These artistic photographs aren't the usual mugshots I take at the shop. It makes me really thankful to work on some really inspiring people, and that I can have an impact on their lives and vice versa. Just because I'm the one marking them indelibly, they usually make an invisible mark on my memories. This lady is a superwoman! From what I learned, she truly lives by the quote tattooed on her side, which I can't take credit for. I can take credit for everything else around it, though.
It's been weeks now that life has been pretty uncomfortable in this pregnant body. It's unbelievable that some women enjoy being engorged with a growing baby in their bellies. The only thing that's been nice is that I haven't been sick the whole time I was prego. Of course I jinxed myself and came down with a stomach bug Friday night through Saturday. It's not like I sleep these days anyway. The massive round ball attached to my midsection doesn't allow a good nights rest.
Anyway I despise missing work especially since my time is limited until the short maternity break. I was so bored being cooped up in the house, although I did catch up on lost sleep throughout the day. Even though I still didn't feel right, I was determined to catch up on cleaning (its debatable if that's ever possible with two dogs, a toddler, and two adults) and make a nice meal. Before the sickness hit me, I took some baby back ribs out of the freezer since I was planning on making a huge Southern feast today. It's been too long since we fired up the smoker, and I kept the plan.
On the menu for tonight:
Low and Slow Smoked Baby Back Ribs
Creamy Mac n Cheese
Cole Slaw
Corn bread
Baked Beans (from a can... the only unhomemade dish on the menu that I had to have)
Here's the corn bread recipe since my son and I have already tried it, and it's good!!
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup butter
2/3 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease an 8 inch square pan.
2. Melt butter in large skillet. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Quickly add eggs and beat until well blended. Combine buttermilk with baking soda and stir into mixture in pan. Stir in cornmeal, flour, and salt until well blended and few lumps remain. Pour batter into the prepared pan.
3. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. 20- 25 minutes was long enough for us. We like it more moist than dry!
Cole Slaw
Ingredients
1/2 bell pepper, chopped
1 green onion, chopped
1/2 large carrot, chopped
1/8 cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
1/2 cabbage head
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt (recommended: Jane's Krazy Mixed-up salt)
1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning
1 tablespoon white vinegar
Directions
Using a food processor, gently process the bell pepper, onion, carrot, and parsley, being careful not to over process. Cut 1/2 of the cabbage into chunks and place in the food processor and process lightly, making sure the cabbage doesn't become mushy. Slice the remaining cabbage thinly. Mix the cabbage together with the processed vegetables. In a separate bowl, mix the remaining ingredients together and allow to stand for a few minutes. Combine the mayonnaise mixture with the vegetables and toss. Chill for 1 hour.
Creamy Mac N Cheese
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoon (1/2 stick) butter, cut into pieces
1/2 cup sour cream
1 (10 3/4-ounce) can condensed Cheddar cheese soup
3 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cup (about 10-ounces) grated sharp Cheddar cheese
2 cup uncooked elbow macaroni (an 8 ounce box isn’t quite 2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
Directions
Boil the macaroni in a 2 quart saucepan in plenty of water until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain. In a medium saucepan, mix butter and cheese. Stir until the cheese melts. In a slow cooker, combine cheese/butter mixture and add the sour cream, soup, salt, milk, mustard and pepper and stir well. Add eggs. Then add drained macaroni and stir again. Set the slow cooker on low setting and cook for 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
My thoughts were confirmed today when the person who stole my design and got it tattooed "cheaper" somewhere else emailed me again today. Despite my email telling him that it wasn't cool that he did that because he only left a small deposit that didn't sufficiently pay me for an original design, he asked me to draw him another design for a small and insufficient fee. After reading my response, I now hope he understands what he did was wrong. I can't believe how rude and inconsiderate some people are. This guy has to wear this design the rest of his life perhaps knowing that he ripped someone off?! Someone suggested that I sell the design on a tattoo flash website so that other people can have the same one tattooed on them if they pay the fee. Therefore I'd get paid the full amount for my hard work. I'm sorry he ruined it for everyone else who wouldn't even consider doing this.
Graphic artists charge anywhere from $50 - 150 per hour to do design work for their clients. I'm unsure if they charge for research and consultation work or supplies used to draw the piece. I'm willing to draw designs for people if they pay the proper amount, and they can get it tattooed by someone else if they desire. If they get it tattooed by me, I waive the drawing fee unless I spend more than 4 hours on a design or they change their minds to a totally different design.
The aforementioned person paid me on the lowest pay bracket for 1 hour, yet the design I drew for him took me about 3 hours.
This is my only professional job. I have a family to support. I'm a busy pregnant wife and mother who has tons of housework, errands, and child rearing on top of drawing for people and tattooing them. I don't deserve to be paid for a fraction of what I deserve to do drawings for people.
Please be considerate and don't copy other people's designs. Have your tattoo artist come up with something unique, and be original!!!!!!!
To the rest of my clients:
If you must see the design beforehand, you can make a drawing review appointment with me at your consultation to come to the shop the day before to preview it if I'm working. No pictures can be taken with your phone so bring your loved ones if they are interested in seeing it in advance.
I attempted Day of the Dead sugar skull make up today with supplies from my make up kit. Now that I made the first attempt, I'm interested in trying it again next week. It reminds me how much I love doing make up.
This week was indulged in taking some time off to experience fall. We did some Halloween decorating, went to a ghost researcher lecture, and took a family trip to an island off the Chesapeake Bay. I feel great after a week of relaxing and refilling my inner battery.
Today has been filled with home work. Between cooking and doing some serious house cleaning, I've also been doing research for upcoming tattoos. It feels like the cleaning is never really finished. Once one area is cleaned, you move onto the next. Another meal is made, and the kitchen is a disaster or my son has made his presence like a tornado storming a neighborhood. I suppose I feel the same way about drawing too! After my husband's slumber from working the night shift, I sent him to IKEA to grab some organizational furniture. We've got to get this place into somewhat of a functioning home. The upstairs is in purgatory since we're ridding an entire home office and making it into big brother's room. A mom's work is never done. Later tonight the drawing will commence. It's been a productive yet exhausting day, and it's not even over.
Here's an awesome and easy recipe I made from aging apples. I never want to buy store bought applesauce again!!
INGREDIENTS:
4 apples - peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
DIRECTIONS:
1. In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher.
I omitted the cinnamon since I feel as if it's over used. The apples I used were honey crisp. mmmmmmmmm!
Now onto making some pumpkin bread with hubbard squash instead of pumpkin. Here's the link to that recipe just in case you want to try it. http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/downeast-maine-pumpkin-bread/detail.aspx
This was such a fun sleeve to do. I wish I could more like this!! Come and get it. I've had numerous people rescheduling lately, and I especially have time to fit you in during the week. Please email me for a consultation at tegan@teganink.com
I've made this super easy recipe a couple of times with great success so I figured I'd repost. There's really no reason to buy boxed brownies when this is sooooo easy. Not to mention, it's WAY more delicious.
INGREDIENTS:
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 eggs
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x9 inch baking pan.
2. In a medium bowl, mix together the oil, sugar, and vanilla. Beat in eggs. Combine flour, cocoa, baking powder, and salt; gradually stir into the egg mixture until well blended. Stir in walnuts, if desired. Spread the batter evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Spread chocolate chips on top and slighty push in.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until the brownie begins to pull away from edges of pan. Let cool on a wire rack before cutting into squares.
After running into a client/friend of mine today and hearing the following story, I decided to write the second lesson in Tattoo Etiquette. The second lesson is simply, "Don't touch other peoples tattoos unless you have consent from that person." If you have visible tattoos, you've probably been prodded by people touching your tattoos without permission. If not, you're lucky. Personally I've had it with strangers that have the seemingly uncontrollable urge to invade your personal space without asking first.
This is my friends story. While on a whale watch two days after we colored in her medium sized shoulder piece, an unknown woman poked her finger into the fresh tattoo while she had her back turned. Then she made a comment about the piece. My friend turned around and retorted, "Don't touch me! That's still healing!" She was disgusted by being touched on a potentially open wound by a stranger without gloves. It's absurd that this happens way too often.
Throughout my life as a tattooed person, this has happened to me. I've been poked, rubbed, grabbed, and prodded on my tattoos in public areas. Strangers have even tried to reach out and touch my chest because it's tattooed. More often than I'd like to remember, I've had to shoo people away from touching me.
We wonder why people do this, but surely there is no answer. Do people think that they're welcome to touch someone just because they chose to decorate their skin? While we're on this subject of touching, you can stop staring too. There are plenty of pictures of tattooed online or in magazines that your can buy and stare at to your hearts content. Don't let your manners fly out the door when you see a decorated person.
Some people aren't aware of proper tattoo etiquette so I figured I'd take a shot at informing the general public about reviewing designs. If you've sought out an artist and chose them to do your piece, you should trust them. If not, you should keep searching. The creative process is hindered by multiple emails asking about the progress of the design. In fact it's quite annoying, can inhibit motivation, or squash the excitement the artist had for the piece that was present during the consultation.
Another reason we don't like emailing in advance is because some people like to take that design and have someone else tattoo it on them. It's happened to me before, and it's a real kick in the ass. They think they're getting it done cheaper somewhere else. We try to take a deposit that will pay for our time for drawing, but often we put more time into it than expected. We'd make more by doing the tattoo than just the drawing.
Instead of being a buggaboo, make sure you're fully prepared for your initial consultation. This is a very important step of the process. Bring lots of reference pics with detailed descriptions if need be. These references don't need to be pictures of other peoples tattoos, but they can be to show a subject matter, composition, style, or color scheme you like. You can use the internet search illustrations, paintings, or whatever your heart desires. If it's a realistic tattoo, bring in a photo book or clear picture. Never ask an artist to copy someone else's tattoo. This isn't a position we want to be put in. You can also go through your artists portfolio and show them certain aspects of the designs that you like. Give the artist your email address and let them now that they're welcome to email the drawing in advance if they chose to. If you're confident with all of the information you provided and your artist, there shouldn't be a problem.
Most changes to a tattoo design can be made at the appointment. It's beneficial to have you there to make changes so we can work with you during each step. Believe me, it can save a lot of time. If you hate the design, then the appointment will be rescheduled. This is why I ask people NOT to take time off from their jobs unless they have an extrememly flexible schedule. You never know what can happen.
The only time you should email your artist, is if you change your design ideas since the consultation or have to reschedule. In that case, please let the artist know of your change of heart so they don't waste their time drawing up something that you don't want. In the case of rescheduling, if they decide not to work on your design until your next appointment gets closer, the may spend their time on other drawings that need to be done, relaxing or whatever their heart desires.
I've gotten most of my tattoos on the cuff. It's rare that the artist shows me the piece in advance, and I've never asked for it beforehand either. I specifically sought after this person and don't want to disturb them or their normal artistic process. Not to mention if they're that good, then I realize they're probably very busy and don't want me up their asses! I give them a lot of free reign because I want them to run with the minimal ideas that I give them. Hence, I've been extremely happy with all of my tattoo work except my very first tattoo that I walked in and picked off the wall and got done illegally since I was underage (but that's a whole different blog entirely).
Being a tattoo artist, I know the ins and outs of the studio. Don't think that by watching a tattoo show, you're given any insight into what actually happens at a shop. While it's called Reality TV, it's far away from reality. Those people or actors are specifically picked by story writers and producers and directed what to say on camera. Not to mention it's highly edited to further portray the story they want the public to see on TV. Don't be duped and walk into a studio like you know what to expect. Never call with 21 questions either. Come to the shop to ask questions, and the artists or desk person will give you answers.
Every artist works differently. It can be specific to the job at hand. One might chose to draw the design on paper and go directly to stencil on skin. Another method is to draw sections of the actual piece and put this together on your skin in conjunction with some pen to make the final design. Then there is the freehand method in which the artist applies pen to the skin and sketches the design on the skin itself. Pertaining to completed drawings on paper, the piece can look great on paper yet horrible when placed on the body. Even though a tracing of the area is made at the consultation, the artist might see you in person and changes might need to be arranged to fit and enhance the area where it's placed. Therefore, why get hooked on a design beforehand if in person it doesn't fit? Mostly it depends on what you're getting in regards to how the artist will apply it. Leave it up to the them on how they do their work.
Hopefully this wil give you a little insight into your next experience. Perhaps these are things you already know. Work with your artist instead of being arbitrary. You're more likely get a highly creative piece in which the artist will push the limits of their skill to the fullest.
I've been working on some very fun pieces lately, and I want to keep it up. It's such a bummer when someone requests me on short notice, and I'm too busy to get them in. However the pieces I've been working on require a lot of time and prep. I do have some time opening up beginning Sept 14 for Wed and Thurs mornings for 2 hr or less pieces from 9:30am - 11:30am. There;s also a cancellation list I keep and have surprisingly had several cancellations lately. Fear not, I'll do whatever I can to get you in asap.
Enjoy the last couple of days of summer and have a great Labor Day bereft of work if possible. We all deserve some time to relax and enjoy life.
Chinese gender predictor says it's a boy.
Our son says baby sister.
My husband and MIL say boy.
I'd like to balance it out and have a girl, I guess... It really doesn't matter as long as it's healthy! So we find out tomorrow morning. Your guess??
In twenty fours hours, my mood has drastically changed from bad to good. Good thing since I was in the dumps. The house has been a disaster, and that always causes inner turmoil for me. On top of that, due dates for drawings were building up. The pressure to get them done was looming. Besides when my child is unruly and bills are unpaid, these are the most common pressures that push me over the edge.
All it took was to make progress. Since Wednesday I've been hitting the drawing board. Three were done that day, and I still had more. Yesterday morning I did more on a project that was due at 12 and finished at the lst minute since he didn't care to preview. This morning I knocked out another due for today, and a few sketches of ongoing drawings that still need work after approval. I still have one more, a back piece, to do for review tomorrow. However I'm done until later or tomorrow morning. I've been up since 6am drawing and intermittently checking and sending emails, confirming appointments, eating breakfast. Now it's time to get ready for a long day at the studio. There's two large outlines that need to be done, and a second drawing review for a back piece.
Perhaps I booked a little too many new pieces for this week. Someday I will learn to properly and efficiently fill my schedule! Why do I feel bad that people have to wait so long and try to pile it up as I have time available? I just don't always consider how much homework has to be done. This is a lesson to be learned.
Here are a couple of things I've worked on this week.
Add the broth, peas, and rice to a soup pan. Turn the heat to high and bring to a boil. Decrease heat to low, cover and cook at a simmer for 1 hour or until the rice and peas are tender.
Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large (4 to 6-quart) saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion and a generous pinch of salt. Sweat for 5 minutes or until the onions are soft. Add the garlic and mushrooms and continue to cook for another 4 minutes.
Remove from the heat and gently pour the sauteed vegetables and cooked peas and rice into the bowl of a food processor and process until just combined.* Do not puree. Pour this mixture into a bowl and stir in the 3/4 cup of bread crumbs. Season, to taste, with salt and freshly ground pepper. Refrigerate for 30 minutes.
Add the egg and mix together well. Shape the mixture into patties and dredge on each side in the remaining bread crumbs. Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium saute pan over medium heat. Add 2 burgers at a time and saute until brown on each side, approximately 3 to 4 minutes per side. To grill, cook on high for 3 to 4 minutes per side as well. You might have to add more olive oil on each batch. Serve immediately.
I omitted the nutmeg and added a creamy roux after blending while heating on low (butter, flour and then whisked in some milk and heavy cream sine I like it low fat. lol)
If how your husband devours a dish divulges how much he loves you, I'll make this pot roast once a week. It was wicked easy to make too. Recently I've been upset with the outcome of my crock pot recipes, but this one has give me hope again.
Ingredients:
3 tbs olive oil
1.2 lb -piece beef bolar blade
2 large onions, halved, cut into thin wedges
1 cups red wine
1/2 cup stock (beef)
tsp black peppercorns
4 large fresh thyme sprigs
3 fresh or dried bay leaves
2 tbs butter
2 tbs flour
Method
1. Heat half the oil in a fry pan over medium-high heat. Add the beef and cook, turning occasionally, for 8-10 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a plate.
2. Heat the remaining oil in the pan over medium-high heat. Add the onion and cook, stirring, for 5 minutes or until soft.
3. Add the beef, red wine, stock, peppercorns, thyme and bay leaves to the crock pot. Turn on crock pot to low for 7 hours.
4. Remove beef and let rest before slicing (or shredding). Reserve liquid from crock pot using a strainer and set aside.
5. Melt butter in sauce pan, and add flour. Cook for one minute. Whisk in reserved liquid from crock pot and whisk until thickened to make a gravy.
6. Serve with mashed potatoes and a comfort veggie like peas.
Despite my husbands awful sinus infection, he ate more than one giant portion. Actually I was shocked at how much he ate. The leftovers (if any) are also great as a sandwich with cheddar cheese, horseradish mayonnaise, and roasted red peppers on a roll.
We've escaped to see my Father in Law and wife to a remote island in the Chesapeake Bay. We arrived Thursday in the wee hours after a crazy car ride of dropping off our dogs at two separate families' homes and our son throwing up all over himself 3/4 into the ride. Once we got there it was smooth sailing. Yesterday we had a blast biking on the island, walking around the closest town that has some tourist shops, boating, and dining at my FIL's restaurant. This morning we acquired some crabbing supplies and a license, and set out to do some crabbing. This was fun for us, but Talon was miserable after awhile. We managed to catch tons of crabs, although many of them were under the specs for keeping. I could've done it for a couple more hours even though it was so hot and the sweat was pouring from my brow. The crabs are cooked and ready for harvesting the meat. I plan on taking it home and making some crab cakes and chowder if we have any meat left. I don't want to leave here. Relaxing and traveling is what recharges my battery and I've needed it.
Tonight we travel home after supping at the restaurant again. Then it's back to the grind. I can't wait to some back again.
Some info in case you want to book an appointment. I'm going to attach this to my emails since I don't want to waste anyone's time nor my own.
1. Tattoo appointments are presently booking two months in advance. Consultations can usually be booked within a week or two.
2. At the consultation, please bring any reference material you want me to be inspired by or images that you don't want it to look like if you're not very sure of what you want. Make sure your printouts are high definition and on good quality paper. Portrait photos need to be IN FOCUS! And usually 4"x6" or bigger. Professional photos preferred if possible. I can print out photographs for an additional charge added to the price of your tattoo.
3. A $100 cash deposit is required to book an appointment. It's nonrefundable and will go towards the final session to complete your tattoo if the piece takes more than one session.
If the tattoo takes one session, we will give you a price for the piece once it's drawn up. We can give you an approximate quote beforehand. Tattoos that take multiple sessions are priced at $150 pr hr.
4. The drawing will be available to view within a few days of your appointment via email per your request. If you want to view it in person, please ask to make a drawing review appt a day or two prior to your tattoo appointment. Drawings won't be done for you unless you book your tattoo appointment or drawing review and leave a deposit.
5. I prefer to book appointments for the Body Graphics Pennsauken, NJ location. There is free off street parking and private rooms for tattooing.
6. Please give 24 hrs notice to reschedule an appointment.
7. I don't suggest booking appt's unless you have time off. Please don't take time off from work to get a tattoo.
8. I'm pregnant and will be taking a maternity leave from Dec 22 - approx the middle or end of February 2012. If you want to book an appointments in 2012 now, we can begin setting dates in March.
These are some of the guidelines and basic information about how I prefer to work. After 15 years in the business, I know what works best for me. Some people want a design before making a tattoo appointment, and I will do that. However they will have to wait a couple of months like everyone else. Then after reviewing the line drawing, they might have to wait another 2 months before getting the piece done. I do prefer doing the sketch when there is a tattoo appointment booked. Due to experience, I feel as if the people who book the tattoo appointment are more clear in their visions and absolutely want the tattoo done.
The reason why I suggest making a tattoo appointment in your spare time is because you never know what will happen with you or me. I'm pregnant and have a toddler, and we don't use a daycare since my husband and I don't work "normal" day schedules. We're usually passing ships and hand over the care of our son to each other. If you aren't feeling well, please don't come in! If you aren't in a good state of mind or financially fit to spend money on the luxury such as a tattoo, please give me ample notice to reschedule. I'm a pretty understanding person and hope that my clients are the same birds of a feather.
Last week was insanely busy as usual. I really felt it in my hands and wrists since everyday since Saturday, I've woken up with numb hands through the night and into the morning. I must get the braces! That's today's mission for sure.
Here's some pieces I worked on last week. The first one here is finally completed after an unknown amount of hours put into it.
This is an add on to another existing. I love floral and plant life so i can't wait to get some more work in on this.
Pardon the photography skills since the pic came out terrible because of poor lighting. This was a fun and quick project of only 6 hours or less. However, it's a cover up and we'll be going back in there in a month or two to add some more shading on top
This week will be a short work week. I have to work tonight through Friday, and then I have four consecutive days off. I'm so happy I could burst!!!
Day four of my guest trip up to MA, and once again I can't sleep in past the 5 o clock hour. I was unable to get everyone in this time around. As usual there are too many people to tattoo, so little time. I'm considering adding another guest spot in September, but I' have no idea how I'll feel then. I'll be in the end of the second trimester of pregnancy during that month.
These guest spots are few and far between nowadays with a growing family. People who have traveled to me are going to get first choice for appointments when I'm up here. If you decide to come and visit from New England to NJ or have traveled to another spot out of the region to get tattooed by me, you will be rewarded with this. Please consider making a trip down there. It's only an hour and a half drive or less from NYC on good travel times, which I can inform you about if you ask. I have availability in Philadelphia also which is a huge center of culture and history of this country. It's only an hour a from Atlantic City, too. Or you can do what I did when my first son was born, go down and back up in one day. I've made the trip so many times over the years, it's your turn if you haven't made it down.
Perhaps when my children get older, they can travel with me for work. I dream of having an RV, and they can camp and explore an area while I tattoo. Now this won't be for many years, but someday perhaps this can happen.
So much to do, so little time. Today is my day off since last Monday. My son and I had a bustling morning going to the farm to get eggs, breakfast at the diner where Talon discovered waffles for the first time, and a trip to Whole Foods. Then we settled at home for play,lunch, and crafting some bath products. I'm very excited to add bubbles to the Ecodarling product list as soon as products are ready. We made some foaming bath bombs with new circular molds in lavender and orange scent and some Cherry Vanilla bubble hearts for a lovely bath. Let's hope that the recipes turn out great so we can start offering these products.
I don't know why I just can't stop and relax... I make these lovely bath products, and I should take the time to use them!!
This past week was mad! I worked my tush off, and even a coworker of mine was a little shocked and wondered if I'd keep that up my whole pregnancy. I hope I can resist the desire to work like a dog. I love what I do and feel as if I need to get it in before I get super huge when I won't be able to handle the same work load.
Anywho.....
Here's a sneak peak at the new bomb shape. These aren't easy to mold... For example, check out the one n the back. OOPS!!
I can't possibly keep up with all of the emails and booking appt's these days. I feel as if some are falling through the cracks. Not putting a face to a name or a voice to a face, it seems so impersonal lately. Therefore I'm getting a work phone number so that my clients can call instead of email. Will be posting the number soon. It will be business only!!!
This week flew by, and I'm feeling it. 10 - 12 hours of work a day tattooing for the past 5 days has taken its toll on me. There wasn't much time to break either. The physical side effects are surely annoying since now I have some down time. My hands are intermittently numb and my lower back is having sciatica nerve pain. Awesome...
It also seems as if "baby brain" has kicked in right in time for this trip. I left my laptop at the security check point in Philly on the way out. On the way back, I discovered that my black, lining ink bottle had leaked ALL over my equipment and travel case and the shuttle driver who helped me pick it up. I ended up leaving my cell phone on the shuttle because I was in such a tizzy. Certainly this is a sign from up above that after the next trip up to Massachusetts at the end of June, I'm done with traveling for some time.
Now let's see if I can stick with that. My career in this industry just had it's 15 year anniversary, and I've been traveling since 1999. I deserve a break. Not to mention I'm pregnant with our second child. Nuff said...
There's the front garden containing 7 heirloom tomatoes, one hybrid tomato, and four different heirloom hot peppers. I still have to put cages around the tomatoes so that they'll be able to flourish and grow to their maximum heights of 6 - 8 feet tall. Last year I planted too closely so hopefully this year will be more productive.
I had to transplant some bulbs, 5 herbs, and a large thyme bush to the back in a raised bed. I'm hoping that this move is successful ad the lettuce will cooperate in the herb bed. While I'm away in Fl, my husband is going to build another raised bed, 6 ft squared, so that I can plant the rest of the seedlings. We still have several varieties of squash, a couple of pumpkins, cucumbers, 3 basils, parsley, and melons.
What I would do for a piece of land to call our own. Although I'm trying to get the most use of what we live on now, it's going to take a lot of our dogs area from them. I guess we'll just have to walk them more!
Today at work we were breathing in polyurethane fumes all thee live long day. That's probably not the best thing to do, but what can I do?! Anywhow I got 5 hours of color in on this alien abduction piece. I'm pretty happy so far, but I can't wait to get in there again to add more and tighten it up.
I wonder if that is how all of the Christians will be evacuated that believe Judgement Day begins today?
After work, the fam and I went for a drive to pick up our local bounty. First stop was picking up our farm raised free range eggs at 7th Heaven Farm. We jumped out of the car to observe some sheep herding. Then we ventured to their friends place in the boonies to pick up our Organic seedling order. Their farm was pretty sweet. They kept an array of birds - guinea fowl, a variety of pheasants, chickens, geese, wild turkey, and the biggest, fluffiest domestic turkey we'd ever seen. He was puffing his feathers out and gobbling the whole time we were there. Then we stopped for an unsuccessful ice cream trip.
Now let the planning for the planting begin. I acquired way too many plants. We have about 7 heirloom tomato varieties which can grow 6 - 8 ft. We have one small hybrid that's small. Also we have a sampling of winter squashes, melons, basil, lettuce, cucumbers, pumpkins, and hot peppers. My husband constructed a raised bed, but I have a feeling he'll be constructing another this year. I can't wait to get these in the ground. With the CSA farm share and our own garden, we should be able to avoid shopping in the market quite a bit.
Don't hate on this tattoo just because it isn't Johnny Cash, Bob Marley, or Jimi Hendrix...
It's NKOTB from their last album that came out a few years ago. The young lady who wears this tattoo is now a cruise with them somewhere in the Caribbean. She is a die hard fan (obviously). We put on the outline in grey quick passes during one session. Then the shading on each portrait was done at each session, except we shaded Joey and Danny at the same time. She sat like a champ, too. I'm sure she would've been fine with two at a time, but she preferred it that way. This pic was after a touch up session that I usually offer to people after the tattoo is healed so that I can go back and tighten up the piece. I can't wait to see it healed. We'll be adding more to the rest of her back to complete it as one large, flowing piece.
This one was done over several sessions. The first was to get the stencil on. I used carbon stenciling and also freehanded some of the design on with pen since it was a partial cover up and add to triple XXX's. There is some thick black design hidden underneath the vines next to each side of the x's. Then we did the whole outline in one session. She came back 2 (or 3 I can't remember) to add color and viola!!
This pic was after the second session. On the first, we put on the stencil, freehanded some parts, and then tattooed in the outline. During the second session, we shaded the background and maple leaves. We have a little more outline to do on the inside arm, but I wanted to make sure he wanted a severed head before I put the time in drawing it.
This Mayan deity, the Quetzalcoatl, was tattooed in two sessions on this genteleman's back. First was a couple of hours outlining, and the second we shaded the whole piece in. He's also a champ in my book.
I am MISERABLE right now. Yesterday I didn't feel great, but I still worked. Today I went in super early to draw and couldn't stop sneezing, coughing, nose running, and eyes itching. After much debate, I decided to reschedule my first appointment and play it by ear with the second. Then I called my Dr to see what meds I could take since and got the ok for Claritin. Meds ingested, but I'm still having these symptoms. My nose is raw and red.
I'm wondering if I'm going to be able to work tomorrow... This is crazy!
There are two guest spots planned in the next couple of month's. You might want to jump in on these appointments if you want to get tattooed by me at these locations because there's no telling when I'll be back.
May 24 - 28: Now booking at Hart & Huntington Orlando Walk ins and appointments available. Please call (407) 373-0718 to book an appointment.
June 27- 30: Now booking at Good Mojo Tattoos in Beverly, MA at then end of June. Only a few slots left!! I'm not taking any new work unless I can't fill the spots with already started pieces. Old clients especially with ongoing deposits will be taken first. I can put you on my waiting list if you're a new client. Perhaps I'll be back up there in the end of the summer or fall, but there's no guarantee. Please email me at teganink@me.com if you want an appointment at Good Mojo.
Sunday night was truly a shock. After working a long day, I came home to waiting for the president's speech on the attack mission which killed Osama Bin Laden amongst 40 people. It couldn't help but sadden me to see people rejoicing in his death. Although he himself was a killer, hate breeds hate while love conquers all.
Is this an odd coincidence that Hitler was killed 66 years ago to date?
Several things bothered me. It seemed fishy to me that the body wasn't pictured such as has it had been in the past for other super villians such as Che Guevarra or Saddam Hussein. Also it was claimed that he would be buried in a traditional Muslim manner yet he was buried at see, a practice Muslim's don't follow. Not to mention the barbaric celebration of death was disheartening. Being a pacifist, I will never understand the desire to be violent towards others. Ever since I could remember as a young child, I have always been saddened by war.
Violence doesn't make sense to me especially since I grew up with a somewhat religious back ground in Christianity and then leaned towards Buddhism, and humanist beliefs. Every where I seemed to search for spiritual guidance, it always pointed to the practice of non violence.
Matthew 5:44 reads,
"But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you"
Ghandi is quoted, "I object to violence because when it appears to do good, the good is only temporary; the evil it does is permanent."
Martin Luther King, Jr said, "The ultimate weakness of violence is that it is a descending spiral, begetting the very thing it seeks to destroy. Instead of diminishing evil, it multiplies it. Through violence you may murder the liar, but you cannot murder the lie, nor establish the truth. Through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate. In fact, violence merely increases hate. So it goes. ... Returning hate for hate multiplies hate, adding deeper darkness to a night already devoid of stars. Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."
“Peace cannot be achieved through violence, it can only be attained through understanding.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson.
"Heroism on command, senseless violence, and all the loathsome nonsense that goes by the name of patriotism - how passionately I hate them!"
Albert Einstein
A day like that helps you forget how people in Alabama just lost their homes due to the wrath of nature and those who were spared still have no power and are suffering. Perhaps you forgot how much gas was per gallon while BP made a whopping $6,079,000,000 the first quarter if this year. Maybe you considered that the cuts in program's like WIC, Planned Parenthood, PBS, and program's that help the less fortunate was worth it in order to increase our military budget protect our "homeland peace". While terrorism is a horrible thing, so are the other main killer's of the America public - heart disease, cancer, diabetes, AIDS, etc. My hopes are for peace and that compassion will spread.
Got this email from my client yesterday:
"Just wanted to let you know I just took the bandage off and the tat looks fucking awesome (sorry for the language but i love it)
Brian
Sent from my iPhone"
I should put this and other emails like it in my testimonial section on my tattoo site. Things like this makes me smile. Thanks for all of your positive feedback.
While I learn to plan my work schedule in a more rational pace, other home projects pop up. We're planning on having a bigger and better garden than last year so we were looking into doing some raised beds in the back yard while keeping an herb garden in the small front plot. Despite the fact that we rent in the burbs', our land size is quite urban in nature.
The question is, "To build or not to build?" We could save some serious cash doing it this way. However, can we borrow the tools needed to build, and is my husband willing and able to tackle this task? I'm not putting my eggs in this part of the basket, although it's tempting to get it done asap. Give a girl a table saw, and you don't want to find out what happens with this clutz.
So while my Organic heirloom seedlings are growing at a local hobby gardener's farm, we must figure this situation out. Last year we planted late. We still had a good harvest although this year, all of our seeds are organic and not the GMO ones from the garden center. Yay! It's too bad that we have to do research to find the good stuff. We'll be able to harvest the seeds and also use them if we incline this year.
Wishing we had our own farm.... Animals, bees, fruits, and veggies.
Of course my son slept over his Mimi's house last night so I went to bed late and woke up early. Great plan. I guess I'm trying to enjoy some alone time and get things done that I haven't been able to manage. The other day I was discussing that there are no longer real days off when you have a child. At least they aren't the same. Selfishness is set aside for when they grow up and move out of the house. I suppose I'm taking advantage of time alone instead of unobstructed sleep, which I haven't had since before my beloved child was born.
My husband and I could really use a vacation. Please note that if anyone wants to trade a vacation time share for tattoo work, I'm down. Last night we were reminiscing of the times we went away when we first met - LA, Vegas, Daytona. We would come and go on the chopper, go out to eat anytime we wanted. A little taste of that for a few days would be nice.
Anyway there's so much I want to do, but finding the priorities is what's important. Of course the blog was changed. How do you like the new layout? I also finally exported my old iTunes libraries to my present one so that I could update the iPod my hubby gifted to me on my birthday weeks ago. It's like having new music all over again. It'd be nice to get a hair cut and do some shopping, but really I should clean and draw a sleeve for tomorrow. It would be ideal to have it all.
At least I've updated my portfolio at Body Graphics, and I now have an official cover up book. Although I don't have all of before pics for some old cover ups and especially ones that I won awards from. It's been trying to get people to send me healed pics of their work that I want in my portfolio too. I really have some that I'm so proud of and want to share. That's a common plight of the tattoo artist. The work really isn't yours. Anyway, if you have any healed pieces, please send high res digital pics to teganink@mac.com. The best way to photograph them is without a flash in non direct natural sunlight. Just saying.
Cleaning is a never ending cycle here at our house. I have no idea how my house keeps on turning into a disaster area. Well.... actually we had people over here on Sunday and most complied with the "no shoes" rule. However, there is dirt everywhere from the kids coming in and out from the backyard. Not to mention the dogs aren't wiping their paws off when they come in and out. Yesterday on my day off I tackled the kitchen dishes, the mountain of laundry, and organizing my own clothing. It's still a disaster. Since I have to work today, I've been answering the endless emails for scheduling and rescheduling and printing out new pics for my portfolio. I don't know where to begin!
I wanted to make a better "cover up" section in my portfolio or a whole book in itself. However I've lost so many older photos due to the laziness of not backing the computers of the past up and losing many great pics. It's a bummer since I did win Best Cover Up at the Boston Tattoo Convention three years in a row. Here are some photos:
Even though they are't the most complicated or the award winning ones, I'm still pretty psyched to have them as examples in my books. It's about time I updated my portfolios.
On another note, where did Spring go? We had to go out and buy some summer clothing for Talon yesterday since it's now suddenly summer here in South Jersey. We also raided Bed Bath and Beyond with a stack of coupons in hand. Let me add that their coupons never actually expire and you can use Buy Buy Baby coupons there too. Plus you can use as many as you want. So we went home with some great frames, Steamer balls, a steamer, kitchen mitts, and a Bodum espresso maker from the clearance section. Score!
After shopping, my son had to have noodles so we stopped in a local Vietnamese restaurant. He commenced to embarass me twice here. First he was pointing to a group of guys and yelling "Bad Guys" over and over. Then when his food came out, it landed on the table causing a stink. He said "ew, Mommy farted!" over and over. I couldn't help but crack up at both of the incidences. That kid is a riot.
So now here I am finishing up laundry and wondering where to begin the cleaning and then drawing for one of my appointment's today. Let the craziness of the work week begin after a couple days off. I'm out!!
That's the product of 7 days of brining, 2 hours of drying on a rack, and 3 hours of smoking late into the night. After falling asleep and not waking up from my 1:30am alarm, I jumped off the couch at 3am to remove the beloved bacon from it's cooking vessel. This morning was a delightful breakfast despite the extreme anxiety I had about overbooking myself once again.
Someday I will get the hang of it. Now that I'm on an appointment only schedule, I've still been packing the work to the hilt. However, I had a cancellation tomorrow and eased one of today's appointment's in the slot. Initially I had a smooth day planned, but put someone else in instead of my original appointment after receiving some terrible news from a client. I felt like I wanted to appease this client by putting her husband in since her health isn't good enough to get tattooed. So now all is good for this Good Friday Earth Day. Tomorrow should be just as smooth as well. After the past couple of crazy busy days of non stop tattooing and drawing, I'm now decompressing to a normal busy schedule instead of an insane one. Let this be a lesson to myself.
So now I can get ready for work in a normal fashion. Perhaps I can skip putting make up on at red lights. Tonight I will get home, begin the curing process of a fresh ham for feasting on Sunday. Oh yes, there will be quite a feast besides the visit of the Easter Bunny. My son will be so happy and full of candy yet another day, and we will have a couple of days of rest and family fun.
The sound of electronic waves crashing from my son's sound machine fill the air of the house. All is pretty quiet here after a busy day off. The hubby was at work today so we ventured out to a local "farm" to decorate cookies with one of our play groups. The weather was poor so I invited everyone back to the house for an impromptu play date so the kids could interact. After everyone left, there was a time consuming tantrum and a battle to get him to nap. The hampster habitrails were cleaned during the crankiness. Finally he went down, and I got to shower for the first time in two days (or so). In retrospect, before kids there was so much freedom. Although, life is more fulfilling even though the terrible two's can make anyone go batty.
Tonight I got to escape and see Vanishing of the Bees at a local theatre. it was part of a film festival hosted by Whole Foods. The turn out was pretty bleak. Too bad since the film was very informative, and it validates that choosing Organic and local produce is the way to go. Call your congress people and speak your mind, folks. Bees are pretty darn important, and we could be in trouble if we keep up factory farming. We left soon after the next movie, Planeat, began. It was another food documentary trying to suggest eating mostly plant based protein diet and avoiding meat. I've had an overload of vegetarian propaganda lately so that didn't hold my interest.
Tomorrow begins a crazy four days of work. I have to draw most of the day, and tattoo at night. Thursdays seem to becoming a regular 12 hour day, and this week is no exception. Friday is jam packed 10 hr day as well as Saturday.
Somewhere in there, I'm going to have to smoke my cured pork belly to transform it into bacon. I guess that day will be tomorrow... Rain please don't come til later...
I'm pretty excited for this Holiday feast in which I'll be curing and cooking my first ham. If it fails, then we always have rabbit to back it up. I'm sure my family is beyond excited to eat the rabbit Ok I just answered a bunch of work emails, and now I'm off to bed if I can sleep. For some reason the full moon is giving me insomnia. I'm feeling energized and free in a quiet house.
This week's culinary endeavors will allow me to add more home made charcuterie to my repertoire. There's some pork belly in the fridge being cured in a brine, and it'll be ready to smoke in a few days. A fresh ham is defrosting and will be ready for it's brine in a few days. It's funny to think that 16 years ago, I was a vegetarian for some time. Not anymore!
I'm all about experimenting with meat. Of course we try to get local, humanely raised and slaughtered, free range, grass fed products. Last fall, we purchased a half pig and 1/8 cow, We're almost out of both. I was lucky enough to get the cuts from the pig that allowed me to experiment with delicacies such as head cheese and now the bacon and ham. Due to bartering with a meat man, our deep freezer is stocked to the hilt. Check out the bacon brine about 4 days in.
While I'm experimenting with meat and home made body products, my son is obsessed with photography. He enjoys "playing pictures". In fact, he's taking some now with my Nikon D 40x. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree. His paternal grandfather is a photographer, and I'm an amateur photographer myself due to taking photographs daily to add to my tattoo portfolio. Check out some of his handy work from an egg hunt with one of our play groups the other day.
He's awesome, isn't he?!
My husband thinks I'm crazy because he says I do too much. Perhaps this is true, however I enjoy making everything home made as much as possible. This includes cooking, crafting body products, and hobby gardening in the small amount of land at our place. Well add my work - drawing and tattooing to that as well as raising my son, and is that too much? Not for me. Idle hand to the work of the devil so they say. A client suggested that I'm such a control freak that I need to have my hands in everything we use. At least I don't solder my own needles anymore. I don't make my own clothes. He thinks I validated the craziness when I mentioned the other day that I was goign to extract lanolin from sheep's wool. Our egg and meat farmer, Carla from 7th Heaven Farm said that she has an ample amount of wool so I'm interested in breaking it down for use in some Eco Darling products. A girl needs hobbies, right?!
Whoa nelly! 13 hours of drawing and tattooing yesterday. Thankfully in between the drawing and going to work to tattoo, I managed to brush my teeth and take a 4 minute shower. If it weren't for the 25 minute commute and red lights, I'd never have a chance to apply make up. Therefore the next three days I'm taking off with lots of fun to be had. Although drawing must be done at some point, I'm really happy to have some free time. This morning we meet my old friend and her son, and took the train to the Aquarium for a play date. My son was elated, and I was hoping for a LONG nap. That didn't happen since the transfer from the car was unsuccessful.
Another Spa Night got cancelled so I won't be showing off my body products. Anyone want to host a party? Please? I've got quite a bit of stuff, and want to share it with y'all.
There's more to come. There's some pork belly in the fridge defrosting in prep for a quick cure for bacon. Thursday night is a ladies night, which I haven't had in a very long time. Friday is an egg hunt and who knows what. Wait... maybe we should get those taxes done, eh?!
Here's some o the pieces I've done lately:
Saturday and Sunday I'll be back to work. Then Monday - Wednesday, my son and I are venturing up north to visit family. We're hoping for good weather so that we can make a visit to the zoo. Can't wait to spend some time with family. It's been awhile.
Since few days ago, I've officially been alive for 33 years. The day before my husband and I celebrated at a sweet gastropub in Fishtown, Philadelphia called Kraftwork. Recently I've found out that it's a fave place to several of my clients. I highly suggest this place for a fancy dinner in a laid back atmosphere. If you like beer, there are several to choose from. If you like adventurous food, you will enjoy yourself. We were hooked up with some extra dishes compliments from Chef Brian. He rocked it out of the ballpark - oysters, goat cheese terrine, fried poached egg with frech green garbanzo beans in truffle oil. Only a couple of bites went into my actual entree, a pork belly sandwich on a hearty bread. yowza...
On my birthday, I worked at No Ka Oi for 12 hours. It took so much out of me, and I was toasted and not feeling well on Friday. The last couple of days I worked, but took it easy. The next two days are balls to the wall, and then I get a three day break from tattooing.
Although I have three days off from the shop, there is so much to do. With tax day looming over our heads and a spa party in which I'll be showing off my products, I'm hoping to get some relaxation in there some time.
Speaking of relaxation, I need some sleep. Good night to all, and I'm hoping my son sleeps in tomorrow.
Life is busy as usual here at the compound. The soap wasn't made today due to rain. However, my MIL gave me some base soap from a batch she made that's already cured. It'll be milled into some nice shapes and flavors hopefully next week. Two weeks are needed for it to cure after that process, and then then Eco Darling will have soap available. Woohoo!
Last night many Bath "not" Bombs were crafted. Now you can purchase Serenity scented and tinted with beet powder, Vanilla with Sandalwood, and more Lavender Orange since we sold out of those. Facial grains exfoliating scrub with pink clay was made also. It may also double as a mask once a week. As a mask, this new concoction is for more normal to dry skin as opposed to our other facial grain scrub/mask, which is for normal to oily.
Today I finally got the hang of frosting the Bath Cupcakes, and they'll be ready to go for our first Eco Darling Soiree on Thursday night. They really look good enough to eat.
If you want an Easter basket for your special someone, please your orders in soon since it's right around the corner. I can make the Bath "not" Bombs in egg shapes for an extra charge, and also display them in cartons. Also we can use Easter inspired shapes for the Lotion Bars or soaps too. You'll just have to hurry with the soaps though due to the curing process. Mother's Day is coming up so don't forget about Eco Darling when shopping for your favorite mom.
If you want to host a party, please let me know. Just to let you know what is planned for a party, I'm going to write about it here. It's not all about looking and smelling what we have available, it's a full on audience participation spa party. We'll do a facial cleansing, a facial scrub/mask, toning, and using a cold creme. You can sample the lip conditioner too. Also we will be soak our hands in warm water with a sample Bath "not" Bombs fizzie or bath salts and then testing the body scrubs on our hands to simulate what these will be like for your whole body. Then you will be free to sample lotion bars, whipped body butter, and body butter. I will also bring information about the benefits of the ingredients used in the products. If you enjoy all natural body products, you will love this kind of party.
I'd love to share these great products with you. I assure you they will help create a wonderful bathing experience, and your glowing skin will shine for days after. So email me if you're interested, and we can schedule a time that most convenient for you.
The weather is so beautiful right now. It's sunny, and I'm outside typing away. I wish it would stay this way. My son is napping peacefully inside. We had a fun morning except it was tough to leave the house. As I got ready, he came up completely naked. Why do kids do this?
The other day we had a pretty big scare. T was barely walking because something was wrong with his leg. In fact, he was crawling and avoiding walking. So I had to cancel a day at work just in case, we had to make a trip to the emergency room.
It's crazy how sick he's been for the past couple of months. He's now on his third antibiotic because on Wednesday the Dr said he still had an ear infection. He despises the meds regardless of the flavors added and occasionally pukes up all over the place. This was the scenario last night. Just as I was about to put him to bed, I gave him his medicine and blammo. Puke everywhere. Hopefully this weather will clear the germs.
I loathe the overuse of antibiotics and wish we didn't have to give them to him so much. One would think that a child who drank breast milk for the first 20 months of his life, would have a strong immune system. Not my little guy. Perhaps this bout of illness will kick his immune system into overdrive.
Today I signed up for a Transcendental Meditation seminar in my home town. I'm so excited. Yesterday while I was having some anxiety, I remembered that this was something I'd always wanted to learn. After searching the local TM office, I was happy to find a free class next week. This is certainly meant to be. So many inspiring and creative people, specially David Lynch, uses TM. After reading his book years ago, I'm finally going to learn what it's all about. More often than not, I have anxiety and let stress get to me. Hopefully, this practice will do wonders for me. Well that is if I can afford it. Fingers crossed.
Tomorrow my mother and law and I will be making a soap base while my son naps (knock on wood). In six weeks after it cures, it'll be transformed into other specific soaps such as milk and honey in cute shapes and sizes for the Eco Darling Body Care Line. I'll be sure to make some for flavors for the Eco dudes out there too. I'm especially excited to make a shaving cream bar, but I have some time before it'll be ready.
My client is awesome for getting someone ot take an amazing pic of a tattoo for me on the day after. Here's the reference pic. I love doing portraits, animals, humans, whatever. So let me know if you want to book some time at No Ka Oi or Body Graphics. I'm booking a month or more in advance for weekends FYI.
