Tattoo Love

I've been talking about my tattoos recently, and what with me booking a couple of hours for Calvin and I in a few weeks time, I thought I'd share my tattoos with you!

Since I was young I loved them. My mum got her first (and only one) when I was about 10. A fairly mediocre fairy on her shoulder. My dad, however, utterly detests them, I think more because he doesn't understand the link between Tattoos and Art, or why anybody would want them on their body forever. 

My first tattoo was in May 2011 and was of a large Chrysanthemum in the middle of my shoulder blades, done by Davey Robertson, Cruithni, Hull, UK. It took about 2 and 1/2 hours, and was just about bearable! I was 19 when I got it and probably held on a little longer as I was scared of the pain. I don't even have my ears pierced because of this. 

The plan was to get two Japanese Ranchu goldfish on either side, made to look like Koi, but a little different. I didn't do that however, and got my second tattoo on my right shoulder blade of my "The Cat Returns" inspired maneki neko, or lucky cat. 

Horribly sore >_<

This was done in December 2011 in about 2-3 hoursby my local tattoo artist friend, Betty Banzai, Noir Bizarre, Hull, UK. I wanted it to look odd, not your typical cat, with watercolour-esque colours. The Japanese kanji is "Geibun" 芸文 for Art and Literature and the other is "Chi" 智 for intellect/wisdom/knowledge (also Satoshi which is the first name of the guy who created Pokemon!). 

My third is my beautiful, female, fu-dog/shishi. I got her on my right thigh by the amazing artist, Andy Walker, Creative Vandals, Hull, UK. This was my longest piece and took a solid 8 hours, and it's still not finished! I got my fu-dog to represent my appreciation of asian/japanese culture, for protection and for fertility.

I love everything about it and just epitomises why tattoos are important to me. It's art, meaning, symbolism and life events all roled into one!

I am very excited to be starting on my sleeve in just 10 days! I've decided to go about further afield and get tattooed by Sneaky Mitch Allenden's apprentice, Alicia Rafferty at Inspirations Studio, Leeds, UK. I love her work, and she has really grown over the last few months that I've been following her posts. I will be getting her old-school rendition of this beauty by Camilla d'Errico!

As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to have it tattooed on me somewhere. The catgirl-esque mask made out of hair, the cat ears and the blue and yellow eyes! Firstly, a mask out of hair?! It just screams to me imagination, creativity and fun to make yourself into something else so easily. It seems so fun and child-like. And the blue and yellow eyes? Well, the combination of blue and yellow is so magical to me. It's often used in films to make the scene look more futuristic/interesting. I see it all the time and I drive my Calvin mad with it every time I point it out!

I'm really excited to see what Alicia comes up with, and to get tattooed in just 10 days! EEK! And in such a prominent space. I'm quite a bit scared about it! 

Peace and Love!

xx

What's to come?

Hello my Sweeties!

I hope you had a really good time turning in the new year! Calvin and I had some nice food, chilled out watching TV and then watched the London Fireworks, which were frankly, A-MA-ZING! Remixed ELO and a mega abundance of fireworks, what could be better?

2012 was a difficult year. This time 12 months ago I was planning the start of my new business, very excited and researching all my potential suppliers! I also finished one course and started another. Going back to uni was the best decision I could've made, being a few years older, I've really appreciated it and know the importance of studying, rather than just seeing it as a stop gap. I will, however, be changing my degree from Economics and Marketing to Management and Marketing, which is possible to do due to the generic first year at Hull Uni Business School. Brilliant :)

I also moved out and in to a new flat with my boyfriend, Calvin, and spent 3 and half months there while we tried to find somewhere else! Sleeping in a bedroom no bigger than a double bed, with no windows that opened, was just killer! Eugh, scumbag landlords, eh?!

We found our perfect house which we're decorating slowly. 

We got Catface! Our adorable little black male kitten.

I turned 21, and Calvin and I got engaged!

2012 was definitely the year of firsts and I hope this continues positively into 2013. 

Instead of resolutions (well, ok, I made one not to procrastinate!) I decided to focus on things I want to do/achieve this year. 

One thing that is really important to me and that I want to prove to myself is that I can finish my first year of university and pass. My first attempt I had to leave due to illness, my second it just wasn't for me, and this is my third. If I fail, there are no more chances, so no matter what, I have to continue! I think it's because I get focused onto something else and I feel like that would be the better option and life is too short to do something that you don't want to. But sometimes that's just not true, I've got to be more focused this year. Finish my degree, and then consider the next steps. Whether that is doing another course, a postgrad, or find a job. 

I also want to become more organised, make my office space prettier and start buying artwork that inspires me. I also want to start developing my own style. I love to draw, but what often puts me off is that I try and work to a certain style and if it isn't perfect, I stop and get disheartened. I shouldn't do this, art is something to be enjoyed.

I also want to travel more with Calvin. We have a tattoo session booked in with an artist called Alicia Rafferty at Inspirations Tattoo Studio, Leeds, England. So that'll be a nice day out!

Talking of tattoos, I want more, of course I do, I always have. I'm considering what to do next. Our wedding isn't for 3 years or so, and I know that I don't want anymore than quarter sleeves by then. I love brides who wear their ink with pride, and it's not that I'd be ashamed, I just feel like I want to be married and secure and "successful" before I start venturing out any further. 

I certainly have plenty of space to do so! I currently have 4, two large pieces on my back, one big one on my thigh and a little one just next to it. So I have most of my back, thighs,  and top of my arms. I think I do want to have full sleeves, or at least half, a few calf tattoos, feet and hands possibly!

2013 will be the year of commitment, focus and creativity. Yeah, that sounds about right :) 

Peace and Love!

xx

In need of a good home.

Let me introduce the lovely, Yuki. 

Through some strange circumstances we were left with this cat, no rescue centre can take her as she's not an emergency and no one we know is looking for a cat. 

She's a house cat, unlike mine, and so has never been outside. This is such a strange concept to me, as my cats come in and out as they please, even when it's cold and raining outside, they still go out. However, I'm feeling a little less guilty about having her just in my room for now, she has everything she needs and is used to. 

I feel like she's an orphan, her owner actually went back to Penang in Malaysia and left her with us. Yuki is very timid, she perches on my windowsill (all of 2" wide) and watches everything that is going on, not wanting to get involved. I've been trying to get her confidence by giving her lots of petting; whenever I leave her I feel so bad. I imagine that because she's been on her own for so long that any time I leave, she thinks that I'm never going to come back and starts her delicate meowing, whining for me to stay. How sad is that? :(

We're looking for a home for her; she's about 2 and half years old, a tortoiseshell with a few white markings, very petite and so affectionate, hopefully someone will want her.