Current shop news!

tattoos are fun

Jessie, the apprentice

                It has been way too long to announce all the exciting new things we have going on at the shop right now. I have been completely delayed on a lot of shop happenings. But still I manage to take care of tasks at hand that are due! Sometimes I am proud of myself. So the first exciting announcement I want to say is that we have our fun, young hearted, lovely Jessica here who is in the midst of a full on tattoo apprenticeship! A Valkyrie first. She has been progressing along nicely, lending a much needed hand in keeping the ship rowing along. She will be tattooing next month and we can't wait to see the tattoo chastity belt be off! This is very exciting for Valkyrie tattoo to have a first apprentice at the shop that we all are raising. As we focus attention on Jessie making her way through tattooing I also have been working on my greatest project ever; growing a fetus in my womb! It has been quite a journey being pregnant and running the shop and I have needed all hands on deck. It has been quite the challenge maintaining all these things and thank Goddess, the wanting-to-puke on everything I have tattooed has passed. Now I am working on trying to reach the body part I am tattooing comfortably on people. That's a new challenge in  tattooing I am not used to. Although I am winded easily, we have jokes around the shop that the baby is going to come out tattooed and that she'll only be able to sleep unless there is a tattoo machine running. Tattoo machine white noise, now that's an idea!

Harry's tattoo by Adam

              The  guys also have been crankin' out their own goodness and Adam the cerbralist-viking-wizard has been quite the work horse tattooing all kinds of gals from the SSU, doing a lot of lettering and also starting some really big in depth pieces like sleeves. All totally badass stuff. He actually started a really cool piece on Harry. I will add a pic... Talkin' about Harry, now he also has been a work horse, tattooing a family of six the other night and staying at the shop til ten at night. This is pretty much how we've been runnin' at the shop lately and we are full speed ahead as we merge into Autumn.

Tattoo Prep and Procedure (short version)

I thought about this last night and I thought it could be informative for people that are getting their first tattoo or for people that are seasoned, yet may never have paid attention to the tattoo set up process.
Here is what you can expect when getting a tattoo:
Once you have decided to work at a specific shop and you have done the work communicating with the artist the next step is to jump in the chair! Woo hoo!
1. You will be asked to fill out a release form to consent tattoo and may be asked for your ID. Shops need to photo copy this- it is required by most insurance companies and the health dept. requires it now for records. By law you must be 18 to get a tattoo so be prepared to bring your ID with you upon going to the tattoo parlor.
2. Normally when the client is filling out paper work- I start setting up my machines. I like to multi-task. So, you may or may not see the artist un-package the sterile tubes and needles. This is when you will see a table cloth like a dental bib or saran wrap cover the surface with the machines, tubes and needles etc. Everything should be covered with plastic as a barrier film.
3. Placing the stencil; the area where the tattoo is going to be placed will be shaved. This is standard protocol. You can not tattoo with a whole bunch of hairiness in the way. After shaving the stencil will be placed and if you approve the location the tattoo can begin!

It's pretty basic but there is a lot of behind the scenes stuff that takes place in order for tattoo shops to function. A lot of time goes in to cleaning instruments, sterilizing and following all the required steps that are appropriate and the law to ensure that you are safe while getting a tattoo. If you ever feel that things are off in any way at a shop from an artist or the environment the best thing is for you to leave and go somewhere else.