1 Grandma Winona’s Bob and Sherry Cyza, right, beautiful share their Carnival Glass marigold Tree collection, above, at the HOACGA Trunk funeral Convention, Page 15. vase is ready for a new home Glass artist Eric Hansen, demon- after the TCGC strates his craft to TCGC, Page 2. Convention Auc- tion, thanks to help through the club’s website, see Page 21. Scarce green Peacock at Fountain fruit bowls are on focus with a story by Steve Hazlett, Page 17. 2 Artisan’s Showcase A Visit to Eric Hansen’s Art Glass Studio By Cale Wilcox The Texas Carnival Glass the “Glass Twist” in Corning, CA. of watching Eric start with a small Club held their regular meeting These were intricate glass pieces piece of molten glass. He then began at the studio of Eric W. Hansen on made by twisting the hot glass into to blow, mold, add more glass, add baskets, angels, swans and many color, add more glass and continue when he agreed to come to the other items. Eric quickly realized DecemberTexas Carnival 5th. Glass We first Convention met Eric that making glass for a living was completed. last year. He did a presentation on not going to pay the bills. So he this process This was until an theamazing final piecething wasto his family history and how he got decided to join the Navy where he watch as the work is so intricate. started in the glass-making business. became a pilot. After retiring from Items used to make the glass varied As most of you are aware by now, he the Navy, he became a commercial from glass frit for coloring, molding is part of the Hansen family who is pilot for American Airlines were he tools made of wood to shape the well known for their many years of items, the gloryhole to heat the glass making and their spectacular to this day. items, and other specialized tools iridized pieces from the 60s and 70s. continues Upon to arriving fly international at their home flights needed to make glass. Eric stated Eric’s father was Richard in Argyle, TX, we were greeted by that with his paperweights, this Hansen and his two uncles were his lovely wife Cheryl who had can take up to a week to complete Robert and Ron Hansen. All three refreshments waiting for the group. one, depending on the intricacies brothers were born in Minnesota Most people were enamored by the of the piece. I wish I knew all the and all moved to Michigan. All three studio with the items he had for terminology he used; however, I was brothers attended the neon sign sale. Wow…did they sell like hot so enamored by the whole entire school in New York. Later in life, cakes I must say. Judging by just Richard and Robert would move to myself, I left with three pieces. This it all in. This is something that California, and Ron decided to move consisted of paperweights, Carnival processyou need that to see it was more difficult than once to take to to Michigan. All three shared ideas Glass items, and many other kinds understand the true complexities about paperweights, lamp work, and of beautiful art glass. After about that go into making glass. Carnival Glass. an hour, we were treated to Eric Eric can be found on Facebook Eric began making glass at Hansen making a piece of glass a very early age, as he grew up on Hansen Glass, opposite page from start to finish. This consisted 3 calendar Wed. Feb. 10 to Sat., Feb. 13 Wed., Apr. 20 to Sun., Apr. 24, Wed., June 15 to Sat., June 18 Tampa Bay Carnival Glass Club Heart of America Carnival American Carnival Convention Convention and Auction, Glass Association Convention and Auction at the Jim Wroda The Dolphin Beach Resort, and Auction, Embassy Suites Auction Facility, Greenville, Ohio. St. Pete Beach, FL. For reserva- Airport, Kansas City, MO, For res- For more information, visit the tions call 1-800-237-8916 or ervations call 1-816-891-7788. club website at http://myacga. 727-360-7011. Tom Burns Auc- Burns Auction in charge of sale com. tion in charge of sale. of the Galen and Kathi Johnson www.tbcgc.com Collection. For more information Wed., July 13 to Sat., July 16 contact Bob Grissom: bgrsm31@ International Carnival Glass Wed., March 9 to Sat., March 12 comcast.net Association Convention, Shipsh- Southern California Carnival ewana, Indiana. Reservations: Glass Convention and Auction. Wed., May 11 to Sat., May 14 1-260-768-7688. Seeck Auctions. Country Suites by Ayres, Ontario, Keystone Carnival Glass Con- For more information, see www. Ca., 909-330-7778, sccgc.webs. vention and Auction, Holiday internationalglass. com. com. Seeck Auctions in charge of Inn, Grantville, PA. Call 717-469- auction. 1554 for reservations. For more information contact Sharon Royle Wed., March 16 at [email protected] to Sat., March 19 Texas Carnival Glass Club 2016 Thurs., June 2 to Sat., June 4 Convention and Seeck Auction LincolnLand Convention and at the Wyndham Dallas Suites – Auction, Milwaukee Airport Best Park Central, Dallas, Texas. Western, Milwaukee, Wis., 414- Call Emmett Morgan for addition- 769-2100, www.llcgc.org. Seeck al information, 979-836-7896. Auctions in charge of auction. by searching Eric W. Hansen Art Glass. He currently also has items for sale at Etsy.com. I would encourage all of you to visit the Texas Carnival Glass site on Facebook to view all the photos of the tour of the studio and the process of making glass. There is also a link to a biography page on the Hansen family that is very interesting. TCGC members enjoyed browsing for glass after the display and posed for a group photo, at right. Photographs by Elaine Blair 4 President’s Corner On December 5th our club had some excellent speakers traveling all the way from their fall meeting in Argyle, TX, California. Our Thursday seminar is presented by Judy and was hosted by Eric and Cheryl Maxwell…“My Carnival Glass Addiction.” Our banquet Hansen at their glass studio. For speaker is Heidi Ritterbush presenting “My Carnival those who could not attend, you Glass Palette.” I have heard both wonderful ladies speak. might remember Eric, the nephew They are very entertaining and they bring gorgeous of Robert and Ronald Hansen, was glass. Be sure to look deep in your cabinets or boxes for one of our seminar speakers at our that wonderful ugly piece of carnival and bring it for our 2015 convention. Eric explained “Ugly Glass Contest” on Friday morning. the art of making art glass and On Thursday evening we will be honoring Tom and By Emmett Morgan demonstrated by making a vase that Jeannie Whitley with the Whitley Award. Tom and now resides with Sandy Sage. Many thanks go to Sandy Jeannie have been club members for many, many years and Bob for setting up and coordinating all the details and Tom is a past president. Jeannie is our current of our meeting. Many of our attendees purchased some treasurer. They are most deserving of this award. beautiful art glass during their visit, and Cheryl and Eric At our business meeting on Friday we will be electing donated a piece of art glass for our silent auction. This issue of Carnival Glass Action will be the last submitted themselves to run for the same positions issue you will receive before our convention in Dallas, again.new officers I encourage for your anyone club. wantingAll current to runofficers for any have events, hotel reservation information, and registration reelection committee. formTX, March in this 16 issue. – 19, The2016. cutoff You datewill findfor hotel our schedule reservations of officeWe to are please very happycontact that Tom Jim Whitley, and Jan as Seeck he chairs are the at the Wyndham Suites is March 2. Please contact bringing the Virgil Wiebe collection to our auction. me if you experience any problems…713-857-2966 or Photos of key pieces in the auction can be found in this [email protected]. issue. A surprise piece in our auction that was consigned because of Walt Robinson’s efforts is a marigold Tree busy getting ready for our 2016 convention. We have Trunk funeral vase. Your officers and committee members have been Tommy and Jeannie Whitley chosen for 2016 Whitley Award The 2016 Whitley Award, named in honor of Floyd and Cecil Whitley, will be presented during the Whitley Award Dinner on Thursday, March 17, at the TCGC Convention in Dallas. This prestigious award honors the recipients’ dedication to Carnival Glass that has enriched fellow collectors. The Texas Carnival Glass Club is pleased to honor Floyd and Cecil Whitley’s son, Tommy Whitley and his wife Jeannie of Houston, Texas, as the recipients of this year’s Whitley Award. Please join us at the Whitley Award Dinner to honor Tommy and Jeannie for their many contributions to Carnival Glass and to the Texas Carnival Glass Club. 5 Hospitality Room Display White Elephant: Room Contest Exchange or Steal? We will be back in The White Elephant Our convention Dallas in 2016—in a Exchange takes hospitality room suite hotel with place on Thursday, is a place to sit picture windows for down, strike up March 17, following your display! Each the Whitley Award conversations with year our convention old friends, and Dinner. The Sages sees an increase in are Masters of Dorothy Morgan enjoy the delicious Cale Wilcox beautiful and educa- Ceremonies for food provided tional entries in this event, and this by our members.