Promotions and Links and Mom

Good Morning,

Happy Friday, another work week successfully completed. 

Mother’s Day is Sunday, and The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you and yours a wonderful day.  Do something nice for your Mom, she’ll appreciate it!

A couple of weeks or more so now, I received an invitation to Artsy Dealy.  So far it is just an e-mail register / sign up page. It is a new traffic generator, geared to bring traffic to your Etsy shop.  Not quite sure how it works as I think it’s still in it’s fledgling state, the Link below will take you to their page.

Artsy Dealy Traffic Generator

Here is an interesting site Craft Gawker.  Rather like pinterest, with a twist, clicking through takes you to blogs and tutorials from the posting.  You can find everything from Braiding (Plaiting) your hair to how to make Glow in the Dark jars.

There is a new craft seller website Craftstack.com.  Although it is just an e-mail sign-up for information right now.  If you are interested in another site, venue, market for your wares, you might try there.  Plans are $8.95 a month, or 5% of your sales.

Remember every Tuesday is Five Great Gifts to Give.  Would you like to have your item promoted on the blog?  Drop me an e-mail with a link to your item and a bit about yourself, and your item will be posted along with four others on a given Tuesday.  Contacts links are to the right or Like us on Facebook.

Now, a little shameless self-promotion never hurt anybody.  Although I think it is official and I have lost my mind.  I am currently working on a project that will take no less than 5,694 jump rings (I counted!) to complete.  I designed the pattern, measured, coiled, and cut close to 7,000 jump rings over the past several days and I think the linking process is about to begin.  As soon as I have a more cohesive or comprehensive idea on how to present the project in stages we’ll give you sneak peaks into the process and project.  Want to see what 1M (1,000) jump rings look like?

That’s a whole lot of tiny little things! Multiply that by 6, and I have a lot of fun ahead of me!

Thank you for stopping by, The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you and yours a pleasant weekend, and a Happy Mother’s Day.

Thursday’s Featured Artist Jennelle

Thursday has arrived, bright and sunny.  The weather promises to be a bit cooler today, I think a day outside may be in order, inspiration, textures, and a reconnection with nature after a long Winter indoors.

It seems as if handmadeartists.com has gotten a lot attention this week, and as such this weeks Featured Artist is,

Memories of Jewelry By Janelle   

Zebrawood Donut Necklace

On the site she was known as Janelle5.

This came as quite a shock to me, I had no idea that this remarkable artists has passed.  Handmade Artists and Janelle’s friends have continued to run her shop.  There are five items left and it would be a pity to see them unsold.  I have never exchanged messages with her nor did I come across her amazing wood jewelry until researching for this blog post.

This wonderful tribute to a forum member is on her Bio page.  I place it here, so those reading may get a sense of who she was and what she meant to those she befriended on Handmade Artists and in her everyday life.

Janelle was a passionate lover of handmade and a tireless promoter.  She was also an active member of our community. On her passing, we have experienced a great loss.  Janelle left a hole in our group and our hearts.  Janelle was unique in many ways, but what she did with a piece of wood was remarkable!  Though she may be gone, her talent, passion and art remain in the pieces she so lovingly created.  All of the proceeds from this shop will be contributed to her estate.  We know you will be as taken with Janelle’s pieces are we are!  All of her friends here at the Handmade Artists Shop thank you for taking the time to look at, appreciate, and purchase her work.

Thank you for stopping in, The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day. 

Tools In My Studio

Happy Wednesday!  

Here we are in the middle of the week!  Where does the time go?

I thought it might be fun to take a look at some of the tools and other materials I use to make jewelry.

This is my Micro Torch, I use it for soldering, firing PMC (Precious Metal Clay) annealing, and any number of other things that require me to heat things.

This is my Jeweler’s Saw.  I use it to cut wire (for jump rings), sheet metal and sizing stock.  Yes, it is exactly like a hacksaw, except the blades are much finer and thinner, and the saw itself is much smaller and lighter weight than a Construction Tool.

These are the tools I use in the creation of Chainmaille, two pairs of pliers, and three mandrels. Of course I have more, these are all that would fit on the background area.  Mandrels are used to wrap the wire to create a coil, from which jump rings are cut.  Pliers are used to open and close the jump rings during the linking process.

Hammers and Anvil.  Yes, it is very cathartic when designing to bring that hammer down on the little piece of wire.  Striking area is very tiny, so precision is a must, and a great deal of attention paid to the piece you are working on.  One wrong blow with the head, and the piece can break, bend, or be ruined.

Stainless Steel Head

Stainless Steel Anvil

Rubber Mallet

4 oz. Brass Claw Hammer (there are screwdrivers in the handle!)

Here is a selection of wire that I use.  Brand new stock that has not been opened as of yet.  From Left to Right: 20 gauge Copper, Nickle, and Jeweler’s Bronze (aka “Merlin’s Gold”), and the last roll is 18 gauge copper wire.

Here is a coil of Sterling Silver Plated Copper Jewelry wire, I have used up the last of the Silver Plated wire, making the last choker I created.  The wire is straightened, wrapped around a mandrel, the coil is removed from the mandrel and cut using the Jeweler’s Saw for a flush cut or it is “Pinch Cut” using wire cutters.

I offer both Hand-forged and Manufactured or machine made clasps, but that is the only thing you will find besides beads and gemstones (I don’t have the equipment to do that at home) that are not hand-crafted by my self.  That includes head pins, jump rings and chain.

I suppose it would have been easier to just take a photo of the Bench, but that is covered with materials and stuff that needs to be cleaned up and gone through, I currently use the dining table or head out the garage for creation these days.  Evetually I’ll get back to the actual Bench and then I can take a photo.

You can always check out Youtube or Dailymotion.  Currently there are three very short tutorial videos, on opening and closing, measuring the Interior Diameter and winding / cutting your own jump rings.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day!

Creativity on Vacation

Good Morning!

Friday is here, the weekend is closer and for many of you so is vacation time.

Just because you’re on vacation, doesn’t mean you can’t be creative.  You may not be able to carry all your supplies with you but, you can always pack light, especially for the kids.

Things to Bring to Be Creative:

•  Blank Note Book: small enough to pack, big enough to sketch in. 
• Pencil or Pen (see above) 
• Colored Pencils – you can:
  • Draw the Hotel Sign
  • Note where you ate
  • What you saw
  • Where you went
  • What you did   
  • Decorate the pages of your notebook

• Disposal Camera, so you can take pictures and paste them next the to journal entries, once photos have developed.   If you’re luck enough to be able to print your own photos at home, take your digital instead.

You just made a Travel Journal!

Get inspired:

• Camping?  Make a rock drawing around your camp.  Pick ’em up and put ’em down in an interesting pattern.  Include sticks, leaves and other available things around camp to add interest.

• Beach?  Sand castles and drawing in the sand are staples, go hunting for seashells and wrap them with craft-wire, or hot glue them together in interesting shapes. (Clean ’em first!)

•  Elsewhere in general?  Check out the local flora and fauna.  Ask with Front desk if there are things going on in town.  Grab that hotel note pad and jot down what interests you.  Then go!  

• Remember, you can always bring a favorite hobby, too. 
  • Knitting
  • Crochet
  •  Quilting
  • Painting

If you can pack it, you can do it on vacation!

I mean that’s why you’re on vacation anyway, right?

   

A Quick List For The Kids:

• Clipboard or sturdy flat object.
• Crayons, you can’t go wrong with an eight pack of Crayolas.
• Wire bound Sketch book.  The kids can draw / color on both sides of the paper and it will flip to fit a clipboard.
• Stickers or other things so they can decorate the cover.
• Ask them to draw what they see on the way to their destination.  Draw objects or places they saw or visited while there.  Encourage them to draw something daily.  When they get home they will have a picture book of their vacation.
• Disposable camera (you don’t want them breaking the $200.00 Digitial!)Ask them take pictures (with your help), encourage them to take pictures in front of places they visit or things they have seen with each child in the photo.
• NOTE:  All these things will fit in your child’s school backpack, no extra luggage or special car seat organizers required.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  

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

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!

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.

Monday Market Review List of Events

Good Morning,

It is Monday, and although I worked all weekend I hope you all had a wonderful and restful one.

The Market was a successful and as usual an enjoyable experience.  Talking to people, looking at what other exhibitors are selling, discussing the latest and local fashion trends with the younger crowd.  However; we did have some sad and wonderful news.  Sam Jones, who has run the Market for 24 years, retired this weekend.
She was greatly respected, admired, appreciated and loved by those who worked with her and got to enjoy her company during those Market weekends.  The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish her all the best in her great new adventures!  She will be greatly missed.


Table One:  A selection of Semi-precious Gemstone and Sterling Silver Earrings, Chain Maille, and Jewelry sets.

Almost out!  Time for another round of Semi-precious Gemstones and stretchy stuff!

Terrible Lighting, no wonder everything looks funny in there.  

Table Two:  A selection of Semi-precious Gemstone and Sterling Silver Jewelry sets.

Since there is nothing new in the Shop as I was not in the Studio this weekend, I thought it might be fun to list a couple of up coming events.

Although this was the last market for the 2011-2012 season, the Markets begin again in September, 2012 and runs through April 2013.  Watch the blog for a complete list of show dates when the Vendor list has been provided to exhibitors.

The Alchemists Vessel will also be attending the July 14th and 15th Treasure Valley Flea Market in conjunction with the Northwest Motorfest Auto Show which rolls into town July 13-15th, 2012, click the link for this year’s details.  Here are a couple of shots from last year taken from KTVB.com website.  (A local News Station).

Just what is this?

Guys riding motorcycles in round cages!  What more could you ask for?  An Auto show staple if ever there was one.

Thank you all for stopping by, we’ll put up more details and information for both shows (running concurrently) when it is available.

Flea Marekt

Hello,

There will be no blog post tomorrow The Alchemists Vessel is once again attending the Treasure Valley Flea Market.

Admission is $2.00

5610 Chinden Blvd., Garden City, ID

Expo Idaho Building

April 14th and 15th,

Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Sunday 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m

We hope to see you there.

Set up for these monthly market occurs one day prior to the show, packing and setting up will keep me busy most of the day and I try to leave the day open for those little things that may arise.

Thank you for stopping by and have a look.

Studio Time

Greetings,

This morning’s post will be brief.

This afternoon I will be attending an introductory class at Jo-Ann‘s Fabrics as a sit-in, to watch the class, the instructor, and to see how things go with lesson plans and schedules.  I am kind of excited.

The studio is currently in state of disarray as I attempt to get prepared for the Flea Market this weekend, beads, wire, bits of stuff is everywhere and needs to be packed and put away.   We do have some new items on the table, so come on by and have a look.  We’ll be at the Fair Grounds.

Treasure Valley Flea Market

Enrolled in a Jewelry and Metal Arts Class, the first project is due soon and I am in need of materials to finish it up, shopping is also agenda.

Yes, all of that is wonderful, but what is going on in the studio?

Weaving Bracelets.

Making Earrings.

Re-doing the Etsy Shop

Paring down and reorganizing the sites and web presence.

Yes, always busy.

Thank you for stopping by, it is Wednesday, and the work week is almost done!

Gifts

Every Tuesday I try to list five (5) great gifts to give or gift giving ideas, sites and the occasional link.  However this week I thought instead of gift ideas, a discussion about gifts might be interesting.

gift/gift/

Noun:	A thing given willingly to someone without payment; a present: “a gift shop”.
Verb:	Give (something) as a gift, esp. formally or as a donation or bequest: “the company gifted 2,999 shares to a charity”.
Synonyms:	noun.  present – talent – donation – offering – endowment verb.  give – endow – present – donate – grant – endue

  

Now that the definition is done with, what is a gift and how do you shop for one or decide if something is appropriate for gift-giving.

Is it the amount of money spent?  No.

Is it the thought that counts? Yes.  But that only goes so far.

An article I read several years ago had a check list for Gift Buying and comments on receiving them and what an appropriate response might be to getting one that isn’t exactly pleasing.

CHECK LIST:

How much thought did you put into the present?

Did you spend Five minutes, Five Hours, Five Days, grabbed a chap-stick off the impulse rack at the local Wal-Greens?

Does it reflect the recipient’s taste or style?

Is it something the recipient would buy for themselves?

Did you buy it because you like it, or because the recipient will like it?

(Don’t fall into that trap, just because you like it doesn’t mean the recipient will!  Remember you are buying something for someone else, not for you.)

Would you wear it? 

(Here’s a hint, if you won’t, neither will the recipient).  Ask yourself again if it is to the recipient’s taste or style.

Have you ever seen the recipient with something similar? 

If yes, the item in question is probably a “safe” gift idea.

Is this an appropriate gift?

If your spending $400.00 to impress someone, it is not a good gift.

If your spending $10.00  for the item and the recipient will love it (addition to a collection, a favorite Band’s CD, or something they have specifically asked for), then it’s an excellent gift.

What do you do when some one gives you something you really don’t like, isn’t to your taste or style and there is no way you are ever going to use it or wear it?

Always be gracious, say “Thank you”, and smile politely, and be appreciative, do not make a fuss over it, and try not to look too disappointed.  For heaven’s sake DO NOT re-gift it!  That is just tacky.  Instead try a couple of the following.

Recycle!  Find a use for it.  There has got to be something you can do with whatever it is…

Charity!  A six month waiting period is usually appropriate before giving the unwanted item to your local Auxiliary, Junior League or  Thrift Shop.  There are folks less fortunate that would love to own what you don’t want or need (or like for that matter).

Re-Design or Re-Purpose!  Almost like recycling think of it as today’s Artisan fun buzz word “Up-Cycling“.  Cut it up, take it apart, make something else out of it.  Get creative and figure out some unique and different use or pattern for it.

Tuck It Away!  At some point we have all had something that was given away and we needed, wanted or wished we hadn’t parted with years later.  This is not to say keep everything for an eternity, but tucking something away only to be found later can be like discovering treasure.  If you have put the item away, and come across it again, still don’t like or can not think of an alternate use, then you may wish to reevaluate the item, and either put it away once more or select a more decisive course of action and choose one of the above options.

If nothing else a gift should be heart-felt, and be accepted in kind.

Thank you for stopping by.  Food for thought is always good.