Happy Birthday

Good Morning,

Today the blog would like to wish The Alchemist, Alixandra, a very Happy 50th Birthday.  We will be taking a short break to celebrate and relax.

Thank you for stopping in.

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

Monday May 13, 2013

Good Morning,

There is no blog post this morning.

The Alchemist is taking the day off.

She deserves to every now and again, and it doesn't hurt that it is her Birthday today either.

Friday Fun ~ Let's Talk Taurus

Good Morning,

Happy Friday!  Welcome to the weekend.  I think it's time to have a little fun on the blog.

As many of you know when I first began the on line portion of the business, it was devoted to all things Birthday-ish, including zodiac signs, birthstones, charms, T-shirts.  Well I am disappointed to say that went over like a ton of bricks.  However many years later, and a lot wiser, we still offer those items, but have moved the focus of the business to jewelry that everybody can associate with, feel comfortable and beautiful in and wear with pride.

Let's Talk Taurus

Taurus ~ April 19 ~ May 20 or April 21 to May 22 all depending on which book, Newspaper astrologist or other source you may read.  However the constants remain the same:

Taurus is the Celestial Winged Bull, and the second sign of the Zodiac.
Element is Earth
Planet is Venus
Stone is Emerald
Plant is Lily
Lucky Number is 6
Special Day - Friday

Taurus' are ~ Artistic, loyal, loving, sensual, steadfast, determined, practical, patient and reliable.

The Glyph ~ 

The glyph represents the head and horns of a bull or the chin and the Adam's apple (Throat) of a human. Symbolically it is a half-moon forming a cup that rests on the circle of the Sun.  It represents material power and wealth derived through the force of will.

Original Taurus Glyph, by Alixandra of The Alchemists Vessel

Birthstone Fun Facts 

May - Emerald, a beryl stone.

The Stone of Success and Love

Physical Description: A deep to light green translucent stone,

Metaphysical Properties:  Traditionally used to enhance memory

Alternatives:

Malachite: A Deep Forest Green Color

Malachite Earrings

  

Its bright green color mimics the moors and reminds one of outdoors, hills, trees, and grass.

Metaphysical Properties:  Promotes harmony and emotional balance, and reduces stress.

Interesting Fact: Used as a pigment for paint until about 1800. Malachite has been mined for about 3,000 years at Timna in Israel, also called “King Solomon’s Mines”.

Mythology: 

Zeus, the father of the Greek gods fell in love with Europa, the Phoenician princess. She was always guarded by her father’s soldiers. Zeus transformed himself into a beautiful white bull with a pair of golden horns and wandered towards her while she was plucking flowers in her garden.  (The cad!)

Europa was mesmerized by the beauty of the white bull and made him her pet. They became instant friends. One day, Europa climbed onto the back of the white bull, who making use of the opportunity, carried her away to Crete. After reaching Crete, Zeus revealed himself and later married her. According to Greek mythology, Zeus as a white bull represents the constellation Taurus.

Aventurine (Green), A Crystal.

 

Often miss-pronounced or miss-spelled "Adventurine", this beautiful crystal ranges in colors from yellow to deep green and maybe transparent or opaque.

Metaphysical Properties: Inspires joy, a positive attitude and mental clarity.

Interesting Fact: The name Aventurine is derived from the Italian 'ventura', meaning "a mistake". In the 18th a speckled glass was created by accident in Venice. The stone was named for this glass due to its appearance. Sometimes mistakenly referred to as "Indian Jade".

Famous Taurus:
Anne-Margret
Fred Astaire
Johannes Brahams
Catherine the Great
Charolette Bronte
Cher
George Clooney
Sigmund Freud
Ulysses S. Grant

Adolf Hitler
Jim Jones
Liberace
George Lucas
Karl Marx
Meatwad
Golda Meir
Ho Chi Mihn
Vladmir Nabokov
Willie Nelson
Al Pacino
Eva Peron
Robespierre
William Shakespeare
Harry S. Truman
Rudolph Valentino

Orson Wells

We have items in the shops geared toward the Taurus, like these:

Malachite and Azurite Genuine Gemstone Sterling Silver Hoop Earrings

 

Genuine Malachite with gorgeous Azurite inclusions. Azurite is a beautiful blue stone, although too soft for jewelery-making on its own, it does appear on occasion in malachite, creating a lovely speckled appearance across the stones surface. Used here to created these absolutely stunning and unique pair of Sterling Silver Gemstone Earrings.

Beautiful deep green genuine Malachite beads hang in a lovely chevron pattern from Sterling Silver Hoops. Perfect for Boho fashions, hipster, rockers and a terrific accent for Office attire. About 2" long.

Sterling Silver fully soldered hoops and genuine Malachite with Azurite inclusions beads with Sterling silver findings and accents beads. Suspended from Sterling Silver Fish Hook ear wires.

Arrives boxed ready for gift giving.

*Limited availability! Once these beauties are gone, they are gone!
 Perfect for May Birthdays!
 

Poet Chainmaille Bracelet

 

Gorgeous green, fresh and fun to wear. The stunning chainmaille bracelet is a colorful piece and just right for any occasion, a pop of color at the office, or for a casual weekend get away accessory. From the Captured Color Collection, this lovely piece is made in this year's must have fashion color. Light weight and comfortable for extended wear.

8" long including clasp. Silver plated wire and enameled aluminum jump rings are woven in an Inverted Round Maille pattern and finished with a strong magnetic clasp that holds well during everyday activities and movements.

Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving. 

These charms were purchased at Silver Enchantments of Arizona, and are used in a number of jewelry pieces from earrings to charm bracelets they may be sold in sets or individually to add to your already existing pieces.  They are tiny!  Sterling Silver, and the back is even stamped 925.  Custom creations are available.

 

We have all twelve Zodiac signs available.  The original graphic (and 11others) was available on Cafe Press, but having no store views and little interest, I have closed that shop.  Customized items are available. Please contact the shop with your requests.  All questions are answered and quotes are free.

You can find our shop at either of the sites below, or find the fan page on face book.  Did you know you can shop directly from the fan page?  You can.

 The Alchemists Vessel on
Etsy
Handmade Artists
Facebook, just click on the Etsy Showcase or Alchemists Vessel buttons under the cover photo on the page.
Official Site



Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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



*Various sources and books were used in the creation of this post.  No one source was found to be more accurate than an other, please keep in mind that the Zodiac is different for different cultures all over the world, and that information not only varies from culture to culture, but from author to author or whatever material one may use as resource or research. 

In My Studio - Fashion Colors for the Year

Good Morning,

Today I thought we might look at some of the things that drive the fashion industry, and like it or not, jewelry is part of that weird world of models and run ways.

This year the powers that be in the Fashion Industry have decided that Green is the must have color for 2013.  And not just any green, oh no, it has to be Emerald Green, a light, translucent and beautiful natural color.

Raw Emerald

Pantone, makers of Printers Ink even has a variation of the color.

The Alchemists Vessel is no stranger to this lovely color.  Not only is Emerald the owners Birthstone, it is also one of her favorite colors, and has been incorporated into some of the pieces created by Alixandra, long before the Fashion Industry said so.

Chainmaille Bracelet "Serpent's Spine" - Emerald Green Czech Glass beads and Silver plated jump rings.  By The Alchemists Vessel.

A simple Memory Wire wrap bracelet with a contrasting blue bead.

Green evokes a feeling of open spaces and large fields, a feeling of openness, calmness and peacefulness.  The color is also most famous as "The Emerald City" in the Wizard of Oz.

The color Emerald represents, harmony, wisdom and love.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

New Items - Three Necklaces

Good Morning,

Today we are showing off three of the new items currently available at The Alchemists Vessel.

Moors Malachite Azurite and Sterling Silver Necklace Set

Sterling Silver Chain, Triskelion (triple swirl) links, and Malachite with Azurite beads invoke a feeling of Ireland's emerald green and misty Moors. Matching earrings are included.  This is a One Of A Kind set.

20" total length, Sterling Silver Triskelions interrupt and link the gorgeous Malachite and Azurite beads bead joined to the chain.
Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving.

Orient Express Genuine Jade and Freshwater Pearls Necklace

Grab your train case and your favorite Agatha Christie Novel we're taking the Orient Express. There is something mysterious about Jade and Pearls, and this necklace is no exception.  Matching earrings are included.

Jade is thought to connect with energy of the body and allows it flow between the jewelry piece and the wearer.  In Asian cultures, people often give a gift of a jade piece they wear all the time. They believe that the jade has become part of them and by giving it to a family member or friend, they are giving a part of themselves.

Pearls are connected with the elements in Asian cultures and an origin myth says they are Dragon's tears.  Usually worn only by royalty, pearls are believed to connect one to the divine.  They are a symbol of peace and purity.

Suspended from Sterling Silver chain, genuine deep green Nephrite Jade (from British Columbia) and Freshwater Pearls are threaded and connected with handmade Sterling Silver headpins and jump rings.  Spring Clasp closure, may be replaced with Lobster Claw Clasp at no additional charge.
Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving.
*Freshwater Pearls - A grade, from White Lotus Farms.

Diana Sterling Silver and Genuine Amethyst Necklace

18" long this sumptuous Amethyst necklace is just right for any goddess or Queen of the Castle.  Amethyst is the Birthstone for February, and is associated with the Greek Goddess Diana.  Matching earrings come with this piece.
Sterling Silver chain has been connected with genuine Amethyst beads on sterling silver wire, accented with sterling silver caps and spacer beads.  Finished with a Sterling Silver Lobster Claw Clasp, may be changed to a spring clasp at no additional charge.
Arrives boxed, ready for gift giving.
Sold as a set.

Thank you for stopping in and having a look.

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

Studio News - Two New Rings

Good Morning,

Today I would like to share two new items available from the Blackbird Metalworks division of the Studio.

"Princess Bride" - Pink Zircon and 10K Fine White Gold Ring.

"As you wish."  The farm boy said.

Simple, elegant, feminine and very pretty.  US Size 6.5 fits most ring fingers and would make a fabulous alternative for an October Birthday or that special question one might like to ask.

Zircon is a natural mineral, it is usually found in a crystalline form and comes in a variety of colors, the most common being hyacinth (yellow), but ranges from yellows to reds.  Not to be confused with Cubic Zirconia (CZ) a synthetic material

The vintage 10K Fine White Gold band has a pretty little spiral pattern along the shank and carries up to the prongs for an attractive accent and a lovely setting.

White Gold is an alloy, it consists of yellow gold and a white metal such as palladium, zinc or nickle.  The Karat weight refers to the purity of the yellow gold.  Fine Gold can range from 900 Fine to almost pure gold, which is much too soft to make jewelry with.


Love Honor Cherish Mans Wedding Band

Strong, sturdy, individual and one of a kind.  This solid Sterling Silver ring is made with the Ceremonial Vows in mind.  The three stacked rings characterize the phrase to "Love, Honor, and Cherish" each other, and reminds the wearer to do so every day.

Cut from a single piece of Sterling Silver half-round stock, each ring is individually hand forged, crafted and shaped on a steel mandrel, soldered and polished before being stacked and connected.

Appropriate for men or women the ring stands about 1/2" tall, but is lightweight enough to wear comfortably.

The center ring is stamped Sterling. Some surface tool marks are visible in the photos but not to the naked eye, these are not imperfections, but are the sign of a quality hand-crafted item.

Thank you for stopping by and having a look.  We hope we have inspired you to take a look at what else we have in the shop.

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

Find us on Facebook - Blackbird Metalworks

Five Great Gifts To Give - List 4

Good Morning,

If you're wondering why this is List 4 and not 5, it is because there was no post on January 1, 2013.

This morning, as usual we have five items that would make great gifts.  Valentine's Day, Weddings, Anniversary, Birthday.  Any of these items below would make a wonderful present, or you could always contact the artists and ask for something special.  They like to do that.

From: I Paint It Pretty

Painted Glass Jar/ Bowl With Lid

 

Description: This is a small round glass jar/ candy dish/ potpourri holder that has been painted with calypso blue and white flowers. There are two-toned leaves in vibrant greens that make this a real eye catcher. The jar has a lid so this would make a great sugar or sugar substitute bowl. It can be used as a candy jar or to hold potpourri. Or maybe on your dresser to hold small items. Put it where ever you'd like to add a little color.
5 in tall.

From: Jackie Guttuso Designs

Tree art, Original, Tree nursery art, Forest nursery art, Woodland nursery art, Modern tree art, Modern nursery art

 

This whimsical collage of a tree would be look great in any room but it would look especially nice in a forest or woodland themed nursery. It would also make a great baby shower gift.
It was created with acrylic paint on professional grade heavy watercolor paper.

It has white border,approximately 1/8". It comes unframed and unmatted.  View photo samples for framing suggestions.

Tea art collage, Original, Tea wall art, Tea cup art, Kitchen art, Kitchen collage, Original kitchen art, Affordable original art

 

This 5 x 7 tea collage is richly colored and textured and is an original, one of a kind piece. It was created with acrylic paint on professional grade heavy watercolor paper. It would make a unique gift for the tea lover or would look great hanging in the kitchen. I created it with lots of layers of color so that it will go with many different colors. It comes unframed and unmatted but you can view framing suggestions in the photos above.

Visit my shop to see other original kitchen collage art as well as original, whimsical kids art and ready to hang gallery wrap giclee prints and canvas giclee prints:


From: Sues Arts
  
Adjustable ring, Locket ring, picture ring, large ring, Hamsa ring, Antique bronze ring, Vintage ring, Metal ring

 

SOLD SEPARATELY BY #

Gorgeously beautiful, unique, charming and one of a kind locket ring.

Pictures can be added on each side for an additional fee of $5.
Just Email the photo you'd like me to insert and I'll send you a picture for your approval before to make sure you're happy with results before finalizing.

CUSTOM ORDERS WELCOME

DELIVERED IN A GIFT BAG

Horseshoe charm, horse shoe charm, Good fortune charm bracelet, Charm bracelet

 

EACH BRACELET IS SOLD SEPARATELY SHOWING COLORS AVAILABLE

Beautiful horseshoe bracelet in antique bronze.

Many color stones to choose from

Please let me know which one you like since sold separately.

Delivered in a gift bag

Custom orders welcome

Thank you for stopping in and having a read.  We hope we have inspired you to take a look at some of the shops and other items they have on offer.

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