xjennersonx

Bass clef/upside down treble clef forming a heart.
This was my first tattoo. I got it because I am a bass player and music means more to me than I could ever explain. Done by Michael Gardner who was doing a guest spot at Slave to the Needle in Ballard WA.

“This isn’t therapy this is life” around an a.
This is the original logo of the band I used to be in, Alabaster. I played bass with them for 3 years. The quote is from an old song titled At A Safe Distance. It was one of my favorite bass lines I ever wrote, one of my favorite lyrics Kate had written at that point, and I wanted something to remember my time with the band. Logo done by Lisa Orth, who now runs Alleged Tattoo in Seattle WA. Lettering done by Jake Hades at Sunken Ship Tattoo in Everett WA.

“You don’t deserve a love you never gave”
This line was written by Sarah Saturday of Gardening, Not Architecture. It was in a song Deadbeat by her old band, Saving Face. This line holds true to me because I feel that any relationship should be 50/50 by each person. If it’s not an equal contribution, it isn’t going to work. It’s also in Sarah’s handwriting. Done by Lucky Barnard at Artful Dodger Tattoo, Seattle WA.

NSP graffiti.
This is an old Northern State logo, which was tagged by Colin Malley  under the Verazano Bridge in New York in 2000 or 2001 when they were just getting started (Northern State is a female rap trio from New York, in case you haven’t heard of them). The first time I heard them I fell in love. I met them outside their show in Seattle and after that I always kept in touch with them. They always remembered who I was and even took my suggestion to have Seattle band The Trucks open for them for a few shows. And I ran merch for them for a couple of shows in Portland. Northern State was a big part of my life, and I will always remember those times, and I wanted something to signify that. Done by Lucky Barnard at Artful Dodger Tattoo, Seattle WA.

Spool of thread
The original point of this one was to connect the loose ends of red lines from my Alabaster tattoo. My artist Tayler Wooten came up with this concept and I loved it. To me, it symbolizes that even though I am no longer with Alabaster, there is something holding me to them. Which is true. I am still their biggest fan.

Stargate logo
Yes, that’s right. The Stargate logo. One of my exes got me into and OBSESSED with Stargate SG-1. I’m planning on getting a full sleeve to be incorporated with this some day. I’m a nerd and proud of it. Done by Lucky Barnard at Artful Dodger Tattoo, Seattle WA. 

“I chose this path because it is right for me”
This is my straightedge tattoo. I have never tried alcohol, drugs, or smoking. I claimed edge as soon as I knew there was a title for it. I am proud to live my life substance free. I always wanted my straightedge tattoo to be my first. In fact I went through many different design ideas until my artist Kellie Delaney at Artful Dodger Tattoo in Seattle WA came up with this one. It ended up being the 7th one I got.

Sweet Child.
For anyone that has seen the movie Scary Movie 2, they know that Chris Elliott’s character Hanson, continuously calls Anna Faris’s character “sweet child”. This movie was a favorite among my group of friends a couple years after high school, and we would quote his lines in his voice, and my best friend Tara Johnston and I would call each other “Sweet Child”. It became our nickname for each other and when Tara began apprenticing, and asked if I wanted something done, I said “Sweet Child” would be perfect. So she put this on my leg. She has one too, that she did herself, in the exact same spot. Done at Alleged Tattoo, Seattle WA.

Storm pinup
My love for the WNBA team Seattle Storm is unending. Every season I am in my seat for every home game and every event I can go to. I am covered in my Storm gear and screaming my ass off at every game. I knew I needed something to signify that. Tara came up with this design on her own. It’s completely custom. Just an old school pinup wearing a Storm jersey.

Skull
Tara texted me asking how I felt about skulls. I told her I like skulls, as I do. She said she’s been dying to tattoo a Thomas Hooper style inspired skull and asked if I would like one. Since she’s working on her portfolio, and I’m a good friend, and because I liked what she came up with, I told her I would be down. So she came up with this one which she named “Birdbrain”.

“Your heart is worth more than you know”
This is a quote from the lyrics for a song called I Know The Feeling by Seattle band The Classic Crime. I’ve loved this line since the first time I heard it. And going along with my belief in relationships being 50/50, this quote says to me “don’t let people in too easy, and be careful with your heart, because it is worth more than you think”. Done by John Criscitello at Artful Dodger Tattoo, Seattle WA.

Michelangelo
I have always loved the Ninja Turtles. The original cartoon, the movies, the action figures, dressing up like them… everything about them! I decided it was time for a tattoo! Michelangelo has always been my favorite for lots of different reasons. This is a mix between the original cartoon version and the original movie version. Color still to be added once this heals! Done by Tara Johnston at Alleged Tattoo in Seattle WA.

‘13’ bandaid
I have always had a good/lucky day on Friday the 13th. Tara’s shop was running a special for $13 tattoos on selected flash. I liked this bandaid the best and had her put it on my right wrist. Coincidentally, it’s also my 13th tattoo. Done by Tara Johnston at Alleged Tattoo in Seattle WA.