Tattoo Tuesdays: Open to Interpretation

Perhaps you have heard the scripture, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect,"*. We live in an increasingly curious, some would say nosey, world. We live in an age of TMI to the extreme, but still there are some things we should always be willing and ready to share. Faith is a huge can of worms, but it is as essential as air in my opinion. The older I get the more I realize how important it is to have an answer for just about any curious/nosey question that comes my way. (insert schoolmarm voice) "Decorum Madelyne!"

I am not saying that your life and your choices have to be an open book, but I am saying don't be caught unaware. The times I have been caught off guard by a line of questioning usually set my hackles off and I go into defensive mode. "Why do you want to know? Are you judging me? You are just a gossiping busybody." That is not always true, though. Einstein said, "The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for existing." Some folks are masters of curiosity and have an eager desire to constantly be learning about the people living their lives day to day around them.

Honesty can be refreshing.

Recently my older sister's boyfriend "put me through the ringer" of questioning about the bookstore and other "life line 'me' things". Among one of his questions, "So why the wolves?" At first I thought he was referring to some of the cheap cards we are desperately trying to sell at the shop (bye bye old less desirable inventory). Then I figured out he was referring to my Mudlove band featuring a howling wolf. I suppose it never occurred to me (hence this post) to have an explanation for my love of wolves. Needless to say I was little fluster because my love of wolves is not just "my love wolves". Wolves are Rilke. Wolves are Werewolves. Wolves are Maggie Stiefvater. Wolves are mighty, like I wish to be. Wolves are loners...like me. (insert wink) So explaining all that and not feeling like someone peeled back the flesh covering your heart to see your secrets, someone you just met, is the sort of moment you start word fumbling. Be ready with an answer, remember? When you set yourself up in life, whether it be Faith, your style choices, your bracelets, your gauges, your tattoos...be ready for the curious seekers to come knocking.

So wolves... I could spend hours researching the symbolism behind wolves in various cultures, etc., but that would not be why I like wolves. In 2010 (thank you Goodreads for keeping track for quick reference) I read a book by an upcoming author, Maggie Stiefvater, called Shiver. Shiver (spoiler) is about werewolves (queue the "Ohhhh so not wolves, werewolves" reaction). It is one of the most refreshing takes on werewolves I have ever read. The myth is made poetically scientific...believable. Maggie is an enormous source of inspiration to me. In Shiver she name drops often and among the pages of Shiver I met my long since dead lover...Rilke. Are you keeping up here? Wolves -- Maggie Stiefvater -- Rilke -- Inspired. I feel strongly that God blessed Rilke with words and earthly wisdom to write about this "affliction" we call life. I believe God can speak to you through the words of others (hello the Bible). I need to wrap this up because it is far longer than I intended, my apologies.

Rilke's words, with my own interpretation/take, will be among the first to grace this canvas known as my flesh. "So why the wolves?" (insert smile) Here's another reason for the wolves.

Sometimes you let people make their own way in the mystery of why you do what you do too.

Today's Features:

Pinterest Find

 

While I love the placement of this tattoo (and the guy of course is not half bad looking), what I love is the meaning behind it. I don't know what his intended meaning of this piece of art ink was, but my mind has already named it 'Oil of my heart'.

 

 



 

Pinterest Find

 

There are so many reasons to like this tattoo. Reminiscent of Howard Pyle's pen and ink art style. I am a big believer of the "weight" our hands hold in the decisions we make. Also speaking as someone who has a difficulty forgetting the things that need to be forgotten...this! This tattoo speaks to that dilemma for me.

 

 

 

Pinterest Find

 

Any tattoo that tempts me with notions of grandeur in the realm of "Get a tattoo with color...lots and lots of glorious bright colors!" is an awesome tattoo in my book. Plus squids, octopuses, cthulhu, and anything of the Cephalopoda class (and yes I had to look that up) is a safe bet for an eye catching inking.

 

 

 

I won't end with a quote because I have name dropped enough in this post and it is closing time and this has been quite the wordy post. Are you ready?

 

 

Follow me on Pinterest

 

 

 

 

Foot-tastic Notes (TOM's One Day Without Shoes Day...Holla!):

 

• *1 Peter 3:15
• Tuned into Mumford & Sons' Pandora today
• I was reading a portion of my post out loud, as I often do to check grammar, etc., and didn't realize a customer had come in. Insert token embarrassing moment for the day. (insert smile)

 



Tattoo Tuesdays: Put Your Money Where Your...Ink is

It's back!

Tattoo Tuesdays, tattoos in general, are one my favorite blog post series to write. They are responsible for refueling my writing fire. When I was looking at previous posts I realized it was time to "bring it!" So if you have missed them too, without further ado...

It is not a little known fact anymore that I desire my flesh to play host/canvas to ink. As more and more people in my circle of friends and family discover how much I appreciate tattoos and want them, I am asked a number of questions.

What do you want? Where do want it? What's the hold up? Why? How much do you think it will cost? Are you going to get color? What does your Mum say?

I don't intend to spend today's Tattoo Tuesdays post answering all (or any really) of these questions. However, it is also important to realize I am no expert. I have been in a tattoo shop approximately ONE time. To say I was intimidated is putting lightly. I was there to get pierced and the guys working were incredibly easy going and made me laugh. Definitely helped to ease my jitters.

Tattoos should have meaning. People will tell you time and again that you will regret them when you are older. I don't believe this is the case always. Yes sometimes, but I don't intend for that to be my "problem". Hence tattoos being well thought out and having a great artist on your side. I am surrounded by artists in my house. My Mum, though against tattoos, is someone I frequently discuss and even sketch preliminary designs with on scraps of paper. She is one talented and supportive lady! She gave birth to my 3 extremely artistic siblings as well. My sister paints, sketches, collages, etc. She and I frequently have discussions about placement of tattoos and debates of color vs. no color. I even make to steal some of her ideas sometimes. (insert grin) My brothers are never without some mode of writing and drawing apparatuses; which, my Mum can attest to as she has folders full of church bulletins with their little creature creations over the years. The other evening my brothers and I sat down and started a late night "Let's draw up fake tattoos" session. It is medicine for the soul, I believe, to be surrounded by such creative people. "Luck ain't got nothing to with it." God blessed me tremendously.

As well as meaning, tattoos should be tattooed by the best or at the very least the next best thing. This means, to me, tattoos are expensive. I don't want my tattoos looking like 'Prison Tattoos', so I intend to break out the big bucks. Correct me if I am wrong, but I can't imagine a great tattoo costing less than $100/$150ish. Remember I'm no expert, but I intend to go prepared. This may mean adding "Money for Tattoos" on my Christmas list. Shhh....don't warn my Mum or Santa for that matter. (insert smile)

Is it obvious I think about this a good deal of the time?


Features and other opinions for today:

Minimalism is increasingly more popular as of late. I also find myself more and more attracted to their simplicity. I like the "makes me stop and think" ability they tend to invoke. Pinterest find via my sister.

Another Pinterest find

Another important factor for me is placement. Hands, fingers, palms...I love hand tattoos. The compass and feather allusion to freedom is great for me in this tattoo. Of course I'm a compass kind of gal. The "smudge" of color is a nice addition. In answering the color vs. no color debate...I like color. However, I like looking at it more than the commitment to upkeep every year to maintain the colorfulness of a great tattoo. Color is not necessarily for me, but I can't bring myself to give it up when 'liking' someone else's tattoo.

 

 

Pinterest is a winner again today!

 

Remember meaning? Meet great story/symbolism for a tattoo! My initial attraction was the placement and choice for a tree and then the story sunk me.

 

"Since the 8th grade, my nickname had always been Tree because of my height. After a year or so this nickname started to become actually who I was, so I decided to get a tree on my side. The little guy to the left of me is my little brother who I love more than anything in the world. He is always trying to be like me, so when he saw the tattoo he begged and begged for on just like it. So I drew one on his side and told him it was a kids tattoo and that when he’s my age he can get a big boy tattoo."

 

 

 

Thinking it through or the basics: Placement, Price, Meaning/Significance and Decisions (Color vs. No Color, etc.). That should keep them busy, eh?

 

 

 

“You can kill people with sound. And if you can kill, then maybe there is also the sound that is opposite of killing. And the distance between these two points is very big. And you are free--you can choose. In art everything is possible, but everything is not necessary.”

~Arvo Pärt

 

 

 

 

Footnotes (footloose and fancy free):

• If you're interested in keeping up with my tattooing adventure finds be sure to follow my board on Pinterest 'Sink Me In Ink'. Did I mention Pinterest enough today? ;)
• Remember a long time ago in a galaxy faraway when I asked if someone would be interested in designing a new banner for me? No? Here it is again because I'm still looking: I'm looking for new banner art for Tattoo Tuesdays' posts. The picture at the top was just my bored half attempt at a quick 'smarty' banner for these posts. I didn't expect for them to continue, but they have and they are some of my favorites. Please leave a comment if you have an interest in submitting art or photographs, etc. for a banner. You will get recognition. Do you expect anything less from me? (insert smile) Tell your friends!
• Today I 'played' it easy and listened to my Pandora Mumford & Sons Radio station while writing. I'm at the shop after all.

Tattoo Tuesdays: Don't Give In

“Don't give in to your fears. If you do, you won't be able to talk to your heart.”
~Paulo Coelho

 

 

I'm sure I've written about fear here on my blog before. As I was contemplating the direction of today's post I let my emotions play the part of compass. I have heard it said and even told myself that fear is a good motivator, but I find more often than not, fear is a prison. It is the hitch in your chest as a thought causes your next breath to stop midway on its escape. It is the excuse to stay put where you are, even though you want to jump over that hurdle and blast it to kingdom come while you’re at it. Fear is a poison that can and will continue to corrupt, if you allow it. I know because frequently I allow fear to 'motivate' me into inaction.

 

 

Thanks to Jeff Vinson for posting this tattoo on his Google+. Hopefully he doesn't
mind me featuring it on today's Tattoo Tuesday.

 

I have no easy answer for you. If I did I would follow the advice myself. Heck I'd bottle and sell it if I did! Some of you might not like me spouting scripture and band-aid like platitudes, but I have an answer nonetheless; one I even struggle to apply to my own life. Trust. It's not a four letter word, but it is just as hard to swallow. I feel like a hypocrite writing this because I can't follow this at times, but trust; trust that the Lord can and will get you through these times of fear. As the tattoo simply states: Fear IS a LIAR.

 

Quote this to yourself:

 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things.

~Philippians 4:8

 

I can't see fear falling into any of those categories, can you?

 

 

Other Features for today:

 





Tattoo and Photo credit goes to Deanna Wardin on Flickr here.

I want to destroy something beautiful. ~Fight Club

 

Awesome detail (clean and simple), typography and a heart, what more could I ask for? I like the flying paper planes too. (insert smile)

 

 

 

Cut me lose and let me live . . . no strings attached please!

 

 

 

She is a rare breed, matter fact,

she's an endangered species.

her heart’s been broken and just

like mine it remains in pieces.

But every time we’re near each

other smile is all we can do,

Our shattered souls intertwine,

I know I’ve felt the same agonizing

pain that she’s been through.

I find comfort in her grasp

so I reach out with both arms…

 

 

If you can tell me where this poem originated (you must back it up with sources folks) I will kiss you! Okay I will not kiss you, but you will get a prize of some sort. (insert smile)

 

I like the tattoo because of the poem, but I'm not sure I like the placement. I realize you are limited when the poem or words are this long. However, I couldn't walk around with a backless shirt all the time (or ever really) and how else are people going to see my tattoo?





Tattoo Tuesdays: I know that you like my style...WATCH ME!

Hello and welcome to the part of the show where I introduce you to a ho-- (clearing throat) very nice tattoo.

While the half Native American/eagle tattoo is cool, what really struck me was the guy...no come now I'm not that...well... Seriously, though, the shoulder tattoo caught my eye. "Trust Your Struggle" I've heard the quote before, 'Pain breeds Strength. Trust your Struggle' and you've heard me talk about embracing your struggles for the growth they do and will bring. I realize it will always be easier to say these things out loud to you or myself than to actually implement the attitude in my own life. I'm struggling right along with you and learning too to 'Trust your Struggle,' but better yet trust Him*. It is nice to have the reminders, even via a tattooed guy. (insert mischievous smile)

I especially like the 'S' in Struggle. Can I reach out and touch it?


Other Features for today:


We are anonymous.

You know me and anchors. via: anchors-ah0y on Tumblr

So yes I'm partial to the actual photograph, but who cares!?!

Anchors, hands, words, does it get any better? via: anchors-ah0y on Tumblr

I'm looking for new banner art for Tattoo Tuesdays' posts. The picture at the top was just my bored half attempt at a quick 'smarty' banner for these posts. I didn't expect for them to continue, but they have and they are some of my favorites. Please leave a comment if you have an interest in submitting art or photographs, etc. for a banner. You will get recognition. Do you expect anything less from me? (insert smile) Tell your friends!


*Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

Tattoo Tuesdays: It's a Jamboree!

I suppose the only real celebration to be had is that...I'm back! Tattoo Tuesdays is one of my favorite posts and you know something else, it is my mum's favorite too. I mention that because it is funny to me. She is strongly against tattoos, especially with my considerations for getting one, but loves to hear what I have to say about the various tattoos I come across. Maybe we should have an interview with mum sometime, to get to the bottom of this phenomenon.

Here's a time where I wish I could give my shyness a nice beating. This past week I was in Chicago for a business trip. I of course visited a local Barnes & Noble (in the Schaumburg area). The gal that rang up my purchases had a tattoo, but not just any tattoo. A bookish tattoo! An awesome bookish tattoo!!!  Curses! Why couldn't I find the courage to ask her for a picture? 'Barnes & Noble cool tattoo cashier' if you read this, please send me a picture (insert pleading smile).

Are any of you familiar with Macaulay Culkin's smash hit (in my opinion) The Pagemaster? For shame, if you answered no or looked at me with that deer in the headlights look, as one of my friends did.

Richard (Culkin) is a cowardly boy, in what starts out as a live action film. He quickly finds himself turned animated illustration in a world of BOOKS! His fellow cartoon friends happen to be books each representing a different classic genre. There is Adventure, resembling a pirate and voiced by Patrick Stewart. Then there is Fantasy dressed to impress fairy style and voiced by Whoopi Goldberg. The more cowardly and sad, Horror, than as his name would suggest, is voiced by Frank Welker.

I used to watch this film over and over again as a kid. I think it is time to find it and watch it again!

The tattoo featured each of the books and spanned the entire length of her left arm. Half of the tattoo was in color, while the other half was only in the outline stage. She was headed back to the shop the next day for another 8 to 9 hours in the chair! At least I had the courage to talk to her about the tattoo. She told me her other arm would be next with an Alice in Wonderland, Tim Burton style, tattoo. Again if you find this post...please send pictures. :)

Also, because this post wouldn't be complete without some actual inkings...here are some recent favorites worth seeing.

Click the picture for a cool backgroud story about this tattoo.

Advertising is the ability to sense, interpret... to put the very heart
throbs of a business into type, paper and ink.
~Leo Burnett

Tattoo Tuesdays: Speak with something more...

Okay internet and internet people I am very disappointed in you today. What?!? You couldn't go get some new cool tattoos for me to blog about and instead left me with all the old stuff?!? After searching and searching for a snowboarding tattoo and then a surfing tattoo, neither of which I found, I was forced to search again at random for an interesting tattoo. Sad thing is nothing is dangling like sweet fruit for me to devour today.

However. . . I did find this fake tattoo on Flickr, which would make an awesome tattoo.

Body Language by Boy_Wonder

I'm posting the tattoo, fake though it may be, because it would make in awesome tattoo. Also because my best friend Anna is an ASL major (correct me Anna, if that is the wrong term). I would let you fend for yourselves with interpreting the letters, but I will be nice today. 'S' 'T' 'A' 'Y'  'T' 'R' 'U' 'E'


For you the tattooed and tattoo admirers, if you have tattoos you would like me to feature let me know. I especially would to feature wicked snowboarding/surfing tattoos next week if possible.

Tattoo Tuesdays: Home

I found this tattoo today while looking at my tumblr feed (on my kindle). There is something about chest tattoos on guys that is so...attractive. The black inking on his tattoo is so fresh and vibrant, I want to reach out and touch it (blush).