Things&Ink The Celebration Issue starring Amy Savage and Tiny Miss Becca, order from Newsstand by Wednesday 18 December for Christmas delivery in the UK.
It’s Christmaaaaasssssssss
Owning my body
Bethany Rutter, author of No Big Deal, examines what it is to be female and have tattoos
Photos by Heather Shuker
It seems as if one of the main requirements of being a woman and inhabiting the body of a woman is that we preserve, protect and sanitise it at all costs. Virginity is the most highly prized feminine trait. Body hair is unthinkable. Proof of ageing must be combated decades in advance. Stretch marks are a secret shame. Women’s bodies should be unblemished, unmarked, smooth and pure. Signs that our bodies have deviated from this path, that we do not wrap our bodies in cotton wool, are an assault to the perception of what it means to be a woman, an assault to what we owe those that look at our bodies.
Tattoos, then, are surely the greatest attack on a collective belief in ‘pure’ womanhood. They’re a sign that a woman owns her body, that she’s refusing to accept ‘unmarked’ as a condition of femininity.
One of the most common criticisms of women with tattoos is that they are ‘unladylike’, but I take exception to this. They’re a method of reclaiming what it means to be a ‘lady’, or better, a woman. They’re a choice, they’re a commitment, they’re an expression of the self, and I’m completely sure that women have claims to these. Choosing to have tattoos means I choose to own my body, to see it as a permanent vehicle for my sense of self and that I’m choosing what I say with it.
The most perplexing part of the equation is that no one changes when they get a tattoo. Their behaviour doesn’t change, the way they relate to the world doesn’t change, it’s just, in the words of Joni Mitchell, ‘ink on a pin underneath the skin’. So why we think we can tell a good woman from a bad one by whether or not she has a tattoo is evidence again of the obsession with keeping women ‘pure’ and palatable. Heaven forbid a woman has a tattoo across her lower back, since apparently this is the litmus test for whether or not she is a ‘tramp’. So here two things are combined: desire to control women’s bodies and whether or not they have sex.
Tattoos on women offend the collective sensibility because they are bold, unmissable and non-negotiable, and those are traits I’m quite happy to associate myself with. ❦
This was first published in the launch issue of Things&Ink, thingsandink.com.
Issue 5 – the celebration issue – what’s inside?
Issue 5 – the celebration issue – what’s inside?
Sneaky peek inside the contents page of the latest issue
4. Art for things&Ink – Artwork by Mister Paterson
5. We love ink – Tattoos as a celebration
6. street spotter – London Tattoo Convention special
9. Wonderful Christmas time – Samantha’s festive sleeve
10. the virgin columnist – Our columnist Jenny visits her first ever tattoo convention
11. Reader ink – Your celebratory tattoos
12. My first time – Sarah shares her first tattoo experience
13. The opinions of ReeRee – This issue, ReeRee talks about her tattoos with meaning
14. Dear blue... Into You’s shop mother answers your problems
FASHION & BEAUTY
16. Saturnalia – Celebrating beauty with colour
20. East Meets West – Things&Ink/Gypsy East collaboration
Misconceptions
28. PIT TIPS – Sarah’s armpit epiphany
30. Interview with Sam Smith – Sarah meets tattooist Sam in Canada
32. We All Have Scars – Writer Kelli broaches the sensitive issue of tattooing over scars
35. Don’t Fuck With Librarians – Things&Ink talk to some kick-ass info-pros about misconceptions and tattoos
41. A celebration of my absurd life Writer Kimberly celebrates her birthday with a tattoo
42. Pop culture Cult tattoos featuring Breaking Bad’s Jesse and Larry David
44. Maid of Dishonour Best friends get tattooed for the big day, plus a chance to win photography for your wedding day
Things
48. Object on a desk – Tattoo artist Mister Paterson gives us a glimpse into his work space
51. The tattooed book Cara reviews Original Skin and The Tattooed Girl
52. Phantasy homes How to make your house beautiful with tattoo-inspired kit
54. Th:Ink Music Reader tattoos, girl bands, Drew Linden’s playlist and an interview with Johnny Cupcakes’ Kellen Ellis
58. The beautiful world of Flora Amalie – Interview with Conspiracy Inc.’s co-owner and shop manager
History & Culture
62. Latin tattoos Purveyors of dead expressions
66. The changing shapes of beauty Amelia Klem-Osterud explores the tattooed female body
69. Last writes Tattooed mortician, Carla Valentine, explores the death and tattoos
Behind the needle
74. Diary of a tattoo apprentice Before reading this, Google ‘Hannah Mosley repulsive’. At your own risk
76. Let’s celebrate A party with our cover stars, Tiny Miss Becca and Amy Savage
84. Black Tattoo Art Review of Marisa Kakoulas’ latest book
85. This is a job, but it’s not ordinary Interview and photo shoot with tattoo artist Joao Bosco
90. PMA Writer Fareed stumbles across a secret in Portugal
The directory Tattoo shops personally recommended by the Things&Ink team
94. Meet Vicky Morgan A glimpse into her tattoo world
EXCLUSIVE Christmas competition to win beautiful pendant and limited-edition prints
It’s Christmas, so it’s competition time! And we only do the best giveaways, of course!
Tattoo artist Dominique Holmes and Fiona from Black Pearl Boutique have made a truly special, one-off pendant especially for Thing&Ink readers. A stunning gypsy pendant with a beautiful tiny ruby – worth £100 – and it is hand engraved, too. PLUS TWO gorgeous prints by Dominique – signed and numbered from a run of only 50.
To enter you simply have to share one of the pics below on Instagram and hashtag it #Christmaspendant – and tag us in it too @thingsandink, @domholmestattoo and @blackpearlboutique.
Competition closes on New Year’s Eve, and a winner will be announced on 1 January.
This is just to say thanks for being the most awesome readers EVER! Haaappppyyy Christmas one and all.
Alice’s Pig first ever pop-up shop for Christmas
POP IN WHEN THEY POP UP!
You’re invited to Alice’s Pig first ever Pop-up Shop! Perfect for Christmas pressie buying…
On until Sunday 15 December at the Old Truman Brewery, off Brick Lane, (every day 11am-7pm), Loading Bay Area, Dray Walk, Unit 4-5, London, E1 6QR
There will be four other exciting new fashion labels, sample, Christmas sales and much more.
About Alice’s Pig: Alice’s Pig is a new fashion brand from Brixton in South London, inspired by vintage style and Alice in Wonderland. Founded in May 2013 by sibling duo Amanda and Nicolai, Alice’s Pig designs all its collections in London and has an additional office in Shanghai. The brand image comes from their love for Alice in Wonderland, where crazy is normal. The name is a reminder that colliding styles and cultures can produce something interesting and that there can be beauty and surprise in anything; even in a pig.
