Travel Fund for SA Bootblack 2017

Being the first Bootblack in SA Leather South Africa's history is like first of many things in life...first kiss...first flogging...first spanking...first one to get SA Bootblack's lapel pin ....

This is how my journey began.

It all started in 2014 when Leslie J. Anderson came to South Africa and kindly gave a workshop about bootblacking. I watched Leslie very closely as she worked on a pair of boots and as she spoke about her bootblack journey; she lit a fire in me and I left the workshop determined to become the first SA Bootblack.

During the SA Leather contest in Dec 2014, Patty, Ramien and Jaco Lourens gifted me with a bootblack kit that was sent from Dara Bryant in Portland via Patty. While presenting me with the kit Patty and I had a very moving conversation about the kit and why it was being given to me. Thanks to Patty that I was introduced to Dara, my now mentor.

Since early 2015, thanks to Skype, Dara has been very generous with time sharing knowledge over many ‘cyberspace’ bootblacking sessions. Dara has shared very informative guidance in preparing for my workshops.

During the past two years, I have held workshops to share my knowledge with fellow members of SA Leather, which were extremely successful with attendees commenting on my passion for bootblacking. These workshop attendees were eager sit in the chair to get their boots done and were very generous in their tips which added to my travel fund.

In preparation for the recent contest, I have spent many hours practicing on boots. I bought 10 pairs of used, almost antique, South African army boots to work on. The transformation I did on the boots looked so fabulous that people wanted to buy them from me, so they ended up being sold, adding to my travel fund.

I have enjoyed getting my hands covered in dye, the feeling of polish on my fingertips and the satisfaction of spending hours burnishing boots.

All my hard work paid off as on Dec 3, 2016 I was chosen to represent South Africa as SA Bootblack 2017 - the first ever in SA Leather’s History !!!

I am very excited about my new title and cannot wait to experience the International Ms Bootblack in Apr 2017. It will be an honour to represent South Africa as the first SA Bootblack.

As expenses to travel from South Africa are immense and extend beyond what my club's travel fund can provide, this fundraiser has been started to assist me to get to the USA.

With your generous donation of US$30 or more, you will receive a lapel pin as a big thank you for your support.

Thank you in advance for being one of my "firsts" as I work as one of South Africa's firsts!