Bexter

I was booked in for three sessions straight off the bat, which did shock me a little at the time (I'm a complete newbie) After the first session I did ask how long was left (sorry artist, i didn't know any better) and they suggested I book a few more sessions on top of what I'd already booked. Naive I know but my budget couldn't accommodate it. And I thought I could get it finished in the time I had booked in as my artist is moving cities in the summer. Not a problem really, I'm just going to ask to get it to a point then I'll take a trip to finish it later in the year. I suppose an idea would have lessened the shock and put me in the right mindset from the beginning. Especially with time constraints on having the artist in my city.

We're going to add flowers and a wing next time and then decide on colour. Thinking bright and clashing. Blue pink green orange. Yeah, hurt, but once we were over the elbow, it was all plain sailing really.

So, the wonderful Olivia Chell has made a start on my "tropical winged unicorn sleeve in a Japanese style" Still need to add some flowers, colour and a lot more shading but I love it to bits. Impossible to take a selfie of. I'll try to get a better one once it's healed.

Long way to go, but I Totally love it. It's impossible to selfie it, but here it is (sorry, couldn't get my phone to upload the picture) http://www.lastsparrowtattoo.com/gallery/member/16281-first-session-on-winged-unicorn-sleeve.html&imageuser=35536

Great tip. I'll check it out.

Awesome. Thanks a lot @RoryQ! Answered my question completely. Sounds easy enough. I'll go for my black blouse :D I think I got freaked out by the bedsheet thing.

yeah, parents are weird. My mum just seems to like to hate on anyone who isn't her. I was on my first and possibly only family holiday this year, and to keep the peace I spent the whole time biting my lip and quietly simmering inside at things my mum was saying about various people. One conversation was particularly ridiculous. She was saying how she doesn't like tattoos and how she especially doesn't understand brides with tattoos who get married in a white wedding dress. "The white is supposed to represent purity" coming from my mum who got married in white at her second wedding after having 2 kids... Also, what has purity got to do with tattoos, and who is really actually "pure" who gets married these days. What has it got to do with anything?!!! Luckily, my (younger) brother is already covered in tattoos so I'm safe (ish) when I let them know. Still not looking forward to it. And my Nan will be disappointed, but her son (My uncle) has 2 full sleeves so she's used to it. I reckon he'll be stoked.

2 SLEEPS! AHHH. I have a quick question if anyone's about. The day after my tattoo I have to go to a big client meeting. I kind of have to look grown up-ish at a client meeting, so I would usually wear a long sleeved blouse or top. In theory, I was thinking blouse as the two I have are quite loose fitting, so shouldn't touch the tattoo much. However, I was wondering what kind of state my tattoo would be in as I don't want it leaking stuff all over one of my best blouses. Or freak out the client by having a leaky arm! Also, my blouse is chiffon, so it's slightly see-through. I wear a vest, but my arm would be slightly visible. When my tattoo is healed, this won't be a problem, my clients won't mind that I have a tattoo, but what kind of state will it be in? I don't want to wear a see through blouse if it's going to be a mess. This seems like a stupid question, but I really have no idea? I might have to buy a new (cheap) blouse or something. Or should I wrap it up for the meeting? It will be a good few hours. Ta Bex

Hey! I use the tapatalk app. Not ideal but better than just using the site from a mobile. Frustrating as I don't think you can see galleries.

Alrighty. Keeping it simple. Ta! Bex

Just spoke to Olivia. All good. Dead excited. 6 sleeps! What supplies do I need for healing? Bepanthen, none fragrance soap stuff. Is that it? Worth getting antihistamine? Was also thinking of trying that tatuderm stuff?

Yeah, Sneaky Mitch is great. As is the Mr Rossiter. How long is time?! Jeez. I've not even spoken to Olivia yet. Got to the stage where I don't even care what she does on me, everything I see of hers is awesome. 7 sleeps!

Yeah, I dunno. I've seen it mentioned in a few threads here, which was a relief, I was starting to think it was just me. What is with that? I am a bit of a jerk though. :p

@polliwog ha ha. Yeah, I just need to calm down. I think it's because I've had some bad experiences talking to receptionists about what I want in the past where they've made me feel stupid.

Cool. Thanks @Graeme. I do love everything Olivia does and I totally trust her to do something cool. I'll just go with the flow and see what happens when I speak to her.

Hi everyone, So I've waited well over 10 years to get my first tattoo but I'm now booked in. In the meantime I have had loads of ideas. I'm not an artist and I don't know that much about tattoo themes/ ideas or how to give a reference appropriately so I wanted to get some people's thoughts and opinions before I go to meet my artist and give her my references early next week if that's ok? First, placement: Right arm. Pretty much the whole thing, not really on the shoulder and I do like negative space and the 'flow' of a tattoo and how it compliments the body, So I'm not sure saying a "full sleeve" would be the right terminology. Second, themes: Winged unicorn and tropical plants. This idea actually came from a My Little Pony toy I've cherished since I was little :D and since then I've collected bright, tropical My Little Ponies. I have a bunch of reasons behind it too that are vaguely more sensible! I guess I was thinking of a black and grey unicorn and colourful plants. (ferns, frangipani) I've also been looking at Japanese tattoos and would like to incorporate some of the grey background style. I also wanted bees and lightening bolts... but I think that's a different tattoo(s). Already thinking I'd like more stuff elsewhere too (especially left shoulder) I guess my questions are, does my placement make sense? And do the themes work together? Or which themes might work best together? And what do you think? My artist is great, I totally trust her and I'm sure she'll have her own ideas but I just wanted to check there weren't any glaringly obvious stupid ideas in what I'm thinking. Thanks!

Thanks @Diehardonvhs. I think that's the problem. My initial discussion was with someone looking after reception. I have no idea what he's told her because I wasn't really sure what I wanted myself when I spoke to him, we just said we'd work it out. I'm sure it'll go well when I speak to her next week :)

YEY! Got a cancellation! My artist is actually moving cities in the summer, so she's trying to fit everyone local in that was already booked in or has unfinished work before she leaves. 1.5 weeks baby! They've given me a full day appointment in March too to make sure it's finished. I'm going to go and see her with my references for the first time early next week. Now I'm having reference panic and what if she hates my ideas anxiety.

I used to be an electrician and have always wanted a circuit diagram.

Yeah, agree 100% with @growltiger. Read that thread, it's super helpful. And everyone here's really friendly and useful.

This has made my day. Now I really want to make this work! I have researched it and there are unicorns in Japanese culture, just hard to get any more details than that. There's obviously the kirin, but that's just not quite what I was going for.

Aw, I was gutted when they turned Jillys into a Tesco :( I think I'm going to see what my artist reckons. I already know I want a shoulder piece on my left arm, so would be happy to split.

Ha, great thread. I want to tell you all about my brothers tattoo. He was still living at home at the time, and I wasn't. He got a bunch of stars on his ribs and told me about it, but didn't tell my mum. Anyway, a few weeks later, my mum rings me all worried about him, saying that he is really body conscious because he's always hiding his body around the house. Ha ha ha. I was just like "I dunno". Eventually she found out! I don't know how she took it because I wasn't there, but he's covered in them now so I assume she's gotten used to it. Good job, makes it easier for me!

I was recently looking through my "box of memories" and found a sketch of a tattoo idea I wanted that I did when I was 14. I've just booked in 14 years later for pretty much the same thing minus the music notations. What is it with kids and music tattoos? Even if I had have gotten that song, it's still one of my favorite, and I'm sure I'd love the tattoo still. I was pretty surprised to learn that 14 year old me actually had some taste. PROUD! :) I also remember the tattoo shop I wanted to go to. It was where I got my piercings and is still recommended to me now when I ask around, so it couldn't have been all that bad. Go me. All kids are so different, I guess I'd take it one case at a time. I sometimes forget my nephew is only 14 sometimes, his head is so screwed on. I have better conversations with him than I do with people in work. He'd get a rad tattoo from the best artist. My brother on the other hand is 25 and all of his tattoos are rubbish and he regrets most of them, even the one he got just last week.