New Items In The Shops

Happy Monday Morning!

I trust you all had a relaxing and rejuvenating weekend. 

I had a lot of fun this weekend.  Despite my reservations about teaching for a Corporate Craft Store, things went well.  I enjoyed myself and I think the attendees had a good time as well.  But enough about that, on to what’s new!

Elegant
This really is an elegant piece. Silver Plated wire is hand spun and cut in to jump rings, accented with Black Diamond Czech Glass beads (silver lined), in the European 4-in-1 pattern, woven vertically, for a change of pace.  As always this comes in a variety / combination of color and metal choices.  Check out this Wednesday’s blog for a complete list of Czech Glass colors currently available, and let us create one for you in your favorite colors.  Custom orders are always welcome.

Detail

Not quite new, but still very pretty and in new Czech Glass bead colors.  These bracelets can be made longer into Choker, Collar or Necklace length chains.  Here they show off Pearl and Clear Silver Lined Czech Glass beads. 


Pearl: Would make a great June Birthday present.

Detail: The beads really are Pearlescent in color.

Silver Lining:  Just that, silver lined, clear Czech Glass beads.  Custom order per buyer’s request.  7-1/2″ long including clasp.  We can make one in your favorite color, too!

Detail: SOLD

Last up is an Antiqued Copper and Gear Choker / Collar.  There are two versions, interrupted chain (as shown below) and dangle (not shown), on which the gears hang from the chain, also available in Silvertone and Antiqued Bronze.  European 4-in-1 is woven horizontally to create this very pretty lacy look chain.


Copper Collar

Detail: The Gears are sold as jewelry components and have never been used in any machinery to my knowledge.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant work week.

Good Morning,

Once again. I would like to think that I am saying this as gently as possible.  Just so you all know, when you look at my blog, and then do searches for things like “How Many Jump Rings Are Required For A Dragon’s Back Bracelet”, I can see that!  My blog tells on you!  If you have questions, comments or other ideas, please feel free to contact me via any of the links, e-mails or site addresses.  In most cases I am happy to share.

I am absolutely thrilled that my jewelry is appealing enough for some one to wish to copy it. Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, in this case however; no, it is not.

These are my designs, that come out of my head and made with my hands. Although  Chain Maille and it’s patterns / weaves may be “public domain”, my designs are not, they are mine, they belong to me, and are copyrighted the minute I post them. I am a real, licensed, tax-paying, permit holding business entity! If you would like to make a bracelet, I am more than willing to offer instructions and assistance, pdf.s or what have you.

Please, don’t steal my or an other artist’s designs, not only is it tacky, it is unprofessional, unethical, and you will be caught!

Thank you,

Alix Browning

The Alchemist

The Alchemists Vessel

Owner / Designer / Sole Proprietor

Outside and Gemstones

Happy Friday.  The weekend is here and we should all breathe deeply, take a moment and relax, work week is over and we have earned it.

Sitting here trying to think of something to promote is never easy.  I have no idea half the time what to write, what readers may find interesting, entertaining, useful or worthwhile.

Instead of promoting something on the net and posting links, I thought I would take a minute to look outside and see if something out there wasn’t interesting.  You know what?  Outside is amazing!

So today I am promoting “outside”.  Funny that I would be doing such a thing on a blog, that I want people to read and comment on, and here I am suggesting that you turn off the box and go do something out of doors!

Many of you have seen this picture as it is posted on my wall and the Facebook‘s profile cover photo, but this is outside!  Beautiful, delicate, colorful, wonderful, awesome and inspiring.

Material in this lovely pink, would make a fabulous skirt or dress.  The yellow is bright and sunny, a nice contrast to the pink.  Green, yellows, and pinks are simple, fresh, colors for any Spring or Summer wardrobe.I get a lot of my inspiration from outside, and most of the materials I use come from outside.  Gemstones and precious metals are taken from the ground, and many are left in their natural state, shaping and polishing is all that has been done to them.

Amethysts and Rubies come in crystalline materials that are created in specific conditions to grow in geodes or other formations. 

Amethyst in a geode.

Rubies in their natural state, prior to cutting and polishing.  They appear to range from pink to a reddish-purple color.  Some seem to have milky white striations across the surface of the natural stone.

Idaho is the “Gem State”, the Official Stone of Idaho is Garnet.

Garnet is also a crystalline gem.  It comes in many colors from yellow to red, red being the most popular for jewelry.

Many states have official stones, Oregon’s is Rhodonite.  A gorgeous pink stone that looks somewhat like marble.

For designers of all types, nature is an essential part of the process.  Shapes, colors, forms, textures, even the numbers of leaves or petals on a tree or plant can play an important part in the creation of jewelry, fashion, architecture, and art.

The outside world is an amazing place, full of adventure and inspiration.  City or Rural area, there are parks, rivers, wildlife (even if they are pigeons), take sometime this weekend to rediscover the backyard, the playground down the street, the Zoo, your local Open Space or Walking Trail.  The Great Outdoors awaits!

Now, go outside and play!

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a wonderful weekend and in hope that the weather allows for outdoor fun and games!

Five Great Gifts To Give – SPECIAL OFFER For Blog Readers

Although Tuesday is reserved for five great gifts to give, with the new Blogger set up, it wasn’t working, but now that I have figured it out I am pleased to present this weeks List of Gifts.  We have a returning shop a couple of new ones and something from my own shop as well.Check out the Lego Minifigure Flash Drives from Just Jest, they have a SPECIAL OFFER for Blog readers, good through May 31st.  Get your favorite before its gone!

From returning Shop: SuesArts

Large Butterfly Ring

Description: SOLD SEPARATELY – SILVER OR COPPER

Gorgeously large adjustable butterfly ring with acrylic flower.

Next from Julie Ellyn Designs

New – Chloe Earrings, Antiqued Brass Round Embossed Earrings with Sterling Silver 

Description:  NEW – Chloe Earrings

New to my collection, the Chloe Earrings bring soft beauty with embossed floral bouquet. 20 mm round antiqued brass drops hang from sterling silver earwires. Simply gorgeous.

Description: Antique silver plated brass drops 14 mm round, sterling silver earwires. Earrings measure 1 1/2″ from top of earwires.

Mother’s Day is almost here, how about a nice picture of you in a pretty frame.

From  CutenCrafty Designs

Custom Photo Frame – Limited Edition Mom Is Love

Description: This frame is 5×5 Black matted 3×3 made in a soft yellow flower bazzill cardstock embellished with roses, glittered words and a short poem written by me. All writing is copyrighted and not permitted for use.

Mom
You are a vision of Life
You are a vision of Hope
But most of all
You are a vision of Love 

From Just Jest, a personal favorite, you can find them on Facebook too.  Give the page a Like, won’t you?  I admit it, I just love these.  They are so cute and clever and I want one, nay, I must have one!  They come in a variety of themes, Super Heroes, Villains, Harry Potter, Star Wars and more.

SPECIAL OFFER ITEM:

Now through May 31st, enter the code Alchemists7 at check out and receive 7% off your purchase.


From Just Jest

4GB Evil Dwarf USB Lego Minifigure Flash Drive with Key Chain

Description:  4GB Evil Dwarf Lego Minifigure Flash Drive.

Also available in 8GB for an additional cost.

Measurements Approximate:
Height: 1.60″ Width: .85″ for Lego Figure
Height: 4.50″ Width: .85″ with Key Chain

Flash drive and key chain in one.
Also comes with battle axe and shield accessory.
Original USB cap is included.

 (Author’s Note: Aren’t those just the coolest things!)

From The Alchemist Vessel

Phoenix Fire Chainmaille Choker – Silver Plate and Red Czech Class Bead Set

Description: 16″-1/2″ long. This chain is absolutely firey! Silver Plated wire and Red Silver Lined Czech Glass beads are the focus of this stunning Half-Persian 3-in-1 Weave chain! Eye-catching, accentuating the decolletage beautifully. Perfect for January or July Birthdays. This necklace is sensational when worn.  Matching earrings included.

Thank you for stopping and having a look.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant end to the work week.

Wednesday Tutorial Video Coil and Cut Jump Rings

Good Morning,

After spending much of yesterday trying to figure out how to use and navigate the new blog pages for Blogger, I thought we might test out a new post with something fun.

As I posted previously, I will attempt to upload one tutorial video a month.  This one (as well as others) May be found on Youtube, Dailymotion, alchemistsvessel.net or the Facebook fan page.  All links to these pages may be found on the menu to your right.

Today’s tutorial is coiling and cutting your own jump rings.  Youtube has some new features which include auto fixing the video you upload.  Perhaps it will make the video look better, one can hope.

Our next tutorial will cover making a pair of earrings.  Now that you have the basics down, we might as well put it all together and make something!

The video will not be posted until May, 2012, so you have plenty of time to prepare.  Want to make a pair along with the video?  The Supply list may be found below.

“Beaded Earrings” (sounds fun and interesting, yes?)

Supply List

Tools: 

2 pairs of pliers – Round Nosed and Flat or Chained nosed. 

Wire or Jewelry Cutters (aka “Flush Cutters”)

Materials:

1 pkg. of Jump Rings 4mm (or coil and cut your own, you need 2)

1 pkg. of Head Pins. (you will only need two, but extra is good!)

1 pkg. of Ear Wires (common in craft stores are Fish Hook Style)

2 Beads of your choice. (They should be 6mm to 8mm in size)

*6mm round red glass beads will be used for the tutorial.

Most of the items may be found at your local craft shop.  Don’t want to spend more than a couple of bucks? Checkout a Wal-Mart or other variety store, they usually have these kinds of things for $2.00 to $5.00.No special equipment is necessary, I bet most of you have pliers and a wire cutter at home.  If not, try a Wal-Mart or other variety store for inexpensive tools.  It’s not the tool it’s the craft-person using the tool that makes the pieces unique and wonderful.  Paint Brush or Power Tool, a human hand is still required to operate them.


When someone asks you where you got them, you can smile and say, “I made this.”

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  We would like to wish you a pleasant week.

Google Sucks

Dear Blog Readers,

Much to my dismay Google has forced a change on the BLOG and I for one am at a loss as to how to navigate these new pages.  I apologize, but until Google calls a proctologist, and returns my blog to it’s original operation  There won’t be one.

No one likes forced changes.  No one likes to have their things messed with until they are an unrecognizable mess.

Unfortunately we are all victims and and at the mercy of idiots that think it’s a good idea.

Congratulations Google, you have become Facebook, and that is not a good thing!

Party and Prom Parures – New in the Shop

Happy Monday to all!

I would like to once again thank Terry for handling the blog posts and the internet responsibilities while I was doing other things that required my attention.  She did a fabulous job and I appreciate it.

It is that time of year, parties, picnics and proms are right around the corner and The Alchemists Vessel has some absolutely beautiful accessories to punch up the punch bowl patron’s attire, or have them swooning at that Summer soiree.  No Prom attendee should go dancing without a gorgeous parure fit for the Prom Queen in a matching or contrasting color of her dress, or perhaps to match her date’s dashing accents of color, tie and cummerbund.

These are created with the Half-Persian 3-in-1 Chain Maille weave, in choker (14″ – 15″), collar (16″), and necklace (up to 18″) lengths that drape the decolletage and accentuate the lovely curve of throat and shoulders.

The choker below, dubbed Phoenix Phire, is full of passion in that just right fiery red that looks stunning on everybody!  The beads glow with an inner warmth and sparkle of their own, absolutely outstanding when worn.  The chain is crafted from Silver Plated wire, and red Silver Lined Czech glass beads.  This item may be found on Etsy by following the link above.  It comes with matching earrings, arrives boxed, ready for gift giving. 

Would make a stunning and attractive present for a January or July birthday.

Here we see it in Sapphire Czech Glass beads, labeled “Luster” these shine and gleam in any light and are a wonderful deep blue color.

Upon the recommendation of a fellow Shop Owner, I tried different backgrounds while taking photos, and wouldn’t you know it!  My memory card winds up full after only three photos of this stunning beauty.  I think the garden lion statue is a no go, but for the blog, it is fun and an interesting segue to the usual tailored gray board I use.

I do love this color!  Would make a wonderful September Birthstone alternative.

After new batteries and background change, we have a couple of more photos for you. 

Matching Earrings are included.

 Emerald Czech Glass Beads and Silver Plated wire are used to create this version of the choker.  14″ long, the makes a nice band just above the decolletage around the throat.

Earrings too!

Also available in Amethyst (aurora borealis finish), Aquamarine, Silver lined Black, Matte Black, Crystal Blue lined, and Pink beads.  More colors are available, we are awaiting shipment!

Don’t forget, custom work is available!  Convo us using the Etsy Shop’s contact link, send us an e-mail, check us out on Facebook, find us on Google + leave a comment here.  We’d love to hear from you!  (Even if you’re not placing an order).

Thank you for stopping by.  We would like to wish you a pleasant and enjoyable week!

**REMEMBER:  Metal is heavy, and even though these are light and lacy in appearance, adding additional rings and glass beads will add weight to the piece.  18″ is long enough to hang below a collar, but not too heavy as to feel like you are wearing armor (which you are, by the way).  I would also like to mention that in no way will these delicate jewelry pieces protect you from anything, bullets, knives, sharp, or dull sticks, and Cupid’s arrows included!

Promotions and Links Friday

Happy Friday!

The weekend is upon us and I would like to thank my friend, Terry, for tending to the blog and other things this week!  She has done a fabulous job!  I’ll return to my regularly scheduled duties next week.  This post is copied and pasted, so please excuse any errors.

Let’s jump right in to the PROMOTIONS!

There is a new place to shop with The Alchemists Vessel.  I must admit Etsy is pretty crowded and I feel rather lost in fray.  There is a new venue and it is almost just like Etsy,  HandmadeArtists.com There are some major difference, but for the most part, well why don’t you y’all have a look see.  You can check out the Mini Shop in the menu or you can follow the link provided.  Of course you have to have an account, but looking is always free and doesn’t require an account.

Sellers Note:  If you like the site, as it has less shops currently than Etsy, I have been open about 24 hours, have just 15 items up for sale, and have had over 1,000 views in that time on the site itself.  255 on a single item alone.  The site apparently gets traffic.  It is $5.00 a month with no listing fees, for sellers, that’s cheaper than Etsy, depending on your listings @$0.20 per item.  Buyers, of course, your account is FREE.

Unlike Etsy, when you list an item, you see it on the home page!  That is awesome, no treasuries, no nonsense!  Of course when a new item is posted you get jostled around, but your item can be up for several hours!  It pays to list often or everyday, apparently.  Connect to your Facebook fan page, Youtube, blog and personal or business website.  Set up is quick fast and easy!  I like it!  I will admit it has a draw back, at 75 x 75 a picture image (you get four total), the image quality is, how shall I say, not so good.  Disappointed with that.  Some experimentation may be required to figure out the proper photo size for posting on the site to eliminate the blur.

We now have a tumblr blog (because it was required for something else).  Unfamiliar with the set up and not exactly comfortable with the user control panel or Dashboard, there is little content. However if you like tumblr or have a blog, give a follow over there.   The Alchemists Vessel on tumblr.  I intend to keep content different or as separate as possible, to keep things fresh on both Blogs.

And we have a Dailymotion site as well.  I intend to post tutorial videos there as well.  Those of you that either do not have access to, or dislike Youtube can look for the Daily Motion video’s soon.  Although you can link Facebook and Daily Motion I haven’t done so yet, I want to see how this goes what else can be done before I begin to repeat myself ad nauseum.

We also have a new “favcon”, for those of you that are following the blog, you should now see this picture or a very tiny version thereof when you click the link.

New links to these pages have been added where appropriate.  The sidebar menu, other pages, Google + pages, etc.One more link for you all.  This is interesting and I urge you to read at least one of the articles.  Either the Etsy CSI Team Cracks Down On Rule-Breakers or the blog post by an Etsy Seller that had her shop closed by Etsy Administration.  Eye opening and important stuff!  Give it a read.   Handmadeology Article

Thank you all for stopping and having a look!  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant and joyous weekend!

Thursday – Featured Fashion – Weddings

Greetings,

This morning I arose and looked out my window to see the wonderful colors of Spring blooming and bright.  Inspiration is everywhere if you look.

Spring means new life, new beginnings, and for many it is also the Wedding Season that will slowly edge into summer.

Ladies, you can have that Traditional Wedding, but what about your jewelry?  You have the ring!  Now what?  Something borrowed, something blue, something old, SOMETHING NEW!

This years Bridal Couture is about adding a spark and flash of color to yours or your Bride’s Maids ensembles.  Traditional White (Fresh Water) or  Colored (Dyed) Pearls and Swarovski crystals mix beautifully, to present a unique take on the traditional bridal necklace or choker.  Much time is spent fretting and worrying over color scheme and dresses, why not put a little thought into tying it all together with accent jewelry to match your Wedding colors.  A light touch or pink or sea-foam at the ear, or throat can enhance any parure (matching set of jewelry) with a point of soft pastel color to accentuate, highlight, and draw the eye to the face of the blushing and beautiful bride.Swarovski Crystal Pearl Selection available from Fire Mountain Gems.

A pretty Spring / Summer  Pastel Palette.

Bride’s Maids could have fun with this, each in a different note or hue of color matching the entire Wedding Party, from the Bride to the flower choice on the tables.

We would love to create the special and unique piece just for you or your Wedding party.  Give us a call, look us up on the web, all the links may be found to your right.  Let us work up that amazing and simply stunning adornment together!

In My Studio – Beginning Jewelry Classes

Hello,

As many of you may be aware, I was offered a Contracted Instructor position at a local Craft Supply store here in lovely Boise, Idaho.  After much thought, weighing the pros and cons of the situation, and the offer, I have decided that it would be in my best interest to not participate in the program.

However, a little enamored with the idea of teaching in a social atmosphere, I have decided to start up my own class.  The complete and solid details have yet to be worked out and right now I am putting feelers out to see if there is any interest in a Beginning Jewelry class.  If response and class / lesson plans go well, or some people would like to continue past the basics, Intermediate and Advanced classes will be offered.  If you’re interested in private lessons those may be taught as well.  I hope to schedule the first class for sometime in June.

Open to the public and all who wish to attend.  Before everybody get’s excited, these classes will not be free.  You will be expected to provide your own tools, materials and a fee will be charged to include class time, forgotten materials (provided from stock on hand), and of course classroom space.  A list of all the materials, where to buy them and their cost will be provided along with printed instructions and a completed projects to take home when class is over.

Beginning Jewelry or Jewelry Basics will cover the very basics, a sample of class instruction may include and will not be limited to:

What is a finding?

- head pin

- eye pin (difference in pins and their uses)

- jump rings (aka O-rings)

- Clasps (spring, Lobster Claw, “S”)

Ear wires (styles and variations) 

Gemstones, Crystals and Glass beads (Birthstones and alternatives)

Opening and Closing Jump rings properly

Using a head / eye pin

Wire vs. Beading Wire or “Tiger Tail”

Wire Wrapping (We may have a special guest to demonstrate another process / form of wire-wrapping)

Threading or Stringing beads

Metals and their composition (Copper, Bronze, Nickel, Sterling)

Design Elements (Fibonacci Numbers, Focal Points, Accent Beads and Caps)

A completed pair of earrings or project made by you to take home and wear!

There are also other projects that may be offered, such as a Seed bead Flower-chains, a simple charm or crystal bracelet or an easy to string beaded necklace (lanyard for your glasses).

Techniques taught will cover a wide range of how to’s and don’t do’s along with basic finishing touches.  No special equipment is necessary, I bet most of you have at least several pairs of pliers at home, those will work great!

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  If you are interested in the class you may leave a comment, e-mail, or phone, details will be given at a later date.