Drifting into a beautiful October

It's been dropping in temperature this week, feeling exactly like October should.
Monday was a day of errands, a lot of which I did on my bike.
Above is a photo looking at MPLS from just north of the city on the Mississippi River.

I did more art at home than at work today.

There's a basket of autumn flowers in our house that reminded me of when we lived on the farm a few years ago. I used to do drawings of the flowers that were always in various stages of decay yet still in vases on the kitchen table. Autumn was the most beautiful there, with tons of pumpkins and mist in the morning and acres of trees changing color and bales of hay.
So tonight, with a 01 micron pen and computer paper, I drew these flowers while listening to a very seasonal selection of music dj'ed by my friend Julie on Olympia Free Radio that I pick up online most Tuesdays.


We had an old friend come out last weekend, we had a fire outside, and Meryl made some amazing cornbread.
In ten days my sister comes for a long weekend.
Visitors in this season are the best.

I've closed the windows.
I'm wearing heavier clothes.
I'm writing more letters.
I'm drinking more tea, but not any less Dr Pepper.

Super Fancy Unnecessaries

150 copper coated engraved mat promo pieces arrived in the mail today from BlackBookStencils.
Not only are they engraved, but the antler sections are actually REMOVED.
I think you need two photos to actually get a taste of the hotness that these things are.
My favorite part is that they are completely useless.
Art for art's sake, I guess.




The other delivery of goodies I got today was 250 word bubble stickers.
125 with the point on the left side, and 125 on the right.
Because you have to be prepared.
Bus stop ads, small billboards, convenience store doors ('Clerks' style) across the country will soon be showing the Bird Flu love.

It's all for the story.

There is a page of flash drawn in 1994 on our wall that someone found on it a bubbleheaded skull with a firey atom bursting from it's top.
I didn't know what to do, so I kept it's orignal appeal to him (the skull and atom top) and drew it "my way".
Really.
No one comes to me for this kind of thing.
I know Todd made thousands off of big toothed skulls while I was still in high school, and taking Meryl to the homecoming dance.
I, however, missed that era by a few years, and I can't do it.

I did once almost kinda work for a guy who drew the biggest, goofiest teeth on skulls I've ever seen.
(It was horrible)
I say 'almost kinda' cause he saw me at the Boston Tattoo Convention, didn't remember how bad things went down, wanted to chat, and I don't play nice.
I surround myself with rad people on purpose, there's no room for sucky human beings.
Or their stupid feelings.

But Todd tells me stories of the not-so-old days, doing wonky "new skool" tattoo machine tattoos that had Krylon cans where the coils go. On the f'n neck.
Then he puts Albie Rock's wrench in my back pocket and hands me another Dr Pepper.

In other news, the latest I Want Your Skull just came out, and you can buy it here. It's the one I did this drawing for:

There's work, and then there's WORK.

I borrowed Todd's wheelbarrow this week, and most of my weekend plans will revolve around that.
I got 5 yards of dirt delivered while I was in Boston, and this sexy rain barrel got dropped off yesterday.

I tattooed some people today.
So did Todd.
We chose the wrench all f'in day.
It's the heaviest wrench that $2 can buy you.


My only non-wrench client today was this rad nanny who needed Mr P to disappear.
Him and his dumb heart.

Never Less.

My stickers arrived a few days too late for the convention.
I guess that just means more for us.
If you want some, get at me.

There are some shirts left.

dead birds are sexy
bird flu crew
never quiet, never soft (male and female)

I will post pictures and prices and sizes soon.

I need the room for the new stuff on the way.
There is always new stuff on the way.

Sar-Bear to the rescue. (more convention stuff)

Really.
She brought home-made vegan treats, and she isn't even vegan.
That is some above and beyond extra specialness there.
And, if not for her, I wouldn't have pictures at all.
Thanks Sarah!

The booth, where we made the fun.


Todd is so smooth.
I'm telling some story to Mr. McManus in the background there, and not tattooing Steve at all.


Proof that I do also tattoo sometimes.
That's Albie Rock keeping an eye on things.


I'm needing a few other pictures of tattoos and whatnot of the weekend. If you have them, send them over!

Boston is what you MAKE it.

Todd Lambright and I met up with EVERYONE this weekend in Boston, did some long overdue introductions, story-telling and even some tattooing. Albie Rock and Jess's booth was next to ours, and that only added to the borderline chaos. Todd and Albie compliment each other so well, and it was just awesome working next to both of them again.

AND, I'm sure I've mentioned this before, but my friends are so dope.
They came from a bunch of different states in cars and buses and brought energy, fun, wacky tattoo ideas, Dr Pepper, vegan snacks and homemade cookies.

I didn't take ANY pictures of the fun, but I did grab a few of the brand new and hurty looking tattoos I did. Hopefully some more will trickle in over the next couple days, and I will post the rest of them.

I've never been a fan of Boston, really, but when you bring your own friends, it rarely matter where you are.

Tyrant's cuckoo chestpiece.

A drag king pin up to match the queen I did earlier!

Dead Birds are charming, too.

Miss Bethany got a gothic print inspired planty thing, in the same colors as the Ethiopian food I ate 3 days in a row. Actually, I didn't do anything that wasn't avacado or black and grey all weekend.

Bringing Sexy Back.

Sexy is not Justin Timberlake.
It is definitely not Sarah Palin, but I know you knew that.
There will be a posse of folk in Boston this weekend who are promoting the idea of dead birds being sexy, and I couldn't be more excited.
Matte black vinyl lettering on earth tones is definitely sexy.
Being likened to Princess Leia could possibly be sexy, but that one's debatable.

This was just a sneak peak of the convention shirts, because I couldn't keep the hotness to myself. See you in Boston.

Season's changing.

13 brothers and sisters, 13 roots on the tree.

A few 'Bird Flu Crew' shirts are being shipped out this week, only a couple larges and x-larges left.
A few new batches of stickers come in this week, and a shipment of blank shirts should arrive today.
I didn't design the shirt yet, it'll be a surprise to us all.
I am going to have some serious work to do this week to get it all done in time for Boston.

Tyrant will be there, who has had to put his racing on the back burner due to a pretty serious crash a few weeks ago.
He's been getting more photography time in, lately, since he's off his bike.
Did you see this latest photo?
Pure sexiness.

September Shirt Drop

3-XL's
5-L's
1-M

That is quite the limited edition.
10 shirts made and delivered today, 9 left.
If you want one, I can accept paypal, or you can stop by Identity Tattoo.
I won't put any on hold without payment. These will go fast.
If I have any left, I'll bring them to the Boston Tattoo Convention, but I doubt they'll make it.
$16.
Hanes Heavyweight, 50/50. Only mens sizes.

The only others ever made were those given to the few customers of mine at the Philly Tattoo Convention. After these, no more will be made.