Ink'd grrrls and tattooed femmes
 

I saw that the butches have a thread to show off their tats, and I know many of you femmes have some gorgeous work as well.

So here is a place to showcase them and discuss ideas, experiences, and the #1 question people always seem to ask me: Why did you get that? or Why do you get tattoos?

I love the stories behind tattoos. Very rarely is the answer "I thought it was pretty" In my experience, a collection of tats is like a scrapbook - sometimes commemorating your triumphs, your fuckups, in memoriam of someone you love, or in celebration.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So....

What do you have? What do they mean? Why did you get them? And why do you choose ink?


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

my one and only, so far ...
 

This might freak a few blossoms out, so just letting you know ...

The short version - I was cooking breakfast for my gf (this is when I was living in San Diego) and my sarong caught on fire. I was in hospital for the best part of a month. Second degree burns and three lots of surgery. I love lotuses and had thought of getting a tattoo for some time. Last October I thought to hell with it, I'm going to do it. And,to be honest, I also needed something that I wasn't getting from my Malaysian gf. Maybe later I'll have el fuego or something like that tattooed underneath (will lose weight first, all the jiggly bits would make it a painful tattoo). I was really scared of how painful it would be but it wasn't too bad at all.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.n...04343867_n.jpg

I will try to get photos of my two tats. I want another one ..a gorgeous tribal on my leg from ankle to calf. Thick and twisty, curved and lush in movement. With my wedding date inside it, but hidden.

remember
 

I want to have remember on the inside of my left forearm but two delays - one, I usually wear short-sleeves here in Malaysia so I wouldn't be able to have it showing at school (public or international primary school), and two, I want it in Maori so I need to make sure I have the right form of the verb. I want it in a 19th century typeface.

Can I just say, for anyone considering getting a Maori or Pacific Island tattoo, please make sure it's a contemporary one and not traditional. That goes for any indigenous tattoo art.

My latest is a work in progress. It's a play off the old civil rights song We Shall Not Be Moved. I will add pics when it's actually finished, but right now I'm a little embarrassed because the letters don't even have shading.

My first I got after my dad died. I was moving out of a career in music and into a career in public/social service, and I needed something to remind me of the important things. My tats are "notes to self", so to speak. I actually considered having a verse from Proverbs written down my back, but smaller writing tends to look bad later in life, so I nixed that idea.

I avoid fatty places that would really hurt, but of course all tats come with a small degree of pain. Sometimes that pain is a nice manifestation of whatever emotional pain motivates the decision to get that tattoo in the first place.

LOL...I don't have any tattoos (yet?) but this reminded me of something funny. Apparently when I was a toddler, I called them "tootats." (Awww!) :)

Scorp and I have been toying with the idea of getting them for a while now. We'll see if it ever happens! I love looking at pics of other people's, though.

I'll have to get some pics but I can tell in the mean time!

On my left shoulder I have an image of what I imagine to be an overlap of Eve and Lilith- Lilith being the original first woman who was banished from Eden for asking to be equal to man. She sits crosslegged with willow branches for hair and a serpent in her center. I got her because I love the mythology of the story and the idea that there was so much more than I was taught about God and religion in my youth.

On my lower stomach I have a tree that grows into a woman. I got her partially because I got drunk with a friend and we pledged to get tattoos the next day and I hold my promises and partially because I really liked the drawing and partially because I thought it was a nice place for a tattoo.

I have the women's power sign on my lower right side of my back, maybe 6 inches above hip level. It was my first tattoo when I was 20? 19? Not sure.

Starting between my shoulder blades going all down my back along my right hip is a tribal design. I started it as about a 5 inch piece to go around the women's power piece on a rough night when I needed *something* to take me out of the place I was in. I continued growing it over the next couple of years here and there. I think it's done. I haven't added to it in 7 or 8 years.

I have 4 in all

My initials are on my right ankle, they have never changed in all my life, that was my first tat at 22

My second tat a baby tiger for the year of the tiger, the year my eldest was born above my left breast

My third tat a tribal piece, rainbow heart and triangle

My fourth tat on my left ankle a rose for my mom

I want more ....they are addicting and satisfying i never seem to have too much pain when they are being done.

My last one got infected it wasn't pretty now it needs fixed

I have no tats but the woman I am dating has quite a few.

Kind of a funny story (I think): though she is of average weight and is only age 47, tats do seem to change as people age.

She has a heart on her right calf. I was looking at it the other day and said, "Is that a spider on the heart"? She said, "No, what are you talking about"? I said, "Well, those look like legs". "No, they are butterfly wings"!

Maybe, at one time.

Now they look a little more like spider legs...

Feel free to share all your mods, Laney!

My back piece is still a work in progess. My upper back is now mostly done but still needs a couple of hours. I'm getting two large mermaids facing each other on my lower back on tues. One will be femme and the other will be boyish-androg or butch (I don't know if she'll care about having an ID or not heh).

I'm having the bracelette finished the week I head home.
I have a zen circle on the inside of my left forearm so I can remind myself to let go - if it's not happening right now, let go.

I have an old school tattoo of a flower being penetrated through the centre of it's blossom by a dagger on my calf. Looks great when I wear stockings and heels with it.


I got one tattoo of a pentagram with a flower in it (now changed and integrated with my backpiece, which is old school naval theme, 1800's) when I was 20. I didn't get any more until I met my ex and close friend who is a tattoo artist. She started tattooing me about 10 months ago. I was very rigid about what she was doing but then relaxed - she's also an artist with oil pastels and pen and ink, has a masters in new media - so I just let go and let her put together my back piece, she chose the piece for my leg, and she designed the idea for my bracelette.

I love my tattoos. And because they are pieces of art designed and concieved for me by someone that loves me and wants me to be happy and is a good friend of mine, I like them very much.

My back piece looks like a sting ray with the ocean/cosmos on his back - his wings span my shoulders and his tail follows my spine down to my ass. he'll have two dyke mermaids facing each other on either side of his tail. one will be holding a trident with long hair; the other will be short haired, with a sailor cap, a fag, a tattoo and a wrench (my ex suggested a strap on, but not sure about that...). Both of them bare chested.

Ink
 

I'm inked up, my left is my spiritual, cultural side my right is more for other meaningful art work.

Your tats sound awesome! Would love to see them!

I know you have lived in the UK for 9-ish years. Just to clarify, by "fag", you mean a cigarette, right?

My bro lived in England for 18 years and if, I remember correctly, fag is a slang word for cig. It is a little different here in the USA.

:)

Would you mind telling us exactly what your modifications are first, before showing us?

Thanks and {{hugs}}

(PS: I understand it may not matter to anyone else!)

I love tattoos...on other people. :) If I were braver I would probably have many more. I love watching LA and NY Ink and recently watched a fabulous documentary on the history of tattooing.

Body piercing and modification, not so much...but that's just me. My oldest daughter is fascinated by it all and appreciates it as a form of artistic expression.

fag = smoke

yes. but most people I know back home have seen enough english content (monty python, flims, friends etc) to know fag=smoke.

be interesting for the butcheque one to by holding a tiny burning gay male in her hand though.

Next
 

Guadalupe is my next piece, She'll be in black ink, I am not sure if I am keeping the angel under Her or will I change zie to a muerto the red ink will be on that particular part of the piece, not sure though. She will be traditional though as far as Her facial features and small details that are cultural, bruja, & Aztec.

She'll be my left 3/4 sleeve piece...

I have seventeen tattoos . Some have stories to them and others don't.

I'm covered in tattoos and piercings. LOVE them and LOVE them on any of my partners that I've had. And hope to have a future FTM partner that is covered in them! I consider it art but it also hits my punk/rock/biker look. :)

If you don't know who he is, you might crush on Lucas Silviera.... Just sayin'

I have a lower back piece with a sun ad moon, lots of flowers, butterflies and the words "I Know I'm Gonna Shine".

I also have an ankle tattoo with a grateful dead bear, flowers, butterflies and the words "Nothing Left to do but Smile, Smile, Smile"

I was really into the Grateful Dead in my younger years and I do regret the impulse tattoo I got on my ankle when I was 18, but it's a part of my forever now :)

More please!!
 

I have 5!


One on the back of my neck. It is the stick figure of a man holding a canoe paddle over his head. It was the logo of my canoe club that I paddled for.


On my right upper arm I have a band that is tribal. It was designed for me by my friend who is a tattoo artist. It's pretty and femine but large. I love it.


On the inside of my right wrist I have the symbol for a rainbow. On the inside of my left wrist I have the symbol for woman. It was either that or have dyke tattooed on my forhead. When I first came out, nobody believed that I was gay. Cause I didn't "look" it. GRRRRR (whole other thread)


On my lower back I have "Daddy's Girl"


All of mine are black and tribal in origin. I grew up Hawaiian and the hawaiian style tattoos are what really appeal to me. I want more but I don't get anything that doesn't have major significance. Right now I guess I'm not pasionate enough about anything to come up with a new idea. I'll have to wait til something pops into my head and sticks before I can get more. Bummer :-)




I LOVE tattoos.


take care,
julie

I have have only one tattoo. It is quite significant to me and I will not get another unless it is for reasons equally as potent. It is an ouroboros (a snake holding its tail in its mouth) between my shoulder blades, its diameter is about 6 inches, and it is black work. The image, or some permutation of the concept is likely as old as mankind. It speaks to all things cyclical, ever lasting, ever renewing. It appears in mythologies throughout the world and in alchemical circles. I commissioned it at a time of great upheaval in my life and it has become a touchstone of sorts for me. I need simply see it and it grounds me.

Cute paw print. I'm not into cutting, as I did that for non-decorative reasons back in my teens, but for those who don't understand the art form, do you care to tell everyone a little about it?

i have five tattoos:
neda/eating disorder awareness & recovery symbol on my upper right thigh (in blue and red)
om in tibetan script on my right hip (green)
phoenix on my lower back (black/red/orange)
quote by jane goodall on my left forearm (black)
butterfly wings around my girly bits (the only one i got totally cause it was pretty - black, blue, and purple)

and i used to have two piercings (nipples and vertical hood) but i took them out.

i want a bunch more tattoos. one day. when i am more financially stable :) i really would love a full back tattoo of a tree but i'd probably have to cover up the phoenix for it to look right. so we'll see. i'm not sure if i'd ever get more permanent piercings but i'm fascinated by corset piercings and would love one.

Just some basic info for anyone curious...
 

First of all, I judge no one. I strongly believe in to each his/her own.

I totally understand that there is a world of difference between cutting and aesthetic cutting.

As an RN that has worked in behavioral health most of my adult life and has dealt with non-aesthetic cutters, it just gives me such a visceral reaction that I am not able to appreciate the aesthetics of the art.

I so appreciate the thoughtfulness of Laney (f) in posting in your gallery, not in the thread.

Love you my sisters!

I LOVE TATS
 

I have 4 so far....considering my next one...need to find another "strategic" place to put it as my work environment does not appreciate them showing...

I have the word HOT in rainbow on the back of my neck...it is on fire and the letters look like they are melting, and it has two female symbols hanging from it...that was done in an "eff" the world moment :)

I have my own design of an eagle/phoenix on my left upper arm...done many years ago when I was heavy into the biker scene. (my road name was Phoenix) :)

On my upper left breast is a heart made of red roses and vines....depicting my love for flowers and my slightly "twisted" ways :)

And the last one...soon to be covered...is a tiny heart in flames on my upper right breast. That was my first one and I was terrified....ended up discovering my "need" for ink. That will one day be turned onto a dragonfly in purples, greens, and blues....and it will be "landing" on a purple thistle plant. :)

I also want to do something on my hip, but haven't met the person who may help to inspire that one yet ;)

I don't mind seeing cuts, but having a (distant) past relationship with the blade, I couldn't ever venture into that form of self-expression. I am always scared of doing anything to trigger any feelings I had in those years, physically or emotionally.

Laney is right in that tattooing and cutting feel very different. Tattooing doesn't hurt much as long as it's over muscle, not bone or fat, and it doesn't hurt at all afterward. Whereas, from what I remember, cutting doesn't really hurt while you do it, but there is quite a sting once the air hits it. Different strokes for different folks, I guess.

People all deal with their emotions, their pain, and their art is different ways. What makes body mods interesting is not the finished results, but the stories behind each one. Mine are like a note to self - you're stronger than you think, never forget you're blessed, things like that. For others, there is a memory, a person, a place they never want to forget.

OK, now I gotta get my arm piece finished. LOL