This is the inside of my left forearm and what you see here is my "galaxy" with all of my children's stars in it, including the 3 children that I lost. Each star is my child's birthstone color and the size goes by oldest child to youngest. Then at my wrist it says "Jon" for my husband.
This is the inside of my right forearm and the large breast cancer ribbon is in memory of my mom who lost her battle with breast, bone and brain cancer in 97. The butterfly represents one of my babies (a girl named Faith) who I lost in 99. The heart represents all of my loved ones who have passed away. Then on my wrist it has my name, "Mimi".
This is my full right arm, from top there is a crying rose with 3 teardrops coming off it with Jon's name above it. Then I have a butterfly on a thorny vine with rose buds which represents my overcoming childhood abuse ("Through the love and the pain, I can still spread my wings"), below that is one dove with his wing around his mate that represents someone that I love who passed away 22 years ago, then there is another dove that matches the one on my other arm, and then the word "Fe" which means "Faith" in Spanish. Love and Faith are very important to me.
This is the back of my neck, I have my 3 children's names who all have passed away and "Mi Amor" under it, meaning they are still my loves even though they are no longer with me.
I didn't include the tattoos on my calves or my breast because I think this gives you an idea of my thought on tattoos. I started getting tattoos 10 years ago and now have 24. I have plans right now for 2 more, but I am running out of room to place them, so I'm taking my time with the decision process.
So, yes, I have run into people who ask me if I'm sick of my tattoos yet, which of course I am not. I've also been judged by people because I have tattoos. One woman told me that she didn't want to talk to me because I have tattoos! Can you believe it? Judged before I could say one word! Well, I know society has it's own idea on tattoos and I'm not here to change anyone's mind - I just wanted to bring up the idea that tattoos to me are a form of self expression and artwork, most of my pieces are individual, as I designed them myself. (except the cherub and the breast cancer ribbon)
What do you think about tattoos? Fad? Self Expression? or Artwork?
Until next time....
I love your self-expression. The magazine Yoga Journal has been running a series of yogis' ink lately. So much of it is just stunning! (happy blogathoning! jenni from www.mamahhh.com)
ReplyDeleteThank you! I love tattoos, but I really go for the original ones, ones that people create just for themselves. For me, I don't want a tattoo that 100 other people have, so I create my own and that way I'm totally unique! :-) I'll have to see if Yoga Journal has a website and snoop for the pictures.
DeleteWow, you've had a time of it. I hadn't thought of tattoos in quite that way before, but I can see why they're important to you!
ReplyDeleteI've been flirting with the notion of getting one for a few years now... Have it designed too (in my head, I lost the paper copy somewhere), and the place I want it picked out but I haven't quite gotten around to it yet. Probably because I associate it with pain, and I'm not at all certain I'll want it forever yet.
Though, after a few years, it's a safe bet I will. :)
Yep, tattoos are addictive, you'll hear most people with tattoos say that, and I totally agree! My tattoos first started with my cherub to honor my stillborn son Noah. I needed something tangible to tie to him. I haven't regretted any of my tattoos because they all have such deep meaning for me. As for the pain, it all depends on where you place the tattoo whether it will be painful or not. My arms and back of my neck were a piece of cake, but my calves and my breast tattoos all killed me. I have very sensitive calves. Every time I get one on my calf, I nearly pass out - each and every time. :-)
DeleteWell I was thinking on my right shoulder blade actually, towards the top but still pretty central to the bone.
DeleteIn theory it shouldn't hurt that much but we'll see! I think it varies a little per person too (individual pain thresholds being what they are).
Do you know if there's a best time to get them done? =)
You're very right, that it varies with each person. A lot of people say the calves don't hurt, but I nearly pass out with each calf tattoo I get. Also, my "boobie" tattoo hurt a little, the closer they got to my breast bone, but the fatty part didn't hurt at all. There honestly isn't a "best time" to get them done, but I always like to be the first appointment of the day because the artist is fresher and more on the ball. But that's my personal preference. Also, make sure you look at the various tattoos your artist has done in the past, and ask around to others who have used him/her how they like their tattoos and if they turned out the way they wanted. ~Mimi~
DeleteI have one and it is on my lower back and is from a very different time in my life, so I literally forget I have it until I bend over to do something and somebody says, "Oh, you have a kitty there!" It was from a time when my cat was my "baby" (I had no children and no plans to have children) and she passed away. So the graphic looks like her and it has her name and date of death and a pawprint. I do not regret it at all and don't really plan to get any more, but who knows? I would not be against getting one if I wanted to do it again. Also, I have to say that I cannot believe you actually had someone say they would not talk to you because of the fact that you have tattoos! That's narrow in the narrowest and most critical sense.
ReplyDeleteI can relate to the kitty tattoo, my kitty (we have 3 but 2 belong to my daughters) Mr. Butts is 9yrs old so I'm sure I will get some type of tattoo when he passes away. My cat from childhood passed away, so when we were looking for another cat for my 15yr old daughter we found one that looks exactly like my kitty from childhood. We named her CJ (Cinderella Junior, my kitty was Cinderella). Yes, I had this older lady (her hubby and my hubby were in the same veterans club) tell me that she would not speak to me strictly because I had tattoos and that meant that I had no morals. My hubby and hers remained friends, but she and I never spoke, but she did go around to other wives and talk behind my back. I'm not here to judge, so I just let it slide. I'm better than her so I'm not going to step down to her level.
DeleteAlthough I am "inkless", I support anyone's self expression artistically. My sister is a tattoo artist in MA, and she custom creates work all the time. :)
ReplyDeleteDo you think if I paid her, she could draw something up for me to honor my dad? I haven't found the perfect piece yet and I don't know where I want to put it either, it can either go on my other boobie or I hate to say it, but on my right calf, under my sacred heart. I can't go to MA to have her do it, but if she would draw it up and I would pay her for her time and talent, maybe I could have my artist here do that actual tattoo.
DeleteI could definitely ask her about it... :)
ReplyDeleteLately she's taken up traveling and will be headed to her third trip to Japan in 2 years, so I don't know her schedules or flexibility? Either way, I'll definitely ask her and keep you posted! :)
Thanks sweetie, I'd appreciate it! I haven't done much in the planning process lately - too much going on right now. :-)
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