Blenko Glass

I like glass bottles and tableware! Especially the ones which are modern, simple, minimal in solid colors and with beautiful and elegant shapes. So I was happy to find an article about the Blenko Glass which is run by the fourth generation of the family. Blenko is now the oldest remaining producer of hand-blown glass in America.

They story shortly:

The original Blenko Glass Company was begun in 1893 when founder William J. Blenko came to America with the intention of starting a company to produce the glass used in stained glass windows. At that time all stained glass panels were only produced in Europe and he could see a future market opening up in the United States.


Unfortunately the company had to close it's doors ten years later, as well as two other glass companies started by Blenko in the 1909 time frame.

In 1921 one more time proved to be the charm with the start of William Blenko's newest company, The Eureka Glass Company. The company produced glass for stained glass windows, but with slow sales during the beginning of the depression, the company decided to expand offerings to include art glass and tableware.

The company's name was officially changed to The Blenko Glass Company in 1930.

Blenko is still the only company in the United States to produce antique glass panels.

Throughout the years, the company has remained in the family and the reins have passed down from father to son to grandson and on down the line.
official Blenko Collectors Society web site, please visit: www.blenkocollectorssociety.com

More amazing art glass here

Chihuly at the Salk

I've just came home from a once in a lifetime exhibition: Chihuly at the Salk. It was mind blowing! You can read about him and his art - I don't want to go into details - he is just a genius to me. He took the glass blowing medium to a level that I've never seen before.

His larger than life scaled organic shapes and forms, colors cooperated amazingly with the world famous Louis Kahn designed twin buildings' strict geometric shapes - and the ocean view as a background....breathtaking! ( and photographers' paradise!:) You don't have to be a glass lover to experience the magic here.

( I'm still wondering how they can transport the exhibition??)

More pictures are here

Quote of the Day

Weekend

The plan was to have a relaxing weekend but it turned out to be one of the most hectic ones. On Friday we went to the theater to see Ibsen's Ghost. Just right before the first intermission a gentlemen in our row fainted. All of the sudden people around him started to scream for 911 and CPR. It was so scary! The show stopped and everybody had to leave the room...We were all concerned for this man. Fortunately he regain consciousness quickly - his face was as white as a wall but he was OK and waited for the ambulance outside. The show continued - but it was really a troubling experience and afterwards it was hard to concentrate on Ibsen's moralizing.
Unexpectedly, I was given an opportunity to be a vendor on Sunday so all of Saturday I was getting ready for the craft market. Now it is the end of the week and I'm so tired:) Let's start the working days!:) Few pictures were taken during the weekend - I wish you a great week with these!:)

My Cooliris Wall

Natural Narratives in Clay,Metal and Glass

I LOVE the american craft magazine published by the American Craft Council - which I'm a proud member of! Everybody who thinks of craft as an old ladies' crochet blanket (no offense of older ladies or crochet!!) should browse through this magazine. It is very high quality with many fascinating articles about contemporary, original artists’ and artisans’ work.
In the latest issue I read about Michael Sherrill - a self-taught ceramic artist. He uses metal, glass with clay to create a dream world with nature inspired fantasy flower sculptures. His imagination unbelievable - check out his website.

Countryside in SD

It is great to have a dog! :) Many many reasons - one of them is that she/he will take you where you might never go. We always try to find a new route, get away from the city life. This walk was so cool - I felt to be in the countryside between Provence and California:) Few pics to share:

Alkossunk egyutt

Jopofa korjatekot inditott Murano Manufaktura (.Jopofa, mert nem agyonszabalyozott verseny, hanem az ami - egy kotetlen, laza JATEK. Mar a masodik fordulon is tulvagyunk, aminek Kinema volt a haziasszonya, "Ligeti Rock" temara szuletettek meg az ekszerek. :) A beerkezett alkotasokat megnezhetitek ITT

Most Kreativmanon a sor, hogy kitalalja az uj kihivast!:) Izgatottan varom!:)

Poly clay progress

Since I promised that I would show you my next experiment with poly clay here it is:) It’s a light purple (so hard to photograph) and black color combo...I've bought a "Craft Pasta Machine" so the thickness is more consistent. I will play with colors and shapes - I'll show you the progress:) It’s really fun and relaxing medium!

Ahogy igertem, mutatom az ujabb nekifutasokat ebben a temaban!:) Vettem egy tesztacsinalot, igy a medalok vastagsaga mar sokkal egyenletesebb. Ez lila fekete szinkombinacio- ha nem lenne a lilat olyan nehez fotozni. Folyt.kov.!:)

Morning walk at the ocean

The ocean showed us many layers of gray/blue today. It was misty and mysterious - very peaceful. I took some pictures to share:)

Ilyen misztikus fatyolos-kekes-szurkes volt a ma reggeli oceanpart. Ugyanannyira szeretem mikor ilyen,mint mikor napsuteses. Lehet,hogy sot?:)

East Treasury

I've created my East Treasury - please check it out. Etsy FP is usually vintage theme with soft colors, crochet etc... - which I like but for a change I would like to see more colors, styles - more diversity. My treasury reflects my taste - I hope you like it, too!:)

Polymer Clay

I've started to play with polymer clay!:) I won't be disloyal to glass fusing - it is just a new fun medium to try out and have some fun with it. I like that it allows me to mix color easily and the baking time is just minutes - instead of 12 hrs as it is with glass. So it's another and different way to get creative - and I enjoy it! I would like to show you my new baby:) Her(his?) name is Trikolor :)


Elkezdtem kicsit probalgatni a "polymer clay"-t. Nem szokom le az uvegrol ((;) , de erdekel ez a mufaj is, annyira mas,mint az uveg - ahogy a szineket lehet keverni, formazni, a kiegetes csak percek es nem 12 ora,mint az uvegnel..Sok sok lehetoseg az otletek megvalositasara - s egy jo jatek!:) Szeretnem megmutatni nektek az ujszulottet, ugy hivjak, hogy Trikolor :)

Happy Easter Everyone!

Kellemes Husvetot mindenkinek!:)



Read about our traditional Easter here