Collection Tattoos

Just like tattoos, the things people collect are personal and unique. Guest blogger Amber Bryce decided to explore the ties between the two by speaking with three toy collectors, to see what inspired their collections and how these in turn have inspired their tattoo choices…

“When I was a kid, I would daydream through every Saturday morning ballet class about finding the next thing to add to my collections. These ranged from Spice Girls photos for my fluorescent pink album, to sparkly Pokemon cards and miniature car models. Collecting has always helped my mind to focus in on something and block out the chaos of the world, creating soothing rhythms out of mundane objects.

Still to this day I can’t let go of my collection of Pokemon cards or Spice Girls photos. There’s just something about childhood nostalgias that’s so comforting and aesthetically inspiring. Perhaps this is why toy collecting in particular is so popular, as it allows people to hold onto the fleeting moments of growing up, and the joy such things brought us.

There’s also a very close connection between toy collecting and tattoos. Candy-coloured My Little Ponies, perfectly accessorized Barbies and the tall, bright hair of trolls all prove how the charismatic designs of our childhood toys make the perfect kitsch tattoos.

I spoke to three lovely Instagram ladies about their toy collections and which tattoo or tattoos these have inspired”:

Name: Jenna Greenwood Location: Bradford

I have always been a hoarder and collector ever since I was a child. A lot of the things I have from the 80s and 90s are my original toys that I could never seem to part with. When I was little my mum and dad would recall with joy a toy from their childhoods, and when questioned as to where it was or if they still had it, I would always get the same reply, they’d gotten ‘too old for it’. My brother and I used to be horrified at the thought of getting rid of our toys! I never wanted that to happen, so I stockpiled all my favourites. Now it’s a case of reclaiming my childhood and the simple things that used to bring me lots of happiness. The nostalgia now is lovely!

Crab

I only get tattoos of the things that have or do give me great pleasure, I think if it’s a captured happy memory I can never go off it or change my taste. With that in mind, my right thigh is dedicated to my childhood and the things I used to love, so as well as my troll tattoo, there is an emerald for one of my favourite films Return to Oz, a mood ring, a dodo (a childhood obsession) and seaside paraphernalia. It’s not finished yet, but I’m hoping to add a tamagotchi and an ever-lasting gobstopper soon to complete it!

Jody Dawber has done all the pieces on my childhood tattoo. I found her work through Instagram and knew as soon as I saw it she was the one for this piece. Her style is fun and colourful with a grown up twist and I just fell in love with her work as soon as I saw it!

Troll

In the future, I’d like to factor in something Sindy and Sylvanian Family related too, but I’m not sure where they’re going to go yet. I might have to start on the other thigh if I keep finding stuff in my parents loft!

Name: Andrea Taylor Location: Adelaide South Australia

I collect lots and lots of dolls! My main collection is of Barbie, though. I always loved Barbie as a little girl, and had so many of them, but when I was in my late teens I got rid of a bunch. About 4 years ago I realised this was a huge mistake and spent a lot of time making a list of which dolls I had had and tracking them down again. It sort of snowballed from there and I’ve ended up with a lot more than just recollecting my childhood dolls.

Barbie

This has inspired my one and only tattoo, which is of an illustration of Crystal Barbie. It was done by Sarah K at Pink Flamingo Parlour. She already had it drawn up with some other 80s/90s nostalgia and I saw it on her feed so I got in touch after some prompting from friends. It was exactly what I had been envisioning when I thought of my perfect Barbie tattoo.

Andi3

In the future I’d love to get a 60s Barbie heart on my other thigh as the 60s and 80s are my two favourite decades for Barbie, so I’d like to pay tribute to both of them.

Name: Jessica Reeves Location: London

I collect so many things! Right now I am actively collecting Nevalyashka dolls (Russian roly poly dolls), Sonny Angels, kewpie dolls, Blythe dolls and any vintage toy that catches my eye (usually something that squeaks or moves or plays music in some way). But I also have a pretty large collection of kitsch vintage ceramics – mainly cats and deer – that I have been collecting for about four years now. I haven’t added anything new to this collection for a while but the objects I already own bring me a lot of happiness! I am drawn to many of these objects for their nostalgic value but also their aesthetic just really appeals to me and I love to surround myself with things that make my environment an inspiring, relaxing and beautiful (to me) place to be.

JESS4

I actually have a few tattoos inspired by my collections! On my left leg I have two fairly large homages to my collection of vintage ceramics. Both of these tattoos contain so many elements that I just adore – cats, deer, sweets and Pearl Jam lyrics! They are so personal to me and I adore them both. On my right leg I have a super-cute tattoo of a Nevalyashka doll, inspired by my ever growing collection of these vintage roly poly dolls and a tattoo of a kewpie doll covered in tattoos. My boyfriend has a matching kewpie, which also makes this tattoo extra-special.

Both the tattoos on my left leg are done by Amy Savage and I chose her for her beautiful use of colours and personality that she brings to the animal portraits she has done a lot of in the past. The roly poly doll is by Rachel Baldwin and I chose her for her awesome cartoon-like style. I love that my nevalyashka tattoo kind of looks like a sticker, it’s just so bold and perfect! The kewpie was done by Luke Kempton and I picked him because he can turn his hand to any idea and style, and he has made some rad tattoos on my boyfriend in the past.

Jess6

I love how personal my tattoos inspired by my collections are and I don’t see that connection becoming any less powerful in the future. And as my collections evolve over time there always seems to be some new object to commemorate on my skin forever!

Charity Disney Flash Day at Bold As Brass

We caught up with tattooist (and love issue cover star) Rachel Baldwin to find out more about her Disney themed charity tattoo day, which was held back in September to raise money for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and celebrate her shop’s first birthday…

Rachel Baldwin and Alex Strangler
Rachel Baldwin and Alex Strangler

 

What made you decide to do a Disney Flash charity day? I wanted to do something super special for our shops first birthday (Bold As Brass). I’m a bit of a Disney fanatic and I thought this would be the perfect excuse to do cute Disney themed tattoos, dress up in silly costumes and have a fun party with my friends.

Yana AKA Tinkerbell who helped out on the day
Yana AKA Tinkerbell who helped out on the day

 

How did you pick the charity Alder Hey Children’s Hospital? I wanted to do something nice for the local community. I am so grateful that Liverpool has been a welcoming place for us to set up our shop, so this is just a little back from us. As my family are all from Liverpool I have always been aware of Alder Hey, I know a lot of children from all over the country go there for treatment.

Vicky Morgan, AKA Pocahontas
Vicky Morgan, AKA Pocahontas

 

 

Did you enjoy the day? And will you do more charity flash days? I always try to keep my expectations low (so I’m not disappointed!) but I had no idea we would have such a great turn out and such a lovely time. It seriously felt like my birthday! It couldn’t have gone any better. I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone who came and tattooed, got tattooed or bought something.

I want to say an even bigger thank you to all artists who joined us working on the day. I am super lucky to have such talented generous friends! Everyone worked super hard all day and into the night and partied hard afterwards! 

Rachel getting her nails did by the lovely Nancy Mc
Rachel getting her nails did by the lovely Nancy Mc

 

Special thanks to Alex Strangler, Vicky Morgan, Matt Craven, James Kiley, Toni Moore, Anrijis Straume and Jody Dawber. As well as Nick (Baldwin) for his help and support and my super organised desk girlies Sandra, Yana and my sister Michelle.

Well done to Rachel and everyone involved in the day, who managed to raise an amazing £8,024 for Alder Hey Children’s Hospital.

Of course, Team Things&Ink showed up to show our support and some team members couldn’t resist the Disney flash…

Liz’s Pinocchio hand by Kiley
Leila’s kewpie Princess Jasmine by Jody Dawber
Keely’s Pudgey tattoo by Craven

 

Under Her Skin – a group exhibition celebrating one year of Things&Ink, in association with Atomica Gallery

Things&Ink and Atomica Gallery present:

UNDER HER SKIN

Celebrating one year of Things&Ink and launch of The Art Issue

Thursday 12th September – Monday 30th September 2013
Opening Party: Thursday 12th September
Atomica Gallery, Hackney Downs Studios, London

Under her skin exhibition

We’re super-excited to announce an exclusive exhibition, in association with our friends Atomica Gallery, in Hackney.

Under Her Skin marks one year of Things&Ink by bringing together a selection of today’s most talented artists for an exhibition celebrating modern female tattoo culture:

Amy Victoria Savage (Jayne Doe, Hornchurch UK)
Angelique Houtkamp (Salon Serpent, Amsterdam NL)
Charissa Gregson (Jolie Rouge, London UK)
Dominique Holmes (The Family Business, London UK)
Grace Neutral (Good Times, London UK)
Guen Douglas (Salon Serpent, Amsterdam NL)
Iris Lys (London UK & Paris FR)
Lucy Pryor (Into You, London UK)
Rachel Baldwin (Bold As Brass, Liverpool UK)
Rebecca Vincent (Nostalgia Traditional Tattooing, Leeds & The Circle, London UK)
Tracy D (King’s Cross Tattoo Parlour, London UK)
Vicky Morgan (Ghost House, Derby UK)

Under Her Skin will be exhibited during the London International Tattoo Convention 2013, which is being held at the Tobacco Dock in east London 27-29th September.

 

Under Her Skin opening event, sponsored by The Kraken Rum
Thursday 12th September, 6-9pm at Atomica Gallery
Complimentary drinks provided by The Kraken Rum
Please RSVP with names to rsvp@atomicagallery.com

Join the Facebook event: Under Her Skin

Issue 3 of Things & Ink – the love issue

The love issue cover spread

Issue 3 –The Love Issue – is all about love, in all its glorious forms. It explores love between lovers, friends and family, passion and romance throughout history. Paralleling love as an emotion with a love for tattoos.

Take a look at the contents page  –   too much inspiration The love issue things and ink contents

Highlights include beauty product reviews, including Uzuri, an interview with the Bronx, a real-life feature on tattooed and non-tattooed partners – exclusively featuring Rock ‘n’ Roll Bride – and interviews with iconic tattoo artists including Rebecca Vincent, Steve Vinall, Charissa Gregson and Aimeè Cornwell and her father Mark. It also features a story by Lady Steel, a feature on the adorable kewpie, Artoria Gibbons’ love story, by Amelia Klem Osterud, and editor Alice’s brand new Beauty and the Beast inspired tattoo, by Steve Vinall.

And, of course, an in-depth interview with cover star Rachel Baldwin about her life and loves.

Get your copy now http://thingsandink.com/

It’s a love thing #TheLoveIssue #Thingsandink

It’s time to reveal our issue 3 cover star of Things and Ink magazine…

The beautiful Rachel Baldwin stars as Little Red Riding Hood, inspired by one of her most famous tattoos… Read more about it in a full interview with Rachel in the magazine.

Get your copy now thingsandink.com/buy.

The love issue cover

Photographer: Stella Morais
Makeup: Keely Reichardt
Hair: Eleanor Robyn
Photo retouching: Lydia Rayner
Cover design: James Gilyead 

And here’s the behind the scenes video by Papercut Pictures. Music by NOFX, as Rachel is a huge fan (see tattoo on Rachel’s arm…)

Things and Ink Cover Shoot (Issue Three) from Papercut Pictures on Vimeo.

If you missed out on issue 1 and 2, you can also purchase them online at thingsandink.com/buy