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Hey friends!

Em here, checking in with a little two-month catch-up before we roll into August. It’s been a busy couple of months, so here’s a peek at what’s been going on in the shop and beyond:

Collab of the Month: Dragon & Girl Back Piece



Kicked off a big back piece that Casey and I teamed up on — such a fun collaboration! Casey designed the dragon and I designed the girl. Dom sat like a champ while we both worked at the same time, and I’m so psyched to get some shading on this piece and share the finished result with you all!

One of the things I love most about tattooing is getting to work on projects like this. Collaborating with other artists — especially when they’re also good friends — is so cool. Inspiring each other and pushing each other creatively is such an awesome feeling. I’m so grateful to be in an industry where I can support other artists and share the love of tattooing with them as well as our clients.



Here is a little peak at the process 👀
                                                                                                                                              

Tattoos, Surfboards, and Wedding Bells

Tattooing is a funny thing… it’s taken me to so many places I never thought I’d go. From conventions out of state, to new cities, countless pop-up events, and now — tattooing for the second time at a wedding! This was such a rad and special moment for me. There I was, in the middle of the dance floor, tattooing my good buddy at his sweetheart table, with his beautiful wife by his side and a room full of family and friends cheering us on and capturing the moment.

Its moments like these that I feel extra blessed to be living this life, doing what I truly love most.


Heres a few shots of me tattooing at the wedding!📸






Along with the places tattooing has brought me, it’s also introduced me to so many incredible artists and creatives. Which leads me to my girl, Kari Tello — the amazing photographer who captured this epic day. She’s such an inspiration and truly one of the best in the biz. I’m honored to have gotten to know her, tattoo her, and most of all, call her my friend. 🖤





Above are just a few gems she captured from the day - I wish I could share them all!
For anyone still reading, seriously, hit her up for all of your photo needs!

Website: https://www.karitellophoto.com/
Instagram: karishootsfilm

I promsie you wont be dissapointed😉

Another incredible creative friend I’ve had the privilege of collaborating with throughout my career is Christian Willerth — the mastermind behind Big Carl Surfboards. We’ve worked together a few times now, but I’d have to say this particular project is my favorite because it was so sentimental. I got to design a custom, tattoo-inspired piece of artwork for the board he shaped for Jack & Sav (the newlyweds💍)

I had an absolute blast working on it and am so thankful for him, as well as the other friends who helped bring this vision to life. Seeing the finished board was amazing — but seeing the couple’s reaction? Absolutely priceless.

MAY RECAP— Full Hearts, Full Calendars & Fake Guitars

Hey y’all!

May came and went in a flash — and as promised, here’s my monthly recap! It feels extra special that my very first official blog post is all about the month I love most.

Yep, May is my birthday month (shoutout to a few of my favorite people who also celebrate!), but it’s more than just that. It brings all my favorite things: sunny skies, long days, warmer weather, and that sweet birthday bliss. For us SoCal folks, it’s basically the kickoff to summer — and it always comes in hot.

You can probably guess that May tends to be a very busy month for me. I didn’t exactly stay on track the way I hoped (classic), but I’m a firm believer in better late than never. So let’s dive in!

Amidst the chaos, I managed to crank out some tattoos I’m seriously proud of, celebrate the 2-year anniversary of my tattoo shop (still wild to say!), and soak up some really special moments with family and friends.

Birthday Bash: Guitar Hero Showdown

One of the biggest highlights of the month — my 27th birthday party! We closed up the shop a little early and turned it into a full-blown Guitar Hero battleground, complete with trophies, pizza, drinks, and a whole lot of off-key singing.

A special thanks to Dom for putting it all together and for making me the most gorgeous birthday cake ever — seriously, I felt so loved.

In true fashion (if you know my friend group, you know), we ended the night with some classic karaoke. I’ve got a few fun photos from the night to share — and honestly, you can almost hear the singing just by looking at them... for better or worse.

🖤 Shop Shenanigans: 2 Years of WCTC!

We hit a major milestone this May — Working Class Tattoo Co. turned TWO! I still can’t believe it’s been two whole years of doing what I love in a space we built from the ground up. To celebrate, we threw a little flash day party at the shop, and honestly... it was a blast.

We had a lineup of pre-drawn designs, buzzing machines, good music, better company, and all the fun chaos you’d expect from a birthday bash tattoo shop style. Big thanks to everyone who came through to get tattooed, hang out, or just support us — you made it such a special day.

Extra love to my shopmate Casey — couldn’t ask for a better partner to do this wild ride with. We’ve come a long way in two years, and I’m so proud of everything we’ve built together.

Here’s a peek at the action.

So, how does a flash day work, you ask? It’s simple! Flash days are first come, first served — we tattoo walk-in style all day long, offering pre-drawn flash designs at a discounted price.

We’ve got tons of designs to choose from, and there’s always some kind of Get What You Get game in the mix. This time, we debuted a brand new fortune cookie G.W.Y.G., and it was such a hit! Watching people crack them open to reveal their surprise tattoos was seriously so fun.

Heres a little video highliting the day at the shop!

SHOP VIDEO 🎥

Overall, it was such a great day! We had an awesome turnout and had an absolute blast celebrating with everyone. I honestly can't even put into words how grateful I am for all the friends, family, and clients who came out to support us — and continue to do so.

None of this would be possible without you all. The 2-year anniversary was the perfect way to wrap up the month, and I’m already looking forward to many more milestones ahead!

   

Well thats a wrap on May — thanks so much for reading and being part of it all. I’m already cooking up next month’s recap, which includes a super special project I got to create for a seriously epic wedding in Mammoth (more on that soon!).

Until then, stay cool, stay kind, and I’ll catch ya next month for my June recap 🖤

Hey, hi, hello 

I’m so excited you’re here! I’m Emily—though most folks call me Em—and this is officially my very first blog post (cue the confetti cannons).

I’ve decided to start posting here once a month as a way to share a deeper glimpse into my world—both the creative side and the everyday magic that fuels it. Think of this space like a cozy corner of the shop where we can chat, laugh, and nerd out about cool stuff together.

Here’s a little of what you can expect:

Favorite tattoos of the month (because let’s be honest, I fall in love with each one)

Sneak peeks at new projects I’m dreaming up and bringing to life

Fun shop events and little life highlights—whether it’s a rad flash day, a thrifting win, or just a really good cup of coffee

Whether you’re a client, a friend, or just stumbled in here by beautiful accident—welcome! I’m really glad you came.

Stay tuned for the first “real” post soon. Until then, keep being awesome.

With love & ink,

Em🖤