Hmm... tattoo or no tattoo?

[Lindsey]

So my brother has this friend that he works with that has basically his whole body covered in tattoos. He goes to this awesome tattoo artist a couple hours from here, and he books him for a whole day a few days a year. Back in March my brother went with him and got a really really nice looking black and white cross on his forearm, and the tattoo guy even took them back to his place and cooked them supper! I told him to ask his friend if I could go with him at some point too. I've had my next tattoo designed since January or February, and I knew I wanted to get it done this year, but my brother hadn't asked his friend about it and I was kind of thinking of other places I might go for it. Well, about 10 minutes ago he called me from work and said "Do you want a tattoo on Saturday? My friend has an extra spot and he's looking for someone to go with him. He doesn't have another booking for about the next year so this is your only chance!"
Ahhhh what should I do? Lol this morning I was just thinking to myself "I miss being crazy and spontaneous! I want to live life like that again!" And I've had it designed and it has meaning and I know it's not a tattoo I will get sick of. Just the timing is kind of spontaneous! I don't know! I have to let him know by tomorrow.

[judy]

Go!!!!

[goofywife]

I used to have a clip that had pictures of what a tattoo looks like as you age it was pretty funny. Only you can make the decision.

[Lindsey]

haha yeah I know it won't look as good when I age, but I'm not getting any really visible ones. I have one right now on my lower back that I've had for over 4 years and I still love it. This one I think I'm going to get on the side of my thigh just below my hip so you can only really see it if I wear a miniskirt or bikini! Well, that's where I've wanted to get it but I'm having second thoughts now that it's gonna be real! On my back they told me to get something wide, because a small tattoo in the middle of a back will make your back seem much wider than it is. Now I'm scared a little tattoo on my leg might make my leg look big!

[Ponyup]

Do it. Me & some girl friends are going on the 25th to get tattoos. I'm getting a flower on my big toe & I'm thinking of getting a pawprint on my thigh (same place you are talking about only right on my hip bone. I know i want the flower cause I had it airbrushed on to summers ago & loved it. So maybe you could draw your tattoo on with markers & see how you like it before you actually tattoo it on.

[Ponyup]

P.s. I have a small back tattoo & I don't think it makes my back look wide at all.

[Lindsey]

I think I'm gonna go for it! After work today I'll see if my brother's friend found anyone else and if not, I'm in! All day I've been looking at placements and colors (good thing I have nothing to do at work!) and talking to people. My back tattoo is blue and black, and I'm thinking I'll get blue and green northern lights, and then dark pink stars. Since it'll be close to my back tattoo, I don't want it to clash a lot!
My next tattoo after this is going to be Layla's paw print, but I don't know where I'd put that one!
Oh my cousin said her best friend has one there on her thigh and she's going to try to get a picture for me. She said it's really cute! I think that's the place I'm gonna go with! I don't know if I should put it completely on the side, or a little closer to the front

[AngieDoogles]

Good luck! I'm sure it will look great!

[judy]

Lindsey,

Aren't you going to do that tattoo you designed that you posted before? I love that one. It's not that small - maybe you can draw it on your leg and see how it looks.

Michelle - I can show you what a tattoo looks like when you age, but I'm not going to!

It doesn't matter - I just got another one and I'm 60.

[Lindsey]

Hmm did I post it before? When I get home I'll post a picture, I had to take a picture of my sketch book to email the design to my cousin last night because she wanted to see it :)

[judy]

No - you described it here http://www.4womentalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2676

[Lindsey]

Oh! Yeah that's the one!
I asked my brother before work this morning about it and he said he didn't talk to his friend yet to say I'd go, but the guy who backed out is going again so he's not sure if there's another opening :(
I got myself pumped up about it yesterday though, so either way I'm getting it soon! If I can't go on Saturday I'm going to make an appointment here in town!

[Lindsey]

Here's the picture! The background lines I don't want outlined so they look very soft and I want them to be varying greens or blues (haven't decided yet!) to look like the northern lights I always got to see growing up in my little town! I haven't really decided on the star color yet though... I was thinking dark pink for the big stars, with white in the middle radiating outwards, and maybe either blue or green for the little twinkle ones, whichever color I don't use for the background!
Oh and rotate the picture by 90 degrees :)

[judy]

It's going to be gorgeous! Have you decided where to put it yet?

[Lindsey]

Thanks! Yeah I've decided to go with my original idea and put it on my outer thigh right under my hip. It's going to be small enough that it'll still be covered when I'm wearing a skirt or something. And this just reminded me to call my brother to see if he talked to his friend about it yet!
:( Okay he said he already found somebody else. I think I'm gonna go into another place this weekend and show them the design and see what they can do with it and maybe quote a price. I was kind of excited to get it done this weekend though. Oh well.

[Lindsey]

Ahhhhh my brother just called back and another guy backed out so I'M GETTING MY TATTOO ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cheer: :D :D

[Passionfruition]

Ahhhhh my brother just called back and another guy backed out so I'M GETTING MY TATTOO ON SATURDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :cheer: :D :DWow, girl, how exciting. Are you nervous?

I am always toying around with the idea of getting a tattoo but I have nooo clue what I'd get so I just keep saying "someday"...

[Lindsey]

Sooo excited! And kind of nervous! This morning in the shower I was like "This is the last morning EVER that I'll have a shower before work and see my leg completely bare" hahaha I'm weird like that
My brother informed me that we have the whole morning booked (If mine is done early, my brother is going to get one too). The guy is 3 hours from here though, so we're going to have to leave by 6 am!

[toodles]

Ok...it's saturday...are you ready?? :)

I have 4 and love them all!!!!!

i really like the location of the ones i have too...my lower back, my hip bone (not the thigh but right at the hip bone), middle of my back between shoulder blades, and top of my foot. they can all be concealed if need be, and they can all be shown if i feel like it :)

good luck...can't wait to see pics!!!!!!!!!!

[AngieDoogles]

Good luck today!

[Lindsey]

Well we got pushed to the afternoon so we haven't left yet! Actually my brother told me yesterday that we would be leaving NOW but he went out last night and I didn't even hear him come home. He hasn't gotten up yet, his truck isn't here, and his friend's shoes are also at the front door :( I'm gonna go knock on his door so we can leave!
Oh and I decided on colors FOR SURE this time! The background "northern lights" lines I want to match the blue in my back tattoo, then the stars dark pink on the edges and fading into white in the middle, and the little star things just dark pink outlines :) That's my idea but I'll see what the tattoo artist wants to do about it!
I'm so excited! I'll post pics tonight!!!

[Lindsey]

Hey girls I'm back!
The tattoo wasn't as painful as I expected! He wanted to make it a bit bigger than my sketch (I was thinking smaller) but it looks great. He went with pale blue and purple for the background, and then pink stars. He also slanted it so it starts right behind my hip, then curls down and around the front of my leg where it stops (about halfway down my thigh). The part on and behind my hip were so painful! The rest was okay, but the bottom in the front was a little painful too. I will post pics in a couple of hours when I can take the bandage off!
Oh and he was so great to be with, the shop was so laid back and relaxed. He talked to me the whole time and there was a little tv up there for me to watch. Actually right before I got it, we all went out for lunch.
I feel SO exhausted right now! My adrenaline was pumping for an hour and then there was a 3 hour ride home and I'm just BLAH. I'm excited to look at it again though!
Oh and the best part? He opened that tattoo shop in 1985, and has trained almost every tattoo artist in this province. You'd think he'd be expensive! My little maybe 4-inch wide lower back tattoo cost me $120 from one of his trainees. So I was expecting this one to be a lot more, especially with his experience and his awards! I asked how much I owe, and he said "How's $120? Does that soud fair to you?" I am DEFINITELY going to him for any more tattoos I get! It was an awesome experience!

[Passionfruition]

Wow, neat! Welcome home and CONGRATS! I can't wait to see pics of it! :thumbup:

[Lindsey]

Here are the pics! I'm stupid and I put the cream stuff on it after washing and BEFORE taking a picture, so they're shiny! I tried to not use flash for one and there's no glare but it's kind of blurry and dark. I love that he didn't use black to outline any of it! It all just looks very soft and flowy :)

[Passionfruition]

Oh wow! How NEAT! He did an awesome job - I love the colors. I'm so excited for you.

[Lindsey]

Thanks :) He told me that since the purple is so pale it's going to look dull for a couple of days but it'll start to look better and pop out more as it heals :)

[AngieDoogles]

Wow! It looks great! Congrats. :)

[judy]

Great - Congratulations! I'm so glad you had a good experience. I can't wait to see pictures.....

Love,
Judy

[judy]

I replied before I saw that there already are pix. It's so beautiful! It is soft and Ilove the curve and the size and the colors too. You're right. He's really really talented.

I'm so happy for you.