I have one tattoo on my ankle and a "collection" on my right shoulder blade. I had this tattoo planned out before I even got out of the chair with my last one. I had had rubber stamps made of my boys' footprints to stamp onto their birth announcements, and I thought it'd be great to get them tattooed to look like they'd been stamped onto *me*. I pondered the idea for almost a year when opportunity struck.
At A Glance Author Brook Contact Brook@bme.anon When It just happened Artist Brian Studio Rochester Tat-2 Location Rochester, MN My husband asked what I wanted for an anniversary gift (we'll be married four years next week). I told him for the fourth year in a row that I wanted a tattoo. Initially he said no because he hates tattoos. I had one when we first got together and that didn't really bother him, but since adding the shoulder collection for other anniversary presents he's approaching the limit for what he can tolerate. He finally gave in (for the fourth year in a row) after I persisted that I didn't want anything else and thoroughly explained my ideas for the footprints. He wouldn't give me any input as to what it should look like or where he would (or wouldn't) like me to get it for fear that it would seem he was okay with the idea. To help him feel better about me getting inked again I said I would also get my tongue pierced if I could afford to, something he's wanted me to do since he got his pierced this spring. That perked him right up.
My mother-in-law went with me as she was interested in watching a tattoo being done and she also has her tongue pierced. I was kind of leery about going back to Tat-2 for many reasons but I decided that I'd at least get my tongue done there and talk to the artist about my tattoo. We got there 10 minutes late after stopping for some lunch but the artist Brian had just arrived and was still turning on lights when we got there so it was okay. He had also done the last sitting on my collection and recognized me immediately. I told him what I wanted and he pulled out the photo album of his work to show me what he'd done in that area. We discussed whether to shrink them or not and which feet to use. Since I was concerned about cost he suggested NOT shrinking them as they'd lose meaning but getting the left from one boy paired with the right from the other and adding their first names and birthdates around them. We discussed cost and I decided to get just the footprints now in solid black and add the names and dates later.
That done I copied the footprints just how I wanted them to be and he made a transfer. We discussed where to put them and tried two different spots before I decided on the back of my right hip. My mother-in-law loved how it looked with the transfer on, and Brian warned me that that area is more tender than others and the stretch marks might not tattoo very well. I decided to go for it. It took him a while to figure out what position I should be in and he settled on laying down on my left side with my back to him. Since he was just filling in and not lining at all he didn't need to keep me upright. He got me situated on the table and got everything ready, taking his tools out of sterile packages and being very clean about everything. It took just over half an hour to fill the prints in, and at the time I thought that the pain was a bit more intense than my others, especially over the hip bone. Then he did the touch-up on my shoulder and I was reminded that the shoulde r hurts way more because there's more bone. When I saw it in the mirror for the first time I fell in love with it. They're exactly the same size as my boys' actual footprints (about 4x4" square with them both together) and there's lots of wrinkle detail. It's so cute! I just can't wait for it to heal so I can see it not so red and raised, but it only stings if I bump or rub it so it's not so bad.
The extent of the aftercare instructions was him asking me if I needed tattoo lube. I said "No, I have A&D at home" and he said great and that he wasn't going to bother going over the rest of it as he was sure I knew how to take care of it by now. Then he asked about my tongue and after almost chickening out I let him do it and I'm perfectly happy with the job he did there also (but that's another experience). Overall I'm very happy with Brian and the job he did on my tattoo and am very glad I went back to him. Now I just have to wait another year to finish this tattoo. Hmmm, I think a fifth anniversary warrants their names, birthdates, and a design around it, don't you think?
Anyway, tattoos are nothing pain-wise. It might make you wince a little depending on where you get it (over bone is the absolute worst) but overall it is very tolerable. If you have piercings even in your ears you can handle a tattoo. If you're thinking about a tattoo, make sure you think about the design for a long time and get something that means something to you, and please use a clean, safe professional when you get it. The best designs come from the person it will be put on, so take time to think something up and perfect it until you see the tattoo you want. My favorite saying about choosing a life partner applies to tattoo designs: Don't choose the one you can live WITH, choose the one you can't live WITHOUT.