Award-winning tattoo artist sets up shop in Sussex
Published Tuesday October 7th, 2008
Jessie-Lynn Jenkins was always good at art.
In kindergarten, one of her drawings was chosen to illustrate a teaching tool for high school students. In Grade 5, one of her paintings was chosen to decorate the walls of the district school board office.
Now, the 23-year-old is using her talents to create beautiful tattoos. In August, the award-winning tattoo artist and her mother, Kathy Jenkins, opened Oceans of Ink at 571 Main St. in Sussex.
A tattoo parlour in a dairy town, you ask?
"Well, Sussex is growing and more and more people are coming from larger centres like Calgary where they have tattoo parlours," said Kathy Jenkins, who performs body piercing at the small retail space.
Jenkins should know.
The family just returned to the Sussex area after living in Calgary for the past 18 years. Jenkins and husband Brian decided they had had enough of the big city life, and were considering moving east when they discovered the home that they had built some two decades earlier in the Sussex area was up for sale.
That clinched it. The couple bought the house, and moved here this summer with their two grown daughters, Jessie-Lynn bringing her business idea with her.
In Calgary, Jessie-Lynn had apprenticed with a tattoo artist and had been tattooing for three years. Her tattoos recently took second place for use of colour and third place for most unusual at an Edmonton tattoo festival and another recently appeared in a national industry magazine called Tattoo Energy.
The family thought a tattoo parlour would work even in a small town given the increasing popularity of tattoos and piercing, which have become more mainstream in recent years with the help of TV shows Miami Ink and LA Ink. Up until August, Sussex residents had to drive to Moncton, Fredericton or Saint John to get one. With the opening of Oceans of Ink, they can now get a tattoo in their own community.
"We've been really pleased," Jenkins said. "People make us feel so welcome and we have lots of people coming in, and I find it really interesting the age group of people coming in. Our biggest clientele is between the ages of 40 and 55. We even tattooed a 69-year-old lady."
Jessie-Lynn, however, was quite young when she began decorating her body. She was 13 when she came home with her first piercing, causing her mother "to freak.
"I made her take it out," said Jenkins, who later learned all about piercings to make sure her daughter was having them done hygienically.
"Now she has lots of piercing and lots of artwork on her."
Jessie-Lynn likes to first meet her clients to discuss the type of artwork they want tattooed, which can range from symbols marking life events to portraits of children. At one time, tattooing used to be a form of rebellion. But today, it's sometimes a rite of passage. Recently, the Sussex shop had a bridal party, including the mother-of-the-bride, come in days before the wedding to get identical tattoos of the Chinese symbol for family.
"There are so many different ideas," Jenkins said. "The possibilities are unlimited."
Strategic plan
A five-year strategic plan was launched last week to study downtown Sussex.
The Sussex Downtown Business Association's board of directors launched the $49,494 study to help ensure a bright future for the central business district of Sussex.
According to the board, the success and vitality of downtowns in New Brunswick is partly dependant on the quality of planning that goes into their activities. It believes a vision and long-range strategic plan is the logical step in securing a bright future for downtown Sussex and help facilitate positive change in the community.
Drummond Consulting Ltd. has been hired to conduct the study in association with Urban Marketing Collaborative, BDA Urban Design and Amulet Consulting. The 12-week study is expected to be completed by the first week of the new year. Updates on times and locations for public meetings concerning the study will be posted at www.sussexdowntown.com.
Small business week
Celebrations are gearing up for Small Business Week, which runs from Oct. 19 to 25.
Led by the Business Development Corporation, the event recognizes the growth of small businesses in New Brunswick and across Canada, and promotes the success of those people behind the businesses.
Nationally, the BDC will recognize one young entrepreneur from New Brunswick along with one from each of the other provinces during a gala in Vancouver on Oct. 21.
In southwestern New Brunswick, several activities have been planned. On Oct. 20, a small business mixer wine and cheese will be held at Ty's and Tails in Sussex.
Organized by Enterprise Fundy and the N.B. Association of CBDC, the event will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Admission is a non-perishable food item for the Sussex Food Bank. Deadline to register is Oct. 15. Call 432-2624.
B of T Workshop
On Oct. 21, the Saint John Board of Trade is holding a workshop to help business owners find hidden opportunities at business-to-business events, trade shows, conferences or business reconnaissance trips. The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m. at the Trade and Convention Centre. Deadline to register is Oct. 15. Call 632-2008 or email info@sjboardoftrade.com.
byrne will speak
Business New Brunswick Minister Greg Byrne will be the guest speaker at an awards ceremony at the Sussex Golf and Curling Club on Oct. 22. Organized by the Sussex and District Chamber of Commerce, the event will begin at 6 p.m. Cost is $30. To register, call 433-1845.
awards ceremony
The St. Stephen Area Chamber of Commerce is also holding an awards ceremony on Oct. 23 at the Milltown Legion. The event starts at 6 p.m., and the cost is $25. To register, email chamber.ststephen@nb.aibn.com.
Erin Dwyer writes the Developments column for the Telegraph-Journal. It appears Tuesday. If you have an item or suggestion, e-mail her at dwyer.erin@telegraphjournal.com or phone 648-3338.
More The City
Search Articles
More CE Network Sites & Partners:
