Okay, one more, Lord Felix

He is on the front page of the website - but here is a preview.

Printing, printing, printing - and redesigning the website

Finally, I am taking a deep breath and redoing the websites. The orginal BBCats tarot website was done in a rush, and largely by a friend, and I've never been too keen on it. It doesn't really show off the cards that well. So - as the book needs a site, seems like a good time to do all. First draft of the site went up yesterday (but not linked in to anything) and looks, well, okay. Over the weekend I will think more what I really want - and also get hold of some more of the book images, which so far I have not wanted to touch during pre-press. Anyway, all mundane stuff in a way (although I am actually looking forward to a bit of web design after all this time) but maybe keeps me on the ground during this next phase. It's funny, the book was always just supposed to be something quick after the deck - really just to show off the images in large size. But it's become a whole different thing - a big project in its own right. I'm glad, I like the story and the humour and the fact that the picture are lush. For now, here is a quick re-take of the Four of Pentacles. In the book he is Purrla's cross guardian (anyone bringing up Purrla could be excused for being a bit cross, she's a very showy little kitty indeed). The addition of the portrait was Alex's idea and it cracks me up every time I see it. I LOVE it! (awfully tempting to use this one in the large-size version of the cards too - assuming they get done).

LOTS of pictures from the book - small for now.

Well - we begin printing next Monday (REAL nail-biting stuff) and I had to make a lot of small jpegs for a UK book magazine (it's supplied to bookshops) that has decided to feature us for November! So - a good opportunity to post some here. Usual disclaimer - they are BIG in the book, so you are seeing them at something like 1/12th to 1/20th of reality (what am I saying? Actually, it's a much smaller fraction than that of the real size). But it gives an idea. You'll see some of the characters from the cards reused (bet you didn't know that the Queen of Wands has a somewhat evil twin sister?! - they are Alex's homage to Gormanghast.) and some that are entirely new. Note that in the puppet scene, Death is now the happy bride of The Devil - it seemed a little inappropriate to do that for the version of this picture that was used for The Eight of Pentacles - but in the book, why not? I love both those puppets. As our Prague puppeteer contact said to us "The Evil characters always make the best puppets". Such is life... I am really happy to have done this book. Partly because it is such a surprise. It somehow went from a teeny project into a great huge one - but worth it as it's turned out. Anyway - here they are, and more behind the cut:

Angelic monkeys

I'll soon have lots of our own new visuals to show, but for now, too busy producing them. So for now, here are some old (1930s) Czech puppets that we love. Sorry, the image (used with permission by the way) is not the best, as the photo was not that good in the first place. But aren't they great? Good monkeys or evil apes do you think? Hard to judge isn't it?

Another scene from the book

theatre is Cesky Krumlov table is covered in a 19th century velvet patchwork owned by a friend in Suffolk, England Dragon is Czech, from a puppet museum Joker costume is 1920s, from Bohemia birds are from a Chinese screen chest is 15th century, from the Strahov monastery lion discs adapted from some we found on a door in Prague and so on and so on - crazy stuff in a way. We are like visual magpies. Not nearly as large and detailed as in reality I'm afraid (this is only about one eighth size) but it gives a good flavour.

Wonderful books

Just put this link on another journal and realised that I should also have it here. Wonderful, beautifully produced books - real literature, not commercial stuff (hence Howard, who runs this publishing company, is not a rich man!) http://www.twistedspoon.com We are too locked up in the studio now to really be in any way even a peripheral part of this scene (plus, well, when it comes down to it an Irish woman with a Russian man is a combination that even here tends to be viewed with a certain surprise among expats - more of this at some point no doubt). But, these are lovely books.

The first review

I think it's good (okay, it's good) but of course I immediately focus on the remark about the typos and want to hide under a blankdt somewhere. I must stop being so anxious. I also MUST find a decent editor here - the book went through two editors (both of whom were supposed to have experience) and still this. Oh well, I will stop fretting and try to focus on the nice bits! http://www.tarotpassages.com/bohemiancats.htm