Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog): Mother

Showing posts with label Mother. Show all posts

Taylor's New Tattoo Bridges Time and Oceans

We're returning from a hiatus with a visit from an old friend, Taylor.<br /><br />Taylor first shared her work with us <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/03/two-tattoos-from-taylor.html">here</a> back in 2010. We saw more work from her last year when she shared this incredible back piece inspired by <a href="http://www.banksy.co.uk/">Banksy</a>:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwFrMiK9440ZB71R44uA9dq1Fk6wevjc6mQL67jKphpS0IbclNYmSayzAOQnvxPxPw9tAMihC1LXFFyxl5C0_DRryF16xCs-GH_2irKH2ROL-kIdwqPKtLtpYDoucDa-a-UIgoRHUwDc/s640/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSwFrMiK9440ZB71R44uA9dq1Fk6wevjc6mQL67jKphpS0IbclNYmSayzAOQnvxPxPw9tAMihC1LXFFyxl5C0_DRryF16xCs-GH_2irKH2ROL-kIdwqPKtLtpYDoucDa-a-UIgoRHUwDc/s640/photo.jpg" width="622" /></a></div><br />Recently, Taylor shared her latest tattoo with me and I'm passing it along to you:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu1lubuVeedZxaRZYYULZF8Co0yobL1GLkOAJ7osCSCt-1U_IRbGTamnP_3UoZr2XAPqy0OkIZDKLejbb9pl2QgCIupbl02X9Q2hyphenhyphen5MKFcTlPMFW8WgDWB0Yp_eYGXarssnjcYjnRlbM/s1600/Taylor+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOu1lubuVeedZxaRZYYULZF8Co0yobL1GLkOAJ7osCSCt-1U_IRbGTamnP_3UoZr2XAPqy0OkIZDKLejbb9pl2QgCIupbl02X9Q2hyphenhyphen5MKFcTlPMFW8WgDWB0Yp_eYGXarssnjcYjnRlbM/s640/Taylor+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />As you may have guessed, these are actually a pair of tattoos of the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verrazano-Narrows_Bridge">Verrazano-Narrows Bridge</a>, which connects the boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. Taylor elaborates:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;">"<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">My mom and I got matching tattoos.  It was also her first. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For some [people] the Verrazano Bridge is just a pretty bridge connecting Staten Island and Bay Ridge [Brpoklyn]. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; white-space: pre-wrap;">For me and my mom its where it all began. She moved to Shore Road [which runs along the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Narrows">Verrazano Narrows</a>] from Germany when my parents got married. </span></span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Every childhood memory I had was by that bridge. Unfortunately my parents got divorced and I moved with my mom back to Germany.<br /> </span></blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq"><span style="font-family: inherit;">I've been living in the neighborhood for almost 10 years again without my mom, but the Verrazano is somehow a piece of her."</span></blockquote><div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 17px; margin-top: 10px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Here's another, healed perspective:</span><br /><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb1MM_98-zPZJAf1JrBnP6256o74ZLa2EDa6iPdh628d-0ZNwsEUIlVB4USL_SGuSJn8sjxGkMpdwwKd59u7etEKkLxPuRpQRdG60Wi8uwI3274myvBeUzX3x-O4_nSJgaPxwqNq0B3o/s1600/Taylor+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvb1MM_98-zPZJAf1JrBnP6256o74ZLa2EDa6iPdh628d-0ZNwsEUIlVB4USL_SGuSJn8sjxGkMpdwwKd59u7etEKkLxPuRpQRdG60Wi8uwI3274myvBeUzX3x-O4_nSJgaPxwqNq0B3o/s640/Taylor+1.jpg" width="482" /></a></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><br /></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">I love how, not only do these tattoos, bridge the past with her mom, but they also bridge the ocean that currently separates them, bringing them closer together.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">Taylor credits local tattoo artist Angel Bauta, from <a href="http://puncturetattoostudio.com/Index.html">Puncture Tattoo</a> here in South Brooklyn with this work.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;">Thanks again to Taylor for sharing her tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><span style="color: black; font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: small; line-height: normal; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-39cd23a0-928a-7d96-46e6-f6691853a57a"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></span></span></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website 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/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; 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></div></div>

Taylor's New Tattoo Bridges Time and Oceans

We're returning from a hiatus with a visit from an old friend, Taylor. Taylor first shared her work with us here back in 2010. We saw m...

3:51 AM

Gina Shares Two Amazing Tattoos by Bugs! (NYC Tattoo Convention)

<b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"></b><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Every year I attend, one of the highlights for the <a href="http://www.nyctattooconvention.com/">NYC Tattoo Convention</a> is seeing the artist <a href="http://www.bugsartwork.com/index.cfm">Bugs</a> in action. He has taken tattoo art in a new direction, and his style is not only unique, but positively mind-blowing.</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That said, it was a wonderful moment when, while wandering about <a href="http://www.roselandballroom.com/">Roseland</a>, I chanced upon one of his clients, in the form of Gina.</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gina initially selected this piece from her inner arm to share with us:</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RLFNd0oD6U0U2Rjd2vc9Dfg7EVOQlULXxXe30jz2bdfMWlRRUPknO3bx5-r8eopXZEkq4WqFDcT3ZfEtgPmN_1eqz7LnpGyShJGEVxpAGWwWQjEOoI1ZtM01S2petS2exapZ34EXdTo/w286-h659-no/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9RLFNd0oD6U0U2Rjd2vc9Dfg7EVOQlULXxXe30jz2bdfMWlRRUPknO3bx5-r8eopXZEkq4WqFDcT3ZfEtgPmN_1eqz7LnpGyShJGEVxpAGWwWQjEOoI1ZtM01S2petS2exapZ34EXdTo/w286-h659-no/photo.jpg" /></a></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I mean, really, how amazing is that?</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Gina is a huge fan of Bugs' work and has, in her words, "donated my body to him." </span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This piece is in honor of her mom. She told Bugs the concept and she "let him take it any direction he wanted to go."</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I was so happy to be able to meet one of Bugs' clients, that I asked if I could take a picture of the piece on Gina's upper arm as well, and she happily complied:</span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3ElfmCJrWVPlnRkmXNyXk3BDEWaBF44S05R5v6cIh2_D5WlgS5mz9Am9Wmztt6PIyJOgQa0q9CAiu2RIIfI3gd1-lt3udWQWGpvwg4o-GNK8JpM7az2PiAVTR9wKg-Pdfqc6SdP5gC4/w301-h659-no/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL3ElfmCJrWVPlnRkmXNyXk3BDEWaBF44S05R5v6cIh2_D5WlgS5mz9Am9Wmztt6PIyJOgQa0q9CAiu2RIIfI3gd1-lt3udWQWGpvwg4o-GNK8JpM7az2PiAVTR9wKg-Pdfqc6SdP5gC4/w301-h659-no/photo.jpg" /></a></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When I asked Gina about this piece, she elaborated, "</span><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It's actually for me ... it's my interpretation of myself ... a <a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Rubenesque">Rubenesque</a> woman ... and that's what he came up with."</span></b></b></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"></b></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="display: inline !important; line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></b></b></div><br /><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Bugs works out of Los Angeles, but he frequents many conventions, and is a regular at Roseland. Gina makes a point of seeing him every year he is here.</span></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Thanks to Gina for sharing her amazing work by Bugs here on Tattoosday!</span></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Be sure to visit Bugs' website <a href="http://www.bugsartwork.com/index.cfm">here</a> to appreciate more from this amazing artist!!</span></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></b></div><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</span></span></b></div><b id="docs-internal-guid-37263786-cc8d-291f-cc57-3cdfdc10a0ab" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></span><div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.15; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are seeing this on another website 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/" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: underline; 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></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></b>

Gina Shares Two Amazing Tattoos by Bugs! (NYC Tattoo Convention)

Every year I attend, one of the highlights for the NYC Tattoo Convention is seeing the artist Bugs in action. He has taken tattoo art in a...

7:33 AM

Tattoosday Goes to L.A. - Max's First Tattoo for Mom

On my way back to the airport last week, my father and I had lunch at <a href="http://www.lasirenagrill.com/ElSegundo/">La Sirena Grill</a> in El Segundo.<br /><br />The meal was delicious, and I'll certainly be raving about their spicy BBQ duck tamale for quite some time.<br /><br />As an added bonus, our waiter, Max, had plenty of visible tattoos and, even better, he shared one with me to post here on Tattoosday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX7mwRTLy2jEF8rTR9LMEtxJBrurg7HAdLAQjw4sIHmWpaK9nJgxZqt1zStbH07AuVgEh1malrejA6644OF9CYI9v_qWKTTcw9wZK7eDkoviXRx5uH8X-pKMExngeV0UlYlPLiaPFmYk/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbX7mwRTLy2jEF8rTR9LMEtxJBrurg7HAdLAQjw4sIHmWpaK9nJgxZqt1zStbH07AuVgEh1malrejA6644OF9CYI9v_qWKTTcw9wZK7eDkoviXRx5uH8X-pKMExngeV0UlYlPLiaPFmYk/s640/photo.jpg" width="276" /></a></div><br />Max explained that this was his first tattoo and he went big in honor of his mother, who is a cancer survivor. BCB in the banner are her initials, and the word "<a href="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/l%C3%A1idir">Láidir</a>" is Gaelic for "strong".<br /><br />This tattoo was done by <a href="http://babyraytattoos.com/Home_Page.html">Baby Ray</a> at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bob-Charlie-Roberts-Spotlight-Tattoo/182583588460619?fref=ts">Bob & Charlie Roberts' Spotlight Tattoo</a> on Melrose in Los Angeles.<br /><br />Thanks to Max for sharing his tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.2057843606453389" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2013 Tattoosday.</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 seeing this on another website 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: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: initial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><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>

Tattoosday Goes to L.A. - Max's First Tattoo for Mom

On my way back to the airport last week, my father and I had lunch at La Sirena Grill in El Segundo. The meal was delicious, and I'll c...

9:51 AM

Happy Birthday, Tina Tassels!

One of the perks of randomly going up to people with interesting tattoos is that I have, over the years, met several burlesque performers. Whether it be <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/10/annie-cherry-and-bindlestiff-willy-in.html">Annie Cherry</a> from Kansas City, or NY-based performers <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/07/lovely-tattoo-of-legs-malone.html">Legs Malone</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/10/queen-of-clams.html">Miss Clams Casino</a>, I occasionally find myself in the presence of some very talented artists.<br /><br />Case in point, this summer I ran into a woman on the subway with a diamond tattooed on one of her knuckles. Although I didn't photograph it, we stayed in touch and I learned that she was none other than Tina Tassels.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrNbCKd4Q4XpURBZdt_7azufY4bHmWhUNEc2fMRqHXy_LcFzivqNJzNGINgJjdlNWLrxxcbfZlSmJzhoXikgkek0lw7Hj5Gj-YR5dFX1xm91zmam_lP4LBLab_TfDsND8bIOWP4ts-qE/s1600/556271_176353119168989_86849400_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrNbCKd4Q4XpURBZdt_7azufY4bHmWhUNEc2fMRqHXy_LcFzivqNJzNGINgJjdlNWLrxxcbfZlSmJzhoXikgkek0lw7Hj5Gj-YR5dFX1xm91zmam_lP4LBLab_TfDsND8bIOWP4ts-qE/s400/556271_176353119168989_86849400_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo Courtesy of <a href="https://www.facebook.com/MoltoBurlesque">Molto Burlesque</a> (via Facebook)</td></tr></tbody></table>When I first met Tina in the spring, her arms were covered, so I didn't get to initially see the three pieces on her arm, but I subconsciously registered them. A few months later, in the middle of the summer, when I sat down on the train next to a pink-haired lady on the subway, I recognized the work, but couldn't remember where I'd seen it. After five years of inkblogging, such things are hard to instantly recall.<br /><br />However, when I saw her diamond knuckle, it all came back to me, and Tina and I got to chatting again. In the glare of the R train's fluorescent lights, I snapped this photo from the back part of Tina's arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilvLyuchXM3ZlxKiLQyI7mNG1mblts6BhL3XKGluxqTkH9YFaCzm48F9h1L_DtAErVhumCTKL_I8bM66qqfKNK9eNwY7CbiA9nIDvCIyAh4MKdKR7XsdI0BwpmSwl9ecyMcluOva352E/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhilvLyuchXM3ZlxKiLQyI7mNG1mblts6BhL3XKGluxqTkH9YFaCzm48F9h1L_DtAErVhumCTKL_I8bM66qqfKNK9eNwY7CbiA9nIDvCIyAh4MKdKR7XsdI0BwpmSwl9ecyMcluOva352E/s640/photo.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><br />This may not be the best of Tina's tattoos, but it was her first, and it is near and dear to her heart.<br /><br />She pointed out that it says Mommy instead of Mom, because she was concerned with how her mother would react to her getting her first tattoo. "Basically," Tina told me, "it was my first tattoo to butter her up."<br /><br />The scissors and comb represent the fact that her mom is a salon owner and as Tina explained, "that's what I associate with her before anything ... she's a hard worker."<br /><br />Tina had this done in 2009 by <a href="http://deriksnell.com/">Derik Snell</a> when he was at <a href="http://handofglorytattoo.com/hog/about">Hand of Glory Tattoo</a> in Park Slope, Brooklyn. Derik now tattoos out of <a href="http://flyingtigertattoos.com/home.html">Flying Tiger Tattoo</a> in New Britain, Connecticut. I have a Derek Snell design (inked by Brian Faulk) as well (documented <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/08/tattoosdays-trip-to-hand-of-glory.html">here</a>) and his work has also appeared on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/06/leynas-balloon-keeps-her-grounded.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I want to wish Tina a happy birthday and encourage people to check out her blog, <a href="http://tinatassels.blogspot.com/">Big Hips, Big Dreams</a>. She's also performing in honor of her birthday tomorrow on Staten Island at the Full Cup!<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jjtxn8iHVuYRVyrG8TYR3wfN0Rif7blc4lpgHFoHzPV75DpYydkft3vg1H-msaK7vzPRf1U04wxli5kCIDB1KhTDEhj6dvkIuYtL5l_QiP4HuwwlXRMOoT9zP599fSh1ZRETWqZxc36y/s1600/meat-my-friends-flyer-02.2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Jjtxn8iHVuYRVyrG8TYR3wfN0Rif7blc4lpgHFoHzPV75DpYydkft3vg1H-msaK7vzPRf1U04wxli5kCIDB1KhTDEhj6dvkIuYtL5l_QiP4HuwwlXRMOoT9zP599fSh1ZRETWqZxc36y/s1600/meat-my-friends-flyer-02.2.jpeg" /></a></div><br />Thanks again to Tina for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday! Have a Happy Birthday Tina!<br /><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.05704100732691586" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</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 website 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: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><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><br /><br />

Happy Birthday, Tina Tassels!

One of the perks of randomly going up to people with interesting tattoos is that I have, over the years, met several burlesque performers. W...

8:06 AM

Ryan Shares an Amazing Portrait of His Mom

I know we've been a little sparse with our posting of late, but we're coming back with a bang.<br /><br />Last February, I met Ryan in my local laundromat and he shared some of his old school ink <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2012/02/ryan-shares-two-tattoos-by-brooklyn-p.html">here</a>.<br /><br />I've seen him around since, but today when he walked into the laundromat, he had a stunning new piece.<br /><br />A couple months ago I had run into my friend John (who shared new ink, which is also forthcoming) who tattoos out of <a href="http://www.brooklynmadetattoo.com/">Brooklyn Made Tattoo</a> and he had told me that the legendary <a href="https://www.facebook.com/freddy.negrete.79">Freddy Negrete</a> was going to be in the neighborhood doing guest spots at Brooklyn Made.<br /><br />A few weeks later I was walking down 93rd Street in Bay Ridge and spotted <a href="https://www.facebook.com/mrkaves?sk=info">Mr. Kaves</a> outside of his shop. I stopped to say hello and he pointed out that Freddy and his son Isaiah were hard at work inside. They are both based out of Mark Mahoney's <a href="http://www.shamrocktattoo.com/shop.html">Shamrock Social Club</a> in Los Angeles. I was meeting family for dinner so I couldn't hang around, but it was cool to get a glimpse of a legendary artist at work.<br /><br />Which brings us back to Ryan this morning in the laundromat. I knew it almost as he told me, he got this sweet portrait of his mother from Freddy Negrete himself that week:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSyfk2nmlwG6vq7nfF1EXFocf3uJ4gIkEEUjMdQLZfoZFp6F4ZgA3ei1G1NGpIHO-3rfcd5MqQpHpYU5Ij8c7azDzEbtXG2KYzMIyK2aLPS0Gh1LnpejRXMiCdyNaHn2A4c1ziBtFOEA/s615/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKSyfk2nmlwG6vq7nfF1EXFocf3uJ4gIkEEUjMdQLZfoZFp6F4ZgA3ei1G1NGpIHO-3rfcd5MqQpHpYU5Ij8c7azDzEbtXG2KYzMIyK2aLPS0Gh1LnpejRXMiCdyNaHn2A4c1ziBtFOEA/s640/photo.jpg" width="351" /></a></div><br />Ryan explained that this portrait is based on a photo of his mother from when she was in her early twenties, when he was around two years old. He elaborated:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">"My mother died ... about an hour before her fortieth birthday, so this tattoo means a lot to me. It's the most beautiful work I have on me and I wouldn't have let anyone else do it. Freddy Negrete is a great guy ... he's a humbling guy and he's very humble himself and I am grateful to have met him and his son."</blockquote>It really is an astonishingly beautiful piece of portrait work, and done by one of the true masters of the art here in our own little slice of Brooklyn.<br /><br />Thanks again to Ryan for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.6886220357846469" 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 ©2012 Tattoosday.</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 website 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: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><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>

Ryan Shares an Amazing Portrait of His Mom

I know we've been a little sparse with our posting of late, but we're coming back with a bang. Last February, I met Ryan in my local...

9:13 AM

Alfredo Shares a Sugar Skull with a Family Twist

I ran into Alfredo last month in Penn Station and he shared this tattoo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj778ZIwPLmlGL9KmCqFYYsfzF6pPPOSbSpnQ2ar-53xZ8qc4SGJLTc1nZIh4ttzlfqs6ZwTzE_Mh9K3eMHYZbbJrzPeH8EEw97wk2E1EOrQ0xKCd7vXN8DCnTIduFbYJniOLPycMY3lHE/s0-d/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj778ZIwPLmlGL9KmCqFYYsfzF6pPPOSbSpnQ2ar-53xZ8qc4SGJLTc1nZIh4ttzlfqs6ZwTzE_Mh9K3eMHYZbbJrzPeH8EEw97wk2E1EOrQ0xKCd7vXN8DCnTIduFbYJniOLPycMY3lHE/s0-d/IMG_0329.JPG" width="292" /></a></div><br />He credited this to an artist named Sy at Sunset Park Tattoo.<br /><br />Alfredo, who has "over 23" tattoos, told me that this traditional sugar skull is embellished with a hairstyle modeled after the way his mother wore her hair on her wedding day. The rose at the edge of the tattoo is in tribute to his grandmother.<br /><br />Thanks to Alfredo for sharing his ink with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><b id="internal-source-marker_0.3673110231757164" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="background-color: transparent; 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="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://tattoosday.blogspot.com</span></a><span style="background-color: transparent; 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>

Alfredo Shares a Sugar Skull with a Family Twist

I ran into Alfredo last month in Penn Station and he shared this tattoo: He credited this to an artist named Sy at Sunset Park Tattoo. Alfre...

4:12 AM

Danielle's Mother Walks with Her

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">Last week I met Danielle in Penn Station and spotted this tattoo on her left foot:</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdayGO0LRgK4nCuFC3G_z_lZKRwIMlLfQuZUru6gYBfK1GyJM5MRofzKaWJmor8vHNgPn8USVHDhnyp3USy7xjPuErR_2N6VtsU5povIPtQ-Yg9nYowUv4tA8RL-0wsziz3oxC1kCW86A/s1600/nov+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdayGO0LRgK4nCuFC3G_z_lZKRwIMlLfQuZUru6gYBfK1GyJM5MRofzKaWJmor8vHNgPn8USVHDhnyp3USy7xjPuErR_2N6VtsU5povIPtQ-Yg9nYowUv4tA8RL-0wsziz3oxC1kCW86A/s400/nov+7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">She explained that November 7, 1958 was her mother's birth date. Danielle was just a little girl of eight years old when her mother passed, and she got this, her only tattoo, to memorialize her mom.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal">The reason she got it on her foot was because her mother's funeral card had the famous "Footprints" prayer:</div><blockquote class="tr_bq">“<b>Footprints:</b><br />One night a man had a dream. In it he was walking along a beach with the Lord. Across the sky flashed scenes from his life. For each scene he noticed two sets of footprints in the sand, one belonging to him, and the other to the Lord.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">When the final scene of his life flashed before him, he looked back at the footprints in the sand. He noticed many times along the path of his life there was only one set of footprints and realized that they came at the hardest and saddest times of his life.</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">Bothered about this, he questioned the Lord, saying "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you'd walk with me all the way. But I have noticed that during the most burdensome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. I don't understand why when I needed you the most you would leave me."</blockquote><blockquote class="tr_bq">The Lord replied, "My precious child, I love you and I would never leave you. During your times of trial and suffering when you see only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you." </blockquote></div><br /><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p>She had this done at a tattoo convention by an artist from Long Island's <a href="http://www.davincitattoo.com/">DaVinci Tattoo Studio</a>.</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p>Thanks to Danielle for sharing this very personal tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!</o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2012 Tattoosday.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><o:p><span style="font-size: x-small;">  </span></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />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 contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Danielle's Mother Walks with Her

Last week I met Danielle in Penn Station and spotted this tattoo on her left foot: She explained that November 7, 1958 was her mother's ...

3:58 AM

A Tattoo in Memory of Erin's Mom

I always feel privileged when I meet someone who is willing to share a tattoo that carries deep personal significance. Back in October, I met Erin while she was waiting for her train during the late afternoon in Penn Station.<br /><br />Last fall, Erin told me, her mother passed away. When her mom’s next birthday approached, Erin and her sister planned a fitting tribute. A year ago today, they got this tattoo on their left biceps:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTnSOAJ-Di4TFjNHCUwEHvWwpzd7IwyA7KX7t6X2xLq1-2WbAe4XdvPpqT7d7hvFRTO0opPeyZhNacoQLcYPHmO0BdETSSWhctxOe_GIqUzzTZ8t9kGWE4wEyKMVy7CgrVDu2cfJ1H34/s1600/love+from+mom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgTnSOAJ-Di4TFjNHCUwEHvWwpzd7IwyA7KX7t6X2xLq1-2WbAe4XdvPpqT7d7hvFRTO0opPeyZhNacoQLcYPHmO0BdETSSWhctxOe_GIqUzzTZ8t9kGWE4wEyKMVy7CgrVDu2cfJ1H34/s640/love+from+mom.jpg" width="598" /></a></div><br />This design incorporates a heart, a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Triquetra">triquetra</a> (Celtic trinity knot) and something unique – their mother’s handwriting ("Love you always, Mom), including the x’s and o’s representing hugs and kisses.<br /><br />This is a shining example of the type of memorial that has led to an increase in the popularity of tattoos. The inner left biceps is an ideal location due to its proximity to the heart.<br /><br />Erin credits Brian Marsman at <a href="http://powerhousetattoo.com/home.html">Powerhouse Tattoo Company</a> in Montclair, new Jersey, with this piece. A piece by Brian also appeared <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2011/10/amy-and-her-colorful-hot-air-balloon.html">here</a> on the site a couple months ago.<br /><br />Thanks to Erin for sharing this very personal tattoo with us here on Tattoosday. On behalf of our readers, I wish her happy memories on this anniversary of her mother’s birth.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: x-small;">  </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><span style="font-size: x-small;">  </span><br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />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 contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

A Tattoo in Memory of Erin's Mom

I always feel privileged when I meet someone who is willing to share a tattoo that carries deep personal significance. Back in October, I me...

3:41 AM

Happy Mother's Day from Tattoosday

I wanted to celebrate Mother's Day with something new, but didn't have a lot in the backlog that was specifically motherly.<br /><br />Then I remembered <a href="http://www.meaghanfarrellmusic.com/">Meaghan Farrell</a>.<br /><br />I met Meaghan last month in Penn Station and approached her when I saw her tattoos. Turns out, Meaghan is a singer-songwriter with 15 tattoos, more of which will appear here tomorrow.<br /><br />One of the tattoos we talked about was this one on her inner right forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp68DfrxBGZLbtIqe4stzbho58BOHU9B4EbDw9aeI_xBs4_4MUU9D_LCBn6p-2hBWEw7rKpcJ25SSVzYvHh8KC8LEbrckW8aQo935C9NyGzM_BYdpEVL8idk7QV2O3_3RGz39x9r2onOo/s1600/madge+alt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp68DfrxBGZLbtIqe4stzbho58BOHU9B4EbDw9aeI_xBs4_4MUU9D_LCBn6p-2hBWEw7rKpcJ25SSVzYvHh8KC8LEbrckW8aQo935C9NyGzM_BYdpEVL8idk7QV2O3_3RGz39x9r2onOo/s400/madge+alt.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br />Madge Gassaway was Meaghan's grandmother, who passed away when Meaghan was only nine. Madge, she told me, was a "strong, independent woman," who had a huge impact on her life.<br /><br />The quote, words of wisdom that have significant meaning for Meaghan, was worthy of inscribing them on her flesh.<br /><br />Of course, right after I left Meaghan I realized, I forgot to take a picture of the quote from her grandmother, and she kindly sent me one she took herself.<br /><br />In addition, Meaghan also has this stunning rose on her right shoulder:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq9cBuDikcki6NgJPMKLq0bqFc_4w83S9yb-eMqoAioSPw1R_Xe2Oq5Nq9G7R-mjuSg2GOZD57CN7cZh9xYC0qffkaw8xZaXgKjr7nZhp2SDY9RMS2EnzG6DVBqRNMIC2x3ul8AC3zaE/s1600/Meaghan%2527s+rose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirq9cBuDikcki6NgJPMKLq0bqFc_4w83S9yb-eMqoAioSPw1R_Xe2Oq5Nq9G7R-mjuSg2GOZD57CN7cZh9xYC0qffkaw8xZaXgKjr7nZhp2SDY9RMS2EnzG6DVBqRNMIC2x3ul8AC3zaE/s400/Meaghan%2527s+rose.jpg" width="383" /></a></div><br />Meaghan explained that her grandmother had an amazing rose garden, and that this tattoo represents not only the memory of her.<br /><br />The artist responsible for these tattoos is <a href="http://www.myspace.com/beansink">Mr. Beans</a>, at <a href="http://www.fatcattattoos.com/">Fat Cat Tattoos NYC</a> in Astoria, Queens.<br /><br />Tune in tomorrow for two more of Meaghan's tattoos. I wanted to share these today in honor of mothers and grandmothers everywhere, who have such a great impact on all of our lives.<br /><br />Thanks to Meaghan for sharing her tattoos with us here at Tattoosday! Happy Mother's Day to All!<br /><br />  <br /><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This entry is ©2011 Tattoosday. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />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 contact the webmaster of the offending site and advise them of this violation in their Terms of Use Agreement.</span></div>

Happy Mother's Day from Tattoosday

I wanted to celebrate Mother's Day with something new, but didn't have a lot in the backlog that was specifically motherly. Then I r...

8:48 AM

No Hope But Home

I met Matthew walking through Penn Station last week. He has several tattoos, and shared this one with me:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4Q9DRAf2NWUPId30Z9L-TmfMpAwl14c1c5j2bp8PUggUsXVsTY6FFiwkBwhHUk0n5sQImGnQDZzPLbAwmBmhaQHxUPvn6HL1OGwtGxjzJv_7uAePPxUbp2t8gGAvOw4Jt8WMiRZ5/s1600-h/compass+rose.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5402805407875778578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ4Q9DRAf2NWUPId30Z9L-TmfMpAwl14c1c5j2bp8PUggUsXVsTY6FFiwkBwhHUk0n5sQImGnQDZzPLbAwmBmhaQHxUPvn6HL1OGwtGxjzJv_7uAePPxUbp2t8gGAvOw4Jt8WMiRZ5/s400/compass+rose.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 221px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />On his right arm, this traditional nautical star has been embellished with several design elements that personalize the tattoo.<br /><br />The banner "No Hope but Home" refers to lyrics from a song by a New Jersey band called <a href="http://www.myspace.com/screamhello">Scream Hello</a>.<br /><br />The nautical star is accompanied by a knitting needle and a fountain pen. These two objects refer to his parents. The knitting needle speaks to his mother who is a homemaker and also knits as a hobby. The fountain pen alludes to his father, who is a writer professionally,  and also<br />writes for pleasure.<br /><br />The nautical star, traditionally worn by sailors to serve as a talisman to find a way home, serves a figurative purpose here, pointing toward, while also emphasizing the hopefulness of home, but also the importance of Matthew's parents in his life.<br /><br />This cool tattoo was inked by <a href="http://www.johnreardontattoos.com/">John Reardon</a> at <a href="http://www.savedtattoo.com/">Saved Tattoo</a>, in Brooklyn. Work from Saved has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Saved%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Matthew for sharing this amazing tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

No Hope But Home

I met Matthew walking through Penn Station last week. He has several tattoos, and shared this one with me: On his right arm, this traditiona...

2:28 AM

Maggie, a Fan of Pink, Shares Some Ink

One of the pluses of working near <a href="http://www.thegarden.com/">Madison Square Garden</a> is that concert-goers and fans are always about.<br /><br />Occasionally, they can be found camped out near the artists' entrance on 33rd Street. The presence of fans milling about can often be great opportunities to spot tattoos, as in this case, previously.<br /><br />Earlier this month, I chatted with some <a href="http://www.pinkspage.com/us/home">Pink</a> fans out on the street and one of them, Maggie, shared her tattoos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjA1Nc61MzoJPtkgfx1y700xlCUJIEvsVBcV6aZ-CWsfkq5sAtX2TS3KdvN-4KaIkjY3QjWJFlcBsI7M8Vxi7KWjim9ylsIPdCd3GHSlMNQjCowExVKFz5oFn8oHWczNeXoLEk1nR5/s1600-h/Pink+Forearm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396540069732218402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjA1Nc61MzoJPtkgfx1y700xlCUJIEvsVBcV6aZ-CWsfkq5sAtX2TS3KdvN-4KaIkjY3QjWJFlcBsI7M8Vxi7KWjim9ylsIPdCd3GHSlMNQjCowExVKFz5oFn8oHWczNeXoLEk1nR5/s400/Pink+Forearm.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 142px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />Maggie has nine tattoos in all, and these represent four of them.<br /><br />She seemed surprised that I was interested, more so because there weren't typical "stories" behind the art.<br /><br />The top piece is a tribute to her mother,<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V2bNurRsZuejEHHIEqWBaNBtYY06u33ozkb-hDVQ0LZ4EhsDpSUJJhgcmtMYOtf9_gtIjig2aJI3tZ-j1roR6SYo1mQA_0qYdUNKFfBg6T5pD2GKP382FYocXkgknDjvk9UBPC5u/s1600-h/Pink+Mom.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539909381322082" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2V2bNurRsZuejEHHIEqWBaNBtYY06u33ozkb-hDVQ0LZ4EhsDpSUJJhgcmtMYOtf9_gtIjig2aJI3tZ-j1roR6SYo1mQA_0qYdUNKFfBg6T5pD2GKP382FYocXkgknDjvk9UBPC5u/s400/Pink+Mom.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 343px;" /></a><br />and the heart, the bands, and the angel wing are just elements she felt like adding.<br /> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0zS8rVofrm1KVBbfZdBWJ5K4HST32xHPHr52VoXPnXCflHlVXksu-vk4XkBdFEpTHHr6Z4_Xuj9OmnBiddFi7XLlo1kSnQKF9ZpxKphmZhAdIimS2-anwIZWHJFt04DhOdUKZBbo/s1600-h/Pink+Wings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539992076549010" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY0zS8rVofrm1KVBbfZdBWJ5K4HST32xHPHr52VoXPnXCflHlVXksu-vk4XkBdFEpTHHr6Z4_Xuj9OmnBiddFi7XLlo1kSnQKF9ZpxKphmZhAdIimS2-anwIZWHJFt04DhOdUKZBbo/s400/Pink+Wings.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 167px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I particularly like the free form of the heart design.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0wM2f_v_t3mX5cCIsXGODvrc5UhX8_RRrib9q0N7s7YegrngRWAhNIVP8M3kTTiuNufVkj0u2w1Q6AelRSar3hzacKYS1dN274aIaRRImEC0L79Mgnq7pvglTEBZTJS8I4MoKX1i/s1600-h/Pink+heart.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5396539815658973890" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz0wM2f_v_t3mX5cCIsXGODvrc5UhX8_RRrib9q0N7s7YegrngRWAhNIVP8M3kTTiuNufVkj0u2w1Q6AelRSar3hzacKYS1dN274aIaRRImEC0L79Mgnq7pvglTEBZTJS8I4MoKX1i/s400/Pink+heart.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 136px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />All work was done at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tattooheavennyc">Tattoo Heaven</a> in Manhattan.<br /><br />Thanks to Maggie for sharing her tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Maggie, a Fan of Pink, Shares Some Ink

One of the pluses of working near Madison Square Garden is that concert-goers and fans are always about. Occasionally, they can be found ca...

7:14 AM

Gypsy Roses and a Tombstone

Last month, I ran outside toward the end of the day to throw a letter in the mailbox at the corner of 31st and 7th, near Penn Station.<br /><br />Always prepared, I had a flier and my camera with me, just in case, and I spotted a woman ahead of me on the sidewalk with an interesting-looking tattoo on the back of her right arm.<br /><br />After dropping my letter in the box, I ran up and introduced myself. She said her name was Jeanette and she showed me this chest piece which truly took my breath away:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA71qNDn8C74GOty8o38ZS5OMgTkMKMIiLWEGrXoVEkXfA3M3-B6Ts0BG3m5Vi0E1yiTHB4_RUtCIGRmZr7SCSO3hjDdGLPa2uhm8xeei6kVI59jk5R7w15fGnA1y9Iuz4oYD9Gii/s1600-h/Gypsy+Roses.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392393591256487250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdA71qNDn8C74GOty8o38ZS5OMgTkMKMIiLWEGrXoVEkXfA3M3-B6Ts0BG3m5Vi0E1yiTHB4_RUtCIGRmZr7SCSO3hjDdGLPa2uhm8xeei6kVI59jk5R7w15fGnA1y9Iuz4oYD9Gii/s400/Gypsy+Roses.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 201px;" /></a><br />I was however, without a pen, so she lent me hers. Fortunately, she later e-mailed me a fuller explanation of her work, reiterating what she told me in the street:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span><blockquote><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">My gypsies on my chest are a representation of my open, free spirited soul, my wandering spiritual ways and my childhood. As a child, my mom moved my 4 sisters and I from place to place; never truly getting settled but gaining amazing friendships and experiences on the way.<br /><br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6VfeWnWM50nS3bR4M4RPboqiRlXPFPUUsqTD_VpSzDqX1YYy8dDU1Dmo0p1EQc5ezW4fzDmd3EqwbHCeVznJe_MKCXG8am8SWlgg9Y_SyXJT9lt92kDKqUEAIJA9bwOCcIggvF4U/s1600-h/Gypsy+Right.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392393508237572418" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC6VfeWnWM50nS3bR4M4RPboqiRlXPFPUUsqTD_VpSzDqX1YYy8dDU1Dmo0p1EQc5ezW4fzDmd3EqwbHCeVznJe_MKCXG8am8SWlgg9Y_SyXJT9lt92kDKqUEAIJA9bwOCcIggvF4U/s400/Gypsy+Right.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 340px; height: 400px;" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"><br />These gypsies were created and drawn by <a href="http://www.thefamilybusinesstattoo.com/gallery2/v/Motoplevel">Mo Coppoletta</a> a tattoo artist originally from Italy but now residing in London.<br /><br /> </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ3hdivXG1USwkSJ7lSCmmDVYE5HeXMEqrV3o0njp9omzfdjklzTehgw64eLCfXM1ZX_QKHXB9QBroU728eC0FxYpe3McBgRsp2TPg_xSgfRc7xlghINPleLeOtrxUaoS3nw0F-QU/s1600-h/Gypsy+Left+2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392393321378933778" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuJ3hdivXG1USwkSJ7lSCmmDVYE5HeXMEqrV3o0njp9omzfdjklzTehgw64eLCfXM1ZX_QKHXB9QBroU728eC0FxYpe3McBgRsp2TPg_xSgfRc7xlghINPleLeOtrxUaoS3nw0F-QU/s400/Gypsy+Left+2.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 319px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">He owns and operates </span></span></span><a href="http://www.thefamilybusinesstattoo.com/"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">The Family Business</span></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">...He is a feisty but charming fellow who I bonded with immediately after meeting. You can view more of his work and his shop at www.thefailybusinesstattoo.com. </span></span></span><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); line-height: 16px;"><b><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"><br /></span></span></span></b></span> </blockquote>I also snapped a photo of the original tattoo I had spotted on her right arm:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy23W83sNhe_Y0Uq1M0rfGFJsRVPXRJLTWJ-2ixOJGEhlmA3aj_jeaOeJbGYzQ_3fiCfSPy8iIqEc6YLeIski2dE9G0gzVpV7t7hXpANz0jvlDRX2qyDUtMIG7ehSisnpy7FfYxRuT/s1600-h/tombstone.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392391300075360658" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy23W83sNhe_Y0Uq1M0rfGFJsRVPXRJLTWJ-2ixOJGEhlmA3aj_jeaOeJbGYzQ_3fiCfSPy8iIqEc6YLeIski2dE9G0gzVpV7t7hXpANz0jvlDRX2qyDUtMIG7ehSisnpy7FfYxRuT/s400/tombstone.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 267px; height: 400px;" /></a>She explained:<br /><br /><blockquote><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">This tattoo is very sentimental...[in memory of] my mother who passed away at the young age of 50 in May of 2003. The words inscribed on the tombstone..."It's Gettin Chistled on yer tombstone" are from one of my favorite films, </span></span></span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395584/"><span><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">The Devil's Rejects</span></span></span></a><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">. These words represent the things you do in life...each moment...each day you are engraving a memory for which people will remember you by, and this is how my mother lived. Always giving a hand and offering her last dollar from her pocket to a stranger. This tattoo is not completed yet, I intend to have the front of the tombstone added soon which will have my mother's name, date of birth and death and the words "Loving Mother and Loving Soul" in bold ink. This tattoo artist is Ezra [McCabe] from Sacramento, CA owner and operator of </span></span></span><span><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"><a href="http://www.insiderpages.com/b/3711673166">Timeless Tattoo</a></span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"> and his work is truly timeless and remarkable. They are located at </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">912 J </span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">St </span></span></span><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">Sacramento</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">, </span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">CA  and can be reached at</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 128, 0); font-weight: bold; line-height: 16px;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"> </span></span></span><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">(916) 443-6441. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /><br /></blockquote>A little more about Jeanette:<br /><br /><div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></div><blockquote><div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;">"I am a freelance fashion designer for my own clothing line "<a href="http://www.myspace.com/alteredbettys">Altered Betty's</a>," a line of clothing that comes straight from my heart. All one of a kind pieces made from all recycled fabrics and notions. What once was very special to one could be a delightful surprise for another. I recently moved to New York from California, I am still adjusting but I am beginning to really love and appreciate this beautiful city. "</span></span></span></div><div><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:'times new roman','new york',times,serif;"><span style="font-size:large;"></span></span></span></span></div></blockquote>It was an unexpected treat to meet Jeanette and I thank her for sharing her amazing gypsy rose tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Gypsy Roses and a Tombstone

Last month, I ran outside toward the end of the day to throw a letter in the mailbox at the corner of 31st and 7th, near Penn Station. Alway...

2:39 AM

Tattoorism: Erika's Yellow Rose

I've been remiss in sharing Erika's tattoo, which she sent me almost two months ago. So let's have a visit from her lovely rose tattoo:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvm3InzKFuWBOhh5URANL7PFzXq6lOSHR7h9nOjZh9y5dWGnTn5-XDvTGNP23pxM_ih96GXZJxLlpIO1Ds-oLv24JV4gAd3gvpb9_fz6WRIETK4Ts7ztEODKVq5fxOocMVwWX0toPB-GU/s1600-h/healed+rose.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339421460016751186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvm3InzKFuWBOhh5URANL7PFzXq6lOSHR7h9nOjZh9y5dWGnTn5-XDvTGNP23pxM_ih96GXZJxLlpIO1Ds-oLv24JV4gAd3gvpb9_fz6WRIETK4Ts7ztEODKVq5fxOocMVwWX0toPB-GU/s400/healed+rose.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 253px; height: 400px;" /></a><br />I'll let Erika explain the artowork:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><blockquote>"...[this] was done at Miami Ink [actually called <a href="http://www.lovehatetattoos.com/">Love Hate Tattoo Studios</a>].  Not by anyone on the show, as they only tattoo for the show, but they have a group of very talented artists who are not featured.  This tattoo has a very personal meaning for me.  My mother's favorite flower is the yellow rose, so the rose represents her.  I have a very close bond with my mother and tell her absolutely everything, and she means a lot to me.  As for the two thorns?  Representing me and my sister.  Yes, we are the thorns in her side, but we also protect her.<br /><br />I went into Miami Ink with a couple of pictures of yellow roses, as I wanted it to be just going into bloom (that's when I think roses are at their most beautiful) and told them I wanted it to curve around my ankle bone.  They drew up a design in an hour and I liked the very first thing they showed me.  I always get comments on it when it's exposed, and it remains my favorite of my 6 tattoos.  They did such a lovely job with the shading and I think it's beautiful!<br /><br />And for the record, it's the only tattoo I have that my mom kind of likes."<br /></blockquote></div><br />Here's a shot of the tattoo, just after it was completed. You can see the source material in the background:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadxHRX5iLnMVYisZQzo-u2uFf3Z1yqLq8kcfZNVnHRqvmSCv0dqFCwQynwRmrLkFu2nGV5d_cqnVnoVvm5i221OiOjG8WYg4UuOPQD4eXeuKC3E73CQA8MNjWXApaDkGd-3vwbDoNDZs/s1600-h/Erikas+rose.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339421335760508002" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjadxHRX5iLnMVYisZQzo-u2uFf3Z1yqLq8kcfZNVnHRqvmSCv0dqFCwQynwRmrLkFu2nGV5d_cqnVnoVvm5i221OiOjG8WYg4UuOPQD4eXeuKC3E73CQA8MNjWXApaDkGd-3vwbDoNDZs/s400/Erikas+rose.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 394px; height: 263px;" /></a><br />Erika followed up with more information:<br /><br /><blockquote>"<a href="http://www.lovehatetattoos.com/james-hamilton.html">James [Hamilton]</a> (pictured below with Erika) was the artist and he was great.  I was in Miami over Spring Break in March 2007 and that's when it was done.  Ami James was hanging around the shop when I went, so I got to meet him as well..."<br /></blockquote><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74RieGrMVIokThlvYpNxGuHdZ3Se_SY0wwKi9HS4mAtgOaTxshfe5r_-iA2n7a7rWtb0T5c5wGdx8zw8AppPohDbDmwDWfR58Ho4gEp86rBuV_yRWGpl8McUk0EzZEH67BW5sq_7na94/s1600-h/n5300243_32394145_1964.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339419879727486370" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj74RieGrMVIokThlvYpNxGuHdZ3Se_SY0wwKi9HS4mAtgOaTxshfe5r_-iA2n7a7rWtb0T5c5wGdx8zw8AppPohDbDmwDWfR58Ho4gEp86rBuV_yRWGpl8McUk0EzZEH67BW5sq_7na94/s320/n5300243_32394145_1964.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 287px; height: 246px;" /></a><br />Thanks so much to Erika for sharing her rose tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Tattoorism: Erika's Yellow Rose

I've been remiss in sharing Erika's tattoo, which she sent me almost two months ago. So let's have a visit from her lovely rose ...

2:35 AM

The Tattooed Poets Project: Raffaella Ciavatta's Trio of Amazing Tattoos

<span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;"  >Today's tattoos were submitted by Brazilian-born, New York-based poet <a href="http://ineuphorictrance.blogspot.com/">Raffaella Ciavatta</a>. She heard about the Tattooed Poet's Project earlier this month from <a href="http://getangrywithme.com/">Jackie Sheeler</a> at a local reading. Jackie's tattoos were featured earlier this month <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/04/jackie-sheelers-swirling-tribal-tattoos.html">here</a>.<br /></span><div  style="font-family:verdana;"><div><span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Raffaela sent three photos:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_BJI7qXA8B49_ZiwSSqlvJYlgt-860BCS2VrIJEYW-v63IcdMTyCQHNr-a2V2abMLMhTuYzlYrs2wB-sFuiyV1YsMw3x-NsLNsDFL20U8Hrdrnas1S1G5qqCkJFqlhW7uY8_JJRgkqU/s1600-h/liz.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325676748356519458" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie_BJI7qXA8B49_ZiwSSqlvJYlgt-860BCS2VrIJEYW-v63IcdMTyCQHNr-a2V2abMLMhTuYzlYrs2wB-sFuiyV1YsMw3x-NsLNsDFL20U8Hrdrnas1S1G5qqCkJFqlhW7uY8_JJRgkqU/s400/liz.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 191px; height: 331px;" /></a><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;">Raffaela says that this is "my own design mixing a Chinese dragon, representing strength, and the lizard, for the soul's search of awareness, so that it could protect me and guide me through the eternal pursuit of knowledge.</span><span style="font-size:100%;">"<br /><br />This piece on the lower left side of her back/hip was her first tattoo, done at <a href="http://www.tat2.com.br/">Studio Tat 2</a> in Brazil.<br /><br />Next is a piece on the right side of her chest, near the collar bone:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94dQLhxbP-kaznt5oqCQcLlK76i4gW00YCYHqDjoSHhj2JvkKxT1JI5eXXxjRW1pYckTR8EuJF1Vmr99uCu9ZSBiikU7-GBKesy0mTG4oqjF_279eZGc5KZI2A97-OIluL8VK8bQU-9M/s1600-h/Mater.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325676711914479954" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh94dQLhxbP-kaznt5oqCQcLlK76i4gW00YCYHqDjoSHhj2JvkKxT1JI5eXXxjRW1pYckTR8EuJF1Vmr99uCu9ZSBiikU7-GBKesy0mTG4oqjF_279eZGc5KZI2A97-OIluL8VK8bQU-9M/s400/Mater.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 268px; height: 288px;" /></a><br />The "mater" is the Latin word for mother who, Raffaella proclaims is "</span><span style="font-size:100%;">done for the most important person to me in this world, my mother, father, best friend!</span><span style="font-size:100%;">" This piece was inked at <a href="http://fabiotattoo.blogspot.com/">Fabio Tattoo</a>, also in Brazil.<br /><br />And finally, this last tattoo, which you get a small glimpse of in the first picture above, is just breath-taking:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jnO_8utgPkuZ68SBF6CxghhiptK-GShz7giTQNRKlzOGMSE4qfxufFCEdHsa-ViYIOHMquQRuvrw8keM3TjXirCYedy_xXEa7z5v2lCiLyG1ZgQdz42JV6kn77wp63GE3apqj-LgPHI/s1600-h/wings.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5325676668463249538" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jnO_8utgPkuZ68SBF6CxghhiptK-GShz7giTQNRKlzOGMSE4qfxufFCEdHsa-ViYIOHMquQRuvrw8keM3TjXirCYedy_xXEa7z5v2lCiLyG1ZgQdz42JV6kn77wp63GE3apqj-LgPHI/s400/wings.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 298px; height: 400px;" /></a><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size:100%;">These are her angel wings, "done to achieve my dream of reaching New York." She adds, "I definitely flew from Brazil to NY." They were tattooed over six months. The tattoo was started by</span><span style="font-size:100%;"> Eric Codo ("just the outline...he had to move to Rio de Janeiro) at <a href="http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WM2VFH">Steel Star Supply</a> in Sao Paulo and was finished by the "<a href="http://www.fotolog.com/fabio_renato/">Amazing Fabio Renato</a>".<br /><br /></span></div></div><div  style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Head over to <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2009/04/tattooed-poets-series-day-17-raffaella.html">BillyBlog</a> to read <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2009/04/tattooed-poets-series-day-17-raffaella.html">one of Raffaella's poems</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Raffaella for sharing her amazing work with us here at Tattoosday!<br /></span></div>

The Tattooed Poets Project: Raffaella Ciavatta's Trio of Amazing Tattoos

Today's tattoos were submitted by Brazilian-born, New York-based poet Raffaella Ciavatta . She heard about the Tattooed Poet's Proje...

8:32 AM

Tattoos I Know: Erika's Ink (Part 1)

A long, long time ago, in a place called <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/">BillyBlog</a>, an idea was formed. It was the idea that became Tattoosday. I decided to celebrate the many tattoos I encountered, with a photo (or two) and a story. A <a href="http://tlc.discovery.com/fansites/miami-ink/miami-ink.html">Miami Ink</a> for the blogging crowd. Nothing about the artists' personalities, all about ink. In fact, all you see is the art, and very little else of the hosts.<br /><br />The idea was to find strangers willing to let me take pictures of their tattoos, and post them with an accompanying text explaining when and where and why they chose to be inked. But I needed a guinea pig, so I started with a co-worker, Sephora, who seemed to enjoy talking with me about tattoos and music of all sorts. She was game, and she inaugurated the Tattoosday feature <a href="http://oxypoet.blogspot.com/2007/07/introducing-tattoosday.html">here</a>.<br /><br />And the rest is (brief) history. The Tattoosday feature, appearing every Tuesday was so much fun, I spun it off into its own blog and it has enjoyed a small, small viewership. But a blog can only dream. Through the odds and ends and goods and bads of Tattoosday's growing pains, I would occasionally saunter over to Sephora and chat about tats. The woman who sat in front of her, Erika, would often join in the conversation, but was mum about her own tattoos (if she had any, I couldn't tell. I wasn't scanning her clothing edges for ink slippages.)<br /><br />Then in November, Erika was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and lo! and behold! What did I see?<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiwYLu7ulLFLM7AHRnq6HNIaV9uXYSbBuw2xTrxYUnRdRGbONQ-MheOzfyaz-N08DxNJvx2wl3PNtxTXqFzHr-7UxJgVXTddeq8P0X8BhtoMIEuvnh_9SxS2JOhkXF1Htmy5IV72pyAoW/s1600-h/ericka+pixie+7.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146627002206038594" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJiwYLu7ulLFLM7AHRnq6HNIaV9uXYSbBuw2xTrxYUnRdRGbONQ-MheOzfyaz-N08DxNJvx2wl3PNtxTXqFzHr-7UxJgVXTddeq8P0X8BhtoMIEuvnh_9SxS2JOhkXF1Htmy5IV72pyAoW/s400/ericka+pixie+7.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Well, now I was chatting with Erika about tattoos and she mentioned she had a lot. I asked her if she would be interested in Tattoosday and she was game. So, over the last few weeks, starting with our holiday party when she was wearing a dress that showed off most of her back, through very recently when I snapped the pictures of the last of Erika's dozen (or so) tattoos, I managed to capture the catalog of Erika's ink, which is presented here for the Tattoosday readership.<br /><br />Enough of my gab, lets roll with the body art!<br /><br />Erika doesn't know exact dates on all her ink, so we're going to go chronologically. First up is this basic, rudimentary rose on her right lower calf.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujuam5yTlDYC15wC8Qcv-Ur6bMyGt5VtUGQKtfZXem4rKKTWes2QVz9W3B3V9RiizuqM6O_6F2bKxgV1_syp7-GaPsif10SuCtlf8WJEgjQP1Eet3hYOl0wz1GrTTLhXxIlGU8DzrpSDL/s1600-h/100_6012.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5149039932012800690" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhujuam5yTlDYC15wC8Qcv-Ur6bMyGt5VtUGQKtfZXem4rKKTWes2QVz9W3B3V9RiizuqM6O_6F2bKxgV1_syp7-GaPsif10SuCtlf8WJEgjQP1Eet3hYOl0wz1GrTTLhXxIlGU8DzrpSDL/s200/100_6012.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a>By the way, Erika's tattoos all have pretty good story behind them. About 14 years ago, circa 1993, she was 18 and went into Your Choice Tattoo, in East Meadow, New York (on Long Island, for you non-New Yorkers). She was scared to death of what then pain would be like, Her boyfriend suggested the location on her lower leg because it wouldn't hurt so much. Of course, in hindsight, that's one of the more painful spots because it is so close to bone.<br /><br />The co-owner of Your Choice Tattoo, Joe, made her go home and get her birth certificate, because he thought her ID was fake. He even joked that she would need to get a letter from her mother!<br /><br />Two years later, at 20, she was back at Your Choice, this time working with artist Michelle, who put this unicorn on the right side of her lower back:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUn8YR2rzj8T2WTj1ShvcxnHhyphenhyphenur6WwkgUpNcoRsxSfRp7GZIEm27J4rGKUhESng9qqi3YoFjwBsTB3t4R-Kq7j1p3P8bG0YY2TQrxkIJ5dZFdFcXmoVvdhrZJW3dtZ_qT4n3Sy9yiKdE/s1600-h/ericka+unicorn+8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148228780194310802" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEUn8YR2rzj8T2WTj1ShvcxnHhyphenhyphenur6WwkgUpNcoRsxSfRp7GZIEm27J4rGKUhESng9qqi3YoFjwBsTB3t4R-Kq7j1p3P8bG0YY2TQrxkIJ5dZFdFcXmoVvdhrZJW3dtZ_qT4n3Sy9yiKdE/s400/ericka+unicorn+8.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br /><br />Erika explains that she was still a kid at heart, and that she had a lot of unicorns in her room. She saw this design on the wall and went with it. It's a reminder of that little girl she once was.<br /><br />A year later, she was back at Your Choice Tattoo, with Michelle again. Like for most people, Ericka's tattoos serve as signposts for different periods of her life. In 1996, she was dating a guy who was heavy into the Black empowerment philosophy. "He was a big 'Power to the People' guy," Ericka recalls, "And I wanted to show him I was down with that." She exhibited this commitment by having an Egyptian <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ankh"><span style="font-style: italic;">ankh</span></a> inked on her left shoulder:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFXHspRDJvfCEG0fRXA0S06QLVdV2whb05mageedDLwZpx5xdoqBynmzFX5z-PAsLKeKaMdE5oBA0s0hobFFYx0oRQeHW2Q9S8GWs9GXB1DT4X7-oRtMewrwwwY1Wf8OHUXkhXAKlFGWq/s1600-h/100_5946.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5148228982057773730" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwFXHspRDJvfCEG0fRXA0S06QLVdV2whb05mageedDLwZpx5xdoqBynmzFX5z-PAsLKeKaMdE5oBA0s0hobFFYx0oRQeHW2Q9S8GWs9GXB1DT4X7-oRtMewrwwwY1Wf8OHUXkhXAKlFGWq/s200/100_5946.JPG" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />Because the symbol simultaneously recalls Egypt and represents the hieroglyphic symbol for "life," it still resonates as a powerful image on her skin.<br /><br />A year later, she had befriended another tattoo artist, Joe, at Behind the Lines II Tattooing in Jamaica, Queens.  She had this small piece inked on her right shoulder:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmje-0G1CwYH5xgpoEdAIZV3KYA5tlh_r64J6LNeFS6k3cDtcA49aw-dYKfiKpynCiWr4uRCfrd3rlZAR-edAfIXmOdaZeex-lagVOCaXgGtednmMVfYdsR3p9L9jPPuXhKWqr6F_l7T4/s1600-h/Erika+Marnie+Heart+Flag+4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5145484343336806834" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkmje-0G1CwYH5xgpoEdAIZV3KYA5tlh_r64J6LNeFS6k3cDtcA49aw-dYKfiKpynCiWr4uRCfrd3rlZAR-edAfIXmOdaZeex-lagVOCaXgGtednmMVfYdsR3p9L9jPPuXhKWqr6F_l7T4/s400/Erika+Marnie+Heart+Flag+4.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />The piece in question is the heart with the crown and the name "Marie". It's a tribute to her mother, Marie, who, Erika acknowledges, is "the Queen of her Heart". <a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Flag_of_Puerto_Rico.svg/125px-Flag_of_Puerto_Rico.svg.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/28/Flag_of_Puerto_Rico.svg/125px-Flag_of_Puerto_Rico.svg.png" style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 121px; height: 81px;" /></a>Below the tribu<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Flag_of_Haiti.svg/800px-Flag_of_Haiti.svg.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Flag_of_Haiti.svg/800px-Flag_of_Haiti.svg.png" style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 123px; height: 70px;" /></a>te to her mom is another piece by Joe at Behind the Lines. It's a hybrid of the Puerto Rican flag and the Haitian flag. Her father is from Puerto Rico and her mother is from Haiti and she wanted a tribute to her heritage.<br /><br /><br />A year later (approximately 1998), she was hanging out with Joe and things were slow in the shop. He offered up, "I'm bored. Want a tat?" Ericka was game and this bluebird was inked on her neck:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXIEB29o0eMEoWjTxbbVks_fd7kuW56S4k0-c-sECCH4v78CxX2TIcRnalfRr5geL-tX4xKhJTCFwIpaO_OLqQKtlp15eebzGHUhSMXJ_K2HKpaMiYQa3_A8kfr-yNlJUkfvFg-0xjTDa/s1600-h/ericka+bird+6.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5146627401637997138" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPXIEB29o0eMEoWjTxbbVks_fd7kuW56S4k0-c-sECCH4v78CxX2TIcRnalfRr5geL-tX4xKhJTCFwIpaO_OLqQKtlp15eebzGHUhSMXJ_K2HKpaMiYQa3_A8kfr-yNlJUkfvFg-0xjTDa/s400/ericka+bird+6.jpg" style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" /></a><br />She acknowledges that there is no real story behind it, but that she does like the art. Ericka is a great example of how tattoos can be addictive and that, once you get one, you want to keep going.<br /><br />This concludes part 1 of Ericka's Ink. Stay tuned for part 2!<br /><br />Thanks again to Ericka for sharing her tattoos!

Tattoos I Know: Erika's Ink (Part 1)

A long, long time ago, in a place called BillyBlog , an idea was formed. It was the idea that became Tattoosday. I decided to celebrate the ...

8:35 PM

Tattoosday (A Tattoo Blog)

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