WELL! Its certainly been a long time since I blogged anything. Now seems like a good time to start again :) Big changes! Make yourself a cup of tea and get comfortable.

Last Fall,  the hubby and I both expressed a want to relocate from the rocky isle of Newfoundland, my birthplace. We travel a lot and were looking to settle where that was easier to do so from, but where to go? The hubby and I are extremely fortunate to have careers that we can take with us anywhere we want to go so we aren't really limited to a certain place. You have to do the best with the hand you are dealt, but what if you are dealt a hand of wild cards? Like the blank wooden block in Scrabble, you have a staggering 26 possibilities of what to do with that block, not just one or two. Do you stick with the easy four letter word or do you invest the time and energy in to trying to use all your letters at once AND land the triple word score? I'm all about the quick and easy four letter word. I'll mull over my options for a few seconds and then I'll just pick something and put it out there. Its not about rushing to get through, I just like getting my word out in a timely manor and continuing the game. Not my husband, though, no sir. He will take all the time in the world, wring out every second of every minute to contemplate all possibilities that he has in front of him. He will consider every angle of available space on the board and what configuration of letters and placement will give him the maximum payout (of course there's a philosophical debate in there about who determines the appropriate amount of time for a recreational scrabble game but lets not go down that road). This might be the greatest metaphor of our relationship actually - me wanting to make a good choice but also not take longer than I think is necessary and him feeling no need to be rushed whatsoever like this is a decision that needs the upmost attention instead of a game we're likely playing just to pass the time. Alas, I digress.

Being faced with so many choices is as overwhelming as it is exciting. Don't get me wrong, this isn't a complaint. I am EXTREMELY lucky to have a nomadic occupation. This career affords me opportunities I could only dream about. But how do you go about choosing the right one? Of course you do some research but there are so many factors and variables. Any time I leave the safety of what is a sure thing in Newfoundland I never have a guarantee that I will get work at all, let alone nearly as much in some other destination. I guess it could be argued there is no loss in gaining the experience, even if the work is not as lucrative as you had hoped. That gain is priceless, until it starts costing you beyond your means. The urge to relocate, to set up somewhere fresh and new is like a siren's call but when does it become wanderlust and dangerous? 

As an avid planner, I find the uncertainly of what to do next hard to deal with. I have a really good thing going in St. John's. Other than the fact my parents and our friends are here, whom I am very close with, this province has been very good to me, even though the climate wears me down like the waves against the rocks! I certainly don't mean to imply the work and clients I have had is not enough to keep me satisfied. I am very grateful for all the wonderful people and opportunities Newfoundland has given me. I can't imagine a better group of people to work with or for. I know that if I never traveled another kilometer it would still be a full and satisfying life. How does it go about having your cake and eating it to? I never really understood that one. I mean I get it, you can't have it AND eat it because then you no longer have it so to speak. But honestly whats the point in having cake if you aren't going to eat it? You have it, you eat it and then it becomes a part of you. Even if it is another dimple in your ass, you choose to eat it and carry the extra pounds with you thus having the cake and eating it to you. I’m choosing to look at it that way... What if Robert Frost had more than two roads that diverged? Its that elusive 'Road Not Taken' that beckons to us, that patch of greener grass you tell yourself is just beyond where the eye can see. Of course theres the safety of where you already are with what you know, and lets face it- the grass will be greener where you water it (have I gone crazy with metaphors?) 

I made a short trip up to Truro in February past to visit my sister and see some clients. As always I had a wonderful time and as I left to fly back to St. John's I just couldn't stop thinking, why not here? The Hubby had expressed a love for the life here when we visited. He grew up in rural Australia so this was closer to the life he missed than we had been living in the city, even a small city like St. John's. We talked about it, did some research and decided to roll the dice and put things in motion. It was about four months of planning and tying up lose ends. Trying to prepare for the arrival in your new life - its daughting and quite the task. So much looming uncertainty - will I be as successful there as I was here in my business? Will we like the country life once the novelty has worn off? Only time will tell but we're willing to see. Almost two months in to our new digs and I gotta say, its pretty swell! We live in a village, not even a town and let alone a city haha. Its GLORIOUS! You know when you go for a mini vacation to a cabin, or bed and breakfast and its just so quiet, quaint and simple, you just love the tranquility and serenity so much? I LIVE IN THAT! Yep. Its glorious. It has just enough of everything I need: a mall, a theatre, lots of Tim Hortons! Now that we're all settled in to our new house in our new village, I guess its time to focus on the new shop! I'll be updating the progress and shenanigans of opening up Rolling Sea Tattooery probably more for my own amusement (and probably Dave's as he points and laughs) but feel free to check in from time and time and enjoy the adventure with me :)
xoxo
A.

Hey Hey! I finally got my website up and running so you can follow my blog at www.aliciaetattoo.com

A little lost but not forgotten..

Its amazing how quickly something can fall by the wayside. After the cupcake show I wanted to revamp my little blog page for my everyday life but...well....over a month later, I just have not found the time. What with keeping up on drawings for the tattoos that are booked and trying to purge junk while spring cleaning at home, and then just general social engagements, I just have no time left. I know, poor me right? I used to function on 6 hours of sleep but that doesn't seem to be the case anymore. Perhaps I need to cash on on this whole energy drink phenomenon....

This might be the most pointless blog post. Ever.

Off to the land of tea and crumpits

I think I'm still recovering from the cupcake show. I haven't painted anything since then. I did complete one portrait for Karl's bosses as a 'thank-you' gift but thats about as far as I've gotten regarding personal projects. My little art room is still pretty much in ruins and in dire need of some organization. But that will have to wait until I get back from ENGLAAAAAAND!

Yep - in 48 hours, my boss and I will be en route to Manchester for the annual tattoo convention. I honestly dont' know what to expect. Its a big convention with LOTS of international artists. Can you say networking?? I'd like to think I'm going to shop my ass off but I've heard its quite expensive over there so I'm not holding out high hopes :P I wish I was getting tattooed but again, not exactly swimming in extra income at the moment.

Wish me luck and stay tuned for pictures and video!

That's all folks!...or IS it...!

Well the show is over at least and it was a great weekend for all! The weather wasn't great, but opening night sure was! We were all overcome by how many came out to the opening reception and the cupcake buffet was spectacular - as was the amazing work contributed by the panel of artists. What a smorgasboard of stuff we had! There were paintings, stained glass, melted glass, drawings, paper mache, sculptures, knitted goods, crochet pieces, clay work, buttons, books, greeting cards and more! I couldn't stop squeeling during set up. All in all we raised over $1100 for Marguerite's Place!

The show was so well received by the artists and public who attended that I'd say this is not the last we've seen of the cupcake art show. But that is talk for another time ;)

For now I look forward to going to a wonderful workshop at the Paperie on March 1st on how to make cupcake greeting cards by the lovely Meghan! I strongly suggest you go! I can't believe how much fun I had making a few cards at the show this weekend!

On to other art projects I suppose, now that I've conquered my fear of painting! Here are the pieces I submitted to the show. A few are still available for purchase!

"Three's Company"

Foam, paper, pvc matted and framed.

$75

"Cupcake and Beaters"

SOLD

Hand knit cupcake patches

$5 each

Hand knit cupcake scarves

$35 each

Mini Cupcakes

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

"Sacrilicious"

Acrylic on canvas

SOLD

*Prints of this piece will soon be available

And we're back to counting down

I am a sleepy monkey. After being HORRIBLY disappointed that the snow bomb ruined the original show date, I spent the weekend doing some more knitting and getting things together. Not to mention a slight over load on work to rearrange my next weekend to accommodate the show. I am heading to Halifax in the morning for three days and then fly back Wednesday night and straight into Cupcake show production!

We're extremely fortunate we could even rebook it at the same place for the following weekend, but there have been hiccups I am trying to smooth out. Here's hoping we are still able to get a live weather hit opening night!

Oh, Weather Bomb..you come at the worst of times...

Well I've been steadily praying to every God I know of to let this forecast be wrong, but as the day passed, and it changes from an active weather watch to blizzard warning, I've all but given up hope.... Come tomorrow morning the weather is as awful as they are predicting then 'Get Baked' will be rescheduled to next weekend, Friday Feb 12-14 at the same location. But that call will be finalized in the morning.

So now, I go on to making a Lemon Herb Chicken Ring for supper and probably whipping up a few more doodads this evening will i pout. Perhaps Mother Nature is dieting and thus refuses this celebration of cupcakes to occur :P

Things that are red in my home

Mushy Peas tagged me in this little game, and I discovered there is a LOT of red in my home! Color of Passion!

Memphis on my red couch.

Giant Red Gerbera.

Red Toaster!

Boudoir! There are alternating brown walls. Sexy like a chocolate strawberry!

and a red head! Well, chemically enhanced... :P

And in return, I tag, Blarm! and Get Plastered!

Won't be long now!

Less than two weeks till show time and things are coming together amazingly well! I dont' know how i'll cope when it's over! This project has breathed new artistic life in to me, and I hope the other artists have been just as positively affected by it as I have. I finished my very first canvas painting EVER, and am now on to my second one as well as finishing a scarf and a few other knitted cupcakes.

We had a wonderful article in the Telegram and the Current. All the posters are around town and we might just have some TV coverage on opening night! I am thrilled how this has all come together and I CAN'T FRIGGEN WAIT to see what everyone else has done! Since the Telegram article was published I've gotten lots of emails and messages from people who want to be a part of the show! I guess that means I'll just have to do it again :)

So One Week from this friday! Mark it on your calendars!

About time...

Well, I did it. I *finally* started the paintings I have been mulling over for the last month or so for the cupcake art show. Feels good. So far, not disappointed in myself, haha. Its amazing how you can be scared to start something for fear of failing before you've even tried. I have been so scared to start painting because I didn't think I could do it but I think tattooing has helped me approach painting differently, and I have a much better comprehension of it now.

With two and a half weeks to go things are really shaping up! Posters have started going out this week, we had a full page article about the show in the Telegram, an upcoming article in the Current, and CBC Radio's Ted Blades called me today after reading the press release and said he would be plugging the show as well! I'm so thrilled that so many people have gotten behind this show, loving the idea and wanting to contribute. I sense an annual event ....!

In Sickness and in Health

A severe case of Strep throat has all but taken me out but thank god for working with good, no GREAT people to keep thinks going when you cannot. We did a mini photoshoot with the wonderful and talented Sandra Elford, my amazing friend and most wonderful and dependable person in the whole wide world Denise was able to get our printed materials donated so the posters will be up and out this friday! Even though my throat is still swollen like a mofo and i can't get a good nights sleep or even talk or eat properly everything is coming together SOOOO WELLLLLLL. Now I just need to improve my own health so I can finish my own projects :P

The excitement is mounting!!

Its just one month till show time and i am sooooooooo excited! After several attempts I finally managed to successfully knit a cupcake (thought now i'm not sure what to do with it- suggestions?) and i have finally completed a piece (i keep starting things before I finish one) I'm starting to see everyone else's work come together and its hard not to be invigorated! Although yesterday was much less exciting. I called the A&C to check on the availability of tables and chairs only to find I had been bumped out of the gallery for some business to take over the space and no one bothered to notify my....WELL THANK GOD I DIDN'T HAVE THE POSTERS PRINTED AND POSTED!!! For once, however, and i really mean once, luck smiled on me as the space they offered me in lieu of works even better for us! Even fate loves a good cupcake ;)

So for now all is right in the world! The countdown is on!

the painting procrastination continues....

I've come to realize I am doing everything within my power to prevent having to start the paintings I want to do for the cupcake show... I've always been scared of painting. I can't tell you why. I just feel like i'm not very good at it. Even though i 'paint' on people every day for some reason I panic when i put paintbrush to canvas. I'm afraid it won't be good enough.

So instead i've been cutting, and gluing and knitting... but no painting. First I planned on using my 5 days off over xmas to start painting, or well, to start working on projects but I had envisioned I would at least start painting. That time came and went while empty canvases still sit unused in my closet. Now i have two more days off and swear I am going to start a painting tomorrow.

Maybe I have to approach this like I do a tattoo. Come up with a preliminary sketch, refine it till I'm perfectly happy with it, do a color study then move on to the final product. But on the canvas instead of skin. Well its worth a shot I guess. If you have advice for getting over this personal artistic hurdle of mine, i'm all to happy to hear it!

Let them eat Cupcakes!...with your eyes?

In just a little more than a month I am launching a mixed media art show entirely inspired by the cupcake.

I love cupcakes more than any human probably should. The soft, moist delicious morsel of tasty cake topped with a billowing crown of delicious sugary icing that is possibly adorned with glittery sprinkles! Heavenly. But cupcakes have also become a visual feast, creeping in to the things I wear and use. I have a cupcake belt buckle with a cupcake belt, there are cupcakes printed on my wallet and I have cupcake jewelry! Not to mention that cupcakes themselves have become an art form with the amazing things great bakers are accomplishing with icings and a lot of imagination! So i thought I would gather a group of creative people whom also share my love of cupcakes and put off a truly spectacular one of a kind art show. Oh, and this show is also going to be a fundraiser for the St. John's Women's Center Marguerite's Place (www.margueritesplace.ca)

Its been almost a year since i organized a show of any sort ( i used to produce vaudeville shows in the city) so I'm a little nervous. And while my mind is flooded with awesome ideas of things I can make/draw/paint, my execution is not working out so well at present. My plan was to use my 5 days off over xmas to really get some stuff done. Of course, through family visiting and obligations that time was a lot less of my own then i anticipated. I've definitely started, but true to form, I have finished nothing and am back to the daily grind in 1.5 more days. Thats the unfortunate part thing of creativity. You really can't force it and expect great results. It has to come when its ready to which often means you are up till 4 in the morning because you suddenly felt inspired and had to roll with it.

But I'm still confident everything will come off, i'd like to say without a hitch but that's just never the case. Through the terrible time of year for trying to do anything productive, and then the friggen swine flu, its been hard to get any one together but through diligent blogging and facebook contact we are all in the loop of whats going on and gearing up to put off an amazing show. Stay tuned for more progress reports :P

The first blog is always undoubtably the longest....

I don't know what exactly compelled me to start a blog. That's a lie - Wankergirl's blog and podcasts is exactly what urged me to start up my own blog and you should check it out www.blarmcast.com). I've always wanted to start a blog but just never did. I love taking photos all the time of everything (much to the dismay of my friends and family usually). I love the idea of other people actually enjoying them as well and wanting to read all about my adventures in tattooing (that's my job - 2 years this month in fact!) and burlesque, and well, life!

What's the quickest way I can inform you about me, without writing paragraphs of useless information....alright, here we go. Me in point form.

• I am 27 years old.

• as previously mentioned, I am a tattoo artist, and still a fairly new one.

• I love my job and feel like I found my niche in life.

• From and currently occupy St. John's, Newfoundland (think eastern canada. Like, really eastern)

• I love chocolate more than one person every should.

• I have 3 cats and a dog

• Earned a Bachelor of Design, with a Major in Graphic Design from NSCAD-U.

• If you had said to me two years ago, I would be comfortable dancing on a stage and taking my clothes off I'd have probably choked to death on my own laughter and disbelief.

• I'm deathly afraid of wasps/hornets/black and yellow things that sting you

• I can't stop watching the Food Network. Its the only reason I have cable.

I'm sure there are a million other things I can write there but I'm getting tired and may need to whip out new material later. I haven't even fully decided if I want to put out there to anyone I actually know that I am doing this. Stay tuned I guess.