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I don't get to go to Pagoda this year but I did have a little thing done yesterday. Great thing about working with the same person over a period of time. I brought a co worker to her for her first tattoo a few weeks ago and we were talking and she came up with the idea of a vintage suitcase (perfect for me). Didn't really know what to expect and this is what she came up with. She remembered my three most common travel destinations. How can you not be grateful for people like that. Drawing and tattoo by Ashley Matthias, Bulletproof Tiger Tattoo, Manchester, NH

Andrew Stortz has a new podcast, BOOKS CLOSED, about the Internet and how it has changed tattooing. It's an interview series that has, so far, featured Chad Koeplinger, Jason Scott, Todd Noble and Chris O'Donnell. Pretty damn interesting.

welcome to LST! as you seem to already know in your intro, you probably won't get much support from many folks on your new "hobby." that's a dangerous word that you may not want to use around folks whose passion and life is tattooing. that said, many of the great tattooers today started in their kitchens... but those same tattooers would also tell you that the proper way to learn is to get an apprenticeship. obviously, things are much different in this day and age and equipment is much more easily attainable. i remember back in the day with the Lucky Supply website had a link to "Tattoo Starter Kits" that would lead to a clown college website. hahahahhahahhaa. basically, what i'm saying is that no one can stop you from doing what you're gonna do, but it's up to you to make the right decisions along the way. so anyways... what's up with some pics of your tattoos and art?

Don't do anything for at least eight months to a year. That way, it should all settle in and look similar. It will mellow...they always do! Do.not.laser. It's expensive, uber painful and most likely won't get you the desired results. Why risk messing it up when in time it will settle in and look even more beautiful?

@Boiled Dove I love your new tattoo! That is a super fun one. For my shin, I was actively managing the swelling. I took it really easy, kept it elevated as much as possible for a few days. It swelled up more after I traveled home which was after the second sitting. My shin didn't swell as much as I thought it would, though. The worst swelling to date was on the back of my left knee, in the ditch. THAT was swollen!

Love it! Always fun getting small one-shots, they almost make you believe tattoos don't hurt.

I had been wanting this tattoo from Laurent for two years! It was a total fluke that it came to fruition on my trip. While Theo was working on my mermaid, I told Laurent that I really wanted a kewpie in a horseshoe from him some day. He was like "how does Thursday work for you?". Hahaha...booked and done! @Oiocha

Bummer @Boiled Dove! I was looking forward to seeing you and having some real coffee.

Another souvenir from my trip to Spider Murphys last month by Laurent Trelaun.

Jesus Christ, you are goin for it, @Bearcat78. I love how many of use are getting tattooed by Scott.

When Kiku did my skull beads, I was trying hard to not move because I was giggling so much. He said that he was "making my flames special for the ladies". I was dying.

I saw a certain someone's new tattoo on the gram today on a certain artist's page. @Gingerninja Can't wait to see it settled in but wanted to be the first to say your California trip was otherworldly in terms of amazement from an outside view.

Okay, another session with Takashi! So happy to see some color coming in on the oni.

The Dobleman enhancement. ❤️

Bit raw at the moment - done yesterday along with a couple of praying hands and banners to fill in the rest of the back (can't take a pic of that bit 🙂 ). Nearly there - probably one more session for completion -

Here is what we got done this weekend. Here is what we had before.

I wanted to share this sad but informative long-form piece from Jezebel called "The Tattoo Industry Is Having Its Own Wrenching, Revelatory 'Me Too' Moment." Personally, I (a woman) have been tattooed by three different men, and all of them were nothing but professional. I cannot imagine the horror and helplessness I would feel if a tattooer decided to sexually assault me while I was being tattooed! Talk about a vulnerable position! On the other side of the coin, it is disgusting to think that some female tattooers have had to put up with sexually suggestive comments/actions/pictures/etc. from clients while attempting to provide them with professional service. I hope no one here has a story like that. It is mentioned in the article as "an old cliché," but I think one of the more dangerous and harmful myths out there about women with tattoos is that we are "sexually available, and that [our] tattoos are there for men's pleasure." I am ready for that twisted belief to die a cold, hard death. Forever.