Needled
High brow for the underground. Tattoo couture.
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- Onetribe Jewelry
It's been some time since I last did a shopping post on body jewelry and I can't believe I have yet to mention one of my faves: Onetribe organic jewelry.
Particularly known for carved inlay organics, Onetribe's double flared plugs are works of art. One of my favorites is the Koi inlay (shown here) designed by tattoo artist Mike Moses of Richmond, VA.
There are also beautiful organic pieces for traditional ear piercings. Shipping in the US is free while international shipping is available at reasonable costs.
Because of Onetribe's exceptional designs, other companies have knocked off their work and sold copies with less attention to detail and reduced quality. I prefer to stick with the originators.
Thanks, Badur, for the reminder!
Tue, 13 Mar 2007 07:00:40 -0500 - Celebrity Round-Up
Inspired by last week's post on Robbie Williams' new needled knuckles, and now Margaret Cho's recent addition to her Japanese-inspired tattoo collection, I devoted today's Needled News column on SG to the body art of the paparazzi's favorites. Check it out.
Photo of Margaret Cho's new tattoo by Andrew Moore courtesy of Ian Harvie.
Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:13:39 -0500 - Tattoos in Dubai
Tattoos and piercings may be gaining popularity in Dubai, but obviously not among the staff reporters of the Gulf News who tinged the article with negative commentary and even used the word tats, if only to make me vomit a little on my keyboard.
Mon, 12 Mar 2007 06:10:26 -0500 - Suicide Girls in Print
For those who like their pin-ups portable, my not-work-safe haven, Suicide Girls, has just released their first print magazine called Papercuts.
The revamped SG has been compared to Playboy in the 60s and 70s, where content is just as important as the photography. And now, like Playboy, you can take it into the bathroom or hide it under your bed.
Papercuts is 72 full color ad-free pages of beautiful, alternative, naked women on high quality paper stock. Articles include Rob Corddry, Irvine Welsh, Eli Roth, Doug Rushcoff, and even a little something from me.
The magazine can be purchased from the SG store for $15 for members and $20 for non-members. SG calls it a pin-up anthology. Others call it high priced porn. I call it an eBay investment.
Sat, 10 Mar 2007 06:18:12 -0500 - Tattooing Violet
While tattoo has intrigued writers for centuries, most recently it's been an especially popular muse amongst fiction writers.
A quick scan of the NY Times Book Review shows John Irving's Until I Find You, Sarah Hall's The Electric Michelangelo, Jill Ciment's The Tattoo Artist, & Val McDermid's The Grave Tattoo, to name a few.
I find it heartening that, at a time when tattoos can be found every where, including Walmart, art on skin still inspires. It has retained some of it's mystery and intrigue. It still garners respect.
This reverence for tattoo can be found in the newly published novella, Tattooing Violet, by R.T. Mitchell.
Tattooing Violet is a story about Craig and Violet, abused siblings in Tennessee, whose world changes once Mataora, a young Maori tattoo artist, enters their lives as their step-brother. Once Mataora's mother leaves, the father's tyranny becomes worse and the three suffer in silence, that is, until Mat begins to tattoo their stories on their backs. As the images come to life, their horrors are no longer kept secret.
I read the 50-page novella in one siting. The Maori concepts of mana and utu, honor and revenge, fuel the story and propel readers towards its soulful ending.
Tattooing Violet is free from the usual tattoo cliches found in popular lit and remarkably paints a vivid and realistic picture of tattooing despite the author's art-free corpus. A recommended read.
The novella can be purchased for $8 via Amazon.com as well as other sellers.
Fri, 09 Mar 2007 06:36:17 -0500 - More Idiocy
In the blogger Bible, one of the top commandments is to mock ridiculous human beings at least once a week. I stayed true to the gospel last week when writing about one man's law suit against a tattooist and studio for misspelling his Chi-Town tattoo. Beyond the general idiocy of the tattoo -- most people that live and love Chicago don't even call it Chi-Town -- the case raises interesting legal issues like whether this type of error could be considered gross negligence, not protected by the studio waiver form.
In a follow up to the story, the tattooist comes forward and admits to the mistake, but goes through the process detailing how the client had at least two opportunities to note the error and correct it. He did not. So maybe that waiver may come in handy after all.
The story doesn't stop there, luckily. Helping me fill my quota for mockery, the tattooer's friends decided to show solidarity and support in the face of the law suit. They did not find him a good lawyer. They didn't pay court fees. They did not get him hooked on phonics. Instead, they got matching, misspelled Chi-Tonw tattoos. The article says:
"Hacker [the tattooist] and his buddies now have Chi-tonw tats as permanent, indelible protests against what they say is an unfair attack on their trade. And you can get one too--free--Sundays by appointment at Bridgeport Tattoo Co."
Please don't do that. I have enough to write about.
Fri, 09 Mar 2007 05:53:20 -0500 - Robbie's New Knuckle Tattoo
Not that most of you care, but pop star Robbie Williams pulled a Britney and got a post-rehab tattoo. Like Ms. Spears, he's probably trying to shed the bubble gum image and be butch, but hell, the man is sexy and likes to show off his artful bod so I forgive his early boy band days.
I know, I know. Many of y'all have told me that you can't stand reading stories of celebs and their tattoos. Yet, I find these stories are very relevant because of the definite impact celebs have on the general public's tattoo choices.
Just ask any tattoo artist. I've lost count of how many people have come into my husband's studio and asked for a tattoo like Robbie's Maori inspired shoulder or, say, The Rock's Polynesian tattoos. When celebs make serious tattoo decisions and get beautiful work, that resonates among their fans. Unfortunately, the same is true for their half-ass choices as well.
Thu, 08 Mar 2007 09:15:28 -0500 - Cruelty-Free Shopping
I'm not a young, emo-lovin straight edge tattooed vegan, but I like to play one on the internet. Behind my laptop, I chow down on bologna, blast AC/DC and shoot squirrels with a beebee gun. But online, I'm just cruelty-free. Especially when shopping.
To ensure no sentient beings are harmed in the course of this post, I am linking to Alternative Outfitters, a great resource for cool looking leather alternatives and vegan-friendly products.
Some of the items with skulls-and-crossbones, a beloved motif of the tattoorati, are very cute. Goes to show that you can be cruelty-free and enjoy the symbols of human death at the same time. Other faves are the KBD belt-buckles, Ecco Bella skincare, and the ultra-comfy Sugar Shoes.
Thu, 08 Mar 2007 08:28:44 -0500 - OK Cops Keep Tattoos
Oklahoma City cops can keep their tattoos without having to cover them. Being a public employee does have its benefits.
Thu, 08 Mar 2007 07:43:15 -0500 - Tom Stone Portraits
For all the tattoo couture-ness I post on this site, I like stay grounded and offer looks at the wide scope of the tattoo populace. This may come as a shock for some of you, but tattoos are not just for lawyers, CEOs and soccer moms. Yes, they also adorn bikers, sailors, and street punks.
I was reminded of this while viewing Tom Stone's Poverty Gallery: a moving slideshow featuring portraits of homeless men and women and their stories.
A number of those photographed have facial tattoos, which gave me a hook to move people from Needled to this incredible body of work. The images are compassionate and respectful but jarring. They hit me in the gut like art should.
Wed, 07 Mar 2007 10:04:09 -0500 - Hardy Giclee Prints
Don Ed Hardy is offering limited edition giclee prints of two classic paintings: his Sailor Jerry Memorial, painted in the fall of 1973 five months after Sailor Jerry Collins died, and his watercolor/acrylic Virile Music, a work of automatic art, which Hardy describes as "approaching the work surface with no idea or preconception."
The prints are being sold online for $400 and $500 respectively.
The stories behind the work are as engaging as the imagery. A good read.
I'll also be keeping an eye out for Hardy's ceramics where he brings his art to Japanese porcelain.
Wed, 07 Mar 2007 09:20:43 -0500 - Link Day
Today is act-like-a-lawyer day: I got to the office early. Ate a slice of turkey breast at my desk. Drank two gallons of Diet Coke. The rest is a caffeine stress blur. Hence, I'm devoid of pithy commentary and will just leave y'all with links:
Tattoos in Japan are Mainstream. Will Yakuza Ink be the next TV hit? (see what I write when I'm tired).
Tattooing over scarification.Some interesting results.
Chicago's Smart Bar holds Wednesday night party for tattoo lovers. The Chicago Tribune has a photo gallery of the event that's surprisingly bereft of hipsters.
Some hipsters you gotta love. Vote for Sean of Mybodystory.com for Paper Mag's Beautiful People contest.
One of my fave beautiful people, The Lizardman, offers a gut wrenching compilation of his sideshow stunts on YouTube.
Enjoy!
Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:46:35 -0500 - Fleshing Out Tattoo TV
On Needled News today, I tried to flesh out my feelings for the reality show Miami Ink, which recently came to Europe. But the column was actually inspired by tattoo artist Dave Archer of Big Kahuna who messaged me with the following:
"I just saw the 4 horsemen of the tattoo apocalypse in the flaming sky...Miami Ink t-shits…at...WALMART! Tattooing has OFFICIALLY been destroyed. I'm off to have full laser removal done."
Is it the apocalypse or a tattoo renaissance? Decide for yourself.
Mon, 05 Mar 2007 15:23:50 -0500 - Bin Laden Tattoo
Once again, Shannon riles everyone up with another controversial tattoo. This photo could be more viral than Mr. Misfits Face. If you are interested in sociology, read the comments -- often the most cringe-worthy things you'll see on Modblog.
Mon, 05 Mar 2007 10:06:43 -0500 - Offbeat Bride Rocks
Ariel Meadow Stallings is a tattooed goddess and author of Offbeat Bride. I only wish she published over a year ago when I got hitched.
Offbeat Bride is a great guide for those wishing to celebrate their marriages in creative, funky and personal ways. This also means how to do it on a budget.
Ariel has a blog that accompanies the book site, which features advice, vendor spotlights, and bride profiles, often of tattooed women like .. me. It was a bit of a shock to see one of my Flickr photos of our wedding posted and yet I loved being among other brides flaunting tattoos. In all our photos we seem say, Fuck Covermark!
For more fun photos of offbeat nuptials, see Ariel's own Flickr photo pool.
Offbeat Bride can be purchased online at Ariel's personal store and Amazon, and it's in stores like Barnes & Noble and Powells.
Mon, 05 Mar 2007 09:27:57 -0500
