Bags

After seeing Gucci’s Tatoo Heart collection hit stores last year I was rather annoyed.  They took a genre I loved, didn’t do anything inspirational with it, and they’re charging crap loads of money for it…………………….

Gucci = $4590 US!?

So, I decided to head to one of my favorite sites, Etsy, and check the lastest tattoo inspired bags they had to offer.  Here are some of the awesome results!

Colored Swallow Tattoo clutch by cheaptherapy = $40 US

Graffiti Hobo bag by UniquelyDifferent = $34 US

Roses clutch by vozclothingandart = $22 US

Pirate Girls purse-box by ghostgirl11 = $30 US

Knuckle Tattoo tote by livingthread = $30

Comments Please!

Hey you out there, I’d love to hear what you think about this blog, the images you see, ideas, etc.  Help me create a better blog!

Your Tattoo S#%*$

OK, I have to fess up.  I am a bit of a tattoo snob.  Your tattoo will instantly grab my attention, but if it’s bad, then I will dismiss you.  I’m not really proud of my judgmental nature, but I really can’t help myself.  If you have a tattoo of a butterfly, a dolphin, or barbed wire, there’s a good chance I don’t want to know you.

Now there’s some great news for @ssholes like me!  We can indulge in schadenfreude together with the book “No regrets: The Best, Worst, & Most #$%*ing Ridiculous Tattoos Ever” by Aviva Yael (with forward by David Cross!!?).  And on the flip side, while I may hate your bad tattoo,  I will fall in love with you in a heart beat if you have awesome ink!

Rock on Taiwan

As an expat living in Taiwan, I was excited to hear that this year, for the first time, Taiwanese artist were invited to the Milan Tattoo Convention.  Over 200 artists participated in this years convention. The  Taiwanese artists included Yang Jing-hsiang, Jess Yen, and Chen Shih-Yong.  Taiwan came away with two gold medals and one silver.  To read more, check  here.  It’s great to see that Taiwan is entering the international tattoo scene.

On Wings

Back wings have been quite trendy for women in recent years.  From cutesy fairy wings to Elayne Angel’s wings (the first piece of body art to receive a patent). Here’s a photograph of a very unique pair of wings. I’d love to see the whole tattoo.

[image credit: Clarissa Rech]

No Sugar No Milk

Here are some pretty original tattoo designs by Oliver Heublein out of Germany.  I’m going to try and convince my tatless boyfriend to get the “no sugar no milk” one tattooed.  Enjoy and check out more of his flash on his flickr account here.

Today’s Picture

I love the washed out tone of this photograph, not to mention the gorgeous sleeve!

[image credit: atonement]

Introducing Sunny Buick

Sunny Buick has been both a tattoo artist and a contemporary artist.  Her paintings and prints are influenced by her interest in and experience with tattoos.  In her own words….

“I’m an artist. I like to sew. I like vintage stuff.

I was born in British Columbia, Canada in a small cabin in the woods. I was then raised in California by a single hippy mother, who always encouraged my creative spirit. Finally arriving in San Francisco at age fifteen after years and years of constant displacement, I finally felt at home. The next year I decided to become a tattoo artist after meeting some influential misfits. Many years later after finishing college I gained a tattoo apprenticeship with Henry Goldfield and it was in North Beach, not too far from where Lenny Bruce fell out of his hotel window that my career was started. My work is heavily influenced by tattoo imagery which has become a symbolic language in my paintings.”

Check out her art here.

Aren’t you a little short for a stormtrooper?

I love this piece by BigFatRobot because it has tattoo style, nerd factor, and a serious sense of humor.  You can pick up your own copy of “Bettie Trooper” as a print or T-shirt.  Go check out BigFatRobot’s site on redbubble here.

Off to Thailand

I’m going to be gone this week,  I’m off to Thailand.  While I’m there I plan on checking out some traditional tattooing.  Thailand has a Buddhist tradition of getting tattoos with symbols of protection, and often there still done with a long needle by hand, amazing!

[image credit: Amanda Roberts]