Jay Jasper's Blog, page 4
November 2, 2024
Happy Saturday!
Less than two months ’til Christmas, and yes, we know—
It might feel too early for holiday glow.
But one-of-a-kind raku, with glazes so rare,
Brings magic and charm to the holiday air.
So when you’re ready for festive cheer,
Come claim these treasures while they’re still here!
View this raku tree (and more!) here.
October 31, 2024
A Spooktacle!
It’s that time of year when spooky Halloween themed things butt up against Christmas,
So to celebrate,
We have both!
A Spooktacular Halloweenmas to you!
Black and White Skull
Christmas Trees
White Raku SkullClick here for more Halloween!
And click here to get a head start on your Christmas shopping!
October 30, 2024
Wise of Spirit
In honour of those wise spirit animals of the forest:
The owls.
What do you think is a good name to inspire our next owl?
You can learn more about our owls here.
October 26, 2024
Yorick
Alas, poor Yorick, raku-fired and bright,
A skull burned in flames, now gleaming white.
Once jester’s joy, now clay and ash,
Frozen in silence, no jest, no flash.
In kiln’s hot breath, you took your form,
A relic of jest, now calm and warm.
Though death has claimed your mirthful grin,
Your hollow cracks draws all within.
Learn more about this piece here
October 25, 2024
Garden of Hesperides
This raku pottery vase, titled ‘Garden of Hesperides,’ draws inspiration from the mythic orchard where golden apples glimmer beneath a sunlit sky in a grove by the sea.
The delicate crackle patterns evoke the branches of the ancient trees—but, alas, it does not come with the guardian Hesperides nymphs!
Learn more about the Garden of Hesperides vase here
October 22, 2024
We’re back!
Yes, we were away and yes, we received your kind messages! Thank you. It meant more than you know.
We were indeed gone for a bit, but we are back and want to apologize for not being in touch and able to reply to your kind messages. Times were tough, but things are getting better and all is well again!
As a way to get things kicked off again, we are giving away this little ra-kutie (small raku vase). If you subscribe to our newsletter you’ll be entered (and that’s where we will announce our winner.)
Thank you for caring. Wishing you a wonderful week!
October 3, 2023
August 20, 2023
New Work
and this was one of the beauties to emerge.
May 28, 2023
Spring Is Back. But She Had to go Through Hell To Get Us Here.
‘Elysium‘, tells the tale of the magical realm of the underworld, a place filled with beauty, it’s Queen, a mother’s love, and an abduction that literally took our heroine to hell and back. Over and over again!
And you better think twice before eating those pomegranate seeds!
Elysium – $128Shipping Included In US and Canada
Persephone was once a carefree goddess of spring bounty. That is, until one day, Hades, god of the underworld decided he needed a new bride, so he kidnapped her as she frolicked with some nymphs in a meadow.
No one was truly happy about this turn of events, not even Hades.Though the mythology is not clear, it is suspected that Persephone was not a big fan of the underworld. And it wasn’t just that she was kidnapped. As the goddess of spring’s bounty, an endless parade of the dead souls left her uninspired.
And Persephone wasn’t the only one who was unhappy with these turn of events. Her mother Demeter, searched the corners of the Earth for her, but it was a fruitless endeavour. One day she discovered her own husband Zeus had been complicit with Hades in her daughters abduction.
She was furious.Which may not have mattered, except for the fact that Demeter was pretty much responsible for all the food that people ate, being the goddess of fertility, agriculture and the harvest. So Demeter gave Zeus an ultimatum: “Bring back my daughter – or no grain or fruit for you. Or anyone else.”
Meanwhile in the underworld …Persephone was unhappy that she was kidnapped by her uncle Hades and forced to be his bride. She was missing her old life, and though the mythology is not clear, I like to think that she pressured Hades into creating Elysium in the underworld – which has been described as a beautiful meadow (after all, it was going to take more than a bouquet to fix such an unhappy start).
Why not a field of them you may ask? Either way – Hades, you’re still a jerk.
With people starving, Zeus had no choice but to give into Demeter’s demands. But Persephone had already eaten the pomegranate – the fruit of the underworld! Still think those seeds are worth it?
And so it was That each spring Persephone would return to the land of the living, bringing with her the flowering of plants and foods for the year. Then when she would return each winter to the underworld, these plants would die back, bring autumn.
Thankfully, it looks like Persephone has returned this year!What do you think of today’s story and how do you like Elysium?
What plants are blooming around your part of the world?
April 22, 2023
Happy Earth Day To You!
The Vase of Dreams“Earth provides enough to satisfy every man’s need, but not every man’s greed.” 
—Mahatma Gandhi, lawyer and ethicist
The Vase of DreamsSee More raku vases
