some folk say its the 'Family of Man' designed by Shepperd as a gift to very high donors for a charity. The figure shown belonged to an over 80 retired WVU employee - its dated 1979 and signed with Shepperd design mark. The story that came with this piece - - - and most older 'special' Blenko items have a story. . . is he (the owner) and Sheperd developed a friendship during his trips to Milton for supplies, he was there when the mold was being made and admired the concept. ' So simple, yet very strong' were the words he used then and now to describe Sheperd's design. He has the note from Shepperd that accompanied the shipment. I am aware of only one other existing original copy it is owned by my friend and mentor Steve Bair. Last year Blenko took out the mold and made several copies (estimates go from six to 18) - these will not have Don Sheperd's staff (signature). This item - the older ones are quiet valuable - if you find one BUY IT. This is another example of a wonderful collectible BLenko! Note: The Blenko B isn't orginal to his piece - I gave him the B to place on this item. 11/27/06 Note: Readers have responded with information of four known orignal 'family of man'. One reader wrote both he and another family member own one and place a value of over $1,000 on the item.

Only 2 days until Christmas Shopping

This is a 6 day vacation from Dental School - I've spent a good portion of this time removing boxes from my parents garage (so my Dad can again park both cars in the garage) - Boxes of trolls - anyone remember trolls - I collected these in grade school and judging from the size of my collection, my Uncles must have spent a fortune on trolls. Also a large collection of Pogs (bottle caps) anyone remember collecting these bottle liners? I had two boxes, some in plastic liners and some declaring themselves 'collectors series' - again it all went to the trash. Only the boxes of Barbie dolls and accessories survived - and they are now at the Goodwill Store.
Why you must be thinking .is Hillary sharing this? Hillary who hates self disclosure. . . actually during the cleaning my thoughts turned to BLENKO, if instead of Pogs, and Trolls I had been given simple little pieces of Blenko - or a water bottle collection had been started for me by one of my indulgent Uncles. Well the water bottles have increased in value - the trolls and pogs were placed on the curb for the City Trash truck.
This year I am again buying gift for my friends children and young cousins
However, I will be buying gifts MADE IN WEST VIRGINIA . A special ornament or small figurine, or a trip to visit the West Virginia Crafts at Oglebay or Tamerack. As responsible adults we need to educate our children about the wonderful craftsmen here in West Virginia. Plant the seed.
Happy Shopping! . NOTE: This .photo is BLENKO it was blown by Shorty Finley and was available for purchase in the Visitors Center - duirng the same time I was collecting Trolls! Blenko always has a collection of unique small items - turles, frogs, snails, figures something to excite most anyone. Plan to bring the children in your life for a visit - see Glass being made - allow your child to connect to Made In West Virginia!

Blenko Sale