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By The Book

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Thursday Throwdown October 1, 2020

Welcome to this week’s Battle Of The Vases!

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!

Sobek’s Tears was last week’s winner which means we must now say that winter has come for White Walker.

White Walker $68








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

Wins/Losses

0/1
2/1
0/1
4/0
0/1
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
1/1
1/0

And so it was that A new competitor Has entered the ring!





Sobek’s Tears $90

Sobek’s Tears tells the story of an aggressive and fearless god who not only controlled the waters of the Nile, but also suffered from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). As the Egyptian god of fertility and water he was both adored and feared, for he could often side with chaos.

As Sobek was busy helping to create the world and laying eggs along what would be the banks of the Nile, his sweat would become the mighty river. Good thing there was not yet a pill for that.

Sobek was thought to protect both the Pharoah and even some of the gods. It is thought that he assisted the venerable Isis during the childbirth of Horus. He also saved Horus’ four children in his net when they emerged from a lotus flower in the Nile.

This may explain why temple complexes devoted to him often had their own pond, complete with their own crocodile that was fed milk and honey and the choicest cuts of meat. Move over Cleopatra! Tick-Tock the crocodile from Peter Pan (not the social media platform) must feel jealous they did not end up in an ancient Egyptian temple.

$240

Zeus was not like the other gods. He knew what he wanted and he would get it. And he knew all it would take is a little bit of Magnum, Ferrari, or a dose of Le Tigre.

Unfortunately, meeting his philandering goals also meant killing mortals and upsetting the other gods and – much more than once – his goddess wife Hera.

“Zeus is here to set the record straight! What was Zeus to do? It was not his fault everyone wanted him! He was blessed with being “Zeus’ gift to women” everywhere! Surely, nobody could blame him for that!”

“This is complete ZeuSlander!”

Indeed, It was true that the people simply couldn’t resist him – Mostly due to him being an all powerful god,

Zeus. was. “IT.”

Zeus’ tangled love life (including many rather questionable relationships) resulted in all of these children.

His harem included

Leto who was the mother of Apollo and ArtemisSemele who was the mother of DionysusMaia who was the mother of HermesDione who was the mother of AphroditeHera, the wife of Zeus was the mother of Ares, Hebe and HephaestusDemeter, the sister and lover of Zeus, was the mother of Persephone

One thing was perfectly clear: By gods, he knew how to pose!

It was no freak gasoline fight accident that brought this vase to life, but rather, the magic of raku and when the ash was cleared, Zeuslander was left to ponder life’s important questions alone on Mount Olympus – forever searching for an answer to “why male models?”

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.Sobek's TearsMount OlympusEmailSubmit


Their fate is now in your hands!







We will share the winner (and update from last week!) next Thursday!

On The Wheel Wednesday

Opening up is sometimes hard to do.







Unlike a Clay pot spinning on a wheel, people do not always open as easily.







But when you are open, amazing Miracles and Coincidences can happen. Love can flow from you to others.







And more Love can flow to you, when you are open and ready to Receive it. this week my hope for you all is to walk in love, despite the chaotic world in which we live.

Can you remember a time where you were open to something or someone you usually wouldn’t be and were pleasantly surprised or rewarded? Inspire us with your tale in the comments below.

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, which I am hoping to hitting 100 subscribers, so I can finally get my own link!

This Made Me Almost As Hot As My Kiln

The Author

Writing my first book was a big project to undertake – a project I previously wrote about.

You might be thinking (cue up best Captain Kirk voice) – ‘Damnit, Jim, he’s a potter, not a writer!’, but you’d be wrong. I have always enjoyed writing and being able to combine it with my pottery and use the pieces to retell these myths through a modern lens had me almost as hot as my kiln! And managing to put them all together in a book – ah-glazing!

For those who are newer to The Alchemist’s Studio and wondering “A book? What book!?” well – I am glad you asked!

The book

“A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends” collects stories across cultures and centuries, adapting them to his pottery with wit, love, compassion and joy. “A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends” is a decidedly modern take on the traditional topics of pottery, healing, community – and what it means to be human – all interwoven with the magic of raku and stunning pottery.

It makes for a great coffee table book, bedtime reading, bathroom book or gift for the art lover on your shopping list.

A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends Book
$22



The Legends

You may not know, but each of the vases on the site has an associated myth.

Let’s take a look at 5 of them.







The Eye of Balor



The Eye of Balor

Think you have issues with your daddy? ‘The Eye of Balor’ tells the tale of an Irish giant, a prophecy, his captive daughter, some serious control issues, a late night rendezvous and a whole lot of famillicide!

Phoenix Reborn



Phoenix Reborn

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.

Evangeline



Evangeline

Evangeline tells the tale of a great Acadian love story that is a part of the local culture here in my home of Nova Scotia.

‘Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie’ is an epic poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. In this poem he follows her search for long lost love Gabriel, with whom she was betrothed.

Louwala-Clough



Louwala-Clough

The aboriginal people in the north west of the United States told early explorers a tale about a mountain called Louwala-Clough, you may know this mountain as Mount St. Helens.

According to legend, this mountain used to be a beautiful woman who was named Loowit. There were two braves, who happened to be brothers that were vying for her love. These were not just any two braves, for they were the sons of the Great Spirit, Sahale.

Gossip Girl



Gossip Girl

Gossip Girl pays tribute to a nymph renowned for her beauty named Larunda. Larunda was also known for another trait. She talked a lot. Her parents, try as they might, could not curb this trait and her love of gossip.

These are only a small portion of the vases and their stories available in my first book, “A Potter’s Dream Myths and Legends.” You can read more about the vase stories over on the vase page, or of course, in the book itself.

Which of the above vases is your favourite?

This Week At The Studio In Photos

My first set of porcelain tea bowls is coming along nicely!



The seasons are starting to change around here



Working on some porcelain light fixtures as well!



Beautiful light the day after post-tropical storm Teddy (which did not do any damage around here, thankfully)



A new planet has come in to our universe!







That’s been the week here.

How’s your week been?

How to Lose Weight Like Magic

Our raku pottery vase, Poseidon’s Adventure, tells the tale of Zeus’ younger brother, a power hungry father, a bad case of food poisoning that wasn’t from Taco Bell – but watch out for those diet supplements, the consequences of eating babies, a family conflict fit for Jerry Springer, and a god who must now be shaking his head at what we have done to our water.

All hail Lord Poseidon! And a new tale of the dysfunctional gods of old.

Poseidon’s Adventure- $202

Poseidon had a very unappetizing start to his life. His father ate him. At least he didn’t like his babies cooked. It was not that Cronos singled him out. He also ate all of his sibling, except one that his mother Rhea managed to save – Zeus. Rhea managed to save him by replacing baby Zeus with a rock.

As a result, Poseidon and his siblings spent most of their childhood in their father’s stomach. There the children would settle for the latest partially digested food Cronos had eaten. The children developed a great appetite for wine and other rich foods from infancy. The effects of their childhood alcohol dependency may explain some of their behaviour as an adult.

Taking trips through the digestive track to try to escape was also a really crappy experience, that unfortunately never succeeded. Birthdays were pretty grim for the children, but one time Poseidon was lucky enough to come across a half eaten lobster. That must have started his life long love affair with all things naval – not to be confused with the inside of Cronos’ navel which they pounded upon hoping to escape.

Now, Cronos didn’t eat his children to be mean. In fact under other circumstances, he may have been a great father. If only there had not been that prophecy that his children would usurp him.

Æons later…

Poseidon and his siblings would remain in their father’s stomach until Zeus came of age. Zeus was full of anger and resentment towards his father after spending his childhood with a goat. When he tried to talk to the goat, the goat kept butting into the conversation, which was really baa-d for his social development.

Eventually Zeus would procure an herbal potion that would make Cronos dislodge his children from his stomach in this rather attractive vessel known as ‘Herbal Magic‘. I wonder if the company by the same name uses this ancient weight loss formula.

All of the children were then expelled from their father’s stomach in the order they were eaten. The siblings would eventually go on to defeat their father who was chief amongst the Titans and divide the spoils. Poseidon would become the lord of the sea, and one of the most important gods of the ancients and a fondness for tinkering with genetics.

And for those looking to drop a few pounds? Herbal Magic would be a very effective brew, so long as you eat healthy and exercise. And don’t mind projectile vomiting.

Herbal Magic- $88

Next week, we will look at the story of Cronos, the chief of the gods of old and his origin story, which until now has been shrouded in mists of time.

What did you think of our latest vase and story? Let me know in the comments below. You can check out more raku pottery vases and their stories here.

Yoda PhoTas

Fresh from the latest raku firing, Two new yoda pendants have made it on to the site. We have a feeling they won’t last long! Yoda not your thing? This Yin Yang was fired with the vase of Attraction More yin yangs (and other pieces!) can be viewed over on the Jewelry page. hope you […]

Yoda PhoTas

NASA Discovers Another New Planet!

The NovaScotia Alchemical Society of Astroexploration (NASA) has confirmed the discovery of a yet another new planet. More information about this planet will be released soon!

Raku Pottery Planet/Sphere

Travel restrictions bringing you down?

Join us on Fridays when we will bring new worlds to you.

You can see more of our planetoid spheres here!

Wishing all of you a wonderful weekend full of good things!

Thursday Throwdown September 24, 2020

Welcome to this week’s Battle Of The Vases!

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!

White Walker was last week’s winner which means we must now say adieu (for now or for good – time will tell) to Kermit the Vase.

Kermit The Vase $98
Sorry to see you go!







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

Wins/Losses

0/1
2/1
0/1
4/0
0/1
0/1
0/1
1/1
0/1
1/0

And so it was that A new competitor Has entered the ring!





Sobek’s Tears $90

Sobek’s Tears tells the story of an aggressive and fearless god who not only controlled the waters of the Nile, but also suffered from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). As the Egyptian god of fertility and water he was both adored and feared, for he could often side with chaos.

As Sobek was busy helping to create the world and laying eggs along what would be the banks of the Nile, his sweat would become the mighty river. Good thing there was not yet a pill for that.

Sobek was thought to protect both the Pharoah and even some of the gods. It is thought that he assisted the venerable Isis during the childbirth of Horus. He also saved Horus’ four children in his net when they emerged from a lotus flower in the Nile.

This may explain why temple complexes devoted to him often had their own pond, complete with their own crocodile that was fed milk and honey and the choicest cuts of meat. Move over Cleopatra! Tick-Tock the crocodile from Peter Pan (not the social media platform) must feel jealous they did not end up in an ancient Egyptian temple.

White Walker $68

This vase pays homage to one of my favourite television series, that captivated me right until the rushed and disappointing ending, Game of Thrones!

I present to you the raku pottery vase ‘The White Walker’, rising up from the snow covered ground.

The White Walkers were an ancient race of formerly-human ice creatures who came from north of the wall. As the books and tv series progress, they become humanities greatest threat. Think icy zombies.

This vase celebrates the defeat of the Night King at the hands of Arya Stark, which resulted in the complete obliteration of the Night Army. Which, in case you don’t watch the show, is a very good thing!

Too bad the ending of the series was not such a good thing. At least we have the final books to look forward to!

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.Sobek's TearsThe White WalkerNameSubmit


Their fate is now in your hands!







We will share the winner (and update from last week!) next Thursday!

On The Wheel Wednesday

Sticking Your Neck Out







Sometimes we stick our neck out, for things we believe in, for those we love.







When we stretch to help others, we often learn and grow. We see things Differently.







It is in those moments we can add more love and Beauty to the world, through a simple act of kindness.

Can you remember a time where you learned something from helping someone? Inspire us with your tale in the comments below.

Recently, I’ve tested a new glaze, and I am pretty excited by the results. You can check out some of these new pieces here.