My name is Melissa, and I live in St. Petersburg, Florida. I am 19, and I first started getting tattoed when I was 16. My first tattoos were my clovers. I got those because I am half Irish (Cherokee and a little bit of something else is the other half), and also of course because I thought they were pretty. Next, I got the yin yang flower-sun thingy on my lower back. I designed that one for the most part (of course I didn't design the yin yang, but the outside I did). Originally, the very outside that looks like flowers was also supposed to be flames, but the artist changed it when she drew it out. I don't know if I didn't notice it (or maybe I liked it better at the time), but now I wish they were flames like I drew. It's still pretty to me, though, and is actually kind of cool seeing as the reason I got the yin yang was because I just love the philosophy of taking...if you're gonna take the sweet, you gotta take the sour, and how the balance of the two make each other exist and thrive and neither could live without the other, as well as the reason that happiness feels so good is because we know how much sadness doesn't feel good, so on and so forth. So it kind of fit that something so beautiful that I wanted so badly and loved had something wrong about it. After that I got my phoenixes. Those are also way different from what I wanted, but once again I do love them anyway; it's better to embrace faults than hate them. I got the phoenixes for many many reasons, the biggest being their symbolism and how they rise from their ashes every morning and push on and do it all again. Another reason was because of the symbolism of birds in native american cultures. They are very special to me. Eventually I want the flames to be a lot longer and have to add on a lot to them. They look pretty good except for one thing: the wings were suppose to be celtic knot-type work (tying in both of my cultures), but my artist decided not to pay attention and turn it into overlapping skeleton-like wings, but it's not too bad. Next I got my panthers. One reason I got them is because my cat looked just like that, and I loved him (r.i.p. kitty), and the other because of their symbolism. Next I got my Crass tattoo. They shaped a lot of my morals and I started listening to them when I was 14-15, and they helped me get strong. I was just coming out of a very abusive relationship where my way-too-old-for-me boyfriend at the time treated me like crap, cheated on me, and raped me several times; but I was young and naive and "in love" with this older guy (only 20, but a 20 year old with a 14 year old...eww). Then I met this boy at my work, he rescued me and opened my eyes to what was happening; he was into punk so I got into it from hanging out with him. Then I listened to Crass and they shaped a lot of my morals, and the song 'Bata Motel' really helped me throught all of that. Because of that, it is a rememberence of when my life was saved by a loving friend and how it all shaped who I am now. Next I got my Metallica scary guy with 'Motorbreath' underneath. I have loved Metallica since i was about 5 or 6, and 'Motorbreath' is one of my favorite songs because 'It's how I live my life, I can't take it any other way'...lol. It's off of 'Kill Em All'. Next I got my Betty Blowtorch tat (the chrome chick with the motor on her head). This is from the band Betty Blowtorch (obviously); they are one of my favorite bands and a band that has given me a lot of inspiration. They are all chicks and all tatted up, and they are in your face and say whatever the fuck they want. They also break down a lot of negative stereotypes, all while being fun and rockin! Next, I got my twisted traditional piece...not done yet, and the shark and leg piece had a lot of blow outs. The leg looks like crap now...anyone have any ideas of what I could turn the leg into, or what I could do to fix it, or if I should just find something big to cover up the whole shark and leg? If you have time, e-mail me and let me know what you think, even if it's just to agree or disagree with me. I would appreciate advice from my fellow Painted Ladies. And finally (for now), I got my coffin piece. I also put a picture of my fiance's on the site so it made sense. But basically its represents our love and he holds the key to my heart, and my coffin is on his leg and his is on mine so when we die he can also come and unlock my coffin and heart once more and we will be together eternally. We believe we will anyway, but this is just the symbolism of all that. And despite what everyone says, we dont think it is bad luck...we are still as in love as we ever were and it grows more every day. So that's it for now.***DysfunctionalLuv@aol.com***
my phoenixes on my back
my betty blowtorch girl
my panthers
my traditional-style piece.
my yin-yang on my lower back.
Me and my fiancee's matching coffins.
My Metallica "Motorbreath" tattoo.
my clovers on my stomach.
