We were transported via a tunnel deep below the sea to another land, one where magical beasts appeared as visions for one night only. Transported back in time amidst the grand chambers and ballroom of Concert Noble in Brussels (a palace of a place commissioned by Leopold II in 1873 and decorated in Louis XVI style), to an age that didn’t exist – the world of The Swan Princess.

Something really exciting has come to London’s V&A Museum. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty explores the work of one of Britain’s most influential modern Gothic fashion designers and it’s the biggest one so far. What’s more, its been arranged in partnership with Swarovski – the company who create the exquisite stones that accent Alchemy’s sparkling jewellery and glassware ranges.

Solar Eclipse 1999 by Luc Viatour (www.Lucnix.be)

This week people in the UK and parts of Europe will see their most spectacular solar eclipse since August 1999.

The Alchemist interviews Natasha Scharf, author of ‘The Art of Gothic’: Part 2.

In which Natasha, already relaxed and comfortable with her erudite responses to the stimulating, though more rudimentary questions asked of her so far, is taxed a little further for her opinions with some slightly more sensitive enquiries…

The Alchemist interviews Natasha Scharf, author of ‘The Art of Gothic’: Part 1.

Amongst many exceptionally original, talented and inspiring artists, Alchemy Studios are also featured in Natasha’s latest and lavishly illustrated book, ‘The Art Of Gothic’. And reading through the compelling and illuminating narrative provoked several questions, including one or two subjective, philosophical ones.

The Alchemist managed to nail-down Natasha when seen at a public event in London, and Natasha obligingly elucidated:

Q: What inspired you to believe that this subject needed a new book creating for it?

February is the month of love – or so the Hallmark-hijacked Christian festival would have you believe

Fans of Gothic cinema have been left salivating at the prospect of a toothsome new horror film from Guillermo del Toro,

Mythical creatures, semi-precious stones and ravens-a-plenty! Alchemy’s Spring collection was showcased at the recent LondonEdge and Birmingham Spring Fair trade shows and will hit stores in the coming weeks. There are more than 30 new pieces with something for everyone from necklaces to hair accessories and even beard beads, all of which have been crafted from Fine English Pewter. Here are just a few of our favourites:

Valentina Stanescu never had any luck when it came to love. She always fell in love with the wrong men while the men that she wasn’t interested in always persisted in courting her.
The celebration of Valentine’s Day in Romania is not only dedicated to lovers but also to people who are named Valentin or Valentina. So, every Valentine’s Day Valentina also celebrated her name day.And every year she made a wish for her true love to finally show up and make her feel the way she had always dreamed of. But every year her wish remained a painful desire and every year Valentina ended up alone, crying of a broken heart or of unanswered love.

I’ve been fascinated by Ancient Egypt ever since I was a child. I used to nag my parents to take me to the British Museum and the Ashmolean where I could stare at mummified objects and ogle at tomb paintings; I even had a pencil case based on Tutankhamun’s famous death mask! So imagine my surprise when I recently discovered that I’d been walking past a museum that housed one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artefacts without ever realising it was there! I decided it was about time I paid a visit to the Petrie Museum of Egyptian Archaeology.