Jesse James and Kat Von D Engaged

Jan. 20, 2011— -- A year after his marriage to Sandra Bullock collapsed, Jesse James is engaged to celebrity tattoo artist Kat Von D.

James told People magazine that 2010 -- the same year his marriage to Bullock fell apart amid stories of his infidelity -- was "actually the best year of my life because I fell in love with my best friend, an amazing woman who stood behind me when the world turned their backs."

"I have never met anyone so kind and loving and committed to making the world a better place every day," he said about Von D. "My love for her is beyond description. So honored that she said 'yes.' Growing old with her is going to be a f----n' blast!"

"There is no one else for me. He's the one," Von D, 28, the star of reality show "LA Ink," told People.

The couple began quietly dating last summer soon after James' divorce from Bullock was finalized in June.

Neither Bullock's nor James' rep responded immediately to requests for comment.

Von D, whose full name is Katherine Von Drachenberg, bears more than a passing resemblance to James' previous women. Covered in tattoos, Von D looks more like James' second ex-wife, porn star Janine Lindemulder, and Michelle "Bombshell" McGee, the woman who brought down his marriage to Bullock, than she does to girl-next-door Bullock.

Last August, Von D tweeted -- then deleted -- that she was seeing the 41-year-old motorcyle mogul.

"Yes, Jesse and I are dating," she wrote before taking down the post, but not before the message had spread throughout the blogosphere.

Later, Von D's rep told People magazine that she and James were "just friends," even though they had been spotted together in Las Vegas, having dinner and holding hands.

According to a People source: "Jesse and Kat drove to Las Vegas together in Jesse's car. It was just the two of them and they slept in the same room. They have been friends for years, but this is the first time they are both single."

Divorced since 2007, Von D had recently split from Motley Crue bassist Nikki Sixx.

In recent weeks, James and Von D have openly Tweeted about their love for each other.

On Jan. 13, James Tweeted: "They say True love will always shine through. The only reason I started Twitter again? so I could publicly profess my love for @thekatvond."

She responded: "Thank you always supporting me and believing in everything I do. But most of all, thanks for being my best friend."

Asked whether she'll move from her home in Los Angeles to Austin, Texas, to be with her fiancé, Von D replied, "If only it were that easy. Having two places we call home will be good for now. In the end, home is where the heart is, and my heart's with him."

Meanwhile, Bullock was recently rumored to be dating her "Proposal" co-star Ryan Reynolds who just ended marriage to actress Scarlett Johansson. Asked about the rumors at the Golden Globes, Bullock responded: "I think there will be a collective sigh amongst women across the United States when I say he's not my lover."