First Annual Haunted Open House and Harvest Market

Good Morning,

This is the week!  This Friday, Saturday and Sunday, October 11-13, 2013, Little Shop of Artists is pleased to present its 

FIRST ANNUAL HARVEST MARKET AND HAUNTED OPEN HOUSE

You’re invited!

6713 Fairveiw Avenue, Suite B
Boise, Idaho 83704

Participating Vendors Include:
Anvilkin Treasures – featuring Kia and Duck, The Mask Maker
The Delphi Oracles – your favorite Readers
Wire Witchery – beautiful jewelry by Sarah Shannon
The Le’s- featuring Miss Le, Up and Coming Artists Under 10.
The Alchemists Vessel – Chainmaille and Jewelry
Blackbird Metalworks – Fine Sterling Silver Jewelry
Arachknits – Hand knit items ready-to-wear
(The above three are works by Alixandra Browning, Fearless Leader, Artisan, and Instructor)
A-1 Video Game Exchange will be in the lot as well!
*Taco Truck on site Friday and Saturday, closed Sunday.

We are very excited, and so pleased to be hosting this event.

If you have been thinking about stopping by and seeing what we’re all about, this weekend is just perfect!  In-store artists will be on hand, and we will be talking to vendors and other artists about participating permanently in the shop.

Come with questions, comments, or your work!  We’d love to have you with us.

Remember we, the artists and crafts people, can not be successful without you!  Please join us this weekend for a little shopping and get to know your local artists, artisans and crafts people, I know they would love to meet you.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant weekend and we hope to see you at the Market!

Little Shop of Artists Inside Video

Good Morning,

This is the final week of set up as we prepare to open the doors to the public July 16th,  2013.  There has been much progress made, shelves have been painted and hung, wall coverings and shelves are courtesy of Shelly Moody of the Muddfip Photographer / Green Witch Handmade, the current artists on display are Wire Witchery and The Alchemists Vessel  The only thing left to do is get more artists in there!

If you are an artists in or around the Boise, Idaho area, we would love to have a look at your work and see if there isn’t a spot in the shop for you.

If you like handmade items, and would like to Shop Small and support your local area business and craftspeople, Little Shop of Artists will be opened to the public starting Tuesday, July 16th, 2013, from10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Contact us:

askus@littleshopofartists.com
littleshopofartists.com
6713 Fairview Ave., Suite B
Boise, ID 83704

Hours of Operation:
Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday and Saturday 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

Inside Little Shop of Artists

Good Morning, 

Today, I am pleased and very excited to tour the interior of the building for what will be the home of Little Shop of Artist.

Taken with my cellphone, it may not be the best quality, but rent is paid, and clean up will commence on or about June 15th, 2013.

We, the participating artists, are hoping to open the doors July 01, 2013.

We hope that you will come and visit us if you are in the Boise, Idaho area.

We apologize for a lack of video but WordPress SUCKS when it comes to uploading them.  Get it together WordPress, you are the only service that is this much of a pain in the ass!

Once the participating artists have set up their displays, these now empty rooms will be filled with Art, Handmade Goods, Jewelry, Gifts and other items to delight the eye and treat the senses.

If you are an artist in the surrounding Boise, Idaho area, stop by and see if we might assist you in showcasing your work.  We welcome all kinds of wares, pottery, knitting, woodworking, sculpting and more, a monthly rental fee applies we offer both participating and featured artists space.  (Currently LSoA is not accepting any more Jewelry Designers at this time). 

 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

 

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

Promotion – TVFM March Market

Good Morning,

I am out of stuff to talk about this week.  So in lieu of a real topic, let’s take a look at the Treasure Valley Flea Market.

I have not attended the show since November of 2012, as a vendor, nor have I returned as a shopper, but sometimes life is a four letter word that gets in the way of what you would like to do.

This weekend is, once again, The Treasure Valley Flea Market, hosted by Spectra Productions, and held at Expo Idaho, on Glenwood at Hawk’s Stadium.

There are vendors of all kinds, Crafts, Garage Goodies, Nick-Knacks and local businesses from Cell Phone Accessories to Home-baked Doggie Treats.

Stop by and have a look see.

5610 Chinden Blvd.

Garden City, ID

Admission is $2.00 at the door.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

Featured Artist – Handmade Artists Video Contestants

Good Morning,

The Blog Ring has returned and with it a neat contest that is being held at Handmade Artists Forum.

The Contest:

To enter, you need to make a YouTube video having to do with Handmade Artists!  You could do a video on your own items or shop, other shops, a site tour or whatever you can dream up having to do with Handmade Artists.  Let your imagination run wild! 

Prizes:  Handmade Artists will award the winner $25 to spend anywhere on the site.

Contest submission ended March 15th.

Here are the only two participating entries. 

From Wing n Scales – a little video about all the neat stuff you can find at Handmade Artists Shop

From: I Knit Quilt Sew – Here is an entry that takes you through the site via a tutorial like session.  Sandi has lots of great tips.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look. We hope this videos have inspired you to visit the Handmade Artists site.

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

Thursday – Etsy Wholesale, Silver and Artifical Diamonds

 

Good Morning,

Thursday are reserved for the Blog Ring Featured Artist from handmadeartists.com.  This Thursday, I have been chosen as the artist, so instead of posting about myself I thought I would share a couple of videos and discuss Etsy’s foray into Wholesale.  It’s not what you may think.

First up the videos:

Silver – How Its Made

Artificial Diamonds

Etsy Wholesale:

I know a lot of folks have been very upset about this lately, but actually it looks like it may be a good thing.

After reading the Etsy News Blog article “Etsy Wholesale on the Horizon“, I sort of understand what it is they are doing, and don’t worry this doesn’t mean the end of your Shop, or that it will be swallowed in a sea of Made-in-China cheapies, or even that Etsy is going to knock the small independent handmade artist off the site because they will be unable to keep up with the fees or quantities required by retailers.

A couple of points I would like to make, or you may read the article, it explains it better than I am able.  In short this is what is happening.  In Spring of 2012 Etsy acquired a site called Trunkt. I have no idea what this site was about.  The owner of Trunkt, Dev Tandon, now works for Etsy, and the Lifetime Members of his site are being integrated into Etsy Wholesale Marketplace.  You can sign up to learn more at the link provided.

This new venture is apparently “Etsy 2”, a separate and private site where Wholesalers (those shops that have a ton of items) can connect with retailers who want to purchase quantities not necessarily available via a smaller independent shop.   Doesn’t sound so bad.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

 

Curiosity Landing Photography – Space the Final Frontier

 

Happy Tuesday,

Today is a diversion day at The Alchemists Vessel.   Five Great Gifts to Give will return tomorrow.

I wanted to share this magnificent footage from Curiosity‘s mars landing.

 

Photography of Curiosity Landing Site on Mars First HD Panorama of Gale Crater – photoJPL.com .::

Unfortunately I cannot embed the video, but I urge you to click the link above and have a look at the desolate and spectacular landscape of Mars.

This is an amazing thing that has been accomplished, the second mission to the red giant with a better Rover.  

Most of us have been fascinated with Space and Science Fiction for most of our lives, and we created real things from those stories.  Cell phones, video conferencing, medical equipment, and yes, even computers and the internet were all Science Fiction at one time.  

Right now in our life time, we have an opportunity like no others before us, we can truly go where no man has gone before, that is exciting, and wonderful and wondrous, a marvelous something to behold. 

Thank you for stopping by and having a read.  Do check out the brief video.

The Alchemists Vessel would like to wish you a pleasant day, and remind you to shoot for the moon, even if you miss, you still land among the stars.

 

In My Studio – Earring Tutorial

 

Happy Wednesday!Here we are in my studio, that must mean it’s time for a project.  Wonder what I do at the workbench?   Wonder no more, below is  Earrings 101 a tutorial video. 

 

As promised, I have finally managed to create and upload a video on crafting a pair of very simple dangle earrings.  You can definitely try this at home!  The video covers, materials and how to’s for finishing and attaching the parts and pieces to make and  complete a pair of earrings.

 

If you would like to participate along with the video or perhaps make a pair afterwards you will need the supplies listed.  Expensive tools and supplies are not required, you can find the wire cutters and other things at your local Walmart for about $5.00 each, I bet most you have pliers at home, those will work just fine.  Beads can be any material and color you like, you can also find the Headpins and things at a local craft store for around $2.00.

 

Tools:

1 pair of Flat or Chain Nose Pliers

1 pair of Round Nose Pliers

1 pair of Wire Cutters

 

Supplies:

2 Head Pins

2 Fish Hook Style Ear Wires

2 4mm Jump Rings (optional)

Beads of your choice (any color, size, shape to your liking).

If you are experiencing problems watching the video on the blog you can also try clicking the links to your right or following them from the links below,

Earrings 101 on The Alchemists Vessel (Official Website)

Earrings 101 on Youtube

Earrings 101 on Daily Motion

*Earrings 101 on Facebook

 

*NOTE:  This link will take you to The Alchemists Vessel Fan / Business Page on Facebook.

There is no pdf or written instruction, if I have requests for this I will write one out for downloading later.

I hope you enjoyed this brief tutorial on creating a simple pair of earrings.

Thank you for stopping by and watching.

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

 

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.

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.