LizBee

This is interesting to me because I had my childrens' names in script around my ankle (the three names fit perfectly) but that was about 13 years ago and it looks really boring now. A straight script font without any artistic elements at all, like it was printed out using a word processing program. I have a consultation next week and want to see what I can do to embellish the script, add to it, enhance it in some way. One of my girls was extremely horse-crazy for the first 12 years of her life, and now, at 14, she could care less about them, so I'm glad I didn't use symbols for my kid tattoos - there's way more to her than her prior love of horses. The symbolism could be something that means something to you, yourself as the parent and how you feel about being a parent. I have a real connection to bees, throughout my life in several different ways, and I have a bee tattoo already - am thinking about getting three smaller bees surrounding the larger bee to symbolize me (Queen Bee) and my three girls.

I definitely agree that it is sort of "wishful thinking" or reverse psychology. My parents used this on me, and now, at 49, I think my mother realizes that I am who I am and it was never a phase, lol. Parents have an idea of what their kids are going to be like, or turn out like, and when kids don't fit that image they tell themselves it is just temporary, and they'll get themselves together. I have kids, ages 22 and 14, and I am, instead, working very hard NOT to do that, and to just enjoy them as they develop, letting them be what they want to be. It isn't easy, though, even having suffered from it by my own parents!

I am having the same thing, but I also thought it was just me! My ankle took way longer to heal than other tattoos (it is the biggest one, also) and even though it has been a couple of months I still treat it like it is still scabbed and healing, and avoid pulling socks up over it or wearing snug boots. I also forget about it sometimes and now that the weather is warming up I'll glance down and see it, be startled for a millisecond, and then go, "oh yeah! Cool!"

I'm interested in this type of thing because as a woman in my 40s my skin is not like it used to be, and it seems that most all of the pictures you see online when researching tattoo images show mostly very young people with smooth, clear skin. I sometimes forget about my age when I'm looking through tattoos and thinking about what I want for my next one, and really have to picture how it will look on MY body, warts an all, lol. Just because I have slightly looser skin, with more freckles and sun spots than before, doesn't mean I shouldn't get tattooed, right?

I have a related question to Bmore's : I have a mild case of Keratosis Pilaris, which is a pretty common issue on the upper arms, in particular, with tiny bumps and red dots. I'm planning a shoulder piece and will stick to the upper part of my upper arm (deltoid) and avoid getting down around the triceps area where it is a bit more problematic, but I'm still curious about others who have this. Anyone have experience getting tattooed over skin with this condition or tattooing anyone with it?

I have a 22-year-old and 14-year-old twins. They never paid a bit of attention to my tattoos until recently when I had coverup work done, changing things in a noticeable way. My 22-year-old has done stick-and-pokes on herself, but very, very tiny ones, so far only on her big toe and ankle. I got her to do one on me, a bee on my knee, because I'm a medical person and I wanted to be sure she was using proper technique, especially if she decides to do them on others. I gave her disinfecting wipes, gloves, and drapes and stuff, and she did a great job on me, with good India ink. I'd rather have a machine than a stick-and-poke, though. I can zen out with the buzzing but the poking is really irritating and hard to get into a rhythm with, since it is slow. One of the twins came to me with a design on her hand written with Sharpie, and she told me that she was figuring out what kind of tattoo she wants. I told her she wasn't getting anything until 18, and even then to consider things very, very carefully, especially placement as it relates to her job plans. She's thinking about law enforcement and a hand tattoo is not going to fly! I don't object to the idea of 18-year-olds getting tattoos that they may someday regret, because tattoos are a reflection of your life's journey, to me, and they may require revamping or covering up at some point, but that doesn't have to be a big deal. As long as they're in a spot that can be hidden, when necessary, then there's no real issue. I didn't start getting tattooed until I was in my early 30s, but even when you're more mature you can make dumb tattoo decisions. I don't have any regrets about my own, but I have a friend in her 50s who got a completely awful one that she wishes she hadn't.

Hi, Jae, fellow Virginian, I take it? What are some of your ideas?

Hello, all. I've been studying threads and doing research for a year or so, and finally decided to go ahead and join as I come closer to making my next tattoo a reality. I've got my children's names tattooed around one ankle (needs freshening up after 14 years) and recently had some 15-year-old Kanji around my other ankle covered up with a fancy goldfish/koi hybrid. The Kanji had gotten blurry and blotchy and I was just not feeling it anymore, and though I'm pleased with the new tattoo I learned quite a bit in the process. What I like, what I don't, and how the end product might look different than the stencil after background and color is filled in. I'm designing a shoulder cap piece now, and have a folk art botanical concept in mind now (like German or Dutch folk art flowers), and will be working with Katie Davis at Salvation Tattoo here in Richmond. I love her clean outlining and use of color as well as negative space for contrast, with a traditional feel. This lends itself very well to what I have in mind, and I'm excited about proceeding this summer. There are some truly excellent tattoo artists in Richmond, so I feel fortunate to have a selection right here in my home town. Anyone with an internet connection can do their research and think they know about tattooing, but the more I learn, the less I realize I know about it. It is a fascinating art form and as a fan of counter-culture (I'm a punk from the 80s - semi-retired from the scene, lol) I'm excited to contemplate my tattoo journey. I don't see myself stopping anytime soon, now that my kids are older and I can concentrate more on what I want for myself. BTW, I am a complete and total freshwater aquarium geek, in the hobby in a major way for 30 years, and have an aquarium forum currently. I have also moderated and admin'd on various aquarium forums since the 90s, and running forums ain't easy. I have to say this forum is extremely well run and nonsense is not tolerated. Kudos to LST for maintaining high standards and providing such a wonderful resource for us! [/img]