Oh, have you seen Lydia?

My new blog for Tattoos only.. follow it... you'll have some fun!

Come see the new blog!
Originally uploaded by GAYTHA

Oh, Lydia the Tattooed Lady...

You can see it here:
http://lydia-the-tattooed-lady.blogspot.com/

Busy happy New Year!

The past few months have been so busy, an update is now in order. We're so overjoyed by our pet Squeeks, she's like a happy alarm clock in the morning, and a character to play with in the evening. I ran across this article on the Badrap blog, and thought it should be shared with more people.





In the tattooing department; when it rains, it pours. That said, I've given and gotten some sweet ink lately. Here is one I really got a kick out of.


Over the summer my computer died, and it wasn't user friendly enought for me to type out blog posts on my iphone, so I just let them slide. Now I have a 1TB hard drive, and bare-bones software. My music is still patchy, and I'm still trying to get my itunes to work properly. Silence has been the popular tune lately.

The velvet painting remained on hold since summertime, and I plan to resume them this week. The portraits I dabble in here and there- I just need to build the confidence that I won't be butchering the beautiful faces of these amazing drag queens.
I finished the doggie area of the back yard, and will hopefully post some before and after photos. I'm also working on getting rid of things that I don't use, or have no use to me. This included editing my etsy shop down to small vintage items and just art. I looked at my books for last years etsy sales, and ended up learning I lost $100 to it. As much work as I put into the vintage aspect of my shop, I decided to quit the vintage sales and focus on my art. I did sell a tiki painting on etsy that i was going to have in my art show, it was the "Cheeseburger" painting. I think I may just go for it and paint another.
My lovely and amazing painting of Peaches Christ was "lost" by the Oakland Art Museum and the East Bay Express people along with a large tiki painting, and the watercolor of the medusa tattoo I did on my friend Brenda. Needless to say, I still need to get them to pay up; but it may be to my advantage- advertising. I know some people, so I will pull some strings. The loss of thta epic painting still has me really bitter, and it stilted my momentum on the painting. Since then I've got unfinished Metal Patricia and Heklina. I know once I'm done with those two, I can relax into doing a couple of large tikis and follow up on some cheeky paintings of monsters and maybe some criminal portraits. I haven't made a solid deadline for the show, so maybe I will work on that asap.

why haven't you updated? this is why....

My computer died last month, so I bought an iphone to be able to keep up on the daily emails and other such garbage. The past moth I've been really burning the candle at both ends. Running a summer camp, running a household, and tattooing at the shop on the weekends. Yesterday was my first day off in a while- and most of it was spent drawing a giant dragon tattoo design. I've completely neglected my etsy shop for the entire summer but managed to still squeeze in some yard work and quality time with my dog.
In the meantime while I wait for my computer savvy friend to send me a list of the things I need to purchase to resurrect my dead computer- I've been downloading some really cool iphone apps that have kept me in the loop. I edited my reading list on blogger/google so the updates wouldn't take hours to read.

I might be moving on from one morning job to a new family (I nanny in the mornings for a couple of hours & bring kids to school) but recent tragic events have slowed the whole thing.
The doggie is doing awesome. She moved up to Tim's obedience class; and is begining to understand that we're the bosses. She's been so behaved! Such a cutie too!
Life is grand.

Time Flies

The new addition in the family has pretty much put my art world on hold. I'm okay with it for now. I sold the "Cheeseburger" Tiki painting I had up on my blog earlier. So, I'll have to repaint it- but in a different fashion.
Tonight I'm attending the second class for Oakland First Time Home buyers Program. Not that we're trying to be unrealistic- we're not even sure if there's a bank willing to even loan us the 120,000 we want to spend on a home. We are aiming low, so we can make it our own and turn it into our home. Yeah aim low. Our neighborhood currently sells at 450,000 for a two bedroom, even in this economy.
I'm happily drinking my "cafe freddo extra bold" so I don't melt down at 8pm like I did lastnight. I'm looking to go on a dog walk tomorrow morning early in the cemetery. Hopefully I'll be able to peel myself out of bed.

Tattooing has been real sweet. I want to go full-time at the shop; but I guess that's just a matter of waiting. Tomorrow evening I get to get tattooed by Jesse. I'm really excited about the tattoo. A cursed monkey paw. Woot!

I was thinking of something like this postcard for another one later on.

A HUGE Sunday.

I start my first day at the Shop today. I'm nervous and a little crazy; I just need to get comfortable. Things will work out fine. I work 12-9 today. We'll see how it goes. I've been practicing script all week.
I just finished up with my doggie home check. We passed! I know I do run a tight ship here. Linda of BadRAP said we can bring her home next week! Woohoo! She's incredibly helpful and I'm so happy I could... Sqeee! (Pinch me, I "squeee'd")
Yesterday I wasn't feeling so great, but by the end of the day I felt better. Hooray!

The SUN is finally coming out!

Putting it out there

Sometimes just putting yourself out there is the scariest thing there is. Yesterday I went to interview at a tattoo shop to help cover shifts. This is the first formal interview I've had since the beginning of my apprenticeship. Now that I'm wiser, have a portfolio and the experience; opportunities have been coming to me in weird ways. Friends, acquaintances, and through pure serendipity I've managed to connect with two shops in hopes for something part-time. I should be hearing back from them soon.
I wear many hats already. Working with children in an after-school program, selling vintage clothing and some art in my etsy shop, and tattooing in my private studio have kept me busy. But this may be the open door I need to further my tattooing. My humility has me a bit terrified over it all. Below I decided to post some of my portfolio highlights.

The Owl.

Snakes on a... medusa!

finished Medusa
Originally uploaded by GAYTHA

I finished Medusa today. This photo doesn't do it justice, epic. I say. The eyes are actually shaded white and are just a bit bloody as it's a very fresh tattoo. This measures about 6" x 6". Also did some sweet script - "Fancy" and "Dirty" killer side-hand tattoos on a way cool hairdresser, Dionne. Good times. I spotted Freddie C. at Aunt Mary's today- but didn't interrupt. Serious eatin'

The Medusa

This is Medusa in the skin. I'm pooped. I'm too tired to clean house now- and Netflix & my pajamas are calling.

I just watched NEAR DARK which stars a friend of mine; Jenette Goldstein
Near Dark is going with the vampire theme for the season.

I met Jenette through her husband Aaron who's close friends with my husband, Jeremy. Jeremy spoke at their wedding. We try to visit them whenever we're in LA and we did get a chance to see her in a play, FROZEN. Good stuff. Aaron is a pretty amazing artist which I will write about soon enough.