My Most Meaningful Tattoo

with Danielle Andre

in remembrance of her grandparents

This tattoo is in remembrance of my grandmother. She passed away when I was just 9 years old, but still had a major impact on my life. I lived with her and my grandfather for a year between first and second grade while my mother was preparing to give birth to her 4th child while also house hunting with my dad and the other kiddos. When my grandma passed away from lung cancer and emphysema, I experienced depression for the first time in my life. At school, I would have random crying outbursts in the middle of class, and I was put in grief and loss counseling for 3 years in a row. I still haven't fully gotten over it and I probably never will.

The panther with roses on my belly is for my grandmother (and grandfather, whom is still living). My grandma's name was Rose, and I chose the color red because it is the color of love, and also because it reminded me most of her (she always had long red fingernails). The panther is for my grandpa because the only tattoo he ever got was a panther clinging to his arm.

Member Business and Craft Spotlight - Jennifer White Perfectly Twisted Creations

Name:Jennifer White

Location:Cleveland,Ohio

Name of your business if you have one: 

Perfectly Twisted Creations

What is it you make?

I make a little of everything but I'm mostly known for the keepsake boxes, sculpted luminaries, and polymer clay jewelry I make. I also paint and draw and commission my artwork on my keepsake boxes as well. Most of my work, but not all, has a dark but beautiful feel to it. Like a beautiful damask keepsake box adorned with a hand sculpted Gothic cross or skull. I try to make items I would personally love to own in hopes that others would love them as well.


How long have you been making them?

In July it will be a year since I started Perfectly Twisted creations


What inspired you to start?

I have been and artist and creative since I can remember. My love for creating things from hand grew as I did. I have looked for many outlets for my creative itch but it wasn't until a couple years ago, when I made my first shrinky dink necklace then sugar skull necklace, that I realized I wanted to get more serious with my crafting. I made some simple keepsake boxes for my family for Christmas a few years ago and thought how awesome would it be to make more elaborate beautiful boxes with hand sculpted flowers or skulls on them. That lead to me doing my first big craft show last year and my business has taken off since.


Was it easy for you to learn?

I had some experience sculpting with gumpaste and fondant in my cake decorating days so working with polymer clay came easily after a little bit of practice. But I am always trying new and different things and learning as I go by trial and error.


What's the price range on your items?

Prices of my items range from $5 for cute bows to the most expensive item I have made to date which is $100 for a painted glass vase with a very realistic hand sculpted octopus on it.


Do you take on commissions or personalize items?

Always! It's my favorite work to do. I love making custom items.


What has been your most favorite creation?

That is a hard one. I think it would be a tie between the octopus vase I made and the Friday the 13th inspired hand sculpted Jason mask keepsake box I made myself.


What has been your least favorite?

I can't say I have a least favorite. I enjoyed making everything I have. The only thing I thing I can say I need a break from making would be the Lament Configuration Hellraiser inspired bracelets I made. I only say that because I had to make 50 in 2 months lol.


Where can we find your items? (links)

www.facebook.com/perfectlytwistedcreations
www.etsy.com/shop/SoPerfectlyTwisted

Member Business and Craft Spotlight - Ashley Boswell with Moms on a Mission.

Name: Ashley Boswell

Location: Charleston, WV

Name of your business if you have one: 

Not really a "business," but a non-profit group.

Moms on a Mission

What is it you make?

A little bit of everything!  We make awareness ribbons, wedding items, crocheted items, jewelry, mesh wreaths, hair accessories, baked goodies, and signs and banners to name a few. We are quite a diverse group of ladies and try to showcase ALL of our talents!


How long have you been making and selling your crafts?

Since we were founded about a year ago!


What inspired you to start? 

A few friends and I wanted to start a group based on the busy and sometimes hectic life of being a mom, while making a difference in our local community. We started making crafty items to raise more funding for some of our events that we host.


Were the crafts easy for you to learn?

Some things come easily. Some do not. Some still don't for me, but do for others! But that's okay, but I excel at some things that others do not. Since we are a group, and not just one person, it really helps with that. If I can't understand something, usually someone else does!


What's the price range on your items?

We sell some things from 3 for $1 and all the way up to $250 packages. Since we make a LARGE variety of things, we have pricing flexibility.


Do you take on commissions or personalize items?

Most definitely! We have a whole "Custom Orders" section in our Etsy store and are HAPPY to try and help as many people as we can!


What has been your most favorite creation?

My personal favorite item to make is wedding bouquets & sets. I love weddings. I love helping make things for weddings as well as plan them! My favorite thing from the ladies in my group is the awesome crochet items that they can come up with! I taught myself to crochet but their skills are on a whole other level!


What has been your least favorite?
I don't have a least favorite. If I did, I don't think I would offer it anymore!

Where can we find your items?

https://www.facebook.com/MomsOnAMissionWV and

https://www.etsy.com/shop/MOMWVCraftsforaCause

Why I Like Being a Modified Beauty #8

With Beauty and Creator Constance

AKA: Connie, ConDoll, Porcelian

Birthday: 6/6/8 

Age:26

Location: Johnson City TN

Turn ons: intelligence, an open mind, understanding, a lovely smile, a warm heart.

Turn offs: ignorance, trolling, hatred without reason

Divisions within Modified Beauties:Curvy Beauty

Links:

The Modified Beauties

The Curvy Modified Beauties

Witch Wish Trinkets

Leah Orion Artworks [Facebook]

Leah Orion Artworks (still being updated)

 

TL:Why do you like being a Modified Beauty [MB]?

CM:Well because its let me connect with so many girls who have similar interests internationally. I like that i can complain about my size shape or form and every girl will give me an out pour of support. its a wonderful feeling to know that i have friends that wont back stab me at a moments notice.

 

TL:How has being a MB helped you?

CM:The girls have definitely helped with my confidence and trust issues. granted both are not where i would like them to be at this singular point in time, its not nearly as bad as it used to be and that absolutely tickles me.

 

TL:Who/what inspired you to begin your modifications?

CM:When i was maybe 6 or 7 i watched my mom get a tattoo from a scratcher. I only know now that he was a scratcher, but the point is at that point i knew i wanted ink or metal in my skin. in about the 6th grade i started to wear a fake labret ring (i know, I'm cool) and finally pierced my lip myself. it was on my left side and it rejected quickly. i tried a few more times until finally i decided that i would just wait til i was 18 and i would go to a shop. my mom at this point had decided that i was ruining my face and wouldn't help me put metal in it lol. so, for my 18th birthday i got a surprise from my good friend Kara. she took me to a shop and got my labret done. Its a tad off center but i love it! at that moment i was addicted. not long afterward i got my first tattoo. Wings on my back, that were done by a great artist named Jaxx. I guess you can say what inspired me to modify myself was my parents.

 

TL:What modifications do you have and how many?

CM:at this current point in time i have 6 piercings and 4 tattoos. i want so many more, but yay for financial struggles. at one point i had 8 piercings but unfortunately i retired my tear drop dermal and my medusa. ):

 

TL:When did you start your modifications?

CM:In the above story, i kinda explain that i started my mods in the 6th grade. but modifications to me go so much further then putting a piercing in your face or getting a tattoo. I also have scars that serve as reminders for mistakes or things that have happened to me. those in itself are modifications because it changed my body and my appearance. so, you can say that i started to modify myself at about 7 years old.

 

TL:What is your favorite modification?

CM:my favorite modification are the lyrics across both wrists. they say "these wrists were split, when first we kissed" a constant reminder that no one is worth hurting myself over.

 

TL:If you could give advice to anyone who is beginning the modification process, what would you tell them?

CM:make sure that you see a licensed professional in a clean shop. do your research. get health scores before you go to a place. Don't just go to a place because you heard that they did an awesome job on your friends friends cousins uncles brother. that's how you end up with permanent damage. be smart.

 

TL:In your opinion, what does a modification mean to an individual?

CM:Does it change from person to person or is there a general sense of ‘I’m cool now, or I’m unique’? to me a modification is a mark in your life that you either want to remember or something you changed.

 

TL:In your personal experience, did you get treated differently for your modifications, or were you treated the same as before you had them done?

CM: I definitely get treated different which is ridiculous because i am the same person. I could understand if i was this significantly different person, but I'm not. I'm still Constance.

 

TL:Is there anything that you may want to add?

CM: love and light. remember that a person is a person no matter the mod!

Why I Like Being a Modified Beauty #6

With Modified Beauty Devin

Nickname/AKA:  Dev

Birthday:   02-04-1983 

Age:  30 

Location:   Palm Harbor, FL

Turn ons: Intelligence, confidence, strong facial features, tattoos, piercings,
 adventurous personality, sense of humor (twisted), passionate, considerate & into letting me take charge

Turn offs: Arrogance, conceited, selfishness,poor hygiene,
 someone so insecure it projects onto you, bad communication

Links: Facebook

TL: Why do you like being a Modified Beauty [MB]?
D: I really dig being a part of a community of incredibly strong, diverse & colorful group of women.
 
TL: How has being a MB helped you?
D: That I’m not alone in my endeavors to see:  How many holes I can put into my body?  What other funky hair color can I come up with? or  I NEED MORE INK!  It’s truly nice  not to hear, “OMG, why would you  DO that to yourself?”  *le eyeroll* 
TL: Who/what inspired you to begin your modifications?
D: Not being allowed to!  I come from a VERY small town & when the piercing bug bit, it bit hard!  There were not a lot of resources to research things or even get things professionally done.  I had pierced my eyebrow, nipples & navel myself by the time I was 13, lol.  Nothing got infected, thank goodness…  My first “real” piercing was when I was 18 & it was my tongue.
 
TL: What modifications do you have and how many?
D: I have my left nostril pierced (16g), septum (10g), medusa (16g), 3 in my tongue (two 10g & a 14g), my hair is short, choppy & I’ve currently got a bright red peek-a-boo highlight in my bangs…oh & half of it is shaved off.  I have 8 tattoos right now.  I need more!!
 
TL: When did you start your modifications?
D: I started them myself at 13.  I got my first professional piercing at 18.  I’ve been dyeing my hair ever since I was 12.
 
TL: What is your favorite modification?
D: I really love my Borneo Roses.  I’ve been wanting them for so so long & I had to wait forever to get them.  They’re for protection against evil & malicious spirits.  Today’s a crazy time…need all the help I can get, lol.  
 
TL:If you could give advice to anyone who is beginning the modification process, what would you tell them?
D: There is NOTHING wrong with being bold, but start slow, start small & think about “down the road”.  I’m dealing with stupid eyebrow scars from botched piercings years ago & it’s really annoying.  Oh & some trendy tribals I wish I would have through before getting done.
 
TL: In your opinion, what does a modification mean to an individual? Does it change from person to person or is there a general sense of ‘I’m cool now, or I’m unique’?
D: I believe it changes from person to person.  There’s nothing wrong, in my opinion of someone getting a navel piercing to experiment with their body in a more subtle way.  To me there’s also nothing wrong with someone getting metal spikes implanted into their head either.  I think to a degree all of us MB’s think we’re pretty bad ass.  Our modifications are what we have control of & that’s powerful - not necessarily “cool” or “trendy”…
 
TL: In your personal experience, did you get treated differently for your modifications, or were you treated the same as before you had them done?
D: I’ve been getting the stink eye about my hair, piercings, tattoos, clothing foreverrrr!  Since becoming a mother & moving to a very suburban Florida city, it hasn’t gotten better.  However, if someone gives me the time of day, they’ll see that I’m  usually nicer & more polite than the average person!

Modified Beauty Spotlight - Darkageon Youngblood the body modification specialist.

Darkageon Youngblood

Age: 22

Location: Florida

Modified Beauty Division: Golden Beauty

Darkageon lives in Florida where she was born and raised, but she's spent a lot of time in other states as well as she traves a lot and has been to a ton of places in the U.S. She currently works at Oxygen Tattoo and body piercing Studio in Panama celebrating several years in the body modification industry. 

She actively goes out of her way to help educate the public about the risks of body modifications and the benefits as well. 

She even has an educational page on facebook  

When she's not working hard she likes to play WOW (World of Warcraft) and DDR (Dance Dance Revolution). She also occasionally does things like photo shoots and sword swallowing. 

You can check out another of her personal pages on facebook Tattoo's by Sniper

Recently she was featured on 850me.com 

So we'll let you find out more here by following the link!

http://850me.com/2013/04/25/tattoo-artist-sniper/

S

Why I Like Being a Modified Beauty #5

With Modified Beauty Felicia M.

Nickname/AKA: Cupcake

Birthday: October 5th

Age: 27

Location: Washington State

Turn ons: Confidence, nice teeth, nice arms, tattoos, intelligence, good hygiene

Turn offs: Bad hygiene, ignorance, blatant bigotry or closed mindedness, pity party self sabatogers, drug usage of any kind (I don't mind if you do it but I wont be attracted to you if you do).

Divisions within Modified Beauties:

Golden Beauties

Links: 

Cupcake Adventure and Perler Creations
Cupcakes Etsy page

TL:Why do you like being a Modified Beauty [MB]?

FM:Well before I was a part of shaping The Modified Beauties I was in another group similar The Women of Modified. I somehow managed to become a Vice President of the group before taking time off and quitting due to stress and the crazy expectations that were expected of me. I had no life. When MB started I sort of just watched it and then decided to join at the insistence of my lovely friend and wifey Asia. They brought me on board as an Admin. 

Now to actually answer the question *laughs* I like being an MB because it's a sisterhood and community full of wonderful, caring and modified women. It has brought us all together in a world where we wouldn't normally come into contact with each other. Every member we accept into our group adds to the richness of it.

TL:How has being a MB helped you?

FM:The girls offer advice, opinions, a place to vent and be yourself without fear of retaliation or judgement. It's a place for friendship. I don't often have problems with this stuff but there are days where I just need someone to talk to, or some of the girls need someone to talk to and that's what we do. It also helps others get opinions, tips, and help with their modifications, and ideas to better themselves "modify" so to speak from fitness, to tattoos, piercings, hair dye, make up. You name it.

TL:Who/what inspired you to begin your modifications?
FM:I wish I had an answer. Older friends when I was younger I suppose. Not many people in my family had modifications so I was kind of the odd one. I don't mind though. I can inspire myself and anything I go through in life also gives me inspiration.

TL:What modifications do you have and how many?
FM:I have 6 piercings, I had tons more but I have since taken many of them out. I have 16 tattoos, several of which are large pieces (ie my chest and my left sleeve).

TL: When did you start your modifications?
FM:I pierced my nose and my ears myself before I turned 18. Then when I turned 18 I got my first tattoo.

TL:What is your favorite modification?
FM:My Egyptian sleeve. It's black and white and well done. It wont ever be finished though because the amazing artist who had been working on it passed away and I just can't bring myself to let anyone else work on it.

TL:If you could give advice to anyone who is beginning the modification process, what would you tell them?
FM:Really think about what you're doing before you do it. Tattoos might have started becoming acceptable, but getting tattoos in places you can't cover up can and will limit what you can do in life, I know I'd like to see that change, but change is a slow process. Also don't cheap out and don't go to shady joints, because think about it... this is something you're going to have for the rest of your life if you can't afford costly laser removal.

TL: In your opinion, what does a modification mean to an individual? Does it change from person to person or is there a general sense of ‘I’m cool now, or I’m unique’?
FM:Modification to me is altering what I look like on the outside to fit how I feel on the inside. I've never thought of it as a way to say "look at me I'm cool" but as a way to outwardly express my joy, my interests and my soul in a visible manner. It is different for each person, and yes unfortunately some people do it for attention but that's their choice.

TL:In your personal experience, did you get treated differently for your modifications, or were you treated the same as before you had them done?

FM:Yes I have been treated differently, not as badly as some people might have been and not always too my face. It's kind of sad really how judgmental people are but they're human and a lot of times people come to think differently of me after they get to know me. Also considering what I do for a living.. it shocks a lot of people. I cover up at work so you'd never know unless you knew me outside of work.

TL: Is there anything that you may want to add?
FM:What ever you do in life, be yourself and find your happiness. Don't make decisions because other people want you too, do it because you do! and thanks for taking the time to check out MB and our blog :)