12 oz Studio at Time Attack- Millville speedway

We at 12 oz are more than just tattoo artist.  Our art is influenced by many parts of our lives. Here is a lil video of the 12 oz sponsored car at the Redline Pro Time Attack track event held at New Jersey Motor sports Park in Millville, NJ.  The car was driven by our very own tattoo artist Jose Bolorin. The crew of Riff-raff was there to make this cold windy morning a lot more hilarious.  All day running jokes and uncomfortable positions to pee. Bad aiming even though he's sniper trained... ha ha. Follow us as you will see the silliness unfold as we some what conduct business in a professional manner... Yea this day was a business outing..

City of Brotherly love..for tattoos.

From February 4th-6th 12 oz. Studios was representing at the Annual Philadelphia Tattoo Arts Convention. For three day the Sheraton Philadelphia City Center Hotel on 17th and Race street was wall to wall in amazing tattoos and artist.

Tattooed kingpin's Troy Timpel as every year host and amazing show. Even after working conventions for over ten years, Saturdays attendance had to be a record. It was so packed, that I had to anticipate when I had to pee so I could plan the right amount of time it would take me to get to the bathroom. Sorry, I was trying to paint a picture here.. ha ha. With over 200 of the best artist from all over the country, I took what little opportunity I had to leave the booth and check out some portfolios.

As always this convention is good to the 12 oz. crew. We got our pictures taken for magazines. We got to catch up with some good friends. Alex won 3rd place for best sleeve and Meghan won 1st place for best chest piece. And we gain quite a few new clients that already made appointments. 

This is Meghan's 1st Place chest piece

There was plenty to see. Live bands, burlesque show, Side shows, Art and beautiful people.
This Convention just happened and already can't wait for next year's convention.

Birth of a New T-shirt

Here's a sneak peek at how It all begins. Most of my designs I hand draw and ink.  I love creating an original. From here it's scanned it photoshop then the clean up happens. But the rawness of the sketch line and the clean ink over top creates it's own beauty. I am so grateful I get to do this for a living. The final t-shirt will be unveiled at this years Philadelphia tattoo arts Convention on Feb. 4, 5, & 6th.

Three Kings day

If you're not from a latin decent you may not know what Three Kings Day is.  My parents immigrated here from Puerto Rico in 1976, not knowing a lick of english to try to provide our family a better life.  The first few years we didn't have Christmas.. Not because they were scrooge, but because they didn't understand it.  In Puerto Rico they celebrated Three Kings Day, which is today. January 6th. It wasn't till I was about four before we got our first Christmas tree.. For you that never heard of Three Kings day, I found this great article on www.diversityinc.com and copied part of the article for you to enjoy:

Three Kings Day, or El Dia de los Reyes Magos, celebrates the Biblical story of the three kings, Gaspar, Melchior and Balthazar, who followed a star that led them to Bethlehem, where they brought baby Jesus gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. The journey is believed to have taken 12 days, beginning on Dec. 25 and ending with their arrival on Jan. 6. 

In Puerto Rico, the Three Kings are to children what Santa Claus is in the United States--the gift bearer. But rather than bringing Nintendo Wiis and PlayStation Portables, candy and small gifts are handed out to children with the intent of reinforcing the importance of the birth of Jesus, as opposed to the commercialized idea that is often associated with Christmas in the United States.  

Many Puerto Rican families in the United States have chosen to abbreviate Three Kings Day, combining the holiday with Christmas--setting up both a Christmas tree and a traditional nativity scene. Others may begin celebrating on Jan. 5, the eve of Three Kings Day, known as Ví­spera de Reyes in Spanish. As a part of Puerto Rican tradition, on the eve of Three Kings Day, children leave a shoebox filled with grass, sometimes accompanied by a glass of water or freshly polished shoes, under their bed or by the door to help the three kings and their camels along on their journey.   

When children wake up on the morning of Three Kings Day, the grass and water will have been replaced with candy and small gifts, believed to have been consumed by the three kings and their camels. Family and friends will then gather for a feast and to sing the rosary and folk songs. 

But visit Puerto Rico around this time of the year--especially San Juan--and you'll find yourself in the midst of 12 days of nonstop festivities: lively music, dancing, a feast of roasted pork, pasteles, pigeon peas, rice and coconut flan.  

The festivities begin after Christmas Day at midnight with a group of carolers accompanied by guitars, maracas and congas moving from house to house, entertaining. The observers show their gratitude by rewarding them with food and drinks. Many families also host dinner parties and these festivities continue every evening until the eve of Three Kings Day, when there are parades and the singing of the rosary until dawn. On Three Kings Day, the nativity of Jesus is acted out with the Three Kings being played by real-life fathers and the baby Jesus being played by the youngest baby. The day will then conclude with a huge feast.    

For Puerto Ricans and individuals of Puerto Rican descent, Three Kings Day is about preserving culture.

Now here's a funny story about a Three Kings Day I experienced. This story takes play on January 2009. Not having ever experienced a real Puerto Rico Three kings day celebrating, I decided to go to Puerto Rico (I now go every year). Being the eve of Three Kings, everywhere we went was a party. The restaurant we ate were giving away free shots of "Jibarito" which is a citrus infused rum that goes down so smooth that it only means trouble. Which is the catalyse for this story. After celebrating for hour and hours, which was easy when the people of San Juan treated us like we were guests in their home, we were hammered. We went all traditional (minus the box and hey) and bought each other presents. The surprise present was the major hang over we woke up with. Talk about your mind working in slow motion. We went to the plaza around the corner from the apartment we rented and got coffee, found a cool sandwich shop and eat breakfast. Then it was off to Luis Munoz Rivera Park, which our slow motion mind did not register the walk, yes I said walk, was about 2 miles away. Luckily the walk was right by the water. But still was a long walk. Once we get near the park we see a long line. We didn't understand why there's a line to a public park for this celebration.  I asked a cop if this is the line to get in the park. He said yeah. So we stood in line in the heat, hung over, for hourssssssssss. In line we found our hang over cure, piraguas! Traditionally it's like a snow cone, but this one was like water ice.. Passion fruit all the way. After hour 3 we noticed the line was going int this building in the center of the park and I asked Meghan to ask the cop why we're standing in line for. She then said to me,"Why? So that he thinks I'm a dumb tourist and not you?"  In which I responded,"Yes."  She the went and ask. The officer in a thick spanish accent tells her, "This is the line for the present for the children." At that moment our slow brains noticed we were the only dumb asses in line to see the Three King without kids. Three hours later. We laughed at how dumb we were and got out of line. We then enjoyed the festivities where there were food vendors everywhere, live acts on stage, DJ's and more importantly many corporate sponsors giving away toys to kids. Lots of generosity, love, dancing and laughter. Well worth it.. Besides it give me this story to tell..

The statues is dancing, but from this angle it looks like its flippin us off...ha ha

Some of the long road we WALKED. Which is why we didn't mind.

Coconut

Anybody who has a Puerto rican friend knows we love our music. But only in Puerto Rico, the love music so apparent that even the government public works made this octagonal speaker truck with built in DJ booth in the second doors of the cab.  They were 2 of these. One on each side of the park.

Dog with Pants.. really what else can I say about it.

Some of the sponsors. And the are my addiction. Cafe' con leche.  

 Little lizards on the way back

Statues of the Three Kings

What Christmas is really about.

Some of the best Christmas lighting I've ever seen and it's everywhere around old San Juan.

I know this one was a little long winded, But it is Three kings day and I celebrated a little last night. Not hung over but still slow... ha ha. This years present, I received a Book called

Puerto Rico: An oral history 1898-2008

by Barabara Tash Ezratty, editor

Read Sreet Publishing, Baltimore MD

Very excited about to start reading this. I'll tell ya when I''m done reading the 456 pages. But for now, I better get back to celebrating

Give the Gift that Last Forever.

It's that time of year again. YAAAAAAY!!!!!!!!!!!! Time to jump start that economy, haha. But if you're like me, I get more joy out of giving. So here's the sales pitch, "Give them the gift that they'll have forever." Or hell get one for yourself. 

And in the spirit of giving, From now to December 23 we are for every $50 you spend we will GIVE you an extra $5. And if you buy a $500 give certificate we'll GIVE you an extra $100. 

FOR THE KIDS

We are also collecting toys for kids at the shop. Stop by 12 oz Studios with a new unwrapped toy from now until December 20 and receive $10 off any piercing, $10 off any tattoo from 50-100, $20 off any tattoo from 120-200, $30 off 220-300, etc. You will also be entered in our raffle. giving away a free piercing, gift certificate, and hoodies, t-shirts, We're giving a lot of stuff away! Every kid deserves a great xmas, together we can all help! 

12 oz. Studios

116 new Broadway

Brooklawn, NJ 08030

856-742-1234

I wanna thank everyone who've help so far and all of you that are going to help. Let bring a little Joy so some kids.

Cafe Racers

So Last night I was flipping through the channel and stumbled on this show called Cafe Racer on Discovery HD.  All I thought is whaaaaaat. Not only have we've been into cafe racers since we watch mad max when we were kids, but we have our 1976 Honda CB750 out at the lobby of our shop for the last 4 years. We are also working on our spring line of t-shirts due out in March, and quite a few designs being inspired by our love for these bikes... Apparently TV America is finally seeing it too. Here are pics of the 12 oz. Cafe Racer and a sneak peek of the first 12 oz Racer Tees.

Fast forward to the Fastwards

So Friday, despite the cold that kept me in bed for three days, we all took that long 10 min trek to Philadelphia, ha ha. Well 10 minutes to get to Philly, 1/2 an hour to get parked. Once getting to Fergie's Pub (1214 Sansom st. between 12th & 13th St), the adventure didn't stop there. At first I couldn't get in because my license was suspended for 30 days for speeding. As luck would have it, even though I have been going to this bar every Monday for their open mic night for the last 5 years, this Friday, a bouncer that I never seen before. He wouldn't let me in. Good thing I knew the band, huh. We went into this weekend chaos to support our good friends Brian and Doug.  They along with their bassist Damon are in this pretty sweet band called The Fastwards. Although they are mainly an acoustic trio, we were treated with some songs with lyrics and an amazing Johnny Cash cover of Rings of Fire. I took the opportunity to take some picture of them and an impromptu 12 oz studios apparel photo shoot. The Fastwards' debut EP "Hole In The Bucket" is now available on www.myspace.com/thefastwards  (see the Ayos iShare window for free downloadable audio and cover art). These guys were amazing. After that performance I forgot about the Mitsubishi Galant full of drunk a-holes waving their have empty bottles of Hennessy and cheap vodka in a plastic bottle while driving erratically in front of us, the 1/2 hour driving 2 inches a minute to get to the parking garage, and the 24 year old fat bouncer's power trip. Well I did until I started writing this blog.

This is called Independence. Perfect for Philadelphia.