Jay Jasper's Blog, page 102

Making Space in February

”I didn’t feel like a giant.
I felt very, very small.”

– Neil Armstrong, on looking back at the Earth from the Moon in July 1969

Fresh out of the kiln, Intergalactic Yoda is back and has come with a friend! Intergalactic Yoda Pendant – $28
Free Shipping In US and Canada
Intergalactic Buddha Pendant – $28
Free Shipping In US and Canada
we also have this galaxy-themed vase which makes a great pairing with a piece of the above Jewelry. Intergalactic Vase and Intergalactic Pendant – $65
Free Shipping In US and Canada
If you have a space lover as your lover, have we got the perfect gift for you, and them, but like this vase, there is only one available.Launch your relationship to the cosmos. If you act now, you can buy this vase and your choice of Yoda or Buddha pendant for $65!

this includes shipping in the US and Canada.

Only one available!

Mugshot Monday

“Tea brings time to a crawl, its frantic pace resuming on noticing our empty cups.”

— Terri Guillemets Mug 10 $35

Shipping Included in US and CanadaThe Latest Mugs Are Now Up WIth More To Come!

Click here to view all mugs.

If you don’t see one for sale in the colour you like,
please contact us and we can work with you directly.

Behind The Scenes 😉

We are excited to share this video we’ve created to highlight our process and work!

If you have a spare minute and twelve seconds, you can see the video above, or if you prefer, check us out on youtube and subscribe to our channel!

Thanks for reading, and maybe watching!

P.S. I would love to hear your impressions and thoughts on this video!

This Week At The Studio In Photos

Firing the Vase of Dreams today!

Be sure to come back later to see the finished piece Found amongst the snow on a forest walk New mugs were added!
Mug 10 $35

Shipping Included in US and Canada Taking a rest in the cozy and warm studio A close-up of new work! More to come soon!That’s been the week here.

How’s your week been?

Calling All Dreamers Once Again!- The Vase of Dreams – Firing Tomorrow!

Some of my regular readers may be familiar with some of my past art projects like ‘The Healing Vase‘, which allow for audience/community participation. I launched a new project, in part inspired by the joy that project brought me, and by the current chaos in the world due to the global pandemic of the coronavirus. A recent update on that can be found here

My concept for this piece is to allow the process of raku and the flames of reduction to act as a communal intention and prayer for a better world. I am hoping that other dreamers will join me by commenting with their hopes and dreams for how our world could be a better place.

I will be printing or reproducing all of your comments to use as the reduction material in the firing process of this vase. For those unfamiliar with raku, you can view the video below to see what this firing process entails:

Co-creating the Vase of Dreams

For this particular vase – which will be fired tomorrow – I would like people to think about how the pandemic has impacted the world or your community and the changes you would like to see to make the world a better place. You can see some of the discussions that people are having about this here, and I hope you will add your voice.

Please leave your comments and ideas below for a better world. Feel free to even include a poem or a piece of creative writing. Hopefully this project will inspire hope at this time when many of us need it the most.

Please share this post so as many people as possible can participate in this project and we can spread the hope! You can do so by sharing the link to this blog directly, sharing this post from our facebook page or retweeting this tweet from our twitter account.

Let us create a better future, together!I look forward to hearing from as many of you as possible! Let’s set our intentions for a better world!

This Magic Girdle Will Leave You Breathless. Here’s the skinny.

This ain’t your average ad for a girdle

But in case you came for a ‘hot pic’…

The raku process. Sometimes too hot to handle.

Princess Admete wanted it, Hercules laboured for it, and Hippolyta almost never took it off. Today’s vase story tells the tale of an ill thought out gift, Hercules charms, early woman’s liberation, and a wedding.

The cause of all of this?

Hippolyta’s Girdle – $140
Includes Shipping in US and Canada
A magic girdle.

Most people would not even consider a girdle as a gift for their daughter, particularly if you are the father. At best, it’s creepy and a little insulting, at worst it’s a great way to let your patriarchy flag fly. I think Hippolyta’s father Ares could have benefited from the help of a personal shopper.

Ares gifted his daughter this ‘magic girdle’ as a symbol of her ‘dignity’, which is really ancientspeak for virginity. Not cool dad!

Perhaps Ares could have appreciated some Spanx!

‘Phew, now I don’t have to suck in my stomach’

Needless to say for someone’s whose name means ‘let loose,’ a girdle was not a great fit. I am sure she was waiting for just the right bra burning-esque moment to liberate herself.

Raku Vase – Hippolyta’s Girdle

That moment would come when news of a visitor started spreading around the Amazon kingdom. He was handsome, he was a hero, he was Hercules, heartthrob of the ancient world. It wasn’t too often that such an eligible bachelor was so close.

Hippolyta decided to visit Hercules on his boat. She was so impressed by him that she gave him her ‘magic girdle’. It just so happened that retrieving it was his ninth labour. This was very convenient for Hippolyta, because she finally got to take off that allegedly magical, constricting girdle.

This is where the real magic began. Hercules, in a good mood because he thought his David Lee Roth like charm won the day, introduced her to his friend Theseus. The two fell in love and would be later married.

Maybe that’s the magic of the girdle.

The only was to find true love in yourself and others is to take the thing off – If you want to.

What do you think of today’s story and vase?

One for the History Books!

Finally With a break in the weather we were able to get a raku firing completed – that means that new work is coming soon!

We were excited to share the process and had a guest observe the firing from a safe social distance!

A warmer day, but definitely still winter, we all remembered to dress accordingly.

Would you like to
observe a raku firing?

I earned my place in the 2020 hall of shame, but there’s a redemption story coming!

Just like the rest of you, 2020 was a strange year for me.

I came into it with big plans, and of course like everyone else, I had to change them. It’s hard to watch the world burning around you and continue to fiddle, or in my case do pottery, but for the most part I did.

Some of you may recall that in 2019, I completed an art project that was nearest and dearest to my hear: the Healing Vase. Together we laughed and cried, and maybe even healed a bit.

The Healing Vase

I started an art project in 2020, called the Vase of Dreams in response to the many crises we faced. It was a guttural calling. An intense desire to somehow in my own small way put intentions out there for a better world. I had also intended to do a Healing Vase project for 2020 as well.

For those who were looking forward to these projects and seeing the final results, I apologize.

I just wasn’t feeling the right energy and in the right mindset for these projects. For me 2020 was a year of introspection, personal healing, and some sort of naive shock at the state of the world.

But 2021 brings a new year, a chance to bring new energy back into the mix and rekindle old flames. Like the reduction flames that we will need to kiss this vase.

If you have a dream for a better world, you can help and participate in this project!

Be sure to share those dreams in the comments below, because sometime next week, weather permitting, I will be firing this vase. Finally. And with that firing process, I’ll be adding everyone’s intentions from 2020 and the ones from this post as part of the reduction material that creates the effects on this vase, ‘now with glaze’ below.

So …

Let me know what changes you would like to see to make the world better for everyone. These can be systemic, or even personal changes you want to make! Tell us in the comments below, OR, if you feel more comfortable you can email us your submission!

The dream is alive! Sending good vibes to you all. Stay safe and well!

On The Wheel Wednesday

Inside us all there is space. you can choose to breathe in and fill it with love, life and things that spark JOY. mindfully choosing what occupies space in your life. being your best self. What is the one thing you’ve choosen more of in the New year? or what is something your choosing to let go of?Let us know in the comments below and help inspire others!

You can learn more about our work here at the studio and what we are all about in just one minute. Check out our introductory video and subscribe to our youtube channel! And don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter here. Once we hit 500 subscribers, we will be doing another giveaway for some of our beautiful pottery!

Keep peace and compassion close to your heart during these trying times

We are now nearly a month into the new year and turns out, some of 2020 is bleeding over!

At this time, it can be helpful to have a bit more inner peace and what better way to do that than by bringing a little raku Buddha close to your heart.

Each has been lovingly handmade and fired at the Alchemist’s Studio and has it’s own unique raku effects.

From now until Wednesday, January 31st at 1159EST our raku buddha necklaces –regularly priced for $28 are $25
and that includes shipping anywhere in the US and Canada

(please contact if you are outside of this area).

You can also see a selection of our non-Buddha jewelry here