Monthly Archives: June 2012

West London based author, E L James, a working mother of two has been breaking records with her first novel ‘Fifty Shades of Grey’, followed by ‘Fifty Shades Darker’ and ‘Fifty Shades Freed’.

It has surpassed J K Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter’ as the fastest selling paperback of all time in the UK, topping the best sellers lists in the US and around the world, with book rights sold in 37 countries!

The ‘Fifty Shades’ trilogy is based upon the unlikely and unconventional relationship between Anastasia Steele, an innocent, uncorrupted college graduate suffering with low self-esteem and Christian Grey, a young over controlling, enigmatic, billionaire entrepreneur who is tormented by the demons of his past.

Without giving too much away to those who haven’t read the trilogy (is there anyone left in the world?), Ana is enticed by Grey’s alternative lifestyle where there are a lot of erotic, sexually explicit scenes featuring elements of BDSM which will leave you obsessed and unable to put the books down. I’m sure most women who are currently reading or have finished the trilogy find themselves wanting to be Grey’s submissive and secretly wanting their partner, husband or whoever to use that trademark silver tie on them and be taken to the ‘red room of pain’!

With rumours of a film and merchandising rights already sold in the UK, we are sure that jewellery, underwear/nightwear and perfume etc. will be everywhere very soon! Until then why not live out your own fifty shades fantasy with our range of Alchemy ties for the men (AHTMT1,2 &3) and wear your own masks of mystery with our very own Venetian Mask pendant (P591) and Ring (R168).

You can order online by visiting our approved list of dealers at http://www.alchemyengland.com/buy

An antique vampire-hunting kit, auctioned by the English firm Tennants last weekend easily exceeded estimates when it sold for £7,500 (around $11,500 or 9,500 Euros). Consisting of a mahogany case containing such slaying staples as a crucifix, stakes, a pistol and a rosary, the auctioneer’s valuer, Oonagh Drage, observed that it was “probably a novelty thing. It’s playing to people’s superstitions.” Similar kits have sporadically surfaced for sale at auction houses since the 1970s, and now occasionally appear on online bidding sites, but remain controversial.

While few experts believe that they were ever truly sold in the 1800s to protect travellers from the undead, some, like Ms Drage, suggest that they might have been marketed as Victorian Gothic novelties. Several well-informed sceptics – like Jonathan Ferguson, curator of firearms at the Leeds Royal Armouries – have cast doubt on the idea that any of the vampire-hunting kits are authentic antiques. Yet it was Mr Ferguson who made the winning bid on the museum’s behalf. “We’ve yet to establish a firm date for our kit, but we know it will attract a lot of interest from our museum visitors”, he said.

While here at Alchemy we wouldn’t like to be seen as promoting vampire-hunting – some of our best friends are undead – anybody looking to sport a crucifix motif is spoilt for choice by our range, featuring everything from the subtle Pugin’s Cross ring to the flamboyance of the Torquemada Cross-Tegere earring. Dedicated foes of the denizens of darkness might also like to consider the Eschat Pinn or Death of a Vampire – two pendants with stake motifs that should show even the bloodthirstiest ghouls that you mean business…

Last night, London was treated to the gala premiere of The Amazing Spider-Man – the latest movie about the Marvel Comics superhero. A few hours ago the first reviews started appearing online and so far, there’s been a great response from the critics – The Telegraph are even calling it: “Twilight in spandex”.

Described as a “reboot” of Sam Raimi’s trilogy and filmed in 3D to enhance all those edge of your seat’ vertigo-inducing shots, The Amazing Spider-Man focuses on lead character Peter Parker’s coming of age. The Social Network’s Andrew Garfield plays the webbed character that’s been modernised from comic book geek to a modern teenager and direction comes from music video auteur Marc Webb.

For those who weren’t lucky enough to get to the premiere (including us!) there’s just a few more weeks to wait until the movie is officially released in the UK on 3 July. In the meantime, you can develop your very own spidey style with Alchemy’s arachnophiliac range of jewellery.

From our subtle Black Widow studs [E.169] to the more elaborate Art Deco-inspired Incy Wincy Forme necklace [P626] that’s studded with two dozen Swarovski crystals, there’s something for all fans of the eight-legged creatures!

Metal Hammer’s Golden Gods awards night returned this Monday, celebrating the best of Metal from the last 12 months! The demonic Golden Gods made right here at the Alchemy Studios, has proven to be a massive hit with both the exciting newcomers and long-standing legends at Metal Hammer magazine’s annual awards. Lifted high by the likes of Slipknot and Saxon and lauded as ‘cute’ by none other than Def Leppard frontman Joe Elliot, our accolade of iconic design is fast becoming an object of desire for some of metal’s finest. Hosted the day after Download’s 10th anniversary festival, there was a special edition to this years ceremony with an award for the Best Download Moment ever!

Awarded to Slipknot for their epic headline set of 2009, frontman Corey Taylor was presented on stage at Download last week by Metal Hammer editor Alexander Milas and Download organiser Andy Copping. As you can see from the video below, things got pretty emotional.

Alchemy1977 have teamed up with Fantom online cards to create a new online gothic card game – Skullquest. Trade and collect 48 quest cards, from skulls and dragons to witches and wizards. Collect all the quest cards and you are in with a chance of winning the Skull Cup – a finely crafted, limitedly available goblet!

Collect and connect with other Alchemy Skullquest players from across the globe and delve deeper into the Alchemy Gothic world. Fantom is a relatively new game boasting a new slant at traditional card games by creating an online world around them.

It is easy and free to join, fun to play and there are prizes that are available for many. But, only one of the true bloodline will win the Skullcup!

Start your quest here: http://alchemy.fantom.tv/