Shelley, Bride of Frankendecken ~ Journal

[nisaba]

I have no clue at all why I wanted to take this snapshot at the meditation group: perhaps I had something in mind at the time. Just call me crazy (photo 1).

Shelley went back to work with me the following day, the Tuesday, my last day with her. This is a photo of her very last reading for a paying client (photo 2).

Remember my tongue-drum? The boys who sold it to me gave me some proper drumsticks (although I like the soft tone of the fire-twirling stick I've been using). Sadly, Shelley had to fly out before I took the drumsticks home to where my drum was, so she never heard the sound of it with real drumsticks.

The final afternoon came too soon, and a person shuffled Shelley after I had ordered her and everything for Roppo. Then the afternoon got away with me, and I knew if she was to catch her flight on time, I didn't have time to order her again (it takes quite a while!) It is the height of rudeness to pass on a deck that is out of order - I hang my head in shame.

But race out to the post office I did, and a lady there kindly consented to take a snap of my stuffing Shelley into her Travelling Clothes (photo 3). Moments later I was taking a pic of her being weighed for the flight (photo 4), then she was whisked away out of my sight on the first leg of her journey to Japan.

<sob whimper>

[roppo]

Shelley has arrived safely and now she's resting in the doll's room.
Her staying in the counrtyside of Japan shall be interesting reading!

[roppo]

Unfortunately it's rainy day today so Shelley is now resting on the shelf among old porcelain. A local shinto festival will be held on this weekend and I'm planning to take Shelley to the old mysterious shrine near seaside.

Presently Shelley's watchig TV with me.

[roppo]

Today I'm making Shelley into a 3DCG image. Scanning her bag, some cards, etc and making textiles for pasting ... all right, forget the CG jargons. In a word, I'm making a virtual Shelley for the future video clip. A screen shot shall tell a lot.

Still cloudy and gonna be rainy afternoon. Bad weather for a date.

[roppo]

So it's fine today and I could take Shelley to the outside, in my garden.

Shelley among the green grass, sitting in her chair, is I believe really photogenic.
My dog Marco was staring Shelley curiously; I won't let him come near our bride!

[roppo]

These two days I've caught a cold and been not able to take out Shelley outdoor. And she has to leave here tomorrow. Well,　that's the way things go and now we are having a farewell party, Shelley, me and my fav decks. Presently they are examing a new comer, a Pierre Madenie!

[Aulruna]

Today around noon I returned from my trip to NYC to attend this year's Readers Studio - and promptly ran into the mailwoman, who handed me a package from Japan!

Shelley is here!!!

I was jet-lagged and needed to unpack, do laundry etc., so Shelley had a quiet day to settle in, too.

After she told me about roppo's incredible doll room, I let her visit my doll store and look at the spring merchandise.

Then she helped me unpack the goodies I brought back from the Studio, and she inspected my new acquisitions with great interest. She was especially intrigued by Ellen Lorenzi-Price's Tarot paper dolls, gifted to me by our own Ashtaroot! She made me promise I will cut out one for her to pose with, but she has not yet decided between the Empress and the Star. And she already announced she wants to get to know the Gilded Royale a bit better.

I have not introduced her to the other decks yet, I think springing a thousand companions on her after a transcontinental trip would be a bit much.

Finally, she picked one of my altars to rest.

I'm very excited that she's here, because I have a few plans for this weekend which I believe she will enjoy, too.

[Aulruna]

The weather was a bit shaky today, so we watched a cooking show in the morning while I prepared the paper doll Shelley had chosen - the Star. Each of these paper dolls come with four outfits, since Shelley got to choose the doll, I got to choose the outfit. I went for a getup named "Celeste" to go with Shelley's Star card.

This is what the creator Ellen Lorenzi-Prince has to say about the dress: "Celeste honours all sky gazers and wears star groupings from the constellation of Aquarius on her dress, the jats of water near her hem and the head on her breast."

In the afternoon, the skies were still very dark and gloomy, but we decided to follow through with our original plan and go to Auer Dult, a traditional fair with antiques, household wares, and a little old-fashioned fun park with a merry-go-around, shooting booth and the like. Shelley helped me discover a few new items for my junk oracle Wise Magpie and I took a few photos at various stalls.

The ladies at the ceramics stall were quite suspicious and probably thought I was after their designs ... I presented Shelley and told her story and they looked at me like I was totally crazy. I still think the colours of the ceramics go very well with Shelley's bag!

[Aulruna]

My internet connection was acting up yesterday, so here are more pics from yesterday's activities.

The weather has gone from occasional drizzles to constant rain, so no ren faire today, either. I'm especially bummed because I have an ultra-hectic work week ahead of me, with international meetings that include dinner, so today is the last day to take Shelley places.

At least, one of my best friends will come by for coffee later - she lives 500 kms away, so it's a rare treat! She is a pro reader, so I think she will appreciate Shelley.

[Aulruna]

Deb and I had a lot of fun with Shelley, trying to identify cards (I managed 70 out of 78 and discovered there is one in there I don't have - Marina's Atalla), discussing decks and doing a few readings.

Looking at the cards from different decks, where you sometimes can't identify at once which card it is, really makes you look at a reading rom a totally different perspective!

Later, I showed Shelley the booklet from "Shelley's Ghost", an exhibition at the New York public library which I visited (synchronicity, anyone?). It has selections from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein manuscript on display and you could pick up nicely word-pressed little cards with quotes. I was totally excited about the show, and so was Shelley