Jay Jasper's Blog, page 50

Mythological Mugs Test

As some of you may have read, I have recently completed a cone 6 firing and we have some lovely new mugs, a few of which you can see below:

SeaMoss Mug 1
$44
The Star Tarot Mug
$44
Aqua Mug 1
$44
As part of this firing, I test fired a few mythological mugs.

What’s a mythological mug? You can find out here and read more about the original idea here. During the test firing, I tried three glazes on these mugs.

This was the glaze that I was most happiest with for this project, on ‘The Real Housewives of Athens” mug:

Real Housewives of Athens Mug 1
$48


I will likely use this glaze again

This glaze below didn’t do a bad job either at ensuring the incised design showed up. I will probably use it again.

Amphora Coffee Mug 1 $44

And of course, the glaze I thought would work best was my least favourite:

I may try a reglaze on this mug during my next firing.

Being a potter and an artist is a journey of continual learning, and sometimes we learn the most from our mistakes.

I am also working on a design where I will use slip I am colouring on a white mug background and will also test some additional glazes until I find more colour variants that make me happy.

Of course there will be more puns of mythological proportions coming too!

You might get some Deja Brew

What do you think of my first go at these mythological mugs?

Which was your favourite?

See all mugs here

On The Wheel Wednesday

“The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers
around us and in us. If you can do that,
and live that way, What was the last of the green leavesyou are really a wise man.”– Euripides

See finished pieces here
– or –
win your own raku vase (and more!)

Psst . . . It’s me again.

Everyone’s favourite Chairman,
Chairman Meow.

It’s been quite busy around here, supervising these humans working at my studio when I am not busy plotting the next stage in cats everywhere resuming their rightful place as the dominant species of the planet.

Those humans better get to work preparing the tree!
.

Ever since I gave my orders for the humans to create ornaments of me for their sacrificial tree, it’s been like the Island of Doctor Clayreau around here.

And in case you are curious about what happens when you cross a cat and a unicorn, you can see for yourself by looking at the pictures below:

I’ve heard our American friends are celebrating Thanksgiving. I approve this holiday, because I like chicken, I like liver, and turkey is pretty good too. In honour of this holiday, I have authorized my humans to offer TWO whimsical likenesses of everyone’s favourite Chairman to be sold.

See how nice I am?

Chairman Meow’s Intergalactic Kitty Ornament &
Chairman Meow’s Unicorn Kitty Ornament
$50
Price Includes Shipping In US and Canada

As you think about preparing your Thanksgiving feast

Please do remember all the cats. They deserve a special dinner too. And not just leftovers. It’s tiring waiting under the table for someone to drop food.

Lastly, give thanks to your cats as we are your supreme leaders. The King of the Clay – Chairman Meow

In Honour Of Conifers

“A tree has roots in the soil yet reaches to the sky. It tells us that in order to aspire we need to be grounded and that no matter how high we go it is from our roots that we draw sustenance.”

― Wangari Maathai

Writing this to you from a very stormy day. There are older trees around and while large, their flexibility is truly incredible.

I sit and watch the wind bend the bows, and nothing breaks.

no matter the weather, I find Spending time among trees to be both inspirational and soul-filling. I always enjoy visiting this tree and seeing how it has changed.after the leaves have gone The conifers remain a presence of strength and calm throughout the
colder months of winter.
See all of our Raku Christmas Trees hereI hope these pieces may bring some
of that soul goodness to your home “Let’s take our hearts for a walk in the woods and listen to the magic whispers of old trees.”

~ unknown $80
Pink Christmas Tree
$80
GreenRed Christmas Tree 1
I think we can learn a lot from trees.

What do you think?

Let us know in the comments!

Visit the updated Raku Christmas Tree page here

Recently Rakued

Getting new pieces from the kiln

When I have a moment to relax, it’s always a nice boost to my mood to look over each piece and follow the colours and shapes to see what interesting journeys they may take me on.

Recently we were able to complete a raku firing which means this beautiful new work will soon be coming to the site for sale, but before it does, I would like to invite you to be among the first to view it!

Here is a sneak peak! much like we have animal tracks in the forest on land, the colours and lines on this piece remind me of the paths on the bottom of the ocean that animals may create there.

I am not sure if paths exist in the ocean in that way, but The sea is an incredible place which I am very curious to
learn more about! Now what do you See? and how do you like our latest addition to the vase Family?

You can also take a peruse of all of our vases here!

do you like getting a preview of new works from the kiln before they are up for sale?

Keep up-to-date on new works by signing up for our newsletter here
(you also get an entry to win the vase below as well!)

Acceptations

“Serenity comes when you trade expectations Blue Buddha Bust – $95
Shipping Included In US and Canada
for acceptance.” ~ Gautama Buddha

To learn more about why I create Buddha busts, please click here

Click here to see more Buddha busts or
here if you’d like to get a vase of your own for free!

Vestacular

This poem was written by
Antonia Sara Zenkevitch As part of
name that vase September 2019. Vesta’s Hearth
$56
Shipping Included In US and Canada
Vesta

I hold a flame inside my womb,
Electric, Cinnabar flight rouge,
Mercurial, gaseous blue
Where flowers may bloom;
I am the elements combined;
Fire in water, wind and time,
Earth in human, all entwined,
I am the blaze that never burns,
I am the unseen hand that turns,
Where I dwell; hold; keep; sojourn;
You will know this space as home.

See more vases here or enter a name/poem of your own to

Mugshot Monday

This week, we are happy to unveil a mug from our latest firing! Our first cosmic mug! Cosmic Mug 1
$44
More cosmic mugs will be on the way soon! This mug holds approximately 1.5 cups of the beverage of your choice. For me, that is coffee,
and I think I need a refill! ‘Unknowingly, we plow the dust of stars, blown about us by the wind, and drink the universe in a glass of rain’

– Ihab HassaWhat do you think of the new cosmic mug?

More mugs can be viewed here.

If you don’t see one for sale in the colour you like,
please contact us and we can work with you directly

or sign up to win a mug (and more) here

I’m Kilning It

It’s been a busy week at the studio

With much glazing that was done in preparation for a Cone 6 firing. This sort of firing is when things get really hot – over 2000F! These temperatures (depending on the clay you are working with) cause chemical changes that increase the durability of a piece, which makes it perfect for firing functional ware.

An important part

Of this type of firing is allowing pieces to cool slowly, which is very unlike raku, where pieces are removed from the kiln and placed in reduction while glazes are still molten. This means with Cone 6 you have to wait 12hrs after a firing to be able to open the kiln and see the results of your work.

Our ancient electric pottery kiln from the 70’s! Waiting to open the kiln is like being a child at Christmas, Waiting to open presents,

And this firing yielded some beautiful results! I haven’t had the chance to photograph everything yet and get the pictures on the site, but below is one of my favourite pieces.

Cosmic Owl
$75
Which was your favourite close up from our latest firing?

And what did you think of our cosmic owl?

Let us know in the comments below.

And if you are looking for a unique one of a kind gift for someone for the holiday season, check out some options here.

Time Is Running Out! A ‘Great Pottery Gift Basket’ For You

We are doing one BIG give away this year!

And not only can you win, but you can help determine how many things go in the prize basket! To participate, all you need to do is sign up for our newsletter here:

We have 449 subscribers now and as our newsletter audience grows, so will the number of pieces of pottery added to the basket!

One lucky winner will receive
this grand haul of pottery! Here is what we have in it so far A Raku vase, mug, turtle and frog are ready to come your way

But you’ll need to make sure you are signed up for our newsletter today so you don’t miss out!

We are getting closer and closer to the draw every day!

Don’t worry if you’ve already signed up – you are already entered! Please feel free to follow us on our social media (top right of page) and share the contest so we can add even more pieces of pottery to the gift basket!