Darya's Bi-Coastal Peacock and Cherry Blossoms

I met Darya coming out of the subway in Bay Ridge and asked if I could take a picture of her tattoo. She kindly allowed me to do so and share it here with everyone on Tattoosday:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVjiSZ0RtREVSaatR6wWAJY6ulcb1AWaaTngTXksMTqDp_KOLhwW7rqllzgFG8RAaKkAHu-Zh7YM05GXNJhVAKldFa0XqTFlMBQetm75fNHNLEr-XpPhu4PpdchlQDySLL5heIa8Iefk/s1600/Darya+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTVjiSZ0RtREVSaatR6wWAJY6ulcb1AWaaTngTXksMTqDp_KOLhwW7rqllzgFG8RAaKkAHu-Zh7YM05GXNJhVAKldFa0XqTFlMBQetm75fNHNLEr-XpPhu4PpdchlQDySLL5heIa8Iefk/s640/Darya+wm.jpg" width="166" /></a></div><br />Darya explained that she always wanted a peacock tattoo, and she has fourteen tattoos in all (not all peacocks). Joe Maggs at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a> tattooed the peacock. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyboI3afxUlM-tM_7-lR3UjaxA7r0CpNZg3FuXiaF77ld3IJbfgQ5RssKRDGSfMoRkdgqCfl2YmTTi2Blm0t5HIW8f28AJdxAZkG33Fc7xTZ-Ie3x114UobRIH0lGLOld8o88STzEMos/s1600/Darya+detail+peacock+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjyboI3afxUlM-tM_7-lR3UjaxA7r0CpNZg3FuXiaF77ld3IJbfgQ5RssKRDGSfMoRkdgqCfl2YmTTi2Blm0t5HIW8f28AJdxAZkG33Fc7xTZ-Ie3x114UobRIH0lGLOld8o88STzEMos/s640/Darya+detail+peacock+wm2.jpg" width="410" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs0jVo201iWlZbMOHukFF7uj1tIqYlfGJzzRsFbjHHlJJiwA27qFqTSYWnpJwhHqV8gJ0800K4F8z4a_J_i1GkRWNbzOVT8YSgYDA_iookWJHUtHC7ERKAby8BgLsSTp0Hg8OazUUP3Bs/s1600/Darya+detail+peacock+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />The cherry blossoms, symbols of regeneration, were added by Illya at <a href="http://www.studiocitytattoo.com/">Studio City Tattoos</a> in California.<br /><br />Thanks to Darya for sharing her tattoos from both coasts here on Tattoosday!

Darya's Bi-Coastal Peacock and Cherry Blossoms

I met Darya coming out of the subway in Bay Ridge and asked if I could take a picture of her tattoo. She kindly allowed me to do so and shar...

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Two for Tattuesday Saturday: Wanderful Love Under the Cherry Blossoms

In honor of the release of <a href="http://harrypotter.warnerbros.com/harrypotterandthedeathlyhallows/mainsite/index.html">Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1)</a> , we're sharing this tattoo, which I spotted back in September:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhAUF75dfeaiVA0WfbE7E_QYOJYxUQ0fy4zGcKVvf0qFcXOXP5afP085PNPB4t3__3xrF4_YQ6Dz-wM4G2PJY_CgzShHrqMeFS-ovLIff7GdGdVoIRiAK8BJJix6Kn7OkP6Cbq2LQ_No/s1600/wand+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLhAUF75dfeaiVA0WfbE7E_QYOJYxUQ0fy4zGcKVvf0qFcXOXP5afP085PNPB4t3__3xrF4_YQ6Dz-wM4G2PJY_CgzShHrqMeFS-ovLIff7GdGdVoIRiAK8BJJix6Kn7OkP6Cbq2LQ_No/s640/wand+wm.jpg" width="234" /></a></div><br />This belongs to Rich, a musician and rap artist. He's a big <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Potter">Harry Potter</a> fan, as exemplified by the magic wand. The snake at the base of the wand not only symbolizes infinity, it is a nod to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severus_Snape">Severus Snape</a>, a character associated with the House of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slytherin#Slytherin">Slytherin</a>, of which the serpent is the mascot.<br /><br />The concept of the tattoo is exemplified by the music coming out of the wand, illustrating that sounds can be magical and that Rich is under music's spell.<br /><br />The piece was inked by Chris at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ladylucktattoostudio">Lady Luck Tattoo Studio</a> in Montville, Connecticut.<br /><br />When I met Rich, he was sitting with his girlfriend in Penn Station. She introduced herself as Kytti, and asked if I wanted to see her tattoo.<br /><br />But of course!<br /><br />She actually has two tattoos, but lifted up her shirt to show me this beautiful design:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1tWiOeeH62jiW7gbC4qrJUvEtx8zIh0NuYBiUMfVmQ3_NGMPA57ljHa8Mm5d9fEqg5w5AzXip3kv3VXinAEibrZchnGENfReypEeJpbi0hKTzfBJ0KLFB049PYweqnbk3jN9G9DUzBs/s1600/Japan+love+wm2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1tWiOeeH62jiW7gbC4qrJUvEtx8zIh0NuYBiUMfVmQ3_NGMPA57ljHa8Mm5d9fEqg5w5AzXip3kv3VXinAEibrZchnGENfReypEeJpbi0hKTzfBJ0KLFB049PYweqnbk3jN9G9DUzBs/s640/Japan+love+wm2.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br />Kytti explained that this represents her and Rich together in Japan. They've been together for over a year and they'd both love to go there together and experience the culture. The tree is filled with cherry blossoms, a flower often associated with Japan.<br /><br />Chris at Lady Luck also was the artist behind this tattoo.<br /><br />Thanks to Rich and Kytti for sharing their magical and romantic tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Two for Tattuesday Saturday: Wanderful Love Under the Cherry Blossoms

In honor of the release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part 1) , we're sharing this tattoo, which I spotted back in September...

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Rebecca's Memorial Butterfly

I met Rebecca a couple months ago in Penn Station and asked her about her tattoos.<br /><br />Of the eleven, she shared this one from her leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx-gghhsiV3REoXjVyDV1fu_ulbvsBUXZiNiwk55SkC_RNfXxvecPbeWQQsJ-e0YPz-cRWVYfYo4Zv6oi9WMH2N4azAqWeVz6nAXkKzGqtJPoVI0xlstJ2IVEPVuA6OCjS4JXeQXt/s1600/butterfly+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNx-gghhsiV3REoXjVyDV1fu_ulbvsBUXZiNiwk55SkC_RNfXxvecPbeWQQsJ-e0YPz-cRWVYfYo4Zv6oi9WMH2N4azAqWeVz6nAXkKzGqtJPoVI0xlstJ2IVEPVuA6OCjS4JXeQXt/s400/butterfly+wm.jpg" width="372" /></a></div><br />This beautiful, yet battered, butterfly is a memorial to her unborn child. She lost the baby when she was just nineteen. The cherry blossoms are often symbolic of the fleeting nature of life.<br /><br />The tattoo was completed on October 13, 2007 by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/natestattoos">Nate Hudson</a> when he was at <a href="http://www.vabeachink.com/">Virginia Beach Ink</a>. He now tattoos at <a href="http://folkcitytattoo.com/?page_id=35">Folk City Tattoo</a> in Suffolk, Virginia. As today is October 13, I've been hanging on to this post, not only to correspond with the day the tattoo was finished, but also the due date of the baby that was lost.<br /><br />We here at Tattoosday truly thank Rebecca for sharing, not only this poignant tattoo, but also for allowing us to relate the emotional story behind this butterfly.

Rebecca's Memorial Butterfly

I met Rebecca a couple months ago in Penn Station and asked her about her tattoos. Of the eleven, she shared this one from her leg: This bea...

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Sandra's Cherry Blossoms

I met Sandra at the local laundromat at the end of August and she shared this lovely tattoo on her upper right arm: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9HCpT0HWzo2JVmH-3NEY_0ZZ6vdjE5qMSL4CthJBKYL7bBRQQvzvI1n8t0gIhyphenhyphenDN3lp0uhRG_HXDO6-3bUH5m_093aqFNSfYaDsIqJr-q0Wvlh-Pfh3UjOYDf8t-jX3N50DsZtL_/s1600/Jiminy+Cherry+Blossom+collage+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" px="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM9HCpT0HWzo2JVmH-3NEY_0ZZ6vdjE5qMSL4CthJBKYL7bBRQQvzvI1n8t0gIhyphenhyphenDN3lp0uhRG_HXDO6-3bUH5m_093aqFNSfYaDsIqJr-q0Wvlh-Pfh3UjOYDf8t-jX3N50DsZtL_/s400/Jiminy+Cherry+Blossom+collage+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />There are two elements to this design, the cherry blossoms and the quote. The cherry blossoms were inked after her father was initially diagnosed with cancer. The quote was added when Sandra decided to move to New York from Oregon.<br /><br />Reading "When your heart is in your dream, no request is too extreme...", this quote is from the film <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinocchio_%281940_film%29">Pinocchio</a>, in the song "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/When_You_Wish_Upon_a_Star">When You Wish Upon a Star</a>".<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/4833400">Dragon</a> at <a href="http://www.myspace.com/12091597">Star Tattoo</a>, in Portland, Oregon.<br /><br />Thanks to Sandra for sharing her lovely tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!<br /><br /><br />Here's a little bonus:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/4cHsPCAZlP4?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/4cHsPCAZlP4?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object>

Sandra's Cherry Blossoms

I met Sandra at the local laundromat at the end of August and she shared this lovely tattoo on her upper right arm: There are two elements t...

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Marie's Anchor of Hope

I met Marie outside of Penn Station last month after spotting her sleeve of naval designs. She picked this one on the inside of her upper right arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dukokWHSxAzPeLS0bgWh3fj-P6RpdtdsReIJSUCe74eHjB1EhDh82SFwZq-c5In33aei1-Lbw10dfJeak2B1rZn_Pr2D_-i2fiIVBgVtjyXJymcBeqpBVjrhk-EHc1w5CWXW9Zrh/s1600/Hope+for+Marie+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2dukokWHSxAzPeLS0bgWh3fj-P6RpdtdsReIJSUCe74eHjB1EhDh82SFwZq-c5In33aei1-Lbw10dfJeak2B1rZn_Pr2D_-i2fiIVBgVtjyXJymcBeqpBVjrhk-EHc1w5CWXW9Zrh/s640/Hope+for+Marie+wm.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />This tattoo reminds her the importance of "loving where you're from" and having "faith in where you live". The anchor and cherry blossoms are a nice blend of traditional tattoo designs from the East and the West.<br /><br />The design is an allusion to a song called "Anchor and Hope,"  from the album <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wall_of_People"><i>Wall of People</i></a> by alternative rock band <a href="http://www.montyarei.com/">Monty Are I</a>, out of Cranston, Rhode Island.<br /><br />Check them out in this video of them doing the song acoustically:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/XURk6rpg2uY&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/XURk6rpg2uY&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Marie is originally from New York, moved to Virginia, and has relocated back home to New York City.<br /><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/rob_tattoos.html">Rob</a> at <a href="http://www.brooklyninktattoo.com/">Brooklyn Ink</a>. Rob was a subject on Tattoosday a couple of years back. See his post <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/robs-rite-of-passage.html">here</a>. And <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Brooklyn%20Ink">this tag</a> will show you the work previously featured on Tattoosday created at Brooklyn Ink.<br /><br />Thanks to Marie for sharing her cool tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Marie's Anchor of Hope

I met Marie outside of Penn Station last month after spotting her sleeve of naval designs. She picked this one on the inside of her upper ri...

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Michelle's Tattoo Takes Your Breath Away

Michelle has a lot of ink, twenty-one tattoos, all told, but when I stopped her in Penn Station, she chose to share this one with us:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikimQt2AvUchGnjokjG4D8gy1JJ6D3_sTjsaNGTQIO2rh2LOW5Iy5E3VsOZYIk0Sj8VD8hg7hDz2Htw8JqRgaNqVdJzO9TVQi34JUmr9Wg8-T_06Nz-I6bHY3wyM4FqNuT_946Mm4q/s1600/moments+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikimQt2AvUchGnjokjG4D8gy1JJ6D3_sTjsaNGTQIO2rh2LOW5Iy5E3VsOZYIk0Sj8VD8hg7hDz2Htw8JqRgaNqVdJzO9TVQi34JUmr9Wg8-T_06Nz-I6bHY3wyM4FqNuT_946Mm4q/s400/moments+1.jpg" width="295" /></a></div><br />Boldly planted on her upper right arm, Michelle explained that she paraphrased and pared down a longer quotation to read, more simply, "Live for the moments that take your breath away". I believe she was referring to the saying, "<span style="font-family: arial;">Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away." </span><br /><br />The flowers in the photo are cherry blossoms that were done in blue, rather than the traditional pink because, as Michelle tells it, she's "not really a pink kind of girl".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkkc7KWdkhH5wWLFE0EkYg4gBs6fB0fwOnGMmbXZJO3IIkb-3mZW5LMqHGBo3x_184J-z1bO-ltNsvd_codR5L1xBKL-bkSkfzTiC822gK88L0xAwd-eSXDFi-u2CEEGnPGYPu5XY/s1600/moments+1+detail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJkkc7KWdkhH5wWLFE0EkYg4gBs6fB0fwOnGMmbXZJO3IIkb-3mZW5LMqHGBo3x_184J-z1bO-ltNsvd_codR5L1xBKL-bkSkfzTiC822gK88L0xAwd-eSXDFi-u2CEEGnPGYPu5XY/s400/moments+1+detail.jpg" width="342" /></a></div><br />This tattoo was inked by <a href="http://hobostattoo.site.aplus.net/fattony.shtml">Fat Tony</a> at <a href="http://hobostattoo.site.aplus.net/">Hobo's Tattoo Shop</a> in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.<br /><br />Thanks to Michelle for sharing this tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Michelle's Tattoo Takes Your Breath Away

Michelle has a lot of ink, twenty-one tattoos, all told, but when I stopped her in Penn Station, she chose to share this one with us: Boldly...

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The Lovely Tattoo of Legs Malone

I couldn't help notice the striking woman standing on the subway platform waiting for the R train. She was tall, had long shapely legs, a close-shaven head, and a small tattoo on the back of her left calf.<br /><br />The R pulled in and, as luck would have it, we sat down next to one another on the train.<br /><br />I had to introduce myself.<br /><br />Turns out, I was sitting with a burlesque performer named with the stage name <a href="http://www.myspace.com/legs_malone">Legs Malone</a>.<br /><br />We didn't have a lot of time to talk, as she was exiting the train a stop or two earlier than me, but she obliged me for a photo by taking my camera and shooting the tattoo on the back of her leg:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc-bdYdD0gMzLLnYgK7S8AN7lLb2MHmvyQvYpxAxY9VlHdQHhyNM-iN7wHzRCWL8FsRGDvJY4PTjAtCRDXzAqIcxjmr8LY5bnpG7qdsshZRfJROmMN5RQFKv8cAjWDIfgw_IesyBV/s1600/Legs+Tattoo+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJc-bdYdD0gMzLLnYgK7S8AN7lLb2MHmvyQvYpxAxY9VlHdQHhyNM-iN7wHzRCWL8FsRGDvJY4PTjAtCRDXzAqIcxjmr8LY5bnpG7qdsshZRfJROmMN5RQFKv8cAjWDIfgw_IesyBV/s400/Legs+Tattoo+1.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />She told me that this small tattoo (the only one visible on her frame) was inspired by a heart-shaped bruise that she wanted to replicate on her skin, but in a more aesthetically-pleasing way. The flowers around the heart are cherry blossoms.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjWKmMMHBM5HLlXgp9ITVbIZH4m6xB14nOkGgVXPTIof46H5x04h4R-4U8GQAVjAmFUQzUtMIDTvVbAMxItuvynEYCMZGCoE8Lz_CrJqNZGNOwmiNgrm2y8Bp-IWvXTQtodLFNpah/s1600/Legs+Tattoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFjWKmMMHBM5HLlXgp9ITVbIZH4m6xB14nOkGgVXPTIof46H5x04h4R-4U8GQAVjAmFUQzUtMIDTvVbAMxItuvynEYCMZGCoE8Lz_CrJqNZGNOwmiNgrm2y8Bp-IWvXTQtodLFNpah/s400/Legs+Tattoo.jpg" width="333" /></a></div><br />The tattoo was inked at <a href="http://www.flyritetattoo.net/">Fly Rite Studio</a> by <a href="http://readstreettattoo.net/section/127188_Charlie_Foos.html">Charlie Foos</a>, who is now at <a href="http://readstreettattoo.net/home.html">Read Street Tattoo Parlour</a> in Baltimore. Charlie's work most recently appeared on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/06/sugar-skull-sunday-one-from-ryan.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Legs Malone for sharing her tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

The Lovely Tattoo of Legs Malone

I couldn't help notice the striking woman standing on the subway platform waiting for the R train. She was tall, had long shapely legs, ...

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