Telisa Swan, owner and operator of Little City Studios in Moscow, had the excitement of participating in several international tattoo competitions dampened by the terrorist attacks. Swan and fellow tattoo artist Brooks Jenkins left for Europe on Sept. 2. Between them they took two first-place awards and one third place at competitions in Denmark and Germany. They were in a pub in Germany when the Sept. 11 attacks occurred. A television was turned on and they were able to see what was happening. "It freaked me out," Swan said. "It was in German and it took me a while to figure out what happened." With heightened security throughout Europe, Swan and Jenkins were among thousands of Americans caught overseas. While the experience was nerve-racking for them, they would not hesitate to go back. "I was so amazed at how (the people's) hearts went out to America and the victims," Swan said. "You would have thought it had happened to them." The two came back to the United States Sept. 17. This time their tattoo machines were not allowed in the carry-on luggage for security reasons. Since returning, Jenkins has done three patriotic tattoos. "That's more than normal," Swan said. FUND RAISING PFH Design -- Screen Printing and Embroidery, a Moscow home-based business, has raised more than $2,000 for the American Red Cross. Responding to the tragedy of Sept. 11, Whistle and Mark Lash created a patriotic silk screen for T-shirts that features a map of the United States and the words "God Bless America -- September 11, 2001."
The shirts, which sell for $15, are available at AmericanWest bank in Moscow and downtown Pullman and at the University of Idaho bookstore.
The bank has extra-large sizes on hand. Children's sizes to 4X can be ordered at the bank until Oct. 10.
The bookstore, which purchased shirts from PFH, has a selection on hand.
For more information, call PFH at (208) 883-2535.
MORE KUDOS
St. Mary's School raised $700 for the victims of the recent terrorists attacks on New York and Washington, D.C., during the fifth-grade Mass on Sept. 14. Mass was said in honor of victims and their families. The children and parishioners donated the money, according to second-grade teacher Peggy Quesnell, who e-mailed me with the information.
FASHION SENSE
Ever have the desire to blink -- other than eyes -- in public?
If the answer is yes, now's your chance.
Body Lights, maker of belly button lights, has expanded its line to include bright blinking lights that clip to clothes, shoes or hair.
The light is the size of a pencil eraser and contains red and green LED lights. The power source is a 12-hour watch-size battery.
The lights cost $6.95 each. For more information, go online to or call (636) 949-9049.
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* For those pet owners who are especially fond of their animal friends, jewelry help is on the way. PuppyPaws Inc. is a Cleveland-based producer of jewelry for pet lovers. The company has created a line of paw-shaped adornments including pendants, earrings, cufflinks, bracelets and charms. KittenPaws versions for cats also are available. The company will send between 5 percent and 15 percent from individual purchases back to the customers local humane society to help prevent animal abuse. For more information, go to the companies Web site at or call (440) 446-9958 THE FINAL FRONTIER It was bound to happen. A Tonawanda, N.Y., company -- Universalplot.com -- is offering a full-service Internet cemetery. The company provides virtual "plots' for the deceased and living. The plots can accommodate written words, pictures, video and recorded messages. "Lets face it, the experience of visiting a loved one at Universalplot is a far more enriching experience then going to a traditional cemetery," according to a prepared statement from the business. "We are able to tell the world and all to come of our thoughts, dreams, accomplishment, aspirations and expectations." Plots sell for $99. If all that is not enough, DNA storage also is available. For more information, go to . To some this idea may sound absurd, especially a plot for the living. Actually, it's not that unusual for people very much alive to write their own obituaries to ensure all important information is included when the time comes. While the idea may not be pleasant, writing your own obituary is a good exercise and helps organize family history. UPDATE The Pullman Supercuts will open Thursday at 417 N.E. Stadium Way FINAL THOUGHT I know it's been said before, but isn't the middle of September too early to pack stores with Halloween merchandise? Every year that stuff seems to hit retailers a little closer to summer. If the goal is to get the jump on fellow retailers, then the customer suffers in having to deal with it. And it's not just Halloween. The Christmas season, which traditionally started after Thanksgiving, seems to have about a six- or seven-week window of opportunity now. Maybe it's time to for consumers to set new priorities and for the retailers, who follow national trends, to rethink their merchandising. The deadline for submissions to the Daily News business section is Wednesdays at 5 p.m. For information or to make story suggestions, call Murf Raquet at (208) 882-5561, ext. 232, write to 409 S. Jackson, Moscow, Idaho 83843 or e-mail to .
