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FINALLY, I can strike a name from The List. Mark Mahoney did this rose when he came to Jersey. Yes, shitty cell phone pic. You know what's up.

Twofer done by Matt "Craven" Evans (of Crooked Claw Tattoo) - guesting at Frontier Tattoo, Cardiff.

I'm getting a jaguar today.A big one.I make jewelry so he's going to be wearing bracelets and a necklace I made.

Just got back from Hong Kong - here's a tattoo photo op with the Bruce Lee statue hehe en joy the awesomeness

this smells like

So what is the best way to heal? I've been doing foam reveals for the last 5 years and it seems that my tattz heal within 24 hours. Suggestions?

Kraken!

Well, I don't have that many tattoos. Seven visits (4 join as a half sleeve, I guess.) Honestly, I know there was pain, but I don't really remember it. I DO remember the pain from my bike wreck, though!

The tattoo that I was hoping for in like 99% not going to happen, so I'm bummed about that since I worked on getting it booked for 10 months. BUT the cool thing is that I won an award at work (yea!) and had some extra cash that was going towards the tattoo. Anyway, I saw this cool thing that was being auctioned off for one of the charities that I support. I bid. I won. HENRY ROLLINS is recording my voicemail. I am more than a little excited. *drops mic*

does it get better than this! great tattoo tough spot

Hi there, I think what Marley means is that this forum isn't one where people seek advice on the making tattoos side of things. It's a collector's forum. I'll give you my quick word of advice, it's not a bit of internet validation that will get you into anything. Show your images to the tattooers who are surrounding you, maybe they will help you, maybe not.

A big terrible liar!!! Or some kind of mutant.

I remember all the pain, I'm not stoked about the memories. I still get tattoos by artists I like regardless of how hard it is to sit through it, I just maybe got a little rant-y about it. I completely trust you when you say Chad still heals well and is worth the cost of admission, I just got a little defensive about the subject I guess. I can agree I put more emphasis on the outcome and bond after the tattoo. At least everyone here is honest about tattoos hurting, anyone that says otherwise is a liar.

As part of my final year with my employer, I am to let the other instructor take over all teaching duties unless he asks for help. Problem is, I'm just not happy with the way he does it. He doesn't know the basic theory of the machine, teaches very inaccurate information, and is quite rude to the student in taking phone calls in the middle of lectures. He has been going through a divorce this past year, and is becoming a major drama queen, talking loud on the phone with his lawyers and others, all within earshot of the students. Now, these student's employers are paying between $550 and $1800 a day for the classes. Stresses me so much that I just have to go walk around the factory to not hear it. (My cube and his adjoin and are in a corner of the classroom.) This looks to be a looong, shitty year. Manager wants someone to go to Moscow for a while. Maybe I'll check into that.

Though I do like the concept of having earned my tattoos, I feel that way about all of my collection. Some tattooers seem to work in a way that is more painful than others, but it all hurts anyway. So my thinking on it is get tattooed by people who's work you can't live without. With proper after-care and a bit of luck all the work of the pro tattooers we so often discuss here heals well. They may apply it a bit differently from one another, but in the end it's all about the healed image. They know that too and work to make it happen. So if two tattooers inspire you equaly and one is known for their soft touch go for it! Otherwise I figure the process is less important than the final outcome.

My first tattoo was a trail of seven butterflies going from the front of my right hip up and around my side. I was 19 and at the time the first two sat in my undies line and the last one closer toward my back. 4 kids and 12 years on, they sit very differently ? poor things have been through a fair bit! In the past I wanted to either rework them or add to them, but now I'm too sentimental and like them all stretched and sad looking ?

Been busy with work and lots of family stuff going on (sister) so haven't done anything since May. Next in line it's a toss up between my Deer head in a rose being stabbed by arrows (hunting arrows not whispy piss ant hipster arrows) or a ship being taken down by the kraken. Thinking deer first cos I'm trying to convince Dad to get a tattoo too ? . Both ideas are reserved for right arm somewhere, depending where Michael thinks they would suit best.

got a chest tattoo from chad - it didnt hurt more than any other tattoo i have gotten except my ribs - ooh the ribs

No one ever must get any tattoo, well at least outside of Russian prisons. So if you are going to get someone's name make it bold as hell because you love you mom or kid that much!!! Or delicate and beautiful, just saying don't get a name thinking you may want to cover it one day, that's just dumb.

Some more on my flowery critters sleeve. This was taken before the addition of a big bumble bee right on the side of my elbow below the Freddie the frog. The bee is taking some healing but should be good for a photo session next time. Going to finish up round the top at the next siting and do some more filling in elsewhere. Some butterflies coming soon too. I can't believe how much I love it. Can't stop looking in the mirror :)

Inquiry sent to Todd Noble for a little fun tattoo while hubby and I are in Boston for the Bosstones shows in December. Bosstones and tattoos, yes please!

Hey there, the beauty of traditional tattoos is that you can put anything next to anything else. That rose looks awesome, get something like that for sure! As for your existing tattoos, don't sweat them. The lettering is nice, and it's on you, so just enjoy it and add to you collection.

@marley mission "tattastrophes" that's a good one lol

I think there is a middle ground - i dont know if I come off snarky or sarcastic or what sometimes - i just try to be honest - sometimes honesty isnt what people want - there are def those threads where the OP is fishing for the validation of their idea - no matter how ridiculous - I would rather LST be but a ghost town then become a place where folks are high fiving over upside down blown out tattastrophes - just so they dont hurt each others feelings i'm rambling - but anyway - i hope the good folks here keep coming back and talking tattoos and posting their tattoos - we've had some good new members too

@Lance, @TrixieFaux & I caught the opening of the Tatau exhibit at the Japanese American National Museum in L.A.'s Little Tokyo last weekend that Taki from State of Grace put together. Saw some live tattooing which was very cool. Takes three people – one to tap, tap, tap and two to stretch the skin. Beautiful traditional Polynesian style tattooing that flows with the body. Definitely not your '90s tribal. Highly recommended. Here's a pic of Chris Nunez introducing the tattoo models.

But they all look cool, which is what's most important to me. But lemme back up.... A few months ago, [MENTION=2896]CultExciter[/MENTION] and [MENTION=50598]cmmercer13[/MENTION] were visiting SF from Virginia. [MENTION=3461]keepcalm[/MENTION] was out here at the same time, so [MENTION=3422]CABS[/MENTION] and [MENTION=5385]cltattooing[/MENTION] and I decided we should all meet up for tacos. The tacos were delicious, and the company was even better. [MENTION=5385]cltattooing[/MENTION] brought along her friend Rob Mopar, a visiting tattooer from Australia. Over dinner, Rob and I got to talking about his young son and my daughter and their burgeoning love of tattoos. I said that when my daughter was 3, she told me all the tattoos she wants when she grows up: a gray skeleton with white toenails, a donkey, a turkey, a birthday cake on her knee, and "a red dragon, but kinda silly, holding a lollipop." Carolyn laughed and said, "When's your daughter's birthday?" I told her she was turning 5 the following Wednesday. She asked me to text her the list of tattoo ideas because she wanted to paint a flash sheet for my daughter. Three days later, I got this: I was (and remain) blown away. Look at it! How perfect is that thing? And just so kind and sweet and thoughtful. My daughter? She loved it, right down to the stars and dots and "hanker" as filler. I knew when I saw it that I had to have that dragon. My wise wife said, "You better ask our daughter for permission. After all, these were her tattoo ideas." When she's right, she's right. (Editor's note: she's usually right.) So I asked, and my daughter assented. Today, I'm happy to say that I'm the proud owner of this goofy little guy: She nailed it, and I wouldn't have had anyone else do it. As a bonus, one of my closest friends also got tattooed at FTW today (his first! a beauty from Michael Bennett), so we went together. All in all, a great experience. Thanks again, Carolyn! This "meaningful tattoo" stuff is kinda cool (now and then :cool:). LST Forever, Ross

You could have it be a black and white pair of koi. Or any other animal