First entry in a long long time here (to be honest, I actually forgot about my blog!)
Anyways, since my last post I have:

- temporarily changed departments at work to give me a break from all the shite going on there and have been MUCH happier both at work and at home
- applied to permanently work in this new area (still waiting to hear the result of my application but the word so far is that I should do ok)
- bought an EIKON green monster shader
- bought a FORGIVEN liner - amazing what a difference good equipment makes
- done some more drawing - now using A3 sized paper instead of A4 with the view to putting all my work into a nice A3 portfolio folder

- tattooed my husband's leg : I did a montage of the southpark characters (Kyle, Cartman, Stan and Kenny) standing around a sign that says 'South Park'. It's on his thigh and probably about 10cm by 10cm big.Probably a bit ambitious doing such a big thing and with lettering to boot for my 1st human tatt I know...but other than a little bit of overworking, and a few minor blowouts, I was happy with the experience I gained. Hubby is happy with the end result too. It did take me a long time to do the initial outline and I had a few issues with the screw holding the contact screw in place continually coming loose due to the vibrations of the machine, which meant the contact screw moved as soon as you tuned the machine and gave a dodgy running speed etc. But we managed to fix that thanks to advice on the forum about cutting up a rubber 'O' ring and shoving it in the problem screw to make it tighter, which worked. I've now done 3 sessions on this piece so far (outline, colour#1, colour#2) and have yet to fill the background of the sign that says 'southpark' but that will have to wait till some time in October (going overseas for a month and also have run out of disposable tubes)

- also tattooed myself! - I did a donald duck face on my thigh as my first self-tattoo. My hand was shaking something shocking at the thought of tattooing myself (did it while I was home alone, haha) but I thought it had turned out ok....that was until it was completely healed and I could see I hadn't gone deep enough in most of the lines - many were grey rather than black and really pale, thin and patchy. So I went over it again (this time using Kuro black ink instead of starbrite's tribal black ink) and conciously made an effort to go deeper. I sculpted quite a few lines and am hoping (fingers crossed!) that this time it will be ok. It's still in the process of scabbing up so I won't know for a few more days yet. I'll wait until after we get back from overseas to colour it I think. I had posted a picture of the original outline under the heading 'an old disney favourite' in the show and tell(?) section of the forum.

My plan for my tattooing ventures for the next few months will be this:
- buy more supplies after paying off a few debts when we get back from overseas
- finish hubby's leg
- finish my leg
- lot's more drawing for folio
- take folio around to more local shops for feedback and try and get my name out there a bit


Peace.
kaost.