Jay Jasper's Blog, page 75

Somewhere Between Night And Day

We are celebrating this !

Thank you to the winner Zakarrie for their name “ celebrating a particularly beautiful sunrise in Bristol, UK

Bristol sunriseCongratulations, Zakarrie!$94
Includes Free Shipping In US and Canada
Alchemist’s Studio sunsetOur June 2021 name that vase post is open
and is accepting names!

Prefer a free vase? Click here!

How It’s Made – The (Not So) Secret Steps Involved In Making Raku Pottery

Some folks 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.The kiln is loaded

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 vaseRemoving the pieces from reduction

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.

Raku vase – ‘Draught of Piece”Raku pot – Cybele 65Raku vase – Homer’s OdysseySee more/purchase raku vases (and more!) hereThis 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 and a whole bunch of raku vases – each with a story – here.

Get your own raku vase (for free!) here

You think your House is in a constant state of disorder? Try being Them!

Today, we are unleashing Chaos!

No, I don’t mean your child’s untidy room

Or that time before your first cup of coffee. No, we are talking about the mythless god of the Greeks, the progenitor of all.

If you would like greater context of this vase in the Alchemist’s Studio universe, please check out raku vase, ‘Tears of Uranus’, which you can read here, and also the story for ‘Gaia’s Revenge‘. It’s no wonder those two come from Chaos!

Chaos – $ 90
Free Shipping Included In US and Canada
Descending in to Chaos!

‘Chaos‘, tells the tale the story of everything, but also nothing, of the void, and how everything sprung from it. And it may explain those days we all have when the unexpected keeps cropping up.

It’s not easy existing in a cosmic void, particularly if you feel like you are alone in the universe. Fortunately, for most of us, we will never know how that really feels. But for Chaos, it was the only thing they would know for some time.

Chaos existed for much time in a state of disorder, at least according to us humans. One day Chaos started feeling different than usual. They wondered if they had eaten too many sub atomic particles and space junk.

Chaos definitely began to feel more and more strange, until suddenly, a cosmic egg emerged from them. At first Chaos dismissed this occurrence as simply just more Chaos, but it was from this egg that all elements of our world would originate from.

Cosmic egg, it does the universe good.

You can read the vase story of another cosmic egg from another culture here – The Brahmanda!

That our Earth comes from Chaos

Might explain a lot of things from our history and that are even going on today. That science so many years later would describe the origin of the universe coming from a single point in a void, makes me wonder if the Greeks knew something we did not.

Can’t get enough chaos? Watch this!Thanks for reading/Watching and
have a great weekend!

PS. What do you think of our vase story and raku pottery vase, Chaos?

Get a raku vase of your own (and more!) at no cost here

Today, We Are Unleashing Chaos

No, I don’t mean your child’s untidy room

Or that time before your first cup of coffee. No, we are talking about the mythless god of the Greeks, the progenitor of all.

If you would like greater context of this vase in the Alchemist’s Studio universe, please check out raku vase, ‘Tears of Uranus’, which you can read here, and also the story for ‘Gaia’s Revenge‘. It’s no wonder those two come from Chaos!

Chaos – $ 90
Free Shipping Included In US and Canada
Descending in to Chaos!

‘Chaos‘, tells the tale the story of everything, but also nothing, of the void, and how everything sprung from it. And it may explain those days we all have when the unexpected keeps cropping up.

It’s not easy existing in a cosmic void, particularly if you feel like you are alone in the universe. Fortunately, for most of us, we will never know how that really feels. But for Chaos, it was the only thing they would know for some time.

Chaos existed for much time in a state of disorder, at least according to us humans. One day Chaos started feeling different than usual. They wondered if they had eaten too many sub atomic particles and space junk.

Chaos definitely began to feel more and more strange, until suddenly, a cosmic egg emerged from them. At first Chaos dismissed this occurrence as simply just more Chaos, but it was from this egg that all elements of our world would originate from.

Cosmic egg, it does the universe good.

You can read the vase story of another cosmic egg from another culture here – The Brahmanda!

That our Earth comes from Chaos

Might explain a lot of things from our history and that are even going on today. That science so many years later would describe the origin of the universe coming from a single point in a void, makes me wonder if the Greeks knew something we did not.

Can’t get enough chaos? Watch this!Thanks for reading/Watching and
have a great weekend!

PS. What do you think of our vase story and raku pottery vase, Chaos?

Get a raku vase of your own (and more!) at no cost here

Finding My Zen Place

I am on a healing journey, and I think many of us are in one way or another.

I have heard it said that it is useful to think of one’s self as a tree. Grounded by roots, with a firm centre/core and flexible branches that can bend with the wind.

In the last year, as part of my healing journey, I have taken up yoga, which I believe helps us to become more tree-like.

Yoga is not for everyone, and rest assured I am not the most flexible person, but I have already noticed a slight improvement. I have also noticed that as easy as yoga may ‘appear’ to the casual observer that it is also provides a really good work out with lots of health benefits, both mental and physical.

I have not become a yoga expert quite yet, but fortunately I have a great teacher to help me master my downward dog posture.

The Puppy Angel

I have found that yoga is a great way to relax, de-stress and unwind in create some peace of mind. I feel fortunate to have found an additional activity that helps me deal with my PTSD, like throwing on the pottery wheel does. You can read more about that in my blog post ‘How Pottery Helped my PTSD.

If you are looking for a little wearable talisman to bring a little more zen into your life, be sure to check out our jewelry pieces like the ones below here.

Intergalactic YodaNeed a little more sen in your life? Check out our raku Buddha pendants!Jade YodaIntergalactic Buddha – $25
Includes Free Shipping in the US and Canada
What kind of activities do you find beneficial for your self care and helping to foster inner peace?

The Little Studio That Could

The actual Alchemist’s Studio a few years agoWith renovations, growing pains, and a Pandemic, things have not always been easyOur first pottery wheel which was bought second hand
and was on it’s last legs at time of this pictureOur First Pottery Show Working the clay, 2019 has helped with my PTSD and anxiety But we are just getting started Some of our piecesand have much more to share with you! Summer 2021 – Much more to come!Thank you for being a part of our journey so far! Please consider joining our newsletter to stay in touch with the little studio that could!

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Thorsty Thorsday

Thor’s Fight With The Giants
by Mårten Eskil Winge

The word Thursday is derived from Old English Þūnresdæg and Middle English Thuresday (with loss of -n-, first in northern dialects, from influence of Old Norse Þórsdagr) meaning “Thor’s Day”. It was named after the Norse god of Thunder, Thor.

And so we have Thor’s Day.

So what day could be better day than that of Thor to reminisce about ‘Thor’s Veil,” which happens to be the name for this vase.

Thor’s Veil
$148
Includes Shipping In US and Canada

“Thor’s Veil” tells the curious tale of cross dressing gods, an attempted force marriage, a missing hammer, giants and a wedding you will be happy you missed. Thrym, a giant, stole Thor’s hammer and would not return it unless he was allowed to marry Freyja. What was Thor to do? Dress up as a bride of course with Loki the trickster in tow as his handmaiden. Giants must have bad eyesight as they bought the disguise regardless of the many jokes from Loki alluding to the brides manliness.

I guess Thor was no RuPaul.

Our story ends with Thor killing his groom and all the guests in attendance.
Good thing he did not have to go through his wedding night with a giant.

Ouch. That would probably hurt.

A number of these vases are also written about in our first book, “A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends” which collects stories across cultures and centuries, adapting them to our pottery with wit, love, compassion and joy. “A Potter’s Dream: Myths and Legends” is a decidedly modern take (as seen above) on the traditional topics of pottery, healing, community – and what it means to be human – all interwoven with the magic of raku and stunning pottery.

Get a raku vase and coffee mug of your own at no cost! Click here

Put on Some Unwanted Pandemic Pounds? This Could Help

Princess Admete wanted it, Hercules laboured for it, and Hippolyta almost never took it off.

This vase tells the tale of an ill thought out gift, Hercules charms, early woman’s liberation, and a wedding.

The cause of all of this?

Hippolyta’s Girdle – $140
Includes Shipping in US and Canada
A magic girdle.

Most people would not even consider a girdle as a gift for their daughter, particularly if you are the father. At best, it’s creepy and a little insulting, at worst it’s a great way to let your patriarchy flag fly. I think Hippolyta’s father Ares could have benefited from the help of a personal shopper.

Ares gifted his daughter this ‘magic girdle’ as a symbol of her ‘dignity’, which is really ancientspeak for virginity. Not cool dad!

Perhaps Ares could have appreciated some Spanx!

‘Phew, now I don’t have to suck in my stomach’

Needless to say for someone’s whose name means ‘let loose,’ a girdle was not a great fit. I am sure she was waiting for just the right bra burning-esque moment to liberate herself.

Raku Vase – Hippolyta’s Girdle

That moment would come when news of a visitor started spreading around the Amazon kingdom. He was handsome, he was a hero, he was Hercules, heartthrob of the ancient world. It wasn’t too often that such an eligible bachelor was so close.

So Hippolyta decided to visit Hercules on his boat.

She was so impressed by him that she gave him her ‘magic girdle’. It just so happened that retrieving it was his ninth labour. This was very convenient for Hippolyta, because she finally got to take off that allegedly magical, constricting girdle.

This is where the real magic began.

Hercules, in a good mood because he thought his David Lee Roth like charm won the day, introduced her to his friend Theseus. The two fell in love and would be later married.

Maybe that’s the magic of the girdle.

The only way to find true love in yourself and others is to take the thing off – If you want to.

What do you think of today’s story and vase?

On The Wheel Wednesday

“Remember that happiness is a way of travel not a destination.” – Roy M. Goodman.Happiness starts with each of us
being present
exactly where and
when we are.

Win your very own raku vase (and more) here!

Lying In A Pit And Looking At The Sky

Pit firing is the first method that humans used to fire pottery almost 30,000 years ago.

It was considered a great milestone in the development of civilization – in part because people were tired of drinking their wine out of wooden buckets.

With such an interesting story behind these pieces, and their ethereal smokey qualities with small splashes of textures and depth, pit-fired pottery makes a welcome gift for someone who likes unique and eclectic pieces.

I find looking at them is a relaxing experience akin to laying on my back and looking at shapes in the clouds.

Check out our selection of pit fired pieces here and see how it is made here.

Prices include free shipping to the United States and Canada!

$98
Shipping Included In US and Canada
$125
Shipping Included In US and Canada
$98
Shipping Included In US and Canada
What do you think of pit-Fired Pottery?

Get your own raku vase (and more!) for free here