Lampwork, Dichroic, Beads and B. F.'s Family Gatherings

I've been working very hard getting beads out for two jewelry designers the last few days. Some old ideas and some new ideas are being mixed together, in addition to some of the tried and true. Today I went a couple of hours longer than planned as new design ideas kept popping in my head. Fun! Fun! Fun! I love it when the day goes like that. I can't wait to get up in the morning and see the results. There are always surprises awaiting when you try new ideas; sometimes even the tried-and-trues can give you a jolt; some ingredient in the mix causes an unexpected reaction.

I have never been to a wedding shower in all of my mucho decades; but I finally gave in and went to one yesterday. It was in the family of my boyfriend of almost four months' relatives. It was at a Mexican restaurant in Kingsburg named Salazar's. I actually had fun. I was surprised. I usually don't do well at big gatherings. I am quite a recluse. I think of three people and start getting claustrophic. Hmmmm, I guess people can change.

More Glass Talk Radio and the Toledo Museum of Art and Dichroic Glass

Yesterday Dale Smeltzer of Glass Talk Radio and I interviewed Terry Beamsley and Leonard Marty of the Toledo Museum of Art. They are putting in a new Glass Pavilion that will open mid-2006. In addition to exhibiting over 5,000 pieces of glass art in this new facility there will be classes in lampworking, furnace work, cold work and casting. There is also a huge upcoming show of the work of Louis Comfort Tiffany. This show will air September 27th.

Today Dale and I interviewed Marilyn Catlow from Florida on her art of fusing. She does some wonderful wall hangings. She has been in business 30 years and sells at art festivals and in galleries. This show will broadcast October 6th.

I just went out to the studio and saw a nice big box had been delivered by UPS -- just love these boxes from the Men in Brown. A great sheet of dichroic glass had arrived -- one made to my specifications. I can't wait to begin experimenting with it tomorrow although I won't have too much time as I need to get out an order to a client so I will be working all tomorrow, Sunday and part of Monday on it.

Wondrous day. Need to stop chatting and get back to work.

A Full Life

What a day! More orders to fill and more studio to clean and organize! If organization doesn't occur, work grinds to a halt. Too many projects out and no clean table tops to start new ones on can lead to confusion. My creative juices just don't flow too well without a lot of space around me. I need space to fill with my ideas being made manifest.


The cold/hot work room is done. Now upstairs to the room for jewelry creation and computer work.

Vicki Cederquist and Glass Talk Radio

Today I had a wonderful new experience. I was asked by Dale Smeltzer of Glass Talk Radio if I would co-host some programs with him. I was delighted. The first person we interviewed today was Maureen James of Profitable Glass Quarterly. It will be broadcast September 6th. The second person today was Josh Simpson. He talked about his astronaut wife Cady Coleman and his Infinity Project along with his planets and megaplanets. Some very very interesting discusssions. It will be broadcast October 4th. These will be at 11 a.m.; but if you miss listening to them then they will after be archived.

Beautiful Lampwork Lathe Work

Today while out running business errands I stopped by to visit a friend Darrel Glover and his wife Joanie to see their new Toyota Sienna and his new Litton lathe. While visiting I was treated to the most beautiful sight, the new goblets and vases he is making. They were absolutely gorgeous. The way the light played through the glass is a delight.

Tomorrow I will see if I can photograph the effect and post them here to share with you.

Dental Hygienists, Beds and Beads

Had a really exciting day. I went to the dental hygienist, bought an adjust Tempur-pedic bed and did a lot of computer stuff for my business.

Oh, well. Back to bead making tomorrow.

Brain Dead in California

I remembered the President's name. It's Craig Easter. There was about 12 of us there for the get together. I hadn't seen some of them for some months. One's house had burned; another glass blower had had a baby; and my friend Janet Ontko had bought a brand new Wedgewood Blue Ford 150 pick up.

It was great getting out and talking with friends. I spend way too much time alone in the studio; but I love it.

Janet and I talked about the sales we had been doing and about our upcoming sale the first weekend in December that we will be doing in her studio in Fresno. This will be the third year that I'll do this holiday sale with her. It is always so much fun. If you want to preview her work, it can be seen at www.janetontko.com. Mine can be seen at www.vickicederquist.com.

Until later.

Lampworking with Dichro

Couldn't wait to get out to the kiln this morning to see the results from yesterday's endeavors. HMMM! Good; so the next step was to go to the torch with the glass to see how it was all going to perform in the flame. Yes. Yes. Yes. It worked. Now I am all excited to see what it all looks like when I get to take it out of the kiln in the morrow.

After I worked with some Bullseye and then later with some Effetre to make some other beads. I love the various effects that can be achieved using different glasses.

Then, upstairs to make some earring cards for the earrings that I made the other day; and then on to the computer.

Now, I'm going to Fresno to visit with friends from the San Joaquin Clay and Glass Association --the past president Janet Ontko and the current president (Oh, I am getting old I just forgot his name and I have only known him for five years.).

Dichroic Glass -- Beads and Fusing and Lampwork Jewelry

Got three of the four new sheets of glass today that I ordered from Coatings by Sandberg. Oooh, how I love that stuff. I've already got about thirty or more others in my collection to design with. I love having a big pallette to work with. That way I can experiment, test and move glass around until I get the results that I want.

As soon as UPS delivered the glass I cut it into strips and designs and put it in the Paragon 24 to fuse. I can't wait to wake up in the morning to see the results of the various experiments.

I also worked on some lampwork jewelry today. I've been fulfilling some custom orders. You can see a picture at www.vickicederquist.com/blog.htm. of the necklace that I made for a gallery owner.

Made some cute dichroic earrings today. Love them!

School Friends, Beads and Jewelry

Spent yesterday with some friends from school days and I do mean elementary, junior and high school. What a day. What a trip down memory lane.

I'm sorry friends that I have not been regular with posting this week, but have been in much pain from my fibromyalgia and haven't always been able to do as much as I would like; but I did create some beautiful new beads and jewelry for custom orders.

I look forward to being able to communicate more with y'all this week.

Take care until then.

Lampwork Beads and Life

I'm back. What adventures have been going on in my life!

All of that time in Southern CA. Great!!! What fun! What beautiful weather!! I saw the Festival of the Arts, the Pageant of the Masters and the Sawdust Festival in Laguna Beach and the King Tut at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art. What wonderful inspiration.

I have been back since Thursday making beads, working with clients and changing parts of my website. Yay! Yay!

Sawdust Festival and Pageant of the Masters

I'm in Laguna Beach and I saw the Pageant of the Masters last night. It was absolutely marvelous and today I went to the Sawdust Festival and saw the works of many many artists of this area. Great!

Went to the beach and put my feet in the cold water and smelled the salty breeze and then on to a wonderful lunch.