Friday Fun ~ Let’s Talk Taurus

Good Morning,

Happy Friday!  Welcome to the weekend.  I think it’s time to have a little fun on the blog.

As many of you know when I first began the on line portion of the business, it was devoted to all things Birthday-ish, including zodiac signs, birthstones, charms, T-shirts.  Well I am disappointed to say that went over like a ton of bricks.  However many years later, and a lot wiser, we still offer those items, but have moved the focus of the business to jewelry that everybody can associate with, feel comfortable and beautiful in and wear with pride.

Let’s Talk Taurus

Taurus ~ April 19 ~ May 20 or April 21 to May 22 all depending on which book, Newspaper astrologist or other source you may read.  However the constants remain the same:

Taurus is the Celestial Winged Bull, and the second sign of the Zodiac.
Element is Earth
Planet is Venus
Stone is Emerald
Plant is Lily
Lucky Number is 6
Special Day – Friday

Taurus’ are ~ Artistic, loyal, loving, sensual, steadfast, determined, practical, patient and reliable.

The Glyph ~ 

The glyph represents the head and horns of a bull or the chin and the Adam’s apple (Throat) of a human. Symbolically it is a half-moon forming a cup that rests on the circle of the Sun.  It represents material power and wealth derived through the force of will.

Original Taurus Glyph, by Alixandra of The Alchemists Vessel

Birthstone Fun Facts 

May – Emerald, a beryl stone.

The Stone of Success and Love

Physical Description: A deep to light green translucent stone,

Metaphysical Properties:  Traditionally used to enhance memory

Alternatives:

Malachite: A Deep Forest Green Color

Malachite Earrings

  

Its bright green color mimics the moors and reminds one of outdoors, hills, trees, and grass.

Metaphysical Properties:  Promotes harmony and emotional balance, and reduces stress.

Interesting Fact: Used as a pigment for paint until about 1800. Malachite has been mined for about 3,000 years at Timna in Israel, also called “King Solomon’s Mines”.

Mythology: 

Zeus, the father of the Greek gods fell in love with Europa, the Phoenician princess. She was always guarded by her father’s soldiers. Zeus transformed himself into a beautiful white bull with a pair of golden horns and wandered towards her while she was plucking flowers in her garden.  (The cad!)

Europa was mesmerized by the beauty of the white bull and made him her pet. They became instant friends. One day, Europa climbed onto the back of the white bull, who making use of the opportunity, carried her away to Crete. After reaching Crete, Zeus revealed himself and later married her. According to Greek mythology, Zeus as a white bull represents the constellation Taurus.

Aventurine (Green), A Crystal.

 

Often miss-pronounced or miss-spelled “Adventurine”, this beautiful crystal ranges in colors from yellow to deep green and maybe transparent or opaque.

Metaphysical Properties: Inspires joy, a positive attitude and mental clarity.

Interesting Fact: The name Aventurine is derived from the Italian ‘ventura’, meaning “a mistake”. In the 18th a speckled glass was created by accident in Venice. The stone was named for this glass due to its appearance. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as “Indian Jade”.

Famous Taurus:
Anne-Margret
Fred Astaire
Johannes Brahams
Catherine the Great
Charolette Bronte
Cher
George Clooney
Sigmund Freud
Ulysses S. Grant

Adolf Hitler
Jim Jones
Liberace
George Lucas
Karl Marx
Meatwad
Golda Meir
Ho Chi Mihn
Vladmir Nabokov
Willie Nelson
Al Pacino
Eva Peron
Robespierre
William Shakespeare
Harry S. Truman
Rudolph Valentino

Orson Wells

We have items in the shops geared toward the Taurus, like these:

Malachite and Azurite Genuine Gemstone Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

Genuine Malachite with gorgeous Azurite inclusions. Azurite is a beautiful blue stone, although too soft for jewelery-making on its own, it does appear on occasion in malachite, creating a lovely speckled appearance across the stones surface. Used here to created these absolutely stunning and unique pair of Sterling Silver Gemstone Earrings.

Beautiful deep green genuine Malachite beads hang in a lovely chevron pattern from Sterling Silver Hoops. Perfect for Boho fashions, hipster, rockers and a terrific accent for Office attire. About 2″ long.

Sterling Silver fully soldered hoops and genuine Malachite with Azurite inclusions beads with Sterling silver findings and accents beads. Suspended from Sterling Silver Fish Hook ear wires.

Arrives boxed ready for gift giving.

*Limited availability! Once these beauties are gone, they are gone!
 Perfect for May Birthdays!
 

Poet Chainmaille Bracelet

 

Gorgeous green, fresh and fun to wear. The stunning chainmaille bracelet is a colorful piece and just right for any occasion, a pop of color at the office, or for a casual weekend get away accessory. From the Captured Color Collection, this lovely piece is made in this year’s must have fashion color. Light weight and comfortable for extended wear.

8″ long including clasp. Silver plated wire and enameled aluminum jump rings are woven in an Inverted Round Maille pattern and finished with a strong magnetic clasp that holds well during everyday activities and movements.

Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving. 

These charms were purchased at Silver Enchantments of Arizona, and are used in a number of jewelry pieces from earrings to charm bracelets they may be sold in sets or individually to add to your already existing pieces.  They are tiny!  Sterling Silver, and the back is even stamped 925.  Custom creations are available.

 

We have all twelve Zodiac signs available.  The original graphic (and 11others) was available on Cafe Press, but having no store views and little interest, I have closed that shop.  Customized items are available. Please contact the shop with your requests.  All questions are answered and quotes are free.

You can find our shop at either of the sites below, or find the fan page on face book.  Did you know you can shop directly from the fan page?  You can.

 The Alchemists Vessel on
Etsy
Handmade Artists
Facebook, just click on the Etsy Showcase or Alchemists Vessel buttons under the cover photo on the page.
Official Site

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day.

*Various sources and books were used in the creation of this post.  No one source was found to be more accurate than an other, please keep in mind that the Zodiac is different for different cultures all over the world, and that information not only varies from culture to culture, but from author to author or whatever material one may use as resource or research. 

Chainmaille Tutorial Key Chain Kit on Handmade Artists’ Shop

Chainmaille Tutorial Key Chain Kit on Handmade Artists’ Shop.

 

Complete Kits or Instructions, both are available and ready for delivery or download.

Merry Go Round Chainmaille and Jasper Necklace on Handmade Artists’ Shop

 

Merry Go Round Chainmaille and Jasper Necklace on Handmade Artists’ Shop.

Paramour Bracelet Pink Chainmaille Bangle on Handmade Artists’ Shop

 

Paramour Bracelet Pink Chainmaille Bangle on Handmade Artists’ Shop.

Silver Dragonscale Cuff Chainmaille Bracelet on Handmade Artists’ Shop

Silver Dragonscale Cuff Chainmaille Bracelet on Handmade Artists’ Shop.

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.

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!

In My Studio – Chain Maille and Beads

Currently I am working on several things, however I have been talking about learning a new weave, the Full Persian.  Much like the Box or Inca Puno Weave, as well as the Byzantine weave, the jump rings are grouped together, flipped, turned, and closed to create units, each unit forms a link, the links then form a chain.

The Full Persian begins with a Box weave, and additional jump rings are added to the unit to create a link that that consists of six rings, instead of four.  In the photos below a red bead marks where I have stopped the chain pattern.  I like the addition of the bead so much that I slightly opened already added jump rings to let me know where the other beads must go to complete the pattern.

Jump rings and pliers are all that is required to create and produce this very pretty and complicated-look chain.

 

I have also been tucked away at the Bench working on Brochure Projects for Jo-Ann Fabrics.  I now remember why I don’t bead.  If you have the knack and the talent CONGRATULATIONS! Tiny uncooperative things make my head hurt, needles prick my finger and the thread gets tangled up, but I suppose it’s not art if you’re not bleeding.  Diagrams and poorly written or confusing instructions don’t help either.  Just a personal observation on my crafting abilities.

Don’t laugh, it took me three days to figure out this pattern.  As an example of what I may be teaching and what kind of Advanced Jewelry Making Classes you can sign up for and learn by doing.  From Jo-Ann’s “Link -n- Bling” project.  6/0 Amethyst Czech Glass Seed Beads are woven flat in a Figure 8 or infinity symbol weave, rows are counted and the beads are then laced up along the length of the vertical edge and sewn together to form a Circular tube.  Since no one has signed up for this particular class, I do not have to finish the project.

With the Treasure Valley Market next week and then again in July, I suddenly find myself very busy, perhaps even over extended to the point of burnout.  This is not good.  What does one do when burnout begins?  One takes a  break, a respite, a walk in the woods, and then reorganizes and prioritizes and gets it done!  That being said, many of the irons I have in the fire are either just sitting due to lack of attention, or so red hot that they take up the majority of my time, leaving everything else behind to be caught up with later.  I will be paring down some of the things to better manage my time and the business.

Although I just opened and listed things on Cafe Press they want the shop owners to put a lot work into promoting the site instead of their shop, and  I have gotten ZERO response, so I will be closing that down.  The Official Website will be downgraded to little more than information and the shopping pages will be removed as customers seem to click through from the site to purchase items on Etsy instead of the direct “Buy” button.  

I have also started to attend classes to upgrade my skills.  A combination of Hands-On Training and Internet Reading Material and Examinations, I must carve out enough time to complete the course work, that means limiting or eliminating some of the other things that aren’t working or producing results in favor of study and class project time.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  We would like to wish you a pleasant rest of the week.

Five Great Gifts To Give: 3/20/12

Good Morning,

Today is the first day of Spring, and we have some a couple of really cute things from Etsy shops and a web find or three.

Magic by Leah 

Dutch Bunny Rabbit Sculpture in Polymer Clay by MagicByLeah

Description: Young Dutch Bunny Rabbit Sculpture Handmade in Polymer Clay

This Dutch Rabbit is a OOAK (one of a kind) Original Sculpture.
He is #2 in my 2012 collection ’30 Bunnies for Spring’

He is a realistic scale miniature sculpted on a 1:3 scale. He measures just over 3 inches in length

As with all my work this little guy is 100% handmade without any molds. He is sculpted from Premo Polymer Clay over a strong foil armature core. He is baked to manufacture directions and detailed with a mixture of Liquid Sculpey and Genesis Heat Set Paints

Lovebugwraps 

5 Beautiful Key Fobs/ Keychains/ Wristlets Ready to ship or custom orders welcome

 

Description:   

***Pay shipping on only 1 item! Buy 10 and it ships for 1!***

To see the full line of key fobs and pacifier clips available check out my shop at:

I have always loved these beautiful key fobs or key chains and now I make them to share my love for them with my customers. They are light weight so they don’t weigh down your keys and durable so they can take the beating in your purse. It makes a world of difference when you’re blindly trying to find your keys in your purse. They are big enough to slip on your wrist so you never fumble for your keys again.

 

The Alchemists Vessel

Phoenix – Silver Plate and Ruby Czech Glass Bead Bracelet

Description: This fiery bangle has bright, deep, shiny ruby red beads. Lined with silver for an extra spark inside the bead. Add a touch of color to an Office Suit, a fun accessory for a casual outing or heat up the little black dress with warmth around your wrist.

Would make an excellent July Birthday Gift.

Hand woven in silver plated jump rings with Ruby red silver line Czech glass beads.

This is kinda cool, and we can’t eave the boys out, at a $100.00, this is a steal of a deal and won’t they be happy terrorizing the family pets!
  
Rover App-Controlled Spy Tank with Night Vision

Whether following friends and family, navigating the office or investigating the activities of your dog, it’s all possible with this audio/visual-enabled and photo-taking Rover. Its built-in microphone transmits sound back to your device in real time. So you can hear everything as it’s being said. The manually adjustable camera streams live video and takes still photos. Giving you total access to see what’s going on in other rooms.

 n’ICE Cubes™Stainless Steel Drink Chillers

These cubes are the new ice. Because n’ICE Cubes™ will never melt and dilute your drinks. Simply place in the freezer for a few hours, then slip a handful into a glass and pour on your favorite potent potable, like a top-shelf single malt. In minutes, your drink is nicely chilled—and full strength. Afterwards, just rinse, dry and replace the stones in the freezer for next time.

Always ready to chill when you are.
n’ICE Cubes™ are made of stainless steel. Each measures approx. ¾” square with smoothed edges that won’t mar glasses. Available in sets of 3 or 6. Great for cooling down non-alcoholic drinks, too.

That’s all the ideas we have for today.  Those Stainless Steel Ice Cubs are cool!  Thank you for stopping by and taking a look, and Happy First Day of Spring to you!

New Items in the Shop

Two new items are up for sales this morning.

Unisex Necklace:  Antiqued Bronze jump rings are spun into a version of a Half Persian Chain Maille weave pattern, are connected by a larger ring at the center and a stylized Stag pendant drops from the larger ring.  About 20″ in total length including pendant.  This would be great for theme or cos-playing.  Aspiring “King Arthur’s” or “Guinevere‘s”,  this is for you!

These are cute, fun, really simple, and will add a splash of bright color to your outfits, and absolutely a must have fashion accessory this Spring and Summer season.  Department stores carry these for $12.99 to $15.99 a pair, we carry our hand made beauties for $5.00!  Natural Shell (surface-dyed) buttons are re-purposed into these adorable, native-chic, and colorful earrings, available in Blue (shown), Pink, Green and Gold (Sunshine Yellow), these are a limited selection item and once they are gone, they are gone.  The wire is wrapped around a mandrel, the button is then positioned and the wire allowed to “relax”, the wire is then manipulated by hand to form an organic spiral shape as decoration and to secure the button.  A Fish Hook ear wire is added to complete the pair.  Simple, uncluttered, and a fabulous accent for any Spring or Summer outfit.

Sterling Silver Plated Copper Jewelry Wire and Natural Shell (Blue) Earrings.

Natural Shell Buttons surface dyed in Pink, Light Green, Gold (Sunshine Yellow), the back of the shell is shown in comparison to the dyed surface face.

 

Thank you for stopping by we would like to wish you a pleasant week.