Rodney, Photographs and Possible New Tattoos - It Was a Wonderful and Productive Friday

It was excellent seeing Rodney (my tattoo artist) again yesterday. The first thing we did was hug - a nice long friend hug. He introduced me to several of the other artists working at his new studio, and they're a great bunch of people - some very talented artists there. The studio itself is a block from the U of MN campus, so well placed for walk-in traffic, and there is a lot of on-street paid meter parking  (electronic/digital) too. I found a space two blocks away, which wasn't bad at all. In deep winter with icy winds and a blizzard, I probably won't be as happy - LOL. 

I noticed a "Nauti-Cal" location just 1/2 block west of 
Rodney's tattoo parlor. If it hadn't been a biting cold day, 
I would have dropped in there for a treat. I do love their 
food. Maybe next time. 

We chatted for more than a half hour, catching up on each other's lives. He just got engaged to his long-time girlfriend, so congratulations were given to both of them. I also had to find out how his two Huskie dogs were doing. Then he started taking photos and movies of my scarab. When he edits it all and puts it up on his Instagram, I'll let you know. We also spent quite a bit of time talking about the next two jobs I want him to do for me. 

False doors have many different appearances. I gave 
him two images, this one and the next photo to give 
him two looks. Of course, I want to stay in greyscale 
only, but it's the concept I wanted to bring across. 
This particular false door was on a later tomb and 
was only painted on, not carved in. Still, it served the 
same purpose - the location of prayers and offerings 
for the deceased. 

I want a false door with my hieroglyphic name, "Fierce Woman" in the center of it. I want it to look weathered and imperfect, but recognizable as an Egyptian false door. For those who may not know what a false door is, it is the place where offerings for the dead are placed and prayers are made for the deceased who is entombed behind the wall and the true door. There were a lot of iterations of false doors over the centuries, but the concept remained true. Although we talked about the back of my head, I messaged him this morning telling him I want it on the upper back of my neck instead. I want my scarab to remain the star of the show. Everything else bows to the scarab. 

I also gave him this photo which in many 
ways is closer to what I'm looking for in 
my mind. I want it looking more 
weathered and crumbling. I am only
putting in seven hieroglyphic symbols 
for my name, so it doesn't need a
great deal of space. 

We also began a discussion for a large back piece I'd like down the line. I don't know if I'll ever get to this one, and DH will totally throw a fit, but I want the "weighing of the heart" on my back, with the triple goddess symbol I got as my second tattoo decades ago as the fulcrum of the scales. He also photographed two lines from "The Book of the Dead" that I want running down the back wall of the back piece which is my tie-in to the scarab because the lines celebrate "Khepera", the name for the scarab - the creator of all. 

I want Anubis, the scales and the beast in the back 
piece. The scale must feature the heart on one side 
and the feather of Ma'at on the other. Putting 
Ma'at herself into it is optional, Thoth isn't necessary
either. The hieroglyphics behind Anubis should be
the two lines from "The Egyptian Book of the
Dead". He photographed them from one of my
three copies of the book (overkill, I know). 

So, it was a busy morning and early afternoon. When I finally returned home after a couple of other errands, I settled down at my laptop and finished the grid sheets for the 4mm bicone crystals. I only have the 3mm bicone crystals still remaining for their grid sheets, then I can dive into photographs - lots and lots of photographs. 

This particular image of the "weighing of the heart" is 
more familiar to most people. It's one of my least 
favorite plates, though. There's a lot that I like, but 
a lot that I don't in this image. 

I hope you have a truly fantastic Saturday and a wonderful weekend ahead of you. I'll attend the American Craft Council show on Sunday, and plan on being back with you on Monday. Slava Ukraini.