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Can't make this shit up. Two recent conversations from the bar. Number One! Me: What're you up to tonight? Girl: Well I supposed to get tattooed but my tattoo artists rejected me! Me: What?! What happened? Girl: (Pulls out a piece of paper with a crazy long math/physics equation and begins to unfold to show me.) Well, I was supposed to get this on my finger, but-- Me: (Bursts out laughing) Yeah, that ain't going on your finger... Girl: He laughed at me, too! Me: Yeah. Sorry to laugh, it's just so long you won't be able to get it that small and still see what it is. What about on your arm, or wrapping around your wrist? Girl: Yeah, that's what he suggested, too. Especially because it's my only tattoo or whatever. But I'm a programmer and I want to look at it while I'm working at the keyboard. He also suggested that I shouldn't get it in white. Me: White.. ink? Girl: Yeah. Because it's for me. And I don't want anyone else to just be able to see it like that. Me: Sounds like maybe you should think about it some more.. After that initial talk we had a pretty cool conversation about the equation and the dual reality somethingorother it pertains to. She was a super smart person in that realm for sure. I left her with the suggestion of getting a cat in a box as a much cooler design (part of this theory about a cat being in a box with the lid closed and there being two realities..) but she was pretty set on the equation. Number Two! The set up here.. it was late, this chick was at the bar for a while so obviously a little drunk. Girl: Hey, you get your tattoos here? Me: Yeah, mostly, at this point kind of all over. Girl: Where should I go? Me: Hard to go wrong in this neighborhood, Three kings, Eight of Swords, Adorned, Saved... Girl: Are they open? Me: When...? Girl: Now. Me: It's almost two in the morning -- no shops are open right now. Girl: Really? None?? Me: You could go into the city and check out West 4th St. but I really encourage you to not do that. Girl: So.. there are no tattoo shops open in Brooklyn right now is what you're telling me. Me: That's what I'm telling you. Girl: (Takes her drinks that I made her and begins to walk away.) Fuck this borough. And I thought that would be the end of it! She came back and wanted to talk some more. Girl: So, it says XXSHOPXX is right off of XXSTREETXX -- is that close by? Me: It's not far but I'm telling you it's not open. Why don't you just wait? Girl: YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND. My friend over there is only in town tonight and we won't be in the same city again for like maybe a couple years. Me: Well that might work better, you can both get great tattoos in your respective cities and they'll probably be way better than trying to get it in at like 2 AM. You could get something awesome! Girl: Nope, you don't get what I'm saying. Me: (Past the point of patience and I can't walk away because I'm making them another round of drinks.) It sounds like you probably shouldn't get tattooed. It sounds like a bad idea is what I think you're saying. Girl: Well aren't they all? Me: I'm sorry..? Girl: All of this (pointing to my arms) -- you can't tell me any of this is actually a good idea. Me: Did you really just say that? Girl: Well, I mean, come on.. when you're 90. They're going to look like shit. Me: No, they're going to look awesome and I'm going to be an awesome 90 yr old with tattoos that I didn't get at fucking two in the morning. This is going to be your last round, I'll have the server bring your check over and you can still make it over to West 4th, the cab ride shouldn't be much more than $20! Girl: Whatever. Me: Have a good night! Good luck! Hope I'm not sounding like too much of an asshole.. My bar persona is always ten thousand times nicer than my real life demeanor but this second girl really pushed it. I'll put up with a lot of idiots and I know how to handle plenty of bullshit but when you outright insult me in my own bar..? You're done. I hope she went and got tattooed.. everyone gets the tattoo they deserve!

Banned :cool:

Allow me to reintroduce myself.... I have always strived for balance in my tattoos. In fact, it's bothering me right now that I have both sides of my right knee open. Then again, as I start to run low on real estate, I notice every single blank spot. And I'm with Diehardonvhs: you get one back, your biggest uninterrupted canvas. If you want a ton of coverage, you'd be a fool not to give serious thought and planning to placement.

My grandmother and I were chatting yesterday. She's 90 years old and is one of the most important people in the world to me. Well, we were talking about life, work, and how my apprenticeship is going. She looks at me and asks "Would you tattoo me? Right here, a big butterfly, and you can use this mole as the head of the butterfly." I'm still grinning over that.

Pharaoh's horses on my thigh!

Okay @SStu I bet you wouldn't get something from that Born Weird book. I DARE you to. Did I do that right, guys?

TrixieFaux's recent thread (http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/forum/general-tattoo-discussion/4411-plainskins-say-darndest-things.html) made me wanna bump this one. A coworker of mine keeps referring to my tattoos as "mobile art." I finally asked her (politely) to stop saying that. She apparently has one tattoo. (I assume it is also mobile?). She said it took about 10 minutes and she complained the entire time. Can we discuss work, instead?

I've got an appointment with Paul Dobleman in September, planning on getting a girls head on my thigh. Depending on finances I really want to get back to Frith Street Street to get my other calf started,it's looking a bit bare next to its tattooed partner :-)

I don't have a problem with tattoos meaning things, I just hate the way how most people who want "meaningful" tattoos can only think of meaning in the most heavy-handed and literal way. For example, I have a swallow that I got on my birthday a couple of years ago because I was feeling pretty bummed because it was my birthday and I was feeling sorry for myself about aging or whatever. My wife got the same flash from a different artist a couple of weeks later around her birthday. When I think about that tattoo I remember having a super fun time getting it, I remember how my wife got hers done on a miserable snowy day and how we went out for poutine afterwards, etc., and the same goes for all my tattoos (albeit I don't have a lot of tattoos and I haven't been getting them for so long so maybe the details and memories of getting those tattoos is going to become less distinct over time). So those tattoos have a huge amount of meaning and significance for us, exactly none of which has to do with swallows.

Got this Panther head by Fergus Simms a couple of days ago and had the Flaming torch by Johan Ingemar done about a month ago , I also took these photos of my current progress ,still got a while to go

Ah what, the hell, I'll give this a try this month. This was done by Thomas Hooper in five sessions between October 2012 and June 2013, mostly at Saved but with one session at the Rochester Convention:

@gougetheeyes PRECIOUS!! Thanks for sharing those man. I thought you handled them both very politely. I on the other hand just got torn a new asshole by a good friend for telling his new girlfriend exactly what I thought of her "tribal cat with tiny footprints" tattoo idea. I'm usually very polite and careful not to offend in situasions like that, but I was way too drunk to sugercoat it at the time it was brought it up.

This monster of a kirin is a oneshot from Marius Meyer.

My opinion, avoid this. It looks similar to Tatt2Away® by Rejuvatek Medical, Inc. (Official Site) | Tatt2Away® Natural Non Laser Tattoo Removal System, which I also don't trust. Here's the thing. Who out there thinks it makes sense to open up a tattoo (create an open wound) via tattoo machine with no ink in it, then pour salt in it, or use saline (salt water) instead of tattoo pigment? No one. Ask your family doctor what they think about this, and they will tell you the possible side effects, you'll walk away. It's non-FDA regulated. There's no governing body on how this is to be done, or instructional information. There's nothing saying who is and who isn't doing it right. It's also invasive. Whenever you open up the skin, you are opening yourself up to long term negative effects.

Well I quit smoking four years ago and added about 50 pounds of "negative space". Right now I'm more worried about my overall look as a person, period!

The one thing I can point out is, you can be very, very heavily tattooed and still hold a job in a Fortune 50 company. This is a fact, and actually a big myth. As a manager I can say this. I would have a bigger issue with you showing that much skin at a job over that actual tattoos. I generally do frown upon this at work already. While men (in suits) generally have the most clothes coverage, I feel woman should also dress very conservatively at work. This means a suit or long dress and at least 3/4 sleeves. With even that you have over 70% of your body covered! The only thing really showing on me at work is my neck up and my hands! The corporate office is not a place for creative dress. (Damn I sound like my dad)

Thanks @Wilhell that's right I got this little lady from Noble last year :o Noblegirl Tattoo Picture | Last Sparrow Tattoo Very nice guy with lots of funny stories up his sleeve ;) This year I don't have anything booked (yet) crossing my fingers that Claudia De Sabe will give me a call, if she doesn't I will try get in with Sarah Carter who is doing walkups only! :D

Right on, @rads. I'm in with Paul in 8 days. Can't wait!

I think I met someone, he's pretty nice, not sure where this is going, but enjoying myself for now :)

WE GOT IT! So fucking stoked!

My 9 year old daughter, after learning how much her grandmother hates tattoos, told me, "well, that's her problem then." :)

I am going to the London Convention with my girlfriend. She is booked in with Civ and Stuart Cripwell. And when it comes to me, I get answers at the end of this month if I get an appointment with Mike Rubendall. Cross my fingers... I am also booked in with Hide Ichibay.

I just go for whichever blank spot is making me the most crazy right then ;)

I just like getting tattooed.

What's up LST?! After a few weeks of being urged to join from a forum friend Ian, I finally got on. I currently reside in the suburbs of the dirty D, Detroit Michigan. At 14 years old, I took my fake ID, skipped swim practice and went and got my first tattoo at a flea market. I purchased a piece of flash from the $40 board that at the time took up my entire shoulder. Now 20 years later its a four leaf clover the size of a quarter! I tell people the guy gave me a magical shrinking tattoo and deny gaining 90lbs. But hay, that was freshman year of high school! Anyway, I've been hooked on tattoos ever since. Being indecisive and picky as hell it took me another 15 years until that needle pierced my skin again! Five years ago I got a half sleeve with my pec done. One year ago I did the other side. Currently working on extending the one sleeve down from half to full, with just one more session to go. I then plan to extend the other side to the wrist as well. My only regret so far is that I didn't do it from the start. Anyway, that's me.....short story mode. Currently hunting for a new Japanese style artist. Spending nearly every night for the past 6 months wide awake in bed searching the net. Looking for an artist to help bring my visions to life. Looking to do a full back piece next neck to cheeks. Anyone have any recommendations near Detroit? Maybe in Chicago etc. Thanks for having me.

Hello LST, I'm Chris and I'm from Sacto, CA. I got my first tattoo in 92 or 93 at American Graffiti by Eric Hogan (RIP). From that point on I was hooked! Scott Sylvia gave me my 2nd one at the same location. I first met Scott and Eric when I was a little punk kid in S.F. at an A.A. convention. I had no tattoos at the time and was so impressed with these older guys that were covered. I tried to get them to work on me at the time, but to no avail. Thanks for that, given my age who knows what I'd have ended up with. Luckily a couple years later they were working in my home town and I was finally able to get some ink. I didn't really know what to say in the intro, I'm not too good at talking or writing about myself. I'm grateful to be a part of this community and look forward to being a member for a long, long time! Thanks, -C

Doing hood rat stuff with my friends.

I dare you....to dare me to dare @Graeme to dare you.

Thank you mods! :)

That will be great. Drinks for sure!!! We will send you a message on IG when we arrive. ::)) @jade1955 and I forward to meeting you all :) @Eilin

yay! Then we are meeting up for a beer or two for sure! @Wilhell and his girlfriend will be there aswell so a little LST meetup would be fun! I'm there all three days! :D

Didn't when I started out and boy do I wish I had. More than the planning, wish I'd known just a bit more about style and color and what I liked and why I liked it and how it looked on me. Or maybe it's that I've just changed my opinions and understand the bigger picture. But as far as how I look to other people being a "tattooed person," no. Only that this place is full of guys and gals with a handful of tattoos so it just spurs me on to get even more.. if that makes sense. All or nothing. - - - Updated - - - "This place," meaning Williamsburg and Greenpoint.

I have to appear to be tattoo free for work. I also like the idea of having a lot of work and most people being none the wiser. So I'm limited to areas covered with short sleeves and shorts. From my first tattoo I've had an overall plan in mind and I discussed it with my artist. I have both chest panels onto my upper arms done. I plan on starting my back piece this winter. After that maybe my upper thighs and I'm done. All of my tattoos are a westernized Japanese style and they will all flow together.

I've got a few appointments over the weekend, Lindsey Carmichael, Beau Brady and Todd Noble, also waiting for a call from Stefano from frith street about doing a piece. Its going to be a busy weekend!!

Interesting question. I'm not sure what the legal and ethical ramifications for a tattoo artist are and good for you for having a line. Still, as a person who works with youth who have a variety of mental health and developmental disabilities I do think they deserve as normalized of an experience as possible. My instinct is that if the request was for something tasteful in terms of content and body placement it would be fine to go forward with it. I'll be curious to see what others say about this.

I think you're painting with too broad of a stroke here. I put myself through grad school working with developmentally disabled adults who were living in the community, but still needed a little extra help to make it. Some of them were the coolest, toughest, most awesome people I ever met and I'm proud to (still) count them among my friends. That being said, there has to be a line drawn somewhere, and I'd probably draw it exactly where you did. "Are you you're own guardian? Can you sign a legal contract?"

A recent conversation with a "non-tattooed being" friend of mine; Friend: Why in the world would you get a severed head tattooed on your chest? Me: You're asking the wrong question. Why wouldn't I get a severed head tattooed on my chest? I also get asked what my tattoos symbolize/mean and a majority of people when I tell them that they have no meaning tend to be shocked. How can you put something on your body and not have it mean anything? I blame that way of thinking towards tattoos solely on Miami Ink where everyone had some crazy story to go with why they are getting it done and what it means to them just for the sake of good television, when in reality this isn't the case. Some people just love the imagery and tattoos in general.

Thought I'd post this here, since some of you are familiar with her from Instagram and also my profile pic... my beautiful, beloved 12 1/2 year old Abyssinian cat, Anthea, passed away while I was on vacation a couple weeks ago. The cat-sitter called me with the news, she came to feed the cats and found her lying on the laundry room floor, as if on her way to the litter box. :-( Anthea loved being in my lap and would follow me from room to room. When in my lap on the couch, she would put her little paw on my face and sometimes give me "the claw" if I stopped petting her. It took @DJDeepFried 4-5 years before she finally let him pet her. While she wasn't fond of most people, she was always good with our daughter. In the past year or 2 she had lost weight and was throwing up a lot. I took her to 2 vets who found nothing wrong, basically saying she had developed a sensitive stomach. I switched to special food and really expected her to live a longer life. Anyway, I think and hope her life was pretty good with me. We loved each other. We still have our 3-year old black kitty, Aurora. She is helping w/the grieving process. Here are some pics of her. The fourth one is kind of blurry, but it shows the day last year -after me and dj had been together ~10 years- Anthea went in his lap for the first time! We were excited.

I never really cared to much about this......my first was a visible tattoo before tattoos became "fashionable." I don't think I ever "planned" to be this heavily covered BUT I am seeing it happen a lot more now than it was happening 15 years ago! People seem to be rushing to get covered for some reason not thinking what those tattoos are gonna look like in 40 years! Take your time.....get good tattoos.....and if you are worried about what others think of your tattoos then you probably aren't someone who should be getting tattooed! (that last comment was not directed at any one person.....just in general)

What the heck. I know many of you have already seen this. Anyway, it's almost healed and was done by Papa Joe Dawson.

I'm going this year as well :) I was a bit late on deciding whether to go or not so I haven't booked with anyone yet but crossing my fingers I will get a call from Claudia De Sabe the next weeks, if not I'm going to try get a walk-in with Sarah Carter! Anyways It will be so much fun, and I know I will get some nice prints / merch and beers! Exited :cool:

Far too much thinking going on here :)

Things people say to us about our tattoos have been mentioned in many threads, but I thought it might be fun to read quick snippets of what people say all in one place. We were just on a 2 week trip visiting family in MA & CT. We swung by Custom Cobra while in MA, nice shop but we didn't get any tattoos. Here are a couple one liners from the trip: MIL to hubby, "You're thinking of getting another one?" That struck me as funny because of the word one. FIL to hubby during same conversation, "You know what they say...sometimes less is more!" My friend's little 5-year-old son saw my arm and was impressed with the tiger (his favorite animal) but still said, "You're gonna be sorry." My friend told me he got that from his uncle. I set him straight. Friend of my husband's family saw my sleeve and asked, "Is that a real tattoo?" None of the comments were mean-spirited and I'm not easily offended, they were just kind of funny to me.

Hi all, Just a quick hello. Been reading LST for a while now and thought I'd join up with the intention of contributing now and again (on the rare occasion that I have anything interesting/worthwhile to say). I live in Nottingham England, not massively tattooed but have always been interested and hope to add more soon once the old £££ permits! Been tattooed by Valerie Vargas at Frith Street and Lee Withey at Ghost Collective. Cheers! Phil

Yep that would be real nice. Me and @Jade1959 will be there on Saturday. I'm on Henning Jorgensens cancellation list. Fingers crossed.

Let us know if you hit up Briz Vegas and what shop your heading to (although I think I might have an idea ;))

As in.. because it's on you, it's mobile?? I don't follow.. Maybe she needs to have her yearly review moved up.

I never go back for touch ups, unless the tattooer looks at the healed tattoo and sees something they want to touch up or it's something really obvious. Getting tattooed by the same people a lot, then tend to touch up their other work, while working on new pieces if they see something that stands out. I don't think their is anything wrong with getting a touch up, but one word of advise for others who might read this, wait till the tattoo heals completely before talking about a touch up. Nothing more annoying than someone with a three day old tattoo freaking out in the tattoo shop about something they think they see in the tattoo. There is definitely a misconception about tattoos and touch ups, I think too many people are used to getting tattooed by people who don't know what they are doing and having to come back for touch ups, in turn their friends with no tattoos hear them talk about going to get tattoos touched up, so when they decide to start getting tattooed, they think it's part of the process.

22nd August, Robert Ryan. Outlines, back of my left thigh. Might do the dreaded buttcheek too, if it works into the design. Last time (28th may, last year) I went out for outlines and 7.5hrs later walked out happy, swollen and with a finished tattoo, but I hope this time it's just fun times with Bink, talkin' Pushead with Mike and a little tattooin'.