Jay Jasper's Blog, page 128
July 16, 2020
Thursday Throwdown July 16, 2020
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!
It’s vase-to-vase combat like you have never seen before! It’s . . .
This week we have our first competitors. Read below to hear their stories!
Who will this week’s winner be?
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.I choose this vase as the winner.Gossip GirlPhoenix RebornMessageSubmit
Gossip Girl$120
‘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.
Jupiter would provide an answer to solve this dilemma.
During one of her many gossip sessions, Larunda could not hang onto a very juicy tidbit of information. She ended up revealing Jupiter’s affair with fellow nymph Juturna to Jupiter’s wife Juno. She could not keep such a juicy tidbit of information to herself. So much for the girl code.
That proved to be a very bad idea. Jupiter was king of the gods in Rome. You mess with Jupiter, you better don’t mess with Jupiter.
His answer? Cut out her tongue and order her escorted by Mercury to Avernus, the gateway to the underworld. Extreme perhaps, but effective.
Our story does not end here. You know the pretty people who can talk their way out of a speeding ticket? Even without her tongue Larunda managed to weasel her way out of the trip to the Underworld. Mercury fell in love with her, they made love and she had two babies.
It was a real labour for her to avoid the Underworld. Literally!
To keep herself safe, she had to remain hidden in a cottage in the woods. That combined without having a tongue, may have been a worse punishment than a trip to the Underworld.
It’s a good thing there was no Facebook or WIFI back then! Larunda might have lost her fingers too.
Phoenix Reborn$80
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.”.
Their fate is now in your hands!
Who will be your victor? Please scroll up to add your Vote in the poll!
We will share the winner (and new competitor) next Thursday!
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered. Share on Twitter or Facebook to help the draw come even sooner!
July 15, 2020
On The Wheel Wednesday – Sanctuary
While the wheel spins
is my sanctuary
What is your sanctuary?
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered. Share on Twitter or Facebook to help the draw come even sooner!
July 14, 2020
Name That Vase – July 2020
It’s time to share our winner and feature another vase in need of a name! Welcome to my monthly feature – ‘Name that Vase’.
For those who are new to this feature, ‘Name that Vase’ is where you can suggest a name, create a story, poem or prose for this raku pottery vase. Consider this your chance to be inspired, a writing prompt or a creative cue. You can, or if you are feeling nostalgic,that started what has now become a monthly tradition for our blog and readers.
This month we have a very special vase for your naming, but first we must congratulate last month’s winner thedumbestblogger for their name and write-up! Congratulations!
Brunhilde. It’s solid, elegant, and perhaps slightly German looking.
The below is taken from Wikipedia
Also known as Brunhilda or Brynhild (Old Norse: Brynhildr, Middle High German: Brünhilt, Modern German: Brünhild or Brünhilde), is a powerful female figure from Germanic heroic legend. She may have her origins in the Visigothic princess Brunhilda of Austrasia.
In the Norse tradition, Brunhild is a shieldmaiden or valkyrie, who appears as a main character in the Völsunga saga and some Eddic poems treating the same events. In the continental Germanic tradition, where she is a central character in the Nibelungenlied, she is a powerful Amazon-like queen. In both traditions, she is instrumental in bringing about the death of the hero Sigurd or Siegfried after he deceives her into marrying the Burgundian king Gunther or Gunnar. In both traditions, the immediate cause for her desire to have Sigurd murdered is a quarrel with the hero’s wife, Gudrun or Kriemhild. In the Scandinavian tradition, but not in the continental tradition, Brunhild kills herself after Sigurd’s death.
Richard Wagner made Brunhild (as Brünnhilde) an important character in his opera cycle Der Ring des Nibelungen. The majority of modern conceptions of the figure have been inspired or influenced by Wagner’s depiction.
Brunhild has been called “the paramount figure of Germanic legend.”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunhild
BrunhildeAnd into our new month!
Here is our vase for this month:
Please add what you think the name should be for this month’s vase and any associated poetry or story in the comments below. I look forward to reading all your great ideas!
If you have coronavirus on mind (as so many of us do right now) please check out this helpful post, B-B-B Bye Corona, Self-Care In The Time of Pandemic.
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered. Share on Twitter or Facebook to help the draw come even sooner!
Join our project to help build more hope and co-create a better world during the pandemic of the coronavirus and beyond.
July 13, 2020
Contest Update!
Some of you may recall that once our newsletter hits 300 Subscribers, we will be doing a giveaway. All those who have subscribed will automatically be entered in a draw to win the lovely prizes below:
A copy of our book.
Yoda Multi-Colour Print.
One piece of jewelery.The good news is that we are nearly at our goal. We just need 25 more subscribers before the draw! I’d love to be able to do the draw next weekend but that means you need to:
Subscribe by clicking here and entering your email address
Have a wonderful Monday, and enjoy the week ahead. Stay safe!
July 12, 2020
This Week At The Studio In Photos
With more rain recently, the broccoli is really coming up great!
Warm late nights means night time photoshoots
When you smile at nature and it smiles back.
Summer 2020 has many faces.
The kiln cooling the night after the firing.So That has been some of the week here. How has your week been?
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered. Share on Twitter or Facebook to help the draw come even sooner!
July 11, 2020
Stay Home for Now, But Enjoy the View!
In Atlantic Canada we have had great success with our coronavirus efforts. It helps that this area is more rural, and that nationally the government has offered financial support so that people could ‘stay the blazes’ home. Recently, we have created what is called the ‘Atlantic Bubble’, which in theory has opened our provincial borders back up (if you don’t mind waiting three hours parked on the highway.)
Unfortunately, other parts of Canada and our neighbours to the south have not been so fortunate. All of the new cases we have had recently have been clusters as a result of people returning from travel from outside of the Atlantic Bubble.
STAY AWAY FROM THIS BEAUTIFUL PLACE! (for now)
Since our beautiful province is off limits to so many, I wanted to share some of the natural beauty of this area with you through pictures.
Driving in the quiet rural community of Joggins, Nova Scotia
Heading to the beach at Joggins Fossil Cliffs
A view across Chignecto Bay
A face in the rocks
Getting the lowdown at Joggins Fossil Cliffs
The sometimes-wet cliffs at the Joggins Fossil Cliffs
Life flows where water flows.I hope you have enjoyed your virtual tour of just some of what Nova Scotia has to offer.
“You should really stay home and please. don’t. stay. here.“
We love all the visitors we get here normally, and hopefully we can welcome you all back in the summer of 2021.
Just don’t try to come here till the pandemic is over.
Stay safe and well.
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered. Share on Twitter or Facebook to help the draw come even sooner!
A Summer Opening
It takes many hours for a kiln load of pottery to properly cool down, With summer in full swing, some extra time must be added for consideration before the kiln can be safely opened.
The Kiln slowly cooling over night
Open it too quickly, and the pottery inside can be hit by the cooler air, which can cause cracking.
almost ready to open!
Open it too late and…well…it’s too exciting to wait forever! So without further ado, here it is!
A few pieces from the recent firing
Closeup of the new owl!
More to come from future firings and deeper dives into choice pieces.
Is there anything around The Alchemist’s Studio that you would like us to consider sharing more about?
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered.
July 10, 2020
Going down to Electric (Kiln) Avenue
the kiln prepared
Glazes On
Shelves filled
The Project Foredog nods her approval.
It is time.
It will be a number of hours for this firing is complete and before the kiln can be opened so we will have to wait until another day to share how it all turned out!
Be sure to check back soon!
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered.
July 9, 2020
Colour!
The Healing Vase 2019
More rain has made all the difference!
Winter SunsetMay your day be filled with an abundance of colour and vitality!
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered.
July 8, 2020
On The Wheel Wednesday – Adaptation
No matter how much I might try, I can’t turn the day into night.
So rather than struggle, on the hottest days I might choose to shift my pottery wheel time into the cooler night hours – even though I may be excited to throw earlier in the day.
I am thankful that I have the power to shift my perspective and response.
and can choose to turn it into an opportunity to create something new.
It is truly a gift.
Once we hit 300 newsletter subscribers, we will be drawing for two prizes that will include a copy of our book ‘A Potters Dream: Myths & Legends’ an art print and piece of jewelry for one of the lucky winners. You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered.
