Liesl’s Japanese Kanji Tattoo on her Back

Wolf Print Tattoo on Her Ankle

I got my first tattoo of 3 Japanese kanji’s. They say Spirit, Wolf, and Eagle. They are on my back so I can draw great strength from knowing that the 3 of them are always behind me.

My next tattoo is of a wolfs paw on my right ankle. This symbolizes the wolf always walking with me.

All my tattoos have a deep spiritual meaning to me.

-Liesl

Tattoo artist: Jumbo
Tattoo Studio: Jumbos Tattoos

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Caitlin’s Phoenix Tattoo Story

This phoenix tattoo is very personal to me. The phoenix describes the struggles I have gone through in my life and trying to rise above them. It took 2 years for me to compile everything that I wanted in the tattoo. This is just the outline and I am currently getting color done. It will take quite a few months to finish since it is so large.

-Caitlin

Tattoo artist: Wayne
Tattoo Studio: Body Tech

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Sarah’s Arabic Name Tattoo Story

I am half middle eastern. I lived in Saudi Arabia for two years, and as I’ve become older I have really learned to love and embrace my culture. This tattoo, which is my name in Arabic, is simply for me to remember my heritage.

-Sarah

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I got my tattoo on my 18th birthday from my father. It was a big deal to get this tattoo because I had picked it out so many years ago. I was severely depressed and suicidal. I was kicked out of school and there was nothing out there in the world for me and it really got to me. My life then revolved around reading my vampire novels, writing, drugs and music. Especially music. It was what helped me out the most.

I didn’t go on the internet very much and one day I was just aimlessly looking around and found this picture. It had a wonderful quote with it but that’s not what caught my eye. I immediately saved the picture. I kept a print out of the picture in one of my many notebooks and finally got it tattooed last year. I felt that soon after was the turning point in my life. I stopped being so depressed and realized life isn’t all that bad and not everything is out to get me.

Thank you daddy you have no clue how much this means to me.

-Tina

Tattoo artist: Eric Johnson
Tattoo Studio: Firehouse Tattoo, Quesnel, BC Canada

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The story behind Amber’s memorial Flower Tattoo

On March 23, 2005, I lost a child. Getting this tattoo was such a huge deal to me because this was something that I wanted to get for a long time. I finally got it this year.

I don’t need a tattoo to remind me of that day. It is something that will stay with me forever.

-Amber

Tattoo Artist: Bub
Tattoo Studio: TNT Tattoos in Van Wert, Ohio

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Natty’s Rose Tattoo Story

My boyfriend and I dated for 2 years and during those years, he was falling apart with his father… The relationship between them became insanely bad that he got kicked out of his own house, so my father and I let him in. Eventually, his father kicked him out of school and depression and suicide attempts started.

ADM are the initials of his name

08.07.09 is the date that he died. Everytime I am reminded of this date, I know that I have to keep moving forward because I cannot turn my life around. At one point, I was suicidal myself but I was so glad I was still alive because I met him… but now that’s he’s gone, I have to keep walking the path that I hope he will help me go through because I know this is what he wants me to do…

The Rose is the symbol of our love. My boyfriend dedicated this song “Kiss from a rose” by Seal and ever since, he has nick named me “his rose”. He said I was like a rose: beautiful to look at but hard to hold. Though once possessed, it’s even more beautiful to have.

-Natty

Tattoo Artist: Ken
Tattoo Studio: BOOM

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Molly’s Hummingbird Shoulder Tattoo

I grew up without a father and the next best thing i had was my grandfather. I was closer to him than anyone else in my family.

In spring of 2003 when i was 13 and in the 6th grade he was rushed to the hospital with pneumonia, he was in the hospital for three weeks before he passed away. I didn’t know what to do or how to feel. I never cried and i felt like i was in an episode of the Twilight Zone. Later that spring our backyard was full of hummingbirds i don’t know why, we didn’t have any flowers that attracted them we only had one little hummingbird feeder that hadn’t gotten any birds at all that spring.

Earlier that day my Grandmother was watching The Montel Williams show with famous psychic Sylvia Browne, Sylvia had said that those who have passed often send signs to loved ones. So my grandma, feeling sure of herself said “O.k. Don, if you are around keeping an eye on us send some hummingbirds to our feeder.” Just as soon as she was done saying that we had 3 birds at our feeder.

Now whenever i see a hummingbird i am reminded that my grandpa is with me and watching over me, and because of my tattoo i will always be reminded of it.

- Molly

Tattoo Artist: Aaron
Tattoo Studio: Arron is currently working at Scuttlebutt Tattoo.

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Danny’s Fish Pin Tattoo Story

This tattoo is an image of a silver pin (a Georg Jensen design) that my great aunt got in Denmark in the 1930s. She had it made into a money clip which she gave my to my dad – who carried all through France & Germany during WWII and back home again until he lost it.

When I was born (1952) my mom found a duplicate pin at the Georg Jensen store in NYC and had it made into a money clip which she gave to my dad – when I was two he bought an identical pin and gave it (somewhat O’Henry-like) to mom. He carried that money clip until he died in 1992 – and then it was mine. I carried it until 2005 until I lost it. Last year mom gave me her pin — which we turned into a money clip that I carry with me today.

I got the tattoo to keep my dad close and so as to never lose it again. I just recently bought the very same pin on ebay and plan to give it to mom for Xmas this year.

-Danny

Tattoo Artist: The design was drawn and executed by João Paulo Rodrigues at Rising Dragon Tattoos. It was at 230 W. 23rd St. btwn 7th & 8th Aves. in NYC but that’s now Chelsea Tattoo Co. Rising Dragon is now at 51 West 14th St. 2nd Floor, btwn 5 & 6 Aves.
Tattoo Studio: Rising Dragon Tattoos

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Carleah’s Tim Burton Cats Tattoo Story

Besides my fear of needles, I always wanted tattoos but I could never decide what to get. I kept putting it off. Being a cat lover, they obviously had to be cats, but I didn’t want anything cutesy. I have always been a Tim Burton fan and finally at the age of 24 I decided to get the cat in the opening credits of his short film Vincent. I had finally decided… and then I had a stroke.

After the stroke I underwent a multitude of procedures including surgery to close a hole in my heart. For two years I had to be on blood thinners and could therefore not get tattooed.

When I was finally taken off the blood thinners my plans were back in motion. My fear of needles had been abolished by the legions of needles I’d had by the end of the whole experience.

I took stills from the movie and traced the cat twice to be positioned symmetrically on my lower back. I had the tattoos done almost right away. It obviously didn’t start out this way, but for me the tattoo signifies the welcomed end of a negative life experience.

- Carleah

Tattoo Artist: Jeff
Tattoo Studio: Anchor’s Tattoo Studio

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Alex’s Swallow Tattoo

Here’s the story behind the swallow tattoo on my shoulder. I am an avian veterinarian, so, I love birds, all kinds of birds, but I’ve always had an speccial feeling for swallows. In Mexico, migratory swallows return on may, and I was born on may.

When I was 4 years old, my mother wrote a poem to me, and it began like this: “you came on may like the swallows…” My mom also had a summer house in the countryside, where I spent the happiest moments of my childhood. In this house, swallows used to build their nests under the corner of the roof and the wall, so you where able to see them very close. Then I grew up, and I had a hard time.. I was into drugs and alcohol, I was always drunk at school, and I was sexually abused by my boyfriend’s best friend. Then, my boyfriend left me. I was very depressed and I tried to commit suicide. I was taken to a mental hospital, and those were the darkest days of my life.

I came back to school, and with the support of my friends, that had always been like my family for me, and with the help of God, I recovered hope in life and I recovered the strenght and the courage to keep on… I wanted to do something that reminded me everyday what I have been, and what I could become into… something to represent that I was brave enough to fight for me, for my life and for my freedom.

-Alex

Tattoo Artist: Roy
Tattoo Studio: Evolution Tattoo, in Mexico City

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