Category: Features

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Issue 2 – The Face Issue with Cassandra Frances. Things&Ink magazine

So it’s time to reveal all. Our issue 2 cover star is Cassandra Frances who works at End Times in Leeds. She is one of my faves, my sister and I got tattooed by her last year – blog post here.

Issue 2 things and ink COVER
Issue 2 Things and Ink COVER starring Cassandra Frances

 

I first met Cassandra in 2012 and I instantly fell in love with her warm nature and dedicated work ethic. She put me at ease while she tattooed me, chatting about life, music and magazines. We were like old friends, talking away, of course the conversation always returning to ink.

When the decision was made to make issue 2 ‘The Face Issue’ I knew I wanted Cassie on the cover. With her fiery red hair and delicate porcelain skin, you almost don’t notice that she has facial tattoos. Her tattoos are so pretty and feminine and will certainly make people think twice about their preconceptions about women with facial tattoos. The image on the cover is powerful, beautiful and innocent. I really hope you like it. You can read a full interview with Cassandra in the magazine, find out about her tattoos and how she felt about being on the cover.

Order your copy now from Newsstand.

Photo: Samuel Butt
Make-up: Keely Reichardt
Retouching: Lydia Rayner

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Christmas gift ideas for the tattooed lady

Or in other words, all the things I would like as presents under my tree this year…

Tattoo christmas cards

Christmas cards never really appeal to me, that’s until I saw these beauties for sale in The Circle in Soho…a little more interesting than your average snow scene.

Red sky at night

 

And check out the super-cute decoden phone cases made by Phantasy Phones.

This red number is my fave, it’s called Red Sky At Night.

 

Of course, no stocking would be complete without a piece of art. And I love the male pin-up created for the launch issue of Things&Ink magazine by Rachel Jamie Baldwin. It is a bargain at just £5.74, available from Rachel’s Etsy shop.

Who doesn’t want some new jewellery in their life? I would be more than happy if I had some festive BMM (bloodymarymetal.com) to wake up to on Christmas day. It is very hard to pick a fave piece from the collection, but I do keep looking at the Lonely Bone and Cross Bones…

BMM lonely bone

I am also partial to getting a little tipsy over the festive season, and what better way to do it than with a bottle of Sailor Jerry rum. And the limited edition gift pack isn’t just for good girls, as Father Christmas might have you believe…  It also comes with a poster of Sailor Jerry flash.

Good gifts for bad people

And of course, I couldn’t not mention the best present for the tattooed lady EVER and that’s a copy of the launch issue of Things&Ink. (I know I am biased as I edit and created the magazine, but it really is beautiful and insightful –  a collector’s item!). Buy from Newsstand with free P&P and embrace female tattoo culture this festive season.

Things and ink magazine

And if you don’t like any of these options, I definitely always accept cash for more tattoos!

Enjoy and a very happy Christmas from Alice  xxxx

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Sailor Jerry Anthem

Sailor Jerry rum is all about three things: spiced Caribbean rum, tattoos and music.

The rum is made in the name of Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins – the undisputed father of old-school tattooing.

To celebrate the last 10 years of Sailor Jerry rum, they’ve put together a short film featuring clips of a few of the gigs, events and backyard barbecues they’ve held over the years. Look out for exclusive footage from WWII-era Honolulu taken from the Hori Smoku documentary on the life of the original Sailor Jerry and clips of The Black Lips live.

The film is set to the iconic 1979 punk track Where Eagles Dare by The Misfits. Like Sailor Jerry himself, The Misfits are independent spirits united in the fierce protection of their legacy. They have never before allowed their work to be used commercially, until now, testament to the band’s shared ethos with Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins himself.

Enjoy, I think this film is ace.

Also check out the Old School for Girls article in the launch issue of Things&Ink, it is inspired by the pin-up imagery created by Sailor Jerry himself.

Also have a flick through our album on Facebook of photos from the Things&Ink launch party, the night was sponsored by Sailor Jerry so, as you can imagine, we all got pretty messy. The photos say it all really…

Old school for girls

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Things&Ink – the love

The launch issue is filled with everything I love from the tattoo world.

Wow, it has been amazing hearing the feedback from all the lovely readers who have bought the launch issue of Things&Ink. I am so happy that so many people seem to relate to the content and really believe in the idea. It has been a dream of mine to create a female-friendly tattoo magazine that is printed beautifully and perfect bound and now that dream has finally come true. It’s encouraging to hear that a lot of other people have been waiting for a magazine like this too.

Here is the contents page of the first ever issue of Things&Ink…(click to enlarge). It is filled with all the things I love about the tattoo world – inspiration, history, art and stories – it even has a really lovely toilet seat, thanks to Claire from The World of Kitsch who has compiled a lovely homewares section full of tattoo-inspired kit.

Send me your pics of you reading your copy of the launch issue, so I can add it to the Things&Ink ‘On the move’ album on Facebook.

cover things and ink

Read all about how Claudia De Sabe felt about being on the cover and recreating the photo of Artoria Gibbons, who was a heavily-tattooed circus lady in the 1920s.

To help me recreate the cover I enlisted the help of my fellow Wonderful Women. Wonderful women is a business networking group for freelancers and women who own their own businesses. Miss Honey Bare did the make-up for cover star Claudia De Sabe, and Lucie Luella of Rockalily Cuts styled her hair. The dress was made by Rosie at Nightfeather Designs, the headdress was made by Ellen of B Millinery. The shot was taken by Kristy Noble. Design by Oliver Campbell and Antonella Bordone.

You can view the latest news about Things&Ink on Twitter and Facebook. You can buy this launch issue from Newsstand.