And very definitely not a second

Gone! But we are making more. I have a bit of a thing about these colours right now (the second picture is more accurate for colour, that greenish blue with brown is lovely - I'm about to begin crocheting something in those colorus). I think we have to make more of these - it really is a beauty.

Some (almost) give-aways

We have a few odd "seconds" in the bags. We have three of the BG Devil with no hypodermic in her hand, and the hand of the woman in her arms sort of vanishing into the fabric (go figure! I assume a layer did not get switched on in the Photoshop file). Apart from that a perfect bag in black silk.

We also have two Queen of Swords in which the print quality is poor - it looks like she is heavily shadowed at the bottom.

I can't take photos - too busy! If anyone would like these - help yourself for $6 (under our cost price) plus $4.80 postage - sorry, postage has to be standard as it costs at least that now.

Kinski - Nosferatu the Vampyre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1KO55JBuFE

Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht Trailer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i7wQ2VUudb4
In honour of the printing of The Bohemian Gothic. As I have said probably to the point of tedium, this film was my main inspiration for the deck. Not sure that I can speak for Alex on that, which is why I don't say "we".

Emilie Simon - Flowers

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_1MR2XOjz4
I look at this and wonder how on earth we can get anywhere near. Oh - did I mention we are making a short animated film. Our budget is tiny but our passion is great! I'm not complaining about the budget - we were actually, amazingly, given it. It's a long story and I don't know if it's meant to be public. I am beyond grateful to the person who did this. So suddenly my mind is beginning to be taken over by ideas of re-assembled and severely deconstructed cuckoo clocks (just as well I'm in Prague where we should be able to get hold of a beauty to work on). I've wanted to make a film ever since my first marriage when my husband was a talented artist (it's not what he did for a living though - another long story) who wanted to make a film - he never did. Ah well, at least it looks as though one of us will.

All I want for Christmas...

Is a SteamPunk keyboard. I really, really want one. Really. But urk, the price! Oh well. I can at least admire the whole surreal wonderfulness of it from a distance: http://www.datamancer.net/forsale/forsale.htm

We had to get a completely disfunctional family in there somewhere

In some ways I so relate to this card and to that little girl. Oh dear, sometime you come up with images that hit rather close to home (if you'll excuse the pun). Still, long ago and far away...

Eight of Pentacles

Shades of Angela Carter's "The Magic Toyshop" I think. Only two more cards to go now, and one of those (Ten of Cups) is already completed. We are working on the last card - Four of Wands - right now. It is always interesting to see which card gets left to last. I'm sure there is some significance.

The Three of Cups

I'm really happy with these final cards - we are very tired and I was worried that that might show, but in some ways the images have just got better and better. Well, that's what I think!

Björk & PJ Harvey- Satisfaction (Rolling Stones cover)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MH8wrM0NARo
Have I posted this before? I can't remember, I hope not. I love it!

The Six of Wands

My problem with the Six of Wands is that it tends to be a useful but somewhat worthy and boring card in most decks. So we decided with this version to really pull out the stops and make it into something much more controversial and thought-provoking:

By the way, this witch is a real gargoyle that hangs over the Mala Strana end of the Charles Bridge. We make her larger, so that she could be seen properly on the card. Interestingly, very few people who walk under her notice her - I suppose there is generally too much going on and too many crowds.

Ten of Wands

Another one that I'm particularly pleased with:

The King of Wands

I badly wanted to have one mad theatrical card in there - and who else could it be but the King of Wands?

Now I just know this will provoke a few comments!

Based on a make-up by our friend Vlad Taupes - wonderful work.

Two of Pentacles

Sorry to post and run - but we are just so pressed with the coming print deadline. The cards seem almost to be getting better and better though. I LOVE this one - it feeds into lots of my obsessions:

We need to begin offering giclee prints on this deck, we really do. But the giclee printer is all tied up with doing fabric prints (and full of fabric ink) and it's SO expensive to use our small printer. Hmm, must work out a solution. Some of these pictures just should be offered large and frameable - I'd like this one in a darkish hallway. Ohhhhhh yes!

The Three of Wands

Sorry it's so small. We have some computer/network problems so we are not throwing the large files around between the machines so much until it's sorted. Hopefully soon. Er - are you suddenly seeing a huge font on this page? Or have I reset my options by accident? Drat - one of those weekends computer-wise!

Albus Dumbledore was gay.

It's interesting how this is more or less spelled out (sorry for the unintentional pun) in the last book. But I, for one, missed it. Says a lot about our assumptions where sexuality is concerned: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/7053982.stm

The Stolen Grimoire

Emilie Simon - Desert (french)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cI_nkXUpvJk

The King of Cups

I have to admit that I really like this one.

Four of Cups

Sorry to be slow in answering the comments - just a bit up against the book deadline. But for now, here is the Four of Cups. The teeth are not very finely drawn because quite honestly they will hardly even be visible in the final card. But just to show they are there!

Nine of Swords

By the way, sorry about the copyright watermark but I'm not putting this on all the images as I've found them popping up all over the place on the web.

The cockatoo that's into Back Street Boys

I know there are a lot of these amusing animal videos going around, but this one is seriously good fun. That bird knows how to ROCK! http://birdloversonly.blogspot.com/2007/09/may-i-have-this-dance.html

Another one that hasn't quite made it to the website yet

And talking of Etsy...

I said ages ago that I would feature some sellers. Then there was a kind of Etsyscandalousblowupargumentforumexplosionthingie and I decided to wait. However, things now seem to have calmed down and I HAVE to show you this "The Bride of FrankenMonkey" It just really appeals to me - eat your heart out Elsa Lanchester!

Black cat glass beads

I feel a fool but I just can't remember who it is who has been asking me about whether we will sell some of these. I've been setting up a separate Etsy home for the Bohemian Cats - http://BohemianCats.etsy.com Rather irritatingly there is no way to really organise an Etsy shop so the cats just look a bit out of place on our main shop there. Anyway, the new shop will take ages to fill but meantime I added some listings for the beads.

The Chariot

We ended up doing this in a very classic style - I have to admit partly because we very much wanted to use the amazing Sphinxes with their bee-bodices. The mask is from the Barandov Studio collection (photographed with permission).

Three of Pentacles

In complete contrast, this is a much more explicitly narrative card. It took forever to do but I am thrilled with it ("thrilled"? Maybe that's a word that comes from looking at the expression of Dr Frankenstein here). It's hard to get the right emotion into a Frankenstein card (the monster can end up just looking laughable) but this places an interesting emphasis on the motivation of Dr Frankenstein himself I think. I know we need to do faster with this deck - but it's hard to speed it up when the cards are coming out so strong. I don't want to risk the quality and depth of any of them.

The Seven of Pentacles

We did this a while ago but somehow I never got round to showing it. It's very simple, but as there is so much going on in many of the cards, I rather like to have a few that are more sparse. I kind of like this one and it will work - in its own quiet way, nicely with the rest of the deck:

Victorian Romantic Tarot - Gold edition.

Just a quick one to say that we seem to be no, we ARE (why do I feel so tentative about this? I suppose because it surprises me a bit) down to only about two dozen Victorian Romantic Tarot Gold edition decks (from the original printing of 500). I thought they would sell a little slower than this but in fact there has been quite a rush on them this month. We're going to do a proper count, knowing us we will discover six lurking behind a cupboard or something (actually, since a major studio reorganisation in the spring we've tended to be quite good at keeping things in order) but it's that sort of number now. Sadly the shop software is not that good at keeping a really accurate count as it seems to take away and add one or two here and there entirely at whim (we need an upgrade in 2008!) Updated to add - we did the count. Twenty-six but one of those gone since, so now twenty-five. Hey, for once my guesstimate was pretty spot-on! If you would like one, please don't delay too long as we will NOT reprint the Gold.

Bohemian Gothic Bucket Bags

We've already been asked a couple of times about these, so finally yesterday evening Alex printed some. These will be in the new, larger size, with one of the new prints on satin that goes right up into the handle. When it's combined with antique/vintage brocade (black and black with purple - I am also looking for some red for Strength) - and black cotton velvet it's going to be exceptionally gorgeous I hope.

The Bohemian Gothic Magician

Now THIS was a hard card to do. I wish I wasn't saying that about so many of them. The deck will be worth it though - but goodness, it's been a long haul.

Passion Chocolat

I swear that Vinohrady is becoming - for those of you who know London - the Prague equivalent of Islington. All cafes, design shops and uber-trendies (well, er, maybe those who would at any rate like to regard themselves as such). For exactly the same reasons that I never wanted to live in Islington, I find myself turned off the idea of moving to Vinohrady. But we have to move sometime soon - somewhere. Sadly, although I have now seen the house of my dreams, we can't afford it, so the vague intention to move continues unfulfilled. Meantime, back in Vinohrady, this cafe review (see below) typifies what's happening there. I mean, yes it's great and yes, I would love to live near a good French patisserie (maybe it's better that I don't though, thinking about my tendency to put on weight if I even glance at a meringue). But, well, I still am not convinced you know. It all seems suspiciously "could be absolutely anywhere in upmarketified Europe" to me. Dear God, I think I am becoming an elderly lady Czech in my thinking. Then again, there are worse things to be. I mean - howl - I want to live somewhere where I have a REAL garden and a few chickens and some fruit trees, a place where I can make my own jam and knit a bit. Oh goodness, yes, that's it, I am now officially possessed by the spirit of a Czech babicka. Is this reverse snobbery? I'm not sure. ______ Anyway, to finally get to the point I've been meaning to recommend this blog for ages (if I haven't already done so, honestly I can't remember). If you're coming here it's a really reliable way to get good, not-tourist-oriented restaurant, bar and cafe reviews.

Passion Chocolat

I swear that Vinohrady is becoming - for those of you who know London - the Prague equivalent of Islington. All cafes, design shops and uber-trendies (well, er, maybe those who would at any rate like to regard themselves as such). For exactly the same reasons that I never wanted to live in Islington, I find myself turned off the idea of moving to Vinohrady. But we have to move sometime soon - somewhere. Sadly, although I have now seen the house of my dreams, we can't afford it, so the vague intention to move continues unfulfilled. Meantime, back in Vinohrady, this cafe review (see below) typifies what's happening there. I mean, yes it's great and yes, I would love to live near a good French patisserie (maybe it's better that I don't though, thinking about my tendency to put on weight if I even glance at a meringue). But, well, I still am not convinced you know. It all seems suspiciously "could be absolutely anywhere in upmarketified Europe" to me. Dear God, I think I am becoming an elderly lady Czech in my thinking. Then again, there are worse things to be. I mean - howl - I want to live somewhere where I have a REAL garden and a few chickens and some fruit trees, a place where I can make my own jam and knit a bit. Oh goodness, yes, that's it, I am now officially possessed by the spirit of a Czech babicka. Is this reverse snobbery? I'm not sure. ______ Anyway, to finally get to the point I've been meaning to recommend this blog for ages (if I haven't already done so, honestly I can't remember). If you're coming here it's a really reliable way to get good, not-tourist-oriented restaurant, bar and cafe reviews.

Ready for a visit to one of the best marionette shops in Prague?

I found this panorama of one of our favourite shops. The lady who manages it will engage you in a looooong talk about the time Susan Sarandon bought some pieces from them or why she loves the way Gerard Depardieu behaved when he came in - or the weather, or Prague, or her bad leg (ouch!) or... be prepared to spend quite some time chatting - she's fun! http://www.prague360.com/fs.html?loc=locations/shop/marionette-shop-charles-bridge.p36

The early autumn newsletter is now up. At last.

This kept getting held up by various things - mainly waiting for bags to be made and photographed. Anyway, I will email it out tomorrow, but if you'd like to - or prefer to - read it on the web. Here it is (please click here or on the picture). I hope it's enjoyable.

Life here is often more than a touch surreal

More from the conference of film special effects soon. And much, much more of the larger-than-lfe Bohemian Cat (modelled on our Eight of Wands cat).

The Queen of Pentacles

I think there are shades of the Bluebeard type of story here. The young woman who marries a rich man, and then begins to look around his lavish house and wonder... I like this one - you could build an entire story around it in a reading.

Alternative (not blond girls in stilletos) fashion photographer in Prague?

Or willing to come to Prague? Just thought I would ask in case anyone knows anyone. I need a photographer that can photograph in our style - sort of down-at-heel Baroque with a sense of humour and a bit of magic/fairytale thrown in. Everyone I've found here so far does sort of over-made-up BIG blond hair high heels and glossy lips type stuff. Ickitty. I need a stylist who can put a baroque wig on a woman in jeans and photograph her in a bizarre and beautiful (NOT studio or "club") setting. I really, really want to find someone as the new bags are coming out SO well and need a photographer to do them justice. Help! ps - we can with luck provide a beautiful young actor dressed as a Bohemian Cat. He is apparently going to be there as a prop and support for my upcoming appearance at a Film Special Effects cum Vampire-ish conference this weekend(at which we are doing something - though as yet we have no idea what and Alex has just informed me that I am expected to read the tarot. Well, at least that I CAN do). I am going to ask him if he would like to do a reprise of this as a model. So - two women models, a life-size cat in a Baroque costume, our bags and the whole of Prague. We will even pay for Barrandov costuming if necessary and we can probably get some beautiful things from our antique shop friends. Come on photographers out there, this is a rare opportunity to make something gorgeous and strange!

More satin wristlets

It's taking a while to get these all done - we just got submerged under wholesale orders (all to Japan, China and Korea interestingly enough) but here is one that we just made for an individual order. If you are reading this and it's yours, it came out looking GREAT and I want one!