I'm very behind!

It feels like I haven't updated this thing in forever and I apologize to any readers who were hoping for some updates that I failed to provide.

Yesterday was a super quiet day at the shop; I actually ended up going home pretty early and Brito did a quote on the foot of a client who hails from somewhere in Alberta I believe. And right now, Sean is working on a piece, I won't lie - I'm not exactly sure what it is but I know there's roses involved, while Brito is also working on something hard to describe. And no stencils involved today; both the boys decided to draw the designs on free-hand. Impressive! Hopefully I'll have pictures tomorrow of the finished work that I can put up for everyone to feast their eyes on.

WOW...

Just Brito and I at the shop here today and what a day it is. A 5 year old - oops, sorry, I mean 20 year old...boy came in for his appointment today when all hell broke loose. The tattoo he originally requested was an angel with fireballs but the reference he brought in was not the greatest, so Brito drew up something else, I mean better (picture above). The client seemed okay with it (might I add that Brito and I sensed quite the attitude from said client initially), but wanted the face to look 'angrier'; GRR! So, Brito goes back to draw said angrier face (bottom right corner of picture above) and while he's doing this, the client is flipping through a flash book we have here at the shop, stops, and says to his mom that he wants the bio-mech type design from the book INSTEAD of the angel. At this point, it's like, whatever, so Brito goes to scan the picture from the book when the clients dad cuts in and starts questioning his decision, asking why he would want a random design from a book etc., and Brito finally asks if the client would like to re-schedule his appointment so he has some more time to think about something that will be on his body forever, y'know not like it's a big deal or anything. The kid says, "Yeah fine, whatever, I guess I just won't get a tattoo", and storms out of the shop, leaving his parents behind to discuss why re-scheduling the appointment would be in the client's best interest. DRAMA! Seriously, I know some spoiled kids but that episode was nothing like I'd seen before. Anyway, so now Brito has an opening and we are hoping someone will fill it, maybe there will be a walk in or something. But really people, if you can come in with one idea and then see some random design in a flash book that you'd rather get instead, I have to question your decision to get a tattoo. Your mind definitely shouldn't change that quickly if you really want something, when it comes to something that'll be on your body forever anyway.

But hopefully the day will only get better from here and we'd love to see someone fill this opening! I'll be sure to update later if anything changes here, have a great day everyone!

Some photos from yesterday...

Below are a few shots taken yesterday by the very talented photographer Aly Lenhardt. All natural expressions of course, definitely no posing going on for these pictures. Check out Aly's blog @ www.alylenhardt.blogspot.com!

Where's Brito?!

Brito headed to Costco to pick up some stuff we need around the shop and it feels like he's been gone forever! But in all reality, it's been about an hour since he left. While Brito's out running errands, Sean just got started on a Japanese dragon piece (pictures above) on Mike, who is a member of local hip-hop group Brakada, and I'm sure he'll be working on it all day. No doubt that it's going to be quite impressive once it's complete.

Other than that, the day feels like it has just begun; there haven't even been any phone calls or clients walk in! It is barely 2:00 though, so hopefully that'll change. Maybe it's just that time of year where people feel they can't afford to get tattooed, after all Christmas is just around the corner and is likely going to creep up and be here before we realize it, like every year. Well, that's how it always is for me anyway. Speaking of Christmas, I believe gift cards for the shop are in the process of being made/printed and should be available quite soon; in time for Christmas for sure. As far as I know, each gift card will be worth 1 hour of work done here at the shop and would obviously make a great gift for nearly anyone on your Christmas shopping list this year, especially because for the Christmas season only, you'll save 25% on the hour which the gift card is for. Come on now, that's a sweet deal.

Anyway, Brito just returned with all the important supplies for the shop, such as a huge case of Red Bull (obviously very important to have at any work place), so I'm gonna wrap this up for now, hope everyone has a great day!

Pizza Party!

Aly, a friend of Sean and Brito's and the girl who had my current job before I was hired, is here taking pictures for a photography school project. While she's capturing Sean in his environment (tattooing; a touch up on a foot/leg piece), Brito is discussing a really cool tower piece with a client who just booked in for Friday.

On a whole other note, we decided to have a pizza party today for lunch. Excitement all around.

But aside from pizza, I have pictures of some recent work done by the boys to post.

Check it out!

The blue skull is one of Brito's latest pieces that is still in progress, but looking awesome so far.

The picture of the mermaid piece was taken after a client's first session and was done by Sean.

Pictures of the pieces after they're complete will definitely be up as soon as possible, so stay tuned to check 'em out.

There's a first time for everything.

And today that thing is a blog! Not only will this be fun for me because I love to write, but all of us here at the shop are hoping that this blog will be a great outlet to talk about what's going on at the shop and to display tattoos in progress and artwork by the very talented Michael Brito and Sean Cushnie.

The usual hip hop tunes blast through the shop today while Sean is getting started on an awesome mermaid piece on a client's upper arm as a cover-up. While Sean's busy doing that, I'm pretty sure that Brito's planning on doing some drawing until his appointment later on today.

But other than that, the day has just started so for the mean time, I don't have a whole lot to write about. But stay tuned 'cause I'll definitely navigate my way back here to write some more and I'm definitely hoping to have some pictures of that mermaid tattoo up later on!