Nothing is original

I once came to an artist with only a semblance of an idea. All I knew was that I wanted a tattoo of Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader in a lightsaber battle. I brought some pictures from the movies into him and he asked me to give him a few weeks. So I did and he gave me one of the coolest tattoos I thought I'd ever seen. He kept telling me how much prep work he put into it. He was trying to create something super original. And sure enough I thought he did. That is, until I started surfing the internet for more Star Wars tattoo ideas and I came across something almost exactly identical. I guess tattoos really have become so common that you really just can't have something completely original.

Losing Your Tattoo-Virginity

Some of the best stories about tattoos are about people getting their first tattoos. Some people stop at one. Some people get so addicted they need another one within a week. Some people even faint. Whatever happens, nobody ever actually forgets getting their first tattoo. Or as I like to call it "Losing Your Tattoo-Virginity"

Big Bear

Bob and Terri Bayer own Big Bear Tattoo as husband and wife. They've been on the tattoo scene for over fifteen years and were finally able to open a shop of their own. They have a staff of award winning tattoo artists that are exemplary for both their skill and being some of the nicest people I had the chance to meet in this whole experience.

They give their customers some of the best work I had a chance to see and you can check it out at their website and Facebook page.

Big Bear Tattoo is located at 94 Spencer Rd. in St. Peters MO.

Never Fade

Andy Bell has been tattooing for years. He worked for years at various different shops, expos, and conventions all over the country. His dream was always to own his own shop and in 2013 he finally got the chance as he opened the doors to Never Fade. 

Check out some of Never Fade's absolutely amazing work on their website and Facebook page.

Never Fade is located at 7250 Gravois in St. Louis, MO.

Shelby Neigh

Shelby Bethards was only six years old when she first saw the movie Titanic. When the movie ended she proceeded to ask her mom what happened to Rose. Her mother told her that Rose died a very peaceful death in her sleep. Shelby did not like this answer. Even though this was a death with no pain, she could not stand the idea that someone could actually die in her sleep. I think fear for this specific way to die is actually normal. Almost every way people die is beyond their control, however, something about being asleep while it happens really strengthens the idea of having no control, especially to a six year old.

Shelby had anxiety almost every night for almost a year after that. Going to sleep became a genuine fear for her because she was too afraid that someone could actually die while sleeping. To help her cope, Shelby's mother used to sing her a lullaby. "The sooner you sleep, the sooner you'll wake, the night will go fast, as quick a wink. The morning will come and soon we'll be there, tomorrow we'll go to the fair. We'll ride painted horses with wind in our hair. We'll always remember the laughter we share. The sooner you sleep, the sooner you'll wake, tomorrow we'll go to the fair."

It was not until she got much older that Shelby really began to consider the meaning behind that lullaby. To her it means that pain and anxiety may linger on us from time to time, but tomorrow is a new day. Tomorrow is always a gift to look forward to. Tomorrow is a new start for joy, happiness, redemption, and life. She hopes to sing this lullaby to her own children some day so she can try to help them understand the same thing.

Shelby and her mother have also share a true love for horses. Her mother teaching her to ride is one of the greatest memories she has. Shelby's overall purpose for this tattoo was just to honor her amazing mother and the memories they have shared. Shelby's mother gave her so much, including teaching her that there may be pain in the night, but joy comes in the morning.

3 of Hearts, 4 of Clubs

Kelli Maxfield got her first tattoo back in her early 20's. Her mother, Helen, was raised in a family that was very against them. The tattoo hate definitely stopped after that generation, however, since Kelli, and her cousins, all ended up with tattoos. After Kelli got her first tattoo she started feeling a lot of anxiety over her mother finding out about it. It was actually her husband's mother that took it upon herself to tell Kelli's mother. Just as a way to take all the anxiety out of it for Kelli. Helen actually thought the tattoo was pretty. After that she became slightly addicted to tattoos. Her favorite is the one of the hearts surrounded by shamrocks. Each heart has the name of her husband and her two sons. The shamrocks are because of the family's Irish blood. She got this tattoo on her chest to symbolize how close she keeps these three men to her heart.

You bring the lasso, I'll bring the truth

Shannon Hilburn has been a lot of things in her life. A friend, daughter, sister, soldier, mother, nanny, wife, surgical assistant, and super hero. She spent years helping a recently divorced woman raise her three boys. She gave those kids love, guidance, and most importantly, instilled her morals into them. She taught them that nothing was more important in this life than doing the right thing. She truly became their hero.

Eventually the kids got older and Shannon left for the army. To no ones surprise, her excellent leaderships skills got her the job of platoon leader. When it was time to get the crew ready for the day, she would do the iconic spin that Diana Prince would do when she transformed into Wonder Woman. It was her own way of motivating all her friends and reminding them that they could handle anything the army could throw at them.

Shannon applied all these same principles when she became a mother herself. She named her first born, Chandler, after the boys she took care of and their mother. She did this because she never stopped thinking of them. She changed their lives. This Wonder Woman tattoo on Shannon's leg is the absolute perfect representation of the kind of person she is.