Jay Jasper's Blog, page 73
July 13, 2021
Giving Something New A Try
Here is a Cat version where the incense fills the head and then creepily
pours out the eyes
(raw clay at this stage) Perhaps this is Ccoa
The Evil Cat Demon of Peru?
The legend of Ccoa is told in the Indian Quechua tribe in south Peru. Ccoa is a huge cat, almost three meters long and has dark stripes running down his fur.
This evil cat has control over lightning and the hail. Ccoa has the power to ruin crops and wipe out humans. Offerings must be made to Ccoa on a regular basis to keep on the safe side.
This Ccoa had a long night of devastating crops
Our very own Ccoa, Chairman Meow, enjoys offerings of kitty food – but only fresh from the bag! No, not those + shaped ones, they are disgusting!What do you think? Do you like incense burners
reverse or otherwise?
July 12, 2021
Christmas In July!
Don’t forget our book! Limited Supply, Act now to avoid Disappointment
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Mug 12
$35
Shipping Included in US and CanadaWe share pink!”
– Karen
(sort of)
If you don’t see one for sale in the colour you like,
please contact us and we can work with you directly.
July 11, 2021
Do You Remember Looking At The Clouds As A Child, And All The Things You Would See?
When was the last time you looked up at the clouds and unleashed your imagination? My doing so inspired both the name and story for this raku vase!
The Nephelai – $118Free Shipping Included in US and Canada
Raku pottery vase ‘The Nephelai‘ tells the tale of these offspring of the Titans Oceanus and Tethys, who at first glance you may not see, but they definitely have a seat at the table. The water table that is!
They also don’t like Tori Amos very much.
Look up at the sky some time and you may see, hopefully only a few, clouds. Or so you think!
What you might be seeing are the white billowing robes of the mostly transparent, but beautiful Nephelai.
The Nephelai were the nymphs of the sky, and if you’ve ever forgotten your umbrella and then got wet on a rainy day, it’s their fault. For these nymphs were far more than just a pretty face.
They would spend their days collecting water in their cloudy pitchers, carrying them to the heavens. When all the pitchers were full, they would pour them from the heavens and nourish the earth with the water.
Talk about being prepared for a rainy day!
Watch out Tori Amos! The next time you are bouncing off clouds you might hit one of the Nephelai and spill their jug.Maybe it’s Tori Amos’ fault when it rains?What did you think of this raku pottery vase, ‘The Nephelai’ and it’s story?
And what was the last thing your imagination let you see in the clouds? You can check out more of our raku pottery vases (and their stories) here! If you would like your very own raku pottery vase, you can sign up for our newsletter, because we will be choosing a lucky subscriber for a pottery gift basket that includes one, which you can see here!
This Week At The Studio In Photos
Peaking in on the back of the studio from the nearby forest
A vase drying on the pottery wheel
A top set of the Egyptian Walking OnionChristmas in July is coming up! Sign up for our newsletter to hear about it first!
Walking into a new weekThat’s been the week here. How’s your week been?
July 10, 2021
“Eat The Rich” They Say? Sometimes They Eat Themselves!
If your last name rhymes with ‘husk’, ‘dump’ or you own a company that misappropriates a mythological tribe of female warriors, you may not want to read this week’s story.
Our raku pottery vase, ‘Demeter’s Sacred Grove‘ tells the tale of of a man whose relentless pursuit of riches, disregard for the environment, and endless hunger of wanting all he and his army of servants could carry lead to not only to a pissed off God, but the origin of the phrase ‘Eat the Rich‘.
$94Shipping Included in Canada and US
Erysichthon was used to getting what he wanted.
It’s not his fault that his parents never taught him to control his appetite for wealth. He was a King after all!
One day, after he had deforested all the nearby parts of his Kingdom of Thessaly, drunk on the power of his wealth, his attentions turned towards Demeter’s sacred grove. He ordered his men to cut down ALL of the trees in this grove.
He would be deprived of nothing!When his men came upon a magnificent oak, that was covered in wreaths to symbolize people’s prayers to Demeter, they refused to cut it down. The rightfully feared the retribution of the gods. Erysichthon was having none of that. He grabbed an axe and cut down the mighty oak himself.
As the tree fell, he killed a nymph who was protecting the grove in the process. Her dying words were a curse, a curse that Demeter heard as a prayer, and one she was happy to grant as she was the god of the fertility, nature, harvest – and sacred law.
The King’s curse was ‘Limos’.Now we are not talking about the ones that come with chauffeurs! ‘Limos’ was an insatiable hunger. So insatiable that Erysichthon sold everything he owned for food. This precious ruby can be yours for a nice souvlaki dinner!
This satisfied his unrelenting appetite for awhile, until he had sold everything he owned.
Well not quite everything . . .You see Erysichthon had a daughter named, Mestra.His hunger did not abate, so he did what any sociopathic hungry dad might, he sold her into slavery. Poseidon – a former lover – took pity on her and gave her a shape-shifting ability so she could escape.
But Erysichthon caught wind of this and sold her over and over again.And not just as a slave, but as anything someone wanted. Can you imagine someone being born into privilege conning people?
One night though, Mestra was late getting home and guess who ran out of food?
You guessed it, and by the next morning Erysichthon was gone as his unrelenting hunger had caused him to unleash his appetite on himself.
He ate a whole Erysichthona Casserole to himself and not a trace was left.Let me know what you think of our story and the raku pottery vase ‘Demeter’s Sacred Grove‘ in the comments!
And if you want to win a free raku pottery vase of your ownOk . . . It’s Us.
Did you know that we make jewelry?
It’s True! Each piece is individually made by hand here at The Alchemist’s Studio!
Intergalactic Yoda Pendant – $28Shipping Included in US and Canada
They make great gifts and shipping is included in the US and Canada!
Tree of Life Pendant – $28 Shipping included in US and Canada
So you know of someone into handmade one of a kind pieces…
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well, we know of a place.
(See blog title)
Much more is available over on our
jewelry page!
If you have questions about a particular piece of jewelry – or any of the work we do – please be sure to get in touch.
going great so far!
He Was Her World – But His Wife Wouldn’t Stop Having Babies. Here’s What He Did. (Spoiler – It Back-fired)
Of the raku pottery vase – ‘Gaia’s Revenge‘ – and a time before the gods, when Gaia had to teach her husband a lesson, which you can read here. But every story has two sides. And today, we hear from the guy god behind the Gaia,
Uranus.Tears of Uranus tells the tale of young love, fertility rites gone wrong, a celestial nursery built on chaos, an old God who gave it all up for revenge and proof positive that the first cut was indeed the deepest.
Uranus used to lovethe feel of Gaia’s cool porcelain
-like skin when she’d whisper softly in his ear. It’d always kind of given him a little jolt, and if truth be told he rather liked it. But it was always the same thing. Ace of Base said it better than Uranus could in their sophomoric social commentary doubling as a song. The kind of catchy tune radio stations would over play much to the frustration of all.
Uranus had actually remembered their early courtship with much fondness. In the early days when they were busy creating The Titans together, he looked forward to her nightly visits. As many a new father, he was reluctant. His duties of father of the sky and heavens kept him rather distant which also complicated matters. But those Titans were healthy looking children and he did not mind so much looking after them.
But things were about to get changed like a roll of toilet paper
Tears Of Uranus $ 188
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Uranus was literally the sky and heavens and was responsible for regulating all the cosmos.
Though Chaos was hiding in that too. When Gaia had arrived for her nightly visit, she was interrupting a beautiful meteor shower he was putting on. She still excited him, but it was time. He had to tell her tonight that he had enough with their twelve Titan children. Could they put a hold on making more little Titans? Could he just focus on his career for awhile?
Gaia was able to decidedly answer him yes! She explained that chaos told her it was bad luck to have thirteen of something. Uranus felt good to know he would have no more children. He was understandably tired after his twelfth, and he also knew there was no way he could resist Gaia. Relationship counselling averted. Which was good, because the only other being they had to go to for help was Chaos, and that would not have ended well.
But you see Gaia had a little secret. She liked to create, and my she was prolific. While it was true that they would have no more Titan children, she was bored of those kind anyways, what she failed to mention was they may have other types of offspring. The kind of offspring that had one hundred arms and fifty heads. And if that were not enough,there were not one but three of them. Then came the Cyclops!
It was nice his offspring had cool names . . but the practicality of childcare and all the irregular requirements of their household soon overwhelmed Uranus. He tried to talk to Gaia about all the gloves and hats needed for their children, and one of the Cyclops needed glasses. Can a Cyclops wear a monocle?
Unfortunately Gaia was less than responsive to his pleas.She was out busy creating new accessories for herself, like oceans, and trees and such things. Maybe she was a little caught up with her latest creation at the time, mushrooms, but you didn’t hear that from me.
Uranus had enough. He decided to return all of the children to Gaia. His sky palace just wasn’t big enough, and between changing cosmic diapers and meeting the special needs of his children, he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. He had grown to dislike his own children so he sent them back to where they came from – Gaia!
A bunch of giants and cyclops wandering around in what some called Tartarus, but Gaia considered her womb, was painful. She no longer had the time to create and she became angry with her husband. She figured he was just being insecure and felt his power was being threatened. He felt he had no power, that he was a mere shadow of his self, and he was intractable about removing the children from Gaia again, because it meant he would have to care for all of these children, for what might be an eternity. No thanks.
Gaia wasn’t going to tolerate the situation for long. She fashioned a sickle and bribed their son Cronus with Uranus’ power to castrate him. With a slice of the sickle Uranus’ testicles and blood hit the Earth many more children would emerge from his final fertile act. Was their no mercy for poor Uranus?
Indeed not. For it is then that Gaia started her smear campaign against Uranus making him the butt of all jokes. She may have been stuck with all the children, but in the end he got stuck with the crappy end of things.
And for clarity sake, this vase’s name Tears of Uranus
refers to the salty water that comes out of one’s eye.
Not something else.
July 9, 2021
Flashback Friday: A Vase With A Name!
A new name that vase (entries open now!) is available
‘The Many Fabled Vase’ was named such to honour the work of a number of writers and creatives who took the time to respond
It is my pleasure to share all the poems, stories and written reflections.
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I imagine a female giant who is made of copper. Her partner has left her to go to war against the ice giants of the North. When she realises he will never return she begins to cry copper tears but the ice giants bring winter to her land and the tears freeze leaving copper frost layering the outside of them…….
And to add the the fabulousness, Christine also wrote a story about this vase, which can be found here!
“Name That Vase”
For a cute adorable story about the ‘Many Fabled Vase’, be sure to ! It was the hands down winner for my partner, and I loved it too! Thank you , for what I believe to be a heart warming story that will make you smile!
It had rained for three days. Three long shadowed, sulking days. She wondered if she would ever see the sun again. To find her way to her secret woods that could only be found by sunlight. No matter, she mused, slipping out of bed. I’m going today no matter rain or no rain. She needed to get out. And when she pushed the curtains back, a smile hit her lips. The crackled dawn told her that today was the day.
So beautiful! You could call it Persephone…it has the copper of autumn when she leaves to be with her husband Hades, and the green of spring when she returns to her mother Demeter.
The ‘Dropout Professor’ took us all to poetry class with these beautiful verses! It is not the first time a vase had a story inspired by the planet.
So small and so stormy,
Splashed with thundering
Colors and slushy but rugged-like
Terrain.
Scary but somehow simple
the other sensational but
not so scrupulous in detail
from afar, but
You so close
A world in a vase;
An art-construct of
What is forever stormy-seasonal
to dream just beyond
Our world, Little Jupiter
Reminds us so.
‘Lil’ Momma Style suggested the name “Moonshine”. Yes, we will take a vase of that for ‘The Alchemist’s Studio”!
“Mount St. Helen’s Risen from the Ashes”
It reminds me of glasswear made from the ash of the Mount St. Helen’s volcano eruption in the early 1980’s. Beautiful works!
Thank you Jo! You introduced me to this beautiful glasswear with your reflection!
“Venus” is what I would refer to this beauty as!
She is known for her love and beauty
Admired by all the Gods for how she shines
Her beauty will capture the one she belongs to!
I really loved this submission, which was a reflection of Taruna’s travel to what can only be described as on of the most magical places on Earth! Be sure to check out this writing about Lake Natron, which includes a beautifully written poem and some information about this place that looks like it is from another planet!
~ Originally published January 2019 ~A new name that vase (entries open now!) is available
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The finished vase. Get this and more here
