LOOK MUM IM FAMOUS

Ok maybe I'm not famous, but I feel pretty gosh darn special. I recently got some of my work published in a magazine for the first time ever! It's a really big deal to me and I am ever so grateful to Vanessa and the whole team at Inked for the beautiful spread. Hopefully I'll be lucky enough to see my name and tattoos in print again, because it's pretty nice to feel proud of myself. Yay! :D

If you would like to support me or just get your hands on a great tattoo publication go pick up the latest issue of Inked Artists, it's in news stands now.

Kitty xx

HOME GROUND ADVANTAGE.

So two weekends ago was the second annual Rites of Passage Tattoo Convention and the first ever tattoo convention that the boyfriend and I have worked in the same booth.

It felt strange not having to pack our gear and board a plan to get to the convention and even stranger to be going home every evening and not to a hotel. Home ground advantage did however allow us t bring extra odds and sods for our booth. So we packed up our taxidermy friends from the living room and some extra heavy fabric and got to decorate our booth a little more extravagantly than our usual weight restrictions would allow us.It was such a fun weekend and I was lucky enough to tattoo three fun tattoos on beautiful ladies over the three days.

Top of arm.

Side of thigh.

Our friends Jeff and Kim stayed with us for the week surrounding the convention which only made the even more delightful. We all enjoyed some post convention animal adventures at the safari park and the wildlife sanctuary.

I love the way that conventions bring artists together, its so amazing to have that huge reminder that you really are a part of something great.

Kitty xx

WEARY TRAVELING.

I just seem to be getting further and further behind in my blogging. Life just seems to be getting busier by the day, there is just so much going on in my little world. I wouldn't even know how to blog about everything thats been happening lately, but I will share a little about my recent trip to Sydney.

So this year was the 4th annual Sydney tattoo & Body Art Expo. I think I mentioned in an earlier blog that I originally wasn't going to be able to make it but thanks to my superhero boyfriend that situation soon changed around and we were both on a plane to Sydney before we knew it.

Done at the convention.

I always feel that no matter how much preparation I put into an event something will always find a way to come undone. So when orders for business cards went awry although I wasn't completely surprised I did completely loose my cool and turn into a blithering mess of a girl. Thank goodness for this damsel in distress my boyfriend is an aforementioned superhero and saved the day yet again.

Done at the convention.

The rest of the week and the convention itself went swimmingly and I had such an amazing time catching up with old friends and making new ones and got to do some fun tattoos on some fun people to boot. Hands down my best convention experience to far and I can't wait until the Rites of Passage convention in April to do it all over again, but with a home ground advantage, which will be so lovely.

If you would like to get tattooed at the Rites of Passage Convention or any other time you can email me at info@kittydearest.com.

Hope you all having a splendid week so far and are enjoying the start to your Autumn,

Kitty xx

TO INFINITY & BEYOND.

ATTENTION EVERYONE! I AM MOVING TATTOO STUDIOS!

As of the 1st of March I will be packing up my little tattoo corner at my current studio and moving to a shop in Westmeadows. Not quite infinity perhaps, but still. The time has come to say goodbye to the tattoo family that took me in when I first moved to Melbourne. I have nothing but kind words to say about all of you and I will miss our little team so much. I part here with nothing but gratitude & happy memories.

I will be moving to join the trouble makers at Addictive Tattoos in Westmeadows. I'm really looking forward to the change, there is something so invigorating about a fresh start. I'm especially looking forward to decorating a new tattoo area. I hope the team are is ok with my slightly overzealous approach to decorating. 

And because I had no pictures to go with this a threw in a couple of fun tattoos I've done of late.

To fresh starts,

Kittyxx

ATTENTION SYDNEY FOLK!

I will officially be attending the up coming Sydney tattoo & Body Art Expo! In a very uncharacteristic bout of spontaneity I have decided to work at the Sydney Expo. I didn't think I was going to be able to make it this year, but HAZZAR I will indeed be going after all, I worked the show last year and had a blast, I can't wait to do it all over again.

The convention is from Friday the 9th of March to Sunday the 11th of March. So if any of you Sydney dwellers fancy getting tattooed during my brief visit please email me at kittydearest@hotmail.com with "SYDNEY TATTOO EXPO" in the subject bar.
Kitty xx

BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.

Ive always found that the more things I get done, the more I'm able do get done. So I'm trying to get myself on roll early in the year with art projects as well as things around the house.
My drawing and tattooing is always developing & improving as I grow as an artist and as a person. Right now feels like a good time for a fresh start and Im really keen to put together a new portfolio of where I'm at right now with both my tattoos and other artwork. I'm hoping to do some really fun custom tattoos next month and already have a few lined up, so keep your eyes out.
Heres a few fun things that I've been working on as of late.

My last piece of 2011.

A few fun tattoos for the start of the year.

Animal tattoos are always super fun for me.

You can check out more on my website kittydearest.com
Kitty xx

SPLISH SPLASHING AROUND

I still haven't quite got my routine reestablished since the arrival of puppy Winston and Im struggling to find time to blog with such a wonderful distraction around the house. So this week in anticipation of not blogging I took oodles of pictures around the tattoo studio to put together a picture book entry.

Splash of Color Tattooing, a week in pictures

click me to enlarge 

From left to right, top to bottom. My home made pomegranate iced tea & Kane Berrys homemade pineapple upside down cake. Work pool table. Rose sketches for Chris' birthday tattoos. My homemade sangria for after hours drinks. And again. Kane Berry, my work co pilot. Walking home in the rain at lunch to see Winston. Bethie Wolf. One of the aquariums at work. Bethiw Wolf again, you should check her blog out. Op shop finds before work one morning. Chris' birthday at the shop. Chandelier. Messy ink pots.
&

click me to enlarge. seriously. this is tiny.

My favourite tattoo of the week.

Other stuff happened too, but it wasn't as fun to photograph.
Kitty xx

YO HO HO AND A BOTTLE OF RUM

TRAVEL CATCH UPS

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

WERE IN WITCH COUNTRY NOW

TRAVEL CATCH UPS

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

CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE INDEED

written on the 8th of september

today is our last day here in california, the days have all been around 100 degrees and the nights have been beautifully balmy. 

day 1 - upon arriving we picked up our hire car but were too early to check into our hotel on sunset strip, so we dropped our bags and went immediately to disneyland in anaheim. we got park hopper tickets for both disneyland and califoria adventure and spent 7 hours of joy there until we had to leave to make a show at the house of blues. 

park hopper tickets
let the memories begin

outside the disney castle,
 just before my camera battery died.
devastation.

disneyland has got to be one of my new favourite places on earth. the whole park is like being in a cartoon, it was completely magic and i cant wait to go back, there is still so much to see and do. my favourite rides we went on were splash mountain, the indiana jones ride and the spinning tea cups. back on sunset strip we finished up our first night at the house of blues watching steel panther before we collapsed at the hotel.

shocker

day 2 -  mick and i ended up back in anahiem to have dinner with the adam everett who makes fusion ink (seriously awesome ink). i had never met adam before and was almost taken aback by how friendly and open he was and together the three of us devoured a feast at bubba gump shrimp. so, hush puppies, i have no idea what they are but theyre completely delicious, and a also got a free souvenir cup, hello new pen holder. 

day 3 – mick worked at md tattoos out in the valley so i got to hangout with the lovely kaitlyn crane, who i discovered has some of the same strange quirks that i do.  i also had the pleasure of meeting some of the characters from the shop who we will be seeing again in massachusetts.  near md tattoos there is the most amazing frozen yogurt place called nummy nums which everyone in the shop enjoyed for lunch. into the evening mick, kaitlyn, jeff and i went out for dinner, but on the way we went through the quaintest farmers market. it smelt like fair food and being almost 9pm, was lit up with flood lights.  it was so lovely walking in the dim light in the balmy evening air and tasting all the delicious things the market place had to offer.

the market place 

organic fresh strawberries &
dried peach, plum and blueberries &
red velvet bundt cake
from the farmers markets

day 4 – mick  and i drove out to mega merch where mick gets his tshirts printed. it was really impressive to see the huge printing press and the whole business in motion. tonight we flyout to grants pass in oregan to stay with friends kim and jeff, im so excited to see them and meet their kids.

appologies for the long entry, im trying to get up to date

kittyxx

HITTING THE FROG & TOAD

still not having a laptop i am extremely far behind with my blog, especially as so much has happened. mick and i are officially on the road so we have internet sporadically, but i have been journally on micks laptop and will be posting them as i can. this is the entry from the first leg of our adventures which were spent in separate states. i headed to mount barker and mick lugged it to canberra.

so this week i did my very first guest spot at front yard tattoo in mount barker south australia. my wonderful friend emma picked me up from the airport and the drive gave me nervousness plenty of time to incubate, leaving me a bit nauseous but the time we made it to byrons shop. im a fairly neurotic person and changes in my surroundings and especially my work routine always sends my head spinning. this is something that im working on as i constantly daydream about working all over the world. but lucky for me byron, his wife and his staff are all extremely lovely and people, and most ive known for a good few years now, and made me feel so welcome. a friend of mine from port lincoln was also doing a guest spot when i got there which was a very happy surprise.

working in another shop and especially tattooing other tattooists is extra pressure that helps give me a buzz to work harder and be a better artist. i had such a wonderful time and it was a great first guest spot experience. i got to do a few really fun tattoos that i will post when i get home as they are on different cameras.
being around byron is always inspiring and getting to see emma makes me so happy.  theyre some of my favourite people and im so glad i got to spend some time with them.  aaaaand  there is a delightful vegan café afew doors down from frontyard that  i enjoyed almost every day of my stay.

thanks frontyard, hope to see you soon
kittyxx

LIFE WITHOUT LAPTOP

alas, i am still living the laptop free life. until the insurance people decide that I'm not making up an imaginary burglary i will most probably not most much at all. but i'm still alive and exciting things are still happening. my dearest mama bear payed me a surprise visit over the weekend which was ever so lovely. and i depart for radelaide tomorrow at a ridiculous hour of the morning to work at front yard tattoo.

i would have liked to post from my small adventure, but it looks like it wasn't meant to be.
kittyxx

AHEM. ATTENTION (R)ADELAIDE

to all those who dwell in radelaide.
i will be working at front yard tattoo studio from monday the 29th of august to saturday the 3rd of september.
if you would like to get tattooed please contact me via email, kittydearest@hotmail.com.
or
contact front yard
65 gawler st mt barker
08 8398 3555

kittyxx

THURSDAY, YOU DONT DISAPPOINT

i love the feeling when you wake up and you just know its going to be a good day. and what an all round swell day today was!
at work i got to tattoo a really fun piece on a really fun gal. i tattooed the girl with books on her head that i posted a little while back, on cheerleader bethie. it was so relaxing to just have the one piece on all day, i wish everyday was like that.

i also won the camera that id been drooling over on ebay. an old old canon a1, and in its original box! im so freaking excited to get it in the mail. its. going. to. be. awesome. and its coming all over the world with us.

and theeeeeen, to top off an already delightful day, mick took me to see green lantern in 3D. when we picked up the tickets from the counter the lady gave me a figurine of hal jordan that also came with a green lantern ring of my very own! but when i looked around at everyone else going to see the movie no one else had a figurine?!

guess that means the ring chose me.
kittyxx