We've Been Inked @ BenInked

 On my Birthday, I got a new tattoo.  Now, I know what you're thinking. "Gina, seriously?  You don't strike me as the tattoo type."  Well first, let me clarify.  I'm not going out and getting a full sleeve of skulls and flames down my arm anytime soon (not that there's anything wrong with that).  I am strictly a floral, "girly tattoo" kind of girl.  I especially like daisies.

So, a few months back, my friend Ben, a tattoo artist, announced that he would be doing free pink ribbon tattoos to support breast cancer awareness.  To qualify, you, or a loved one has been affected by breast cancer.  As one of my aunts is a breast cancer survivor, I was immediately interested.  Additionally, pink is girly, right?  So my wheels started turning.

Ben incorporated daisies in this, the original sketch. ♥

When it was finished, I was amazed! 

Wow! 

So, it's on the back of my right shoulder, and I love it!! ♥

Thanks to Ben at BenInked !!!

Little did I know,  but Mike had been craving a tattoo for a while.  He talked about covering up an old tattoo for quite some time, but now was kicking the idea into fruition at a high rate of speed. 

People have asked what he is covering up? The date of a failed marriage, a la Eva Longoria?  The name of an old lover?  A drunk-weekend-in-Vegas tattoo?  No, it's nothing like that.  Sorry to disappoint you.  It's simply a feather in the center of his chest.  He was never completely happy about the way it turned out.

Mike fell in love with a cross and tribal design, a much larger tattoo, and thought it would make for a great chest piece.  It's substantially larger than the original tattoo.  Some things, with Mike, have to be larger-than-life.  And that's just fine.  But we'll talk about that later. (Think, "I'm turning FIFTY so I gotta make a Bucket List!")

So here's the initial sketch:

When Mike went for his first session, (about 2 hours) the outline was completed and Ben started covering the feather with the cross design.

Mike really wanted me to go with him for the second session.  I am so glad I did.  It's really cool to see a tattoo take shape!  And when it was finished - Wow.  Not to mention that Mike was totally stoked!!

 To see more pics, go to Mike's tattoo 

We had a great time last night.  Ben's studio is cozy and warm. No, I mean warm - literally.  It was rainy and cold last night, and our truck's heater isn't working, so scooting though the door at BenInked, definitely took the chill off.  But seriously, it's got a really mellow vibe, with drawings on the walls, a big cushy couch, and pictures of Ben's darling daughter, (whom he affectionately calls his Mini Me).

 I met Ben through mutual friends about a year ago, but really had some time to get to know him when he tattooed me.  It was definitely a cool experience, and I am pleased to call him a friend.

If you would like to know more about Ben, check out the links throughout this post, and don't miss the feature story from a few weeks ago in The Daily Sound.