As a quick preface to this post, I wanted to let you know that I’ve done a major wardrobe clear out in preparation for my move this weekend. Most of it is headed to the charity shop but I’ve saved a few gems and listed them on Depop (my username is thelaughingmedusa). There are some real vintage beauties and even a few brand new pieces with the tags still on! So if you fancy shopping my wardrobe, go on and take a peek. But be quick! Whatever doesn’t sell in the next couple of weeks is also getting donated.

Okay, back to our regularly scheduled programming… Indigo has guest posted here before and today I’m thrilled to be interviewing her for Tattoo Talk. Although her collection is still small, she’s curating it carefully and I think it’s safe to say she’s quickly getting addicted!

Indigo Colton, 22, Full-time student, part-time retail employee, part-time freelancer in Austin, TX

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was 19 when I got my first tattoo. It is a dreamcatcher, on the inside of my right wrist. The design was based off of a real dreamcatcher one of my friends made for me the year before.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I have two!

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I personally have never felt tattoo regret, but I believe it is a real thing. I think there can be a tendency to get something done impulsively and sometimes that can result in either loving a tattoo forever or being over it in a few years. I have friends who have had tattoos removed/covered up because of this.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I believe tattoos can be either or! The two that I have both carry the weight of meaning behind them, but I’ve seen so many beautiful tattoos that people have told me were purely aesthetic choices.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
I don’t know if I can play favorites with my two, gosh! I love both of them so much.

So the dreamcatcher is based off of a real dreamcatcher my friend Krystal made for me. To me it symbolizes that period of my life, that friendship that was forged in the back yard of a mutual friend at a gathering focused on Nikola Tesla. It also represents a concrete reminder to always follow my dreams, and that what I dream for is within my grasp. I also have humor associated with my dreamcatcher tattoo because I had to fight with an artist at the studio (not the one who did the tattoo, mind you) about having it point towards me and be upside-down to everyone else. He told me I would regret that decision in a month and, wouldn’t you know, it’s three years later and I haven’t regretted it for a day.

My second tattoo, which I got in South Florida when I was 20, is the word namaste written in Sanskrit. It’s on the inside of my left wrist, and is another reminder for myself. I’ve practiced yoga on and off for years and one thing that always stayed with me was the “namaste” at the end of each class. The instructor would put their hands in prayer, in front of the heart, bow their head and say “The highest and brightest in me recognizes and bows down to the highest and brightest in you. Namaste.” I try to incorporate that into my life each and every day, to recognize the highest and brightest in everyone I encounter. My namaste tattoo did a lot of work for me over the holiday break, when I was working every day at my retail job and people were yelling at my coworkers and I every day for hours. I would look down at my namaste tattoo on my breaks and take a deep breath, reminding myself that everyone has a highest self, and that is what I need to focus on instead. And that everyone deserves to be treated as if they are being their highest self.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
YES! The one artist I’ve been yearning to work with for about a year now is Sasha Unisex. She’s a Russian tattoo artist and her work is absolutely phenomenal. I love her style and how her tattoos look on the skin.

If you’d like to keep up with Indigo’s adventures, be sure to check out her blog and follow her on Twitter and Facebook.

xoxo,

Theresa Christine, 26, Travel blogger, freelance writer and editor, and virtual assistant in Los Angeles, C

I wrote a post about 50 Ways to Have an Adventure Without Leaving Town and Theresa writes a blog about living an adventurous life, so I think we might just be kindred spirits. Tremendous Times is a gold mine for anyone who wants to explore, travel, and make the most out of life even on a ramen noodle budget. Plus, this badass blogger babe has a budding collection of tattoos that I couldn’t help asking her about. Here’s what she had to say…

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was 24. I’d always liked the idea of getting a tattoo but had never really sat down to think about it too much. At the time, I was living in San Francisco for about a year when one of my best friends moved to the Bay Area. She moved to SF like I did — not much money, not really sure what she was doing or why she wanted to be here. We were hanging out at my place one day and she was like, “I want to get a tattoo!” I told her that was a great idea but she should probably wait until she was actually making money to pay for it. So we talked about it and made a deal that once she found a job we’d both go out and get tattoos together. I think it was about a few days later and she texted me saying she was employed.

I got a very small tattoo on my wrist, “be,” in my own handwriting. It represents one of my favorite quotes, “If you want to be happy, be.” It’s actually in the perfect spot, and sometimes when I’m having a rough time I just look down and see it, and it makes me feel a little better.

How many tattoos do you have now?
In addition to my tiny wrist tat, I’ve gone into a shop for 4 more tattoos and had a few stick-n-pokes done on my knuckles.

I had my best friend do a few knuckle tats with a needle and some India ink. Painful but totally worth it and they are all great memories! I have a blue moon on one hand which was my first stick-n-poke. I have an earth and airplane on the other, which is actually what landed me a scholarship to The Blogcademy! It was kind of crazy, but I’m obviously glad I did it.

I have an anchor and some birds on my torso and shoulder and bows on the back of my legs. I’ve started some back art of a world map made of butterflies, and an intricate sleeve — both of which are still in progress.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I usually go into a panic mode right after getting a tattoo and think What have I done?! It happens pretty much every time without fail. But then the shock of being poked by thousands of needles wears off, I realize that hey, I actually have a pretty cool piece of art on me. That’s why the number one thing for me is to trust the person tattooing me. I don’t regret any of my tattoos — even the silly stick-n-poke ones I did with my friend.

Generally, I think that if you really like and trust your artist and the tattoo is important to you, then you’re way less likely to regret whatever you get. People put a lot of weight into tattoos — too much sometimes, I think. They’re like, “It’s forever. It has to be perfect, it has to be the perfect place and just the right design.” I honestly never have specific art in mind when I get tattoos, simply an idea of what I’d like. I decide on an artist, go into a shop, tell the artist generally what I’m looking for and I let them design it. It’s a little scary, but I’ve never been disappointed.

The truth is, it’s never going to be perfect. It’s a form of body modification and it’s man-made. The best thing anyone can do is find an artist that they trust 110%. I’ve scoured so many websites and looked through so many artist portfolios in order to find just the right people to do the ones I have. And when I’ve found them, I feel like I would probably let them tattoo whatever they want on me, they’re so talented.

The way I see it is that, no matter what they put on my body, it’s going to look good. And yes, tattoos are forever, but a well-done tattoo that is important for you at the moment will still be special years later. Perhaps in a different way, but it will still be a part of you.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
It’s sort of like, what came first: the chicken or the egg? I think tattoos can be purely aesthetic or they can have an incredibly special meaning. I also think the way you view that is fluid, and a once meaningful tattoo can become purely aesthetic over time, or vice versa.

For example, the anchor and birds on my sternum, ribcage and shoulder had a deep meaning for me when I got them. To me it represented this time in my life that I felt grounded in my personality, in who I was and in what I wanted, but that I still felt flighty and strangely unsure of things. Honestly, I don’t think that holds true for me anymore and I’m totally okay with that — it’s one of the most beautiful tattoos I have. It’s so fun to have that little bird on my shoulder (many a “Put a bird on it!” jokes have been made), and I especially love getting to show off the larger bird on my ribcage at the beach or something. In my life right now, they’re purely aesthetic.

I also think tattoos can gain meaning over time. I got the butterfly map on my back because of a similar beautiful image I’d seen online. But the more I travel and see of the world, the more of a connection I feel to that art.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
That’s tough! I love them all for different reasons, really. I am pretty excited about the sleeve I’ve got started that is still in progress. I had about 5 billion ideas going into the initial consultation, and the artist, Amanda Passero has really designed something amazing.

I wanted a tattoo centered around travel, particularly the quote “I always wonder why birds choose to stay in the same place when they can fly anywhere on the earth, then I ask myself the same question.” But I really didn’t want to just get a bunch of text tattooed on my body. So I had this idea of getting a few different images that could be viewed as two different things and tying it all into one tattoo. While it’s still in progress, there’s a compass that’s also a star, clouds that are also peonies, a sun that is also a moon, as well as a v-formation of birds and a big, beautiful stained glass window looking out at all this. When I told Amanda, the artist, some of these thoughts, she totally ran with it. She had these great ideas to add on and she drew some sketches that got me even more excited about it.

I love that all the art is inspired by that quote, and while parts of the tattoo can stand alone they also work together in a beautifully chaotic way. And while it’s certainly inspired by travel there are small elements that also mean more than that to me. I remember my mom saying years ago that she loved the way peonies smelled. I find it interesting how people are constantly looking for some kind of direction in their lives and that we all have our own personal moral compass. I also remember exactly where I was when I was looking out this huge window at my friend’s house, watching the world outside and feeling so incredibly small. The tattoo has a lot of stuff rolled up into it for me, and it’s incredibly satisfying seeing it happen.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
I love the work by Dr. Woo in LA. It’s incredibly delicate and the lines are so fine, and I would probably freak out if I ever actually got to have an appointment with him. I have other tattoos in mind that I’d like to get in the future, but I’m trying to focus on finishing the art I have in progress right now.

Can’t get enough of Theresa in your life? Check out her blog and give her a follow on Facebook and Twitter!

Are you a tattooist or tattoo collector who’d like to be featured? Drop me an e-mail; I’d love to chat!

Love, tartan mini-skirts, and croissants for breakfast,

The tagline of Jamie’s blog Wolf N Whisky is ‘Weird, Wild, & Wonderful’ and that’s exactly what I love about it. She posts fantastic travel reviews that will take you off the beaten track, introduces readers to interesting bands through her music reviews, and with her keen eye for design, she shares interesting insights into alternative art and culture. And if you’ve ever seen a photo of Jamie, it’s hard to miss her beautiful collection of tattoos. Today she’s going to tell us a bit about them.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was 20 when I got my first tattoo, a late bloomer in comparison to my friends. In high school, it was a rite of passage to go and get something done when you turned 18, I decided not to at the time because I wasn’t 100% certain of what I wanted. Funnily enough, of that group I’m now the most heavily tattooed of all of us. My first tattoo was the Auryn (an ouroboros talisman) from the Neverending Story. Super fantasy-geeky, it was always one of my favourite books & films as a child.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I have several large pieces and a full sleeve, currently I have:

LEFT ARM: A 3/4 sleeve of Ozma of Oz by Mo Coppoletta of the Family Business in London, UK.
RIGHT ARM: Underwater Octopus/Pirate sleeve by Ben Ackerman of Tattoos By Ben in Toronto, Canada. The sleeve is covering up some older work and incorporating an Adam Ant Jolly Roger tattoo by Dave Bryant of Lifetime Tattoo in Derby, UK.
LOWER BACK: Large floral Art Nouveau piece by Patrick Cornolo of Speakeasy Custom Tattoo in Chicago, USA,
CHEST: Black & red nautical stars (soon to be covered up!)
RIGHT LEG: A ‘Cattoo’ by Jessica Purplekid, and a Moon Phase Lady by Hilary Jane Petersen both of Tatouage Royal in Montreal, Canada.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I think tattoo regret can happen if you’re impulsive, or if you don’t do your research and find the right artist for you.

To be totally honest, I have experienced tattoo regret. Normally I’m very thoughtful in what I get tattooed. I set myself a minimum of a year to think over an idea before actually getting it done. The only piece I never did this for, are the nautical stars on my chest. It’s not even the ubiquitousness of the design, it’s that they’re really not me. That’s the only tattoo regret I’ve ever had, every other piece I adore and it’s because I really thought them through first.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I believe they can be both, it’s really up to the individual. Mine are definitely a mix of this. Some have deep meaning, others less so, some simply because they’re beautiful. And meaning can come after the fact. I may have had something tattooed without intention behind it at the time other than desiring beautiful art on me, but later on am reminded of a certain time or place. Tattoos end up taking on meaning, they’re highly symbolic of a personal history, your life story.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
Oooh man, that’s a tough one, but probably my Ozma tattoo. A lot of my tattoos draw upon my childhood, (even my pirate sleeve, is a direct result of my obsession with the Goonies growing up & the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyworld). I adored the Oz books by L. Frank Baum, such incredible stories and wonderful characters, my favourite being Princess Ozma. I was finishing up University in the UK and it seemed like the perfect way to celebrate completing my theatre degree, as well as a way to commemorate and take a little bit of those magic times with me. I loved getting tattooed at the Family Business and wandering around Angel Islington afterwards with a cup of coffee, always trying to miss rush hour on the tube. It’s funny how things can take on so much meaning, I look at my Ozma tattoo now and there’s a rush of so many wonderful memories that are now tied to this visual trigger on my arm. It’s really lovely.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
A countless number! Working with Tattoo Hero is a double-edged sword, I’m exposed constantly to the most incredible tattoo artists around the world.

Off the top of my head, currently would love to get work from: Cody Eich, Rose Hardy, Emily Rose Murray, Erin Chance, Alix Ge, Eilo Martin, Robert Borbas, and the list goes on and on.

If you want to keep up with all of the weird, wild, and wonderful things Jamie gets up to, be sure to follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Love, studded bangles, & vintage combat boots,

Sara Doucette, 37, Marketing Associate & Blogger in London

I’ve been lucky enough to meet Sara at a couple of London blogger events. Her lifestyle blog Hello The Mushroom is a fun mix of art, style, travel, and her adventures in London. I especially loved Sara’s recent posts on her morning beauty routine and yoga speed dating (who knew this was a thing?!) Her quirky, feminine style is also complimented by her awesome collection of tattoos, so she was kind enough to take part in Tattoo Talk today!

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I think I was 22 or so, I had just moved out of my parents house and decided that finally I was going to have one. It was a small triskel on my right shoulder.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I currently have a few scattered around, 22 in total, although some are close to others and might start counting as one. I want to start adding to the existing ones (as in expanding them) as I’m starting to get a bit sick of just having stuff stamped all over.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I think the only tattoo I am not that proud of it is one that I did myself when I was learning how to tattoo a few years back. I’ve considered transforming it into something else (not covering it entirely though) for a while but still haven’t had that fantastic idea!

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I think you can have both. I have tattoos that I drew myself that have no particular meaning, just ideas that I had that I thought would look good on me, as I was drawing them on my illustrated characters. (The hearts I have on my left arm are a good example of that, I was drawing that on my characters and decided I should have them done on myself).

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
I have several favourites. One of them is the cat I’ve got over the hearts. That was an illustration I made of my cat Bhaji. I miss him a lot. :(

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
I’d love to get something done by JK5 - didn’t get the chance the last time he was in London last year but hopefully next time I see him I’ll get something done!

For more Sara awesomeness be sure to check out Hello The Mushroom and follow her on Facebook and Twitter.

Love, disco ball manicures, & cheesy love songs,

Liza Sandanam, 40, HR Consultant and Executive Coach in Sydney Australia

It’s probably no surprise that I’m dying to get Henry immortalized as a tattoo, so getting to interview this cattoo collector was so much fun! On her blog The Small World, Liza blogs about all things feline – fashion, art, collectables, travel and a few anecdotes about her own furry friends. Here she is today chatting about her incredible tattoo collection.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was in my early 30s when I got my first of many cattoos. Looking back it’s really strange that I waited so long – I loved body art since I was about 12 years old and was definitely into temporary tattoos and drawing on myself throughout my teens.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I’ve lost count and it’s hard to put an actual number on the work I have now. For example both of my arms are “mixed” sleeves containing the work of multiple artists. There are about 15 different artists on my arms, maybe more – wow I’ve never done that maths before! And that’s just my arms. I should probably attempt to count and cat-alogue them all!

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I don’t have any regrets so far, none at all. Given that I wanted them for almost 20 years before getting them it seems unlikely I am going to have major regrets – despite the oh-so-commonly-held conservative views about tattoo regret in old age. I have been tattooed by some truly gifted and extraordinary artists from all around the world and I really do think they are incredible works of art. Like my other collections of feline art my feelings about them are fluid – my favourites change and then change back but I truly love them all. Sometimes I wish some of my favourites weren’t in places I can’t see!! I have an incredible piece by Kim Saigh on my lower back and ribcage which only my husband and cats ever see – however given that I’m running out of space for new work having ink in concealed places has to be part of the process!

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I absolutely think they can be either and in my case I have both. I got my late grandma Rosalie’s name tattooed on my wrist on what would have been her 100th birthday. She passed away at 96 and we were incredibly close – it’s a very poignant piece for me. The comical portrait of my cat Archibald eating a chicken leg is also really meaningful. However most of my pieces are purely aesthetic – I LOVE the process of collaborating with artists. With some of the really stylistic artists I have worked with I often just say “I want a cat” and see what they come up with. With other artists I have been more directive. Each of my tattoo memories are as special as the works themselves and I have become good friends with some of the people who have tattooed me repeatedly.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
I have agonised over this question for a week and I change my mind every few days! Can I talk about a few? My right arm is a “story” sleeve by three artists – a Maneki Neko (japanese beckoning cat) by Chris Garver, a cat-erfly beneath by Hannah Aitchison and a cat-erpillar beneath that by Kim Saigh. Chris then finished it off with the background to tie all the works together – so he started and ended the finished piece. I love that the same character runs through the three works but that each artist put their own very personal style on it. I also have an amazing piece on my upper back by Kim Saigh, and on my 40th birthday (in NYC) Chris Garver did the snorkelling cat on my arm. It’s an image by children’s illustrator Satoshi Kitamura and it’s one of the first feline images I collected and loved from childhood.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
Hell yes! There are two artists that I MUST get tattooed by immediately! They are Akuma Shugi from Brighton UK who does the most amazing samurai / manga style cats, and Horitomo from State of Grace tattoo in San Jose CA. Horitomo is famous for his Monmon Cats (books of his collected works are available under that title). Fortunately I’m on lists for both of them within the next year – I can’t wait!

Want more of Liza’s epic badassery? Check out her blog and be sure to follow her on Facebook and Instagram.

Love, glitter crowns, & furry friends,

Dani Pohlod, 28, Service Desk Worker in Wellington, New Zealand

Blogcadette season on Tattoo Talk continues! I’m starting to think that bloggers really do have the best tattoos. The lovely Dani has an eponymous blog where she shares stories about her life, travels, and the food she eats along the way. Today she was kind enough to stop by and chat tattoos with me. Here she is.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
23. It’s an axe and an olive tree branch with 3 olives. Before moving from Brazil to New Zealand, I decided to get a tattoo that would represent my family and my heritage. I have my mother’s surname, which is Oliveira (olive tree), as well as my father’s surname, Machado (axe), and I asked the tattoo artist (Marcelo Marzari from Colour Up Tattoo in Curitiba, Brazil) for a girly and vibrant design. It’s on my left inner arm and took 5 hours.

How many tattoos do you have now?
2 large on my left arm and 3 small on the back of my right arm. But I want a few more for sure!

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I’v never had any but I have a personal rule to always wait at least a year to get a new tattoo. It allows me to let an idea mature, and evolve, or drop it completely. It’s also gives me time to save money! Anyway, I think you can either accept it as part of who you once were and leave it, or find a way to cover up/remove a tattoo you don’t want anymore. There’s no point in regret: it’s your body, if you’re cool with it that’s good, if you’re not you can fix it.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I once worked with a girl who got a gypsy lady tattooed on her arm just because it was pretty, but then when she heard the story behind my axe/olive tattoo (the only one I had at the time), she started telling people that hers was an homage to her late grandmother who travelled the country on a caravan. Yeah, having a special meaning is cool and makes it special, but a beautiful design can be just as special. It’s on your skin forever (or until you decide it isn’t…) and it becomes part of you. One of the reasons I chose to tattoo my arms first instead of other body parts was because I didn’t like how they looked that much and wanted something pretty on them.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
It’s impossible to choose, I love them all equally as they represent different, important things in my life. I really love explaining their meaning too, especially because I have two book-related tattoos (Scheherazade from the Arabian Nights, and a tambourine which is a reference to Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close) and then I can recommend them to the person asking. 

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
I’d love to get a piece from Susanne König, at Salon Serpent Tattoo in Amsterdam, Or Claudia De Sabe, at Seven Doors Tattoo in London. They’re both really talented ladies with amazing style.

Be sure to check out Dani’s blog for her gorgeous photos and storytelling, and you can get more of her on Facebook and Twitter as well.

Forever yours,

Anne Lindeman​,​ 32​, Wedding Blogger​ in New Jersey​

Not only did Anne make the most beautiful bride but she has a really cool blog called Clever Wedding Ideas. Plus it’s hard to miss her collection of beautiful, colourful tattoos. Today she’s telling us a bit more about them.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
OMG, believe it or not I was 14! My sister’s friend pretended to be my mom and signed a permission form allowing me to get it. It was a black, tribal butterfly and absolutely hurt like hell. Classic tramp stamp, LOL. It’s literally the worst tattoo, but it reminds me of being young and rebellious and I always liked that about myself, so it’s fun to look at and laugh about it.

How many tattoos do you have now?
6 randoms plus a full sleeve​

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I think tattoo regret is a waste of time. Everyone should embrace their choices, good or bad and get on with life. I’ve never had any tattoo regret, bad tattoos – yes, but no regrets. They all represent a time in my life, whether up or down, and I like to see them to remind myself of how far I have come in this crazy life!

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
Both. I have tattoos that mean something (like the death of my grandfather and birth of my daughter) and fun designs to fill awkward spaces​ like the zipper and eagle. Everyone has the freedom to decide what they permanently want to do to their bodies, so to each is own.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
My favorite tattoo is my fish. I got the fish shortly after my grandfather passed away. I had so many fond memories of him especially spending time at the mountains where he loved to fish. His nickname was Bibbles (which is totally quirky) so I thought it a great idea to get an old school fish with his name. It’s a great conversation piece. ​

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?​
I’d love to get work done by Angelique Houtkamp (Tattoo Darling), Davide Andreoli (The Italian Rooster), and ​Mike DeVries (MD Tattoo Studio) – they are all AMAZING!

If you’re planning a wedding and want awesome inspiration, be sure to check out Clever Wedding Ideas and follow Anne on Facebook and Twitter.

Love, daffodils, & crimson pin curls,

Wedding photos by Allebach Photography.

Hannah Webster, 37, Wedding Photographer in Yorkshire Moors

Hannah is an amazing wedding photographer. Her photos have a fun, quirky style that I absolutely love. She’s also a fellow blogcadette and in addition to having the most beautiful lilac hair, she has a kick ass collection of tattoos. I’m especially envious of her pieces by Rebecca Vincent. You should take a closer look for yourself…

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was 24 when I had my first – a little swirly pattern on my lower back. My least favourite tattoo. It’s just kinda boring. But it got me started. And one day I’ll surround it with stuff that I love.

How many tattoos do you have now?
Two not quite complete full sleeves (hopefully one full day session each required to complete them, booked for March and April of this year), chest piece/collar, upper back piece, right foot and back of both calves. Total of 11 individual designs.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
Nope. No regrets here. I had one little tattoo (a small lizard on the front of my right ankle) that I didn’t love so I just added more ink around it so that the tiny little bit that bugged me became irrelevant. I have never regretted it though. I didn’t want to cover it up, it’s part of my tattoo history and I still like what it stands for and how it looks in the larger piece that it is part of today.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I think they can be purely aesthetic. Two of mine were. If anything they all represent my love of tattoos! That said, most of mine do have a special meaning for me. Something I want to remember or hold on to, an aspect of my life that seems important. My love of climbing, my travel adventures, my business, my loved ones, my self esteem.

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
Oh gosh. I love my peacock sleeve. It’s a two parter though and I love both parts equally. At the top there are two young girls based on myself and my younger sister as kids (she’s holding a doll). It was inspired by the distinctive style of Audrey Kawasaki who paints water colours on wood. The artist (Bez – Triple Six Studio) has tattooed us both extensively and I love the way he represented us, the personality traits he portrayed, the way he sees us and our relationship with one another. The rest of the arm is an abstract peacock design which represents my wedding photography business. When I started out, money was tight. I found it hard to justify spending on ink when I could barely contribute to our household bills. So I decided to earn my tattoo. One session for every 15 weddings booked. The peacock is me showing off my success in a way. Plus, when my talented friend Melissa Love set to work designing my current branding and website she incorporated a peacock into the bonkers-ness of it all. Neither of us knows where she got the idea from – she certainly didn’t know about my plans for the tattoo at the time. It just happened and made total sense.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
I want (and am booked in for) more by two of the artists I already have work by. Bez will be finishing off my sleeves this year after a year’s break following a spinal op. He’s such a talented artist – I would love to have a big back piece by him eventually. Rebecca Vincent is adding some creepy crawlie goodness to my upper back and I will doubtless think of more and more things I want her to add to me – I love her work so much and she’s such an awesome person to hang out with too. And I have plans for a big leg piece. Would really love to have Aga Yadou do it. She’s amazing.

If you want to hear more from Hannah (or book her for your wedding!), be sure to check out her website, follow her on Twitter, or like her Facebook page.

Love, shooting stars, and rocket ships,

Stephanie Drangle, 26, Production Manager at an advertising agency in Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

I swear that Blogcadette babes are just the coolest. They’re always full of spunk, with great style, and a killer vision for they want to create in life. Stephanie is no different and even though her blog, Lady Skull, is new she’s already posted some amazing content about being creative and living life on your own terms. You should definitely check it out! Today she’s chatting with me about her growing collection of beautiful tattoos and how she went from thinking she’d never get tattooed, to planning new ones all of the time.

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
I was 22 when I got my first tattoo. I planned it for about a year and I got a swallow tattooed on my chest. I had intended a sort of colorful henna look to the bird, but the tattoo artist took it one step further and added this whole narrative of a sunset at the beach, so you can see the sky, ocean, and vines of the earth all in my little tattoo. It was a very meaningful, symbolic tattoo for me.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I have four tattoos, but I just started planning another! I used to be the kind of person who always said, “I love tattoos, but I’d never get one, I change my mind too frequently.” Then I was the person who said, “I only want one tattoo, it’s special that way.” Now I’m the person who says, “I just had an idea for a tattoo, I think I’ll get it next month!”

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
I had someone tell me that they didn’t want me to get tattoos because I might regret it when I’m forty. Because they knew LOTS of forty-year-old women who regretted their tattoos. My thoughts on that? I HOPE I make it to forty, so I have the opportunity to regret my tattoos! I can’t make decisions based on how I MIGHT feel in 25 years. And right now, my tattoos don’t feel like something I could ever regret. It would be like regretting having a mole, or five fingers. They are a part of me, whether they’re “perfect” or not.

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
I think that a tattoo is meaningful even if it’s just meant to be aesthetic. It’s still a powerful expression of self, and if that expression is pure aesthetics and beauty, then that’s fantastic. I went to a wonderful lecture once by Dr. Michael Atkinson and he talked about how our culture thinks tattoos have to be “meaningful” in order to be “acceptable” or “justified” in society, so I like the idea of challenging that cultural norm and saying that tattoos can just be pretty and fun!

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it? T
ough question, because I love all my tattoos and they all have great stories (especially the tattoos I got in Korea and Japan—talk about experiences!). I see the heart tattoo on my finger the most often and it always makes me smile, so I’ll go with that one. I think about tattoos a lot, but I wait until I have an idea and it clicks immediately. The teal heart on my finger was like that, just a sudden idea that I instantly knew was perfect, and I got it tattooed a few weeks later. It was tough to find someone in Little Rock who would agree to tattoo my finger, and even then, the guy was really hesitant. He also had pink eye at the time, so I don’t think he’s one to talk. It’s the only tattoo I’ve gotten in my hometown.

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
My shoulder tattoo is from an absolutely amazing artist in Japan, Mitomo Horihiro, and a few months after I got it, I accepted the fact that I NEEDED a three-quarter sleeve. But his work is so flawless, I would love to go back to him for the whole sleeve. Buuuut … flying to Japan multiple times, or staying long enough to get an entire sleeve done? I miiiiiight be looking at a pipe dream, but I’m working to make it a reality.

Isn’t she the cutest? If you want more Stephanie in your life (and I know you do), you can also check her out on Facebook and Instagram.

To the rebels and wildhearts,

Emily Fisher, 28, Managing Director of Fishee Designs Photo Booth, Blogger at Mermaid Gossip, Designer at Fishee Designs Graphics in Bristol

For this week’s interview, it’s time to hear from another stunning Blogcadette (consider it Blogcadette season over on Tattoo Talk). Perhaps you recognize Emily’s lavender locks from around the interweb – she sure is a busy bee! I loved meeting her at the London Blogcademy Mixer last summer where she was set up with her trusty photo booth but she’s also a fashion blogger and graphic designer!

How old were you when you got your first tattoo? What was it?
15! It was my celtic tiger design on my back. My mum sad I could have it done for my 16th birthday a bit early so it was healed before we went on holiday. It was twice the size it was supposed to be (or so mum thought) and she wasn’t best pleased when I showed her! They did have to do it bigger as the detail in the face would have been blurred the size I had originally wanted it. It’s actually my least favourite tattoo that I have now as it doesn’t really have any meaning, nor is it to my style any more. I have since found a meaning for it, tiger being my chinese year, but that was an after thought. Even though I don’t love it, I don’t regret it as it’s part of what has shaped me.

How many tattoos do you have now?
I have eight in total, but one has been a constant progression in three stages (plus two extra sessions to go over part of that particular tattoo which the ink “fell out”), and my mermaid has been in two sessions so technically I have been tattooed 15 times.

What are your thoughts on tattoo regret? Have you ever had any?
See above, ha! Like I said, I don’t regret it because I feel each of my tattoos marks a certain point in my life as a kind of record I guess. They symbolise certain elements of my life and all have a meaning to me. I can see why some people would regret certain tattoos if they have had them in silly places or made silly decisions when they get them. Personally I think as long as you’re having a tattoo that means something to you, and you think carefully about having it done then you shouldn’t ever live to regret it. (Also the tattoo on my foot states “have no regrets, everything happens for a reason” which I completely believe. It’s in my grandma’s handwriting too!)

Do you think tattoos need to have a special meaning or can they be purely aesthetic?
Oops, seem to be jumping the gun a little bit with my answers here, as above. But I do think it’s up to the individual and I love all kinds of tattoos, but for me I guess they can be both but I wouldn’t want to have one that was only aesthetic. The meaning and thought behind them is what I love about my tattoos. Having said that, I have three hearts on my crotch “because that is the way to a girls heart” or so I used to say, so I can find meaning in many things!

Do you have a favourite tattoo? What’s the story behind it?
Ohh, that’s a tough one. I love them all (aside from the aforementioned) and I love them all for different reasons. The one on my right foot, with hibiscus flowers and a turtle, was the one I had done when I made the decision to change my life and move to Bournemouth from the crappy town where I grew up. It’s also technically very good too, and I designed it so I love it. But I think my mermaid is my favourite because it symbolises so much for me right now with my blog taking off and becoming part of my business and life. I have always wanted to be a mermaid and have always been drawn to the sea and Lucille at Scribe in Bournemouth did such an amazing job of designing it, she’s beautiful and also the biggest of all my tattoos. She’s my logo too! I have plans to extend to almost a full sleeve this year and have Luc working on it so watch this space!

Are there any artists you’re yearning to get work from?
I tend to stick with Lucille in Bournemouth because her style suits me and I love going back to visit. Having said that, I do follow a few that I love on Instagram but I wouldn’t say I was yearning although I would like to experience someone else’s work eventually.

Want more Emily in your life? Of course you do! Be sure to her out on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook, and hop on over to her colourful blog.

Love, mermaids, & seashell necklaces,