keepcalm

Stopped by Tattoo Paradise last night to chat with Nikki about a lady head idea. I explained it, and she was basically like, "I would totally crush that." I love it when the artist is just as excited about an idea as you are! Now I just have to decide when to get it (and where to put it). I'm moving apartments next month, so I'd like to get that over with first, then go in to get it.

Excellent news!

She looks fantastic! That's a great picture. Congrats on your anniversary, and I hope everything goes well today! I will be sending good thoughts.

!! Yeah, the artist I've been going to at TP (Scott M) just moved to Florida, so I'm looking around for a new local person I like. I always hear good things about Nikki (inside and outside TP) and I like her portfolio a lot!

I've decided I want a la-la-lady head from Nikki Lugo at Tattoo Paradise. I feel like my arms are too puny to put one there, though that's kind of where I want it. Lady heads are one thing I would consider getting in color because they look so awesome in color, but I think I'll keep sticking with all black & gray for now. Nikki has done some pretty black & gray ones -- I really like this one: Nikki at Tattoo Paradise

If I had any artistic talent at all, I would totally do this before each of my tattoos, mental or not! I'm also interested in the replies you'll get because, though it is probably a while away, I'm thinking my next spot to cover might be on the front of me.

Bah! So hard! Today is Day 10 and they've been itchy since about Day 5 :( They seem to be mostly healed up, though - they're smooth and the skin looks good. When can I scratch with abandon?! Haha

My recent pair of tattoos are the first ones I've been able to heal without having to keep them covered for the first week or so because of clothing complications (ribcage - bra strap, and hip - underwear/waistband). That alone has made this a better healing experience, haha. I kept the bandages on overnight, and since then have washed and lotioned up twice a day (Aquaphor a couple of times, Aveeno mostly). Mine never swell, get red, or feel too sore, but they flake like mad and itch fairly badly. I'm at the itchy part now. :( This post brought to you by the need to do something else with my hands other than be tempted to scratch.

Yeah I'm wondering a little about this, too. I got two tattoos on the backs of my shoulders on Friday night, and I went for a 4-mile run the next morning in a misty rain and muggy conditions. I felt a tiny bit of stinging on my back as I started to sweat, but it's now four days later, (I've run twice again since then), and I haven't noticed anything amiss with my tattoos. They seem fine. They're just black and gray, though - not sure if color would act any differently. Anyone else have any knowledge about/experience with sweating with healing tattoos?

Thank you so much! I love them!

Thank you, thank you! I'm very happy :D

I finally got my ship + lion on Friday. I put this picture in my post about the design, but I will put it here too because it will probably be my last opportunity to contribute to this thread for a little while. I totally love these, but I am going to give myself some time to get used to having such plainly visible tattoos (compared to my other, well-hidden ones) before I start thinking about getting anything else. This was a big step for me, haha! Scott M (I can never remember how to spell his last name) at Tattoo Paradise in DC did these for me. He is great, and he did my elephant, too, so I was very sad when he told me he was moving to FL.

Got it done on Friday - very happy! Scott M at Tattoo Paradise in DC did it. He is moving to Florida, which makes me sad. He's great! He got these done faster than I anticipated, and the healing seems to be going well so far. Please forgive the lines from my sports bra in the picture - I'll be wearing racerbacks for a few more days, haha :p

Some really nice stuff on your site - I like it!

Okay, @scrock25, that's actually pretty awesome.

Am finally going in to get this tomorrow! Will try really hard to remember to take a picture before the bandage goes on. So ready for this!

Hahahah awesome. To answer the main question of this post: They've made my mom love me less (I'm pretty sure). Just kidding. Mostly. :D

Sounds well-deserved! Congrats! Hope you guys are doing well. A few months ago marked two years since I left my ex-husband. He wasn't abusive, but it was hard to bring up the divorce discussion (I'm the one who wanted to). My life has been totally and completely awesome since then, though, so I'm so glad I did it! Cheers to moving on, @hollyjoybee!

@Erica that one is nice!

Zing!

So... I have no news, no pictures, no nothing. I'm just here to complain about how impatient I get when waiting for my appointment for a new tattoo. I know what I want and I want it now! I am beginning to see the appeal of walk-ins and spur-of-the-moment decisions, haha. ::whine:: This post brought to you by boredom and a couple of hours of looking at pictures of tattoos on the internet.

Great stories in here! I'll add mine since I enjoyed reading this thread so much. I was 22 when I got my first (a small ibis on my ribs), and I hadn't told anyone I was getting it, not even my boyfriend at the time. Obviously he saw it shortly thereafter, and the following summer, he went with me to spend time with my family at our lake house. (I don't live anywhere near my parents.) I knew mom would see it once I was in a swimsuit, but my then-boyfriend (now ex-husband) was a bit of an ass and preempted me, saying, "keepcalm has something to show you." Well jesus. Mom made the "I'm disappointed and I disapprove" face and didn't say much else. Dad said nothing, really. Mom has since -- ONE time -- expressed some vague interest in seeing it closer up and/or touching it (people are always touching!). Otherwise, it's never discussed (for good OR bad). It then took me five years to decide on the elephant I got on my hip/top of thigh last year. Only the outline was done when I ended up at the lake house again with family. I managed to hide it from mom as it was only for a couple of days. Now it's done, and by the time I am in a swim suit in front of my parents again, I'll also have a ship and a lion on the back of my left and right shoulders. Whoops, haha! Three at once might be a bit much for dear old mom, but I'm 28, and she knows what she can do with her opinions. :) Dad, on the other hand, seems to have a non-opinion. My extended family members are more outspoken on my tattoos than my parents have been! In fact, I have one cousin who told me she is living vicariously through me because her father (my uncle) would kill her if she got a bunch of big tattoos. He even gave ME a stern look when he saw the ibis! #YOLO, amirite?!?! (<-- just kidding about that last bit ;))

Hey @beez and other folks who had suggestions -- got to stop by the shop today, and Scott suggested breaking the illustration up into two: putting the ship on the back on my left shoulder and the lion on the back of my right. Leaving them unconnected, and just swinging the "water" down and toward the middle at the bottom of each. I dig it. Can't wait to get these done as I am quite stoked on them.

Hahaha that was such an awesome post. Thank you for that. Yeah my artist is currently sketching out a more smooshed together design to try in a couple of places. And I agree that the lion lower and the ship higher makes sense. :) Also I think I am just laughing at the word "flank" -- I tend not to think of my own body using that term... just like, lambs or cows or something, hahaha. I hope your cold goes away soon!

:( Was just looking for some alternate ideas, though I have my own. Sorry if you think that's weird? ::shrug:: Thanks guys - this is one of the ideas I'm considering, only it would be on my back (not looking to tattoo near the boobs at the moment, haha). I guess I just wasn't sure if it would look funny if it's the only thing back there. And @heathenist, I don't mind saying at all! It's Scott M at Paradise Tattoo in DC. He did one of my other two existing tattoos. Not sure if you know him, but I liked working with him and he's a cool guy. - - - Updated - - - Thanks, @beez! I am intrigued by your idea but am not sure I understand it completely. You mean the lion on my side/back and the ship creeping up onto my shoulder/arm? I had also thought of putting the ship a bit higher to compress the design some and make it less linear. It's kind of a funky shape as-is.