Welcome to my monthly feature – ‘Name that Vase’. Since this month contains that spooky holiday with carved pumpkins and candy known as Halloween, this month I am asking you to put a spooky twist on your name ideas and associated writing.
For those who are new to this feature, ‘Name that Vase’ is where you can suggest a name, create a story, poem or prose for this raku pottery vase. Consider this your chance to be inspired, a writing prompt or a creative cue. You can check out a ‘Name that Vase’ post to see how it works, or if you are feeling nostalgic, you can check out the first ever ‘Name that Vase’ post that started what has now become a monthly tradition for our blog and readers.
October’s Nameless Vase. What name and or story will you come up with?
On Halloween, we will announce the name and writing for this now nameless vase! We look forward to seeing what everyone comes up with! So feel free to add your contribution in the comments below! You can check out more vase stories here by clicking on the images of the raku vases on the page. we are also having a fall sale on our pieces. You can check out the details of that sale here.
Aliens featured prominently in September’s Name that Vase!
There were many great entries for September’s ‘Name that Vase’ post! Many of you saw eyes, aliens, blood, thunder and astronomical phenomena. You have all made my choice very difficult in selecting a name as there were so many great suggestions and pieces of writing. Thank you all who participated!
You can also see more images of the raku pottery vase ‘Vesta’ here!
Maybe it was because my art show ‘Myth of Family’ was on for the month of September, because our winner for the month of September referenced Vesta in her submission, which would have fit right into the show. Antonia Sara Zenkevitch was our winner with the name ‘Vesta’ (godess of fire, hearth and home) for the vase and this beautiful poem below. You can check out more of her wonderful writing and her beautiful website here.
I hold a flame inside my womb,
Electric, Cinnabar flight rouge,
Mercurial, gaseous blue
Where flowers may bloom;
I am the elements combined;
Fire in water, wind and time,
Earth in human, all entwined,
I am the blaze that never burns,
I am the unseen hand that turns,
Where I dwell; hold; keep; sojourn;
You will know this space as home.
by: Antonia Sara Zenkevitch

I look forward to seeing what spooktacular names and writing everyone comes up for October’s ‘Name that Vase’!
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Those are great vases. For that October vase, I’d say a good name for it would be Sylvain.
The October vase reminds me of an impressionist painting so I think I’ll name it rainy daydream
Shoot, looks like I missed out this round. I’ll chime in next time. It’s beautiful!
Hi! This is the post for the October vase so you most definitely did not miss out! Please participate if it grabs you!
For the October vase I’d say rainy day because it reminds me of an impressionist painting
Dig the piece much. Looking-Glass House is what springs to mind. It’s reflectiveness seems mesmerizing and like it slightly skews the reflection itself. Also, Alice Through the Looking Glass is a favorite tale of mine. Glad you make and share.
Eternity seems to me a good name for this vase. When I googled its image, the most common description that showed up was of a cremation urn. And I admit that Alien for the previous vase seems to be appropriate since it was the first name that surged to me too.
I was inspired to write about the first vase, which does look like an alien. My Halloween inspired poem:
Trick or Treat
Emerald goblin green Strangely surreal serene Drifting swirling algae Mermaid siren screams Underwater dreams. Lovely fins cobwebbing Blue hues muted bold Hidden autumn gold Deep water drawn abyss Where Loch Ness creatures live Rising from the lagoon’s silent surface Too artful to be frightening Edvard Munch-like Mischievous imp Frozen open mouth Shouting Trick or Treat! 🎃👽👻
I thought I would write a poem. The name is from my imagination.
Green witch cauldron?
A place for spirits to mix.
Djinn and tonic,
Colours flow,
What name have I
Metallic and fine?
Ceramic art,
Fire’s spark.
My name you ask?
Meranda,
Dark
Strong
Art.
The Abysmal Orb. Once you go in, down, down, down you go. The chance of finding right way up & out, quite slim. Beautiful, calm, and frightening. Enchanting to the end.
Thank you for your naming suggestion 😉 For some reason it reminded me of the song ring of fire by Johnny Cash 😉 I hope you are having a wonderful week 😉
The green vase on the far left looks exactly like The creature from the black lagoon
haha! I can see that for sure! You are right and that is fitting for a Halloween/October vase. I hope you are having a great week!
beautiful otherworldly pieces! celestial
Thank you so very much for your kind words and comments! I hope you are having a fantastic week!
wow, beautiful.
Thank you so much for your very kind comment! I hope you are having a wonderful week so far 😉
I have an idea for a future post and spent a few hours today trying to come up with an image for it. That was frustrating – I had an idea what I wanted to do, but no clue how to do it! The rest of my week has been good, but probably not as productive as yours!
That can be frustrating when you are trying to find something you need for a post and come up empty. Happens to the best and rest of us 😉 Hopefully you will be able to sort something out that you are satisfied with.
I wanted a graphic with some specific text on it. Furthermore, I wanted the text to go along a curve, not a horizontal line. I have a copy of Paintshop Pro, but have never used it to its full potential. A learning curve!
You’ll see the result next week (probably) 🙂
The pumkin that got away
He grew legs and ran from the knife
only to trip and split open…
halloween is not about happy endings
Beautiful vase 🙂
Thank you for your name idea and explanation. You made me smile this afternoon 😉 I hope you are having a spectacular week so far!
my pleasure
Blue Goddess
I am thinking Neptune’s World for your October’s Nameless Vase. I will have to see if a story surfaces from that.
Thank you for your name idea, and if a story percolates for you, please do add it 😉 I hope you are having a wonderful week 😉
Thank you for sharing this 😉
It’s beauty is magical. I named the vase Metallica and posted a poem, as well – https://amanpan.blog/2019/10/07/overwrought-with-darkness/
Your poem was magical for me to read. I think it put me under a spell 😉 I always love your writing, so crisp, well thought out and powerful!
Thank you for your very kind comment. 😉
How about “Gula” the Latin(?) term for gluttony- or maybe that’s the Dutch name for gluttony- anyway it’s tubby and green. Goblin I think would also work- maybe “Nilbog “ like in that really campy goblins movie.
Thanks for sharing your ideas. I totally see the gluttony and goblin reference. Now that I am thinking on those lines it reminds me a bit of Slimer from original Ghostbusters movie fame! I hope this week is going fantastic for you so far!
Yeah Slimer would work to!
This vase took me to the woods…I love the woods and I love this piece!
Mood Moss
I pick you up
Your smoothness
Evades my thoughts.
All there is, is you.
Pinched between the tips of my fingers,
Dripping and wanting
All of me.
Tucked in my pocket,
I save you for later.
Thank you for your kind words. I love that this vase took you to the woods and I can totally see it.
I love your writing, it is so clever and flows so well, so succinct yet powerful. Thank you for sharing it!
I hope you are having a great week filled with beautiful coincidences 😉
You are more than welcome :). Your description of my writing humbles me. Thank you so very much! I love that you provide a place for everyone to share their magnificent thoughts. You are a source of open beauty. The fall colors are starting to show themselves here, hopefully you are getting to enjoy them where you are too!!
October
“Tender Contour”
Dancing amid shadows,
My paramour, my beauty, my love,
Beholden to you.
Your graceful and mysterious figure morphs from every viewpoint, making glad my heart, harmonizing my soul.
Splendid Amour.
Wow! Your words dance in the comment section and are very powerful in the love and harmony they convey. They feel strong and tender at the same time.
I hope your week is going great so far!
Thank you! I love your work. ❤️ Hope all is going great for you too. 😊
Octobers vase, I would name Venus as it resembles the planet. I missed the Sept vase….it looks like a Sleestak from Land of The Lost, LOL!
Thank you for participating and your name idea! Loved that you think the September vase looks like a Sleestak. I can totally see that. Hope you are well and having a wonderful week 😉
What about “Bottled Earth?”
Thank you so much for your name suggestion. I really like your idea, it seems to be a good fit for the vase 😉 Hope you are well.
While I’m not a good vase namer, I just wanted to thank you for the Vesta poem. What a beautiful tribute to a goddess who goes by many names, and it sure fits the vase you paired it with. Anyway, if I owned this month’s vase, I’d probably call it Gaia’s Memories, because it looks like you can see deep into our planet’s past in the depths of the glaze.
Thank you so much Sue Ann for your kind words. I did not write the Vesta poem, it was written by one of our very talented readers 😉 I love your suggestion and the points you reference for October’s piece. It fits nicely with the vase, and it is symbiotic with the theme of my next show 😉 I hope you are doing well!
Cool idea! Dig the pottery.
Thank you so much for taking the time to comment. I hope you are having a great weekend!
Here is my entry for the name!
Witch’s Elixer
snip snap
plink plop
runny mead down the sides
smells, aromas
giving off a honeydew scent
mixed with death
rosemary and other
spices from a faraway land
stirred in, creating
more
snip snap
plink plop
a cackle
and crow’s feet
all the while
wondering at the
power of the
witch’s elixer
Hauntingly rhythmic! This is a wonderful verse for this Halloween ‘spooky’ vase! Thanks so much for submitting it! I hope your week is off to a great start!
Thanks! I am really getting in the spooly vibes this year so it was lots of fun creating this poem!!
I took some spooky pictures last night for when I do the write up for this vase and they pair so well with the vase! You will see them soon 😉
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Just, and just only wonderful ! Wonderful art !
Shared to my social, dear ! And i have to create a Magazine to flip your art into !
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__ @Outosego | Publisher at Flipboard and Flipboard #NYC
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Thank you for your very kind comment and for sharing this post! It means so much to be shared on your beautiful website! I hope you are having a wonderful week!
You’ re welcome, dear. Take care and enjoy !
Samhain-that time of year in Celtic mythology when the veil bettween the living and the dead thins