Joanne Long and Marti Schmidt met 13 years ago in Susan Galloway’s ceramic class at McHenry County College. They are both members and past presidents of the Clay Workers Guild of Illinois.

While on a trip to NCECA (National Council of Education for the Ceramic Arts) they happened upon a store that carried a few pieces of Dichroic glass jewelry. It was love at first sight and something they decided they just had to learn how to make.

Dichroic glass is glass that is coated with a thin film of metallic oxides such as titanium and combinations of other metals, which have been vaporized by an electronic beam. This coating allows certain wavelengths to be reflected and others to be transmitted. So in other words when you look directly at a Dichroic pendant you will see brilliant reflections of light but as you rotate the piece you will see color changes. Dichroic glass comes in solid colors or with a pattern. It is the combination of the patterns and solids placed on a plain glass backing and fired in a kiln that produces magic. Each piece is different and they all glow with an inner light.