Tattoo Tuesday V.84

Name/blog name: Tiffany Alexandria- forwardmotionproduction.com &  tiffanyalexandria.net

Age: 23

Occupation: I am a receptionist and concession worker in the morning and a professional photographer by night.  I work at a sports dome answering phones and selling popcorn to your children, and on the weekends I am photographing or doing video for weddings!  I also do freelance design of weird sorts and nearly anything else to bring in some green.    

Age of first tattoo: 18

Favorite tattoo: Tough question!  I'm not so sure that I really have a favorite.   They all have different meanings to me, but none really stand out more than others.

Featured tattoo/location: Peonies on my right arm.

Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: My Peony tattoo, located on my right arm, was done up by Jason at American Inkwell in Pekin, IL.

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

One of my most vivid memories from the only place I'll ever call home were the Peony bushes in the back yard.  I can remember always being so fascinated at the beauty of them.  I have no idea who planted them, or when, but they were the most beautiful flower I had ever seen.  It's more of a random memory I have, but it means enough to have it tattooed to the front of my arm.  I never want to forget being able to find beauty in the small things!

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where?

The first tattoo I ever got was the quote " In dreams and in love there are no impossibilities. "  It was something I deemed myself to live by.  Over the years I've added around it (mostly on a whim) and it's actually the biggest tattoo I've currently got.  I must admit though, there is slight regret on how much I added to it!  I'm worried about prego belly and how it will look when that time comes :)

I went through the " I love this band and that band " phase and decided that I would get the idea from the cover of a CD.  It was the first CD I can remember ever being able to listen to every single song all the way through and absolutely love each one.  Therefore, the outline of a dead man floating to heaven made his way to my right rib cage. 

You'll find my third tattoo on the inside of my lip.  "Artist."  I did this shortly after moving back from Massachusetts   While hoping for a reminder of who I am, it seems to get lost quite often considering it's not the most visible tattoo I have. I also have yet to master the "is this still a cute photo even though we're looking in her mouth?" pose yet with this one...Any ideas?!

Fourth tattoo is located on the back of my neck.  "Lover" it reads.  I got this tattoo under a meaning of something I feel like I'll never really fully be able to explain to anyone.  It means more than "lover" of just one sort.  It helps to remind me that I have a passion for more things I could ever list off and that's really my purpose in life.  To love.

3) Do you plan on getting more?

Of course!  I need to finish my Peonies and then I'm sure I'll add elsewhere.  I don't have anything in mind at the moment, but like most of my other tattoos, I'm sure they will come on a whim.  The only thing I have planned out is where I DON'T want any future tattoos!  I think when I finish my right arm, I will probably wait until after the 'ol wedding day to get more.  I don't mind other people being all tattooed up for that occasion, but I just can't see myself as one of them.  I'm currently happy with what I've got! 

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? Do you have a significant other? Does he/she have tattoos? 

After getting my first tattoo while in college), I knew I would have some sort of battle to go through when my parents found out.  Of course I ended up getting my lip pierced out there as well, therefore, already hinting that I probably went all out and got ink too.  Parents were not thrilled about it and to this day still don't understand why I do it.

It's funny how often I get pulled aside or spoken to from complete strangers about my arm.  After getting the tattoo and getting use to it, I rarely even realize it's there.  It has, however, brought up some neat conversations and stories from other people that I have had the chance to speak to!  Good conversation starter :)

My best bud (boyfriend) does not currently have any tattoos but definitely plans on getting some.  When we first met I knew he was a little weird about how big my stomach tattoo is, but eventually realized it's there forever (I would hope so by now!)  He has a little different take on getting a tattoo than I ever really did.  He wanted to wait at least a year to see if he still wanted the same thing.  I can't blame him!  Getting a tattoo is a pretty huge commitment.  I will definitely be there supporting him when he gets his first ink though ;)

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

Yes.  Definitely research and read comments and / or ask around about the artist you are going to choose.  It's just not worth it to go to someone because you're too anxious.  When I went for my dead guy tattoo, it was during a phase I thought I would be in the rest of my life.  Boy did that ever change!  I can't say I regret him, however, I could probably think of a few cooler things to put there now :)  It's always worth sitting on just a little longer though.  No need to rush! 

Tattoo Tuesday V.83

 Name/blog name: Kimbah of Kimbah & Three

Age: 24

Occupation: Mama of two beauts, a homemaker and certified personal trainer.


Age of first tattoo: I had just turned 18 and was excited about being able to get tattooed, I ran into my local tattoo shop and got a star on either wrist, ha. Both now being some what covered by other pieces.

Favorite tattoo: I would have to say my latest hand/forearm piece I recently got done a few days ago after nine months of pregnancy (which is not complete as yet). It's a 'time for tea' theme with an antique teacup on my hand with a rose blooming from the top, followed by an antique teapot on my forearm with a deer head popping out and also some antique spoons. Looking forward to finishing this piece, done by my darling partner, Jai Kirchen of Raven Tattoo in Sydney.

Featured tattoo: I decided to feature my feet tattoos which were done by Jasmin Austin of WA Ink, Fremantle, Western Australia.

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

Not many of my tattoos have a background story or special meaning, my feet were simply a spontaneous thought. I had come across this specific artist work and decided to make the two hour drive to book in. I explained what I was after and approved of the line drawing the day of sitting.


2) Do you have any other tattoos?

I have my left arm and hand done (pictures below). I also have the back of my neck which is a rose with a diamond blooming, I have a thigh piece which is an antique Victorian hand held mirror with an all seeing eye in the mirror glass with a couple of roses.

3) Do you plan on getting more?

I do actually, I am trying to limit myself though as I would love to continue to get big pieces by various artist instead of the one artist.  Our lil' family plans to travel within the near future so I am saving myself, so to speak.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)? 

Family and friends are supportive of my life choices, my partner is a tattoo artist so our lil' family is around the whole tattoo thing a lot, it's nothing out of the ordinary to our eldest kiddo. Although I have ran into negativity while out and about but it no longer bothers me if it happens now, tattooed or not, you will always run into judgmental people. I am who I am and my tattoos do not define me as a person.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

From my experience I would say to definitely think about what you want, don't rush into it and definitely find an artist whose work you admire.

Tattoo Tuesday V.82

Name/blog name: Mia Wäppling- mariakalinka.blogspot.com

Age: 37

Occupation: I live in a town in the middle of Sweden, Örebro. I am a youth worker and work with kids and teenagers in after school activities and with something called “Open pre-school”. Open pre-school is a place where the parents and their children can come to play, sing, paint, and meet other kids and their parents. It’s a very creative job, I often play theatre, sing and paint with the kids at work.. I get to use all my creativity and get paid for it at the same time. I`m an artist and paint as much as possible in my spare time.  I also make things in wood and concrete, wooden boxes for kitchen herbs, cabinets, frames and signs. I mould plates and pots in concrete and I love doing ceramics.  Recently I’ve had the opportunity to work a little extra with taking pictures at concerts which is fantastic as I get to combine my interest in metal music with photographic art. 

Age of first tattoo: 35

Favorite tattoo: It’s a friendship tattoo. One of my best friends gave me a tattoo for my birthday. We have talked for a long time about getting matching tattoos. I drew two tattoos and we got them done. Mine is a portrait of myself coming out of a rose. Hers is the same but with her own face.

Featured tattoo: chest piece

Artist/shop of feature tattoo: All my tattoos (except my Babushka) are made by Lisa Engberg at Everlasting and Traditional Tattoo Parlor in Orebro, Sweden. They have a facebook group for anyone interested. My Babushka is made by Lisa´s apprentice Anna Lernvik.

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art? 

My chestpiece. It's two swallows with the words “My loved ones”. The two sparrows are my two kids. The sparrows symbolize my kids being free and independent people. First I wanted to have my kids’ names but then I started thinking of all people that I have close to my heart. Some have passed away, like my dad, and some lives far away so I decided that my loved ones was better, it includes ALL people I hold dear in my life.

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where? 

Yes I have a sleeve. It has a seven roses (including the rose girl). The text, “this fire burn always” is from a Killswitch Engage song, “This fire”. It stands for the people and things in my life I feel deep love and passion for……my kids, painting, music etc. On my other arm I’m going to tattoo the first sentence of the lyric, “ Even through the darkest days”. The lyrics symbolize how my love and passion carries me through even the darkest days when challenges and sorrows throws a spanner in the wheel of life. 

I also have a feather pen tattoo with a little bottle of ink on the side.  It’s a feather of a peacock.  The pen symbolize my art and peacocks symbolize immortality. I have painted my whole life and creative expression is life for me. 

The two butterflies on my arm symbolize resurrection. I really like the symbolic in butterflies, the three different stages. The caterpillar stands for the earthly life, the chrysalis stands for death and the butterfly stands for the resurrection. I have a key with a four leaved clover on it. My last name means clover in Swedish. I also have two violets, a hibiscus and some other Hawaiian themed flowers. On my other arm I have a Babushka doll. It is not completely finished yet but it is there to symbolize all the layers a person have to their persona, most people will just see the outer shell but only a few will be let in to see the inner core and maybe the smallest, most vulnerable part of me.

 

3) Do you plan on getting more?  

OF COURSE! I have plans for a sleeve on my other arm and both my legs needs colour and I have nothing on my back yet….

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? 

I have wanted to get tattoos since I was young but after thinking about it for fifteen years I decided that life is short and you should do the things you really want. You only have a lifetime to live so stop thinking so much and do it! I made them for myself so I don´t really care if anybody else like them or not it is something I want to do for myself! Actually, I think the more tattoos I get, the more girly I feel. 

I have two kids and they like my tattoos. My mother is not a fan of them. But she accepts them. Almost all my friends like them. The most people I meet don’t have a problem with my tattoos but sometimes people say -what are you going to do with them when you get old and wrinkly? Well, by that time most old people will have ink all over so that’s no problem for me. It is art, it is a way to tell people things about you and most of all it is a way to express for yourself important events and people in your life. All my tattoos have a special meaning for me. 

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet? 

Choose your tattoo carefully. Don´t go for cool  and fashionable tattoos. Fashion and what is cool changes over time so the tattoo should be meaningful to you, as your personal expression. And don't forget to look at your tattoo artist work BEFORE you let them put their ink on you. 

Tattoo Tuesday V.81

  
Name and blog name: Angela - abeautifuldecay.blogspot.com
Age: 26
Occupation: part time hair stylist, full time mama
Age of first tattoo: 18
Favorite tattoo: cameo brooch
Featured tattoo/location: cameo brooch on forearm
Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: Brett Burnham @ Electric Tattoo. Pasadena, MD

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art? 

My grandmom passed in 2008 and I was very close to her. My grandparents played a big role in raising my brother and I because my mom was a single working mama, so we spent every summer and everyday after school at my grandparents. I had a really hard time after she passed, and I knew I wanted to get a tattoo in her memory. I was given a box of her jewelry and in it was this cameo brooch that I loved. I knew I wanted that to be the tattoo. To me it not only represents my grandmom, but I love anything and everything victorian and to me it's very lady like which is an element I wanted to build upon for the rest of my arm someday. So I have a little piece of my grandmom on me forever, and for me that helped immensly with the healing process.

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where? 

My very first tattoo(s) were two black outline stars on the back of each arm. I had just turned 18 and was very eager to start getting tattooed. From there I got a lower back piece which is a heart with a lock inside and wings surrounding it. After that I started on my half sleeve which is a japanese theme, cherry blossom tree, hibiscus and lotus flower with wind bars. I got two roses on my chest for my 21st birthday. From there, two strawberries on my foot.

3) Do you plan on getting more? 

Yes, I actually had plans to get a tattoo for my son next month but just found out I'm pregnant! So it looks like I will have to come up with something for both babes after this pregnancy.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? Do you have a significant other? Does he/she have tattoos? 

Mostly all of my friends are tattooed. My mom wasn't thrilled when I started but she's used to it now. I work at a hair salon and most of my co-workers have tattoos, most of my clients are young so no one really cares. I've had maybe two or three older people make comments, nothing mean just the typical "what are you going to do when your older?", etc etc. I live in a city where tattoos are pretty common so no one really pays much attention, or maybe I just don't notice. My hubby has a chest piece and wants to get more work done eventually.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

Do your research. It's been said a million times before but the saying is true, you get what you pay for. I was in a such a hurry to get tattooed when I first turned 18 that I went to some random guy I knew nothing about, didn't see any of his work, in fact I think he had JUST started tattooing. Suffice to say the tattoos weren't the greatest,and I had to get some of them fixed. Really think long and hard about what you want, stay true to yourself because when all the fads die you will be stuck with the tattoo forever. I think back to some of the things I wanted to get when I was 18 and am really happy I didn't! If you are looking for a particular style of tattoo find someone who specializes in that, otherwise the tattoo might look good but it won't be the exact style your looking for. In the end have fun, it's just skin! Yes we all get old and wrinkly with or without tattoos. You only live
once.

Tattoo Tuesday V.80

Name/Blog name: Nancy Lili of The Monster's Flashlight

Age: 21

Occupation: I copyedit a bi-weekly art e-journal, "...might be good" . I also run a fun side blog about Austin, Texas with my friend, but that doesn't really bring in money , and I pick up technical writing gigs whenever I'm dead broke, which is often. What else? (I work a lot.) Oh, I just finished organizing this poetry conference for Latinas and I write book reviews for The Rumpus . I'm also going to start being a teacher's assistant at my university pretty soon.

Age of first tattoo: 18, my 18th birthday. I probably would have waited a few more days to get the exact same tattoo-- something I'd always wanted-- but I was angry at my dad for some reason, and I thought a tattoo was the perfect way to get revenge. (I was young and dumb.) Somehow the anger gave me the balls to go through with it. It was a small tattoo of a Scorpion on my right foot because, you guessed it, I'm a Scorpio. I am the definition of a Scorpio.

Favorite tattoo: I honestly never even think of my tattoos after they're on my skin. I love each one, but there's no way I could think of which one would be my favorite. I've tried choosing, but I can't.

Featured tattoo/location: A woman holding a bird with two pairs of birds flying away, and it's on the inside of my left arm.

Artist/shop of featured tattoo: All of my tattoos have been done by Lupio at Blindside Tattoos in Austin, Texas.

1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?  

 First I thought I wanted to get a tattoo of a flock of birds. This is around the time I was reading and re-reading "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" by Jonathan Safran Foer, and there was a passage in the story where an old man hears the flutter of wings again for the first time in a long time. I cried when I read it. There was something so infinite and passionate about it. To me, that passage and the flock of birds represented a new beginning, a love of beauty, a love of the little things in life, as well as a little something about the continuation of life, about migrating and moving. I eventually decided a flock of birds was too American Eagle for me. Somehow I decided to incorporate my mom into the tattoo-- my mom's the lady-- and it became about moving on in life, but forever remaining with love.

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where?

I have a cathedral on the outside of my left arm. It's of a sketch by David Fullarton. That tattoo is about apathy of beauty-- somewhat contradicts the bird/lady tattoo, but I liked that. That contradiction is a bit like life. I also like that it looks like the birds from the bird/lady tattoo are going to fly over the side of the cathedral. (This is the tattoo that forces complete strangers to stop and talk to me.)

On the back of my left arm is an anchor with the word "without" running across a scroll on it, it's of a print work by my dear friend and artist, Cassandra Warren. To me, this tattoo is about not having a home, not calling any one place home. It's also a little bit about heart break. When I saw the print Cassandra had made of the anchor, I knew instantly that I needed it on my skin. It spoke to me. I love it a lot, but I'm always bummed when I realize it's difficult for me to see. I love being able to look at my tattoos whenever I want, and this one is tricky for me. Unfortunately, this is the tattoo I forget I have the most often.

On my shoulder, I have an outline of an elephant in orange. My best-friend from high school and I got matching tattoos. I think it's a cute and fun tattoo. I love that it's all in orange, and that most people don't think it's real or realize I have it. However, about a month after getting this tattoo with my friend, we completely lost contact with each other. Nothing went wrong.. We didn't grow apart or anything. We just separated. I blame the tattoo.

I also have a sailor-esque tattoo on my right thigh that says "read or die." It's my only joke tattoo. I got the idea from a pseudo-tattoo that was being sold in a toy store. When I told my tattoo artist I wanted it, he kept drawing really elaborate hearts and scrolls with really fancy fonts-- all of them beautiful. It took some serious convincing for him to give me a rough, quick-looking tattoo. I figured, since it's a joke, I didn't really want anyone to look at a beautiful tattoo and think I was serious about what it says. Yes, I support reading, but there's no way that if you don't read you'll die. The logic of the tattoo is warped. Plus, it's the opposite of tough, but still tough. 

3) Do you plan on getting more?  

I do want more! Only two or three more, but I need to stew on what I'd get and what it would look like a bit more. I don't want to jump in to anything. I'm pretty set on getting some word or phrase in the Goosebumps font and I'm also pretty set on getting something on my left thigh, but those are all the specifics I have right now.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? 

All of my friends are fine tattoos and have tattoos as well. I live in Austin, Texas. Even our doctors and professors have tattoos. It's no big deal. If I'm in another city-- or worse, another country!-- then I get side-eyed and rude comments about how I'd be prettier without tattoos, but it's always the typical stuff, and it doesn't bother me. I've never had a work problem with my tattoos or anything. I usually try to hide them until it slips beneath a sleeve or something, and then everyone in the office finds out, and I'm told to not hide my tattoos.

My parents, however, are from ol'-timey Mexico. I knew they'd be upset that I had tattoos, so I didn't tell them for two years. I just hid them all the time. (It was easier to do than I thought.) I finally told my mom because I was going to wear a strapless dress at a family wedding and she was going to see it. It broke her heart. She was heavily depressed for at least a month. She thought she failed at raising me. She wouldn't look at me. She said she had no reason left to live since she failed me so badly. There was no talking her out of it. She still winces when she sees any of my tattoos and asks me to cover them up.

I never told my dad I had tattoos. Once my mom knew, I stopped trying to hide them. About a year after I stopped hiding them-- and my mom didn't tell him anything because if I was going to get in trouble, then I deserved it-- my dad asked what I had on the inside of my arm and if it was a bruise. I showed him. He looked at it. Didn't say anything. Frowned. Later, this is when I had half inch plugs, he asked me when I got plugs; I told him I'd had them since I was fourteen. He couldn't believe it. (I was twenty at this point.) He was shocked. Then, he didn't say anything about the plugs, but he said, "I don't like your tattoos." And that was it.

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?
  
Don't get "wall art." Don't steal anyone's tattoo from the internet. That's just wrong. Also, be sure to do your research on several different tattoo artists. Know their work well. Don't let just anyone tattoo you. Also, I know it sucks to wait until you're 18, but wait until you are 18 and get a legal tattoo. If you're younger, you may not know this or realize this, but you are more dumb. You'll probably regret whatever your younger, dumber self chose for a tattoo. (My first tattoo offer was when I was 15. Some friend of friend had made his own tattoo gun. I was going to get a skull with a bow on top right above my pubes. I am forever grateful I didn't go threw with that.)

Tattoo Tuesday V.79

  
Name/blog name: Heather Marie // www.paperdollsmile.com

Age: 26

Occupation: Hairstylist/Make-Up Artist at Lush Salon and Spa in Midtown Sacramento

Age of first tattoo: 18

Favorite tattoo: This is tricky. I have a few that I absolutely love, but I think I'm gonna have to go with my sugar skull. Mainly because it's the most important one to me.
Featured tattoo/location: sugar skull on right forearm

Artist/shop/location of feature tattoo: all of my tattoos (well, except the one on my shoulder) were done by John at Pins and Needles in Tracy, CA

 
1) Tell us about your featured tattoo- is there a background story or special meaning? Why did you choose this particular piece of art?

All of my tattoos are ideas that I sketched. I take that idea and present it to John and he makes it into something bigger and better. It takes me a very long time to come up with an idea. Sometimes a year or more. It usually reflects something that has happened or is happening in my life.

The sugar skull is dedicated to my grandmother who passed away in '93. On the forehead of the skull you'll notice a "V" for Virginia, which was her name. I took Spanish class in high school and learned a lot about Dia De Los Muertos. We constructed a mini altar as a class project, and I of course made one for her. I fell in love with the idea of celebrating the lives of the ones we love, and have lost, in this way that I really wanted to use it as a permanent shrine to her on my skin.

She was taken from us way too soon. For the little amount of time that I knew her she made a big impact on my life, and from what I know of her she was a strong woman who overcame quite a bit in her forty something years of life. I miss her dearly everyday, and wish so much I had the chance to know her on an adult level.

2) Do you have any other tattoos?  If so, what do you have and where? 

I have a pegasus-unicorn-thing on my left shoulder that I don't usually brag about. Which is why there's no photo. It was my first tattoo and my first attempt at dedicating a tattoo to my grandmother. She loved Unicorns. It didn't go over very well. I was living in PA and had a friend do it for me in his studio. I was 18 and anxious and didn't know anything about researching proper artists. It's usually the tattoo everyone likes to point and laugh at because it's pretty My Little Pony-ish. I like to show it off at party's. LOL

The heart with angel wings wrapped around it is located on my right arm. Which I got for my nephew who was born with 'blue baby' disease. Basically the heart valves were not developed properly and the blood wasn't flowing to his heart as it should. His first few months of life were really rough, and I'm thankful that he is a healthy boy now.

The dahlia's are on my upper right arm. My mother and I are both libra's so we got matching tattoos for mother's day one year. She's an inspiration to me, and I love her more than anything.  Surrounding the dahlia's are music notes from a verse by The Dresden Dolls. Their song Good Day made an impression on me when I first heard it. It was the first song I heard by this duo and it's absolutely amazing. It meant a lot more when I broke up with my high school sweetheart after six years. The lyrics are "God, it's been a lovely day. Every things  been going my way. I had so much fun today, and I'm on fire!" I was scared that I wasn't going to be strong enough on my own. That relationship was all I knew for so long. Singing those words out loud one day just made me feel strong, and powerful, like I could overcome anything. Still love that song.

The revolvers with the dead man's hand on my upper left arm. I sketched something out for my step-dad and I to get together. I had to come up with something bad***. I can't have my dad walking around with flowers, ya know? He may have "step" in front of his name, but to me he's my real dad regardless of what a blood test would say.

I have an obsession with skeleton keys. I have one on my left forearm. John, my tattoo artist, added a little demon face to it. If you look carefully you'll see it. I like the touch of dark humor to it, but really the key symbolizes the key to opportunities. Each door needs a key, and you have the power to choose which door {direction} to go in life.

I sketched out the music box with the ballerina on my upper left arm because I had a music box as a kid, and I loved it dearly. Also, because I love the art of dance. It's a beautiful thing.

My newest one is the flowers with the Beatles lyrics from Blackbird on the inner part of my left arm. "Take these broken wings and learn to fly." Obviously, I LOVE music. Music is my life. I live and breathe it. The Beatles are one of my all time favorite bands. I know a lot of people say that because it's so easy, but really, I have absorbed every little bit of information that I possibly could about them. Especially John Lennon. There are no words. They've done so much for music and made such an amazing impact in the short amount of time that they were around. The lyrics to me just remind me that bad things happen, but I just have to pick myself up and continue on.

 

3) Do you plan on getting more?

I absolutely intend to get more tattoos. Again, it's just a matter of coming up with ideas. I honestly need to go back and get them touched up as you can see. I'm really bad at that and John hates it. He keeps telling me to go back in, but I just get so anxious and want to start on a completely different idea rather than going over one that has already healed. I kinda really like that they are more and the rough side. They're still bright and pretty, but they're not so perfect.

4) How do your family and friends feel about your tattoo(s)?  Have you run into any adversity or negativity because of them? Do you have a significant other? Does he/she have tattoos? 

At first, my mother was not all that thrilled about them. They kept getting bigger and bigger and after a while I guess she just figured she needed to learn to love them, 'cause  nothing was gonna stop me. LOL

I don't think I have ever been confronted about them. Some strange looks here and there from the older generation. I actually had an older woman come up to me last week in Safeway and grab my left arm to take a look. She said she loved them, and thought they were beautiful. I was a little weirded out by the way she grabbed me, but just smiled and said 'thank you.' haha

I'm very lucky to have a career that is very open minded. A lot of my co-workers have tattoos. Tattoos in general are very much accepted in the Midtown Sacramento community. My clients love them, and always want to know what they mean, or when I'm getting my next one. As a matter of fact, I have actually had clients tell me that they wanted me to do their hair strictly because I do have tattoos. They feel that it means I am creative and able to think outside the box when it comes to doing their hair. My clients pretty much rock!

My boyfriend has two tattoos. My favorite one is on his upper right arm and it's of Little Red Riding Hood eating the Big Bad Wolf. haha fantastic!

5) Any advice for those interested in getting tattooed but haven't gotten one yet?

Really think about it before you jump into it. I understand that they don't necessarily have to mean anything, but it doesn't hurt. I honestly change my mind about things so often. If it didn't mean anything I would probably end up hating it eventually. Be creative, and try to do something unique. The books and stencils that the shops provide are great, don't get me wrong, but think about the amount of people who have that same exact tattoo. I like knowing that although maybe my idea isn't all that unique, but that very tattoo is, because I sketched or designed it myself. Do something that represents you and who you are, not who people want you to be.