Jay Jasper's Blog, page 129

Have An A-Glazing Day!

Lots to glaze today! Click here to see glazed and finished vases

Monday Morning Motivation

Another week starts at the studio, and I have a fairly extensive ‘to do’ list with a few firings planned and lots of glazing ahead. To accompany your morning coffee, tea, or beverage of choice:

Ijeoma Umebinyuo



“Start now.

Start where you are.

Start with fear.

Start with pain.

Start with doubt.

Start with hands shaking.

Start with voice trembling but start.

Start and don’t stop.

Start where you are, with what you have.

Just… start.”



― Ijeoma Umebinyuo

You can do great things when you just start! What do you have planned for your week?

The glazed piece on the right is my first raku-fired vase thrown on the wheel, my start in pottery. The most exciting thing is that the journey continues.

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.

Sunday Night In The Studio

A relaxing evening of handbuilding.

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.

This Week At The Studio In Photos

Phew! A new area of the garden has been transformed with dirt, love, and sweat equity! These perennial plants will come back every year and fill in the space.



Three of the Royal Ladies of Cluckingham Palace on parade. They had tea and scones shortly afterwards.



The inside of the studio/store is coming along! Now drywalled and also free of drywall dust! Now for colour choosing… (stay tuned).



MMMM. The garlic scapes are ready for harvest for inclusion in salads or in our annual garlic oil recipe and vampire repellent.



The full moon/lunar eclipse did not bring werewolves to the Palace. All floofy summer hats safely stored on heads, the Royal Ladies were very pleased.



I Tumble 4 Ya Tumbler Prototypes! Vote for your favourite here.

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.

I’ll Tumble 4 Ya

I have a confession to make, which is that there is a not so secret space in my heart filled with love for what might be considered ‘cheesy’ 80’s pop music. So when the opportunity came up to combine my love of pottery with an 80’s musical reference, how could I resist!

So what does one get when you combine pottery and 80’s musical cheese?

I’ll Tumble 4 Ya, Tumblers! Or as others may call them, drinking glasses suitable for wine, water or the beverage of your choice.

Here are a few of the designs I am prototyping.

Which one do you prefer?



Which is your favourite?

These pieces will need to be bisque fired prior to glazing, so stay tuned for further updates. I will be testing different glazes out on these pieces and be sure to share the results here.

In the meantime, I will leave you with this:

I’ll Tumble 4 Ya!

(And if anyone knows Boy George, tell him thanks for the inspiration.)

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.

It rained last night.

After the weeks of hot sunny days and humid nights gave way to hot cloudy days with dark clouds and not a single drop coming from them – it finally rained last night.

When it began yesterday evening, we ran outside and jumped up and down, knowing that the rain would help the plants thrive and ensure a greater harvest come fall.

The morning after the rain finally came.

The next morning, what was left of the rain is mostly dried up now, absorbed into the soil or evaporated by the sun, but it brought with it waves of relief, gratitude,

and a shift in perspective.

I am reminded that we can never water the garden as well as a good rain can.

May you also receive the rain you need.

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.

MY IDEA, not theirs.

The King of the Clay – Chairman Meow



From the Desk of Chairman Meow

They’ve finally listened to me. Why were there not things like this already?

I am clearly the most important part of this place, there is no point in even trying to pretend any of you are here for any other reason.

But since I am a guest (apparently), I will share something pottery related. These are new and not glazed – or fired (something I should do to these humans who didn’t listen to me for so long).

Magnets.

Specifically, cat fridge magnets. Duh.

I made these. ME. My idea.



You’re welcome.

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.

On The Wheel Wednesday – Stretch!

From certain angles, it may look as if One has not done much at all







But when considering the time and effort They have put in, it becomes clear that there has been growth because they learned how to



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“If you really want to eat, keep climbing. The fruits are on the top of the tree. Stretch your hands and keep stretching them. Success is on the top, keep going.”
― Israelmore Ayivor

Let’s grow for it!

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.

Army of one

Happy Monday! I hope everyone finds themseves well.

2020 has been quite the year so far. Between the pandemic and the continued struggle for racial equality, it feels like the world is on fire and change is in the air.

Last week, I heard an incredible song that I found deeply meaningful and touching. The song reminded me of my early days when I used to protest, and what hopes we had for a better world.

This got me to thinking about how we are still protesting many of the same issues, as well as bringing up a sadness that we have not come as far as we need.

But I have also seen many positive changes in my life.

It lifts my heart that the generations that have come after me continue the march for a more just world. They are able to do so in part because they have rights and opportunities that I did not have growing up that I helped fight for, just as I was able to do so because of the generations before me.

May we create a better world where all people are not only treated equally and fairly, but are also able to prosper and thrive.

The time is now.

We have all waited too long.

Enter our Draw!

Happy Northern Hemisphere Summer everyone!

To the casual observer, this may seem like any other start of summer. However, the human world is in great chaos with fears firmly rooted in a deadly virus that continues to change the way we live.

I hope that you and all of my readers are safe and have everything that they need to get through this unprecedented time. I know it is hard to not feel fear and anxiety during this crazy time, but maybe some of the ideas here may help. Make sure you take care of yourself and others. If you or someone you know are affected by the coronavirus, or you are feeling anxious about it, you can add your intention for healing to our ‘Healing Vase’ project for 2020 here. It is a community based art project that can help bring people together safely at this time.

In lighter news, I am also happy to share a reminder of a giveaway that we have been doing here at The Alchemist’s Studio! You may know that we have a newsletter that we send out a few times a year to keep people updated on our latest creations and special offers.

Yoda Multi-Colour Print

Well – once we hit 300 subscribers (we are at 260 now!) 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.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to selecting our prize winner soon!