Category: Features

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Halloween Spoopy Tattoos

It’s Halloween and we’re celebrating with our favourite #spoopy tattoos from some of favourite female tattooers. But what are spoopy tattoos you may ask? For those of you not familiar with this genre of tattoos, you’ll be pleased to know spoopy tattoos are a mixture of spooky and cute. Kinda like kawaii inspired tattoos in their colour palette. Although they typically feature pumpkins, bats and ghosts, they’re not just for Halloween. They also combine classic creepy themes with food, cute faces and sparkles! 

@melvin_arizmendi – so cute, we want to lick that icing right off! Hope it isn’t a trick cupcake though.

melvin

@alexstrangler – aw a ghosty holding a balloon, will the helium make it float away?

alex

@keelyglitters – ghost, tick; grave stone, tick; adorable glitter, tick – great example of a spoopy tattoo.

keely

@roxyrydertattoo – what’s more Halloween than the phrase trick or treat? Make it spoopy by adding candy hearts and bat silhouettes. Nailed it.

roxy

@littlerachtattoo – is it a vampire? Is a pumpkin? We’re not sure, but it’s hella cute.

rach

@laurathedrawer – look at this little ghosty’s face! Looks so happy to be flying in the stars with its bat friends.

laura

@jodydawber – candy corn, not something we have in the UK but we’ve all heard the legends of this sickly sweet orange-coloured sweet.

jody

@bootattoo89 – this is how your trick or treat goody lantern should look at the end of the night!

boo

@kirabishoppp – please tell us this adorable ice cream is pumpkin spice flavoured?

kira

@staceymartintattoos – look at its little arm carrying that lollipop! We can’t cope!

stacey

@siknaktattoo – is the kitty trying to get out of the pumpkin, or is it loving sinking its teeth into that soft pumpkin flesh? We don’t know, but the little cat ghosts are killing us!

sik

Share your fave spoopy tattoos with us on Instagram by tagging us, @thingsandink

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Caroline Derwent: Charity Tattoo Day

Plymouth based tattooist Caroline Derwent recently shared the love at her tattoo charity day in memory of her late father. We caught up with Caroline to see how the day at Dust n’ Bones tattoo studio went…

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The idea of a charity tattoo event called “say what’s in your heart” popped into my head when I was thinking of my dad. I wanted a tattoo design and day to centre around my clients choosing a heart frame and having something personal written inside.

The charity meant a lot to me and my family as my dad spent his last few days, before he passed away on 14th May 2017 under the care of the doctors and nurses at St. Luke’s Plymouth. They were so caring and professional and made his last days comfortable. They also looked after us emotionally, I can’t thank them enough.

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Every penny counts to help with such an amazing cause so I wanted to do my bit and raise some awareness. The idea of the tattoo flash day was super popular and I filled my day within a few hours. I did 11 tattoos in total. It was a really successful, with lots of cute and meaningful tattoos, and all proceeds went to the charity.

heart

In some way we can all relate to losing someone to cancer and it was such a pleasure to see the smiles on my clients faces with their finished tattoos The whole day was positive and a lot of fun and I was so pleased to raise £800 in aid of my father’s memory.

Twohearts

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Beautiful mastectomy tattoos

October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, one in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month nearly 5,000 people will be diagnosed with breast cancer. We’re sharing some of the most empowering and beautiful mastectomy tattoos in order to do our bit in raising awareness.

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“Boobs are the tits. I appreciate every single one of these ladies soooo much. Being given over trust for such intimate tattoos is a huge honour and I think you’re all badass as fuck. I would absolutely love to do more things like this for all you other kick-ass bitches who’d be up for some boobage tattooing. Hit me up.”
Both tattoos by @justjentattoos

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“Healed photo of Kelly’s mastectomy scar cover. It was an honor to do this piece and a gift to be part of transforming Kelly’s scar into something beautiful. This tattoo was done @savedtattoo last November as part of the @personal.ink project. I always welcome projects involving covering surgical scars, self harm scars and any tattooing to help people heal and reclaim their bodies. Thank you, @craizydaizydezignz.”
By @karenglasstattoo

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“She wanted to leave the scar uncovered and reclaim her body with this tattoo.” By @roxx_____

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“This is for a lovely client. She had originally intended on having areola tattooing done so came in with surgeon created nipple reconstruction. But she said what the hell let’s do something fun instead!”
By @jenleeredtidetattoo

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LadiesLadies! Art Show 2019

LadiesLadies! Art Show

Opening reception and silent auction

Saturday, October 26, 2019, 8:00 – 10:00 p.m

 Three Kings Tattoo, 343 E 10th St. New York, New York 10009

International female tattooers participate in benefit fundraiser for Planned Parenthood NYC

LadiesLadies_art_show

The 6th installment of the groundbreaking LadiesLadies! Art Show, a female-only collective exhibit showcasing the fine art of international female tattooers, curated by Elvia Iannaccone Gezlev, a tattoo artist, author of “Ladies of tattooing” and photographer, whose work has appeared in numerous tattoo magazines and tattoo blogs, and Kate Archer, unapologetic artist and representative of the queer side of female tattooers.

The 2019 show will present a selection of art from cutting edge tattoo artists, some of them identifying as queer; they represent the changing landscape of inclusivity within modern-day tattooing. What was once a male-dominated industry has evolved thanks to female and LGBTQ artists, who are creating safe and creative spaces for people of all genders, identities, races and body types, to get tattooed. Together they keep the tradition alive and kicking!

50 artists are donating their art (originals and/or prints) to the fundraising event. Tattooers and artists include; Claudia DeSabe (who also designed this year poster art!), Sunny Buick, Anka Lavriv, Zoe Bean, Linn Aasne, Lara Scotton, Lorena Morato, Drew Linden, Rosie Evans, Kati Vaughn, Marina Inoue, Jen Carmean, Tara Zep, Tina Lugo, Baylen Levore, Karrie Arthurs, Michela Bottin, Kate Collins, Amy Shapiro, and Dawn Cooke.

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Empowering mastectomy tattoo by Lianne Moule

Back in August, we spotted this absolutely stunning mastectomy tattoo by Lianne Moule, who works at Immortal Ink in Chelmsford, after she shared it on Instagram. So we got in touch with Lianne to find out more about the process, we’re sharing the story here to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

“Around four years ago, Liz was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer: sarcoma. The type and size of the cancer dictated that Liz’s only real option was a mastectomy with delayed reconstruction. The process must have taken a huge amount of strength and courage but I’m so grateful she allowed me to be a small part of her inspiring journey.

“Having never had a tattoo in her life, I am awe-inspired that she found me to request a mastectomy cover-up. Liz emailed the studio and told us about her situation and what she wanted to do. When I met Liz for her first consultation, she was very nervous. But she bravely told me her story. When she was diagnosed and told she would lose her breast, she was overrun by emotions. She even said to the consultant that she would rather die than lose her breast. She was aware that even though it seemed a dramatic reaction, her emotions were all over the place and she genuinely felt that. All of a sudden, she was aware of the fact that she felt her breasts gave her femininity, she questioned whether or not she would be able to love her body afterwards.

“Liz told me that throughout every stage of her diagnosis, surgery and aftercare, she was given so much support by the different departments – every team would explain what would be happening to her body and what the options were for her in the future. She decided to go ahead with a nipple graft onto the reconstructed breast, but at this point in the surgeries, she still didn’t know what she wanted to do with her body.

“When Liz was looking at the option of getting tattooed nipples, she came across some pictures of some flowers over mastectomy scars. Liz told me many times that she would never have had a tattoo if it hadn’t been for this journey she has been through. When Liz’s breast was taken away, it was replaced with what she calls ‘a lump of flesh’ – she said it never felt like her breast. With these feelings, Liz said she wanted to make it ‘her own’. Having a beautiful picture on it would make it finally hers, after having many operations without choice, she could finally make a decision to do what she wanted with it.

“Every time I tattoo a breast cancer survivor, it is always about reclaiming their body. It’s the decision that they get to finally make about their own body, to get closure of their experience. Having their bodies cut and poked and prodded and tested without really having a choice, it’s empowering to finally make a decision.

“Liz’s tattoo is one of my favourite pieces of artwork, she looks beautiful and I really hope she feels it. It’s detailed and colourful and I forever hope it gives her confidence.”

Research shows that one in seven women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some stage in their lifetime. October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It is so so important to check your breasts (if you need help with this head to coppafeel.org).