Ainslie Heilich and Laura Davis make up Vintage Karma, which had been located in Stroudsburg, Pa., for over four years (2007-2011). Late 2011 we moved the tattoo and arts studio to Tuscola, Il., and expanded to offer handmade goods, funky finds and vintage treasures. The business reopened April 2012 and has quickly become a “must see” Tuscola destination. In 2014, we added tattoo artist Brian Lynch to our team! Check out www.artofvintagekarma.com to see our tattoos!

-------------

What does Vintage Karma mean?

By Ainslie Heilich.

There have always been questions about the name of the shop. Specifically, what it means.

Vintage = something old. Karma=the future result of past actions.

The quick answer is it reflects my artistic style and inspiration. It is also a way of life. The name reflects the duality of the past and the future or of Western and Eastern cultures and the act of combining these together. What’s old will someday be new again.

I like to draw from many resources when I create. These sources may not have been originally related to each other but I mix them up like how a DJ samples an old song with a new beat, creating something fresh and new.

The back story….

I was involved in an outdoor historical drama, “The Long Way Home” for four years when I was in high school. The last line in the play was

“Lest we forget, the inspiration of the past provides the hope for our future.”

That line stuck with me, later I found that there is a whole belief system around that very notion in Japan. It is called “Onkochishin” which means to examine things of the past, and obtain the new knowledge and the opinion from there. The four character kanji is even tattooed on my back.

Plus, I thought the words just sounded cool together.

---------

Come visit us!

110 West Sale Street
Tuscola, IL 61953

Hours:
Tuesday through Saturday
Noon to 7 p.m.

217-253-2553

shopvintagekarma [!at] gmail.com