Sunday, September 30, 2007

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.

Thursday, September 27, 2007

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.

Tuesday, September 25, 2007

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

Thursday, September 20, 2007

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.

Monday, September 17, 2007

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).

Friday, September 14, 2007

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.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

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!

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

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!

Saturday, September 8, 2007

The Devil

Here it is, finished at last. Not an easy image, I know:

Thursday, September 6, 2007

The totes appear - well, one does

Okay, okay, so here at last (we listen but everything takes so long) is a simple, rugged little eco tote to use instead of a plastic bag. It is $11.50 which is possibly crazy considering it's got an astonishingly detailed print on it. Then again, I have to encourage people to save the planet (oh and to be honest it's only a very ordinary little tote - though quite nice quality - but the print makes it a bit special). I think this can be guaranteed to turn heads when you go shopping - it certainly made our greengrocer smile! By the way, it's the image only, it does not have the card title on it. I thought that might be less specific somehow. But the image is beautiful - Alex does all of these as though he was doing a fine art print. We only have a very few - in this print, Strength and The World. I will print more asap (maybe next week) and also list the other images. This is SUCH fun! On Etsy here (and at baba-store as soon as I can manage) http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=6998349

Tuesday, September 4, 2007

The Five of Cups - more of a victim I feel

I mean, what is she doing with all that fabric would around her feet? If this was a scene in a horror film, well, you just know that any minute now...

Monday, September 3, 2007

The Three of Swords

Now, wouldn't you like to know her story? Personally, I don't trust this woman.

Arizona dream

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KabI4pETyEk
One of my favourite songs ever. The fish does indeed know everything.

Sunday, September 2, 2007

Bohemian Gothic Tarot, The Devil - this is NOT the card itself!

Working on The Devil. (I ought to emphasise that this is not the card itself, it's an engraving on which the card will be based.) Now this has been a hard card. We've had three different versions. In the end, we decided to base it on this engraving (which I showed here some months back) - which all along I wanted. I know it's a shocking image, but doesn't it just sum up what this card is all about? We've recreated the scene as the deck is essentially photographically based, not based on engravings or graphics - one big difference from the Victorian Romantic. When the card is finished I'll post it here so that you can compare this original and our own version.

Saturday, September 1, 2007

The Moon - from the Bohemian Gothic Tarot

I was going to show this ages ago, but we've altered it so often. It's much more romantic and less threatening (though the white wolf does have a blood-stained mouth) than most of the other cards. But I think the Moon needs to be dreamy rather than overtly horrific. The Pan figure stands for anxiety and panic attacks of course - somehow I wanted to get this into the card more explicitly this time.