Making the most of an installation day!

Pendant Chandelier installation in a beautiful home in Galt - We created three pendants for their kitchen earlier and made a chandelier to compliment them. The colors are grey, bone and dark topaz - a rich combination. The canopy was hand forged by David.

Since it was a Sunday, I decided to make it a day to explore! Rick grows grapes and makes Zinfandel wine. Since Lodi is known for it's Zins, we began at the Wine and Visitors Center www.lodiwine.com. They suggested Michael-David www.michaeldavidwinery.com where one of our favorite Zins is made - Earthquake Zin. Yummy! They suggested a special treat - Jessie's Grove. The  land was purchased and settled in the late 1880's and Jessie's granddaughter spins interesting family history stories while you taste wine on the patio. Some of their Old Zin vines are 120 years old.  www.jessiesgrovewinery.com As dusk approached Rick and I made our way to the Isenberg Crane Reserve to watch the Sandhill Cranes come in to roost for the night. They are about 3' tall and their wine span is about 6 feet. Very impressive! Many had already begun the journey north but you can see hundreds here from November through February. I  plan to go back next season. The Reserve is just off I 5 near Lodi. I enjoyed shooting "abstracts" out the window on the way home.

2014 begins with much needed rest!

 35 years ago we hiked the Na Pali Coastline on our honeymoon! This time we managed a mile in. Far enough to see spectacular views. Our "Love Shack" on Kauai was about four feet from the beach. We had huge wave warnings - 50' by midnight. I was packed and slept in my clothes ready to evacuate at any minute. Rick just laughed. Of course they just reached 30' by morning. Absolutely spectacular! No swimming. Not even surfing.  Rick's distant cousins are neighbors of the Princeville Botanical Gardens and what a treat to see all that they have accomplished! Amazing plantings everywhere. They even make chocolate from their cacao. Truly though, our reason for the visit was to see Rick's Mom. She has managed to reach 90 so time with her is precious.

Refreshed and back in the studio!

Full Moon Rising over Diamond Head - Oahu

Huge storm waves hitting the Na Pali coastline on Kauai

Princeville Botanical garden - 8 acres of incredible plantings

Sunrise from our "Love Shack" on the beach near the end of the road on Kauai.

Happy Holidays and a peaceful New Year!

What a busy year.....We are still busy working in the studio and will continue. Planning on a brief break so that I can summarize 2013 and upload recent projects to our website. We truly appreciate the support of all of our collectors, galleries, art consultants and wonderful community of Auburn. Enjoy your Holidays and have a peaceful and productive 2014!

Nicholson Blown Glass « Good Day Sacramento

 Hard to believe Rick and Hannah were up early enough to demo for Good Day Sacramento this morning! Tons of fun preparing for the last two weekends of Open Studio before Christmas. Click on the links if you want to check it out. Meanwhile, Rick is taking lunch with his eyes closed on the couch!


Nicholson Blown Glass « Good Day Sacramento
Nicholson Blown Glass Pt. 2 « Good Day Sacramento

Sharing our daughter's creative spirit!

Please check out our daughter Hannah's blog that follows her art and creative projects. Loving her new jewelry! She is helping her dad in the glass blowing studio as well! A joy to be around. She will showcase new jewelry and paintings at our upcoming Holiday Open Studios.

swiminsidethesun

Seattle Trip to Pilchuck Auction

Chihuly Glass Museum and Garden

Crystal centerpiece at the Pilchuck Auction

Desert! Pilchuck Auction

Kubota gardens - South Seattle

Downtown Seattle in the Fall

Mt Hood on the flight home

Large ice crystals - part of the Pilchuck Auction theme

California Quail

What a grand trip to Seattle! Rick and I traveled to the Pilchuck Glass Auction where our California Quail was featured. Rick has been a part of The Pilchuck Glass School since he was a TA in 1981. In August, he and Chris studied with Murano Maestro Pino Signoretto. We visited the new Chihuly Glass Museum and Garden. Special time was spent with cousins through the weekend. We are refreshed and ready for a busy Fall season of glass making!

Orrick Installation complete

We had a fun day in San Francsico today! First we installed a project in a beautiful building downtown San Francisco - Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP Global Law Firm. Then we wandered through Yerba Buena Park. SF MOMA is closed and adding on a huge new area. So we had Japanese lunch outside before returning to the studio. More work waiting for us here!

SF MOMA

Rick Janet and Hannah Nicholson

10th floor view!

Through the Yerba Buena waterfall.

Japanese lunch outside on a beautiful day in SF

"Pathways" Lake of the Pines Clubhouse

We are happy to be a part of the Lake of the Pines Clubhouse Grand Opening! "Pathways' lives at the front entry as you enter the lodge.

View from the Clubhouse

Newly remodeled Clubhouse

Installation Day - David Redmond up the ladder!

Pathways Installed!

Grand Opening

The Theater Gallery

Thursday September 5, 2013 we celebrated Twilight Thursdays in the Plumas District of Yuba City with our artist reception at the The Theater Gallery. We met the movers and shakers of downtown Yuba City that are making the district come alive. Unbelievably, I won the incredible flowers complimenting our glass donated by Yuba City Florist. We appreciated the warm welcome from the community. It is an honor to show our glass there through September.

Restoration of the Theater is underway

Yuba City Florist compliments our Autumn Wall

Rick and Janet Nicholson out on the town

Charcoal portrait by Roberto Valdez Sanchez

Shorebirds catching the twilight sun

The Buttes on the drive home

ARTWALK a success

Michael Murphy with Rick Nicholson

Commemorative Artwalk at OLAS

Emerging Artists and friends

Fawnridge Wine

Chris Stenzel

Hannah Nicholson and paintings with Nicholson Blown Glass

We were so excited to see the huge community support out on the Commemorative Artwalk. We were extra blessed with the presence of friends, families and long time collectors. Fawnridge poured wine and featured the artists label, Primitivo, with our Shorebirds on it. Our daughter, Hannah, recently returned from South America and showed three new large paintings inspired by her travels. Our current assistant, Chris Stenzel, showed a variety of his sculptural glass and our assistant, Matt Eaton, came up from San Jose State with his latest works. The show will be open by appointment until September 1. So if you missed the fun, give me a call and come see the show. We love soaking in the energy of these young, emerging artists!

Commemorative Artwalk

Alana helping install

Chris Stenzel new work

Gerda Francesca clay sculpture

Hannah Nicholson paintings

We are busy setting up for the upcoming Auburn Artwalk Thursday August 8, 6 to 9pm, at OLAS, 175 Almond St, Auburn. Artwalk is celebrating 20 years so "old" artists were invited to feature emerging artists that they have influenced (hopefully in a positive way :). We've been here 32 years even before Placer Arts was in existence! OLAS is the old Carnegie Library, a beautiful and historic building tucked away behind downtown Auburn. It was the first home of Placer Arts and currently houses artist's studios. Gerda Francesca, an artist in residence at OLAS, invited her student, Jeanne Culhane, to show her clay. We are joined by our two assistants, Matthew Eaton and Chris Stenzel, who will be exhibiting blown glass with mixed media. Our daughter, Hannah, is sharing her paintings inspired by her recent trips to South America. Stop by 6 to 9 if you can! OLAS will be open by appointment following the Artwalk. Just give me a call. 530-823-1631

Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival

Colorful inspiration on the drive home.

Hands down my favorite image from the show!

We are home from the Palo Alto Clay and Glass Festival and recovering!