….marie sena…

Done a few fun tattoos in the past couple weeks!

Feejee mermaid eating a baby…

Mama’s boy…

Also, I’ll be featured in the tattoo issue of this week’s Local IQ magazine.  Should be out this Thursday, so pick one up!

I’ve just made the purchase that I’ve wanted to make for most of my adult life!  Somehow, I lucked the hell out and found this nearly perfect 1961 Ford Falcon for an insanely good price.

my new ride

 Almost everything is original, right down to the radio and (working) air conditioner.  Nick and I have been taking sunset cruises around town, lovin the rumble of the straight 6 non-computerized engine.  I’m the happiest girl in the world.

Finally got around to getting something done on the shop apprentice

Coverup of some old biker tattoos on my aunt.  Not long after we finished the tattoo, her sister Theresa (my other aunt) passed away.  And Theresa’s favorite flower in the whole world?  Red Roses.

Skelobird

Just got home after a journey to the Pacific Northwest to attend my baby brother’s graduation.  Who knew that the little hellion that used to sleep with a bag of holy cards and knives under his pillow would graduate from the University of Washington with a degree in Bio Engineering…. 

Me and my brother at the first Starbucks (we’re lame).  Can you believe that this kid once cut off a huge chunk of my hair so that  he could try out his new Swiss Army knife scissors??!

My pops and his spawn in front of the fountain at the University of Washington.  You can’t see it too well, but there is a huge rose garden in full bloom surrounding the fountain-  it smelled amazing.

Stopped by Madame Lazonga’s all lady tattoo shop on our way to Pike’s Place Market

Sooooo many fresh flowers

Kick ass signage

Apparently this monkfish had a long string attached to it’s tail, which could then be yanked at will by some jackass fishmonger on the other side.  Tugging on the string causes Mr. Monkfish to jerk up and open his gross fishmouth, thus scaring the shit out of me and making me almost murder a fishmonger.

Eeeeeewctopus

This is the most glorious, most massive sculptural homage to the squid that I had ever seen.  Someday, I will be commissioning one for my living room.

Our little crew decided to take the ferry to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island to see if we could spot some orcas.  I had no idea, but a ferry is really like a city bus that floats-  kinda gross and full of screaming babies.  No whales, though!  We watched the water for what seemed like forever, but apparently you only have a 1 in 5 chance of actually seeing one.  The spectacular view was worth every second of being there!

Aw, it’s wedding season!  This past weekend I went to my friend Leo Gonzales’s wedding to his lovely lady, Lauren.  Leo is one of the owners of Stay Gold Tattoo in Albuquerque-  he’s an amazing artist and is currently exhibiting his paintings at the Private Collections Gallery in Santa Fe.  They are definitely worth checking out!  

This crazy dude wore tight-ass leather pants to his wedding!  Here’s Leo lookin’ classy and me looking tipsy……and it looks like our friend Danno from Immaculate Tattoo just had to poke his epic beard into the photo…

Logical Nonsense got together to play Leo’s wedding, and holy hell did they put on an awesome show!  The groom even got to sing a few songs with them….

All in all, not a bad start to the wedding season-  I’ll take a rock show and PBR over quiche and bridesmaid dresses anyday!

Once again, Pop Femme was a whole lotta fun!  I meant to bring my camera, but ended up forgetting it at home.  We had a great night at the show, and were treated to tapas and drinks at the Coyote by Michael and Sharla.

I’m royally pissed that I didn’t document the evening in photo form, but I do have a few photos of a random hummingbird that flew into the apartment last night.  Poor little guy got stuck up in the skylight and wouldn’t come down!  Nick had to climb up on the roof and throw a blanket over the skylight, which caused him to jet into a window and get stuck in the vertical blinds.  We chased this friggin’ bird around for a long time, until he finally landed and I scooped him up in a towel and set him free.

a close shot

flappin around in the skylight

POP Femme Sugar Coated Strange 2009
May 15 – June 30, 2009
Opening Reception: Saturday, May 23, 6:00

133 West Water St in Santa Fe, NM 

POP Surreal Divas present original work in 2D and 3D for our 2nd Annual POP Femme Sugar Coated Strange Event to kick off the 2009 season. Reception with the artists Memorial weekend—Silent Art Auction to benefit Southwest C.A.R.E. Center which serves New Mexicans living with HIV and AIDS without prejudice, Auction opens 5-23-09 and closes 6-14-09.

Featuring Kathie Olivas, Artist Sisters CJ Metzger & Miss Mindy, Stephanie Roberts, Carrie Ann Baade, Marie Sena, Valery Milovic and Julie West among others.

Sneak peak of show art will be available May 15th live in the gallery and online. Auction items available for online viewing starting now…full auction items will be completely loaded by May 15th.

Prepare your party hats and inquire for more details at artinfo@popsantafe.com.

I love doing trades!  If it was up to me, I’d do away with money entirely and operate strictly on the barter system.  Maybe I’m just weird, but sometimes bringing the almighty dollar into art transactions makes me feel……uncomfortable.  Whereas when I trade goods and services with people, I never end up feeling screwed.  No one’s out any money, and everyone has something to show for their efforts.  Love it!.  I just got finished doing a couple of paintings for some amazing gentlemen that I owe a lot to…..

Just finished the last bits on a painting for a machine from Mr. Joey Desormeaux, the master tattoo machine builder in Florida

And this lil’ guy is going to Caleb Barnard-  one of my favorite people, and one of the best tattooers that I know.

Back to what has become one of my favorite places- Dallas, Texas. It was so great to see all my old friends and to get to work at one of the BEST shops in the city: Holdfast Tattoo. Many thanks to Caleb, Jeff, Kira, Mike, and the rest of the crew for making me feel at home. I miss you guys already!

my darling havi's kestrel

Thanks to Tick at Black Rat for being an awesome host. Here are some of the tattoos that I did at the shop:

my favorite thing to tattoo.....goats!