Kara Perez a.k.a. PORKCHOP RULES! has been an online friend for a while. She lives in Modesto California and makes and sells her own one-of-a-kind jewellery and screenprinted clothes. We “met” on Flickr and I remember what caught my eye were all her amazing tattoos. I asked Kara about her designs, her tattoos and how it all ties together…

SDR- You make jewellery and do screenprinting on your vintage
finds. You are also covered in tattoos. Can you tell me visually how this all ties together? I see certain repeating imagery.

PR!- Well I used to tattoo- I fell into the world of tattooing in ’95. I tattooed from ‘97 off and on to 2002. I was also in college and all my art at that time was tattoo based. I have been away from that world for a while now so my influences are much different. Yet I still draw like it was a tattoo, I always draw with an outline. Bold and simple like traditional tattoos.

SDR- What are your favourite images right now?

PR!- Right now cute animals. Calico Critters have influenced me.
The Russian “Friendship” image is one of my favorites. It is a wood carving but I drew it with the Hunter’s hand cut off and the Bear has a bandage on his arm—yet they are still Friends.

SDR- What are your favourite tattoos? Getting any more?

PR!- Oh so hard… Well the ones my husband did, there is a Cholo Girl with skulls in her hair, we plan on adding a skull with a mustache over her. I just got a Kukula Heart tattoo. I want to get the side of my neck but I am still thinking about that….kind of scared :)

SDR- What is coming up this spring?

PR!- I want to start making spring dresses, I have so much fabric and patterns. It’s time to do something different. I also want to start printing on new clothes, tees, tanks. But using eco friendly fabric. Alternative Apparel has an eco line. I have some new ideas for images but I like the images to go together, like a series.

SDR- Where do you sell?

PR!- Right now in California- Sacramento, San Francisco and
Modesto (that’s where I live) I also sell on Etsy. And this great store called Calico in New Bedford, MA. She has an online store called shopcalico.com. Plus she has an Ebay store.

SDR- Tell me about how you like to use the internet.

PR!- Flickr for me is my favourite, with all the different groups. I have a MySpace but it kind of bugs me. I don’t blog too much, but I try. I am not much of a writer. The only thing I really like about MySpace is posting a bulletin.

SDR- You are very supportive of the crafting community and
have been so with me a lot. I think this is important to you. Can you tell me about it?

PR!- I think if there is a designer that you like and get inspired by them you should try to promote them. The thing is that I am at home and some DIYers have jobs and can’t be on the computer all day. So I am willing to promote them. The designers that I do promote are people I know in person and, like yourself, online. I don’t expect the “I will scratch your back…” you know. I really don’t care. In the end it is myself that has to get the ball going.

Anchor of Love Sweater/Love Bell Blouse/Roses and Stripes earrings

This is a P.S. I just had to add. This purple unicorn pic by sleepy sparrow…

just reminds me so much of this PORKCHOP RULES! The Last Mirrored Unicorn necklace. And you should really read sleepy sparrow’s story she wrote under the photo.

Check out the PORKCHOPCRAFTS store on Etsy.

I just realized I never asked Kara where she got her amazing name! Well maybe she will let us know :)