My mother passed away when I was a freshman in High School, and she was the only parent I ever knew. So in memory of her, I got her name tattooed over my heart so she’d always be with me.

-Ivy

Inked by Perry Stratton - Splash of Color, Lansing, MI

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Agamid’s Tolkien Cleavage Tattoo

My third tat (the symbol between my breasts) is the Tolkien symbol – if you don’t know what that is, please go to your local library, pick up a copy of one of his books and look for it. It’s his signature. I’ve always loved Tolkien’s books. I grew up hearing them as bedtime stories. To me, he was the best writer ever born and the father of the fantasy genre as we know it. He’s my hero.

This tat is the first of what are going to be several Tolkien themed tats. I want a couple of original Tolkien illustrated dragons to flank the symbol and the tree of Gondor on my back. Lucky for me my tattoo artist is a massive Tolkien fan too.

- agamid

Tattoo Artist: Loz
Tattoo Studio: Westside Tattoo, Westend, Brisbane, Australia

Agamid’s Other Tattoos: Lizard Arm Tattoo Story, Lizard Leg Tattoo Story

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My Sandman tattoo – this piece of art from Neil Gaiman – as I’ve read it the first time about 10 years ago I absorbed it completely. Wikipedia says about it:

“The Sandman‘s main character is Dream, who is essentially the god of dreams, but is displayed as being the personification of all sentient beings’ collective ability to dream and tell stories”

The wish to get a tattoo of Dream or Sandman as I like to call him grew over time but I was feeling unsure where to go and I wanted a particular picture of him as a tattoo. The breakthrough came in May 2006 as i met with some of my schoolfellows and one of them had a nice Tribal one his arm. I asked him where he’d got it from and some time later I sent an e-mail to www.gecko-tattoo.de and asked them if they could complete my picture of Sandman so I would get a full picture of Sandman to put on my chest.

We arranged a date and a few days later I went to Gecko Tattoo. It took 2.5 hours for Salva (specialised in Freehand) to complete it and everytime I look at I smile. Everytime I hear “Tear In Your Hand” by Tori Amos that got a reference to Neil Gaiman:

“..if you need me, me and neil’ll be hangin’ out with the DREAM KING.

Neil says hi by the way”

I feel good to have Sandman on my body and in a way in my soul.

Inshallah

Michael

Courtney’s Ivy Tattoo

Courtney, my best friend of 20 years and I recently got matching tattoos. Our friendship is definitely significant enough for and worth of a couple of tattoos. Our parents went to college together and we’ve lived 2 houses away from each other our whole lives so there’s no stopping us now.

There are various meanings for ivy leaves but a few significant ones we found that made us choose it were “long and lasting friendship” and “reliable friend.” We each have the other’s first initial incorporated into the design.

Courtney came up with the original design and the final design was put together by the tattoo artist.

- Katie

Tattoos by “Johnny Truant” AKA Kenny of 4 in the Morning Studios – East Northport, NY

Here is my take on this mythical bird linked with fire, the sun and rebirth. I found this paragraph quite inspirational: “A mythical bird that never dies, the phoenix flies far ahead to the front, always scanning the landscape and distant space. It represents our capacity for vision, for collecting sensory information about our environment and the events unfolding within it. The phoenix, with its great beauty, creates intense excitement and deathless inspiration.” – (The Feng Shui Handbook, feng shui Master Lam Kam Chuen)

After a couple of designs, Gaitan from “Paul and Friendz Tattoo” shop in Belgium crafted this drawing which encompasses nicely the strength, lightness and beauty of the Phoenix. It is my second tattoo. The first one being a snake in the shape of an Ouroboros around my left wrist. After a “snake that bites his own tale”, I chose a bird on fire that flies away without being blinded by the sun…

- Gaetan

Inked by Gaitan – Paul and Friendz Tattoo Shop – Belgium

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