Show us your ink! MARKED is our new series where we ask locals of all ages, professions and backgrounds to roll up their sleeves, pant legs, and so much more to reveal their marks. Here are their stories:
Name: Sabre Deterding, the court reporter turned Bikram Yoga instructor and avid motorcycle rider. Age: I'm 48, and I'll be 49 this November! I got Skully (the sugar skull) when I was 45.
My Sugar Skull: Was done for me on the island of Kauai by Ms. Billy at the Little Tsunami Tattoo parlor. It is on my lower middle back. Yes, a hoochie momma tattoo!!! that was in her portfolio was the sugar skulls and I absolutely fell in love with it. Put some Kauai flair around the skull to make it more like an island skull.
I'm a biker chick, and it seems like when you are going down the road and your ass is hanging out, I figured I might as well give the people I am passing a good picture!
When I saw the skull, it fit perfectly -- kinda island girl, biker chick tattoo for me. The sugar skulls are representative of the day of the dead that Mexico celebrates every year in November. I remember the people in my lives that have passed and was just a good fit for me. I'm keeping them in my memories and protecting me hopefully.
My Shoulder piece: I have Thumper with wings on my back shoulder blade. I got Thumper in my early 20s. There was a girlfriend of mine who introduced me to friends of hers. They had just recently lost their child. The mother drew and she had a drawing of Thumper with wings in the living room on the end table.
I saw that drawing and just fell in love with it. It was so sad for them and I asked them if I could have her draw a smaller picture for me to take to the tat parlor somewhere downtown phoenix and got Thumper with wings on my shoulder. I asked if they minded if I copied the design to a tattoo, and they didn't mind ... We all have our stories of the tats we get. They mean something to us and nobody else, but I have never regretted any of them.
Next Tattoo? Not sure what i will get next, but I am sure i will be getting more. It seems like every time I go to Kauai, I get another tat. It's always a journey, and you never know what you will be in life or where you will be. I just enjoy the journey as much as I can. Know of a few creative marks? Send us your photos/suggestions.
