HettyKet

Oh @SeaSea that's just beautiful! Congratulations! (I'm guessing you already know that Zee is Dutch for Sea...)

Have you asked your nan? She may well know something or know someone to ask.

Well, there is a right and a wrong, there are also rules. Sure, rules are made to be broken but doing that without properly understanding the whys and wherefores (or taking advice from someone does) is likely to make one look like a bit of a prat, often. - - - Updated - - - I don't know the rules, the rights, the wrongs, the whys or the wherefores. None of them. So, yeah, I do as I'm told.

I'm another one who prefers lining to shading, I'm afraid. I find it really quite soothing, shading sets my teeth on edge. Lining my stomach was intense but doable, the wee bit of shading there was time for was horrible. Am really not looking forward to the next session. - - - Updated - - - Well, I am looking forward to the next session actually. But, yeah <shudder>

Fanny is another funny one. Arse in the US and female genitalia in the UK... LST has a Pinterest account, as I'm sure you all know. It's rather nice. - - - Updated - - - (erm, sorry, totally off topic there :rolleyes:)

Well, I womaned up and dared to bear my post-natal belly at my appointment yesterday - thank you all for the encouragement! Turns out the skin wasn't a problem at all, a bit of a challenge but doable (just like you said @Pugilist). Only got the lining and a teeny bit of shading done in the time available but TBH that was plenty. Sternum and navel were, urm, fun.

Welcome to LST! Do tell us a bit about yourself:) Do you have many tattoos? There's is a good thread about head tattoos - well worth a read: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/5644-face-head-tattoo.html

This thread is relevant here: http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/5489-our-imperfect-skin-scars-stretch-marks-more.html

Welcome! A skull would indeed be perfect. Or a reaper. - - - Updated - - - Oh yeah, and yes please to photos, we love love photos :)

Welcome! It looks pretty clear to me:) People tend to ask dumb questions, tattoos are an easy target. So, yeah, don't sweat it! - - - Updated - - - @trashpolkakid - it's right up your street - here

Totally agree

Laser it is then, hey! Shall stop looking for that guy in Scunthorpe too ;) What sort of style / subject matter are you fancying?

Welcome! Yeah, I agree, great subject matter. Have you looked into having it reworked? No idea how doable that would be. I thought I knew of a good shop in Scunthorpe but find no evidence on my computer at the moment, will see if I can find a link for you.

Cool thighs hey? There's something I'll drink to :) He's covered a load of old scars for me when he working on my arm, that too is now a damned site cooler than it was! The Plan (ha!) was not to bother him/anyone with the worst skin for quite some time, I hadn't though of lived in skin as a interesting challenge but, yeah, I can see that. Have thought of it as more as asking a big favour. Hmm. Oh, yeah, and while I'm here - Has anyone (older or post weightless, probably) noticed a subtitle but significant improvement in the texture and firmness of skin once it's tattooed? Maybe I'm delusional but I'm sure I have, another reason my toad covered bingo wing is cooler than it's naked sister. But, surely there's not enough ink retained to cause that, maybe something like happens with dermaroller treatment?

Cheers Pugilist :) I'd figured the leaf placements would probably pretty flexible, glad you agree. Maybe that'd help. The ifs and hows of stem crossing right up through the vertical crumpling that makes me dubious about really asking properly. There's a crazy amount of position dependent movement going on but at least it's symmetrical. Oh, the joys of motherhood. But, yes, don't think I can mange to kick the idea so I shall just have swallow my pride, ask and show. That makes me really rather nervous. 49531 - thankfully I know he's confident (and more than competent) with knackered skin, so that's not a worry. Had wondered if it was daft idea for placement, centralized like that, good to hear it makes sense to someone else too!

Welcome!

Thanks. I really love it! Will definitely be colour, is what he fancies too.

Was wondering, on the off chance, if anyone had had their stomach tattooed after having children (or, indeed, has tattooed post-pregnancy skin)? The stretch marks I had are all faded out but the skin is still somewhat fucked, particularly jsut above the navel. It's nasty if I'm very slim and toned, so I choose not to be and stick at about a US size 8-10. At this weight the visible 'damage' is moderate, probably mid to lower on the scale of pregnancy driven destruction. Youngest kid is 5. What I'm a little concerned about is if the skin damage is going to be massively limiting to what I can have put on there or not. I've been lucky enough to grab this drawing my tattooist made and am booked in for the end of November. I really, really fancy it from mid-lower stomach straight up to the sternum - would presumably need the navel filling, which is fine (because I've no idea what I'd be letting myself in for). So, with the hope of putting myself off, I did a rough scribble of the general shapes of the thing on my stomach but it's just made The Need worse. I know I should just ask my tattooist but I'll not see him before the appointment and anyway, I'd rather not embarrass either of us by exposing my post-pregnancy self without a good chance it'd be workable for the piece in hand. Anyone got an opinion on if should I just give up the idea and have put on my thigh or arm?

It looks normal. What aftercare instructions were you given? It's best to follow them to the letter.

These newish photos from Cripwell's instagram of The Chap With The Legs need to be here, I think. <swoon>

Thanks @graybones I can't take credit for that, just let my tattooer do his thing.

Shame on the internet, embarrassment in the shop and tattoos that feel better than I deserve. Sounds like a good deal to me. Next session is the first time I know what I'm getting before I get there - have been lucky enough to snaffle a drawing he'd made and wanted to tattoo - and I'm finding that really rather odd. Distracts from the waiting though.

I'd say so, it's a pretty primal instinct.

This: Tattoo silhouette and negative space is a great thread, just in case you missed it.

Thank you @hogg :o