Finding my feet

I have had a great offer today from Alex, why not set up Shongololo Studio at The Home Brew Shop? There is more than enough space, and it is like my second home by now. The offer is also given to my Laarnie to open his Tattoo Studio. Alex owns two shops that have been made into one kick ass big shop. I can work very easily from just about anywhere, I love the shop, I love the feel and look of it, even the yeast and beer smell attracts me for some odd reason. Sixty three years this shop has been situated at this same place.  Aunty Liz is just about to retire completely and I have already offered to be back up. So not only will I be an artist, but in my other free time I get to learn the magic of brewing, cheese making and maybe one day I will even attend the wine making. I am completely in my seventh heaven. I no longer work, I have started living. Alex and I don’t see what we do as working, because both of us enjoy what we do. He has himself given up being an architect a couple of years ago to take up his passion of brewing. He has never looked back since, doesn’t miss the expensive cars and house. At the end of the day it just brings more responsibilities and worries – makes complete sense to me...

I have been working very hard producing art work, Alex had two customers come in to the shop in the last that had bought a skull creation. One of the skulls was sold even before I had finished it! I am excited to see that people love what I create and I know sooner or later this idea and business of mine will flourish. In between I keep on trying to make as many contacts as I can sending out emails, making phone calls, trying to set up as much meetings as I possibly can. I also started to apply for exhibitions stands at certain exhibitions that will be taking place in 2014. I have had a response from The Home Makers Expo.  Vanessa has asked me to send through more photographs of what I do and she said she would organise me a stand at the home decor section. Exciting news indeed! I have started checking out blogs for interior decorating and designers and have gone ahead and send out some emails to them too, in order to try and get myself future on their blogs for even more exposure. A day after sending out my email was contacted by Marica (must  be the English version of myself) from The Design Tabloid and they will be featuring me on their blog in about two weeks time! The news is getting better by the day. The pictures I have however sent to The Design Tabloid is not of good quality for online purposes and I was asked if possible to also rather send them my creations photographed on a white background. Once again I think about who could possibly do this for me, one person comes to Mind Mr. Cooper!

Circus

Mr Cooper is an English bloke, apparently a metal head by night ;) he has his own little photography studio going, Mr Cooper would however like specialise in taking photographs of local bands in action, but he needs the contacts for the bands and up until a month ago I could have been able to maybe assist, but then Bob happened (as far as I know he has been admitted to Tara I am more than just  delighted by this news this means I won’t be getting another 1600 sms’s over the next 10 days) And to top that off that Tony Two Fingers came around and wanted me and Alex to hang and we did and then ended up at Tony’s workplace and we decided we are not going back to that joint again! Long story and a tale for another blog all together, point is the possible info is there maybe I can Google and find some contacts. Mr Cooper’s

As per his FB Page he is the CEO of Cooper Co Photography, he spends his free time coming for tatts at Laarnie Tattoo’s and picking up chicks. He is single as far as I know so ladies, please go ahead and send Richard D Cooper (search on Facebook) your details he will wine and dine you. But on a serious note thanks to Laarnie (again) and Mr Cooper for organising a product shoot for me even though my idea of an awakening before I was u and ready wasn’t part of my plan.

AKA - Fred

One of my ideas I have had when I started brainstorming different designs and themes for skulls was to do a skull especially of DIE ANTWOORD. By far my favourite SA music group! I get them, they are the rawness of the South-African like never seen before. They say it as it is, their lyrics speak of everyday life with no holding back. And then they go ahead and curse a whole lot in Afrikaans, I am sure we are all in agreement that no other language can be so expressive in curse words. They come from the Cape Flats much like “DIE KAS” we have here in Jozi they don’t give forward who they are not and they live their dream on their own terms.

DIE ANWOORD

DIE ANTWOORD

DIE ANTWOORD

 I myself didn’t grow up rich, or in a rich neighbourhood. On previous occasions I was insulted by people and had them referring to me as white trash from Roodepoort, people don’t get it. I don’t care... Roodepoort is my roots, I have been born and bred and I am not ashamed of who I am and where I come from. I am a rough gem always have been always will be. My eldest boet Willem had given me a awesome shirt once, on it was printed Trailer Park Trash.... I loved that shirt dearly, my now ex in laws didn’t like it too much (this was about 12 years ago) and when I became pregnant with my first born I used to wear that shirt with my boep showing, needless to say people were rolling in their graves before they were even dead! And so my once very cool Traylor Park Trash shirt disappeared L, I still to this day can only speculate the culprit who had kindly donate it to pick it up.

My all time favorite movie EVER! Joe Dirt