Did you know...?

DID YOU KNOW...?

The tattoo machine was based on an invention by Thomas Edison, the inventor of the lightbulb and video camera, to engrave and embroider!? What a guy!

Early tattoo machines were so heavy that they had to be attached to the ceiling with a spring to take the weight off the artist's hand...!? Imagine!!

The modern tattoo machine's mechanics originate from those in a doorbell!?

ALSO, you probably know this but I didn't; people who are tattooed are likely to experience pain or a burning sensation when getting an MRI scan because of the metallic pigments in some inks. Euch!

I've been doing my research... I am not at all technical. Give me pictures. Diagrams with arrows! They'll help me. None of these big words like 'electromagnetic' (they make my brain switch off). I've become obsessed with knowing what EVERY bit of the tattoo machine does... and why... and I am struggling. Although it was reassuring when I asked Kev, "What is a capasitor?" with a bemused look on my face, to have Kev look back at me with the very same face and a, "Eh, a bit of the tattoo machine... but I don't know what it does. Why do you want to know that?" Because I'm still a child and like to ask "WHY!?!" all the time?

The shop has been busy busy busy! Especially when the sun is out, people are constantly milling in and out. Even if they're not booking in, it's great to see so many people interested. Patsy's been doing a fair bit of piercing which is great, but actually gives me the creeps. I will happily sit for hours and get tattooed, but ask me to get pierced and I will crumble to the ground... or at least cry about it. I see people coming out of the piercing room and I gag. It's terrible! I guess I'll just have to get used to it!

I feel that now I'm getting the hang of working on the desk. I've got the chat all sorted, I can pretty much spraff about anything, I've learned all the right things to say which is good. I'm scared now that I get into the habit of chaining myself to the desk when really I need to be getting in Kev's room when he's tattooing and get learning!

This week when there's been a wee quiet spell I've had some time to do some drawing, instead of learning about reception. I've done a few nice things that I'm quite happy with. Whenever I draw faces I ALWAYS make them look like me. It can get quite frustrating when I'm trying not to, yet it still happens. I drew this pin up today, and Kev immediately pointed out that it looked like me, which I then apologised for. But he says it's a good thing. I guess I'm lucky to have already developed a style, it's something that you can become known for. You know an Amanda Toy design straight away, and her designs tend to look like her, and maybe one day you'll know a Frenchie too!

Frenchie xx