Jinks Art Factory totes creativity in a plethora of forms. It offers one-of-a-kind art pieces, handmade jewellery, independent clothing lines, and — the most permanent among its creative offerings — tattoos. And for those who consider a supremely crafted latte a work of art; well, it does those two.

Jinks opened last month in Parkdale, right by beside the new Pinball Cafe . (And keeping in theme, Jinks has one of Pinball's vintage arcade games sitting in its new shop.) Identical twin sisters Sarah and Jen Wetmore are the duo behind the new tattoo/coffee/clothing/art shop, deciding to move Jen's tattooing business out of their hope and into a bona fide retail spot.

"It was time," Sarah says as we chat at the front counter. Jen is busy tattooing a client in the retro-themed inking area in the back. "It was time to have people not coming in and out of our house all of the time."

So Sarah and Jen went looking around Toronto for a space in which to set up shop, settling on this former architect's office on Queen at the foot of Roncesvalles. The sisters did the reno themselves, converting an old door into a table for the front "cafe" area and building the bar and additional fixtures. "We can be pretty handy at time," Sarah says. "Give us a drill, and we'll know what to do with it."

Jen also, obviously, knows what to do with a tattoo machine, but she also offers less permanent forms of art with her 3D canvases displayed around (and for sale in) the store. Sarah comes from a service background, having worked as a bartender for 20 years. Both women contribute to Jinks own line of salvage accessories, which include bracelets and cuffs made from vintage denim and leather.

Sarah tours me around the shop, pointing out some of the other brands and lines they've chosen to carry. They include natural soaps and beauty items (for both men and women) by Rocky Mountain Soap Company based out of Alberta, handmade cards ($5.95) by local artist Kat Roy, and tees ($26) by Tresnormal from Quebec, some of which feature notable Toronto intersections including Queen and Roncesvalles.

"We've picked things that are local and organic as much as possible," Sarah says. The coffee, too, falls in that line, sourced from Birds & Beans in Etobicoke. Though the menu offers all the expected coffee drinks — espresso ($1.95+), Americano ($2.25+), cappuccino ($3.15+), etc. — the idea is more grab-and-go with no Wifi is available. There are a couple of Dufflet pastries waiting at the counter, however, perhaps as a treat for after a little shading.

Sarah says there are no plans as of yet to add baked goods to the sisters' creative list, but they may explore that option once they get a little more settled in. For now, Jinks is open daily for ink and drinks from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Additional Photos

Photos by Jesse Milns