Glass Fest

I was so busy watching and listening that I forgot to get my camera out.

We pulled into the parking lot at Appalachian Glass and Bob said the Sausage Wagon should be here. There were some venders set up – Fried dough, Funnel cakes, plants, etc. Everyone was just getting set up. We went inside where they were blowing glass. There was a circle of chairs and people sitting, standing and watching as one guy blew the glass and several others explained what he was doing- he 1st made a witches ball (when it was finished they made sure everyone watching could see the three glass threads inside- someone had said that was what he was doing during the process- it made since after seeing the treads), then a friendship ball, then a fancier ball with a long neck. Then other men took their turns (one broke). It was a very relaxed, friendly atmosphere. We did a little shopping and headed for the car. Outside, near the entrance to the glass blowing, another young man was set up so we went to see. He was making glass pendants. We were the only ones there so he explained what he was doing and then answered our questions about the material he was using. He was using a different material and different process and he explained the differences in the glass they were using to make hand blown objects and the glass he was using. He was trying some new colors and explained every step and showed us at different points how it was turning out. He explained that he was being very careful about the hanging loop because if it’s not perfect it won’t hang right around the neck. It was a very pretty pendant but he wanted more yellow (WV colors) so he told us how he’d try it next.
The festival is all weekend so we’ll go back probably Sunday.


A little information about Appalachian Glass (from ‘Two-Lane Travelers by Lisa and Frank Minney www.wvtravelers.com)

At one time there were more than 30 glass factories in this area now Appalachian Glass is the only one in Weston. It’s a family affair - Matt Turner and son Chip. Lewis County High School had a glass making class. Chip worked for several companies including Princess House Manufacturing . They started their company in 2001.

The witches ball and friendship ball are called Kugels- the friendship ball is a circle with no beginning and no end. It sparkles the way a good friend brings sparkles into your life. No two are the same just as no two friends are the same. The three threads inside the witches ball trap the bad or mischievious spirits inside the ball.