Alchemy Stones 2023 Holiday Show Schedule!

Here's our current schedule of 2023 Holiday Fairs and Festivals we will be attending with Alchemy Stones (and sometimes Faery Howses), and we hope you'll come by and visit us in person!

November 10-12th: Port Gamble Ghost Conference

Port Gamble, Washington

December 1st-2nd: Festival of Lights

Unity Spiritual Center, Port Townsend, Washington

December 9th-10th: Chimacum Arts & Crafts Fair

Chimacum High School, Chimacum, Washington

December 17th: Last Minute Holiday Fair

Palindrome, Port Townsend, Washington

We'd love to see you in person, and Alchemy Stones are definitely best seen in physical space where you can actually pick them up and have a closer look. We will have lots of new designs for you, for Holiday giftgiving!

Otherwise, Alchemy Stones are always available through our Etsy shop — open 24/7! — just click the link below, or scan the QR code with your phone!

Alchemy Stones Etsy Shop

Other online stores:

Alchemy Stones on eBay

Alchemy Stones on Amazon

Alchemy Stones on Facebook Marketplace

We look forward to seeing you, this holiday season!

New Category of "Petite" Alchemy Stones now on Etsy!

When we take Alchemy Stones to events and shows, the most popular thing on offer are usually our "petite" stones.

Not surprising, as they are still entirely hand made, but they are also a "quick and easy gift" between $6.00 and $10.00.

So far, I have not had any of the petite stones in the online shops, primarily because I don't keep a detailed inventory of them and when shopping online, we usually want "the one in the picture."

Given the time needed for individual photography, photo processing and listing a single item for sale, I have not previously explored this particular avenue.

However, I also know that "times are tough" for many folks and these are our most popular stones... so I have now created a new "Category" in the Etsy shop where you can find individually painted "Petite" Alchemy Stones, priced at just $9.00 each... and it's just in time for Mother's Day!

These are only available online, and are actually a little more complex than the stones we offer at outside events!

Meanwhile, I also have plans to find a way to create something similar for small Chakra Stones, which are also very popular at shows.

Stay tuned!

10th Anniversary and Valentine's Day Special Offer!

As mentioned a few weeks ago, January 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of Alchemy Stones “formally” becoming a thing. Yes, I have been painting mandalas on stones for longer than that, but prior to 2013, it was just "an occasional hobby."

As a special Thank You to the many who have supported, encouraged and otherwise been part of the Alchemy Stones journey, we’ve created an Anniversary/Valentine’s Day offer: 

Visit the Etsy Alchemy Stones shop and use the coupon code “23IN23” when checking out and get 23% off your purchase! And if you spend $35 or more, you also get FREE SHIPPING (USA only)!

The Etsy store is freshly loaded with many previously unseen stones I painted during the “Pandemic Period” during which we didn’t go to shows, including heart stones, pendants, sets and much much more… with new items being added daily!

But don’t wait too long! Everything IS one-of-a-kind, and the offer expires at midnight on Valentine’s Day, February 14th!

Happy New Year 2023!

Well, the calendar page has flippped over to a new year again — and now we write 2023!

Happy New Year to everyone who has been part of the journey, and who has supported Alchemy Stones over the years!

2022 was a year of "rebuilding" for us, primarily in the form of our return to doing outside face-to-face shows and festivals. Due to the pandemic, we did not attend any in-person events between December 2019 and July 2022.

It was really nice to feel that it was "Safe to come out and play again!"

It was also lovely to see some old familiar faces, as well as to make new friends! Hopefully 2023 will allow us to continue taking Alchemy Stones to shows so we can meet you all in person. 

Naturally, we still rely substantially on the Alchemy Stones online shops, in particular on eBay, Etsy and Amazon Handmade. Yes, you can buy Alchemy Stones on Amazon!

Wishing everyone a beautiful and prosperous 2023!

Showtime Again! Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair 2022

And so, we have come to the final event of 2022, as well as one of our favorites: The annual Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair!

It was my intention to post well in advance of the show, but "the usual" happened: We get really busy ahead of events, so we get caught up in making items rather than writing blog posts.

So instead we'll share a few impressions from the show... which also capped off our first year "back" on the show circuit after what we now think of as "The Covid Years."

All in all, it was a good show, and we were happy to re-meet some old familiar faces, as well as make some new friends! There's little doubt that many people are experiencing challenging economic times, and it was primarily "the little things" that were the hot sellers. 

Of course, every show has its own unique character!

Somewhat noticeable — on a more personal level — is the fact that the whole "Community Rocks" craze that took off around 2016 or so has somewhat died down. 

When I originally started painting Alchemy Stones (almost 15 years ago!), it was a very esoteric artform and there were only a few dozen other people in the US that I was aware of doing it. 

The whole landscape changed with Community Rocks projects springing up in every town across the nation and abroad... and suddenly "painted rocks" became quite commonplace.

It seems like Alchemy Stones have now become more "interesting" and unique again... and I'm happy about that!

Meanwhile, Sarah's Faery Howses and Alchemy Stones are becoming more and more integrated as a "joint but individual" venture. Not so long ago, we acquired the domain "Sticks and Stones" which will take over as the "umbrella" over our creative projects... but Alchemy Stones and Faery Howses will continue to be their own "brands," as well. 

Like many things, it'll be a slow and gradual process to meld it all together!

We'll try to post updates as we progress, but Alchemy Stones and Faery Howses are only part of our creative lives, so it'll take time!

As always, we are very grateful to the organizers of the Chimacum Arts and Crafts Fair who always put on a great event! What was particularly nice about this year's event was that we are now able to set up on Friday evening, which is a lot better than having to get up and put together a booth at oh-dark-thirty in the morning!

Last but not least, thanks to the many who came by and visited the booth during the two days of the show! We hope to see you again at future events, or via our online stores!

Christmas in July: First Show in 2 1/2 Years!

We usually take Alchemy Stones to a number of fairs, shows and festivals every year. It's a great way for us to meet people, and for folks to actually see (and touch!) the stones in person!

Because of the Pandemic and the attendant health risks, there pretty much were no shows during 2020 and 2021. All we ended up with was a list of cancellations, and then an empty events calendar.

Of course, that's perfectly understandable: a large group of people attending a show in an enclosed space would pretty much have been what they label a "superspreader event."

So we stayed home and did our best to share Alchemy Stones online.

The opportunity to finally "get back on the show circuit" presented itself here in July, when our local Unity Spiritual Center had their first event after the pandemic... a "Christmas in July" arts and crafts sale, featuring primarily local artisans.

It was nice to get back out, and we enjoyed a very nice event!

It was also the first time the growing collaboration between Sarah's "Faery Howses" and my own Alchemy Stones came together.

From this point forward, you can always expect to see the two quite different — but complementary — creative endeavors side-by-side, when we are doing outside shows!

Our next major show will be one of the biggest on our calendar: "Crafts by the Dock" here in Port Townsend in September. It's one of the longest running events in our area, and runs in tandem with the annual Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival, which draws tens of thousands of visitors to our town, every year.

As always, thanks for stopping by, and we hope to see you at the next event! In the meantime, why not visit one of our online shops to see the latest Alchemy Stones and Faery Howses?

Happy New Year 2022!

 Everyone here at Alchemy Stones — that would be myself, Sarah and the ever-helpful studio cat Shadow — would like to wish everyone a very Happy New Year!

Let us hope this coming year is a good one for all of us!

2021 was not the busiest year in our history, largely because the ongoing pandemic situation in the world kept us from attending outside shows in person. We did our best with online sales, but it's just not quite the same as allowing people to actually hold an Alchemy Stone in their hands.

We plan to develop our online presence further in 2022, as it does not look like the world situation is going to change much.

In the meantime, if you happen to be one of the fortunate people who now owns an Alchemy Stone whose back number begins with AS*21, you own a piece from the smallest production year we have had!

Over the next 3-4 weeks, I shall be working to add "Heart Stones" to the online stores in time for Valentine's Day! 

In the meantime, a heartfelt "thank you" for your support over the years!

Alchemy Stones + the 2021 Labyrinth Society (Virtual) Gathering

This coming weekend — October 23-24 — is the annual Gathering of The Labyrinth Society (TLS), and Alchemy Stones is pleased to be part of the Gathering! 

Normally, these gatherings take place in physical space, but for "obvious reasons" this year's gathering will be virtual. Alchemy Stones will participate via a "Virtual Table" in the Vendor Marketplace that's part the TLS "World" on the Topia web site.

If you find yourself here via a link from TLS, Welcome!

For your convenience, here's a list of our own "Alchemy Stones Virtual Shops" around the web:

Alchemy Stones on Etsy

Alchemy Stones on eBay

Alchemy Stones at the Amazon Handmade Marketplace

Alchemy Stones at the Facebook Marketplace

If you are a TLS member, you can also find me "live" at the Alchemy Stones "Virtual Table" in the main TLS Topia World! I can "show things for the camera" and also show you some of the smaller stones ($4 to $10 each) that are not in the online shops!

Alchemy Stones are not only pretty to look at, they are also excellent meditation objects to hold while walking a labyrinth. In addition, many people like to leave one of our "petite" stones as a "gratitude offering" when walking a labyrinth in a public place!

The most recent thing we have added to the world of Alchemy Stones is wearable! Very few beach stones are flat, thin and light enough that they can be drilled to be used as pendants, but a limited selection is now available through the Etsy shop — check it out!

Thanks for your continued interest in Alchemy Stones — lots more to come, before the holidays!

All the best, Peter & Sarah

Visit our "Other" Blog on the Hive Social Content Network!

Today, we'd like to take a bit of a "sidetrack" to introduce everyone to our "other" blog, which is part of the Hive Social content universe!

The purpose of this post is actually two-fold: 

First, we'd like to let you know about another venue where you can read more about Alchemy Stones: this "alternative" blog focuses more on the making of individual stones, as well as on greater "philosophical" topics in the world of art and creativity.

Second, we're also extending an invitation to fellow artists and readers alike to consider getting involved in a unique but rapidly growing niche within the Social Web.

You can find our other blog here: Alchemy Stones on Hive (opens in a new tab/window).

A bit more background and explanation:

Alchemy Stones originally got involved with the Hive Social Ecosystem almost three years ago. Whereas Hive is similar to a Facebook in some ways, it is also a little "different" because it's not run by a "company;" it operates via the consensus and creative efforts of its users and your content can't be banned, censored, taken down or demonetized. 

What's more, when you post content to Hive, you also have the opportunity to earn rewards for your efforts, in the form of the network's native cryptocurrency, "Hive." 

No, this is not some new-fangled, fringe-dwelling venue... Hive first saw the light of day in mid-2016 and has somewhat in excess of two million users. 

So, if you're a blogger, writer, poet, artist, vlogger, musician, gamer or other creative content wizard, why not come join us? We mostly create our posts using a very user-friendly interface called "PeakD," which is part of this next generation of social content where YOU retain ownership and control, so do stop by and learn more about Hive and make an account! 

At least, check it out! The above is a "referral" link, but we don't get anything for putting it here, and you won't get any email or sales pitches... if you use it, it simply allows us to know that you came from our web site, so we can find you and welcome you in person!

Alchemy Stones for the Holidays! Where to Find Them...

As the 2020 Holiday Season draws closer, most of us face the unusual situation that we don't get to "go places" to shop for unique gifts, the way we have in years past.

Similarly, we have been taking Alchemy Stones "on the road" to Holiday Arts and Crafts Fairs for many years, but we don't get to do so this year because all our regular show venues have sadly been canceled, meaning that we have not only lost much of our holiday business, but we are going to miss the opportunity to meet up with a lot of old friends!

However, there are still many ways to buy Alchemy Stones from our online stores, and we have an exceptional selection this year... so we invite you to visit one — or all — our online shops! Although I keep adding new Stones as quickly as they become ready, let's not forget that they are all entirely done by hand, so there's a limit to how many I can paint!

Anyway, thanks in advance for having a look, and for "buying handmade" during these difficult times!

Alchemy Stones Etsy Shop

Lots of new designs in the Etsy Shop, and new items being added daily. There's a Holiday Special of FREE SHIPPING (USA only) on all orders totaling $35.00 or more, which will be calculated automatically when you check out.

Alchemy Stones eBay Shop

Also an extensive selection in the eBay store, and more being added daily. If you're looking for something spectacular and impressive, most of the "big" stones from my "Signature Collection" can be found in the eBay store. Check it out!

Alchemy Stones on Facebook

With Covid-19 keeping many of us at home, people are spending more time than ever with social media, and particularly Facebook. To make things easier, we now have an integrated shop on our Facebook page, so you can shop Alchemy Stones without even leaving Facebook. It's a smaller selection than the other two shops, but it's growing. Have a look!

"Sun Stones" are a new type of design from this fall.

Please note that each shop carries a unique selection. 

Until it's "safe" to go out again, we will continue to rely entirely on online sales; unfortunately, we no longer have the stones in any outside retail locations.

If you're not in the market for a stone right now, but would still like to support independent art and artists, please consider becoming a "Patron" of Alchemy Stones via our Patreon appeal, for as little as $3.00. All support is gratefully accepted, and will help us keep moving forward!

Visit the Alchemy Stones Patreon page

A heartfelt "Thank You" for your interest in Alchemy Stones, and please to have a Happy (and safe!) Holiday Season!