Finally getting somewhere

I am finally getting to the point that I can put some of the Vessels on the Web Site and offer them for purchase within the next few days. I have figured out a pricing system that is fair and reasonable for these pieces. Turned out to be a difficult process as they will end up varying quite dramatically from each other as I plan to eventually come out with a pretty vast selection. This has taken months and months to get them to this stage and I am very excited about sharing them. This image shown is the back of a moon vessel. The quote inside reads "On gossamer nights when the moon is low and stars in the mist are hiding, you may see the fairies riding".

The shell must break ...

The quote inside this egg reads "The shell must break before the bird can fly". Unfortunately, the scans don't show the contents of the egg very clearly. A photo would be so much better, but I can't take a photograph to save my life. I have to rely on scans for virtually everything. I just loathe taking photos. Why is it that what you see is NEVER what you get? I have no patience for trying to adjust camera settings to trick the camera into taking a photo of what I am actually seeing or adjust the lighting so that the camera picks it up correctly. As I said I have no patience for it at all. If I could afford it I would most definitely hire a professional photographer, so until that time I will continue to cram everything in the scanner. But, enough of my venting my frustrations .... The egg is 1 3/4" X 1 1/4", depth is a little more than 1/2 an inch. The overall size (not including the chain) is 2 1/2" X 4". Inside the egg are very small clear glass balls, the tiniest gold glass balls ever and a white dove. I am just in love with the bird nest and eggs charm hanging at the bottom. I am working feverishly to get these on the website and make them available for purchase. I was hoping to get to that point by Thanksgiving, but I don't know if I can do it.

Still experimenting

Still trying to figure out a name and logo for these "vessels" that I am working on. I'm afraid the design is beginning to get a bit too fussy. I should work on keeping it more simple. In the mean time it is rather fun to experiment with all this.

Swirly journal pages

This is from the Altered Renaissance Journal. The rest of the journal can be viewed here-

http://www.IngridDijkers.com/galleryaltbookspage10.html

Just experimenting

I'm just experimenting a bit, but I like this better than the last one. The lettering was too similar to the rest of the swirls and didn't stand out enough. Also, the white was a bit stark (although, this may now be a bit too dark) and I am having issues with the word "journey". The meaning behind it is great, but it seems to be overused and is stamped on everything lately. Spent half the evening last night digging through books looking for descriptive names and definitions with my sister. "Reliquaries" is actually a more appropriate term for what I am working on at the moment. As I said, I am just exploring possibilities right now, everything could (and probably will) change.

Journey Vessels Logo

Welp, I still haven't decided if this is what I want to call these vessels, but I thought I should at least start thinking about a style I want to work with for the logo. I was telling my sister last night that I always would go running to my Father to design me a new logo or header for something. She said she figured I would have to learn to do it on my own from now on. This is my first attempt and I'm thinking it would have met with his approval.

But one moon

Today I made my first Moon vessel and am rather pleased with how it came out. I need to run out to the Wholesale house and get more of the chain necklaces. I rather like this chain, very simple and doesn't take away from the work. So. seeing as I am out of chain right now, this is probably a good opportunity to get working on a logo or header for these. I also have to start working on display and packaging. I suppose the display aspect can wait as I really am not planning on doing any kind of fair or show before the Renaissance Festival next season. The moon is 1 1/4" across and a bit less than 3/4" deep. These images are not very clear, but the little treasures inside the vessels are floating around loosely and you have to move them around in order to read the message inside.The quote inside the moon reads: The moon looks upon many night flowers; the night flowers see but one moon. -Jean Ingelow-

Everything from an egg

Opened up the kiln early this morn- ing, so excited to get out all the new "parts" I have been working on. This is the first of the "Vessels for the Journey" pieces I made. Had a heck of a time getting the perfect shade of Robin egg blue. Fortunately, I have a robin egg I found over the summer that I had saved especially for this project to match the color. Was very helpful as an aid for color matching. This is merely the egg without any of the added bling. I just love the simplicity of it. I will of course make a more elaborate version with additional dangley charms and beads. In the glass encased back of the egg I added the quote "Ex ovo omnia" by William Harvey. Translated from Latin "Everything from an egg". I also fired many parts for other shapes, including a moon, heart, Venus of Willendorf, adult face, and an infant face. I have ideas for many other shapes, but this is what I am starting with. Has taken a VERY long time to get this project to this point. I can't wait to get to work on the rest of them. The size of the egg is 1 1/8" X 1 3/4" and almost 1/2" deep.