JUST A HOP SKIP AND A JUMP

TRAVEL CATCH UPS

Its so amazing that in Europe you can travel for 20 minutes and be a different country. Mick and I enjoyed this whilst in Copenhagen and decided to take a day trip to Sweden, a short and sweet ferry trip across the river and we were there.

sweden here we come

yep. thank you. thats really helpful

i adore florists

i also adore window boxes

and pumpkins!

slightly rusty bicycle

the skies were clear, but it was freeeeeezing 

and the bicycles continue

We spent the whole day meandering through the cobbled streets, taking in the sights and trying to find a menu that we could decipher.
Kitty xx

LAND OF THE BICYCLE

TRAVEL CATCH UPS

Onwards to Copenhagen! Straight off the train from the airport we were greeted by an ocean of bicycles, in every direction and the challenge of being in a non-English speaking country. Luckily for us almost everyone we met spoke the most impeccable English, and those that didn't were extremely kind to us.
Not knowing very much about the area Mick and I jumped on a bus tour, kitsch i know, but it was lovely. We learnt so much about the history of Copenhagen, and saw some awesome places on the way, none of which I can pronounce or spell.

the little mermaid statue

nyhavn

this times a squillion. everywhere.

heck yeah autumn leaves

Perhaps the only down side to Copenhagen other than the expensiveness was that the Tivoli Gardens were closed! We managed to be in Copenhagen for one of the brief parts on the year that its closed and the place looked amazing! The elaborate halloween decorations we could see from the outside taunted us and I desperately wanted to go, but luckily we did oodles of other fun things.

hans christian anderson museum

carlsberg brewery and museum

cheers

Copenhagen was so picturesque albeit very pricey and I think it would be especially pretty in the warmer months to let yourself wander aimlessly on a bicycle built for two. Perhaps next time, if we spend more that 3 short days.
Kitty xx

YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM

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The London Tattoo Convention was by far the biggest, most jam packed, hectic tattoo convention I have ever been to. There was a ridiculous amount of amazing artists at this show, not to mention Shige who was in the booth directly across from us, it was almost 10 people deep around him the whole 3 days. The show was so packed I barely even did a complete lap of the booths, the crowds where so tight in some corridors you had to elbow your way through like you were at van halen concert just to get to bathroom. 

the line to get in.
it was the same again on the other side of the building.

we even saw a bus crash

the lads working away 

cupcakes and cookies and gingerbread oh my

I did get my hands on a killer new tattoo machine from Lucky Tattoo Supply that I have now tried, tested and fallen in love with. Jimmy Whitlock, your machines are wonderful, not to mention very, very pretty.

At night time the lower level of the convention was filled with bars, music and less than coherent tattooists and friends. Being an old dock and having very poor lighting, the lower level was reminiscent of a seedy old world basement, with people laughing down corridors and disappearing into the dark.  The was a Sailor Jerry Rum Bar and I'd say that we all made the best of it.

yeah. cats.

alex binnies woodblock prints.
amazing.

polaroids care of miles aka poopy

mick and poopy.
slightly inebriated .

I think the London Tattoo Convention has been my favourite convention so far and Id definitely love to work it one day. Mick even bought me an original Corry Norris painting and managed to hide it from me until my birthday in Vegas.

Kitty xx

SHINE YOUR SHOES GOV?

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I think of all the places that we went London is where we spent the most time. We stayed with Miles, ones of Micks best friends who lives in London now, and his lovely girlfriend Tezz. I hadn't met either of them before but have already become very fond of them and can't wait to spend more time together as a team. 

It would be too tedious to go through everything that we did in London, so heres some of the highlights and a bucket load of photos. Check out my Facebook for more.

miles and tezz

the beautiful architecture on almost every building

the 57 bus

black cabs

micks birthday dinner

the london eye and 4D short film (yes 4D)

antique shops in angel

the home of george orwell

platform 9 3/4

english breakfast tea in england

the last tuesday society

late night/early morning painting

the huntarium museum 

caramels from harrods

the london convention

sailor jerry rum

finding my way to the south of england alone

seaside pubs in chichister

meeting up with my cousin of the other side of the world 

seeing estranged family

road trip to brighton

pimms and lemonade jugs

team dinners

seeing banksy art protected 

getting tattooed by steve vinall

tuesday club

my first cup of tea in enlgand

theres a unicorn with a gold horn atop that building

the weather was amazing

london underground

super quaint street party

london eye

london eye

hogwarts here i come

antiquities in angel

the fruits of our painting night, mines on the left

seaside chichester

carousel on brighton beach

pimms and lemonade on brighton pier

south of england

more london eye

big ben

last tuesday society

last tuesday society

banksy

and oh so so much more.

Kittyxx

WERE IN WITCH COUNTRY NOW

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Nestled deep in the heart of massachusetts witch country lies the Jiminy Peak Alpine resort, where the Paradise Tattoo Gathering was held. After a 4 hour drive and 2 flights from Oregon, Mick, Jeff and I all arrived a little tired but high spirited. Unable to check into our room under a friends name Mick and I high tailed it to Shawn Barbers 6 hour painting seminar, which proved to be very challenging as the chewed ends of my paint brushes are probably well aware. 

the little blue cartage we stayed in

the view from the backdoor

paint palette for Shawn Barbers seminar

The convention itself was very different to any that I've been to in the past. There was very little foot traffic, being essentially in the middle of nowhere, so there was really only tattooers and serious collectors about giving the whole place a super relaxed and friendly atmosphere. Hanging out in the booth with Mick, Jeff and the newly acquainted Shawn Hebrank was a delight, and I also got an amazing cookie recipe from a friend of Shawn's! 

opening party.
workhorse irons gave us treats.

Jeff and Shawn working hard in the booth

Conventions are always so awesome to meet new people as well as catch up with friends in far away places, like Nick who took me on my first alpine slide. I was a little apprehensive, as the ride is self controlled and I'd only heard stories of tattooists flying off the slide going too fast around a corner, or getting smashed into from the person coming down the slide behind them. The top of the slide was a mile up a mountain via chair lift where they give you a toboggan like device to sit in with one lever "PUSH FOR GO, PULL FOR BRAKE". A big thanks to Nick, I never would have done it if he hadn't asked, and it was TONNES of fun! and I didn't impale myself on a tree or injure myself in any way shape or form, I even managed to hold my skirt the whole way down and none saw my under garments. Big win I'd say.

mine and nicks feet on the chairlift

The setting was so picturesque especially thanks to the weather which held out and gave us 3 days of sunshine for the gathering and a beautiful blue backdrop for the mountains. 

actual babbling brook

windmill energy oooh.

The whole trip was so lovely and I learnt so much I've almost forgotten the 4am departure and almost missing our train out and our following 12hour layover in the worst airport ever.

Kittyxx