Tribal Lower Back Tattoo Designs

Tribal Lower Back Tattoo Designs

Floral Lower Back Tattoo Design

Floral Lower Back Tattoo Design

Dragon Tattoo Design Collection

Dragon Tattoo Design

Celtic Tattoo Designs Collection

Celtic Tattoo Designs

Heart Tattoo Flash

Heart Tattoo Flash

Skull Tattoo Flash

Skull Tattoo Flash

In Memory Tattoo Flash

In Memory Tattoo Flash

Sword Tattoo Flash

Sword Tattoo Flash

Crafty Holiday Prep 2010

[from Martha Stewart Living]

One week to Thanksgiving!  Once again, Martha Stewart Living is having a Holiday Craft Sale, this year on Saturday, December 4th.  I really enjoyed it last year, so I'll sure be going again.  And I can't wait to get their December issue packed with exciting, new projects: ornaments made from strings of sequins?  Yes, please.

Amy Atlas has a very pretty Thanksgiving Crafty Round-up.  I want even just a few more days to do all of these.

I want to make this sweet, little knit pumpkin I saw over on FlowerPot Designs.  How many can I make by next week?!

I'd also love to have these felt oak-leaf bowls from Martha Stewart on my Thanksgiving table.  And how cute are these paper pilgrim hats?

It isn't too early for holiday gift project plans.  Over on the purl bee are ideas to get you started on your knitting and sewing: they have the most gorgeous fabrics and luxurious yarns, a lovely way to make your projects even more special.

Great array of holiday gift tutorials over at Sew, Mama, Sew with categories for Hipsters, Pet Lovers, Foodies and more.

Paper Source has fun holiday card kits.  Looking forward to visiting the new Brooklyn location with Koru Kate!

And lots of holiday decor patterns over at Lion Brand Yarn.  If you're in the NYC area don't miss visiting their beautiful studio.

Those are just a few for now, and this year I want to get back to things I haven't done in years:

1) get a real Christmas tree
2) make a gingerbread house
3) send holiday cards
4) actually cook something
5) have a party
6) go see The Nutcracker
7) and finish a few gifts I've started on already, shhh...

Happy holiday planning!

Back to Reality, but First...

Oh my, longest blogging hiatus ever!  The SF trip was wonderful.  
May I please move into the apartment with this view?  Since then it's been pretty hectic, so here's a little recap.  

Just wish I had pics of hanging out with Gluten-Free Girl and the Chef: Shauna, Danny and their extremely adorable daughter, and with Diane and Todd, a.k.a. White on Rice Couple.  Good food and chatting about how they collaborate on their blogs as couples: they made this video featuring their new cookbook both of which brought happy tears to my eyes.  So inspiring that I may actually try cooking! and I'm very lucky to have spent time with them.  
Justin already covered some of the yummy things we ate, but there were some crafty things I liked too.  After working hard on Fashion Week NYC it was a luxury to be able to do as this window suggested:

This awesome building is The Contemporary Jewish Museum and the colorful Mexican banner from The Museum of Craft and Folk Art.  

Right next door is the Indian restaurant Amber where I had butter chicken and met Marisa from Food in Jars, a canning blog: I totally want to try it this winter!

I spent quite a while in this exhibit of glass blown sculptures by Loretta Hui-Shan Yang: they were substantial, yet delicate.  After the vessel and flower are created separately they need to be joined at just the right temperature, or both pieces will shatter.

I couldn't believe this luscious fountain could be found in the middle of the city!

And yea, it's touristy down at Fisherman's Wharf, but I love the water and the sweet faces of the sea lions.  The lobster bisque and dungeness crab I had for lunch were pretty good too.

The Blue Angels were in town for Fleet Week and they roared overhead much to the shock of everyone within miles.

I adored this turtle bread from Boudin Bakery so much that I wouldn't let anyone eat him.

Britex Fabrics has 4 floors of beautiful bolts, patterns, supplies, notions and a very helpful staff and I bought some vintage lace.

At The Ferry Building Marketplace I wanted to fry up these pimientos de Padron right there.  

Instead, I got some lemon shortbread from Miette, and later, a very flat, portable umbrella from Kinokuniya in Japantown.

Snapped a cool window display of sewing spools and this crocheted dress at Louis Vuitton

but forget which store created this very large display of paper butterflies and sequins that spanned 3 windows.

At ImagiKnit I bought some soft pink Heather Prime Alpaca.  More on that soon...but I wish I could make it to the book signing on November 21st with Twinkie Chan for her new book of Crochet Goodies for Fashion Foodies, cool.

How was the coffee at Little Bird Coffeehouse so good and how did the baristress create this lovely swirl?

Everyone told us it was unusual for it to be so warm (in the 70's!) and in our walks up and down the hills we spied this doggy Halloween costume

and a display of angel cats!  

Oh, to be on vacation again...

Choosing a Tattoo Parlor

Choosing a Tattoo Parlor

Choosing the right tattoo parlor is very important, especially when getting your first tattoo. There are many things to consider when choosing a tattoo parlor.

Make sure that the parlor is a place where you feel comfortable and relaxed. Some people have had the experience of joining a friend for their tattooing session so you may already have an idea of a place like this.

Most importantly, the parlor should be clean and professional. Clean is always important when dealing with needles and blood.

The tattoo parlor should be well lit. This is important for a few reasons. The bright, or better yet, natural light is a better way for you and the artist to see the true nature of the colors used and what the tattoo will actually look like. It also makes it easier to feel relaxed knowing that you can see what is going on all around you.

When walking into a tattoo parlor for the first time, don’t be afraid to ask questions. Are the needles and other materials one-time use? Will gloves be worn? How long have the artists been tattooing? Are they members of a professional organization?

Be sure that all of the needles are opened in front of you. This will ensure that they haven’t been used 15 minutes before you for the person down the street.

If you know of anyone with a tattoo, feel free to ask them where they got it done and if they would recommend the parlor or a particular artist. Tattoo magazines are a good place too. You may find an article or advertisement for one in your area. Also, browse around the internet to find a place.

Remember, this is a permanent investment, be sure to choose the tattoo parlor that is right for you.