I ought to be in bed, but I just had to put this up. A quick picture from today's photoshoot. I LOVE the colours in this one:

Update on the puppet

Okay, he is going - well probably. We sort of have an unspoken rule that if one thing comes in to be kept, another has to be parted with. We do have a LOT of beautiful things now - I am a real accumulator, too much so really (it's too easy in Prague - though there aren't as many amazing things around as there used to be). Plus he is one of a pair. He came with a "Fu Man Chu" head, so I suppose they ought to go together ideally. They will find their place. Anyway, this I just bought this wonderful old needlework (and it was a huge bargain, don't even ask!) and I am keeping it instead of Mr Pierrot - I have some ideas about it becoming part of a fantasy black and white interior - which of course will never happen, but is good to dream on. However, it will also be used to take scans from. I think it could be used in some stunning bags. Win-win? I get to keep it entirely guilt-free. It's for work you see. :) But in general, the only problem with my Cabinet of Curiosities idea is that I go looking for things - and go into mad acquisition mode. I need to control myself and get most of the finds on to the shop and STOP making excuses for them staying here. What did I say about Buddhist exercises? Now I have to go and work out which myth this is and the proper name for a mer-lion. Edited to add. Oh, he is a Leo-kampus apparently: http://www.theoi.com/Ther/Hippokampoi.html Edited again (and yes, I know I'm talking to myself here): http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/Z33.4.html He is a Sea-panther NOT a sea lion (silly me). It's Galateia riding a sea-panther. A somewhat unusual thing to do as a needlework I would have thought, but well, there it is. Ah, hmm, she is the goddess of calm seas. So, it gets more and more interesting. Made by a sea-man's wife perhaps? You see? This blog can be quite educational at times.

Update on the puppet

Okay, he is going - well probably. We sort of have an unspoken rule that if one thing comes in to be kept, another has to be parted with. We do have a LOT of beautiful things now - I am a real accumulator, too much so really (it's too easy in Prague - though there aren't as many amazing things around as there used to be). Plus he is one of a pair. He came with a "Fu Man Chu" head, so I suppose they ought to go together ideally. They will find their place. Anyway, this I just bought this wonderful old needlework (and it was a huge bargain, don't even ask!) and I am keeping it instead of Mr Pierrot - I have some ideas about it becoming part of a fantasy black and white interior - which of course will never happen, but is good to dream on. However, it will also be used to take scans from. I think it could be used in some stunning bags. Win-win? I get to keep it entirely guilt-free. It's for work you see. :) But in general, the only problem with my Cabinet of Curiosities idea is that I go looking for things - and go into mad acquisition mode. I need to control myself and get most of the finds on to the shop and STOP making excuses for them staying here. What did I say about Buddhist exercises? Now I have to go and work out which myth this is and the proper name for a mer-lion. Edited to add. Oh, he is a Leo-kampus apparently: http://www.theoi.com/Ther/Hippokampoi.html Edited again (and yes, I know I'm talking to myself here): http://www.theoi.com/Gallery/Z33.4.html He is a Sea-panther NOT a sea lion (silly me). It's Galateia riding a sea-panther. A somewhat unusual thing to do as a needlework I would have thought, but well, there it is. Ah, hmm, she is the goddess of calm seas. So, it gets more and more interesting. Made by a sea-man's wife perhaps? You see? This blog can be quite educational at times.

The things we find here

I came across this for sale: I can't make up my mind if it's interestingly bizarre and mythological or just some piece of Victorian dodgy erotica. I have a bit of "credit" as Alex agreed I could buy something to reward myself for the hard work on the shop (er, forget the Ghost tops and skirt, that was a, hmm, a different self reward) but what do you think? Would you be tempted by this or is it too like something you'd find growing dusty in a corner of the Malfoy's house?

Oh dear

I've been working on a new section for the new shop. It's called "Cabinet of Curiosities" and will have, well, things I like and find interesting, somewhat bizarre and - definitely - appealing. So I've been buying specially. Problem - WAIL! I don't really want to part with what I'm buying. Oh drat oh drat. Here's one example. A 1930s handmade papier mache puppet head - quite large (seller's photo, I haven't had time to photograph him yet). Now, be honest, would YOU sell him? He is strange and very Weimar and sort of frightening but fascinating. I don't think I can bring myself not to keep him, but as Alex points out the "Cabinet" is going to be a little bare if I keep everything. (and as for the 1930s green irridescent dance dress fabric - AAAARRRGH. Oh drat again). I need to do some Buddhist unattachment exercises. Oh- by the way, I've changed some of the permissions on my graphics. So I hope everyone can see this now. Please tell me!

Alice - before and after

I thought I'd put these up - just for interest. I'm always saying that we do a lot of work even on the imagery that we use from other artists. So here is Rackham's Alice (scanned from a turn of the last century book) before and after being cleaned and adjusted for fabric prints:Arguably, I think we have sometimes overdone this in the past - in a way it's nice to leave a little of the "age" and fading showing.This print will be used on shoulder bags, tarot bags and messengers (when we make side panels that fit). I'm pleased with this - it's an image I've loved for years.

Alice - before and after

I thought I'd put these up - just for interest. I'm always saying that we do a lot of work even on the imagery that we use from other artists. So here is Rackham's Alice (scanned from a turn of the last century book) before and after being cleaned and adjusted for fabric prints:






Arguably, I think we have sometimes overdone this in the past - in a way it's nice to leave a little of the "age" and fading showing.This print will be used on shoulder bags, tarot bags and messengers (when we make side panels that fit). I'm pleased with this - it's an image I've loved for years.