The Tattooed Poets Project: Gina Abelkop

Our next tattooed poet is <a href="http://themoonstop.blogspot.com/">Gina Abelkop</a>, who shared this awesome portrait of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emily_Dickinson">Emily Dickinson</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZzV6_zVnYii5NNycDCpcYl5Sp5Sx1mgXS5LYeKcOIdcmq16LiqGebpfbK0cID354UZweI-FIi7phGYctzl012OfI4ozdrUhhi7hpU-UVedfbGYNhRtb3oSk5AgTSQJSpAHX1zTqKFmQ/s572/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVZzV6_zVnYii5NNycDCpcYl5Sp5Sx1mgXS5LYeKcOIdcmq16LiqGebpfbK0cID354UZweI-FIi7phGYctzl012OfI4ozdrUhhi7hpU-UVedfbGYNhRtb3oSk5AgTSQJSpAHX1zTqKFmQ/s400/photo.jpg" width="243" /></a></div><br />Gina tells us:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"I've long loved Emily Dickinson and her poems and last summer took a trip to Amherst to visit her home and grave. I traveled to NYC after Amherst and booked an appointment for a tattoo to commemorate the trip; prior to traveling, I'd asked my friend and artist <a href="http://www.susannatroxler.com/">Susanna Troxler</a> to illustrate a portrait of Emily to use for the tattoo. I brought the drawing to Mehai [Bakaty] at <a href="http://www.finelinetattoo.com/">Fineline Tattoo</a> in NYC and asked him to draw lilies and roses around the portrait, as those are two flowers Emily references in my favorite poem of her's. I get lots of compliments on the beautiful work from both Dickinson fangirls and people who think she's a great-grandmother of mine."</blockquote>Gina sent us the following poem:<br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">I Sit in No Sour Light</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><br /><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">I can be a good woman         Venerable,</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">esteemed good women    tell me    how it is</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">to be good      Your gutsy wealth of love</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">slobbery all over lips of tubs    Smell clean</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">All of that            Swung lurid as titties</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">over shoulder    I’m not bad    Good women</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: large;">of wide love and baffling extension       your eye please</span></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><br /><a href="http://themoonstop.blogspot.com/">Gina Abelkop</a> swims in the river and dances to <a href="http://www.bowwowwow.org/">Bow Wow Wow</a>. Her first book, <a href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=%22http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/097936275X/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=097936275X&linkCode=as2&tag=bill03-20%22%3EDarling%20Beastlettes%3C/a%3E%3Cimg%20src=%22http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=as2&o=1&a=097936275X%22%20width=%221%22%20height=%221%22%20border=%220%22%20alt=%22%22%20style=%22border:none%20!important;%20margin:0px%20!important;%22%20/%3E">Darling Beastlettes</a>, is out now from <a href="http://apostrophebooks.org/">Apostrophe Books</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Gina for sharing her tattoo and poem with us here on Tattoosday's Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=000000&IS2=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=as4&m=amazon&f=ifr&ref=ss_til&asins=097936275X" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.5812230000738055" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoo are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b></div><br />

The Tattooed Poets Project: Gina Abelkop

Our next tattooed poet is Gina Abelkop , who shared this awesome portrait of Emily Dickinson : Gina tells us: "I've long loved Emil...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Margaret Bashaar

Today's tattooed poet is <a href="http://margaretbashaar.wordpress.com/">Margaret Bashaar</a>, who sent us this stunning photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7WVO2EZEAA5mkeib0IqEuazLFnXm476GJnfffqywZssbNQq4vSM4mdEZKwvJzFSPKyzdH7l30fWKsCWUB1MnryEGUmNgcfR2pW-CWC0UdWcoU3bHNYCqHdMiZ_W1meYUUjUtXJD8OVQ/s572/IMG_4888_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik7WVO2EZEAA5mkeib0IqEuazLFnXm476GJnfffqywZssbNQq4vSM4mdEZKwvJzFSPKyzdH7l30fWKsCWUB1MnryEGUmNgcfR2pW-CWC0UdWcoU3bHNYCqHdMiZ_W1meYUUjUtXJD8OVQ/s640/IMG_4888_2.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><br /><br />Margaret explains what's on her back:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60C8GjbSCqIAyhqCrKpzdVAHqsyNnLI35lgWg8GqyqUbo-XvxzlJvBnvLZ8d3LInQICwnan74Eu8O2eE_m70HvY7Acn-kZsmD0R3-ioxlYkhv7rAAyAKSuMS7eyCaeBJN3INojsE__Qo/s360/close+up+peyote.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60C8GjbSCqIAyhqCrKpzdVAHqsyNnLI35lgWg8GqyqUbo-XvxzlJvBnvLZ8d3LInQICwnan74Eu8O2eE_m70HvY7Acn-kZsmD0R3-ioxlYkhv7rAAyAKSuMS7eyCaeBJN3INojsE__Qo/s320/close+up+peyote.jpg" width="320" /></a></div></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">"The tattoo of a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peyote_cactus">peyote</a> cactus on my upper back was done by <a href="http://octeel.zenfolio.com/">Octeel</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/drawingroomtattoo">The Drawing Room</a> in Pittsburgh, PA. Over the past few years I've taken part in a number of medicine ceremonies with a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lakota_people">Lakota</a> road woman, and it will probably sound really corny, but they completely changed my life. I'd been battling with severe anxiety and depression for a few years when I attended my first ceremony, and that ceremony was the turning point for me. Since then I've made huge strides with my emotional and spiritual self and credit ceremony for turning the trend I'd been on around. Octeel is a part of the group of people I'd met through ceremony, and it seemed only fitting to ask him to create this tattoo."</blockquote>About the piece on her lower back, Margaret filled us in:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"The tattoo on my lower back was done almost 11 years ago at a studio in Pittsburgh called Z Spot, which has changed locations and owners since and is now called <a href="http://www.alteregobodyartstudio.com/">Alter Ego</a>. I'm about 95% certain the woman who did the tattoo (which I designed) no longer works there. It was more of a 'yay, I'm 18 and can get a tattoo now!' sort of tattoo, but I still love it and am very glad I decided to get that first tattoo." </blockquote>Margaret also shared this photo of her thigh:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBerANlSPlTFZ4iFEzPhvuPJ4d9luNnXzcAM3RGDmdgsFIb-h6ldkmigDu-74vZQ15-15RzAnBGBYuXvpTMtz6tn-utRzh9YuJyLjeecZe7UOcg64BLGsOuBmktkhArzDy4lx9eoztNg/s614/Tattoo2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSBerANlSPlTFZ4iFEzPhvuPJ4d9luNnXzcAM3RGDmdgsFIb-h6ldkmigDu-74vZQ15-15RzAnBGBYuXvpTMtz6tn-utRzh9YuJyLjeecZe7UOcg64BLGsOuBmktkhArzDy4lx9eoztNg/s400/Tattoo2.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br />and she explains:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"This particular tattoo is ... by Terence Kauffman at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kinkd-Ink-Studio/126690804062326">Kink'd Ink Studio</a> in Windber, PA. It started as a tribute to my poetry press, <a href="http://hyacinthgirlpress.com/">Hyacinth Girl Press</a>, with the hyacinth at the bottom of the tattoo, and has grown into a whole garden, which will eventually extend up my ribcage. There are two lines of text hidden in the tattoo - in the stem of the hyacinth is the line 'Let us love, since our heart is made for nothing else' which was written by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Th%C3%A9r%C3%A8se_of_Lisieux">Saint Thérèse of Lisieux</a>, and on one of the leaves are the lines 'yes the pun's/the devil's work, but God made language/let him in' by the poet <a href="http://de-cidered.blogspot.com/">Niina Pollari</a>. The lines are from a poem in her chapbook, <a href="http://www.vianegativa.us/2012/04/book-four-by-niina-pollari/">Book Four</a>, which I published in 2011. The flowers in the tattoo (daffodil, hyacinth, tulip, cornflower, lily of the valley, and poppy) are all flowers that my mother grew in her garden when I was growing up, and all the flowers I plan to add are in the same theme."</blockquote>I am grateful for Margaret sending these photos and, accompanying them is this poem she sent, as well:<br /><br /><b>These are the small moments when you know you love</b><br /><br />When the legs that tremble are not mine, <br />when I have not spoken in days, <br />when the last taste on my tongue <br />is the sour of coffee <br /><br />the mountain opens its mouth and I step in. <br /><br /><i>See, these are the tunnels </i><br /><i>you must hold your breath through, </i><br /><i>these the traffic signals that will always </i><br /><i>make you lift your hands from the wheel, </i><br /><i>tell you to make another wish.</i><br /><br />You are where I go when I think I know myself,<br />to remind me I never can, <br />that there is always a new scar <br />to discover at the back of my thigh,<br />always a new lust to draw <br />like a needle down my back. <br /><br />I am full of torn up stamens, <br />petals chewed to pulp. <br /><br />I watch your hands grey as the days pass, <br />I see your hands in the fire.<br />They snatch the hummingbird from it.\<br /><br />I've rolled this sun, <br />these broken branch tips <br />into a ball to slip <br />beneath your mattress. <br />I will keep you awake at night,<br />coax out your royalty. <br /><br />I know you want to be suspended in the air, <br />full of spells or something like them, <br />that you see a warm blanket as the first step <br />toward seduction, and a badly timed joke <br />as the second. <br /><br />Maybe we all do the same things to each other - <br />cut our teeth on one another's scapula, <br />scrape at each other's signatures with a straight razor. <br /><br />Swing your legs over the edge with me and you will feel the planet <br />as it tries to shrug you off,<br />the whiplash of elliptical orbit.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">~ ~ ~</div><div style="text-align: left;">That lovely poem first appeared in <i><a href="http://menacinghedge.com/fall2011/entry-bashaar.php">Menacing Hedge</a></i> (click through to hear Margaret reading the above poem, along with two others).<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Margaret Bashaar's second chapbook, <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/80737587/letters-from-room-27-of-the-grand-midway">Letters from Room 27 of the Grand Midway Hotel</a>, was published by <a href="http://bloodyooze.blogspot.com/">Blood Pudding Press</a> in 2011. Her poetry has also appeared in or is forthcoming from journals such as <a href="http://www.caketrain.org/04/">Caketrain</a>, <i>New South</i>, <a href="http://www.copper-nickel.org/">Copper Nickel</a>, <a href="http://menacinghedge.com/fall2011/entry-bashaar.php">Menacing Hedge</a>, and <a href="http://rhinopoetry.org/">RHINO</a>, among others. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA where she edits <a href="http://hyacinthgirlpress.com/">Hyacinth Girl Press</a> and collects antique typewriters, which may be haunted by ghosts or demons.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Thanks to Margaret for her contribution to this year's Tattooed Poets Project on Tattoosday!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.15415130858309567" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday. The poem and tattoos are reprinted with the poet's permission.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit </span><a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></span></b></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Margaret Bashaar

Today's tattooed poet is Margaret Bashaar , who sent us this stunning photo: Margaret explains what's on her back: "The tattoo ...

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Patti Shares a Stunning Floral Sleeve

<div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Today we have some work submitted by a reader, who patiently waited a month and a half for me to post her sleeve work. Although I do post submissions, they generally take a back seat to tattoos I encounter in the streets.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Patti sent in these photos of her stunningly beautiful floral tattoos running down her arm:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBvvFjDsnJhJE6tHoO2GBGBnKQZaL8oqX2kt084Kus3gsE6mFyyVejQeChwjEOG6hM-9N28so7SLlY20UYnDW8f8OR_ERjXglewX2SBp7o3GNCKSAMJBjkWc2GJ6HDyb6ScEiqCXnQfs/s1600/sleeve+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRBvvFjDsnJhJE6tHoO2GBGBnKQZaL8oqX2kt084Kus3gsE6mFyyVejQeChwjEOG6hM-9N28so7SLlY20UYnDW8f8OR_ERjXglewX2SBp7o3GNCKSAMJBjkWc2GJ6HDyb6ScEiqCXnQfs/s1600/sleeve+1.jpg" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7cMepU8Rgwb7Uz5uR7PPUjmgn59oqqRnrWe4sO7mztK9GCMEXLLw1zXTv2YEa_obTywPDknkyvJjuiGxxqOBA0u_oULJux4UEv3Mr8boW-86KmXZIVPDlh_wEVWH6SCy8AZFCyW-ps0/s1600/sleeve+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7cMepU8Rgwb7Uz5uR7PPUjmgn59oqqRnrWe4sO7mztK9GCMEXLLw1zXTv2YEa_obTywPDknkyvJjuiGxxqOBA0u_oULJux4UEv3Mr8boW-86KmXZIVPDlh_wEVWH6SCy8AZFCyW-ps0/s640/sleeve+2.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Patti credits the talented </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://mikesheatattoo.blogspot.com/">Mike Shea</a> at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/redemptiontattoocambridge?sk=wall">Redemption Tattoo</a> in Cambridge, Massachusetts, for these gorgeous flowers.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;">She said she had started with a half sleeve, but "really loved it," so they turned it into a full sleeve. Can you blame her? She elaborated: </span></span></span><br /><blockquote><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;">"The original idea came from a quote, 'Where does one find the flowers? You must learn to follow butterflies, she replied.' (author unknown).  I chose lilies because they have always caught my eye…vibrant, vivid, strong…and there are endless variations of them.  </span></span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></blockquote><blockquote><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sVNbvyuMs1Zig41NCARRTfSEji3QmCs-rMSbdpQ7GzBT9inqCyWgohYmCGtP3XapAOMamGh5MWkjjR6B8UT-P45uQAQZhfCZqUmwYU130bS-AbZjfTluYlueSdRVRbv-m13jP5uh0_U/s1600/sleeve+1+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5sVNbvyuMs1Zig41NCARRTfSEji3QmCs-rMSbdpQ7GzBT9inqCyWgohYmCGtP3XapAOMamGh5MWkjjR6B8UT-P45uQAQZhfCZqUmwYU130bS-AbZjfTluYlueSdRVRbv-m13jP5uh0_U/s640/sleeve+1+detail.jpg" width="438" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;"></span></span></span></span></div></blockquote><br /><blockquote><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;">To me, my tattoo symbolizes learning how to embrace life and live, surrounded by the love and friendship and support of others. It memorializes a sharp change in direction in my life’s path, and the end of a very dark and destructive time in my life.  It reminds me to keep on moving forward…to bloom, and to be myself.</span></span></span></span></div></blockquote><br /><blockquote><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bWcwozFL_uAvc7bxeUTJN8TSAPzKD-VgS-KV5iFmpEvuRVT4fwZPVhA0aKF3b51gWsyGm7u3MEVSSn2QNoNB5yZB1XQrLMQIEcdr0xQpoVJ511UYG_wRq5d2LFbHPDTDd2kMJGRdETE/s1600/sleeve+2+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5bWcwozFL_uAvc7bxeUTJN8TSAPzKD-VgS-KV5iFmpEvuRVT4fwZPVhA0aKF3b51gWsyGm7u3MEVSSn2QNoNB5yZB1XQrLMQIEcdr0xQpoVJ511UYG_wRq5d2LFbHPDTDd2kMJGRdETE/s640/sleeve+2+detail.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> <span style="color: #333333;"><span style="color: #333333;">I chose Mike to do the tattoo because of his classic tattoo style, and Japanese influence."</span></span></span></span></blockquote><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Work from Redemption appeared once before on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/05/our-1000th-post-davids-mermaid-and.html">here</a>.</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Thanks to Patti for sending in these photos of her beautiful work!</div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman";} </style> <![endif]--> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">If you are reading this on another web site other than Tattoosday, without attribution, please note that it has been copied without the author's permission and is in violation of copyright laws. Please feel free to visit <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</a> and read our original content. Please let me know if you saw this elsewhere so I can contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span><div style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span></span></span>

Patti Shares a Stunning Floral Sleeve

Today we have some work submitted by a reader, who patiently waited a month and a half for me to post her sleeve work. Although I do post su...

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The Tattooed Poets Project: Jeanann Verlee

Here on the final day of the 2010 Tattooed Poets Project, we are featuring two tattooed poets (in two separate posts).<br /><br />First up is <a href="http://jeanannverlee.com/">Jeanann Verlee</a>, who holds the distinction of being the one poet this year who met with me in person to discuss their tattoo.<br /><br />Jeanann offered up her upper left arm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI2n_M25hF1t3SbV_VBgApe6Nb3EnA1gSlPwCMCGS8ItW9xScgP5sHA3pGmr1iomub6ESRpqcCClFHgk29JAONsplT1nDaCUbiPjIO44peEx8YvElBifA12MQnXY3XEqt8DU1JrCM/s1600/racing+hummingbirds+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131633509660418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfI2n_M25hF1t3SbV_VBgApe6Nb3EnA1gSlPwCMCGS8ItW9xScgP5sHA3pGmr1iomub6ESRpqcCClFHgk29JAONsplT1nDaCUbiPjIO44peEx8YvElBifA12MQnXY3XEqt8DU1JrCM/s400/racing+hummingbirds+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 132px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />The incredible detail of this piece is in the hummingbirds:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWZpdS7Je2WAAD67CEpnpeb7aLuzUkkb3k5QmLJxzRvGGX6k6aYQdujoQ7pAR6XZBg7EMbpxODFArJ6Is0-KQfd-cfuMKRw_S9Tr9ciRYGqIxsxbQJ5zbLAjiMz9TEMsa7GbF9QTd/s1600/hummingbird+detail+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131537879805394" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeWZpdS7Je2WAAD67CEpnpeb7aLuzUkkb3k5QmLJxzRvGGX6k6aYQdujoQ7pAR6XZBg7EMbpxODFArJ6Is0-KQfd-cfuMKRw_S9Tr9ciRYGqIxsxbQJ5zbLAjiMz9TEMsa7GbF9QTd/s400/hummingbird+detail+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 293px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCX1FjwE-_2OSaf9P8VhwoUG-VKzYl9kdYqQK7X_9LDZ6qMf2_Gi4OR0t3MPxv4fiSNKMzTg6fdJZKyQEmkADHNau2Hv6H-4MYAacys2TI6HVgqulaqnyIs6UAVVuKVkPpFV2X0Ih/s1600/hummingbird+detail+1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131449655847426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCX1FjwE-_2OSaf9P8VhwoUG-VKzYl9kdYqQK7X_9LDZ6qMf2_Gi4OR0t3MPxv4fiSNKMzTg6fdJZKyQEmkADHNau2Hv6H-4MYAacys2TI6HVgqulaqnyIs6UAVVuKVkPpFV2X0Ih/s400/hummingbird+detail+1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />This whole tattoo is based on the cover art from her just-released first book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Hummingbirds-Jeanann-Verlee/dp/0984251553">Racing Hummingbirds</a> (<a href="http://writebloody.com/">Write Bloody Press</a>, 2010).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrxrw6fRvtR46_cq93FfHR6kQ9VjllzX0a-_prtew80xsikco8Ec_X9T2_JCAXn0leBq4X_8ZNes_Ke7cWq0lS8SXCPC9D_Q2gdqWF6hQxfV6_7l2-fcfVsCWjGtvHzaMSRONvtzE/s1600/RacingHummingbirds_JeanannVerlee_final_FRONT.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463131108561577778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTrxrw6fRvtR46_cq93FfHR6kQ9VjllzX0a-_prtew80xsikco8Ec_X9T2_JCAXn0leBq4X_8ZNes_Ke7cWq0lS8SXCPC9D_Q2gdqWF6hQxfV6_7l2-fcfVsCWjGtvHzaMSRONvtzE/s400/RacingHummingbirds_JeanannVerlee_final_FRONT.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 257px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Jeanann knew she wanted her next tattoo to have something to do with the upcoming book. When she had the opportunity to work with an artist she respected, <a href="http://www.thegreatandsmall.com/">Tyson Schroeder</a>, Jeanann held off on getting new ink and waited to see his art for the cover. She was happy she waited and, loving what she saw, she took the design Tyson created to her tattoo artist, <a href="http://markharada.com/">Mark Harada</a> at <a href="http://www.eastsideinktattoo.com/">East Side Ink</a>.<br /><br />The racing hummingbirds design was placed adjacent to one of Jeanann's approximately fifteen other tattoos. The piece already on her arm consisted of a symbol comprised of Celtic and Nordic runes, and calla lilies, which represent transformation.<br /><br />It was truly a pleasure meeting Jeanann at Grand Central Station and talking with her about her tattoos and her poetry. One of her poems, dedicated to poet Eboni Hogan, can be seen <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/04/tattooed-poets-project-jeanann-verlee.html">here</a> over on BillyBlog. Eboni's tattoo (<a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattooed-poets-project-eboni-hogan.html">here</a>) follows this post, and <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2010/05/tattooed-poets-project-eboni-hogan.html">her poem</a> is dedicated to Jeanann.<br /><br />Thanks to Jeanann for taking the time to meet with me, sharing her tattoo, and rounding up an exciting 2010 Tattooed Poets Project!<br /><br />*****<br /><br />JEANANN VERLEE is a former punk rocker who collects tattoos and winks at boys. She is author of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Racing-Hummingbirds-Jeanann-Verlee/dp/0984251553">Racing Hummingbirds</a> (<a href="http://writebloody.com/">Write Bloody Press</a>, 2010) and her work has appeared in a number of journals and anthologies, including <a href="http://www.nyquarterly.org/issues/current.html"><span style="font-style: italic;">The New York Quarterly</span></a>, <a href="http://www.pankmagazine.com/?page_id=42" style="font-style: italic;">PANK</a>, <a href="http://www.friggmagazine.com/" style="font-style: italic;">FRiGG</a>, <a href="http://dansemacabre.art.officelive.com/default.aspx"><span style="font-style: italic;">Danse Macabre</span></a>, and <a href="http://www.havenbooksonline.com/books/catalogue/not-a-muse">Not A Muse</a>, among others. An acclaimed performance poet who co-curates the weekly reading series <a href="http://original.bowerypoetry.com/urbana/">Urbana Poetry Slam</a> at the <a href="http://www.bowerypoetry.com/">Bowery Poetry Club</a>, Verlee has performed and facilitated workshops across North America. She was co-author and performing member of national touring company The Vortex: Conflict, Power, and Choice!, charter member of the annual <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Spoken-Word-Almanac-Project/37812178129">Spoken Word Almanac Project</a>, and is an ardent animal rights and humanitarian activist. She lives in New York City with her best pal (a rescue pup named Callisto) and a pair of origami lovebirds. She believes in you. Learn more at <a href="http://www.jeanannverlee.com/">JEANANNVERLEE.com</a>.

The Tattooed Poets Project: Jeanann Verlee

Here on the final day of the 2010 Tattooed Poets Project, we are featuring two tattooed poets (in two separate posts). First up is Jeanann V...

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Tattoorism: Kelly's Backpiece for Her Daughters

It's been a while since we've had a tattoorist in this neck of the woods, so we ought to enjoy a lovely submission.<br /><br />For those of you new to Tattoosday, or unfamiliar with the term "tattoorist," that refers to someone who is visiting the blog from out of town, sending us their tattoo from the blogosphere and beyond.<br /><br />Generally, I don't want to encourage e-mail submissions, especially during the summer when my coffers are full of great tattoo photos from people I meet in New York, but I will generally post something if it's particularly awesome.<br /><br />Enter Kelly, who sent me this phenomenal piece at the end of July:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8IbFGnzCEALJf9Vo2jp1dq4UuwwxECnfDJTBNAFI3uKDT_DiharXghJ6dZe6U_QvBiyzltqerVGf0W-iXkZtnQt2ui2aBFlnMMq7v6E_TiGSbuN7IUSDei5ZNn0-49JE2JmabLLn9pU/s1600-h/Kellys+Back.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5370609122622468082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS8IbFGnzCEALJf9Vo2jp1dq4UuwwxECnfDJTBNAFI3uKDT_DiharXghJ6dZe6U_QvBiyzltqerVGf0W-iXkZtnQt2ui2aBFlnMMq7v6E_TiGSbuN7IUSDei5ZNn0-49JE2JmabLLn9pU/s400/Kellys+Back.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 394px;" /></a><br /><br />I'll let Kelly tell us about this:<br /><blockquote><br />"It is of the Norse goddess <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freyja">Freya</a> - with her blue cat she got from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thor">Thor</a>. She is standing on a bed of Lilies. It is actually a partial cover up that I will add a few more leaves too to even it out a bit.<br /><br />I got it because I have two daughters - Lilly and Freya. Freya absolutely loves cats - and actually both of their first words was cat. Odd I know. But I think its pretty cool and has real personal meaning. Hope you like it!<br /><br />Oh yeah - and the pink in the shading is just my angry skin - its just grey now."</blockquote><br />Kelly is doing a pop culture/diet experiment called <a href="http://hotpocketdiet.blogspot.com/">the Hot Pocket Diet</a>. She jokingly admits that this is evidence that she is "just marginally crazy".<br /><br />This wonderful tattoo was inked by <a href="http://www.screaminink.com/jeremy/">Jeremy Miller</a> at <a href="http://www.screaminink.com/main.htm">Screamin' Ink Tattoo</a> in Fair Lawn, New Jersey.<br /><br />Thanks to Kelly for sharing her awesome tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoorism: Kelly's Backpiece for Her Daughters

It's been a while since we've had a tattoorist in this neck of the woods, so we ought to enjoy a lovely submission. For those of you...

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Introducing Fabiana's Ink

<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1DxYGw3PZ1oduaeYJ9aXK8bIMYZsxmg3czNpCs1aYa8nMKqcX_mFlZ0bDVkpdn6xkJKkfrU8qU0BgiMCMWZ9dSBJ0jXk7Ixme4-Ag2iCPqNQ_-kkbOSP4rK21fGg6ebESXNBfuhauHBz/s1600-h/fabiana1.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214785379778106210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs1DxYGw3PZ1oduaeYJ9aXK8bIMYZsxmg3czNpCs1aYa8nMKqcX_mFlZ0bDVkpdn6xkJKkfrU8qU0BgiMCMWZ9dSBJ0jXk7Ixme4-Ag2iCPqNQ_-kkbOSP4rK21fGg6ebESXNBfuhauHBz/s400/fabiana1.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />My wife, Melanie, in the course of her daily travels, has the chance to speak with lots of people. Occasionally, they will talk tattoos, and she often promotes Tattoosday by handing out fliers to The Inked.<br /><br />One such acquaintance is Fabiana, who has a whole of slew of tattoos. She has viewed Tattoosday, and has sent me multiple photos of her work. The above detail is from a piece on her upper left arm.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-td4oS4wMjv5A7XIi4syx8UBb9PQlAnsKgEdCmUYSSAiTaSeedkzjphS-Q75lkyU1_wPJn3YOdUOYiwZ-nZNqzmRKEDAEgW6aLyOhf2T2fGlDolrRjzVlvWUMelTDypoUIiVqqCaEgyZ/s1600-h/fabiana11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214786309055439586" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF-td4oS4wMjv5A7XIi4syx8UBb9PQlAnsKgEdCmUYSSAiTaSeedkzjphS-Q75lkyU1_wPJn3YOdUOYiwZ-nZNqzmRKEDAEgW6aLyOhf2T2fGlDolrRjzVlvWUMelTDypoUIiVqqCaEgyZ/s400/fabiana11.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>Here's a section not visible in the long view, from the inner part of the top of the shoulder/bicep:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZNEnU2fB136Nc46a9_oVoBeyinRSTsHAQUQaLqCil_W6C8QWh4Vqe0eXs_zSiGfE-peHGC4ZicPeqrlsBp8MYRVGUjC9wxj4mD4H9DTjFBIrr8IgB2eMUPZ4dmGqaqGY3IFnBwhbWqJj/s1600-h/fabiana111.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214791224922472754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZNEnU2fB136Nc46a9_oVoBeyinRSTsHAQUQaLqCil_W6C8QWh4Vqe0eXs_zSiGfE-peHGC4ZicPeqrlsBp8MYRVGUjC9wxj4mD4H9DTjFBIrr8IgB2eMUPZ4dmGqaqGY3IFnBwhbWqJj/s400/fabiana111.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Fabiana gets her work done at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/3rdeyetattoo">Third Eye Tattoo</a> in Brooklyn. This piece consists of a butterfly, a rose, a sunflower, and some other flowers.<br /><br />Here's their story...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylZxzJs5MvIEwgj2QUwg4k_UF-CHzIv0Yena3R4hOxdz7F3xY2gizyat356RTjYw6TwNFlN16QHWjLgm85F74XJSux8NqDJENT4l_emut-4BJM9pXQIH2aFKKxa25PNrJDPsRmXQ0gpVd/s1600-h/left+arm+tats+and+christina+and+silvia+080.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216900192796451314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhylZxzJs5MvIEwgj2QUwg4k_UF-CHzIv0Yena3R4hOxdz7F3xY2gizyat356RTjYw6TwNFlN16QHWjLgm85F74XJSux8NqDJENT4l_emut-4BJM9pXQIH2aFKKxa25PNrJDPsRmXQ0gpVd/s400/left+arm+tats+and+christina+and+silvia+080.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote><div>"The flowers I just got about 1 month ago are Lilies! I love lilies. They are so beautiful! They are my fav! Purple is my favorite color and orange is my girlfriend's...so I got purple and orange for her!<br /><br /></div> <div>Underneath that is my butterfly!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNnOY4ou-7wqGw29oXUUTv8n77mBUwCcdztTfvO7L-HPCRK9aUhXXkNBntuZZgFOpWeIvvo-r3oDh5wBzA6LjVIkOCCQFLiWzM-fxMrgFHiWv32wUbUh2nCpYF7B_udl_JIjJH8zzP1sq/s1600-h/left+arm+tats+and+christina+and+silvia+082.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216900744172059778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggNnOY4ou-7wqGw29oXUUTv8n77mBUwCcdztTfvO7L-HPCRK9aUhXXkNBntuZZgFOpWeIvvo-r3oDh5wBzA6LjVIkOCCQFLiWzM-fxMrgFHiWv32wUbUh2nCpYF7B_udl_JIjJH8zzP1sq/s400/left+arm+tats+and+christina+and+silvia+082.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>That tat was actually from about 6 years ago when I was with a different girl....we decided one day to get matching tats! NOT a good idea, she broke my heart! So I decided after a couple of years to have it covered up! I love butterflies, so my tat guy made it into a big beautiful butterfly, and added a pink rose as well. Under that tat I have my giant sunflower.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3nh3dXPOWkkBQpDpBh1buIN-G9CGTc6dAcu_dlO9ayQ7NqNtyqf-fwZYSuLWsILyiCa47E08xhT5lMTgwFvyDYKvy756T9qcc9Uqb9BOhNso3TQthmtUZlUgLaOzjJUxg-Q-eVbuVCm4/s1600-h/left+arm+tats+and+christina+and+silvia+084.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5216901236041933090" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3nh3dXPOWkkBQpDpBh1buIN-G9CGTc6dAcu_dlO9ayQ7NqNtyqf-fwZYSuLWsILyiCa47E08xhT5lMTgwFvyDYKvy756T9qcc9Uqb9BOhNso3TQthmtUZlUgLaOzjJUxg-Q-eVbuVCm4/s400/left+arm+tats+and+christina+and+silvia+084.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>The sunflower I got for my ex-girlfriend Jill! We were together for 5 and a half years. All throughout our relationship she would call me sunshine...In that sunflower I also have a ladybug, that is for my twin sister... she loves ladybugs so I added one in!"</div></blockquote></div>Thanks to Fabiana for sharing her ink here on Tattoosday! Stay tuned for more of her tattoos in the future. There's more to share!

Introducing Fabiana's Ink

My wife, Melanie, in the course of her daily travels, has the chance to speak with lots of people. Occasionally, they will talk tattoos, and...

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Dana's Stargazer Lily

At the beginning of November, I found a cool tattoo where I least expected to: <a href="http://judaism.about.com/cs/barbatmitzvah/f/batmitzvah.htm">a<span style="font-style: italic;"> bat mitzvah</span></a>. Such occasions are not generally tattoo-displaying events, especially with the misconception that tattoos and Jews do not go together. However, we here at Tattoosday know better and I, with my two, and my spouse with her four, are always appreciative of a finely-inked piece.<br /><br />The <span style="font-style: italic;">bat mitzvah</span> girl was too young to be tattooed, but her older sister wasn't, and she had something on her back that I noticed in the <a href="http://www.yourdictionary.com/shul" style="font-style: italic;">shul</a>. Nonetheless, she was not the person who ended up here on Tattoosday.<br /><br />During the cocktail hour, post-service, pre-dinner, my lovely wife spotted a be-flowered bicep of a woman at the party.<br /><br />However, she disappeared once we are all seated, and I figured that was that. Besides, I had no printouts of the blog with me, just the camera.<br /><br />Later in the evening, post-dinner, post-performance (the <span style="font-style: italic;">bat mitzvah</span> girl did a song and dance for the guests' entertainment). A bit after that, I spotted the woman on the other side of the<br />ballroom, seated at a table. I hate interrupting people while they are conversing with others, so I waited.<br /><br />A bit further on, I saw her just outside the entrance, smoking a cigarette. Smoking may be hazardous one's health, but it seems to be Tattoosday's Best Friend. I've found the Smoking Tattooed among the most approachable, as they are standing around and not necessarily in a hurry anywhere. And by talking to them, I am not interrupting anything (generally speaking).<br /><br />So, out I went to introduce myself and tell her about the blog. And, of course, she was totally cool. It turns out she had been the <span style="font-style: italic;">bat mitzvah</span> girl's choreographer. Her name is Dana Athens, and she is a singer as well (check out <a href="http://www.danaathens.com/">her website</a> or <a href="http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=18080138">her MySpace page</a>). I finally got a good look at the flower on her right biceps:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48olI_ZCI9SaAo_x2WR3IhGK0qh2C-3TZ6hUE4CZ4oCyivhF6TzTutkw095PN8HLaGe-mM-F324AveTwEgutDo77PVa8JGWvk5NGcz4_V6n__PyNmiwyt4CyOG07f9K1WIh8qQYI7odYK/s1600-h/100_5748.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5128975362747444770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj48olI_ZCI9SaAo_x2WR3IhGK0qh2C-3TZ6hUE4CZ4oCyivhF6TzTutkw095PN8HLaGe-mM-F324AveTwEgutDo77PVa8JGWvk5NGcz4_V6n__PyNmiwyt4CyOG07f9K1WIh8qQYI7odYK/s400/100_5748.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Dana explained that the tattoo is a stargazer lily, inked for inspiration as it represents "always reaching for your dreams". It is one of five tattoos she has.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhZI_bb-9vHMRHe97aFOyEPrATBQLQFJshTtIIINFKG0Pu6-IOg8Jvgo_EpfhQRjfpKP_VZQcK4r8sRU-RGoS3vQ4tMBum-k7KJ5mB7zhAWgJCFgYOv3LMH2M9wucVYV4dAS6CYDVXvj_/s1600-h/StargazerLily.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146590112731933218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJhZI_bb-9vHMRHe97aFOyEPrATBQLQFJshTtIIINFKG0Pu6-IOg8Jvgo_EpfhQRjfpKP_VZQcK4r8sRU-RGoS3vQ4tMBum-k7KJ5mB7zhAWgJCFgYOv3LMH2M9wucVYV4dAS6CYDVXvj_/s400/StargazerLily.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />When I asked her where she had it inked, she started, "A great artist named <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/peter.htm">Peter</a>...."<br /><br />I cut her off...."At <a href="http://www.bodyartstudios.com/main.htm">Body Art Studios</a>?"<br /><br />There's something about having been mutually tattooed by the same artist. It's more than just both knowing the same person. You both have let the same person artistically alter your respective bodies for life. I think it's a bond only the tattooed truly understand.<br /><br />So we chatted and I took pictures of her lily. After we went back inside, I tracked down my wife, Melanie, and brought her over to Dana to introduce her.<br /><br />Again, there was that connection between the mutually-tattooed. Melanie has had 3 of her 4 tattoos inked by Peter. She showed Dana her tattoos and we chatted awhile.<br /><br />It was an unexpected bonus to an already festive evening.<br /><br />My apologies to Dana for the delay in posting this sweet tattoo. Thanks again, Dana, for sharing your lily with us!

Dana's Stargazer Lily

At the beginning of November, I found a cool tattoo where I least expected to: a bat mitzvah . Such occasions are not generally tattoo-disp...

Read more »