In My Studio – New Beads

 

Happy Wednesday.

 

I do like the middle of the week.

 

Sunday afternoon was spent with my friend, Sarah, we swapped beads, chatted and had a nice afternoon.

 

I thought I would share some of what I got in the swap.

Clockwise: Tiger Eye, Pyrite (donuts), Silver Findings (donuts), I think that is Serpentine (oval), Shell (donuts), Marble (triangles), Carnelian, Agate, and Turquoise (diamond shape).  

Why do I feel like I just described a bowl of cereal?

Many of the pieces above have already been used to craft and create earrings, among other things, and will be listed in the shop shortly.

 

Most of what the shop has to offer is One Of A Kind, and a good deal of time is spent in the design process.  Not necessarily just stringing beads or linking jump rings, but things like bead size, shape, color, texture and even drill-style (top, side, vertical, half) are taken into account when putting together a piece of jewelry.

I try not to mass produce items, there may be a style that will be repeated, and as much joy as I get from making the piece I would like the customer to experience the joy of wearing something unique and different.

 

Also, preparation for the August tutorial is going on.  Interested in learning the basics of Chainmaille?  The lesson will be on Dragon Chain (aka Double Chain) so get those pliers and jump rings ready!  Yes, that’s all you need.  If the piece I cast is returned there will be look at the process of cuttle bone casting.

 

Thank you for reading.

 

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a warm and pleasant Wednesday.

 

Thursday Triumphs

Happy Thursday!

We’re back and better than ever, and will continue to upgrade and improve the blog, the site and how we interact in general.

Little bit of news today followed by a full link and promo blog tomorrow.

The blog has been down for nearly two weeks due to problems with the computer’s Operation System, Browser and a couple of other programs in need of an up date / upgrade. 

After two disks, a lot of hair pulling, some swearing, and several phone calls to Apple Care, the computer is now up to date with a new OS X installed.  Although it is necessary to up date and install the latest OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.3, it should not interfere with the computers function. 

“This station is now fully operational”. (Paraphrasing of course).

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

Maintenance

Good Morning,

Tuesday is usually a feature of gifts to give,  unfortunately I can’t get anything thing to upload.

Logged in this morning to read this message:

Blogger no longer supports your browser, you may experience problems and some features may no longer work.  Followed by a list of suggested links and such to upgrade to a different Firefox or other browser version.

Well that was the truth.  I am having such difficulty with the program this morning that the blog will be down for Maintenance until I solve the issue or get the iMac upgraded to a more recent Operating System.

I do apologize, as I had not intended for the blog to be down for the 4th of July.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant Independence Day.

In My Studio Tunes

The middle of the week is here.  It’s Wednesday!

The birds are singing, the Japanese Lily is in bloom, a magnificent vibrant orange, perhaps I’ll post a picture in a later blog.  

Posts about the studio have included tools, materials, new and old finds, and the occasional piece I am working on.  What really goes on in the studio?  In truth a lot of this…

Yes, it truly is pandemonium around here sometimes.  Racing to class, trying to get orders out the door in a timely fashion, thinking of entertaining, interesting and informative things for the blog, the list does go on.

However, besides creating something beautiful, the one pleasure I do get is music.  Music is not only a wonderful motivator, it can also serve to set the mood in the studio (energetic) and sometimes even plays a part in the design process.  Inspiration comes from my surroundings, and to keep my self in tune with what I am doing, the rhythm of the music helps.

What does a Metalsmith listen to?  Metal, of course.  I won’t subject the reader to that, although some that read the blog will be appalled at that statement, so instead we’ll go with something friendly and appropriate for everybody.

Currently on the CD Player is:

Then we change things up with

From B to Y, we have a unique and eclectic mix of music that changes on the player at random.

Other music that shuffles throughout the day:

Concrete Blonde

Gov’t Mule

The Black Keys

Slayer

Testament
Clutch

Foo Fighters

Them Crooked Vultures 

James Murphy

Destruction

Just to name a few.  Of course those bands aren’t for everybody, but I do appreciate a good driving force tune while I am working.  Sitting at the workbench for most of the day requires something to keep the mind occupied as well as the hands.  Some tasks are repetitious and a beat in the background can help make those mundane repeats go much faster.

Thank you for stopping by and perhaps having a listen or check out some of the other music listed.

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

Butterflies In The Backyard

Happy Wednesday,

The middle of the week is here and the count down to Friday begins, not only that, but today is the official first day of Summer! Happy Solstice everyone!

I think the blog has become a little stale of late, the same subjects all the time week after week.  Thursday’s Featured Artist is fun and looking at all the shops and things on Etsy is a blast too, however, I am running short of contributors. Bringing on a decision to every once in a while step away from the work and jewelry aspect of the blog and talk about something random.  On occasion this has occurred, but it needs to become more of a regular thing.

In today’s hustle and bustle, instant gratification world of hurry, hurry, now, now, we sometimes forgot to look up from the phone screen, stop texting, step away from the computer or whatever holds our concentration and attention, and take a look around the real world, the one we live in, not the one we cultivate via electronics, gagdets and social networks.

Having said that, I would like to share a neat experience.  Yesterday, as I sat at the workbench (table), I glanced out the window and was surprised by this wonderful, huge, beautiful butterfly crawling across the potted marigolds on the deck in the backyard.  Opening the sliding glass door requires some effort, instead of wasting time fighting with the track, and snatching the camera off the table instead, I slowly crossed the carpet to sit quietly at the backdoor and take these pictures through the plate glass window.

The camera is set on 13x zoom, and the photos are a little fuzzy, but the detail is pretty amazing for my little Canon A480.  I took them in order as it walked across the petals and then flew off.  Missing the final “in flight” shot, the wings are still awe inspiring.  Such a delicate creature, I think this is called a Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly.

There are seven photos in total.  It must have walked the flowers for two or three minutes allowing me to finally get a really good shot of its wings.  Although taken through plate glass window, I don’t think I could have captured this creature’s beauty if it was three inches from the camera instead.

 I thought it was ready to take flight in this picture, until…

Oops, apparently not, either that or it figured out it was being photographed and allowed me to take a picture of its wings fully extended.

It did finally take off, and as mentioned above I did miss the initial shot I had intended to take, the camera has a strange almost three second delay, however the wings are a sight to behold.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  In hope that today’s blog has brought a smile to your face and a moment of calm while you read.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a wonderful rest of the week.

Links and Promotions – Things To Do in Boise

Good Morning,

The weekend has arrived!  It is Friday!  On Friday’s I usually share links to sites or information and promote something or someone, shop, art, something.  In today’s vernacular, “I got nothing”, so let’s see what we can’t find on the web.

Looking for something to do this weekend?  There is always Pride, or you can check out the Boise Weekly for activities and events happening around your neighborhood.

Also going on this weekend is the Ye Olde Renaissance Fair at Eagle Island State Park.  Fear Not they say IHOP is giving away $5.00 Certificates for Cart Parking ($5.00 a car to get in!)

I will be the instructor for this weekend’s Jo-Ann Fabrics Jewelry-Making Class.  

Looking for something else to do?  Check out the Boise Calendar of Events, music, art, education and governmental goings on.  

That’s all for today.   Thank you for stopping by and having a look.

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

Featured Artist: BlueHighways

Good Morning,

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you all to BlueHighways hand bound Journals, from the site Handmade Artists.

Ever wonder what is on that road less traveled?  Perhaps you travel those little blue lines on a map to someplace different, unique and off the beaten track.  That is what Blue Highways has to offer, different, unique and original hand bound books that are not your average Barnes and Noble aisle find.

Beautiful fabric covers and pages of lined or drawing paper complete the books. I have included five of my favorites below (and it was hard to choose).  Great for sketching, a day at the beach or jotting down your journey in a journal!  This is how people used to blog!

What Blue Highways says about her shop:

Old road maps used to have the back roads printed in blue, they’re 
the roads less traveled…those are the ones I prefer. 
Welcome, and travel some Blue Highways with me!
All books, art & writing journals, sketchbooks & albums are made 
with nice thick durable fabric covered covers, they are 
beautifully handbound and have generous page counts.I have a 3 
book maximum on any one fabric design then it will be retired, 
even then each of the 3 will either have different paper or binding 
or both.
An encouragement to buyers; if you don’t see something already 
made that you like please contact me so that together we may 
collaborate to make a custom book or journal that is absolutely 
perfect for your tastes and needs. Page counts, fabrics, paper colors, 
binding technique…all up to you. Deeply Entwined

Chucktown Ballet

Description: Maybe I can explain the odd title on this handbound book (though many are odd I must admit). I was in Charleston, SC not long ago to visit a sweet friend, we went to the aquarium… there were sea turtles with amazing grace swimming right before our eyes…and that’s the rest of the story!

Twittering on The Edge

Soundscape

 

Internal Storm

I hope that some of these have inspired you or perhaps caught your attention that you might click through and check out her Shop.

Thank you for stopping by and having a read.

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

Monday Montage with an Announcement

Good Morning,

We’re back!  After a lovely week in San Francisco, California, and a great drive across Nevada and through Oregon, The Alchemist is refreshed and ready for work! 

I arrived in time for a couple of neat things, although I did not attend due to schedule and other obligations.  The Golden Gate Bridge had its 75th Anniversary.  Did you know that the color of the bridge is primer?  That’s right, that distinct orange color is primer!  It takes about two years to paint the bridge from San Francisco to the Waldo Tunnel (“Rainbow Tunnel” for the locals) and they start all over again.  The bridge is constantly being painted.  Happy Birthday to a fabulous icon of The City.  (Don’t call it “Frisco”.)

The Gold Dust Lounge, one of San Fransisco’s oldest establishments (1933-2012), had to close its doors at the original location on Powell Street, downtown, a friend and I had the pleasure of stopping in on the last day for a drink.  We even got T-shirts!  Never fear they are opening a new location.  Locals be on the look out for it in the North Beach neighborhood, (I think).

If you are in The City, downtown, around 6th and Market, check out Tu Lan’s.  A tiny hole in the wall Vietnamese restaurant.  Delicious food, and if you have never had a Vietnamese Coffee, go there just for that!  Yummy!

There isn’t anything new in the shop, I have been busy filling out orders and organizing some of the new things I purchased on my trip.

ANNOUNCEMENT:  The Alchemists Vessel is pleased to announce that we are now “Mobile”.  Now accepting SQUARE as a payment option!  Slide your card and sign on the Android screen and you are on your way!  Simple, safe and secure, quick, easy and convenient!  Your receipt can even be e-mailed to you!

The schedule is jammed to the gills with new things to make, classes to teach (and those projects to create), the Northwest Motorfest Auto Show is coming up July 14th and 15th, 2012, and inventory is required for that, and I still have my own classes and examinations to take as well.  Whew!

Well be back tomorrow with some cool ideas for Summer.

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

Post 100 Links and Promotions

Good morning,

Friday is here!  I hope all had a good work week and are ready for some fun in the sun for the next couple of days.

Here we are at the 100th Post of the blog.  Amazing.

Thank you all for coming along, reading, commenting and in general helping to make the blog interesting and different.

With the schedule being very full, I had intended to have another jewelry tutorial this month, but my camera is not cooperating, so we’ll have to wait until I return from California to get that going.

We will be making a pair of earrings!  Pliers, beads, a couple of head pins and some ear wires are all you will need to follow along!  You may also wish to have some jump rings on hand for this as well.

Today, I share a link for The Muddfip Photographer, my friend Shelly Moody will be a featured artist in the near future.  Shelly takes some incredible photos, the link will take you to the facebook page.  I’m not saying too much right now as I want to save the good stuff for her feature!

The Alchemists Vessel has a new look on Facebook and Etsy.

Thanks to Harrison Richards of HRthinkstorm on Etsy, for the new Cover Photo and Banner for the shop.  Harrison has some great products at affordable prices to help you get your on-line or brick and mortar store up, running and noticed.

On an interesting and news worthy note.  Facebook’s Stock goes public today, about 11:00 a.m. EST.  $38.00 a share, those that hold shares now stand to make a nice little profit for themselves.

Don’t forget Jo-Ann Fabrics is still taking students and my classes are wide open, June will be copper chain and stone chip earrings and a very pretty Swarovski Crystal “Life Bracelet” from the in-store Brochure, pick one up and register for class today.  Bring a friend, learn a new skill, meet some new folks, and harass the teacher!  What a fun way to spend a couple of hours.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a wonderful day and a most pleasant and relaxing weekend.

NOTE:  There will be no blog posts next week, I will be out of town and my friend, Terry, (she did the blog last time I was out) is unavailable this time.

What’s New In The Shop – Metal Monday

Good Morning,

I hope all had a wonderful weekend, I certainly did, it was also my birthday!

Although there are no new items in the shop at the moment, there is something new that I am working on.  It’s a secret, but a little progress shot or two never hurt.


Designed using two different patterns.  Below you see simple, short lengths of chain woven from Nickel jump rings in a European 4 -in -1 and a variation.  These weave are also available for jewelry.

Next, a little progress,  Two lengths of chain are being joined or “married” together.  Several more individual lengths will be created and added to this.

Top Down View

Side View: This pattern lies flat and creates a nice pattern that has lot of movement and light play, although the jump rings may turn, the lengths of chain are supple with little rigidity to allow for “give”, and wear and tear when the piece is used.

Any one want to hazard a guess as to what it might be?  No?  How about if I said there are 310 (give or take) 3mm I.D.  jump rings in these short lengths?  No?  How about a hint?  Something may be put it in.

Thank you for stopping by.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a wonderful week.