Jay Jasper's Blog, page 79
June 13, 2021
This Week At The Studio In Photos
Project in progress – a stick fence! This requires a LOT more sticks than first expected!
Taking a break looking at the view over the water at Joggins Fossil Cliffs
Mythological Mugs are coming to life!
A closeup of the flower of a lupin
A long time coming, The Alchemist’s Studio has a new door! This is where we do our work and make things like thisThat’s been the week here.
How’s your week been?
June 12, 2021
He’s Gonna Make You Sweat
Called Sobek’s Tears, tells the story of an aggressive and fearless god who not only controlled the waters of the Nile, but also suffered from hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating). As the Egyptian god of fertility and water he was both adored and feared, for he could often side with chaos.
$90Includes Shipping in US and Canada
As Sobek was busy helping to create the world and laying eggs along what would be the banks of the Nile, his sweat would become the mighty river. Good thing there was not yet a pill for that.
90’s Dance Anthem to Sobek?Sobek was thought to protect both the Pharoah and even some of the gods. It is thought that he assisted the venerable Isis during the childbirth of Horus. He also saved Horus’ four children in his net when they emerged from a lotus flower in the Nile.
This may explain why temple complexes devoted to him often had their own pond, complete with their own crocodile that was fed milk and honey and the choicest cuts of meat. Move over Cleopatra! Tick-Tock the crocodile from Peter Pan (not the social media platform) must feel jealous they did not end up in an ancient Egyptian temple.
What do you think of this vase and the story of Sobek? It seemed like a timely one to post as the seeds are starting to take hold in the garden.
Hopefully Sobek is feeling extra fertile this year
Want to win a raku vase of your very own? Click here to learn more!
June 11, 2021
💫 🌠 TFW You Find Yourself On A Buddhacious Space Odyssey 🌠 💫
Intergalactic Buddha Pendant $25
Free Shipping Included in US and Canada
Each piece is individually made by hand here at The Alchemist’s StudioThey make great gifts and
shipping is included in the US and Canada!
Much more is available over on our
jewelry page – including other buddhas!
If you have questions about a particular piece of jewelry – or any of the work we do – please get in touch.
June 10, 2021
The Unbelievable, Incredible, Fantastical Power of Breast Milk
Our raku pottery vase ‘Io‘, tells the tale of it’s namesake, a wandering cow with a secret, a man in chains, the ultimate cosmetic transformation, and an ending where the god gets the girl. It would be many generations later, but Io’s lineage would include one of the most important heroes of the gods.
You can read more about Io’s story here.
Raku pottery vase, Athena’s Trick, tells the harrowing tale of a new mother, a (surprise, surprise) vengeful goddess Hera, would be witch midwives, snakes in a cradle, subterfuge, the power of breast feeding and a tale of spilt milk that ends in a beautiful finish.
$120 Free Shipping Included in US and Canada
Hera we go again!
Io’s descendant, Alcmene was excited. She was pregnant and about to give birth to a child. But she had a secret that wasn’t kept very well. The father of her child to be was none other than Zeus. He was up to his old philandering ways again, and Hera was none to pleased. As usual.
Mount Olympus has no fury, like a goddess scorned, particularly if that goddess is named Hera.
I bet that wasn’t on the gift registry!Hera was up to her old tricks again, triggered by yet another mistress of Zeus. What do you get your husband’s mistress for a shower gift? If you’re Hera, first you send over a couple of witches while the child is being born. And if that doesn’t work you put a couple of snakes in the child’s cradle.
But Alcmene was no slouch. She knew of Hera’s reputation and had her servants trick the witches. It was her infant child who took care of the snakes, strangling them in his crib.
Don’t bite the nipple that feeds you, you’ll see starsAlcmene was very concerned for her child’s safety at this point. The situation felt hopeless, but she knew that her son was destined for greatness. She decided to put her faith in the gods hands and brought her son to the woods for her own safety.
It was in the woods that the baby was found by none other than the goddess Athena. Fortunately she had a plan to protect the baby and maybe knock Hera down a notch for her often outrageous and Godzilla behaviour.
She brought the baby to Mount Olympus and gave him to Hera, but told him he was an orphan who needed nourishment. Not knowing the true identity of our hero, Hera allowed him to suckle from her breast. That is until he bit her nipple.
Of course, this caused a great tantrum from Hera, again. She pushed the baby away and her milk fell across the sky. That’s how the Milky Way was formed!
Don’t cry over spilt milk. Just look at it in awe.
$120
Free Shipping Included in US and Canada
Milk. It does the Body Good.
Hera then demanded that Athena take back the child who had attacked her. Still not knowing who the baby really was. Athena fed the child, hoping to gain favour with Zeus and teach her frenemy Hera a lesson. Fortunately for the baby, this further imbued the baby with strength, wisdom and power.
That’s a good thing, because the baby would need all the strength and power he could get, for his name was Hercules, and Hera was just getting started with him.
What did you think of this raku pottery vase and story? Let me know in the comments below.
Is this Hera’s nipple, or just were another pot touched the vase during a firing? You decide!
June 9, 2021
On The Wheel Wednesday
instead of hardening her,
and a pliable substance is less easy to break
than a stiff one.Edith Whartonwin your own raku vase (and more!)
June 8, 2021
Adding Fuel To The Fire
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 one of a kind pieces that are worth beholding. (Perhaps you!)
From now until July 1st you can pick a pit-fired vase up for 10% off!
Check out our selection of pit fired pieces here.
Prices have already been reduced on the page and
include free shipping to the United States and Canada.
$98
Shipping Included In US and Canada
See more pit-fired vases hereLooking forward to sending a pit-fired vase to it’s new home!
Don’t want to miss out on seeing all the available deals from the Alchemist’s Studio? Sign up for our Newsletter today and you’ll be
entered to win the Great Pottery Gift Basket!
Drinking Up Mythology A Cup At A Time
I am currently experimenting with underglazes. One of the ideas I have had is to use these in a graphic way to make some puntastic …
Mythological MUGS!I have had a number of pun ideas for these mugs – each which will include a mythological design. I’d love to know what you think of these ideas in the comments below.
Which one is your favourite?
Am-phor-a Coffee
I’m Hera for the Coffee
It’s All Greek to me, Till I’ve had my Coffee
Loki Caffeinated
He’s No Matcha for Me (with Hercules)
It’s Deja Brew (Oracle of Delphi)
Mugs & Kisses (with Cupid)
And if you just can’t wait to get a new mug, you can head on over here and check out our mugs that are currently available.
Thanks for your help!June 7, 2021
Mugshot Monday
~ Alfred Noyes
Mug 20
$3
8Shipping Included in US and Canada
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.
June 6, 2021
This Week At The Studio In Photos
The youngest of the chickens, Princess Fiona has started laying! Her egg is the smaller brown one on the left.
Tarot mugs are in the future! Click here to see more!
Love the veins of colour in this Evening Primrose!
The Nephelai brought us some precipitation in this week’s story, which you can click here to read!
$118
Shipping Included In US and Canada
The view while glazing. This beach glass window panel is named Ethel Mermaid!That’s been the week here.
How’s your week been?
Born To Be Wise
—Patrick Rothfuss
Oil Slick Owl –
$75
Shipping Included In US and Canada
what was the wisest thing you have ever been told (by an owl or otherwise)?
