Tie-dying skills and the birth of a Tiger

Like most things during the torturous transition from summer to winter, I have slowed the hell down.  Drastically.  We had plans to go up Lions Head (Item No 3) but it stormed.  Then we made another plan, but I slept instead. Hmmm - perhaps when the sun gets up earlier than I again, I shall tick this one off.  For now though, I stuck to a few things which can be done regardless of the weather.

Fucket List No 42: Make a tie-dyed something or other:

One of the things we do at work is host art & craft workshops for people with disabilities.  They had a big fat tie-dying session one Friday and there was a bunch of left over dye.  A few of my colleagues and I were offered the opportunity to get creative, which we jumped at!  So on a sunny(ish) Monday afternoon, we got together, plain white fabric in hand, ready to make art happen.  Here is how it happened in picture format.  (Yes, we are indeed wearing black rubbish bags - we are forward thinking fashionistas so back off!)

Listening attentively to the detailed instructions

Dip dip dip 

My slightly obscene looking soon-to-be art piece!

Nailed it!!

Ok so aside from the fact that there were a few comments about the fact that the red bits in the middle look like fleas (thanks Di) ..... or even sea lice (thanks Jared) .... I was pretty damn impressed with myself.

Sea lice.  Pfffft

Now it may be that I unlikely to make a living out of tie-dying stuff and selling it, but hey it was fun and I would totally do it again.  Maybe some socks next time ....

TICK!

Fucket List No 17 (sorta):  Have another tattoo (except it wasn't in colour)

Although I had initially decided on a pretty flower design which would incorporate colour and therefore allow me to tick this specific item off, I came across an entirely different design which appealed to me on so many levels that I had no choice but to ditch the blommie and go with it!

I could totally get into all the reasons this tattoo is appropriate and significant and has all sorts of deep meanings, but then the boys from Desmond & The Tutu's will take the mickey so let's just move on shall we!

With the help of one of those voucher thingies you can buy online, together with the contents of my piggy bank, I make an appointment with Jose at Davidson's Ink for 25th May.  He estimated that it would take around 3 and a half hours, with breaks, for the work to be done.

The night before I barely slept, plagued with nerves and thoughts of perhaps ending up with this on my body...

Finally morning dawned and my friend Gretchen and I headed off to Eden on the Bay.   5 hours (yes, FIVE hours) later, I hobbled out with my tattoo. I have to just interject that Gretchen was an absolute STAR.  Due to the location of this particular tattoo, at some points it hurt like a mofo - to the point of nausea!!  She talked me through it.  Literally.  In order to take my mind off the pain, she spoke and spoke and spoke about all manner of things.  From Alpacas keeping watch over little lambs, to a compressor she used to have for airbrushing; from a planned garage sale, to her car taking her hostage in a parking lot one afternoon.  The poor woman talked until she couldn't talk anymore - at which point she went and bought coffee and chocolate (essential for any traumatic event) and came back and talked some more! I am pretty sure that she spent her entire Sunday in complete silence, just to give her poor vocal cords a break!!

Some pics to give you an idea of how it went:

Not even a third of the way in -  but still felt strong at this point!

Jose doing his thing - painstaking careful precision work!

Shading done - all that's left is the tail.  This was  around the 4 hour mark! 

Boom! My Tigress was born!

Three days later I am still pretty tender, but absolutely thrilled with the final product.  I am trying to decide where the next one will be because - clearly - until I have one with colour, I cannot properly tick this item off the list.  So at this stage it gets half a tick! TI ....

As I read through the many remaining items on my list I am feeling a little uninspired .... time to jazz things up a little - maybe by adding a few more fun (easy) things to it.  Will have to give this some serious thought ............. watch this space! :)

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