This Time I Got Tattooed!

Heyhey

Yes, so I mentioned in my last post that I got myself a new tattoo last weekend.  I attended The London Tattoo Convention for the second time which was in its 8th year.  Last year I attended without the intention of getting tattooed as it was very last minute plus I already had two new ones completed earlier on in the year.  One being my arm which was started in Dec 2010 and finished in Jan 2011 and my ribs which I had last summer as a birthday present to myself.  I actually had it done the day before my birthday.  So it's been a while since I was last inked.  I was definitely itching for another.  Especially when you have a list of all the ones you want!  The only thing keeping me away is the cost.

I went knowing that I wanted to get tattooed and by whom.  Unfortunately I was too late when I emailed the guys at Spider Murphy's Tattoo a couple of months ago; they were already booked up. My only chance was to turn up super early to try and speak to them, flutter my lashes and somehow sweet talk them into tattooing me.  I'm happy to say something did the trick and the lovely Matt Howse squeezed me in between two of his pre-booked appointments.  It was either Matt or Paul Anthony Dobleman that I had wanted so I was one happy girl indeed.

Here I am being very ladylike with skirt hitched up high awaiting the needle.  I'm sure at some point I probably flashed everyone my stocking tops & suspenders but I was obviously way too preoccupied and in pain to notice!  When choosing my outfit that morning the only thing I thought about was making sure the back of my neck was accessible.  I very nearly wore a tight pencil dress!   

Tada! This is the new piece.  More boudoir inspired goodness to go with my arm.

There will definitely be more on this theme soon if I can help it.

How do you like it?  I am really happy with the design.  I just love how you can tell an artist what you want to incorporate and they can whip up a drawing just like that.  I hadn't really pictured how the juxtaposition of the lipstick and compact mirror would work coming out of the rose but Matt has got it spot on.  Pretty much everyone who has seen it since has commented on how it is very "me".  I love that all my tattoos reflect who I am as that is exactly what I feel they should be.  They are now a part of me.  Not everything that is me but part of who I am.

I have to add, this has got to be the most painful session I've had.  I'm not sure if it was because of where I was being tattooed, Matt or I had just not expected that amount of pain?  It was definitely worst than my ribs which wasn't too bad for me but I was told beforehand it's one of the worst places pain-wise.  Oh well, it's over with now but just a warning for those thinking of getting something in that area too.  A rum and coke was on order straight after that!

Apart from getting tattooed and going round to all the booths to look at artists works and at work we went to this years pop-up cinema to watch the preview of Tattoo Nation.  The final cut is still being made for release early next year.  I didn't end up seeing any of the stage performances as a few were the same as 2011.  Lucky Hell the Sword Swallowing Showgirl was the only performer I really wanted to see but she didn't perform on Sunday.  Sad face.

I came across a photo of me on Flickr here but not any of my full outfit.  I never come across any of the photos that other people take of me when I'm out and about at events etc.  Here are a few of the photos that I did take myself...

Tattooed legs above all by these guys at Scapegoat Tattoo Co who are amazing!

Would love to get tattooed by them one day.

Some lovely flashes which I want to pick up.

Matt and Paul at their stand

Official poster painted by Paul this year

Amsterdam Tattoo Museum 

Normans actual business card

That was pretty much the day.  Spending the whole day there is fun but tiring.  I leave you here with a photograph of the girls and I at the annual pre-convention party held by The Family Business where we got just a bit tipsy!

Take care,
Alison xxx

And that was Christmas!

Hi Everyone!  How was your Christmas'?

I was lucky to have four days off this year(I know!!) and am on my last today so thought I'd put up a wee post.  Mine was the usual affair with my mum and little brother staying over at ours(my sisters).  My Auntie, Uncle and Cousin also came down to London and visited us on Christmas Day.  We all went out to dinner on Boxing Day and then had an unplanned dinner together again the day after that!  It was one big family marathon of food and more food plus pressies too.

My Christmas evening in pictures...

Christmas Cheers!

Santa knows we've been good this year :D

There goes Gruffalo in the background.

Ripping up the wrappers.  Present time!

 Mulled wine and Robins

Our Christmas Dinner...  And Pudding!

Table decorations

The Doggies were zonked out with all the festivities.

New Collars on!

My Boxing night dinner at Inamo...

 Playing around with their special interactive self service menu projected onto the tables.

You could also change your table décor.

Mmm, Pandan Macaroon filled with a white chocolate mousse.

A quick snap of my new lipstick from my dear friend tested out at dinner.

Nars limited edition 'Joyous Red'

Joyous Red is a little more of a natural look for me.  I have always wore a redred.  Even when I was in high school I ended up wearing red after starting out on nude tones.  I did dress up for the holidays but have been rather under the weather and still am unfortunately.  That's the problem with a hectic lifestyle.  The minute you take some rest time your body just lets go.  No outfit pics I'm afraid but I can tell you what I wore.   I wore my much loved 50s style royal blue dress with ruffle collars on Christmas Day and my new Mary Dress in dynamite red from Heyday with some Miss L Fire booties on Boxing Day.  I picked this gorgeous dress up on their discounted half size sale which suited me just fine as they don't usually make them smaller.  It was a win-win situation for moi.

We were well and truly (un)stuffed by the end!

Righto!  NYE still to come!

xxx

A Brow-Raising Experience

Last week I took my little ol' self down to the Benefit store in Covent Garden to have a bit of brow therapy.  I had been looking at some treatments recently and thought what better time then now?  What with their special offer of brow arch with free brow tint!

I have naturally quite fine brows which is some kind of strangeness considering that my head of hair is actually very thick and full.  I have been plucking my brows into shape since my high school days way back when and pretty much have had them the shape they are now for some years.  There really wasn't much shaping to do but a general tidy up of sorts I guess wouldn't go amiss.

My Benefit Girl started off by asking me how dark I like my brows usually.  I do draw them in occasionally but not always.  Sometimes when I see them in photographs I think they are too dark, or maybe because I use a pencil they just don't look defined enough.  She suggested I go with a black/brown tint and here she preceded to dab hot wax round my brows to tidy them up.  This only took a few minutes and was pretty painless.  The hot wax felt quite nice actually.  Next, she mixed up some tint, applied it to my brows and set the timer on.  Here I stole a moment to take a picture.  Two minutes later the tint was being removed.  This whole process was going a lot quicker than I thought.  Last finishing touches of concealer to cover the slight redness from waxing and I was done.  I was in and out again in maybe 20mins?

These were my old brows

Mid-tinting brows in all their dark glory.

Et Voila! My all new brows unveiled.

What do you think?  It is a very subtle difference but a noticeable one non the less.  I am quite happy with them and would have the treatment again.  Maybe next time I will try black tint.  I almost feel like the mid-tinting brows look quite good.  Dramatic and definitely there, haha.  I will try shading them in as well at some point to give them more shape.  Either that or semi-permanent tattooing which, after some research I have found will cost £200... not quite that in need of extra brows!

Maybe I should have picked up one of these nifty little kits.

If you could choose your own set of brows whose would you go for?  I rather fancy a set of Carmen Miranda' myself.  I think they are do-able on me.  Well defined, not too thick and not too thin with just the right amount of arch :)

Here is one of many brow tutorials which can be found on youtube.

Thanks for Brow-sing! xxx