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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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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Angelamarie’s Bambino Shoulder Tattoo

I have two tattoos, but the one that means the most to me is the simplest. It is the word “Bambino”, tattooed on the back of my right shoulder.

I am five years older than my baby brother, and I used to call him Bambino when we were kids. Not sure why, we are German heritage, not Italian…but for some reason, it stuck.

When he was 28, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. When he was 29, he died. It was the most horrible thing in our lives. But I also found what was most important to me.

So now I wear his nickname from childhood on my body. He is the angel on my shoulder, watching out for me.

- angelamarie

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Jennifer’s Dragonfly Tattoo

I went and got my first and only tattoo for my 30th birthday last year (07). The dragonfly represents my grandmother who absolutely adored the dragonflies.

After she passed away my family would always say that every time they saw one flying around that it was her. So this is why I wanted the dragonfly. I also wanted to have it look as if it had just landed on my shoulder, hence the shadowing.

- Jennifer

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Jessica’s Ivy Tattoo

I was starting a new life. I decided to pack up and move to Korea. It was a new beginning, a time to grow. I wanted something that would remind me of my personal growth.

I researched symbolisms of strength. Found the Ivy. It’s a very strong plant that grows very quickly. It doesn’t need any sunlight, and fights it’s way through anything to get were it needs to go.

- Jessica

Tattoo Artist: Barry Buteau
Tattoo Studio: Planet Ink, Ontario, Canada

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Elliot’s Serenity Prayer Tattoo Story

I got this tattoo in Casa Grande, Arizona. It is a tattoo of a prayer called “The Serenity Prayer.” The prayer reads as follows.. God grant me the serenity to accept the things i cannot change, the courage to change the things i can, and the wisdom to know the difference between the two. The name of the Shop is called Aces and Eights.

The motivation for me to get this tattoo was that i have had a problem with
drug addiction since i was about 16 yrs old. I pretty much was using cocaine about 4-5 times a week thru all 4 years of college. I managed to graduate from college (took me an extra year, so i graduated in 5 years)and all while being on a full athletic scholarship. My senior year with about 2 weeks left before winter break i got busted by campus security(luckily not police) and i od’ed and got kicked off campus and almost lost everything but i managed to work out a deal where if i could complete 60 days in a treatment center and then pass random drug tests and do outpatient 3 hours a week for rest of my senior year i would be able to stay in school and continue to play on the athletic team i was on.

Every day in treatment at least 3-4 times a day we had to recite that prayer and it just started to stick with me. I got the tattoo a week after i graduated and have been drug free since the day i got it. The tattoo stands for my sobriety and the commitment i have to myself and everyone that cares about me to stay that way.

- Elliot

Brittany’s Unbreakable Tattoo

A few months after I turned 18 I went with one of my friends when she got a tattoo. Looking back I probably should have waited to look around at other shops to get such a large piece on my back but, I got it and even with its flaws, I love it.

Up until I was 17 I suffered through sexual abuse when I was very young, never having a real father figure, finding a suicide victim when I was 12 (my step father), being prone to severe depression and when I was 17 losing my mom and big brother within two weeks of each other. Honestly, I dont like to lay it all out there but it needs to be known for the reasons of my tattoo. I got it to remind myself that no matter how hard a situation, I can get through it; no matter how much it seems like Im going to break, I wont.

Ive lead a hard life up until the age of 17 and Im not ‘screwed up’ because of it. I managed to still have a pretty level head on my shoulders and not let hard things get in my way of living life. Unbreakable represents how I live. It represents everything Ive gone through and how I plan on living the rest of my life.

The word Unbreakable represents me. The cherry blossoms remind me to live life to the fullest and no regrets. Its on the back of my right shoulder, taking up basically the whole upper right section of my upper back. I plan to add more to it later on.

- Brittany

Maggie’s Swallow Tattoo Cover-Up

I got this tattoo in summer ’06, it’s covering up a spur-of-the-moment 18th birthday tattoo, which happened to be the good old Nirvana drunken smiley face (see picture below). I decided that I’d rather have a tattoo that had a meaning behind it, so I got this swallow to cover it up. It was designed and done by Sean at Voodoo Monkey in Cleveland, OH.

To me it symbolizes freedom. A few months before getting it I “left the nest” so to speak, and moved 1400 miles from home to a place I had never been before. The reason for the flower: the swallow will never be able to put it down, just like I feel I will never be able to settle down for too long in one place.

-Maggie

Tattoo Artist: Sean at Voodoo Monkey, Cleveland, OH

Original Nirvana Smiley Tattoo