Ever wondered about someone’s tattoos but never asked? To be honest, I don’t really like explaining them to people I don’t know. It’s personal, I’m usually asked in a crowded place, and it takes a while because I have heaps. Some have number significance, dates, travel, family, and there’s a couple I got for fun. Pizza anyone?
I’ve partnered with Vintage Ink Wines to share my tattoo stories and introduce a contest for a new wine label design based on tattoos submitted by people like us. The tatted!
Tattoo Tales: Stories Behind My Tattoos
I got my first tattoo in Australia, the southern cross constellation between my shoulderblades. It was about 4pm and we were driving from from Bronte to Bondi beach with no plans so, my friend Cameron and I decided randomly to get tattooed. We both didn’t have any until that day!
My next tattoo was 2 lines on my right hand ring finger, one blue one orange.
The idea is derived from a personality test called True Colours. It used to be used in workplaces to break people into groups and pair them together based on personality for group cohesiveness. It was prevalent in my studies and I learned that in order to be my most successful self, a 50/50 mix between my true colours was ideal. Orange – outgoing, vibrant, strong vs. Blue, analytical, organized, list maker. I still find this tattoo a helpful reminder. Note, tattoos on the hands fade faster than any others. I’ve had it redone about 3 times in 10 years.
I got this owl about 2 years ago. It’s on my right arm, like most of mine because I drew them all on with marker first. I’m left handed. I found this design in a Google search and customized it to change the watch face for gears. There was no way I could pick a time to live with forever and I like seeing the gears, they’re what make the clock work.
I get asked all the time if I’m going to colour it and and tbh, I really don’t know. I’ve got a lifetime to decide!
This is one of my fav tattoos of them all. It’s 16 dots, evenly spaced in 2 custom shades of green. I got it on a Friday the 13th many moons ago. I used to have Triskaidekaphobia, a fear of the number 3 and 13. I would never do things in 3s. Finally I was like ‘I AM IN CONTROL HERE NOT MY FEAR’ so I booked this tattoo on Friday the 13th and have gotten tattooed on that day several times since.
I drew this on a paper then it was out on a stencil and tattooed by Rob Coutts. He’s currently the artist doing tats for Suicide Squad the movie.
I got this heart + hai (life in Hebrew) years ago. It was also done by Rob Coutts at Bobby Five tattoo.
This collection of tattoos is forever growing.
- Red lipstick – always wearing, sign of confidence
- Pizza & garlic sauce – another tattoo I got this year and like who doesn’t love ???
- Mirror – long history of talking to myself in the mirror as a kid, talking into phones today, writing a blog about your own life has an element of narcism
- <3 from a fundraiser we hosted after the Japan earthquake
- Infinity/8 – my fav number. Used to look like a jail tattoo because I let a friend do it as his first one. Sean has the same tattoo.
- Roses – traditional/beautiful
- Nautical star/compass rose – I had done in a Sailor Jerry airstream outside the Drake Hotel at the start of TIFF one year. Such a little rebel!
- Anchor – crossed the ocean, family tattoo
This lady is a drawing my Angelique Houtkamp from Amsterdam. I love this one. Reminds me of an old photo of my nana. I have another one of her drawings tattooed on the back of my right arm, Drifting Heart. I got it in Thailand!
Find Vintage Ink wines at the LCBO and look for posters around the city. I saw one on the way to work today!
Enter the Vintage Ink Contest
- Upload a photo of your tattoo(s) to Instagram or Twitter and tag @VintageInkWine with with the hastag #myvintageink
That’s it! Your tattoo could be chosen as the inspiration for a custom, limited edition label. I would love to see one of my tattoos inspire a label. Something you would keep for ever photograph and put on the wall.
For more info visit myvintageink.ca.
Feel free to tag me in your posts too. I’d love to learn your tattoo stories. If you have any questions or comments about mine, Tweet me @casiestewart.
<3 CASIE
