Jay Jasper's Blog, page 132

May the 4th be with you (and also with you)

In celebration of May 4th, Yoda and all that I have learned from him, I have created these 2 Raku Yoda pendants, which were intentionally fired with the Vase of Attraction

Yoda has many great quotes on a number of topics, but I find there is always something deeper to what he is saying

These two were purposely fired with the Vase of Attraction

You can get one now for $25 including shipping or at least until they head off to a galaxy far far away! Do or do not, there is no try (but DO send an email to us if you have questions – including about custom colour options!)

Once we hit 300 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.

A Royal Announcement

Hen you believe it! We have a name! Thank you all for your Royal Contribut-hens!

Her Royal Henness Queen Latifah is eggstatic to announce her Royal Co-Chair of Cluckingham Palace…*drum roll*

Princess Lay-a!

A big THANK YOU to the multiple entrants ihadathought, Rienna no Ouji, Laura Bachynski, for this name! It has definitely proven to be a favourite!

A very close second was Mark Johnson‘s “Lady Eggsmore” but our love for Star Wars clinched the win!

Neither of the Royals has yet bestown us with a golden egg, or any egg actually, but we understand that it takes time to feel comfortable in a new home, and that nobody rushes royalty!

Long live HRH Queen Latifah and Princess Lay-a!

Once we hit 300 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.

The (Not So) Secret Steps Involved In Making Raku Pottery!

A few people have asked me about the raku process that is used to fire my pottery and vases and I have decided to show you and write about how I create raku pottery.

The process starts with creating a piece on the wheel (or by hand-building).  I love the process of making things on the wheel and find there is a certain zen feeling that washes over me.

Throwing pottery on the wheel is a tonic for the soul!

After a pot is thrown or handbuilt, it must dry to prevent explosions in the kiln when it is bisque fired.  After the piece has had time to dry it is bisque fired.  This makes for more stable handling of the piece when glazing and makes it easier for the piece to withstand the rigors of raku.

Once the bisque firing is done, the magic of raku begins!  Pottery pieces are cleaned and glazed and prepared for their final firing and the flames of raku.

The effects of raku are magical!One of the glazes being prepared.Glazed raku pottery vase prior to firing.

The components of the glaze are one of the main variables that help determine the effects you get from a raku firing!  Glaze can be brushed on a pottery piece, or a piece can be dipped into glaze.

Once the glaze has completely dried, it is ready to go in the kiln.  We use an electric kiln for our raku firings.  There are specialized raku kilns you can buy, but they cost a small fortune!

Our ancient electric pottery kiln from the 70’s!Kiln is loaded with glazed pieces!Raku allows for effects you just can’t get with conventional pottery firing techniques.

Once the kiln is loaded, it is heated to the determined temperature for the raku firing.  This is another variable that helps determine the effect of the glaze.

Reduction bins are prepared with organic material which also has an impact on the finish of the raku pottery.  

Once the kiln has reached temperature, the real adventure begins!  Safety googles and gloves are put on, and the raku tongs are at the ready. 

If you are attempting this at home, please note this is not a comprehensive guide, and there are real safety issues to be considered, depending on your set up.

This may be a video on how not to do raku!  Transferring raku pottery from the kiln into the reduction bins filled with organic material.

As you can see from the video, red hot pots are transferred from the kiln into the reduction material with metal tongs.  Note that prior to this, the kiln is shut off (no shocking experiences for me of the tongs touching any of the metal coils within the kiln!)

I sometimes add additional reduction material.  Once all pots are placed in the reduction bin, a lid is added.  We also use upside-down pots.  The goal is to create a ‘reduction’ environment where there is no oxygen.  This happens if you have sealed your bin well, as the organic material burns off the oxygen in the container.

From the fire to a bath.Bath time at the pottery!‘Make it Work’ – raku pottery vase

Once the raku pottery is removed from the reduction bin, it can still be quite hot.  It is placed in water to help cool the piece.  During the reduction process pottery pieces often get covered in soot and must be scrubbed.  Pieces are also placed back in the kiln after being cleaned to help set the colours.

This is how we make our raku pottery!  Do you think the raku effects are worth the extra effort?  Which is your favourite effect below?  You can see more raku effects by clicking here.

You can subscribe to our Newsletter by clicking here. Don’t worry, if you are already a subscriber, you are automatically entered.

Happy May Day

May day, may day! We have a problem!

May 1st, also known as May Day has it’s original roots in ancient Rome and various manifestations have evolved celebrating Spring throughout Europe and North America. In 1889, this day was also chosen as International Worker’s Day.

International Worker’s Day is a celebration of labourer’s and the working class. On this day, I think it is particularly poignant this year to recognize what has become the unsung workers of our economy – many of whom work in the service sector, often for minimum wage, and now, since the pandemic, in conditions of questionable safety.

I think it is important that we all remember that in this time of upheaval, they are the people keeping our economy open. Whether they be cashiers, food processing plant workers, or on the front lines stocking shelves, these are the people who are making sure we have the food and goods we need to be able to shelter at home. They are our unsung heroes.

If you are out and about this weekend shopping for the things you need, please remember to say a heartfelt thank you to those in these jobs. It is my sincere hope that these heroes receive the recognition they deserve through increased pay and better working conditions. The fact that a number of companies have increased worker’s pay due to the pandemic shows that larger companies can afford to treat their worker’s better. I hope they continue to do so after all this is done.

As everyone’s favourite Vulcan says ‘Live long and prosper’. Stay safe everyone, particularly the unsung workers who have now been shown to be essential to all of us!

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 – Bowling on the Pottery Wheel?

Knocking down pins?

Or working on a new set of dishes on the pottery wheel?

In a recap from just over a year ago, watch the Alchemist in action, throwing and trimming a bowl!

You can subscribe to our Youtube channel for more pottery throwing videos!

Was this video a strike or spare for you?

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.

To Hell & Back

Our vase story today, ‘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.

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

Once we hit 300 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.

If you liked this story, you can find many others like it in our first book “A Potter’s Dream: Myths & Legends” now on sale for $23.

It’s Twins!

We at The Alchemist’s Studio are excited to announce two special additions to the family!

We adopted twins!

Hen you believe it! From 0 – 2 in a day! What an incredible thing to have happ-hened!

Fowl is fair indeed and we are eggcited to announce the new addition!

Please rise for the Head of Cluckingham Palace, HRH Queen Latifah!

“That is but one!” you exclaim, “and also that is a chicken!” To which I say:

NAY, it is TWO chickens!

With 5 chickens on order, only 2 arrived due to being oversold. It seems the demand for chickens is very high at the moment (due to food security concerns around COVID-19?) and so we have had to put 3 chickens on poulet-away until June.

In spite of this, we face a problem.

You see . . .

We have HER ROYAL HENNESS QUEEN LATIFAH and The Other One. The Other One needs a Royal name as well – which is where you come in, dear reader!

HRH QUEEN LATIFAH requests your submission of a royal name for her friend in the comments on this blog post!

HRH QUEEN LATIFAH requests your submission of a royal name for me

HRH QUEEN LATIFAH looks forward to combing through the names her friend will be poul-trying on!

To have an invitation extend to you by HRH is surely a special coopportunity indeed!

Once we hit 300 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.

Happy Earth Day!

Today marks 50 years since the first “Earth Day” (something I think we should celebrate every day since we literally cannot live without it!)

What are you feeling thankful to the Earth for today?

The Vase of Dreams





The Vase of Dreams

Once we hit 300 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 – Transformation

Before

We all start as raw clay and in time are shaped by the potter’s hands – transformed into something beautiful.

After

Little did we know, all this time, we were the potter.

What’s one thing that you would like to change about yourself or the world?

Stay up to date on all of our creations, project, exhibits and special offers by joining our community and subscribing to our newsletter here.

Spring Forward and Win!

Happy Spring everyone!

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

An annual ritual here at this time of year is starting seeds for the growing season. This year will be no different:

It has often been stated that planting seeds and growing your own garden is an act of faith and hope. For some reason that seems a little more true this year. Unfortunately, I have not been able to find any toilet paper seeds though.

In our house we have been self-isolating in order to protect the health of our community and ourselves. Here we have worked from home well before the pandemic, so things have not changed all that much. Throw in the fact that I am an introvert and I am holding up well. Now only, if I could stop checking the number of new cases several times a day and listening to the news.

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.

I am also happy to announce a giveaway that we will be doing here at the pottery. Some of 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.

Once we hit 300 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 jewelery 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.

How has life changed for you during the coronavirus? Are you self isolating? How are you spending your time?

Yoda Multi-Colour Print