During the next year I got four more tattoos, for a total of five by the time I turned 19. Three of those tattoos I still have, two have been covered up. The work wasn't bad, I just wasn't attached to the picture I got and they were both a bit spur of the moment. Bad idea. Oh well. They are fixed now.
Here's the current inventory:
My first tattoo when I was 17.
Chinese - Zhū 朱 Lì 莉
Pronunciation sounds like: Julie
Zhū - Vermilion; Cinnabar {shades of red}
Lì - White Jasmine
Yes, I looked up what my tattoo means.
Can't have any weird tattoos that I think are one thing and mean another.
My 4th and 6th tattoos
The Lotus Blossom is a cover up of my 4th tattoo
The 4th was a pretty little swirly design.
I'm not a religious person. I live by the Golden Rule.
Treat Others How You Wish to be Treated.
Easy enough.
The only religion I find myself being able identify with is Buddhism.
While I am not a Buddhist, the lotus holds symbolism for me and is lovely.
Oh how I adore my back now.
Top: 3rd and 7th tattoos
3rd tattoo: a kanji I got that was done to look like it was painted on
I always got lots of comments asking if it was marker. I have an hour of pain that says it's not.
7th tattoo: Celtic Tree of Life
Cover up of the kanji. I am of French, English and Celtic (Scottish) decent.
I loved this design and wanted to start displaying my heritage on my body.
Bottom: 2nd tattoo
I bought myself this tattoo for my 18th birthday.
My first official act as an adult.
I thought it was really cool and intricate at the time.
I know it's a "tramp stamp", but at least it's not solid black tribal or a butterfly.
Outlining: 8th tattoo
This is by far my favorite tattoo.
I waited years and years to get my back done. I wanted a mural/large piece.
I went to see Mike's tattoo guy, Dave.
I had know Dave for years.
He does all the tattoo work on my friend Shaun who I've known since high school.
Dave and I talked about how we could integrate my existing work into the new tattoo.
The day of my tattoo I showed up and he had drawn up something completely different, but I love it. Just look at the knot work. I'm still in love with it 4 years later.
You're probably saying, "Hey, where's #5?" It's on my hip. But since having kids that tattoo is worn and has stretch marks running through it. We'll skip the picture for now. I want to get #5 touched up/re-worked if possible. A dear friend of my drew the design for me and it reminds me of him everyday.
I've acquired these tattoos over the past 10 years, there is a tattoo I would undo if I could. The work is great. The lines are clean and it has held it's color well. I just don't love it anymore. And come to find out, 6 years later, it's an armband. I'm a little frustrated the tattoo artist didn't tell me what the design was at the time, especially since I picked it off the wall...rookie mistake (I was only 18, come on). But it's done.
In the future I'm hoping Dave can work some magic and find a way to cover it up without just putting a big black box over it. Or maybe he can integrate it into the design some how. We'll see.
The outlining is a work in progress. I got it done the summer before getting pregnant with Thing 1. Since then, I've been preggo, breast feeding or without tattoo funds. Soon, hopefully very soon, I will get the sides finished and shading done. That's a whole other discussion with Dave. :)
Who Does my Tattoos?
Hotrod Tattoo - Matt Mooneyham
Matt does all my dad & step-mom's tattoos too
Tattooin-AZ - Dave Urbbanowicz
Dave does Mike's tattoos too
Some of my family's tattoos:
Joyce - Mom #2
Dad
All the grandkids' names in birth order
He has more, but these are the only pictures I have
Mike
Hot! Mike has 2 half sleeves and his chest done.
Mike's chest tattoo makes me jealous. It's been to long since I've had any work done.
Thing 1
Ok. It's not a tattoo, but marker mustaches on kids are cute.
Lia's Guy Fawkes look is my favorite.
If you're a parent and your kids are thinking about getting a tattoo (or you think they might want one at some point in their life) there a few tips I hope will help make sure they get a good tattoo. Or anyone for that matter.
1) Pick out their design and talk with an experienced tattoo artist to find out if that design will work and hold it's shape/color over a lifetime.
2) Wait. 6 months, a year, however long. They should really want that design and the time spent waiting will make them think about the tattoo and picture in depth. Don't get something trendy. Trends come and go, that's another reason why it's good to wait.
3) Find a good tattoo artist. Word of mouth is a great way to find someone who does good work, ask around. Another way is to stop someone on the street or where ever who has a nice tattoo, bright colors/vivid black and white and ask who does their work. Most people who get tattoos don't mind that kind of question. They like sending an artist they trust more clientele.
4) Collaborate. If you find a good artist bring them your design, let them incorporate their own style into it so that they do the best work they possibly can. But don't be afraid to speak up if there are things your don't like about the tattoo. It's permanent!
My mom did not want me getting tattoos, let alone piercings...all of which are gone now. But I was an adult and she couldn't really do much about it. Luckily, I didn't get anything crass or too over the top. I waited to go big until I was 24. She's come to terms with my ink, but I know deep down she'd rather I didn't have the tattoos. I don't rub them in her face, and she doesn't give me a hard time. Fair enough. A good tattoo will go a long way to help get your parents on board with what you are going to do/did to your body.
Do you have tattoos? I'd love to hear about your tattoo and why you got it and see pictures.
Comment below or send me an email:
whitelightsonwednesday{at}yahoo{dot}com
Awesome tats! I have 5, and I'm itching to get more. I love the Celtic work :)
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