Ohio Jewelry and Metal Arts Guild

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Amy Jean Nichols
www.rigadoonglass.com
First on how I came about the name Rigadoon Glass – I had gotten my first motorcycle in 1987. Naming it Rigadoon meaning a brisk old fashion lively dance. It is a white 1973 R75/5 BMW with a sidecar. The sidecar made it possible to carry objects she created on motorcycle tours across the land. Tours have so far taken her through 47 states, Canada and Mexico adding a little over 190,000 miles! Thus it became a good name for my business in glass!
		About and my livelyhood "Rigadoon Glass" My first glass enameling experience started in Junior High School when Hedy Jones was the art teacher then. It didn't come to me (or her) at that time that she started something BIG for me! Ever since then she and I have been friends to this day. She convinced my mother that I needed to continue my education in the arts! Many blessings to Hedy! She got mom and dad to support my thirst for glass enameling and on I went to college in 1977!!!
Soon after graduating from the Cleveland Institute of Art with BFA degree in enameling. I started right away setting up an enameling studio at home in 1982! Then I was taught glass bead making by Tom Holland in 1987. The beads that I create are made by a technique called lampworking. Colored glass is melted at a torch then shaped onto a steel rod. Then the beads are cooled slowly in a kiln. All of my lampwork glass beads are handmade by me and are made with Italian Moretti glass. They are correctly annealed slowly over night in a kiln. Then I clean the bead’s holes of bead release.

		I was taught how to make lampwork beads by Tom Holland back in 1987. Glass never stops me from being amazed at the array of colors and what you can do! Ever since I have worked as a self employed glass artist in enameling and lampworking. Other places you can find my work: My Etsy Shop is - http://rigadoonglass.etsy.com Another website that I have - http://www.flickr.com/photos/rigadoonglass My Blog is - http://rigadoonamy.blogspot.com Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rigadoon-Glass/186447395022 Rigadoon Glass Amy Jean Nichols P.O. Box 593 Bath, Ohio 44210 330-665-581

Image Descriptions: Photo #1 - “Down On The Farm” Materials used - Moretti glass, fire and inspiration from my farm. The glass is melted at a torch, the glass is layered and shaped. Then annealed over night in a kiln. This process is called “Lampworking”. The Hen and Rooster are about 1 ¼” tall and the chicks are about ½” tall.		Photo #2 – “Fall Leaves” Materials used – glass enamel, copper, lampworked glass beads, and inspiration from the trees on my farm. The glass enamel colors are fused onto the copper in a kiln one color at a time and the lampwork glass beads are melted at a torch, the glass is layered and shaped. Then annealed over night in a kiln. The leaves that I do are Maple, Oak, Hawthorne, Holly and in a Dogwood Bloom. They come in Fall Time and Summer Greens. These Maple Leaves pictured: Necklace is about 20” around, Earrings 2 ½” long, Brooch stem to tip 2” and Pendant is adjustable to about 32” around.
Photo #3 – Lampworked Marble “ Somewhere Over The Rainbow” Materials used – Moretti glass and Fire The glass is melted at a torch, the glass is layered and shaped. Then annealed over night in a kiln. This process is called “Lampworking”. This marble is about 1 ½” around and there about six layers of glass using about eight different colors plus clear.		Photo #4 – Glass Enamel Covered Dogwood Bowl “Spring Farm” Materials used – glass enamel, glass, copper, and inspiration from the Dogwood trees around the edges of my farm fields. The glass enamel colors are fused onto the copper in a kiln one color at a time at the temperatures of about 1300 degrees. There are about 12 colors of Transparent, Opaque and Opalescent glass enamels. The size is about 4” tall x 6” wide.