Tyler's Bald Eagle

I spotted Tyler outside of my office building on Seventh Avenue last month.<br /><br />Actually, the first thing I noticed was Tyler's eagle:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_19qTcJKmuaWd410PFQ-9EKdeWG2w7E3ASWdpbWnAfZ-8KRdgpuTcN6MoJPDyEfC90CB_Tkx7FDhMpw5SJcQkII-dqQEnX8tFBkXa8CEXozjuiLWNYqMIq1O4Gu-VQyP0WA5522a/s1600/Tylers+Eagle+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv_19qTcJKmuaWd410PFQ-9EKdeWG2w7E3ASWdpbWnAfZ-8KRdgpuTcN6MoJPDyEfC90CB_Tkx7FDhMpw5SJcQkII-dqQEnX8tFBkXa8CEXozjuiLWNYqMIq1O4Gu-VQyP0WA5522a/s640/Tylers+Eagle+wm.jpg" width="406" /></a></div><br />One of three tattoos he has, Tyler explained that he really likes traditional designs, and that eagles, in his opinion, are among the coolest animals.<br /><br />He also likes the way feathers look in tattoo designs, and this eagle's plumage is inked exceptionally well.<br /><br />He credits Jeremy at <a href="http://www.imperialtattoopdx.com/index.html">Imperial Tattoo</a> in Portland, Oregon with this piece.<br /><br />Thanks to Tyler for allowing his eagle to fly here on Tattoosday!<span id="goog_230944893"></span><span id="goog_230944894"></span>

Tyler's Bald Eagle

I spotted Tyler outside of my office building on Seventh Avenue last month. Actually, the first thing I noticed was Tyler's eagle: One o...

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Nick's AK-47

I met Nick outside of Penn Station and, of his "six or seven" tattoos, he offered up this one:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp__6DPgsvDsTmenoZLDyJHwRvHogTo-zSw4xrKiN5R-XC6qAN0navPj-GwSi8BHlGZeZFsNH32A350Wdnsw5Zk8HrwDzqlWU9chQXaQbHyJTmF-HzAkiUgUol-DOY2eGXHXZvEGvv/s1600/AK47+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp__6DPgsvDsTmenoZLDyJHwRvHogTo-zSw4xrKiN5R-XC6qAN0navPj-GwSi8BHlGZeZFsNH32A350Wdnsw5Zk8HrwDzqlWU9chQXaQbHyJTmF-HzAkiUgUol-DOY2eGXHXZvEGvv/s400/AK47+wm.jpg" width="397" /></a></div><br />Nick had this <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AK-47">AK-47</a> inked on his stomach to pay homage to his Russian heritage. He told me that this tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.myspace.com/tattoosbyfernando">Fernando Alvarez</a> out in Los Angeles.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o0jWWQsLBiYfSCSwSYvnDETpd5rwuhyuJEEC30dwN7pAfRXvl_osLIQPyo1WetXPG58aF-YxzopTJaNNSmAI4sbv9G7aPbZNpPodzQTv3AqIh9WZXy67FZzpVfRi1rbtkb6Zjswc/s1600/AK47+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6o0jWWQsLBiYfSCSwSYvnDETpd5rwuhyuJEEC30dwN7pAfRXvl_osLIQPyo1WetXPG58aF-YxzopTJaNNSmAI4sbv9G7aPbZNpPodzQTv3AqIh9WZXy67FZzpVfRi1rbtkb6Zjswc/s400/AK47+detail+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />Thanks to Nick for sharing his ink with us here at Tattoosday!<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>

Nick's AK-47

I met Nick outside of Penn Station and, of his "six or seven" tattoos, he offered up this one: Nick had this AK-47 inked on his s...

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Simona's Scripted Ink

I met Simona in Park Slope, Brooklyn, back at the end of July. At the corner of Prospect Avenue and Prospect Park West, just outside of the <a href="http://www.hnjbklyn.org/">Holy Name Church</a>.<br /><br />Simona had an unusual script around her right bicep:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00lNv_7Fh0DXqk5TPrGevuAMT3iJWhGYVKIjcM_RLPBNigC929prx-TPkTdCxWRYpXE2gdBW7yz_5BEC0yYS9ag4CrgbKPvohHfPVTsvbHOlHtwytCFAPeEvY5uDARvKzzberSfiC/s1600/elvish+collage+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh00lNv_7Fh0DXqk5TPrGevuAMT3iJWhGYVKIjcM_RLPBNigC929prx-TPkTdCxWRYpXE2gdBW7yz_5BEC0yYS9ag4CrgbKPvohHfPVTsvbHOlHtwytCFAPeEvY5uDARvKzzberSfiC/s400/elvish+collage+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />This is written in <a href="http://www.omniglot.com/writing/tengwar.htm">Tengwar</a>, a script created by <a href="http://www.omniglot.com/writing/tengwar.htm">J.R.R. Tolkien</a> to represent the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elvish">Elvish</a> tongue. The text displayed here is the beginning of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aragorn">Aragorn</a>'s coronation speech in <a href="http://www.amazon.com/J-R-R-Tolkien-Boxed-Hobbit-Rings/dp/0345340426?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Lord of The Rings</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0345340426" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" /> trilogy.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4SfqIVQNnWeGe4z1MmnGbNVJIBOMQ0Z9fWC03c5ExNACCWbZCc8nU_labY3Xj2P3PIMkqKzzVwClF7rd0lmhgqyCVokeYbTISnXz192DMqBv7xkX9cmOZolPVR-m6Bmqj2qeAF8k/s1600/500px-Et_Earello_Endorenna_Tengwar_Font.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="62" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic4SfqIVQNnWeGe4z1MmnGbNVJIBOMQ0Z9fWC03c5ExNACCWbZCc8nU_labY3Xj2P3PIMkqKzzVwClF7rd0lmhgqyCVokeYbTISnXz192DMqBv7xkX9cmOZolPVR-m6Bmqj2qeAF8k/s400/500px-Et_Earello_Endorenna_Tengwar_Font.svg.png" width="400" /></a></div><br />The line displayed is "Et Eärello Endorenna utúlien," which means "Out of the Great Sea to Middle-earth I am come".<br /><br />This tattoo was inked by one of the best tattooers of script around, <a href="http://stephanietamez.com/">Stephanie Tamez</a> at <a href="http://www.nyadorned.com/">New York Adorned</a>. Work from Stephanie has appeared previously on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Stephanie%20Tamez">here</a>.<br /><br />Simona also had this on her inner left forearm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uUcRDLv7GOgQQZt1UZnxUp6INc-_1OUfF6Pp3f2TBfcdtBpnMr9_eo7veQJ63TBSfJqV6Knn1Mm48uf2nLakbk5oiolrCWmUTiW1mpSk-FU5cSe4MkGzUQJvidT8uuoOWdv1Z2wk/s1600/chai+crop+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uUcRDLv7GOgQQZt1UZnxUp6INc-_1OUfF6Pp3f2TBfcdtBpnMr9_eo7veQJ63TBSfJqV6Knn1Mm48uf2nLakbk5oiolrCWmUTiW1mpSk-FU5cSe4MkGzUQJvidT8uuoOWdv1Z2wk/s400/chai+crop+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfCz-Cpirs-nm0-INz4UUjn2LmSWCvtPQcxiWh2M_e-irs_v1tjjKv1qngIl1vzgLgyXjQ6EI0A0s5c0QfXtPvIdG-pjrrvs8yc4Qx51nGV8U_wr07MjyAyWKipDTp50GO9p5uhcg/s1600/200px-Hebrew_Chai_Symbol.svg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUfCz-Cpirs-nm0-INz4UUjn2LmSWCvtPQcxiWh2M_e-irs_v1tjjKv1qngIl1vzgLgyXjQ6EI0A0s5c0QfXtPvIdG-pjrrvs8yc4Qx51nGV8U_wr07MjyAyWKipDTp50GO9p5uhcg/s200/200px-Hebrew_Chai_Symbol.svg.png" width="200" /></a></div>That is Hebrew for "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chai_%28symbol%29">chai</a>" or "life".<br /><br />She placed the tattoo there because that is where Jews who were interned during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Holocaust">Holocaust</a> had been tattooed by the Nazis. It's tattooed there as an expression of solidarity with her faith and, as a reminder to never forget the horror that was the Holocaust.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Thanks to Simona for sharing her tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Simona's Scripted Ink

I met Simona in Park Slope, Brooklyn, back at the end of July. At the corner of Prospect Avenue and Prospect Park West, just outside of the ...

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Chloe's Patriotism

When I met Chloe back in July, I didn't think that the tattoo she offered would be saved for an anniversary, or a special occasion, but that is how it played out.<br /><br />In fact, when I approached her in the Union Square Barnes & Noble, I was more interested in a design on her thigh. However, she dismissed that tattoo, one of her first, and offered up this relatively crude rendering of the American flag:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JCcJs0tdnwsG4coWA_7ZofqTECtxGTDPl81VuIdJe-JtXNuoh8GYZsDPFR1_FSj3pfH2Y1YoWwFBH7YHsSglJTa1ka_-cWlpaaq08nJp7YTkic3JhHtL2K_ZfDV6wSJxOfHkup_y/s1600/Ameircan+Flag+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0JCcJs0tdnwsG4coWA_7ZofqTECtxGTDPl81VuIdJe-JtXNuoh8GYZsDPFR1_FSj3pfH2Y1YoWwFBH7YHsSglJTa1ka_-cWlpaaq08nJp7YTkic3JhHtL2K_ZfDV6wSJxOfHkup_y/s400/Ameircan+Flag+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />By crude, I mean unpolished, and I do not mean it disrespectfully. For Chloe disclosed that this was a "stick and poke" tattoo that she and her friend Luke had given one another when in school.<br /><br />Chloe was a Visual Arts major and explained that, in college, everyone seemed to be "poo-poohing on America," and this bothered her.<br /><br />It is occasionally the case where college students, from their campuses, speak out against our country.<br /><br />But Chloe and Luke wanted to make their own personal statements. "We do have a lot here," she told me, and expressed her dismay at those fellow students who seemed to take our freedoms for granted.<br /><br />Chloe loves American culture (especially Westerns) and is "super-jazzed about Americana".<br /><br />Despite the fact that it was not professionally done, it seems appropriate that this tattoo appear here on Patriot's Day, on a day on which we give pause, and remember what America is about. Our freedom is not something to take for granted and, whereas we certainly have a right to voice our discontent with the government, we should also not take for granted the freedoms we do have, those that make us who we are.<br /><br />Thanks to Chloe for letting us unfurl her flag here on Tattoosday, on this day in which we should all pause and reflect, remembering how fortunate we Americans are to live in such a wonderful country.<br /><br />I also encourage people to check out previous Patriot Day posts <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/pauls-911-memorial.html">here</a>, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/repost-for-patriot-day-mikes-tribal-911.html">here</a> and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2008/09/patriotic-tattoo-for-patriot-day.html">here</a>.

Chloe's Patriotism

When I met Chloe back in July, I didn't think that the tattoo she offered would be saved for an anniversary, or a special occasion, but ...

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The Tattoosday Book Review: Driven to Ink, A Tattoo Shop Mystery

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Earlier this week, author <a href="http://www.kareneolson.com/">Karen E. Olson</a> released the third installment of her <i>Tattoo Shop Mystery</i> series, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Driven-Ink-Tattoo-Shop-Mystery/dp/0451231570?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Driven To Ink</a>.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VooIgm-ZI-pBjUTskhLVJv-9ZkUPNuDf263u-e3wQv7p_rnsJxg0kTnLDxqaOZH-hR6q4TXEkQPi6QDUZVsJvMegRC3B89YxqnsPkXX2vxgXtKpO7AXplbDzL9f2opSmmUqy0246/s1600/DriventoInk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4VooIgm-ZI-pBjUTskhLVJv-9ZkUPNuDf263u-e3wQv7p_rnsJxg0kTnLDxqaOZH-hR6q4TXEkQPi6QDUZVsJvMegRC3B89YxqnsPkXX2vxgXtKpO7AXplbDzL9f2opSmmUqy0246/s640/DriventoInk.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />For those readers who may not be familiar with Ms. Olson's series, you can check out my reviews of the first two books, <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/11/tattoosday-book-review-missing-ink.html">here</a> (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Missing-Ink-Tattoo-Shop-Mystery/dp/0451227468?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">The Missing Ink</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451227468" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />) and <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2010/03/tattoosday-book-review-pretty-in-ink.html">here</a> (<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pretty-Ink-Tattoo-Shop-Mystery/dp/0451229622?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pretty in Ink</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451229622" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />).<br /><br />The series features Brett Kavanaugh, a Las Vegas-based tattoo artist, and a cast of supporting characters, from her police officer brother Tim, to fellow artist and competitor Jeff Coleman, owner of the shop Murder Ink. Kavanaugh's staff at The Painted Lady, a high-end tattoo shop at the <a href="http://www.venetian.com/">Venetian Hotel and Casino</a>, also offers up some memorable characters, including Bitsy, the diminuitive shop manager.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Driven-Ink-Tattoo-Shop-Mystery/dp/0451231570?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Driven To Ink</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=bill03-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0451231570" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important; padding: 0px ! important;" width="1" />, like its predecessors, has an "only in Las Vegas" feel, with a well-crafted narrative that, this time around, revolves around a drive-thru wedding chapel called "That's Amore" that features a handful of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dean_Martin">Dean Martin</a> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doppelg%C3%A4nger">doppelgängers</a> crooning, you guessed it, "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/That%27s_Amore_%28song%29">That's Amore</a>".<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40IN34L6XcnICtI5Ih2eeOiOXrXV2X2p3V84M_qkisypk57IW35Kx2bf4N-eQ1jEVPKhR2XLSRiXmDP0PQC7zlKDxDXwrBfRfWZrUTVEOmb2g8l-Anh3Tj8NRM426i2mqI4XlMYAq/s1600/Dean_Mart..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh40IN34L6XcnICtI5Ih2eeOiOXrXV2X2p3V84M_qkisypk57IW35Kx2bf4N-eQ1jEVPKhR2XLSRiXmDP0PQC7zlKDxDXwrBfRfWZrUTVEOmb2g8l-Anh3Tj8NRM426i2mqI4XlMYAq/s320/Dean_Mart..jpg" width="313" /></a></div><br />Olson has once again spun a riveting tale, which finds Brett Kavanaugh discovering a dead Dean Martin imperspnator in her trunk, with a tattoo machine's clip cord around the victim's neck. She had just lent her car, a Mustang Bullitt, to Jeff Coleman's octogenarian mother, Sylvia, so she could get married in style at the <i>That's Amore</i> chapel.<br /><br />What I love about Karen Olson's books is that tattoos are seen above and beyond base clues in a murder mystery. She treats the vocation with utter respect, explaining things to the reader as if they were new to a tattoo studio. Tattoos may serve as clues, but they are not regarded as these huge totems that define their owners.<br /><br />Brett Kavanaugh is an enjoyable protagonist, not without faults, and the author let's the reader tag along on her adventures that start off innocently enough, but pull her into deeper and deeper water. It's no surprise that one of the recurring characters is an Emergency Room doctor, as medical attention seems to be needed from time to time, making this mystery series ring truer than one in which the hero (or heroine) dances through their adventure unscathed.<br /><br />Olson's first book in the series was a novelty. A new mystery with tattoos at the center of the narrative. After three volumes, Brett Kavanaugh seems more real, more human, than ever before.<br /><br />A word to the skeptics, those tattoo snobs who may scoff at the light-hearted appearance of these books: Karen Olsen has given a gift to the tattoo community in the form of Brett Kavanaugh. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Driven-Ink-Tattoo-Shop-Mystery/dp/0451231570?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Driven To Ink</a> is another great mystery, with a respectful and honest portrayal of one artist/sleuth who just happens to be a tattoo shop owner.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>I have enjoyed every one of Ms. Olson's books and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Driven-Ink-Tattoo-Shop-Mystery/dp/0451231570?ie=UTF8&tag=bill03-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Driven To Ink</a> is yet another chapter in the fascinating life of Brett Kavanaugh. I'm looking forward to her next installment which, I am led to believe, is tentatively called <u>Ink Flamingos</u>.<br /><br />Check out Karen talking about her first <i>Tattoo Shop Mystery</i> here:<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/anKR1fvwZ9E?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/anKR1fvwZ9E?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br /><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0451231570&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0451229622&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=bill03-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0451227468&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe>

The Tattoosday Book Review: Driven to Ink, A Tattoo Shop Mystery

Earlier this week, author Karen E. Olson released the third installment of her Tattoo Shop Mystery series, Driven To Ink . For those reade...

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Orphans: Heather's Cowgirl

Here's another orphan post. I took the picture, got the name, a shred of info, and passed a flier. And even though I saw Heather, the host of the tattoo, a week later, walking by me one day in a hurry, I never got to the bottom of this tattoo. So it goes....<br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GxlxVbaK8B2x2FHW6ZOXMj2TxkXGQs8YUune7Ixx8awSa7MjpVT4OdA7p_jWnTKN7-m63RSGXBxKV9ve7aBpbzpiZZArLxp3mQhCSq8swukhrVB-lisFPiIENeVypVh7Dbg88c3B/s1600/Orphan+Cowgirl+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3GxlxVbaK8B2x2FHW6ZOXMj2TxkXGQs8YUune7Ixx8awSa7MjpVT4OdA7p_jWnTKN7-m63RSGXBxKV9ve7aBpbzpiZZArLxp3mQhCSq8swukhrVB-lisFPiIENeVypVh7Dbg88c3B/s640/Orphan+Cowgirl+wm.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br />Heather credited this to an artist named "Joanne" with a long French name. Any guesses? Anyone?<br /><br />Let's find this Orphan a home....

Orphans: Heather's Cowgirl

Here's another orphan post. I took the picture, got the name, a shred of info, and passed a flier. And even though I saw Heather, the ho...

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Orphans: A Native-American Sleeve on Seventh Avenue

A few weeks ago, I was walking up Seventh Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets, when I spotted this peeking out of a guy's shirt sleeve: <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCza9_7wMMOj2y73ueA0XnOj-g0fNFd_kauQNC9VuhEYQ7djnDvP0Jz_YjVnIE30KCUpm7tYJtymWsZM0eQKMtGmdKicPntptZYdF481vRi0w9XmjmIUT7Ew7U9MmOfaSM3ASAtSEn/s1600/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+bottom+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCza9_7wMMOj2y73ueA0XnOj-g0fNFd_kauQNC9VuhEYQ7djnDvP0Jz_YjVnIE30KCUpm7tYJtymWsZM0eQKMtGmdKicPntptZYdF481vRi0w9XmjmIUT7Ew7U9MmOfaSM3ASAtSEn/s640/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+bottom+wm.jpg" width="304" /></a></div><br />I stopped to ask him about the tattoo. Or rather, asked him if I could take a picture, when he revealed that it was much larger than it appeared poking out of the sleeve on his left arm:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfc0QAgLBp5z2UORvefMSuYI6gfF2A-rNz3xGy36xs3I1VZtH3QOPG8PhMc7eCpYTEqbK3q13UuigZ_1fyn4x4iCgK8zMVBcw2Syj3ec890T24-Ce53ol0I4rGMgZQBtkDN1PE9AH/s1600/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizfc0QAgLBp5z2UORvefMSuYI6gfF2A-rNz3xGy36xs3I1VZtH3QOPG8PhMc7eCpYTEqbK3q13UuigZ_1fyn4x4iCgK8zMVBcw2Syj3ec890T24-Ce53ol0I4rGMgZQBtkDN1PE9AH/s640/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+wm.jpg" width="214" /></a></div><br />Sadly, I gave him the Tattoosday flier and asked him to e-mail me so we could discuss it further and he a) lost the flier or b) decided to forgo contacting me. So, I have no idea who he is, nor can I credit the artist, whose work is pretty darn impressive.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJeTf4XYIGWawQEIbrJMp93QMe9Mmj22iiPP696OnNXSqIY7xkOqag9Am-I9DJ4qhJVvgs560VdkDuPzpMVk6mDrprx9uMIPd53q2Kf-fr3gyUhDkU0VClsZU7EOSZv9MDp7vZGQK/s1600/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+top+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQJeTf4XYIGWawQEIbrJMp93QMe9Mmj22iiPP696OnNXSqIY7xkOqag9Am-I9DJ4qhJVvgs560VdkDuPzpMVk6mDrprx9uMIPd53q2Kf-fr3gyUhDkU0VClsZU7EOSZv9MDp7vZGQK/s400/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+top+wm.jpg" width="392" /></a></div><br />When this happens, I dub it an "orphan" post, but obviously, despite the lack of details, it's still worth sharing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ywSKmNfAQvDg4QNLXhMGQdU2YJ3PcqzrmGbaTxjStOwKQPv-5O-VctiN49WZQMbF2OcDsmxF2L-Ne5oybOmYdMspExMJVMCxvMcSEGmyxyLHD_Kyi3M7p0nYjrVbWoZsjoY0ZKeh/s1600/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+bottom+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3ywSKmNfAQvDg4QNLXhMGQdU2YJ3PcqzrmGbaTxjStOwKQPv-5O-VctiN49WZQMbF2OcDsmxF2L-Ne5oybOmYdMspExMJVMCxvMcSEGmyxyLHD_Kyi3M7p0nYjrVbWoZsjoY0ZKeh/s320/Orphan+Native+Amer+1+bottom+detail+wm.jpg" /></a></div><br />Thanks to the anonymous contributor who allowed me to take photos of this great tattoo and share it with us here on Tattoosday!

Orphans: A Native-American Sleeve on Seventh Avenue

A few weeks ago, I was walking up Seventh Avenue between 33rd and 34th Streets, when I spotted this peeking out of a guy's shirt sleeve:...

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Gina Shares Two Works of Art by Mark Ryden

I wanted to start off the new week after the holiday by showing off some amazing tattoos that I was fortunate enough to encounter last week.<br /><br />I met Gina in Penn Station and she offered up these beauties, which are tattooed in her ditches (inside of her elbows), in what many consider to be one of the more painful places to be inked:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfpLEFcGMMLIkZ2M0Frxfi1McNu50idNCkuQoXm8OqTSOt6Mk5gcFCuJ_hmDHvewXbFfc0MSaJ0Cx4cPb1zLKenycJ0D4aAi5WMO9FDaA6Yq7tr6ies-5dwrgw66HzNX1CJhB-TWi/s1600/Tim+Kern+Mark+Ryden+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsfpLEFcGMMLIkZ2M0Frxfi1McNu50idNCkuQoXm8OqTSOt6Mk5gcFCuJ_hmDHvewXbFfc0MSaJ0Cx4cPb1zLKenycJ0D4aAi5WMO9FDaA6Yq7tr6ies-5dwrgw66HzNX1CJhB-TWi/s400/Tim+Kern+Mark+Ryden+wm.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />There are two artists behind these tattoos. First is the painter <a href="http://www.markryden.com/">Mark Ryden</a>, upon whose work these tattoos were based. Next is the master craftsman <a href="http://www.myspace.com/ymonster">Tim Kern</a>, from <a href="http://www.tribulationtattoo.com/Home.aspx">Tribulation Tattoo</a>, whose work appeared last on Tattoosday <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/2009/10/benjamins-amazing-viking-geisha-sleeve.html">here</a>. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAjRB9dHR3eEy3yLZ79l0RMDi2F3JxzemfsJmyyTzpzHz2jSNDdn9lSrz5uPXJTGAcG4dSgNKTM5C6bW-XpQWmK8n9_OyVpF2pecKJpWSFuCRNQrcqBj0qyVJ6UkHhnSE5AejkWUw/s1600/Tim+Kern+Mark+Ryden+right+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUAjRB9dHR3eEy3yLZ79l0RMDi2F3JxzemfsJmyyTzpzHz2jSNDdn9lSrz5uPXJTGAcG4dSgNKTM5C6bW-XpQWmK8n9_OyVpF2pecKJpWSFuCRNQrcqBj0qyVJ6UkHhnSE5AejkWUw/s640/Tim+Kern+Mark+Ryden+right+detail+wm.jpg" width="378" /></a></div><br />No big story, just incredible body art.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_4Zk0eCm5YTxzhIH9aiNtPnOsbyFtG4VvGKJGUEyadyNxjuG8mXgciYXuVnlcbe12XreLy_JbyoKY814yvC2DxaaUFihh3hsZ6wvMkgaAnfzjT5_D4Lhzpfao6PTbdA4Npk4lBQF/s1600/Tim+Kern+Mark+Ryden+left+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_4Zk0eCm5YTxzhIH9aiNtPnOsbyFtG4VvGKJGUEyadyNxjuG8mXgciYXuVnlcbe12XreLy_JbyoKY814yvC2DxaaUFihh3hsZ6wvMkgaAnfzjT5_D4Lhzpfao6PTbdA4Npk4lBQF/s640/Tim+Kern+Mark+Ryden+left+detail+wm.jpg" width="414" /></a></div><br />Thanks to Gina for sharing these incredible tattoos with us here on Tattoosday!

Gina Shares Two Works of Art by Mark Ryden

I wanted to start off the new week after the holiday by showing off some amazing tattoos that I was fortunate enough to encounter last week....

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Sarah's Chrysanthemum

I spotted this lovely flower on Sarah while she was waiting for her train in Penn Station:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApxg1d9o43iIi2BBtzd16jJ3zolRkjeX1ImCmIXwPK1tKosE5uBPebAcvj_HX-SnZ8TBoayCmFFBpjo_O4VTQiHrpF8lhw7IlbiutbXKUOlQcjtpPm4Fr6Jliv1I90zupHcEPUWus/s1600/chrysanthemum+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiApxg1d9o43iIi2BBtzd16jJ3zolRkjeX1ImCmIXwPK1tKosE5uBPebAcvj_HX-SnZ8TBoayCmFFBpjo_O4VTQiHrpF8lhw7IlbiutbXKUOlQcjtpPm4Fr6Jliv1I90zupHcEPUWus/s640/chrysanthemum+wm.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><br />This <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chrysanthemum">chrysanthemum</a> is her first tattoo and sits on her upper left arm. Sarah is a big fan of Eastern art and understands that chrysanthemums are symbols of joy (except in Germany, she noted). She feels that <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/russell-kelley/">Russell Kelley</a> at <a href="http://www.silkcitytattoo.com/">Silk City Tattoo</a> in Hawthorne, New Jersey did a nice job of merging Eastern and Old School styles on this beautiful flower. Work from Silk City has appeared multiple times before and can all be seen under Silk City's Tattoosday label <a href="http://tattoosday.blogspot.com/search/label/Silk%20City%20Tattoo">here</a>.<br /><br />Thanks to Sarah for sharing her tattoo with us, and Happy Labor Day from us here at Tattoosday!

Sarah's Chrysanthemum

I spotted this lovely flower on Sarah while she was waiting for her train in Penn Station: This chrysanthemum is her first tattoo and sits ...

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Hawai'i and Germany Meet Halfway in Manhattan

Last Sunday, I found myself unexpectedly in my weekday stomping grounds, outside of Penn Station. I saw a couple sitting on the steps in Penn Plaza and noticed the gentleman had a remarkable tattoo on his outer left calf.<br /><br />We had a slight language barrier, as they were tourists from Europe. But Rico agreed to let me take the photo:<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwTGyYeAelj8o-Vw4uCC6YKSooy3ex1hu-OPnANTAVilNYt14F0wr-1NnqnHqA7U2KxKSXp1hW1H_3tRNu2IxN22WUQARvA-rlyKZaKUj9FZougmZXq-wdZ_l3RiSyx-HLE2-kXqi/s1600/Hibiscus+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghwTGyYeAelj8o-Vw4uCC6YKSooy3ex1hu-OPnANTAVilNYt14F0wr-1NnqnHqA7U2KxKSXp1hW1H_3tRNu2IxN22WUQARvA-rlyKZaKUj9FZougmZXq-wdZ_l3RiSyx-HLE2-kXqi/s640/Hibiscus+wm.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br />The tattoo was done by <a href="http://www.stechwerk.com/index.php5?p=gallery-tom">Tom</a> at <a href="http://www.stechwerk.com/index.php5?p=home">Stechwerk Tattoo Studio</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kempten_im_Allg%C3%A4u">Kempten</a>, Germany.<br /><br />Rico said he just liked the design and that Hawai'i is somewhere he hopes to visit one day. The surfboard and the archipelago outline are symbolic of our fiftieth state, and the yellow hibiscus is the state flower.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6NMf3aAMPi56zYjiQadSHcn_o_ehoygTWd1L93Dul1mTEECCPhq7U0iSChez_J_CIYdlujuPFIQzwNdcylY3PatpifsvFwz8sh_6wS-oxfyEfgvva41q7g-0BOmO6C9yU3AxFArt/s1600/Hibiscus+detail+wm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt6NMf3aAMPi56zYjiQadSHcn_o_ehoygTWd1L93Dul1mTEECCPhq7U0iSChez_J_CIYdlujuPFIQzwNdcylY3PatpifsvFwz8sh_6wS-oxfyEfgvva41q7g-0BOmO6C9yU3AxFArt/s400/Hibiscus+detail+wm.jpg" width="293" /></a></div><br /><i>Danke schön</i> to Rico for sharing this cool Hawai'i-themed tattoo with us here on Tattoosday!

Hawai'i and Germany Meet Halfway in Manhattan

Last Sunday, I found myself unexpectedly in my weekday stomping grounds, outside of Penn Station. I saw a couple sitting on the steps in Pen...

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