Tattoo Sighting: Matt Houston

I'm currently apprenticing to be a tattoo artist. This involves not only learning lots of technical knowledge about tattoo machines, bloodborne pathogens, and the actual process of placing ink in skin properly, but (insofar as I'm able to) also an immersion into the culture of tattooing. As a result, I follow a great deal of wonderful tattoo artists and blogs for inspiration, read a lot of magazines and books, and experience conventions.

It's remarkable to me not only how many tattoo aficionados choose to adorn themselves with representations of their BT family members, but also how many tattoo artists themselves share their lives with these great dogs. There just seems to me to be a high correspondence between loving tattoos and this particular breed (Boston Terriers are pretty badass). I've been able to collect many images representing both facets of this correspondence and I hope to share them with you.

The first one I'm offering is of a pooch named Ninja, tattooed by Matt Houston. Matt originally hails from the UK, but is currently working in Vancouver, BC, Canada at the Gastown Tattoo Parlour. He works primarily in a Neo-American Traditional style, characterized by bold lines and limited color palette. You can find more of his work on both Tumblr and Instagram.

Ad Sighting: Yankee Candle & Jolee's Boutique

Boston Terriers are great sales dogs. Place them in your product advertisements to add instant appeal! Here are two I discovered just this week:

This happy pup was smiling out from a co-worker's Yankee Candle fundraiser catalog. Needless to say, I had to purchase a votive collection. Its powers of cuteness were irresistible, besides it was for a good cause. I can use the delightfully scented candles to mask the odor of potent BT flatulence.

Today, I happened upon this BT while browsing a local craft store. It graces the packaging of a Jolee's Boutique Easy Image transfer product for fabrics. Use it to customize a shirt for your own Mugsy dog.

I apologize for the lack of posts. It's certainly not for the lack of sightings though! I have a large backlog of saved sightings for you to enjoy in the near future.

Book Sighting: Photobooth Dogs

This find was idly discovered while skimming through the shelves at a local bookstore. Photobooth Dogs is a collection of images of canines and their people spanning the nearly 80 years since the introduction of the photobooth. Despite the sepia tone, and dated clothing and hairstyles, the images still seem so contemporary that it can be hard to believe they are vintage or antique. I think the immediacy of the photobooth lends a very open quality that is often more difficult to come by in the formal, arranged photos we may be used to seeing from those same eras. The images are very warm and relatable.

It's a little small to be considered a traditional coffee-table book, but the minimalistic design which allows the individual photos (or a series of small photos in their original strip format) to really shine is well suited to casual browsing.

While there are many types of dogs represented in its pages, Boston Terriers do have a fair share of the interior content and one cute Mugsy dog is featured on the cover:

I feel this book would make a lovely gift for a sentimental dog-lover and/or someone who appreciates vintage photography.

Book Sighting: Photojojo!

Boston Terriers seem to be popular with the crafty crowd. I'm not alone in this observation. My second book feature is thus appropriately another craft book.

Photojojo! published by Potter Craft includes projects and ideas to both enliven your photos and the ways in which you display and share them. Learn how to make household objects into unique photo stands and how to transfer photos onto such things as cupcakes, walls, and even your own skin (temporarily). One of the methods suggested to get some interesting perspectives is the doggie cam which involves attaching a camera to your canine friend. In this case, that camera is manned (dogged?) by none other than a Mugsy dog:

This particular BT also makes appearances throughout the book, for example in this awesome little accordion album, so keep your eyes peeled!

Book Cover Sighting: Paper + Craft

While at the art supply store the other day, I noticed a book with a Mugsy dog bedecked with a handmade party hat on its cover. The book is Paper + Craft published by Chronicle Books. It features a number of sweet, whimsical projects to make out of paper. If you're at all familiar with Etsy, you'll notice many themes common to the more promoted shops from that site included in this book, for example the ever-present mustache and bunting. There are some great ideas here for party decor and ways to spruce up your gift packages too. The Boston Terrier on the cover does make at least one more appearance in the book, so while browsing through at your local bookstore, be sure to keep an eye our for him!