Mel Noir

I want to take her out on the piss and mention cats when I'm out of beer. Cheap laughs? Yeah. Worth it? Definitely.

they spelt Nick Hurtado's name wrong in title of the article.

This is still pissing me off! Who's this Nick Furtado kid?! :P

Hey Alanna, thanks for the warm welcome :) I think I accepted your friend request before, thanks for that too :) If I didn't just let me know, haha.

Here's the website link, I hope you like it! I just took a look at yours- it's awesome, but it made me hungry ;)

Hey there, I'm late to the party!

Most slang terms and phrases irritate me. I think since I write about tattoos I might notice it more, which is a bit pap. People who say a tattoo is "sick as fuck" are my current pet peeve- if you look at any tattoo on the Tattooist Art facebook page, you will see over 100 "sick as fuck!"s.

One thing which really made me laugh though- I got a little unwell last year and had to stop working for about a week. A good friend of mine who doesn't really know much about tattoos kept an eye on my site while I was away, and someone posted up a message asking where in Newcastle was great for some "ink". She told him to have a look in Newcastle Arts Centre and Amazon, and to ask a tattoo artist if they're looking for tattoo ink, having no idea the guy actually meant to say "tattoo". He was a bit pissed off and thought she was being sarcastic, but it really shows how stupid that word is for a tattoo. If it was just ink, we'd all be walking around with sharpie marks on our arms which we'd have to get re-done every day!

I definitely see what you mean, like- sometimes I feel like I have to really think about this too, despite being flattered. At the minute, I don't think it would do you any harm to write for them, as long as you be a slight diva and say from the start it's all on your terms. I feel sometimes it's best to have an informal chat with the editor to try to get a feel for their attitude. If they mention anything about money or popularity, I personally pass on it, because it means they're likely to piss off a few people down the line, I've found.

Judging by the issue I have, and your blog (which I really love, by the way), they could be pushing for a better direction by asking you, so if you feel positive about it I would say to go for it :)

Did someone add to my post there? If so, thanks!

Yeah I think the game could even put some of my "heavyweight drinker" friends in a coma. Since I'm quite small, I'd probably die :P Especially since I know someone who is going to be in the show (double the drinking? Oh dear!). A fellow blogger should be in the series finale, he was telling me how he isn't allowed to tell anyone about what happened at all and signed a contract, which is a bit crap since he also writes about tattoos.

Every time someone asks me this question, I always say Ian and Hayley Parkin. They work at Ian's studio Inkslingers, in Newcastle Upon Tyne. I've been tattooed by them both, and I always think it's strange that people think my tattoos are great, ask who did them, then never really bother looking at their work afterwards. I guess people aren't as much of a geek as I am ;)

This other one might sound strange among you guys, but I'd also say Charlie Roberts. I'm sure a lot of you guys know who he is, but last time he came to Newcastle I heard collectors and tattooers asking who he is. He's a brilliant tattooer, but I guess he's just a little low key and doesn't try to hard to get his name out anywhere. Have you guys ever noticed that, where you're amazed people don't know about a tattooer when you feel like they should have at least known their name?

Thanks everyone! It's really nice to be so welcomed among people cooler than yourself ;) Haha! I'm sure I'll certainly bring on the tattoo talking, writing and pictures- when you write about tattoos, it's really easy to end up wasting a few hours on the internet while you're waiting for interviews and things, so I'll probably bore you all soon enough :P Cheers for the friendly welcome!

I'm not too sure which copy I have, but by the sounds of what Rory said it might be the second- WAY too much on alternative models. I don't have the issue right here to check, but I'm sure they spelled an artist's name wrong too, after giving him a feature, which was pretty bad.

The magazine isn't TOO bad, it has a nice quality feel to it and the photography in it is better than a lot of magazines. However, the writing needs to be kicked up a notch, and the "tattoo culture" theme should be toned down, in my opinion.

Mel, good to see you here I know your blog. Good point about the whole conversation aspect. I bore the shit out of various friends when they make the mistake of asking me about anything tattoo related. They get way too much information.

Hey thanks mate :) Feeling welcome already! I'm exactly the same, I think sometimes I get irritated. Last time I got tattooed, I sat in the pub a few days later talking about Charlie Roberts for about half an hour before one friend said, "Mel, we don't know who this person is and why we should care!". I shut up after that, haha :P

I kind of hope this show doesn't come to England. I'm already sick of people telling me what their tattoos mean, and the dramatic stories behind them.

On the other hand, it could be fun if you play the Needles and Sins drinking game while you watch it. Have you guys seen that yet?

NY INK DRINKING GAME

11:52 AM

Tonight at 10/9C, The Learning Channel will be debuting their latest tatttoo-reality show, NY Ink - and if you're anything like us, you rolled your eyes upon learning of the show and let out an ultra-snotty, "Oh, just what we needed, another tattoo-reality show."

(Full Disclosure - We actually have several friends on the show and wish them the best of luck. After all, most tattooists don't have 401(k) retirement plans, so we're all in favor of "buying-in" before our tattooist pals get arthritis and scoliosis. That said, we gave our pals full warning that we'd be mocking them incessantly - because that's what friends do.)

But after a dozen adult beverages at happy hour, we at Needles and Sins (along with the awesome help of Nathan at KnuckleTattoos.com) think we've found a way to incorporate an exciting plot twist in what will otherwise be a "same story, different city" situation. That's right - we hereby present to you the SEMI-OFFICIAL NY INK DRINKING GAME!

The rules are listed below my introductory video, but if you don't want to drink in front of the TV while cradling your laptop (and we wouldn't recommend that) we've also whipped up a printable PDF Rulesheet.

SHOW RULES

TAKE A DRINK...

Every time they do an establishing shot of a New York landmark (the Brooklyn Bridge, the Statue of Liberty, subways, yellow cabs, etc).

Every time there's incredibly scripted voice over/testimonial monologue (ie - "If you can make it here in New York, you can make it anywhere" or "It's not easy running a shop, but with a crew of talented artists like this...")

If someone gets a NYC tattoo (see above references, plus Yankees logos. If they get a twin towers tattoo, pour two tall shots and drink both)

During any discussion of the Sacred Three Taboo Tattoo Areas (above the collar, below the cuff, under the underwear)

If anyone actually gets a tattoo in one of the S.T.T.T.A. you have to drink every time it is shown.

SHOP RULES

TAKE A DRINK...

Every time Ami James complains about being in New York City (adventurous, high-tolerance drinkers should simply drink every time Ami complains about anything).

Every time Ami has his shirt off in the shop for no explicable reason (this ain't Miami, son)

Every time the "shop girl" looks like she's near tears.

Every time someone is wearing those fashionable, black latex gloves.

Every time an artist is late for an appointment

Every time an artist storms out of the shop in anger (take two drinks - one for you and one for the drink he/she is about to go get around the corner).

CLIENT RULES

TAKE A DRINK...

Every time someone mentions a personal project (band, blog, self-published book, etc) to garner press for personal gain.

Every time a client is getting a "memorial tattoo" (however, any time it's for a "homey who ain't here" you are required to pour some out - pets and family members are excluded from this stipulation). If you tear up during one of the memorial tattoo descriptions, CHUG your drink and then punch yourself in the junk.

Every time there is a meaningful, heartfelt "back story" behind a client's inspiration for their tattoo.

Every time a client mentions their congenital/accidental disability (drink twice if the tattoo "empowers" them)

Every time a client starts crying at their new, beautiful tattoo (CHUG for as long as they're crying DURING the tattooing process).

If someone pusses out on a tattoo, finish your drink and then hunt them for sport ("Functioning Alcoholic" level players only).

Every time a client walks in with a completely un-tattooable piece of reference art (drink double if the client or their friend drew it).

**BONUS LEVELS**

AMATEUR HOUR

Pick three (3) rules total from any category.

HAPPY HOUR

Pick six (6) rules total from any two categories

FULL RULES

(Well, now... someone wore their big-boy pants today!)

FUNCTIONAL ALCOHOLIC SKILLSET

All rules from page one apply, plus...

If you know the client personally, double all drinking requirements.

Every time a large-scale tattoo (full sleeve, backpiece, etc) is completed in one episode - take one drink every session it presumably took to complete.

BUKOWSKI RULES

All previous rules apply, plus stock your bar for the following:

Make your alcohol-choices directly related to the tattoo happening on-screen. Sake or Asahi for Japanese work, Miller Lite for tribal work, Irish whiskey for "memorial" tattoos, tequila for fine-line black-and-grey work, wine coolers for tramp stamps (amaretto sours are also acceptable - but one is required to scream "WOOOO!" or chant "Gym, Tan, Laundry!")

And may God have mercy on your soul... and your liver.

(Thanks again to Nathan at KnuckleTattoos for his help - if you have any recommendations for additional rules, tweet them with the hashtag #nyinkdrinkinggame)

Go to Needles and Sins Tattoo Blog and it should still be on the front page- it sounds hilarious :)

It's definitely fake, and I still think they're idiots. It's confusing me because I should really feel relieved.

This is actually a viral advert for a company which sells Facebook gifts, one of these gifts being temporary tattoos of your Facebook friends. I think I'll keep my tattoos real, traditional and well away from things like Facebook, thank you!

This is all pretty interesting, for some reason I didn't expect there to be such varied answers to it- glad there are though :)

For me, I think I could easily be with a guy who didn't have tattoos, as long as he was interested. If I couldn't have a good conversation about tattoos in any way, I probably wouldn't see the point. I already bore friends who aren't interested, haha. My best friend doesn't have a line on his body, but he still knows about tattoos and is really interested in them (just says he doesn't want them on his own skin- he'll change his mind, I reckon). If he wasn't interested in tattoos, I don't think we'd be best friends, because I'd bore him to death about work stuff or whatever magazine I'm shoving in his face at the time! When it comes to attractiveness, I don't think tattoos are that important, they're just a really great bonus, as long as they're good tattoos anyway.

Hey everyone- been lurking around for a wee while, this site is great! So yeah, hello there- I'm Mel. I'm in my 20s, and I write about tattoos for a living. Since I talk about everyone for work, I hate talking about myself, so I'll keep this short. Here's hoping you're all kind to fresh meat ;)