zetroc

Love that one! It really exemplifies his style. Someday I'll get back to Philly.

Started my new sleeve yesterday at la cour des miracles in Toulouse
 

I haven't posted in a while, but I got this done by Topper in Philly earlier today. So happy with it. This is my first highly visible tattoo on my forearm, too.

First off, I am very sorry for your loss. I can't imagine the pain you are feeling.
Remembrance tattoos have deep personal meaning and a tremendous tradition...but remember that they are (unless you want to go the laser route) permanent. A signature will always be there to remind you of her, but it will also always be there in the future and, at your age the odds are great that you will eventually enter into another relationship.
In terms of the concept of appearing feminine there are many examples where traditionally feminine images are unisex in application in tattooing. Roses and other flowers are a prime example that are seen in tattoos on many people. In the end, this design is yours - it holds deep meaning for you - and I would personally not even give this issue a second thought if, in the end, it was the design that achieved your desired goals. You don't have to defend yourself to anyone.
I would suggest several things. First, seek out a good artist and have a face to face consult about your ideas. Seek out an artist with a great reputation for listening to the desired outcomes of the client - not someone who will just do what you ask. Talk with him/her about your intent and get guidance on placement, design, and style. Talk about options. For example, instead of a signature, is there some other symbol that had deep meaning to your wife (or perhaps you both), that can replace the signature? That approach might be a way to achieve your intent yet not present future issues in another relationship. The artist might also offer a design on the birds that appear more "masculine" if that's a concern for you.
Next, I would suggest you let some time pass before you commit and have the work done. Of course, I am not sure how long it has been since your wife passed, but emotions can cloud our decisions and since this is generally a permanent thing, you might want to wait until the initial grief passes and then make your final commitment to go ahead or not. Getting your first tattoo is stressful enough. Doing under the pressure and grief of losing one's spouse is much more difficult. Don't let grief drive your decision. You have one chance to get this right so take the time it deserves. An impulse choice is generally not good under any circumstance.
In the end, go with what achieves your intent and makes you happy. There is an argument that says that no matter what happens in the future, you will always have an attachment to your wife and no future person you enter into a relationship should expect that you would forget her so the signature shouldn't matter. Still, I would seriously consider finding some symbol to replace it...but that's just my opinion.
I hope I've helped a bit. I am sure others will chime in as well. Again, I am so very sorry for your loss.

I think the placement is good. If it was higher, the beak would move onto your neck and the angle would make it appear bent. 

I think the placement is good. If it was higher, the beak would move onto your neck and the angle would make it appear bent. 

Matt Kerley on April 26
Garver on August 4 

Wife and I just realized we totally forgot to buy each other big useless diamonds for our 10th anniversary so we decided to go for walk in tattoos instead. Next Saturday is going to be fun. Now... what to get, what to get...?

Topper is leaving Philadelphia Eddie's for the True Hand Society. 
 
 

So for April Fools Day I made a facebook post "looking for laser removal recommendations. I have enough business to put somebody's kid through college. I'm tired of looking like Walt Disney threw up on me. Time to grow up and look more professional."
My father texts me 10 minutes later saying if you are looking for a laser removal specialist to get in touch with him asap and he will connect me with someone who does that. LIKE, TELL ME HOW YOU REALLY FEEL DAD LOL
...aaand the next day I win a contest at the tattoo convention. oh geez

That's been one of the factors holding me back for years, but I recently joined a Facebook group of about 20k ladies with Fibro and there were a lot of positive experiences, far more than anyone reporting issues, as long as they weren't already in a flare. The endorphin rush is great actually, and because my body is always in some kind of pain or other, it's pretty cathartic to know that I chose the pain this time, and something good will come from it - instead of what seems like a never-ending slog of non-rewarding pain that's my normal life.

I actually chose the forearm because I wanted to always be able to see something I like and chose for my body. My fibro (and the other associated issues) dictates a lot about my life, from what I can wear, how I can wear my hair, what jewelry I can wear, so many things. In the last six months, things have gone pretty badly health-wise, and feeling like there's something I chose has been nice. The symbology is Egyptian and stands for life, health, and strength. Egyptian because my husband loves ancient Egypt stuff. (When he gets his tattoo, it'll be king Tutankhamen's cartouche)

So basically I chose something that's the equivalent of those hipster "strength" tattoos - just more badass :cool:

Anyway, this reply was mostly to say that there's a lot of us in the Fibromyalgia community that have had success with tattoos and other body modification, if doc clears it. Good luck to her, chronic pain of any type is tough.


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That looks great! Welcome to the club!

That looks great! Welcome to the club!

Husband went back to get more work done Wednesday. His artist is now transitioning to doing mainly nipple tattoos in a medical center for breast cancer survivors. He will not be in the shop full time now, it will be more a part time (sounded *very* part time) side job, so my husband was frantic, wondering how he'd get his leg finished and what he would do for continued work in other areas and the artist was like Nah, now I just get to pick and choose what I want to do-and I want to do this, so you'll never have a problem getting in to see me!
The dragon will go on the calf and he's going to run it over the front of his leg, like his knee and bottom of his thigh there...I burst out laughing when he came home and told me that.

Scored a walkin and got my knees framed by Jay Watkins at Spider Murphy's. Stole the photo from his Instagram

I like the sacred heart idea. Might not have to be all black, either. Or there's always the tried and true panther.

I like the sacred heart idea. Might not have to be all black, either. Or there's always the tried and true panther.

Met Horitomo, I had a list of things I thought I might want and I ended up with only kind of getting something on that list.  Definitely a MonMonCat, definitely going to be my favorite tattoo, definitely a Nekomata with Kitsune inside.  I had this stupid kid in a candy store smile on my face the whole time I was watching the sketch form.  Then I had to take a picture with my undies at my ankles, I didn't smile as much at that, or when I had to hand over my deposit.  I will be back on the west coast in ~3 months and I'm so excited.

I've been out of the game for a few months, but I think I'm going to email Scott Sylvia about something else from him at the Prestige Convention in Philly in May. Just have to think about what I might want...

After a long tattoo hiatus I've booked to start my backpiece with Steve Byrne on the 10th of April and im far to excited about it

@eisen7979 Haha, awesome. https://www.instagram.com/p/BR2Y8ocjX28/?taken-by=steve_byrne_tattoo&hl=en

I went and had an absolute blast! Drove from Minnesota, waited in line and got tattooed by Steve Byrne. The folks at Great Lakes are the real deal and I can't wait until next year. IG is blocked here at work so I can't snag the picture, but it's on Steve's page.

Mine is the crazy ass spaceman head. It was from the sheet Steve painted for this years event.

The missus (@TrixieFaux) & I got tattooed today for our tenth wedding anniversary. Peonies by Horisuzu at Unbreakable in beautiful Studio City, CA


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