Hi FML'ers, Yeah, I guess I have some experience on this subject. For about 4 years back in DC I worked as a piercer and tattoo prep girl at State Line Tattoo. My friend Ray Askey has done all my work, 100% freehand. He's now working on my ferret tattoo, made up from several photos of my ferrets, and ferret anatomy/skeletal photos, since I'm VERY picky about how my stuff turns out. The new studio he will be working out of at the end of this summer will be in Silver Spring, MD. I don't know the exact date he'll be back, but when I do, and have my tat started, I'll be sure to post pics. I cannot stress enough that the studio that you go to for ANY tattoo be clean, licensed, talented, and CLEAN!! Seriously. If you've never had a tattoo before, make sure of a couple things before hand. Make the artist opens the needles he/she will be using on you from the autoclave bag, in front of you. If they don't ....walk out.. Check their portfolio...see if their work is something you can live with for the rest of your life. Or, until you can pay $200 per square inch to be removed with a ruby laser. I don't mean to scare anyone off with this, but only to ensure that the tattoo you get is the tattoo you really want. Ask the artist to do you a drawing of the work that you want done on paper first. If they're hesitant to do this...walk out. They may ask you to come back in a couple days, in order to properly prepare your work, which is fine, but if they're unwilling to work with you, don't waste your time. here is a pic of my leg, which was completely done by Ray, and all free hand..... www.kistaferret.com/cdcover.jpg My left arm is also completely sleeved, and I love it. Its of my cat. That's my arm that is pictured in the "adoptable ferrets" section of my website, when I'm forced to hold the ferts up for their photo. I'm saving my right forearm for my ferret tattoo, which will be my first and ONLY tattoo on my right side. Please use the same caution you would with any medical professional with a tattoo artist. I've seen some horrid places, and I've seen some incredible infections and bad work, so please...just use common sense. Now, back to the ferret stuff! Kim KiSta Ferret Shelter www.kistaferret.com Want to help our shelter? Click here: http://www.iGive.com/html/ssi.cfm?cid=4030&mid=7501 for instant ferret karma! [Posted in FML issue 3110]