Jay Jasper's Blog, page 104
January 16, 2021
To Hell With It!
‘Draupnir‘ tells the tale of dwarven headhunters, a father’s love, the ultimate wealth multiplier, and a journey to hell and back. It’s about a gift, made in response to a wager, that almost cost a trickster his head.
Draupnir – $74Shipping Included In US and Canada
Forged in fire, Draupnir was one of three gifts which also included the Mjollnir and the Gullinbursti. They were created by dwarves, Brokkr and Sindri, as part of a wager with Loki. Loki made a bet that they could not make better gifts than the Sons of Ivaldi.
Loki must have lost his head, betting against the brothers. He was very wrong, and this was no small wager.
The dwarven brothers may have won the contest because of the Mjollnir (Thor’s Hammer), but the Draupnir was literally worth it’s weight in gold – actually eight times it’s weight in gold!
It was time for Loki to pay up and he had wagered his head. But as usual Loki had a trick up his sleeve. He argued that in order for the brothers to take his head they would need to injure his neck and that wasn’t part of the bargain.
The dwarves discussed, and settled for sewing his lips together with wire.
Perhaps just to shut him up.
‘Draupnir’, old Norse for The Dripper, was no slouch of a gift. It was a golden arm ring with a special ability: every nine days it would drip out eight new arm rings of the same weight and quality of gold!
Move over Michael Bloomberg, that’s quite a return on investment!
This arm ring would become a prized possession of Odin’s, but in the ultimate act of a father’s love Odin placed it on the funeral pyre of his son Baldr.
But the rings story does not end here.
In the land of death, Baldr would give the ring to the messenger god Hermodr, who would ultimately return it to Odin.
A circular journey to Hell and back rings true for ‘Draupnir‘ – but if you buy this vase, please don’t return it to me.
It’ll be yours. I insist.
Draupnir – $74 Shipping Included In US and Canada
January 15, 2021
A Raku Regale!
We are very excited to share a video with you that we’ve created as a very short promotional piece to highlight our process and work! We have also added this video to the front page of our website
If you have a spare minute and change, you can see the video below, or better yet check us out on youtube and subscribe to our channel! I would love to hear your impressions and thoughts on this video!
Thanks for reading, and maybe watching!
January 14, 2021
Thursday Throwdown January 14, 2021
It’s vase-to-vase combat like you have never seen before!
How it works: We share two vases and YOU vote which is your favourite! The winner will then move on to the next round to face another competitor!
Last week, Mother of Dragons and White Walker battled to the death! Your vote has determined that
White Walker –
$68
Shipping included in US and Canada
But since it is actually winter here at the Alchemist’s Studio, we will hit the snow with a bit more heat!
The Series so far. Gorgeous Vases of No Contact Wrestling Vase Name
Gossip Girl
Phoenix Reborn
Pillar of Atlas
Evangeline
Ogopogo
Iris En Ciel
Original Twin
Kermit The Vase
Haring’s Dance
White Walker
Sobek’s Tears
Mount Olympus
Argus
Draupnir
Grandmother
Old Soul
Make It Work
Hope Rising In Springtime
The Eye Of Horus
The Eye of Balor
Electra
Mother of Dragons
0/1
2/1
0/1
5/0
0/2
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
1/2
1/1
4/1
0/1
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
1/1
4/1
0/1
0/1
1/0
A battle for the ages!
Mother of Dragons – $240Shipping included in Canada and US
In honour of the return of ‘Game of Thrones’ this vase is named ‘Mother of Dragons‘ after Daenrys Targaryen. Motherhood is always challenging, but imagine trying to raise three wilful dragons. The daycare costs alone must cost a fortune and imagine trying to hire a nanny, though Arya may be a suitable candidate, and possible future sister-in-law.
This art piece commemorates the magic of dragons. You can see where the flames have touched this vase during the reduction process. This moment has been captured perfectly and I can see a correlation between where the flames kissed the vase and the patterns on the vase. It was like our dragon friend Viserion was present in spirit before his icy reanimation.
Phoenix Reborn –
$80
Shipping included in US and Canada
This raku vase’s name was chosen by Mandy Lewis-Houston during , who explains it as follows:
I would call it “Phoenix Reborn” for several reasons. First is a little on the nose since it’s Raku and forged in flame. The second is because, if I read your blog properly, this is the first work you have finished since your sad loss. Lastly because July has been stupid hot for almost everyone everywhere so this could be a lovely harbinger of cooler times since it’s out of the flames and hopefully so are we all.
Thank you so much Mandy for your touching suggestion. I am really drawn to this name and feel like she has captured the essence of this piece on many levels. You can check out Mandy’s artistic works on her website here.
You may read more about my recent experiences that caused me to choose this particular name here – “Working Through Grief.”.
Who will be your victor? Be sure to get your vote in BELOW! Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.I choose this vase as the winner.Mother Of DragonsPhoenix RebornMessageSubmit Their fate is now in your hands!We will share the winner (and update from last Time) next time!
Please note we are going to be moving these thursday throwdowns to monthly posts
January 13, 2021
On The Wheel Wednesday
To reach higher, stand taller and believe in yourself.
Be confident. embrace your power!
Because you never know what you can create, until you try! What is the one thing you’ve done so far in 2021 that you are most proud of? Let us know in the comments below. big or small, inspire someone with sharing, because after 2020, we all need a little of that. Have a dreamy week everyone! 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!
January 12, 2021
Vase In Focus – Evangeline
Evangeline and her betrothed would only be reunited in their old age
Evangeline –
$120
Shipping included in US and Canada
when Gabriel, who was already very sick, would perish in her arms.”What do you think of this story/Vase?
January 11, 2021
Mugshot Monday
― Mahmoud Darwish
Mug 9 –
$35
Shipping Included in US and Canada
New Mugs are coming soon! Sign up below to be contacted when they are ready!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.NameFirstLastEmail *I would like to be added to the Alchemist's Studio Newsletter (we will not spam nor share your email address).Yes, please include my email on the newsletter subscription listPlease check "Yes" if you agree to have your email address added.CommentSubmit
January 10, 2021
Keep peace and compassion close to your heart during these trying times
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 13th 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).
This Week At The Studio In Photos
These new mugs are glazed and ready for firing! Did you know: glazes before and after firing can be completely different colours?Sign up to be emailed when they are ready!
Haring’s Dance has found a new home and will be going out this week. Thank you Evan!
While normally always windy here, a week after our first major snowfall the wind has been extraordinarily still and snow remains on the trees.
Chairman Meow staring down Robario the robotic vacuum when meeting for the first time.
A closeup of this week’s vase story “Pandora’s Jar“Pandora’s Jar – $124
Includes Shipping in US and Canada
One of our books is on it’s way to an excited reader! Get your own copy
That’s been the week here.
How’s your week been?
January 9, 2021
If You like Playing with Fire, Watch out for Pandora’s Box?
This week, we are happy to highlight the raku pottery vase ‘Pandora’s Jar‘, named in honour of a woman handcrafted by the gods. Given many gifts from the gods, including great beauty, cunning and a special jar/urn, Pandora would change the course of the world.
Now many of you may have heard of Pandora’s box, but that would be due to a 16th century error in translation. Her special trinket from Zeus himself was a jar or urn.
Pandora’s Jar –
$124
Includes Shipping in US and Canada
It all started when humans acquired the godly gift of fire from Prometheus. Zeus was none too pleased with that mere mortals had acquired the fire of the gods. In order to balance the scales, he decided to bestow another gift upon the mortal world. Her name was Pandora.
Zeus ordered the other gods to help with his little project. Hephaestus created the form of Pandora in his forge, Athena teaches her weaving and dresses her in the finest gowns, Hermes would give her the power of speech, and Aprodite gave her great beauty, cunning and curiosity.
Have any of you seen the movie weird science? Only Pandora was not made for himself, but rather to deliver Zeus’ balancing ‘gift’ to Earth contained in a jar. Zeus knew better than to deliver Pandora to Prometheus, so she was delivered to his gullible brother Epimethius.
Epimethius was warned not to accept any gift from Zeus by his brother, but Pandora was so beautiful and cunning that he not only invited her into his house, but he also married her.
In time, this would prove to be a fatal error, for in Pandora’s jar were plagues and suffering that she would unleash on the Earth by opening the jar. 2020 may have taught us all about life during the plague.
It is said that the only thing left in the jar is hope. That’s something we all need right now. Stay safe, stay healthy!
What did you think of today’s vase and story? Please let me know in the comments below, and if you would like to see more of our raku vases and read their stories, check out our gallery here.
For those of you who came here wanting to see Pandora’s box, you’ll have to settle for mine.
January 8, 2021
Create
– Karl Lagerfeld
What’s more fun than creativity?
Being able to let loose and play can result in some interesting work. The whirlwind of creating new work alone requires being open to ideas as they come and letting the dance lead you.
Parenthood Pendant – $28Shipping Included in US and Canada
it must then be followed by the ever important process of editing. Without this iteration, the work will not shine in the best way it can.
Medicine Wheel Necklace 2 – $28 Price Includes Shipping In US and Canada
This is a process that I use when creating original jewelry, and one that I am always learning more about.
Tree of Life Pendant –$28Price Includes Shipping In US and Canada
In the end – as with so many parts of life – it is about walking the middle path.
Vase of Attraction Yin Yang –
$28
Shipping Included In US and Canada
What kind of things do you create?
Do you work in a similar way?
