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August 9-11th 2007 - Milton, West Virginia The Blenko Collectors Society Convention Barry & I have another hobby. We collect Blenko Glass. Alright, he will tell you that it is 'my' hobby but when you are done with this page, I defy you to call it my hobby alone. This year for the 5th Annual Blenko Collectors Society Convention we were asked to bring one of our balloons. We brought Flighthouse for a few reasons: 1. Patriot is too big for the field, and 2. Flighthouse has Blenko Glass in one of the windows.
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Sign outside of Milton, West Virginia greeting the collectors.
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 Barry & Steve Bair on Good Morning West Virginia. |
Barry takes a flight in an airplane to scout out landing spots for Flighthouse. |
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 We had 3 great mornings for tethered rides. Alas, the afternoons were just too hot to ask volunteers to come out and work really hard with a special shape! Bob, Tammy & Terry hanging out in front of Flighthouse.
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 3/5ths of the Bayliss Design Team take their first tether in a hot air balloon. The Bayliss Design Team are the new designers of American made Blenko glass. Fantastic designs too... Check it out here. |
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 We took several employees of Blenko up in the balloon. |
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 Walter & Joy Blenko with Barry. Right before their tethered ride. |
Barry & I in the balloon. This is my first time in Flighthouse.
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Terry Gartman & Delores Hogan. I'm so proud of Delores for getting up so early and getting into the balloon. Mostly for getting up so darned early. (She came out the next day too, she may be hooked).
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 Retired Blenko workers - Raymond & Wanda Lewis. |
 Pam Howard & Leslie Kenworthy get their ride next. |
 Here is the window with Blenko. |
Crew Chief Brad Hertel and family- Brad, Amy, Katie & Carlie came from Ohio to this event. I heard that they brought home an entire Blenko collection! Photo coming soon...
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 Flighthouse shadow. |
Amy Hertel & Terry Gartman following Barry's instructions to keep the vent open.
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Of course, no Blenko trip would be right without photos of people making glass... |
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Randy Rider putting the finishing
touches on the limited Bill Blenko
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 will be signed by Bill Blenko & numbered. |
 Barry introduces Bill Blenko at the convention for Bill Blenko Day! Barry was the MC for the presentations. |
 Tammy Kosla: The President of the collectors society and the reason we collect Blenko Glass. |
 Terry Gartman & Bob Porath. Fellow Blenko collectors. |
 The Blenko 4. Together we comprise the 4 people that have put together the most comprehensive site for Blenko Collectors on the web. Teri, Drema, Terry & Tammy
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 Kellie Aikman |
 Brent Aikman Husband of Kellie Aikman and the new Architectural Glass Marketing and Sales Director at Blenko. |
Barry & John Nickerson. John Nickerson is a former designer at Blenko. The glass that he has produced since then is absolutely incredible and can be seen at www.nickersonglassworks.com for only a while longer. He will be moving on to a new venue--- pottery. I for one can't wait to see it!
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At the convention-- Walter Blenko, Bill Blenko & Wayne Husted. Wayne Husted is the designer that Blenko collectors covet most. No offense to Wayne, as I love his designs, I love all of the different designers and the incredible glass they designed.
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 Me & Terry Gartman. Someone dubbed us the Terryibles. |
 The convention every year features a fantastic glass sale. Here is a small sampling with Bob & Terry's table. |
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Some crazy collectors gather for a final photo op.
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