April's Tattoo Story~

Meet April:

I'm 32-years-young and a mom to an awesome three-year-old girl. I'm a legal assistant, realtor and a Justice of the Peace. Officiating wedding ceremonies--as the "Offbeat Officiant"--is my passion, and I love all the amazing couples I meet. I currently have six tattoos and definitely plan on adding to my collection.

My first tattoo I got when I was 17. It was at a tattoo party before tattooing was legal in Massachusetts. It is a tribal butterfly design. It is my least favorite out of all of my tattoos, and I wouldn't mind getting it covered up with something larger in the future. There was no meaning behind it. I just really wanted to get a tattoo and it was a decision I made on the spot. 

-->

My 2nd tattoo I got when I was 25. It is a yellow rose with "mom" on my back next to my shoulder. My Mom was diagnosed with lung cancer in 2007 and passed away 4 weeks after being diagnosed. She was 56 years old. Yellow roses were her favorite. 

-->

My 3rd tattoo is my colorful owl perched on a sugar skull. I believe I was 27. I told the artist what I was looking for and was really happy with his creation. I love owls and I love sugar skulls.

 

My 4th tattoo is a colorful owl on my forearm. I believe I was 28. I had it done during a trip to South Carolina to visit my sister. The design is based on a vintage owl bank.

-->

My 5th tattoo is my little owl skeleton guy. I really like him. He reminds me of the vintage Halloween decorations. I believe I got him for my 31st birthday. 

Maybe it is a little weird, but all of my owls have names. Haha. The one on the sugar skull is 'Cotton,' the one on my forearm is 'Skittles,' and my owl skeleton is 'Tricky.'

 

I'm one of those people who don’t believe that tattoos need to have meaning. I get what I like. Things that make me smile. When people first meet me they usually say, "Wow, I guess you like owls, huh?" I think I'm done getting owl tattoos though. :) 

 

-->

My latest tattoo: I won a Facebook tattoo contest back in January 2014 that Cesar Perez was having. Finally, this past October, we scheduled an appointment. I drove to his new shop, Creative Ink in Keene, NH. Even upon arrival, I wasn't entirely sure what tattoo he would be giving me, but I felt confident with his work. He is a great artist. 

It was originally supposed to be one of his signature girl portraits... He wanted to do a girl wearing clown makeup, and I told him even though he is an amazing artist, I couldn't put it on my body because it isn't "me"

 

I told him I really loved the realistic skulls he tattoos. He put together this image of this cute delicate bird with a skull. I love it. Maybe just part of my dark side. I've just always liked them.

It was probably slightly crazy of me to drive two-plus hours to New Hampshire for an unknown tattoo, but life is short and it was a fun experience.

-->

**I met April in the parking lot of the my local supermarket. I had been driving  behind April's car and was curious about the business she advertised on the back  window. I was sure she'd turn off before I got to the supermarket I was heading to, but to my surprise she turned into the parking lot. I parked beside her car and asked her about her business...and then I saw her tattoos! She was very willing to share her tattoo stories.