Sunday, April 27, 2008

Simple Henna Design - Gilded Back of Hand Pattern

simple henna pattern back of hand gilded

Here is a henna pattern for the back of the hand. I like it very much because the design moves so gracefully over the hand, is interesting, simple and elegant. Click the title of this post to see more patterns.

This was the first design of the day on Saturday, 4/26 at the Midnight Sun, 1055 Park Street, Five Points, Jacksonville, Florida. We applied a bit of gilding, a spot of deep purple in the center of the flower & the outer drops. There are spots of gold int he pattern as well. I like the soft, elegant look this offers.

I waited until the henna had dried, been lemon sugared three times before adding the gilding. This method seems to work best for the liquidity of the paste I make.

My other "discovery" this year is to use a fine mist sprayer bottle to apply my lemon sugar mix. It's fast, covers all the henna in a spritz or two, doesn't usually run or drip and never disturbs the design.

I now strain fresh squeezed lemon juice three times, add almost equal volume of organic brown sugar, heat this in a little bowl over open flame until the sugar melts, then add a drop of essential oil (usually clove bud) and strain that mixture into the sprayer.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Bold henna tattoo pattern for the leg

floral henna tattoo for the leg

Many people are choosing to have henna tattoo applied to their legs this season. The good news is that both clients featured on the blog still have very good color one week later.

This long lasting color gives us the change to work with shading and reapplication of new henna paste over existing designs.

I hope to be able to post finished color of shaded tattoo in the near future.

I will be offering henna tattoo today, April 26, at Midnight Sun, Park Street, Riverside, Jacksonville, Florida from about 1:00 pm until 5:30.

Please feel welcome to stop by to look at pattern books, or to get a henna tattoo. More information and photos are available by clicking the title of this post.>

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Henna Pattern for the Leg - with Gekko

henna pattern for the leg

This photo shows how well henna can work with an existing tattoo. Do you see the gekko? If not, click the photo to enlarge the view.

This design is based on the new bold style of henna pattern made popular by great artists whose patterns are online at Tap Dancing Lizard, although I did not use any particular pattern for this henna tattoo.

The color developed over several days, and by Tuesday, my client had a very rich auburn color. My challenge is to get good photos of the finished color, so stay tuned.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

It's 44 degrees on Wednesday Morning!

original henna tattoo palm of hand

Oooops! This is not henna weather. Looking ahead on the five day forecast, we are supposed to have warmer temperatures by Saturday. I am hoping so.

I am ready with a heat lamp to make some fresh henna paste for the weekend, but clients always get the best color on their finished hennas when it's HOT outside.

Henna is a heat activated skin dye & the color develops over a 48 hour period. The hotter the skin gets, the darker the stain. Some of last Saturday's clients went home to blow dry their henna tattoos.. and this always helps me get better color as I am cold natured anyway.

Check back for updates on our henna Saturday at The Midnight Sun.

Monday, April 14, 2008

"Chef's Choice" Henna Tattoo

Sometimes, after looking through all the pattern books I bring to Midnight Sun, clients find a style they like, but want a custom tattoo. Hence, the Chef's Choice" option you see to the left.

I am noticing a new style of henna evolving in my work. It seems to be a personalized abstract artwork that I am calling New American Tribal for lack of another name.

The Tribal Tattoo section of my henna site features a photo gallery of more designs in that style if you care to visit.


Weather permitting - in that it is warm and not pouring rain - I will be back at Midnight Sun this coming Saturday. Last Saturday we had a good time, and I was very busy, so I may arrive a bit earlier, perhaps Noon. See you there?

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Peacock Arm Tattoo from Midnight Sun

peacock arm upper arm tattoo

We had a wonderful time at Midnight Sun today.. the first day of "Henna Season" in Five Points. I had to wait for the weather to warm up enough to make good paste. Also, with warm weather, we have some many more places to tattoo.

Peacock designs were very popular today, and here you see a peacock theme on the upper arm. This pattern is a modification of the great art in the henna pattern book "Sangeet" available at Tap Dancing Lizard.

I did several "Chef's Choice" patterns today, and will post some of these "New American Tribal" henna patterns in the next few days.

Lots of new work is ready in photo albums hosted on my updated henna site Spirit Vision Henna.