Jay Jasper's Blog, page 9
September 3, 2022
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?
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 are invited to
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September 2, 2022
Flower Friday
Canada’s east coast
And one of my favourite parts of this time of year are all the flowers around the studio! So I wanted to share some of them with, you, my readers!
“If you tend to a flower, it will bloom, no matter how many weeds surround it.”– Matshona Dhliwayo
Do you have a favourite flower here?What’s blooming near you Today?
September 1, 2022
September!
“And then the sun took a step back,
the leaves lulled themselves to sleep,
and Autumn was awakened.”
— Raquel Franco
changing leaves
and the garden ready for harvest,
September is a month to celebrate!
Wine fermentingWhat is something you love about September where you are?
An Owl For September –
$75
Shipping Included In US and Canada
August 31, 2022
God’s Mountains of Vengeance
‘The Pillar of Atlas‘ is named after a legendary rebel who chose the wrong side in a war among Gods, an unusually cruel punishment, and a final look that would stop anyone in their tracks.
The Pillar of Atlas$80
Shipping Included In US and Canada
Atlas, a famous Titan, unfortunately decided to participate in their rebellion against Zeus and the other gods of ancient Greece. This was their attempt to regain power, for the Titans were the original gods of the upper world.
The quest to regain their former glory must have been irresistible.The possibility and lure of power called out to the Titans. Most of all to Atlas, for he would eventually become leader of the rebellion.
Sadly, he was no match for Zeus. He and his Titan rebellion were defeated.
You can see more more pictures of the ‘The Pillar of Atlas’ here.
Zeus was often clever and quite diabolical when handing out punishment.As leader of the rebellion, Atlas would receive a particularly harsh sentence – to hold up the sky! Some say the sky was placed directly on his shoulders, but in other accounts it was placed on two pillars he would hold in his hands.
But the story would not end here. Few people knew the location of Atlas, but a certain demigod (who happened to be a son of Zeus) had passed by Atlas. Perseus would eventually use the head of Medusa to turn Atlas into stone. Some say it was because Atlas refused to grant him hospitality, which would have been difficult because his hands were full.
Others say it was an act of mercy to alleviate the suffering of Atlas and end his cruel punishment. The Atlas Mountains are all that remains of this once proud rebel.
The Pillar of Atlas vase is featured in our first book
which you can learn more about here
August 30, 2022
Margins
dance lightly with life,
and smile at the riddles of life,
knowing that life’s only true lessons
are writ small in the margin.”
~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Bottle Moss Mug
$44
Includes Shipping in US and Canada
What is a life lesson that you have seen
“writ small in the margin”?
August 29, 2022
Anything Is Possible
with sunshine
A Lupin from aboveand a little pink.”
Rose Owl – $75Shipping Included In US and Canada
– Lilly Pulitzer
What colours inspire you?
Pink Buddha Pendant – $25Shipping Included In US and Canada
August 28, 2022
This Week At The Studio In Photos
A friendly hello to the week
A pop of orange
Signs of life left in wood
Ghost pipe – these are a wildflower that does not have chlorophyll for energy, instead they have obtain food through parasitism rather than photosynthesis
Autumn being held back from summer, at least for another week.And That’s been the world from here. How has your week been?
August 26, 2022
Flower Friday
Canada’s east coast
And one of my favourite parts of this time of year are all the flowers around the studio! So I wanted to share some of them with, you, my readers!
“Life is the flower for which love is the honey.” – Victor Hugo
Wildflowers in full colour near the chicken fence
Elderberries in the morning dew
Ghost pipe – these are a wildflower that does not have chlorophyll for energy, instead they have obtain food through parasitism rather than photosynthesis
The last clematis of the year
The Goldenrod is blooming everywhere!
A spiderweb in a meadowDo you have a favourite flower here?What’s blooming near you Today?
August 25, 2022
Rain Barrels
Likewise, the wise person,
Raku Copper Blue Buddha$25
Shipping Included In US and Canada
gathering it little by little,
fills themselves with good.”
Vase Of Attraction Buddha Pendant$25
Shipping Included In US and Canada
– Siddharta Buddhawe are all growing.
may this be a reminder for us all to be kind to ourselves during that process.
Click here to see more raku jewelry
and here for other raku vases.
What is raku pottery anyway? Click here to learn more!
What is an area where youare growing right now?
August 24, 2022
An Ode To the Pagoda
In poetry, they have been praised for the spectacular views they afford. The oldest of these structures were built of wood, though most of the survivors of today, are brick or stone. It is without further ado that I share our raku vase
‘The Red Pagoda’.
The Red Pagoda$148
Shipping Included In US and Canada
Pagoda’s were places of spiritual significance,
Mostly Buddhist, but sometimes Taoist. It must be their irresistible ‘chi’ that made them so attractive!
Their origins trace back to India and the ‘stupa’, which was used to house spiritual relics. Their beauty has ensured that these structures eventually spread across most of the Asian continent, where it’s design has been reinterpreted in as many different ways as places it’s been built.
Pagoda’s are almost always built with an odd number of levels(You’ll see mine has five).
There were no floors on the inside of the pagodas, some were even solid structures. But usually there was a staircase to the top, where visitors could make a joyful climb to take in the view of the landscape around them through the windows and viewing spaces on one side of the structure.
With this vase, you can see all 5 levels of the pagoda in one rich, red place.
what do you think of my vase interpretation of the pagoda?
And how do you like that red glaze?
Fresh from a scrubbingLet me know in the comments below!
You can view all of our raku pottery vases and read more
about their stories and inspirations here.
