Fruit and Ink #3

Here is an update on my latest grapefruit! Paying attention to more detail this time by doing larger pieces, with shading. A lot of it was free hand, like the rose with the reaper, and the scales on the koi. I am really starting to get a feel for the different types of machines and needles. Plus, I am practicing with a 3 round liner, which was pretty difficult at first, but after 4 grapefruits I must say I've got this one in the bag! What's next? My first tattoo on a human; my boyfriend, Troy! Stay Tuned!

Happy Holidays

Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! Oh yeah, and Happy New Year!

Little Bit

I know I'm a little late in discovering awesome music, but that's just because I'm pretty musically challenged. The only music I really listen to is the stuff I hear at work ALL the time, so when I find something that I like I become obsessed.

For awhile we have been listening to this awesome mix CD that a customer made for a mix tape contest. There is this one song on it that I feel in love with. Every time it came on I would become so relaxed and it would put me in a good mood. This mysterious song had no name or artist until today. It's called Little Bit by Lykke Li.

Not even 10 minutes ago, I looked up a ton of her songs and she is amazing! Her music is so captivating and unique, the kind of thing I love to listen to when I'm working on my artwork. It puts me in the best state of mind, in a really creative mood.

If anyone hasn't had the chance to hear this young Swedish artist, make sure you do. She will melt your heart.

Fruit and Ink #2

And so the grapefruit extravaganza continues! I have done three now, and I have also started shading. I'm definitely getting the hang of it. Here are some pictures from grapefruits #2 and #3!

Creation Overload!

So I just spent the past few hours in my boredom looking up craft/gift ideas. Now my head is full of things to make! Here is what I found:

- Vinyl record bowls

- Book safe

- Reused hardcover books into journals/notebooks

And one that I have thought of myself;

- Plastic army men Christmas wreath!

I found lots of cool stuff at craftbits.com, and lots of others while Stumbleuponing. If anyone has the itch to create things, then I suggest you check those sites out.

It's 12 am and now all I want to do is go out and collect the things I need to make this stuff! Dang. I will post any progress if it happens in the next little while. Let's hope it does!

Putting Out the Fire With Gasoline

This picture puts me in a such a good mood. I thought I would share it, and hopefully make someone's day as great as mine after seeing it.

My idol + kitties = fabulous.

The Future Has It's Price

Things seem to be jammed together lately. It is almost Christmas, I just started my apprenticeship, and I am running out of money; fast.

It just hit me the other day when my bank account held just under $100, an amount that I haven't been used to in 3 years. I am fairly good at spending, maybe treating myself to more than I should, as well as being too generous. This habit needs to end. Now. Lately, I have even been too lazy to make myself a meal to bring to work, forcing myself to go out and buy fast food. That, too, has been backfiring, resulting in minor food poisoning. What to do...

For this Christmas, I have decided to go about the cheap but meaningful route. Making things for people is my specialty, and so that is what I shall do. I figured that people would appreciate that more than just buying them something that someone else can give them. And it's something that I can afford.

All in all, the whole money issue is starting to wear me thin, almost literally. I need to get used to living the life of an apprentice and living cheap. And the more art I produce, hopefully the more I will sell, making a small income. It will be a tough road for sure, but in the end it will have all been worth while.

Fruit and Ink

After three years of waiting, and of course working hard, I have finally reached my dream destination in life; tattooing! As of recently, I have landed the opportunity to work as an apprentice at my current job, so I'm not quite at the prime state for actually tattooing yet, but that will come soon enough.

So far I have let grapefruits be my victims, although they do smell nice and citrusy when you do tattoo them, but I need to move onto other surfaces eventually. I must say I am quite proud of what I have done so far, considering I just started practicing and have only tattooed two grapefruits (and counting). Dana (my mentor) says that I should be moving onto people in no time at all. Well, I think for now, I'll stick to the fruit.

Check it out! Grapefruit numero uno..

What to be? Or what not to be? That is the question.

Around this time of year I usually have a pretty solid idea of what to be for Halloween. I mean, let's be honest; I will dress up as Link at some point, but I like to have multiple costumes lined up for the festive fall season.

One I have recently thought of (and I actually contemplated last year), that I really would like to do is an Ewok. Yes, those furry little teddy bear-like creatures that live on the moon planet Endor and that throw rocks at people as their primary form of self defense. From Star Wars, if any of you are confused. I remember a customer in my store last year who was partaking in a Star Wars themed Halloween party. I was astonished at her choice of being a member of the best known species in a galaxy far, far away. "Why didn't I think of that!?", I thought.

And so, this year I have decided, if financials persist, to create this ingenious ensemble from scratch. I don't know how, but I am determined. All I need is a big swack of fun fur, extreme patience, and there we would have it! An Ewok! I'm even thinking of a pretty spiffy Jawa costume for next year. Best be ahead of myself than behind! I will keep an update on the progress, if it happens!

75 and counting..

So I came across this webpage while I was Stumbleupon-ing the other day, and I couldn't resist! It shows you how to make glass marble magnets, and I thought, "I need to make some of these bad boys!"

I finally got around to it yesterday, and lo and behold, I made 75 Halloween magnets. Ok, so I had a little help from my boyfriend Troy, but seriously, I could not stop! I was like a factory robot on overload, and the fumes from the glue I was using started to make me feel like I was about to malfunction. But all in all the result was well worth it! I can't wait to make more! AHHH!!

The Legend of Dorkzilla

So I have always considered myself a huge dork. I love video games too much to even express, but nothing compares to how much I love Zelda. I love it so much that I have decided to reserve a good chunk of my skin for a Zelda themed tattoo one day.

My love for the series is so vast that I've spent almost $200 on a replica of the Master Sword at a comic expo. The hunt is now on for the Hylian Shield and, I have recently discovered, the Ocarina of Time. Yes, such a thing does exist! Having considered buying all of these replicas, I have realized that my current home-made Link costume will potentially be worth over $1000 in the end. I even have the pointy ears.

I am not trying to gloat about my fanatic obsession or anything. I'm just saying; I freaking love this game!

And so it begins..

Well, I have finally sat down and started a blog. I don't know why. I think out of some newly adapted human instinct I felt that I needed one. We'll see how it goes!

I'm just going to play around with the design a bit. I may fail, or I may succeed. Stay tuned!