Rules For The Blog

Good Morning,

Today it is with sadness that I must post these updates to the rules.

My blog has been and will remain open to any and all who wish to read, look, comment or participate.  Whether you be artist, crafter, or just curious.

The blog will not put up with political posts or comments of any kind.  They will be removed immediately.  Hate speech directed at this blog, its participants, or in general is unacceptable, and will be removed immediately. Any deviation from these rules will result in all actions I may take, this includes and is not limited to reporting you (your account) to Google, and your provider, along with all records they may require.

This blog will not tolerate hate of any kind, directed at any one, at any time.

We are here for fun, please respect that this place is a Politics Free Zone.

Thank you,

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

Shop News: Etsy To Remove Treasury Feature

Good Morning,

Today's blog is very brief.  The link below will take the reader to an Etsy blog post.  Etsy has decided to remove the Treasury feature from the site.  All though current treasuries will remain up, no new treasuries will be allowed after October 5, 2016.

You can find the information here, along with links to other ways Etsy claims to help the seller and the buyer market and find items.

An Update About Treasuries On Etsy

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

Five Great Gifts For Giving: List I 2016

Good Morning,

Today I would like to share five unique gift ideas from five unique shops.


From: Bracken Designs

Two Dragon Large Copper Ring with Amber and Silver Accents

The gods only go with you if you put yourself in their path. And that takes courage. ((Mary Stewart, The Crystal Cave)

This large saddle-style ring is an attention getter.

One of my favorite books as a child was "The Crystal Cave" by Mary Stewart.  The design of this ring was inspired by the part where young Merlin has a vision of the two dragons battling for power.

I added a bezel set Amber stone in the center and two fine silver embellishments at the tail of each dragon.

The band has my maker's mark and a leaf imprint in sterling silver.

The band on this ring is a smidge over 3/8ths of an inch wide.  That's very important when it comes to sizing because most people "size" their fingers for rings with very slender bands.  The part of your finger between the knuckle and the bottom of your finger is fattier than where narrow rings rest.  So please have THAT part of your finger measured for size.

The interior measurement of this ring is approximately size 9 and it JUST fits on my finger that is a size 8.

The ring cannot be sized up or down.


From: Lost Apostle

Wolf Skull Necklace with Tribal Design - Bronze, on Leather

 My Wolf Skull. Got teeth?

It is with a broad smile and no small flourish that I present my newest skull, the Gray Wolf. I've loved the wolf for as long as I can remember and it was no small feat to do this incredible creature the justice I felt it deserves. This wolf skull is meticulously detailed right down to its infamous teeth in those powerful jaws, and from every angle it looks stunning. The top of the skull is detailed with a Lost Apostle tribal motif to add to the strength and individualism of this piece, and I think it really adds to the spirit of the skull.

It measures 35mm from its canines to the back of the skull, 18mm wide across the eye orbits and about 20mm from the base of the jaw to the top of the skull. It's a fantastic size for, quite honestly, an awesome pendant. This skull is hung on approximately 1 meter of the finest Spanish brown leather, and also come with an all-original Lost Apostle bronze clasp. To see this clasp in action, please follow the link below.

Completely hand carved, this skull was then cast in the finest jewelers bronze. A patina was then applied to bring out all the fine detailing covering the skull and finally it was carefully polished to bring out the warmth and lustre of the bronze. As with all our jewelry, there's no need to worry about it tarnishing as all our pieces are protected to maintain the shine.


Cute this Wolf Skull definitely ain't.

 

From: Marty Magic

Bat Ear Cuff Silver Bat Ear Wrap Silver Ear Cuff Bat Jewelry Bat Earring Bat Wings Bat Charm Non Pierced Earring Non Pierced Earcuff Gothic

This solid sterling silver Bat Ear Cuff clings to the edge of your ear. It fits both right and left ears equally well. (diamond not included.)

Our ear cuffs require no piercings. Starting near the top of the ear, slide the ear cuff down along the edge of the ear's cartilage. You may gently open or close the opening of the ear cuff to accommodate the thickness of your ear.

This item usually ships the same or next business day.
All Marty Magic Jewelry is packaged in a beautiful purple box, embossed with the gold foil Marty Magic dragon logo. Perfect for any occasion!

*This is the genuine Bat Ear Cuff, designed by Marty Magic in Santa Cruz, California and made in the U.S.A. 

 

 

From: Sues Arts

evil eye beaded Hamsa bracelet, hamsa bracelet, evil eye bracelet, hamsa charm bracelet, evil eye charm, evil eye charm bracelet

Beautiful handmade beaded memory wire bracelet.

Created with glass beads.

If you wish to add Hamsa hand or eye please let me know.

For those of you who are not familiar with the "Bad Eye" emblem, well, it’s a symbol that’s been around for thousands of years and is believed to protect and shield against the evil eye, generate positive energy, provide good fortune, health, prosperity and happiness.

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BOX

Suzan ♥

 

From: Meluseena

Cosmic Cat 8X8 print | Comet art moon cat art and smiling Moon illustration - children art print by Meluseena -- 8X8

This is the only way to orbit the sun in style...

☆

Every stylish nursery needs a bit of whimsy - with comet cat and the moon, you can bring in some old-timey illustration with a lot of contemporary flair!

About this Print:
‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾‾
Produced for Meluseena by a small Texas-based archival studio, each print is made with individual care. The results are awesome, long-lasting prints with saturated colours and a soft matte finish.
No run-of-the-mill posters - this is an art item!

By purchasing this print you support not only my small two-person studio, but the network of indie creatives that help bring my Meluseena artworks to life!

✿ Print area: 8X8 inches (20.3 X 20.3 cm)
✿ Canon Lucia inks
✿ Heavyweight paper (230 g/m²)
✿ White border outside print area for framing
✿ Ships from the USA to worldwide.

 

 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

 

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

 

 

Memorial Day 2016

Good Morning,

The Alchemists Vessel takes the day to remember those that have fallen to keep our freedom, and to keep us safe.  Every male in my family has served in all branches of the military, Air Force, Army, Marines and Navy.  I thank them for their service.

In loving memory of Sayle Sherrow.

Fashion Trends For 2016

Good Morning,

This morning's blogs takes a look at what is in style for Hair, Jewelry, Clothing and Color for 2016.

This year's Spring must haves include Faded Denim, and soft pastel colors.  Jacket or jeans, even shirts are popular, and never really go out of style.

Ladies we do love to do our hair, and this year the Braid is back in fashion.  From the simple plait to more complicated weaving, the braid is always pretty and can be worn messy or tidy for work or play.

Jewelry trends, believe it or not Chain Maille and Gemstones are back, in new and lovely shapes and colors.  Stack-able bracelets, Bangles, and Cuffs.  Spikes and Nails, Chains and Leather.

Just don't do this:
Givenchy face accessories fall / winter 

This years trending colors are Baby Blue ("Serenity"), Pastel Pink ("Rose Quartz") and Orange, that is really more of a soft peach or mango color. 

Pantone Colors of the Year for 2016

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

Featuring Artist: Sue's Arts

Good Morning,

Today's featured artist is Sue's Arts on etsy.

HAMSA, HAMSA, HAMSA, JUDAICA JEWELRY, HEBREW JEWELRY, HAMSA JEWELRY, EVIL EYE JEWELRY, CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME 

hair clip, hair pin, hair accessories, decorative hair pin, bridal hair pin, bridal hair clip - $14.00

Beautiful handmade and one of a kind hair clip.

You can buy one or save on both.

Perfect for any occasion and for any age.

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BOX

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME WITH ANY QUESTION

 

Glasses box/case/eyeglasse carrier - $10.00

 

Stunning glasses case in chocolate brown decorated with sparkly embellishment for added glamor.

Very attractive and unique one of a kind piece.

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BAG

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

♥ LIVE LOVE LAUGH ♥ 

Bookmark, book mark, metal bookmark, Hamsa bookmark, mermaid bookmark, silver bookmark, crystal book mark - $10.00

Beautiful collection of custom made mermaid bookmarks to choose from.

Size about 81mmx22mm (about 31/8" in length)

SPECIAL REQUESTS ARE WELCOME

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BOX

CUSTOM ORDERS ALWAYS WELCOME

 

Opal studs, opal earrings, blue opal earrings, pink opal earrings, pink opal studs, silver studs, silver earrings, small studs, small opals - $25.00

Absolutely gorgeous, elegant and classy pink opal stud earrings.

Earrings are stamped 925 silver.

Approx size: 8mm.

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BOX

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

Synthetic opals are artificially made and although their structure is very similar to the structure of precious opals, their value is (from obvious reasons) much less than the value of the real “thing”.

Synthetic opals usually display a very distinctive snakeskin pattern and they show brighter colors than natural opals. The spots of color are larger but they interact with light in a very similar way to natural opals.

Lab Grown or Lab Created Opal are terms generally refer to polymer-impregnated opals, which are 70-90% silica (from which natural opal is formed) and 10-30% resin. Lab created opals exhibit fire play resembling the finest opal at a small fraction of the cost.

Feel free to contact me with any questions.

Suzan

Visit my SuesArts store for the complete collection of Hamsas, vintage style jewelry, home decor, personalized gifts and so much more.

 

Unisex Men's Silver Stainless Steel Red Turquoise Horn Pendant, horn charm necklace, horn necklace, good luck charm

- $26.00

Beautiful and unique Unisex Men's Silver Stainless Steel Red Turquoise Horn Pendant charm necklace.

Charm size approx 45mm x 18mm

Leather length is 18".

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BOX

Suzan ♥ 

Thank you for stoppping in and having a look.  Don't forget to check out the shop for more interesting and unique pieces from Sue's Arts.

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

 

 

 

 

 

Finding your Target Market

Good Morning,

This morning I wanted to share some wonderful tips from another blog post on finding your Target and Niche Markets.  I have left out the personal story that accompanied the original post and have tried to leave it at just the tips.  Links are also included.  Originally posted by Brenda Lavell in August 2013, it has just been re-posted or circulated on Etsy as of last week. I hope you will find the information useful.

The Difference Between Target and Niche Markets

Target market is a group of potential customers who share characteristics related to your product. For instance, “knitters” could be my target market.

Niche market further defines a target market. For instance, “beginning female knitters who love Etsy, ages 20 to 35, living in New England” is more defined.

When you define and understand your niche market, you can target your marketing efforts to that group of people.

Narrowing Your Niche Market

Further defining your niche market is crucial to finding your actual ideal customers — those who will become true fans for your business and products. A true fan wants to hear everything about your business, including sales, tutorials, and new product launches.
Posting product links 24/7 to thousands of non-targeted social media followers is unfocused and not likely to attract very many buyers. However, offering Coupon Codes for your mailing list of ideal customers is targeted and very likely to result in many sales.
I don’t need to tell you that promoting your business all day long is exhausting — it’s a lot of work for little return. Promoting is about me me me — your products. Marketing is about you — your customers’ needs and problems. When you know who those customers are, you know or can more accurately guess their needs.

How to Find Your Ideal Customer(s)

A target market is a group of characteristics, not a person. You can personalize your target market by creating your very own ideal customer, a fictional character with individual, human characteristics — a true fan that  you make up on paper or just in your head.

Then, instead of marketing to a group of people, you market to just one person, your true fan.

Get the Ideal Customer Worksheet

To create this ideal person, you need to dive deep into this persona’s psyche. There really is no right answer to who this person is, as long as your creation makes sense (for example, “a super modern fashionista who doesn’t knit” does not make sense for my yarn shop). Use this target market worksheet template to help you create your own ideal customer.

Once you’ve created your ideal person to market to, make sure you truly understand your customer’s needs and problems. How do your products fulfill and solve both? Your marketing should successfully connect your ideal customer’s problems with your products.

Engaging With Your Ideal Customer(s)

Write everything specifically to your ideal customer, from product descriptions to blog posts to emails. Use your customer’s perspective and address his/her needs and problems in your own voice.

Let’s work through an example:

Jewelry is a huge category on Etsy. Jewelry lovers have different needs (for example, metal sensitivities) and problems (for example, the perfect earrings for a special date).

How do you connect with your ideal customer who is a true fan of your particular style and construction of earrings, while addressing both her needs and problems?

1. First, make sure your photos are truly stunning, and that your text and keywords are specifically written to your customer from his/her perspective, using your authentic voice. Success Tips: Read these photography pointers and How to Write Enticing Item Descriptions.
   
   
2. How do your policies and About page measure up? Make sure both are also primed for your ideal customer. Success Tips: Read Creating Policies That Work and Tips for Your Shop’s About Page.
   
   
3. Write blog or other social media posts that engage (about how you problem-solve, behind-the-scenes glimpses, etc.), with keywords specific to your customer and links to your products. Success Tip: Read these social media tips.
   
   
4. Use your mailing list to draw people back to those blog posts as well as to your products directly.
   
   
5. Balance links to your products with valuable content.

When your potential customer turns into a real customer, start building actual relationships. Learn about their interests and needs by talking with them via your Facebook business page or at craft shows. You’ll be able to further refine your niche market while turning one-off customers into repeat buyers.

I thought there was a “trick” to finding your target market, then learned that finding my target market is just a process. Defining my ideal customer was key, as well as effectively engaging via social media.

You can find your own target market by creating and engaging with your ideal customer — I’d love to hear your insights and questions in comments.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

A Look at Amazon Handmade Section

Good Morning,

Today I would like to share a link to another blog post on the subject of Amazon's new Handmade Artisan Section / Shops.

This reviewer has first hand experience with the set up and let me tell you I am so glad I read her review first before spending hours jumping through the numerous hoops to sign up for my own shop.

Let me make it clear that her opinions match my own, I am a One Woman Circus when it comes to my business and although it looks like a wonderful and lucrative venture on the surface it is little more than a money-for-nothing generator for Amazon.  

I would read the post from beginning to end, do not skim, what this artist has to say is important.  There may be some of you out there that have the means and the way to deal with Amazon, but I wouldn't do it if they were the last vestige of the internet. 

Here is the link.

http://www.creationsfromthehart.com/amazon-review/

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

Feature Artist: Green Owl Clothing

Good Morning,

Today's featured artist is Green Owl Clothing "Encouraging the trendsetter mentality."

 

Teal LED Tutu Skirt

LED Tutus are made with an elastic waistband and a Microwire strand of battery operated LED lights inside the layers of fabric. The battery pack has an on/off switch and fits snuggly into a hidden color matched pocket so that it stays in place and out of sight. Batteries are included and can easily be replaced so that you may use your awesome tutu more than once. Our LED tutus are lightweight, cute, sexy and very comfy to wear, perfect for any event.


Size Conversion Chart

Size / Waist

X-Small 0-2 / 24"
Small 4-6 / 26"
Medium 8-10 / 28"
Large 12-14 / 30"
X-Large 16-18 / 32"+

Please email us at info @ greenowlclothing.com for Questions or Product Inquiries.


Express shipping is available for an additional fee. Fee varies on delivery location and delivery service requested. 

 

White LED Tutu Skirt

LED Tutus are made with an elastic waistband and a Microwire strand of battery operated LED lights inside the layers of fabric.

The battery pack has an on/off switch and fits snuggly into a hidden color matched pocket so that it stays in place and out of sight. Batteries are included and can easily be replaced so that you may use your awesome tutu more than once.

Our LED tutus are lightweight, cute, sexy and very comfy to wear, perfect for any event.

Please email us at info @ greenowlclothing.com for Questions or Product Inquiries. Express shipping is available for an additional fee. Fee varies on delivery location and delivery service requested.


Size Conversion Chart

Size / Waist

X-Small 0-2 / 24"
Small 4-6 / 26"
Medium 8-10 / 28"
Large 12-14 / 30"
X-Large 16-18 / 32"+

 

Strawberry Pink LED Tutu Skirt

 LED Tutus are made with an elastic waistband and a Microwire strand of battery operated LED lights inside the layers of fabric.

The battery pack has an on/off switch and fits snuggly into a hidden color matched pocket so that it stays in place and out of sight. Batteries are included and can easily be replaced so that you may use your awesome tutu more than once.

Our LED tutus are lightweight, cute, sexy and very comfy to wear, perfect for any event.


Size Conversion Chart

Size / Waist

X-Small 0-2 / 24"
Small 4-6 / 26"
Medium 8-10 / 28"
Large 12-14 / 30"
X-Large 16-18 / 32"+

Email us at info @ greenowlclothing.com for Questions or Product Inquiries. Express shipping is available for an additional fee. Fee varies on delivery location and delivery service requested.

 

Thank you for stopping in and having a look, in hope you will click through to see what else is on the virtual shelves.

 

Do you have a favorite shop or artist?  Are you an artist that has a shop?  Let us know and we'll do our best to feature you.

 

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

Featured Artist: Fallen Star Creation

Good Morning, 

The blog is back, and it is my pleasure to introduce Fallen Star Creation on etsy.

Misti writes: I'm a stay-at-home mother of 3 young children, I am finishing up college in a couple weeks (YAY!), and then hopefully going on to become an Air Force officer. But for now I try to bring in what income I am able from my Etsy shop to help support my family.

Welcome to FallenStar Creations!! Everything is handmade by me and every item can be custom made to your specifications. Please do not hesitate to ask if I can change things for you and/or to give me feedback about anything. We have recently upgraded our shop to include items other than chainmail. 

Chainmail 4-in-1 Triple Triangle Choker Necklace

 This is a choker made from 16g 1/4" bright aluminum and anodized aluminum (the colored rings). I can use other materials such as sterling silver, gold, stainless steel, niobium, copper, and real bronze and more but the price will change. Message me if you're interested in different materials.

Different colors are available, just let me know which colors you want. The third picture has the colors I currently have in stock in the second and third rows but if you want a color I don't have in stock I can get it quickly. I will also need to know how long you want this item to be and what clasp you prefer. I do have new clasps available that are not shown.

***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIALTY CLASP SUCH AS GOLD-FILLED, STERLING SILVER, ETC PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BUYING AS THEY DO COST ME MORE TO BUY AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE. 

Large and Small Owls in Chainmail

These adorable little guys make great pets! They love to travel on keychains, on necklaces, and the little guys are just small enough to even fit on a bracelet. They are also content just relaxing around the house. To have them as a keychain I charge just a little extra. Please let me know what colors you want for your owl(s) since most of them are custom ordered. I do have my little Gryffindor owl and a large purple owl that need homes and can be sent to you right away. :)

 

Chainmail Dragon Adoptions

 Who wouldn't love to adopt a dragon? We search far and wide for dragons who want to live with humans and we try to match them with their perfect owner. Let us know what color dragon you would like to adopt (including eye and claw color if there's a preference) and if you have a preference for their personality. Knowing a little bit about the new owner of a dragon will also help us find the perfect dragon so s/he will fit in perfectly. Every dragon comes with his or her own adoption certificate. The dragons are approximately eight inches and can either hold onto keychains so they can travel with you everywhere, be made into a bracelet, a necklace charm (though they would be quite big), or they can just hang out with you without a keyring.

The first two dragons are Primo, a very artistic dragon, and Simmons, who is already adopted. Primo is still looking for a home and he would be great for someone looking for some creative inspiration.

The second dragon is Jackie, the pumpkin dragon. She is ready for adoption and still looking for a home. She does have some scratches on a couple scales that are not shown in the picture. I think it gives her some personality but I can fix her up a bit and have all her scales nice and shiny again if you wish.

Other dragons featured are Tun and Jack who are both adopted. Jack is made out of galvanized steel which is why he can stand like that. Everyone else is made out of anodized aluminum.

We're on the lookout for baby dragons and larger dragons at the moment too. Hopefully they'll be found soon!

Rings are made of either anodized aluminum and/or bright aluminum but I can do other materials as well including sterling silver, niobium, gold, copper, steel and more. The price will change if a different material is requested.

***Galvanized Steel has different properties than the anodized aluminum I normally use. It is not recommended to be washed, it can have an almost "dirty" feel to it, and you MUST keep it away from heat sources or else toxic fumes come off of the zinc layer of the steel. I do not recommend a dragon made of galvanized steel for children. It also makes a stiffer dragon than anodized aluminum which lets it sit up better.*** 

 

Chainmail Byzantine Bracelet

This is my favorite weave of chainmaille called Byzantine.

Different colors are available, just let me know which colors you want. I can also do different clasps. I do have new clasps available that are not shown. The rings are made of anodized aluminum (except for the copper which is, in fact, real copper) but I can do other materials as well including sterling silver, niobium, gold, steel, and more. The price will change if a different material is requested.

I will also need to know how long you want this item to be.

This is also great as an anklet. It can be made into a necklace for an additional fee.

***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIALTY CLASP SUCH AS GOLD-FILLED, STERLING SILVER, ETC PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BUYING AS THEY DO COST ME MORE TO BUY AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE.  

 

Chainmail Helm Bracelets

 This Helm bracelet is very beautiful and can be made from a variety of colors. The first color choice is for the large rings and the second color choice is for the small connector rings. Message me if you would like a different combination of colors. The first picture shows all the colors I currently have in stock in the large rings.

I even have a set of helm bracelets for Sailor Moon!! I will add in a discount if you buy the whole set. The second picture are my Sailor Moon bracelets.

***Charms are NOT included. I can add charms for an additional fee which depend on how much the charm costs me. Please message me first for this option.***

Different colors are available, just let me know which colors you want. I can also do different clasps. The rings are made of anodized aluminum but I can do other materials as well including sterling silver, niobium, gold, steel, and more. The price will change if a different material is requested.

I will also need to know how long you want this item to be.

This is also great as an anklet. It can be made into a necklace for an additional fee.

***PLEASE NOTE: IF YOU WOULD LIKE A SPECIALTY CLASP SUCH AS GOLD-FILLED, STERLING SILVER, ETC PLEASE CONTACT ME BEFORE BUYING AS THEY DO COST ME MORE TO BUY AND UNFORTUNATELY I WILL HAVE TO INCREASE THE PRICE.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.  In hope you will take a moment to visit Fallen Star Creation and see what else is on the shelves.

Studio News - Sites, There Will Be Changes

Good Morning,

Today we have a bit of news.

It came to my attention yesterday that my computer troubles go beyond a simple corrupted path or file and that there are Gremlins afoot.  

After speaking with an Applecare representative, we traced the problem and fixed the issue, sort of.  Part of the problem according to Apple is that my machine is old, and I should get a new one.  No, that is not happening.  

However during this technical difficulty I have also found that there are other things I need to do as well.

- The Official Website will be updated and given a fresh look.  Features will still include shopping, but other things like the tutorials may be demoted to a link.

Little Shop of Artists location is closed, and during the summer months we will be more like a vendor than a boutique.  Details have not been worked out, but more on this later.

I try not to get too personal here, but occasionally a discussion is necessary.  My physical issues continue to get worse and makes it very difficult for me to do anything on a regular schedule.  I am in hope that the next course of treatment will allow me to maintain a schedule and get things back on track

There are still lots of beautiful things in the shops.  If there is a page or something you would like to see on the website, all suggestions are welcome.

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

Inspiration, Where To FInd It

Good Morning,

I am once again out of artists to feature, so instead I thought it might be fun to share a game that has been going around on Facebook, as well as being helpful to get those creative juices flowing.

Social Media is a wonderful way to share your artwork, whether it be painting, sculpting, knitting, jewelry or what have you.  It is also wonderful for introducing to yourself to things, people or places you may never have thought of venturing to or meeting.

The Facebook game consisted of liking a post by a friend who had posted a photo of an artist's work, in turn that friend would give you an artist (name) to go discover and then you would post a photo of that artist's work, when people liked the photo you shared you then gave them an artist to go discover.  The idea was to fill Facebook with art, and for the most part it worked.

The best part for me was not only discovering new artists, but finding something about the piece that drew me to it, and with that, allowing my own creativity to play off what intrigued me about the piece.

I would encourage you to cruise the web, do a little search for whatever interests you that day, seek and find out what it is that speaks to you.

Some suggestions for discovery:

Jeff Koons - He makes enormous Balloon Animals from of Stainless Steel.

Or maybe Christian Schloe

Whatever or whoever inspires you is not important, as long as you enjoy your journey and the process of creating, you're doing it right.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

What's New in The Studio - Wire / Jump Ring Selections

Good Morning, 

This weekend I spent time with the supply catalogs and would like to share some of the new materials that will be available for custom work and favorite designs.

Silver, Sterling Silver and Copper are my preferred metals of choice, but gold is requested more often than not.  We have added several sizes of manufactured rings and new wires to our inventory.

Gold (14K) Jump Rings

Now available in several sizes, these pretty rings will be used in a variety of items, including but not limited to our Chainmaille Selection of jewelry.  Look for new items soon, or ask us about a custom design order made especially for you.





Aluminum Rings:

These lovely rings also come in a variety of sizes and have been purchased specifically for Dragonscale Maille pattern bracelets.  Currently available in three colors Red, Black and Gold (Yellow), we will be adding more colors to our selection soon.  Shown here in Red.

 

Stainless Steel Rings:

We have also added Stainless Steel to our selection of wire / jump rings.  Silver in color, stainless steel is great for those that may have metal sensitivities or want a piece that can stand up to heavier wear and tear than the precious metals.  They also make great masculine designs.


A word about Gold:

Gold: All gold jewelry is plated, usually over copper or brass.  Gold is too soft to use for much of anything unless it is mixed or layered over another base metal.  "Rose Gold" is a blend of Gold and Copper, adding the copper creates that pretty red tone in the gold.  Most Gold jewelry is plated at 18K or 14K.  This means that the piece of jewelry is 75 to 58.5% Gold and 25 to 41.5% base metal.  Our jump rings are listed as 14K over brass.  Our gold wire is filled over brass.

Filled vs. Plated:  What does this mean?

Filled wire in gold or silver is simply a denser plate of gold over the base metal.  Plated wire is usually about .15mm of precious metal over a base metal wire (like a sheath),  Filled is usually .25mm of precious metal over a base metal core.

(Picture taken from the internet).

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  We hope you will stop by again and see what we have made with these new supply items.

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