As a little girl, I was enamored with Winnie the Pooh. I begged my Mom and Dad for Pooh plushies, Mickey Mouse plushies and all of Pooh’s friends. Tigger, Piglet, Eeyore – oh yes, I had them all. This is where my love of Disney began. One year Mom and Dad took Sister and I to DisneyWorld for holiday. I honestly don’t remember much of that trip except you still had to have tickets for the rides and that you will NEVER see my Dad get on any ride that even resembles the Tea Cups. From what I understand, it was not pretty.
I remained a Disney Fan and when I was in high school (I think I was 16 at the time) our Youth Group at church went to Disney World. And honestly, I don’t remember much of that trip. But the things that I do, I choose not to share with you as it would not paint a pretty picture of yours truly and my friends (at the time). But this is when I started noticing the Disney Villains a lot more.
I always loved the Sleeping Beauty story. At least the Disney Version. The beauty of the animation and the music were incredible to a teenaged me. Even if it was on a worn out VHS tape. Then I grew up, and Maleficent started to resonate more with me. Being left out of things, being shunned… Oh, the drama we can create in our lives, am I right? We project ourselves onto others or take on traits of others to get us through whatever drama, angst or issue we are having.
As an adult, having children of my own, watching the Disney Channel for years with them rekindled my love of the Villains. A love that I had stuck in a box, locked it up and put in the back of the closet to come back to later in life. I found that box, dusty, sagging on one side and cobwebs over it in 2013 when the husband and I were planning a summer camp at Disney World for our Boy Scout Troop.
I won’t bore you with all the minutia of it, but Maleficent has been a significant part of my life since then. Sitting here, in my studio, typing away, I can tell you that to my left I have a Maleficent Halloween decoration hanging on the wall that was gifted to me by one of the Scouts that I’ve known for a dozen years. To my right, I have 9 Maleficent Disney Pins hanging on a ribbon on the wall. Just past that is a teapot, cup and saucer painted with her and Diablo, as well as her as the dragon. There are also several tiles scattered all over the studio with her likeness painted on them. And don’t get me started on what’s in the house – a tea service for 8, a single teapot and 2 incredible sculptures staged around the house. And yes, I made my own light-up Maleficent horns to wear to Disney World this past summer with our Troop went back for Summer Camp.
Why I am going on and on about it. So that it will make sense when I tell you that I have recently had her tattooed on my leg. Maleficent and Diablo are on a tea pot on my calf and her as the Dragon is on a teacup just above my ankle. I love it!!
Now, no matter the feeling, I always get to have tea with my favourite villain. That makes me SO happy!
If you want an awesome tattoo, you need to contact Jason Pruett at Royal Ave Tattoo. He’s amazing!