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By infmom, January 6, 2009 1:59 pm

So, is everyone getting off to a good start in 2009?  Planning more ink?  Planning to go to shows?  What’s up with you guys? 

Let’s look back a bit:

Last year I talked about trying to find good body-art books to read, and the stupidity that is “tattoo parties”.

I challenged people who think tattoos will sag to just try it one more time and see what happens.

I did a serious multi-part post on health issues which I hope everyone read.

I talked a bit about other people’s perceptions of tattooed people and why the Car Talk brothers are right when they say “it’s the stingy person who spends the most”.

I considered the “psychology” of tattooed people with reference to Stranger in a Strange Land.

Then there was the good and bad about TV tattoo shows and something of personal concern, tattoos and diabetes.

I considered clothing that shows off tattoos and job sites that mandate no visible ink.

The news story about the 9-year-old tattoo artist gathered a lot of comments.

I considered some frequently asked questions about new tattoos, and provided the best advice I could think of.

At the end of the year, I offered up some holiday gift suggestions (that’s a link to one post; you can click on the “holiday gift suggestions” tag to see more, if you want).

That wasn’t all, by any means.    Did you have a favorite topic?  Is there something you’d like me to talk about in this new year?  What are your plans?

I want to thank everyone who’s read my blog this past year and offer my sincere appreciation for your time.
photo credit: cmd-p.com

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By infmom, November 12, 2008 1:07 pm

In my last couple posts I talked about rude, crude tattoos and images of death. In the wake of the elections in the USA, I think it’s now time to focus on upbeat, positive images that reflect well on us and send a positive message to the world as well.

I wrote earlier about spiritual designs.  Putting an affirmation of your spiritual beliefs on your skin could be one way of sending a positive message, although in today’s increasingly fractured world other people might not see the message you are trying to send.   But in thousands of years of religious art, there are plenty of examples of designs that uplift both the wearer and the observer.  It’s worth doing research to find exactly the right design.  The usual run of religious (mainly Christian) flash can be found just about anywhere.  You want something that represents you, not a bazillion others with exactly the same flash, right?

Another form of positive design is a memorial to a lost loved one.  I have mentioned before that I am not a fan of fine-line portraits.  I think there are plenty of other ways to honor those we have lost.  Think about what mattered to that person and find a design that showcases that.  I have a stylized dragon on my back to honor my grandmother.  That, to me, is more profound than just getting her name or a portrait inked on my skin.

And of course there is a wide lexicon of images that are upbeat and postitive all on their own.  “Sunshine, lollypops and rainbows” is more than just the title of a 60s bubblegum song.    Well-done Celtic designs can combine the spiritual and the decorative.  The tried-and-true images of four-leaf clovers, lucky horseshoes and the like are popular for good reason.  There are more elaborate designs representing good fortune from pagan beliefs and non-Western cultures.  Once you set your mind to it, the possibilities are limitless.

What kinds of positive images does your ink show the world?
photo credit: showbizsuperstar

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By infmom, August 1, 2008 11:34 am

Last weekend, I went back to Fairfield, Iowa, for the first time in 25 years, for my 40th high school reunion. Even though my family only lived there for three years, and I didn’t actually graduate with those guys because we moved after my sophomore year, that’s about as close to a home town as I’ve ever had and it was a joy to be back there.

What’s that got to do with tattoos, one might ask?

Well, during the reunion party, small prizes were given out in various categories. I got the prize for coming the farthest (from the Los Angeles area). But, doggone it, I lost out on the prize for “most tattoos.” One of my (female) classmates beat me by one!

Clearly, in the next five years, I better go get at least two more tattoos. Victory will be mine!

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