Hawaiian Arm Tattoo and Arm Band Tattoos – The New Tribal Tattoo

11. February 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,


One of the biggest and hottest growing trends in the art of tattoo design is Hawaiian arm or leg band tattoos. As this trend goes a lot of people think to themselves, well of course. At least that is what I said to myself at first. You can hardly drive more then 10 minutes on the freeway in southern California where I am from and not see a big SUV like a Lincoln Navigator or a Cadillac Escalade and not see a Hawaiian sticker. Things with flowers designs, or turtles, dolphins. Ya see it started off with the sticker and then the car seat covers with hibiscus flowers everywhere and it just grew from there.

This trend of Hawaiian design has then met it’s match with the whole tribal tattoo movement. Tribal tattoos have been the hottest thing in the tattoo world since sliced bread or the old school WWII era Hula dancer. You see these influences have been all around us for a long time my grandpa even has one of those Hula Girls tattoos still. Granted it is a little saggy and faded now but he still has one on his forearm nonetheless.
So the whole tribal tattoo and the growth in interest for Hawaiian designs have combined to make a hot and growing market for Hawaiian tattoos. This is really an up and coming thing and it not huge yet. However many tattoo artists are spotting the trend and jumping on it already.

Of course there is a lot of controversy on this subject also like anything. If you look on the internet there is a controversy about getting Kanji and Japanese Tattoos also. Anytime you try and take the designs of a culture and do not depict them accurately it creates a sense of bastardization or what I call the “Disney Effect” towards the culture. I mean how would you feel if you were in China and someone said, oh you should try this hot new restaurant out it serves this great food that is really American. They have fried chicken and apple pie that is the best.” Well, at first you would be excited right? Sure it would be nice for a good home cooked meal if you have been out of the US for a long time. However once you get there you see the place has really tacky and awful reproductions of 50′s art and the all the food tastes kind of strange. It would probably bee kind of close or resemble what you were thinking of but it would be missing something or a few key ingredients. I bet this would leave you feeling a little sad and like your culture was not totally understood.

Well, I can not speak for you and maybe you will feel different but I was pretty sad when after staying in Japan for 3 months I was invited to a 1950′s classic hamburger joint. When we got there it was Elvis with a funny accent playing on the jukebox and when my hamburger came it had a fried egg on top of it with teriyaki sauce. WOW what a surprise that was for me. I kind of felt weird about being in the place that had tried to recreate something from my own culture.

So, the same controversy rolls on in the world of tattoos. Anytime you get a tattoo design from another culture just make sure you go with a professional. Do not have your friend trace out some Kanji in a book for a tattoo and don’t go and rip some design of the internet because it states that it is Hawaiian. Go to a real custom tattoo designer and have them do the research and come up with some designs. After all this is going to be on your body for the rest of your life and since Hawaiian arm band tattoos and leg tattoos are typically big it will be a significant investment in pain, time and money to get the thing done. So you should consult with a professional and get top notch work done.
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Native Tattoo Meanings and Customs

27. January 2011 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,




Today many parents panic if their child gets a tattoo at some point in their life. Many think of it as a degrading practice that symbolizes rebellion. But it should be remembered that tattooing was and is an art that came naturally to various native peoples for hundreds of years. Tattooing has been a native custom in many tribes or races across the world, although the origin of it varied within each tribe or race. The Tattoo, over the years, has signified caste, citizenship, servility, pride or marital status for many races.

In the Hawaiian Islands tattooing was common prior to 1800 and would indicate what tribe or district you came from. The material used for coloring in native tattooing was vermillion, carbon, gunpowder and indigo. These were embedded in the skin with sharp knives or hand-made needles. Members of the Tucanoe tribe were known for three vertical blue lines tattooed on the body. This was an indication they belonged to that tribe.

In the South China Sea area where Borneo, the Philippines, Sumatra and Java are, tattooing was also common among the natives. In Borneo, members of the Kyan, Pakatan and Kermowit tribes were the only tribes where everyone was tattooed. Oddly, they were considered the least brave tribes in the area. Still their tattoos indicated they were part of a particular group. Another Borneo tribe, the Dyaks, tattooed all of the married women, usually on the hands and feet and possibly the thighs. It was considered a privilege for the married woman and a sign of dignity.

In the Polynesian Islands such as Tahiti, a tribe known as the Otaheites appeared to tattoo themselves for religious significance. Common tattoos among them were squares, circles and crescents, along with men and dog tattoos. In this tribe every person was tattooed without exception as they reached adulthood. In Fiji only women were tattooed in a tradition dating back hundreds of years. It was believed that they were tattooed more for adornment than any other reason. A tattoo was seen as a decoration that beautified the women in preparation to find or keep a husband.

Among native Australian tribes it was common, and is today, to tattoo yourself with the group’s totem, Otherwise known as a Wingong. A totem was a creature, plant or animal that the tribe believed they descended from. It could be a turtle, elk, owl, Cray-fish or snake, for instance. It might be considered the tribe’s logo.

In Burma tattooing has always been a sign of manhood. Early explorers of the islands saw almost no man without a tattoo. The leg was a popular spot to have one. It was witnessed that tattoo artists would go around with books of designs which contained every symbol for warding off any kind of evil or for bringing good luck.

Native American tribes were advocates of tattooing. The married women of the Apaches and Yumas in Arizona traditionally were distinguished by a tattoo consisting of several blue lines from the lower lip to the chin. It was also known that when a young female was wishing to become a mother, she would tattoo the figure of a child on her forehead. As well, Mojave women, after marriage would tattoo vertical blue lines on their chin.

Within native tribes and in specific geographic locations, the art of tattooing has been a long tradition. In the modern world the tattoo is used more for personal decoration of the body, and personal meaning than it is for customary ‘tribal type’ purposes such as designating a group, although violent gangs many times have a common tattoo. For most it is popular to merely acquire a tattoo that has a personal meaning, and for others it is simply a fancy adornment.

The Tribal Tattoo Art

18. December 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,


Tribal tattoos are generally influenced by tribal art from native and indigenous tribes. The tribal tattoo art comes from the older tribes such as the Celtics (Ireland, Scotland, & Wales), the Maori Tribe (indigenous people of New Zealand), the North American Tribal, the African Tribal, the Marquesan (Polynesian inhabitants of the Marquises Islands) and the tribes of Borneo.

Celtic Tattoo Art

Celtic tattoo art come from Ireland. Celtic knot tattoos are some of the most popular and most common designs, featuring loops with no end that symbolize a never ending cycle of dying and rebirth. There are also Celtic cross and animal tattoo designs as well

Mori Tribal tattoo Art

The Maori, the aborigines of New Zealand, call their tribal tattoo “Moko” and Mori art is incredible to behold. To the Maori, a person’s Moko designs enhanced their prestige and show transition from one social status to another. At its highest level, Moko designs proclaimed the sacredness of chieftainship.

North American Tribal Art

There are many Indian tribes in North America and many different traditions for tribal tattooing. It was very common for tattoos to denote rank within the tribe. Take the Illinois Indians for example. It was quite common for weapons of war to be tattooed upon the men and it is suggested by some that the women received tattoos of tools used for labor. The tools of war outranked the tools of labor. This was, to the best of my knowledge, their tradition. They seemingly kept their practices to a minimum.

Samoa Tribal tattoo art

The Samoan tribal tattoo was done with a carved boar tusk, sharpened with a piece of coral, attached to a turtle shell, and then affixed to a stick. This tool is used to carve the designs into the flesh by tapping it against the skin and then a mixture of candle nut soot and sugar water is rubbed into the resulting wound.

Marquesan Tribal tattoo art

Sea-faring Polynesians from Samoa colonized the Marquises Islands as early as 300 A.D. They were warring tribes who sometimes cannibalized their enemies. Marquesan art is very uncommon. Most tribal tattoos are done with one specific object and the size variation is minimal. This is not so with the Pacific.

African Tribal tattoo art

Tribes in Africa do not use pigment for tattooing, they cut the skin and either the wound is packed with a substance so that it becomes raised or it is rubbed with ash or sand until the wound rises up, then the scar is the tattoo.

Borneo Tribal tattoo Art

Borneo is the third largest island in the world. The Dayak people reside here for centuries, they believe that spirits are in everything around them. For this reason they believe that by tattooing an object or creature on them they can draw energy from these spirits.

While the tribal tattoo was originally used to identify members of specific tribes, represent battles fought, and to serve as the symbolization of social status, today tribal tattoo art is a popular fashion. a lot of people today choose various designs simply for aesthetic reasons. Some of the most popular designs include dragon, butterfly and suntribal tattoos. This tattoo can be put virtually anywhere on the body, The back and arms are usually the most common areas where people have them applied, but the ankle, calf, and chest are also used.

The Tribal tattoo art expresses personal freedom and uniqueness of the wearer. Tribal art has a simple appeal that reinforces a positive feeling about ourselves and connects us to ancient mystery of the tribal rituals, which faded away with history.

Tribal Turtle Tattoo – Tips on Your New Tattoo!

08. December 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,




So you are ready to get a new tattoo and you have decided that you want a tribal turtle tattoo. You are about to put a permanent piece of artwork on your body so make sure you do the proper research before getting your new ink. There are many things to consider before getting a new tattoo, so I hope these recommendations can help.

It is more than likely that you have already gone to Google images to find artwork. The problem with this is that so has everyone else. You are getting a tattoo because you want something unique and you want to stand out. Using artwork that is freely available online is a bad idea.

I would recommend that you check out a tattoo gallery that you have to pay for. The benefits of this are being able to find an artist that specializes in tribal tattoos. With a pay site you can find an artist that will work hand-in-hand with you on your new design. You will also find better quality tattoo galleries than free websites. And you will find a community of like-minded tribal tattoo enthusiasts that will gladly help you out with any questions that you may have.

The other benefit is having access to an updated list of local tattoo galleries. You can find reviews and recommendations of trusted tattoo artists. This alone can save you a lot of headache.

As you can see you have a lot of decisions to make before you get inked. I want to make sure that you find the right tribal turtle tattoo artwork that will make you happy.

Murder, Muggings And Mayhem – And This Is A Romance?

07. June 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,




I’ve been catching up on my reading in the genre I like best to read for fun: romance. Before you get all riled up, I believe romance authors are up there with the best of them. I enjoy romances because I know the guy and the girl will end up together and live happily ever after. Well maybe not forever but at least for awhile.

So I went down to my local bookstore and stocked up on Nora Roberts, Barbara Delinksy, and Fern Michaels. I also bought a couple of authors I’m not familiar with, Barbara Freethy and Tara Taylor Quinn.

I got halfway into Blue Smoke by Nora Roberts and thought, there’s something different. And there was: an arsonist. No spoilers here so I’m not going to go into details, but an arsonist as the villain was a little out of the ordinary for a romance, or so I thought. Then I delved into The Jury by Fern Michaels. I like Michael’s books because she incorporates descriptions of food into her books in such a delicious way. Well the macadamia nut pancakes smothered with a banana – caramel syrup were just as yummy as ever, but the violence in the book put a damper on my appetite. The theme was about a sisterhood who dealt with revenge, graphically dealt with revenge.

I picked up In Plain Sight, Tara Taylor Quinn’s book because the setting is Arizona and that’s where I live. Yes there was romance, but multiple murders as well. I’ve just started Taken by Barbara Freethy and we have a stalker, organized crime, and identity theft.

All of the books have been a good read, I am just surprised at the violence. Has it been that long since I read a romance or have they changed? So I decided to ask some of my author friends:

“Why do you think romance writers are including more violence in their books? Is it a reflection of the times, a way to broaden the reader base, or just a short-lived trend? Or something else altogether?”

Tara Taylor Quinn, author of In Plain Sight has this to say: “I can’t speak for all romance writers, but I know that I am not consciously choosing to include more violence in my books. When I sit down to write, the stories and scenes present themselves and I write them. I’ve noticed my writing change, I’ve noticed the violence, but I’m in the know after it’s happening, not before. I think the reason this is happening is large part due to the society in which I live. Drive by shootings happen in my city on enough of a regular basis that we aren’t shocked. I don’t stay home out of fear. I simply don’t go anywhere without the awareness that I have to be careful, be observant, be smart.

“I look also at the television shows that are so successful right now. Without A Trace; Law & Order; Numbers; CSI – they just keep coming. Books and television are part of the same entertainment industry and we’re all focusing more on the violence with which we live. In my opinion this is hugely due to 9/11. Those of us who lived through that horrible time will never be as innocent or trusting as we once were. We now live with the certain knowledge that there are no lines some people won’t cross – they will even die to hurt others – there are no rules, anymore, governing the fight for a cause. It used to be that battle and war followed protocols that were defined and understood. That’s no longer the case. In today’s world soldiers aren’t all wearing uniforms and fighting on pre-determined battle fields. They’re living next door to us and fighting wars we don’t even know about.

“In short, I think the change is a reflection of a changed society – a
changed life.” Tara Taylor Quinn, http://www.tarataylorquinn.com

*******

“I think it’s a reflection of the times. We’re surrounded by violence every time we turn
on the news or read the newspaper, so it’s only natural that some of our characters would
be a reflection of this bombardment. In the case of my book, Different Roads, violence was a necessary element in order to stay true to my heroine, who grew up with violence and abuse as major factors that shaped her personality. Although she has tremendous character growth before the book’s end, she continues to struggle with her temper and a tendency she has to punch those foolish enough to anger her–and the one to do that most often is the man she loves. But as physical as their arguments are, their reconciliations are just as volatile, and their love for each other is never in doubt. As long as there’s enough love to overshadow the violence, I think it can be used as a literary device to make for edgy, realistic love stories that can trigger intense emotions in readers, and that’s always a good thing.” Joyce Sterling Scarbrough, True Blue Forever, Different Roads
*****************

“I think it’s because of a shift in the public’s taste, and I think it’s a trend that will change over time as trends tend to do. Perhaps it has something to do with the public perception that the world is more violent now than it used to be. There certainly seem to be more shows on TV that feature violence than there were in the past–look at the popularity of the CSI shows. Right now, it’s what the public wants, and I can understand how the violence might be especially appealing in romances. After all, the violence in romances still leads to a happy ending, whereas violence in real life rarely does.” Jenna Black,
Watchers in the Night, Secrets in the Shadows, 5/07; Shadows on the Soul, 9/’07, The Devil Inside (Bantam/Spectra urban fantasy), Fall ’07,
******************

“I think what you’re seeing is more of what’s been happening over the past several years–a blurring of genre lines. Romance is going farther and farther into thriller territory, capitalizing on an audience that likes a little murder and mayhem with their romance (or, in some cases, a little romance with their murder and mayhem). In my opinion, this is largely to build a reader base that includes the typical romance reader (many of whom have read so much they’re also eager to branch out) while reaching out to new readers in the form of readers who are typically fans of other genres.” Brenda Novak, Dead Silence, There’s a body buried behind a Mississippi farmhouse…
***************************

“The romance novel cross-pollinates with many other genre–science fiction, fantasy, thriller, suspense, and mystery to name a few. Each of these other genres bring their own requirements in world building, violence, and other elements. Violence, in particular, seems to be a defining element for many romance writers who write grittier violence to offset the softer romantic elements in these cross-genre/cross-market novels.

“Will this trend continue? In the short term, yes, but long term as these cross-genre novels become more mainstream, romance writers will no longer need to prove themselves, and the violence will fit the book, not the need to be grittier than the average thriller or sf novel.

“As an interesting aside, romance’s success has also caused another form of cross-pollination–the addition of strong female characters, romance, and lots of sex to the other markets.” Marilynn Byerly, Guardian Angel, Star Crossed
********

“I write about violence/adventure and romance because women are more “doer”s today and many work in professions that have risk and danger involved. Every encounter with another person is a relationship of some sort, whether friendship, parent/child, adversary, or romantic, romantic being the ultimate relationship. Put them together and you have a good story.” Elizabeth Lucas-Taylor, Unfinished Business
*************

Are romance writers and their publishers going after more mainstream readers? With the exception of the Fern Michael’s book, the covers are definitely not the typical romance cover. And neither is the back cover copy or endorsement blurbs.

When I asked Karen Kosztolnyik, Senior Editor at Warner Books that question. She responded: “How a book is packaged affects how it can be received by the reading audience. We have an author named Karen Rose, an up-and-coming star for Warner, who writes romantic suspense in mass market paperback. (Don’t Tell, Have You Seen Her?) We package her books so they look like straight suspense, not like a romance at all. We have been hearing from bookstores that men are buying her books as quickly as women are. Part of the reason is that the packaging was designed to appeal to both men and women.”

Romances like any other genre, reflect the world around us. Our concerns, worries, hopes and dreams are what influences the writers. As readers’ tastes evolve so do their preferences in romance novels. Now what I hope never changes in a romance is the “happily ever after.”

Japanese Folk Songs

27. April 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,


Japanese music has had a large array of influences ranging from China, Korea and even the West. Rich and distinctive in nature it places large emphasis on pentatonic, monophonic and non-harmonic styles of music. Japanese traditional folk singers can be found throughout the country, playing several styles of folk music and classical music. While Japan may have a culturally rich heritage of folk music, it is extremely complicated and intertwined due to its small regional states.

Min’yM or Japanese folk songs are categorized into four main categories: work songs, religious songs, children’s songs known as warabe uta and songs sung when communities gather on different occasions such as festivals, weddings, funerals and others. Japanese folk singers are often accompanied by the three-stringed lute called the Shamisen, the hand drum Tsuzumi, the Taiko drums and the Shinobue also known as a bamboo flute. Today Japan’s Enka singers perform traditional folk songs with modern instruments like electric guitars along with traditional instruments.

Common Min’yM phrases such as bushi, bon uta, ondo, are commonly spoken. They consist of different beats and can commonly be heard at many Obon festivals. From unique melodies to distinct swing characteristics, Japanese folk songs are still an integral part of Japanese children’s curriculum in school. Japanese folk songs are still traditionally passed down from one generation to the next. Common Japanese folk songs which can be taught to children of any culture include the counting song, the moon and the rabbit and the turtle.

Another popular folk song is the flower straw-hat song known as the Hanagasa Ondo played at local community gatherings called Hanagasa Odori. Movements of this typical swing ondo rhythm are typically for women, but men are also encouraged to join in. However dance steps may vary for each sex. Sakura Sakura also known as Sakura elaborates on the season of spring. Sung at many international gatherings as a song representing Japan, “Blooming Cherry Blossoms” has had many renditions but Michio Miyagi’s interpretation is often regarded to be the best of them all. In 1976, Cat Stevens used the melody of Sakura in his live version of ‘Hard Headed Woman’.

Japanese folk songs ideally emerged from villages and small towns and were popularized by people living in cities trying to retain some of their culture. Today many folk songs have been commercialized and redone countless times making them highly different from the original which were once sung in different regions of Japan. Yet these traditions are being sustained and continued largely due to the efforts of the musicians’ guilds and due to various folk traditions throughout the country.

Pedro Almodovar

27. March 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,


Pedro Almoldovar was born in 1949 in Calzada de Calatrava in the Castilla la Mancha region of central Spain. Since his film making debut in the eighties he’s written, directed and acted in more than thirty films and can easily lay claim to the title of Spain’s greatest living film director.

Famed for his use of melodrama and his labyrinthine plots, his films have never shied away from serious subject matter – homosexuality, transvestitism and death (particularly death by AIDS) have all popped up as themes throughout his work. Almodovar also likes to use marginalised, socially ostracised characters and groups in his films. It is this hunger for the unconventional that has made people take note of his work. In many respects his films were a response to the decades of oppression under the dictatorship of Franco and Almodovar was at the forefront of an artistic movement that was free to express itself for the first time since the Civil War.

In 2004 the controversial director launched his most recent film at the Cannes film festival. “Bad Education” drew on the directors own experiences at a catholic school during the sixties. The film confronts the sexual abuse of the boys by the teachers and also the homoerotic love of two young students. The film was met with universal acclaim and cemented Almodovar’s position at the forefront of world cinema.

The films success followed on the back of the acclaim of his two previous directorial efforts. “All About My Mother” was released in 1999 to high praise from critics and cinema goers alike; it was a candid story that showed a softer more mature side to Almodovar’s direction and continued his use of women and the idea of sisterhood that is prevalent in many of his works. Almodovar later dedicated the film to “all mothers and any actress who’s ever played a mother” and the Spaniard picked up numerous awards at home and abroad including his first Oscar for “Best overseas film”. In 2002 Almodovar released “Talk to Her” to similar rave reviews and critical acclaim and the film earned him his second Oscar for “Best screenplay”.

Before this golden period in Almodovar’s career, many thought that his talents had lost their direction. His films of the late 80’s and 90’s had come in for some fairly heavy criticism and had been the cause of some fairly fierce debate in cinematic circles. “Tie me up, Tie me Down”, “High Heels” and “Kiki”. Some were lambasted for their supposed misogynistic undertones including a shocking rape scene from “Kiki”. “Tie me up, Tie me down” also came in for some heavy criticism from women’s groups for it’s portrayal of a women who falls in love with her kidnapper.

Almodovar also famously gave a first acting role to Antonio Banderas in his 1987 film “Law of Desire”. Banderas also took on the lead role in the aforementioned “Tie me Up, Tie me down”. Banderas later moved to Hollywood where he achieved great fame as his career blossomed.

Amoldovar is currently shooting his latest offering due for release in 2006; it’s entitled “Volver” (“Filming” in English) and will star Hollywood actress Penelope Cruz, one of Spain’s most successful daughters. At the moment it seems as if the Spaniard can do no wrong and he’s acclaimed as one of the best film makers in the world today having produced many films that are already viewed as cinematic classics. At age 55, it’s clear that the man has still got a lot to offer and we could still be watching his creations for many years to come.
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Turtle Tattoo Designs

04. February 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,




Many people now are very much engaged in having tattoos on their body. One of the major factors for this is the freedom to express personality and individuality through the choice of tattoo designs. Another reason is the wide acceptance of the world’s culture regarding having tattoos on the skin. Because of all these, there are many designs available for tattoos, and the variety of designs will make choices not that easy. If you are considering getting tattoo on your skin, you may want to try the turtle tattoos since this design is the most popular to younger individuals nowadays. If this information suddenly caught your attention, continue reading on.

We all know that different cultures have different meaning for turtles. As an animal, turtle is a very interesting one, especially with its shell as their way of protecting themselves from any danger and their lifespan of up to century old. This could be the reason why people consider turtles as significant and meaningful animals.

To sight as an example, the Native Americans consider the turtle as sacred animal. The beginning of the world was also attached to the turtle as believed by some of the tribes, like the belief of the Huron, according to them a girl fell on the water and some water animals saw her and brought her to a wise turtle. The turtle instructed the animals to deposit some soil grains from the bottom of the ocean until the land grew and the girl and the land was formed into a world where the girl lived at ease.

This belief about the world is one of the many examples. More cultures accredited the turtle to the myth about creation or about the world. Just like the belief that the turtle is the one that directly or indirectly carries or support the world on his shell.

Some cultures admire the turtle’s characteristics of being steadfast and at peace. Some people prefer the turtle tattoos because it correlates as the symbol for strength, long life, courage, bravery, power, knowledge, safety, and perseverance.

While some individuals prefer this design, some tattoo artist would even enjoy making this art because they can add another design on the shell as they do the markings. Some artists would create extra design of Japanese characters or other symbols on the turtle shell to represent something. This is a great opportunity for the artist to put a tattoo within a tattoo.

This art does not mean you can only put Japanese characters on the shell. You can choose your own personal symbol if you want to add extra design on you turtle tattoos to make the design special and sacred.

Choosing turtle tattoos is a great choice since you can have other designs on it. The design is adaptable to other possible designs and you can have it as small and simple one or you can have it as large turtle tattoo with addition of extra designs on it.

These are the reason why turtle tattoos are considered multipurpose and to some, sacred. If you are interested in getting one for yourself, choose the right turtle tattoo design that fits your personal meaning. You can even make it more personalized by adding extra designs on the turtle shell.

Unique Turtle Tattoos

04. January 2010 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,


If you have ever seen some of the turtle tattoos out there, you probably know what I mean when I say imagination is the only limit to design. I must admit I was never especially interested in tattoos of any animal but when I saw a woman with a tribal turtle I began to change my mind. Turns out that turtle tattoos are one of the most requested designs. I know that while looking through the database of designs I use, I came across a few award winning turtle tattoos and I was sold.

Everyone has their own preference, style and taste; mine happens to be that of black ink only and small tattoos as opposed to big pieces. That’s just my taste however, and it certainly doesn’t have to be yours. There is a design about nine inches long and it’s a trail of turtles on their way to somewhere or another; they even have turtle tracks in the design. I saw this on a woman’s thigh and it looked great. Another man I saw had psychedelic turtle tattoos and they were abstract in design while vibrant in color. My concern over color is that it fades, as all ink does and this is why I lean towards solid black ink (which looks gray or blue as it fades).

For unique turtle tattoos simply start browsing award winning designs to start (I use chopper-tattoos). Once you find a few you love, turtle or not, start brainstorming ways to combine what you’ve found. If you have a great tattoo artist you can easily take your designs and show them what aspects of each you like and request they draw a unique design for you. Don’t be shy or hesitant if this is your first inking – artists love to create unique pieces.

Your Favorite Gossip Girl Cast – Blake Lively in Real Life

30. December 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Arts And Entertainment · Tags: , ,


Blake Christina Lively, a favorite Gossip Girl cast member, is never new to the world of Hollywood. Born to actors Elaine and Ernie Lively in Tarzana, California, and the youngest of 5 children, Lively was indeed meant to thread a path in Hollywood belonging to a family that has been involved in the industry herself. However, Blake was not initially set on following her family’s path. Instead of getting involved in showbiz at an early age, she enjoyed a normal life in school.

As a child, Blake was homeschooled. She moved on to attend Burbank High School wherein she became a cheerleader, class president and a member of the National Show Choir. She was set on attending Stanford University until Hollywood fame came knocking at her door.

Blake’s Shot to Fame

Her first taste of Hollywood came when she starred in her father’s film, Sandman in which she portrayed the role of Trixie, the Tooth Fairy at age 11. Her biggest break took place when she bagged the role of Bridget in the teen hit movie, The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, in 2005 opposite other famous young stars, America Ferrera, Amber Tamblyn, and Alexis Bledel. It is said that Blake’s similarity with her character in the film was so obvious that the mere act of turning in her picture already got her the part. Her amazing performance in the movie won her the Teen Choice Award for Best Breakout Actress. The success of the said film led to a sequel that stars the same cast. Lively also starred in a college comedy, Accepted, opposite Justin Long in 2006 and the film, Elvis and Anabelle in 2007 alongside Keith Carradine and Mary Steenburgen.

Gossip Girl Affair with Penn Badgley

Not long after, she got the lead role as Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl. This project really cast her name in Hollywood as one of the upcoming stars of the generation. Like a chameleon, Blake was able to transform herself into the complex character she portrays in the show. Gossip Girl also paved the way for her to be reunited with childhood friend and classmate, Penn Badgley, who stars as Dan Humphrey, Serena’s love interest in the teen drama. Their rumored relationship off screen was the headline of all tabloids, but the two initially never confirmed the affair. It was only when a magazine featured photos of them on a vacation together in Mexico that Lively and Badgley came out with their relationship.

Recent Project

Many doors have been opened to Lively because of her Gossip Girl fame. She is set to star in New York, I Love You with Hollywood A-listers, Natalie Portman, Scarlett Johansson, and Brett Ratner. The movie is expected to hit theaters late this year.

We can definitely say that Blake has everything going for her. A member of the Gossip Girl cast, role model, and an amazing actress, she is one of the most sought after talent of this generation. There’s no doubt about it. Blake is the next best thing in Hollywood.
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