The Stories Behind Ivy’s Back and Rib Tattoos

The ivy on my back represents friendship and commitment, and is also the symbol of my road name for the Shamrocks MC.

The biker chick on my side represents me and my new found love for motorcycles and the Biker lifestyle.

The butterfly tribal is in memory of my mother, and the small diamond shaped tattoo which is actually 4 C’s stands for my three sisters and myself.

-Ivy

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Me and my best friend decided to get the same tattoo a few years back, so we got a few stars on our wrist. I’d also gotten a butterfly on my arm after snapping up a cancellation while my friend was getting one done.

I decided I was going to get something in between both and was just going to get stars. I looked around a few places but hadn’t chosen a design or an artist yet. My dad used to sing Coldplay – Yellow to me when it first came out and I’ve always being a huge Coldplay fan. My dad passed away but instead of just getting ‘Dad’ I decided to get something that means something to me.

So here is my tattoo! I’m constantly getting compliments about it which are forwarded to my amazing artist. After a month or so I still can’t stop staring at it, its magical and I love it. To everyone else its just lyrics but to me it matters the most ;D

-Kelsey

Tattoo Artist: Julie
Tattoo Studio: Sacred Fortune, Allerton Road, Liverpool

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I got this tattoo in two parts. The first part was the quote, which reads “wine, poetry, or virtue, as you wish, but be drunk”, which is a quote from the French poet Charles Baudelaire. It was all about self-indulgence to the point of happiness because my grandfather had just passed away, and it made me realize the value of our time.

The next summer I got the birds. The bluebird is from Charles Bukowski’s “Bluebird”, and is a symbol of finding a vulnerability and true goodness within the self. The yellow bird is a concept from the Bright Eyes album, I’m Wide Awake and It’s Morning, and serves as a symbol for a hopefulness in another person. The blue bird is slightly lower on my body to show that you have to love yourself first, and the flowers in the yellow birds mouth are three zinnias, which show constancy and remembrance and are dedicated to the three closest people in my life.

- Kara

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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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