So the main reason for the trip, we’ve had quite a few challenging cover-up requests over the years, and we wanted to check out their laser tattoo removal options for our clients.  At Wild Idea, we were greeted by their “laser-lady”, Colleen, and had tons of questions answered.  She gave us a tour of the shop and showed us the laser equipment.

Turns out, Colleen is from Dickinson–small world!  She tells us that she’s going to be coming up again soon to see family and would be more than happy to stop at our shop and do a Q & A session on tattoo removal.  Why, you may ask, is a tattoo shop promoting tattoo removal??  Because sometimes bad tattoos are just not “coverable”.  Laser removal can lighten up–or completely remove– a bad tattoo and open up more options for the artist to clean up or re-create your work.

This informational session will be open to artists and the general public.  We will post the details as soon as we have ‘em!

Pictured here is a personalized blankie for a newborn baby girl.  Her mom and dad are super cool… gotta love those girly skulls!

The new shop will feature a larger, more welcoming reception area; an expanded retail section; larger tattoo rooms; and a dedicated piercing room. Wicked E’s Tee’s & Sleeves will also be a part of the In the Flesh/BassAckward Studios family. The studio will be more centrally located and will have the added convenience of private parking. The new shop will be located at 225 East Villard, in the west side of the Hedahl’s building.

Joey and Crystal Fahlsing opened In the Flesh Tattoo & Piercing in 2002. In the nine years that they have been in business, they have seen the tattoo industry grow tremendously. Award winning artists Joey and Crystal, with their combined 18 years of tattoo experience, can truly stand behind their shop motto of “If you can think it, we can ink it.” They look forward to many more wonderful years in Dickinson. In the Flesh is also proud to introduce Jena Kasper of Belfield as their full-time piercer. Jena has quickly excelled with piercing, and is striving to become a tattoo artist. She has been a priceless addition to the shop as she also handles reception and keep things running smoothly for everyone.

In 2010, BassAckward Studios joined In the Flesh at the Dickinson location. Artists Kirk and Gretchen Peterson established their custom-art business in 1994, with Kirk winning numerous awards for his airbrush work over the years. In 2004, Kirk began tattooing at Michael Jays Tattoo & Piercing Clinic in Bismarck, where he still tattoos one day a week. “This past year with In the Flesh,” says Peterson, “has been nothing but fantastic. The opportunity to expand is very exciting.” With the availability of more retail space, BassAckward Studios will also be offering unique, custom painted gift items and will also be showcasing more fine art available for purchase.

Wicked E’s Tees & Sleeves specializes in sales of specialty printed garments. Offering a large variety of designs for custom printed shirts that are printed in minutes, Wicked E’s will also have a wide selection of body jewelry, incense, music related items, tins, ashtrays, and other novelty items.

Joey Fahlsing states, “For the past few years, we’ve been keeping an eye out for a larger office. When we first started out, our current space served our needs just fine. But with the boom in clientele, a full time piercer, and the addition of BassAckward Studios to our family, the need for more room to serve our clients has become a necessity. When we looked at the new location, we immediately knew that this space would serve our purposes perfectly.”

At this time, shop hours will remain set at Tuesdays through Saturdays, from noon – 6 p.m. Both In the Flesh and BassAckward Studios will also schedule after-hours appointments when requested.

The new location will be open and ready for business at the beginning of April.

September was the Thomas family benefit, see our earlier post on that event….

October brought Kirk back to Michael Jays to fill in for Justin while he was on “paternity leave”…. (congratulations Justin and Anna on that pretty new baby girl! )  Due to popular demand, Kirk has decided to return to Michael Jays every Thursday from now on.

Kirk’s new schedule is as follows:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays at In the Flesh & BassAckward Studios Tattoo in Dickinson… call 701-483-INKS to schedule.

Thursdays at Michael Jays Tattoo & Piercing Clinic in Bismarck…. call 701-222-8282 to schedule.

Fridays and Saturdays, back at In the Flesh & BassAckward Studios Tattoo in Dickinson.

Sundays & Mondays are “the weekend.”

BassAckward Studios is now offering Gift Certificates, however, they are redeemable at our Dickinson location only.  Don’t forget that we also offer a whole lotta other art services besides tattooing; hand drawn portraits make an excellent Christmas gift!

As always, remember to become a fan of our Facebook page for the newest photos and information!

If you were unable to attend, you can still help this family with their medical expenses. Donations can be made at any branch of Dakota Community Bank, or the Bank of Glen Ullin.

A Spaghetti Feed will be held at 6 pm at the Sacred Heart Parish Hall.  After you’re done eating, come on over to the City Hall & Blue Room for the auctions and the dance.

There will be raffle drawings downstairs in The Blue Room, starting at 6 p.m.  Again, thank you to the GUMC for sponsoring the raffle!  Tickets may be purchased for $1 each.  Then you “shop” our amazing selection of donated items and place your tickets in the appropriate container for a chance to win that item.  There is no limit to the amount of tickets you can purchase, and no limit to how many you may enter into each particular drawing.  And, you need not be present to win!

At 8 p.m., join us upstairs for the awesomeness of SWEATHOG!  Live music from one of southwestern ND’s most popular bands–come check out what may possibly be their very last performance.

At 10 pm, we will announce the winners of the raffle drawings.

After the raffles, there will be a LIVE AUCTION.   We have received some awesome donations for this event.  A rifle, a shotgun, Harley Davidson items, a badass leather motorcycle jacket, a side of buffalo meat, original artwork from various artists (not just us!) …. that’s just the tip of the iceberg and more and more high-ticket items are coming in every day.

BassAckward Studios will also be providing an airbrush demonstration throughout the evening. The final artwork will be auctioned with the other live auction items, with all proceeds being donated directly to Bev and her family.

If you have items to donate for the silent auction, or would like to help us acquire donations or help in any other way, please contact Gretchen at gretchen@bassackwardstudios.com

Our annual appearance at the Glen Ullin Motorcyle Club’s Memorial Day Run was a raging success, too.  The finished artwork was auctioned off at the end of the evening, with all proceeds being donated to the Chris Tibor Cancer Benefit.  More details on that can be found on our Facebook link.

Next up for us is the Bottom’s Up Rally in Marmarth, ND.  We’ve gotten a lot of emails saying “you’re dates are wrong on your website!” Well folks, that was LAST year’s event you were looking at!  THIS year’s dates are August 27-29; more information can be found at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=133341140015737&ref=ts Yes, we will again be there airbrushing so bring your leathers or other items that you’d like to have painted and we’ll be happy to help you out.

After Marmarth, Kirk will return to Michael Jays in Bismarck as a guest artist to cover for Justin while he and Anna take a brief leave of absence for the birth of their baby girl.  We haven’t got the dates yet that he will be there, as it will depend on when Baby decides to make her appearance.  Tentatively, we’re thinking around mid-September through mid-October.  Kirk will continue to be at our Dickinson location at least one day a week during this time; we will have more details as the time comes.  If you want to schedule with Kirk while he is in Bismarck, please call Michael Jay’s at 701-222-8282 to “get on the list.”

Please don’t forget to add us on Facebook.  We do tend to update that page much more frequently than we do with this, our “official” site, so to view our most current projects and updates, that’s the best place to be.

Just the parts, still haven’t been able to get a “real” photo shoot of this one.  This project recently took home the Judge’s Choice Trophy at the 2010 Glendive Bike Show.  Congratulations to the owner, Krystal Haibeck, and thank you, Krystal, for giving Kirk the opportunity to do this project.  Clear coating, as always, by Jerome Zimmerman at KraZKustoms.