Megan's Arm

I touched up this cloth-of-gold, or yarrow tattoo on Megan's arm today.  We did this about two years ago.  She wanted the image to be simple, with no background.  Cloth-of-gold has medicinal properties to those who practice herbalism.

Happy Birthday Alyssa

  Alyssa spent some time living overseas and had authentic henna done just before returning to the States.  This tattoo immortalizes that memory for her and her monumental birthday today!  Happy Birthday Alyssa!

Cardinal for Heather

Did this cardinal tattoo on Heather today.  I was more than happy to help her out with some imagery that I love to tattoo; flowers and birds.  She had a less than pleasant tattoo experience with a local tattoo artist and shop that will remain nameless.  Heather wanted a small cardinal and tiger lily tattoo on her chest.  I was happy to oblige and we compromised on a little bit larger than planned on tattoo with some minor adjustments to her idea.  The symbolism of the specific bird and flower, as well as colors were very important to her, so we left those details unchanged.  I think our efforts turned out a pretty swell tattoo.  I took two pictures, one that illustrates the colors of the tattoo as they appear true-to-life, and a more artistic photo that I took with the Hipstamatic.

Andrew's Anchor

This one is from yesterday.  I forgot that I did a little anchor on Andrew's finger!  Took the nifty pic with the ol' Hipstamatic ap.

More Side Tattoos

Seriously, I must be getting lucky lately.  I have been so fortunate to have clients who sit so well during side tattoos!  I started the day with Teri getting the "Family" tattoo on her side, her first, but you wouldn't know it.  She was an amazing person to work with and really easy to tattoo.  I rounded out the day working on Andrew's nautical half sleeve, which is almost completed, (but I won't post any pictures until it is, it's more fun to unveil the finished product)!  As if that wasn't a full enough day I burned some midnight oil and finished my friend Tara's baking inspired sleeve, we were both too tired to take pictures of the finished product but I will certainly be featured in the blog soon.  Tara's sleeve has been an ongoing project for at least four years.  I'm ecstatic to have finished it, finally!  And really looking forward to our next project together, (in two weeks)!

Phoenix

Did a phoenix tattoo today on Erin's side as well as a dragonfly on Lindsay's stomach, (no picture, sorry), and had a drawing review with Heather.  I have been getting really lucky with the clients that can sit still and handle a side tattoo.  It sure makes a big difference!  Kudos to Erin for being a pleasure to tattoo and a really "still" customer.  She wanted the top of the phoenix to look more like a peacock in coloring, and the bottom of the bird to be firey.  We dressed up the branches with some forget-me-nots on the ends, a symbolic flower for Erin.

New Deluxe Chair!

Whoo hoo!  I am back at work after a week off, well rested and ready to tattoo.  I was delighted to return to the shop with my newly reupholstered chair ready and waiting for me.  My friend Jordan, (formerly of Old School Customs), now of Union Speed and Style made the ol beast look sparkly, deluxe and crisp, just what I was hoping for!  Now time for a little station remodeling for the new year and I'll be ready to roll by the time the new regulating body of the Health Department finally gets around to approving my new license.  Myself, like hundreds of other tattoo artists in Minnesota right now, anxiously await the bureaucracy of the system to stop dragging their feet and stamp our paperwork already.  I'll address this more later in another blog, but in the meantime, I certainly have a few projects to keep me busy, as always!  I just want to bask for a moment, if I can, in the joy of having a newly upholstered, beautiful sparkly chair.