Links, Promotions, Friday Post 250

Happy Friday,

Welcome to the 250th post of blog.  Lack-luster, I know.  It is a balmy four (4) degrees outside and the snow is piled up against the back door with promises of snowing me in today.  The garage door has frozen shut and is stuck to the driveway,  I kid you not.  As soon as the sun rises here, it’s time to haul out the pick and un-stick it!  That is a first for this California Grrl.  (I spelled it right).

This morning I am out of links and promotions, so gentle reminders are in order.

If you are brave enough to venture out into the below freezing temperatures and the icy roads you can visit the:

Treasure Valley Flea Market
*Expo Idaho
5610 Chinden Blvd.
Boise, ID
Saturday Jan 12, 9 – 6
Sunday Jan 13, 10 – 4
Admission is $2.00 at the door.

*Formerly the Western Idaho Fairgrounds.

The Alchemists Vessel will not be in attendance this month, but you can look for us at the Market in February.

Things are gearing up for 2013 here at T.A.V.  I am in possession of and almost finished with the final module for class, and am well on the way to having the e-book blog ready for inspection (or reading), as well as opening a second shop for the hand-forged items I am making and accumulating.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

What?  No photos?  Man…

 

Monday – Market Report

Good Morning,

Monday’s are usually devoted to new items in the on line shops.  This morning, due to my participation in the Treasure Valley Flea Market over the weekend, I do not have much to share.

I can’t say I am happy with the results of this months Market, and as such I think it is time I look for another venue.  Today will be devoted to sorting, cleaning, and re-organizing inventory!  Doesn’t that sound like fun?

Although I enjoy the socializing and talking to customers, it has become more of a chore than an event I look forward to participating in.  I would like to thank those of you that came out, said hello, and did a little shopping.

There are still plenty of lovely items on-line and custom work is always welcome.  Get those orders in early as I gear up for the Holidays.

The Alchemists Vessel - Handmade Artists
 
The Alchemists Vessel – Etsy

 The Alchemists Vessel – Official Website

 Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

 

Links, Promotions, Flea Market and Sale

Good Morning,

Today’s blog is super short because I have to pack and prepare for set-up at the Market today.

The Treasure Valley Flea Market is this weekend, and unless you live under a rock, you are aware that it is also the last Market of the 2012, and the last one before the Holidays start in earnest.

Can’t make the Market?  You can always find us on the web.

The Alchemists Vessel on handmadeartists.com
The Alchemists Vessel official Website

I know Etsy is very popular, however with all that is going on with the site, I am debating shutting down the shop.  There are several factors and a final decision has not been made, but I encourage you to see what handmadeartists.com has to offer, and not just my shop.  There are a lot of talented and fabulous artists, and everything is hand made.  Paintings, Hand-bound Books, Sculpture, Mosaics, Fabric Craft (Knitting, Crochet, etc), the list goes on.  Buyer accounts are always free, and a unique gift is better than mass-produced crap from China.  

SALE:  In light of that there is a sale on at The Alchemists Vessel on Etsy.  Many of the prices in the shop have been reduced and when you enter the coupon code: HOLIDAY10 at check out, you will receive an additional 10% off your total purchase.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

 

Monday Miscellany

 

Happy Monday,

Today is a collection of miscellaneous stuff.

New in the shop is this pretty Chainmaille bracelet available in a variety of Metals.  This one is Silver Plated (over copper) jump rings with a matching Toggle clasp.

Japanese Weave Flower Bracelet

Description:  9″ total, this very cute and feminine bracelet comes in a variety of metals. Shiny, bright and pretty, light enough to wear all day. Great for the Office or a Casual outfit. Each Flower-like unit is hand linked individually and joined as a chain.

All items arrive boxed, and ready for gift giving.

Custom work is always welcome.

Shop News:

On an interesting note, I have been invited to participate in a Consignment shop,  Inspired Creations, of Spokane, Washington.  Although this is just an invitation and I have yet to confirm what will be available in the store, or what I will be sending, it may be a great opportunity for exposure and expanding the shop a little.   I am cautiously excited!

The Treasure Valley Flea Market was an enjoyable event.  A good time was had by all.  We’ll be doing it again next month, November 10th and 11th, 2012.  This will be the last Market before Christmas, come on down and get your Holiday Shopping done early!

Don’t forget that this Sunday is The Witches Market hosted by Bella’s Grove.  October 14th, 2012, at 2210 S. Broadway, Suite 102, Boise, ID.  The Market will be held throughout the building.  Stop by for your Halloween Chopping needs!

Thank you for stopping in and having a read.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a work week.

 

Friday – Events, Promotions and a Cage Match

 

Good Morning,

Friday arrives with a definite chill in the air, and is cold in the office this morning.

I have been working in several things this week as well as preparing for the Flea Market.

Cage Match – Coif Caged Genuine Rose Quartz Heart shaped gemstone. Using the European 4-in-1 Weave, a cage is created for things to placed into and then closed, ensnaring the object within.

The twist tie is still attached, as I do not know how I want to complete the piece.  It hasn’t told me what it wants to be yet, pendant, key-chain, thingamabob.

After creating a rectangular length of chain, the opposite sides are brought together and connected at one edge creating a tube of sorts.  The top or bottom edge is tapered and closed with additional jump rings.

The bottom of the piece is closed tightly, and the rest of the cage spreads across the surface of the stone, the top of the cage is closed as the bottom and stretches over and across the stone creating a bail to hang the object from a cord or chain.

As soon as I decide on an appropriate something to hang it from it will be listed in the shop.  Time to cage more rocks!

There are two Markets to shop this October so lets get the information out there.

This weekend is the Treasure Valley Flea Market.  You know the drill! 
Expo Idaho, at The Fairgrounds
5610 Chinden Blvd
Garden City, ID
Admission is $2.00
Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. and Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
 
Also going on in Boise is a real Halloween treat.  Bella’s Grove is hosting The Second Annual Witches Market, Sunday, October 14th, 2012.  2210 S. Broadway, Suite 102, Boise, ID.  Spooky fun for everyone!

Hostess, Shelly Moody of Green Witch Designs describes the event:

“This will be our second Annual Witches Market. We will have vendors and goodies and all kinds of great stuff. Join us in merrymaking and frivolity and take the opportunity to support your community and get a jump on your Yule shopping! We will have vendors selling custom leather work, incense, jewelry, terrariums, and other odd bits and pieces. We will have Tarot Readers, and a palm reader as well.”

We hope you will take the time to mark these events on your calendar and stop by and see some of the wonderful, unique Handmade items as well as other offerings from around the Treasure Valley, a Scentsy Representative will be attending the Witches Market, as well.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look, the Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant weekend. 

 

Studio News 10-5-12

 

Good Morning,

Wednesday arrives and catches me unprepared!   This morning’s blog is brief as I suddenly find myself up to my ears in display racks, and that’s pretty easy, because I am really short.

The Treasure Valley Flea Market is this weekend, October 6th and 7th, 2012, at Idaho Expo at the Fairgrounds.   I have been busy packing, polishing and preparing items for the up coming event and as such have not made anything new in the studio.  However we do have some cool Halloween themed jewelry in the Shop and at the Market.  Enter the coupon code: Holiday10 at check out and receive a 10% Discount on your entire purchase. 

Also I am currently studying the fifth mod of the Jewelry Design and Repair Technician Certification course I am taking.  Believe it or not, most people behind a jewelry counter, whether department store or fine jewelery boutique have been certified by an educational institution of one kind or other, and it never hurts to continue one’s education and learn about new processes, tools, and materials.  If all goes as intended I should complete, or graduate from the course, if you prefer, before April, 2013.  

Speaking of classes and courses.  I am still the Contracted Jewelry Instructor at Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores here in Boise and will be starting classes at Bella’s Grove, 2210 S. Broadway, upstairs, in November.  Dates and details will be announced on this blog.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

 

In My Studio – Random Thoughts

 

Image via CrunchBase

 

Hello there,

I did not have anything specific in mind for today’s blog, thought about a couple of subjects, but they just didn’t seem to grab me.  So I’m just gonna ramble I think.  Gotta post something.

 

I had an excellent conversation with my good friend, and incredible sculptor, Ralph Cordero of RGC Studios, you can find his work on Etsy under Twisted Little Things.   I actually own a couple of those gruesome cuties!  We discusses the state of employment for artists, what’s available and what’s not, and what to do or how to re-create your offerings to appeal to the masses, or get that coveted job that was applied for.  The industry is full of kids just graduating from their respective colleges and looking for work that doesn’t exist.  Competition is tough in an industry job-market that is already overrun with want-to-bes.  So what does the established artist do when this happens?  That is a conundrum.

First of all you sit down on your tushie and git that hamster on the wheel, and start thinking about how to create interest and drive customers to your site, shop, table, display, store, or what have you.  Contemplate, evaluate, decide, rearrange, organize, and have a cup of coffee in the middle of all that, narrow your focus to laser-beam precision and begin the process of elimination or addition to make the items stand out, or to make it all happen.

After attending the Treasure Valley Flea Market this weekend, I sat down and did some serious thinking and reorganization as well as re-evaluating and deciding what to do about the lack-luster performance in sales.  Several things have come to mind and may be worth passing along.  

 

The economy is terrible right now,  Just awful, this is an obvious given, no one is blind to the fact that gas is now creeping up over $4.00 a gallon, again, and with that goods and services are also going up, which leaves little money for the aspirational (not necessary) things like art, and jewelry.

The Treasure Valley Flea Market occurs once a month, I have attended since 2005, I have been a regular vendor at Booth #28 for seven years.  I see the same vendors and the same customers every show, occasionally there will be something new to see, but for the most part it is the same stalls over and over again.   I have come to the conclusion that I have run the gamete at this particular venue.  

In the interest of keeping myself sane and my bank account in the black, I will be reducing the number of TVFMs I attend.  I will of course be attending October and November Markets, however during the 2013 Season, I will perhaps attend one Market, and one Market only.  Save those pennies, because The Alchemists Vessel will only be there once.

There will also be several changes coming to The Alchemists Vessel as well.  We will still provide quality off the rack jewelry, but the focus will be on high end One Of A Kind pieces, and not your average everyday manufactured comes-in-everything department store jewelry.

The website alchemistsvessel.net will also see some changes, as well as a complete and well stocked items page for your shopping pleasure.  The handmadeartists.com shop The Alchemists Vessel , will also be seeing some changes as we add to and remove some items listed on the site.  I know many people get lost on Etsy or e-Bay with the overwhelming amount of products there are to peruse.  We will also be closing the Cafe Press shop.  There isn’t any traffic and even though it is free, there is no sense in monitoring or putting energy into something that is not performing as one would have liked.

 

A quick reminder, Halloween is coming up and we have cool themed items in the Ravens Nook for your costume or just for fun.  Spiders, bats, skulls, black and orange gemstone beads, ooooo spooky!  Blog readers this is a special for you!  Starting October 01, 2012, there will be a coupon code for 20% off all themed items in the shop.  Bookmark your favorites now and come back and get them when they are on sale later! 

OK, I think I have run out of random stuff to discuss.  Tomorrow’s blog will feature a fellow Handmade Artists jewelry designer.

Thank you for stopping in and having a read.

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

 

 

Studio Switch – Market Season Begins

 

Good Morning!

Wednesday arrives bright and beautiful, some of the smoke from the northern and surrounding area wild fires has been blown out of the valley.  Clear and haze-free sunny skies is the order of the day.

There is not much happening in the studio this week, except there are beads and bits of metal everywhere, as we fill out the racks, take inventory, clean, pack, prepare, and check the list at least three times to be sure all is ready for the Season Opener of Treasure Valley Flea Market.  (No, I’m not going to post the commercial.)

Yes, indeed!  It’s that time again.  More than just a Flea Market, there are artisans from all over the Treasure Valley area, antiques, collectables, glass-works, wood-works, and of course, garage goodies of all kinds can be found.  Personally I wish they wouldn’t call it a “Flea Market”, there is so much more, I think the “Treasure Valley Market or Bazaar” would be a better descriptive title.

Now that I have your undivided attention.

Can’t attend this weekend?  That’s OK, you’ll miss out on free chocolate though.  The Market is open one weekend a month, the dates are below.  Put them on your calendar and come on down and say Hello!  Admission is $2.00 at the door.

Market Dates:
Sept 8-9, 2012 – This Weekend!
Oct 6-7, 2012 – Halloween Jewelry will be on sale!
Nov 10-11, 2012 – Christmas is coming!  Get that custom order in!
Jan 12-13, 2013 – I am not sure if T.A.V. will attend this market.
Feb 16-17, 2013 – We’ll be there to whip the winter blues away
Mar 23-24, 2013 – Spruce up for Easter
Apr 13-14, 2013 – The Tax Man cometh!  Spend it, before he gets it!

Happy shoppers check out the goodies at the booth next door.

Location:
Expo Idaho at the Fair Grounds
5610 Chinden Blvd.
Garden Cit, ID

The Alchemists Vessel, Booth #28, East (right) side of the building as you enter.

Booth Map

The Alchemists Vessel, Booth #28, a right and a left and you’re there.

Why yes we do take Credit Cards at the Shows, via SQUARE and my “Smart Phone”.

We accept Cash, Debit or Credit Cards and Personal Checks.  No need to spend that $3.00 for an ATM FEE!  We can have your goodies in a bag and you on your way with just a swipe.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

 

The State of the Studio Undressed

Hello Middle of the Week,

Wednesday is here and the topic is usually what is new and going on in the Studio / Shop.

As many of you know my computer was misbehaving for the last couple of weeks.  After much time staring and loading screens and clicking the Restart button at the appropriate time, the new OS X is successfully installed and the computer up to date and everything else is ready to roll!  Pleased about that.

Last weekend was Mid-Summer Treasure Valley Flea Market, although not the venue for me, a good time was had by all.  Due to the event the studio is in disarray and in need of a good sorting out and through things.

However, we are also preparing a couple of fun tutorials.  A video, more than likely presented in segments on how to make a simple pair of earrings.  Once you have the basics down, you’ll be making your own pretties in no time.  We will begin with materials, followed by simple and easy to master techniques that are used in all facets of jewelry making, like making a loop at one end of a headpin and how to use jump rings or other attachment methods to complete the earrings.

I thought it might be fun as well to show the new skills I am learning in class, like Cuttle Bone casting.  This is done with inexpensive materials that you can purchase from your local pet and hardware stores.  Neat, huh?

Since I am feeling like the blog is rather stale and we can’t be all business all the time, let us take another departure from work and wander into my backyard once more.

A couple of weeks ago I was pleasantly surprised to find a Tiding of Magpies in my back yard including a fledgling.  The black and white of their feathers has inspired a necklace that I am working on, but I thought it might be fun to share one or more of the photos.  

As not to disturb their refreshments I stood at the back door with the camera lens almost pressed against the glass and set once again at the 13x Zoom.

There were a total of six of them, and although I was unable to catch them all at the same time, each one was individual an unique in their markings.  Here is a most handsome fellow, although they were aware of me, they seemed not to care I was there.

Oops, busted!  This adult caught me taking pictures and chastised me before flying off into the tree further down the backyard.  

The fledgling was the last to take off, and the last one to use the birdbath as well.  It is not uncommon for birds to appear in the yard with the feeder set up, but it is a rarity when these magnificent and beautiful creatures arrive and visit for a while.

This little guy still has some of his “baby” feathers.

Thank you for stopping and having a look, and possibly finding a smile cross your face.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant Wednesday!

Monday Market Review

Good Morning,

Happy Monday to you all.

This past weekend was the Treasure Valley Flea Market.  A fun diversion in the middle of a hot summer afternoon.

The show was packed with people and goodies to be had, from Jewelry to Toys, and an Antique or two.

Happy Shoppers in the booth next door, poured over vintage Ray Bans and Handmade Jewelry.  The Market had a ton of things to look at.  In the center building this year, there was more space for more folks!

The booth looked good this year with cloth “walls”, the curtain served as a nice backdrop for the booth.

I am happy to say that a lot of what you see on the table was sold, as well as two of my favorite pieces of Chainmaille.  Back to the workbench for me!

Fun was had by all.  I usually say that these things are really a social gathering for the vendors, but I think even the shoppers really enjoyed this event.

When I returned home Saturday evening, tired and exhausted from the day, we had a little rain and the neighborhood was treated to a natural display of beauty.  A double rainbow arched over my neighbors house.  My camera can not do it justice.  As the sun came out the rainbow faded, I stood at the backdoor and took a couple of photos in the rain.  This is the second one I have seen since I have lived in the neighborhood.  Nature is a grand and wonderful thing.

Thank you for stopping in and having a read.

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