🌬 caring for your new tattoo:

getting a tattoo causes a mild injury to your skin

it’s a purposeful scrape, a controlled abrasion, into which ink is pushed

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there is more than one way to take care of a fresh tattoo so that it will heal smoothly… the best way to heal your tattoo is usually to follow the instructions given to you by the artist who did your tattoo~

~if you have been tattooed more than once, you may have tried different procedures &/or products & so you may have figured out a method that works well for you, for your skin, in your climate, under your particular circumstances… communication is key, so please do discuss your experiences with your artist… most methods of caring for a fresh tattoo will be fairly similar, & your artist should be open to hearing your experience & advising from there

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this is my method:

• once the tattoo procedure is done, your artist will clean the area thoroughly, apply a soothing ointment & a bandage to protect it

• please leave this bandage on overnight, or for at least 4 hours, do not leave the bandage on longer than 24 hours

• when you remove the bandage you’ll want to wash the tattoo thoroughly but gently using soap & water & your clean hands… many people find it can be helpful to hop into a shower & remove the bandage in there if possible, the steam & water aiding the removal

• there will be a slick, somewhat slimy film on the tattoo which may be streaked with ink~ don’t scrub hard but do wash this off, again, be gentle but thorough

• don’t let a hard stream of water hit your tattoo directly, rather use a soft indirect spray or just scoop water with your hands onto the tattoo

• once it is clean, you will see that the tattoo is in the skin & you have simply washed off the excess ink, ointment & plasma from the surface

(plasma is the liquid component of blood, containing dissolved proteins, glucose, electrolytes, hormones, oxygen, carbon dioxide & clotting factors~ when your skin is injured, such as during the process of getting a tattoo—the plasma goes the surface of the skin to begin the body’s natural healing process)

• gently pat your tattoo dry with a fresh paper towel, being sure not leave it wet or sticky

• using clean hands, apply a healing balm, ointment, or lotion to the tattoo; again, be gentle, but do really rub it in… you want to moisturize the tattoo thoroughly, but do not leave a layer of ointment on the surface, when in doubt, err on the side of too little rather than too much

• re-apply your ointment, lotion or balm several times a day for at least 2 weeks~ washing the tattoo each time you moisturize is not necessary, but washing your hands before is

• moisturizing a new tattoo first thing in the morning, once or twice during the day, & then before bed is usually sufficient

• showering with a fresh tattoo is just fine & even encouraged

• soaking in a bath or going for a swim with a fresh tattoo is not advised & can lead to infection &/or problems with healing- you will want to avoid soaking the tattoo until at least the surface is healed

• sometimes, not always, a tattoo will form some scabs & all tattoos will peel, much like a sunburn, shedding the damaged layer of skin & forming a fresh new layer

• often the tattoo will go thru a short phase of looking shiny, cloudy or odd while this new layer of skin is being made~ don’t worry, this is temporary

• it is essential that you protect your new tattoo from exposure to the sun, as the skin on the surface has only just formed, like that of a newborn baby, & is easily damaged by solar rays… until the tattoo is completely healed, a physical barrier, that is, clothing, is the best way to protect your new tattoo from the sun~ sunscreen can be applied to your tattoo once it is totally healed, however, i advise as little sun exposure as possible for the first year

• absolutely do not pick at your tattoo or “help” it peel, this can result in infection &/or damage to the tattoo

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while your tattoo is healing you will want to wear clothing that is clean, soft, & breathable & doesn’t rub against & irritate the tattoo as you go about your day… sometimes this can mean clothing that fits snug rather than loosely, as loose clothing can irritate by constantly brushing against the tender new flesh, & sometimes this means clothing that fits a little less tight than you might normally wear- waistbands on jeans are often irritating on a fresh tattoo, tights are not advisable

it can be helpful to consider your ‘healing wardrobe’ before your appointment

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please try to schedule your tattoo so that you can relax after the procedure if possible

even a small tattoo is giving your body some stress to deal with & of course, the process is painful, so it is best if you can chill out afterwards

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…if you ever have any questions regarding the tattoo healing process, please always feel free to ask me…

👉🏽 how to set up an appointment, super condensed version:

get in touch via email or phone

tell me what, where, how big, color or black & gray…

pay the $100. deposit

choose a date & time

git ‘er done!

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for a more detailed description, please see the FAQ page

&

you can scroll on down this Information Station page for other helpful info~

😺

“Bizarre travel plans are dancing lessons from God.” ~Kurt Vonnegut

hello travelers

whether you are heading to the southwest for an adventure in a different climate, geology, ecology, cuisine, & culture than what you are accustomed to, or visiting the high dry southwest once again for a taste of the familiar, there may be information here that could help you plan your trip:

…

Truth or Consequences is in what is called a high desert or cold desert, so the weather can be extreme. Mostly tho, it’s well on the warm side & very sunny.

The winter temps can get down into the 20’s & on rare occasions even lower, tho temperatures like these are usually brief & most often during the night… it might snow but it will almost always be melted by late afternoon… because there is a wee nip to the air, folks will burn aromatic woods like pinyon & juniper in their fireplaces & it smells just beautiful~

Spring is sunny & temperature wise perfect… however, it is the windy season & it can be wild at times~ you’ll notice our hats have chin straps, that’s no fashion statement friends, we just don’t wanna lose our lids!

The summer features regular temperatures in the upper 90’s & not uncommonly the low 100s, with the summer nights usually being in the 70’s… The heat is indeed usually very dry, so sweating is able to do it’s thing to cool you off as long as you keep hydrated~ Traditionally in July, but sometimes starting in June, are the monsoon rains, (if we are lucky, as we are in the midst of a historic drought)… the southwestern monsoons are a series of regular storms coming in from the Pacific Ocean, usually in the afternoons or overnight, & provide valuable rain to the southwestern deserts. Sometimes the rain happens only in the atmosphere & doesn’t get to the ground… when it does hit the ground, things do dry back out pretty quickly. It can be hot & intense, & when the rain falls it cools the air deliciously. It is incredibly beautiful with dramatic skies, blooming flowers, greenery softening the canyons, water flowing down the rivers & arroyos… of course, this would also be the rare time of year when there are any mosquitoes; everything has a price…

Autumn is chile roasting season & while it’s definitely lovely, when i lived in the eastern forests i did not leave during October as it is the most glorious time there. Weather here is extremely pleasant then, but isn’t that just autumn everywhere? I will say it has a different flavor from autumn just to the north, if you crave that melancholy fall vibe you can scoot up just north of Albuquerque where the mountains have some lovely deciduous trees, or a wee bit west into the wilderness

…

Now, just where in tarnation is Truth or Consequences, New Mexico?

It is in the southern part of New Mexico, in Sierra County. It is 2 hours south of Albuquerque & 2 hours north & west of El Paso, Texas.

It is located just on the other side of the Caballo Mountains from the historic Camino Real & the Jornada del Muerto, Journey of the Working Dead Man… (more on that strange & interesting tale to come…) A few miles to the west is Elephant Butte Lake, a state park featuring an interesting & dramatic man-made lake, the largest lake in New Mexico & definitely a big summer recreation situation…

Just a wee bit over an hour south of us is the lovely small city of Las Cruces & the incredible Organ Mountains which must be seen to be appreciated… about halfway down to Cruces is the famous chile growing mecca of Hatch… along the way there are acres of small family farms growing cotton & chiles & shady groves of pecan trees…

In every direction are vast distances of desert canyons, mesas, buttes… the town is surrounded by mountains, Turtleback Mountain to the southeast, with the Rio Grande flowing along the base, being the big one that features large in our scenic views. There is also Mud Mountain to the northwest, with its humble name, it’s said to be the source of the hot waters that flow beneath us. On the horizon you can see the Black Range, a gorgeous mountain range directly west, in the Gila Wilderness… a short incredibly scenic drive will take you there. We’re at the very northernmost reach of the Chihuahuan Desert, the largest desert in North America. This desert covers part of southern New Mexico, part of southwest Texas, & much of northern Mexico.

The elevation in town ranges from about 4200 to about 4800 feet above sea level, depending on where in town you are… Skinflower Cosmic Art studio is at 4360 feet above sea level~ If you are visiting from nearer to the coasts this means there is less oxygen in the air than you might be used to, so make sure you don’t push yourself physically as it can be common to feel a bit lightheaded at times when you are not accustomed to it.

At this elevation the sun is also quite a bit more intense than it is at sea level, as well you will notice less large tall trees, more low shrubs & cactus & yucca; there is little naturally occurring shade, so you will want to have a wide brimmed hat of some kind, long sleeves (even in summer) & sunscreen, even if you don’t normally. Trust me, the sun here is not kidding.

The Rio Grande flows thru Truth or Consequences & the downtown area is known as the water district, as it is populated by natural hotsprings that bubble up from the earth. This provides us several lovely places to soak your weary body in the delightfully relaxing mineral rich hot spring waters… you will likely want to take advantage of this while you are here. Before 1950, the town was called Hot Springs, New Mexico. (watch this space at a later date for a tale about the name of the town that is quite the wild ride!) The name is often shortened by locals to “ T or C ”

from what i can gather, Truth or Consequences is in Apache territory, with the Chiricahua to the west & the Mescalero to the east… the Pueblos are to the north…

…

How do i get to Truth or Consequences?

from the east coast: head west & take a left toin at Albuquerque~ 😹 ha! i’m kidding, but also not…

If you plan to fly out here, the airport in Albuquerque is so easy to navigate, it is on the south end of the city, & of course has all the usual car rental options… also, Albuquerque is a great food city! Make a point of eating there if you can~

I have not yet gotten to experience the El Paso airport, but, knowing some of the lay of the land between here & there, i think it will be a lovely drive…& i’m absolutely certain El Paso has some interesting things going on… (i’ll edit this once i have experienced some of it)

Is New Mexico real?

YES! the Land of Enchantment is a real state, one of the United States of America, technically. It is south of Colorado, east of Arizona, west of Texas & Oklahoma, & north of Mexico… Much of New Mexico is the territory of a wide variety of Native people who have lived here for centuries & the Pueblo Peoples still maintain many of the beautiful adobe buildings that have made up their village centers for centuries…

all licensed up & ready to go!

on july 1st, what would have been my 13th studioversary in phoenicia had i stayed,

i got my new mexico tattoo artist license & my new mexico body art establishment license…

a few days later i organized my city of truth or consequences business license~

now, having traversed the bureaucracy, we are ready for action!

on national tattoo day, sunday july 17th, the gate will be open from 5 to 8 pm for a genial gathering of music & good spirits… by that day, hours of availability & general modus operandi will be revealed~

thank you for your patience

***

...& we await the official word...

It was with many huge & mixed emotions that i closed my tattoo studio in Phoenicia, New York after over 10 wonderful years… i loved my space, right in the middle of such a sweet wee hamlet in the heart of the beautiful Catskill mountains… i opened up there officially on July 1st, 2009 & i did the last tattoo i would do in that space on my husband on October 31st, 2019… it was, after all, where we met & where we got to know each other… we decided to make a massive change in lifestyle & move to New Mexico… we went all in for a different climate, different color palette, different topography, different latitude & altitude… we chose the town of Truth or Consequences, 2 hours south of Albuquerque & 2 hours northwest of El Paso… there are natural hotsprings here & the Rio Grande & mountains & canyons & sunshine a plenty… we bought a fixer upper of a mid-century house with a possible studio space, part of the house, yet separated from the house with it’s own entrance & yard… it has been an incredible amount of hard work, physical labor & logistical & emotional work, & during a pandemic no less! but at last i have a lovely space ready for doing tattoos~ it’s clean & bright & comfortable & filled with art & books & i am very eager to begin tattooing & making art in here… at this moment, i am still doing a few things to finish off the physical space & i expect to be wrapping these things up for some time, but the place is ready for work… the only reason i have not begun booking appointments is that i am waiting for 3 things: i need my New Mexico body art license as an individual tattooer, i need my establishment license in order to open the studio space, & there is a spanking new business registration requirement by the town of Truth or Consequences, which i will need the other 2 licenses to obtain… so, please bear with me while i make my way thru the processes involved… at the moment, my livelihood is in the hands of the New Mexico Body Art Board… i hope to wrap all this bureaucratic bosh up very soon as this town has a lively interesting art scene that i can hardly wait to become a part of…

***

here’s hoping we meet up soon!

peace, sunday

skin:

(from national geographic)

Body organs aren't all internal like the brain or the heart. There's one we wear on the outside. Skin is our largest organ—adults carry some 8 pounds (3.6 kilograms) and 22 square feet (2 square meters) of it. This fleshy covering does a lot more than make us look presentable. In fact, without it, we'd literally evaporate.

Skin acts as a waterproof, insulating shield, guarding the body against extremes of temperature, damaging sunlight, and harmful chemicals. It also exudes antibacterial substances that prevent infection and manufactures vitamin D for converting calcium into healthy bones. Skin additionally is a huge sensor packed with nerves for keeping the brain in touch with the outside world. At the same time, skin allows us free movement, proving itself an amazingly versatile organ.

Skin is made up of three layers. The outermost is the epidermis. This consists mainly of cells called keratinocytes, made from the tough protein keratin (also the material in hair and nails). Keratinocytes form several layers that constantly grow outwards as the exterior cells die and flake off. It takes roughly five weeks for newly created cells to work their way to the surface. This covering of dead skin is known as the stratum corneum, or horny layer, and its thickness varies considerably, being more than ten times thicker on the soles of the feet than around the eyes. The epidermis harbors defensive Langerhans cells, which alert the body's immune system to viruses and other infectious agents.

The epidermis is bonded to a deeper skin layer below known as the dermis, which gives the organ its strength and elasticity thanks to fibers of collagen and elastin. Blood vessels here help regulate body temperature by increasing blood flow to the skin to allow heat to escape, or by restricting the flow when it's cold. A network of nerve fibers and receptors pick up feelings such as touch, temperature, and pain, relaying them to the brain.

The dermis houses hair follicles and glands with ducts that pass up through the skin. Sweat glands bring down internal temperature through perspiration while ridding the body of the waste fluids urea and lactate. Apocrine glands, which develop during puberty, produce a scented sweat linked to sexual attraction that can also cause body odor, especially around the armpits. Sebaceous glands secrete oil-like sebum for lubricating the hair and skin.

The skin's base layer is the subcutis, which includes a seam of fat laid down as a fuel reserve in case of food shortage. It also works as insulation and cushions us from knocks and falls.

Skin Color

Skin color is due to melanin, a pigment produced in the epidermis to protect us from the sun's potentially cancer-causing ultraviolet (UV) rays. Dark-skinned people produce more numerous and deeper-colored melanin particles. People with the darkest complexions are native to tropical regions, particularly those with few densely forested areas.

Fair skin is an adaptation found in people from northern latitudes where solar rays are relatively weak. Here the benefits of dark skin are outweighed by the need for bone-strengthening vitamin D, produced through exposure to UV rays. But hotter, sunnier environments bring the risk of serious skin damage. Australia, where the majority of the population is of northern European descent, has the world's highest rates of skin cancer, accounting for more than 80 percent of all cancers diagnosed there each year.

tattoo tips~!!!

    •    relax & sit still~! all that moving around is making it more difficult for your artist to do their best work, making it take longer & yes probably hurt more... this includes shifting your position every time the artist goes for ink or tensing up when you are touched...

    •    know what you want but be flexible... your skin is not the same as a piece of paper... your artist is an experienced professional & will know what can & cannot work, taking into consideration your skin tone, your shape, & size & detail of the artwork...

    •    understand that your tattoo project is a commitment... don't be afraid! do be prepared to sit for multiple sessions to complete a large &/or detailed tattoo...

    •    dress comfortably! its not a fashion show & you will be asked to position yourself in such a way as to make the area of your skin where you are getting the ink available & taut... as well its always possible that you will end up with some ink on your clothing so your favorite white shirt is probably not the best choice...

    •    feel free to bring  a few snacks / refreshments for yourself… you may be there for a number of hours & the process will be taxing to your body even if it is a fairly easy session… you may need fuel...

    •    do not bring your children to your tattoo session!  you will not be free to watch or entertain them… you will want to focus on yourself during the process, not worrying about what your kids are getting into… a tattoo studio is generally an adult zone… that said, a friend can be comforting & distract you from the pain… check with your artist on this point as some prefer not to have any extra people around- respect the wishes of your chosen artist of course...

    •    do not show up to your tattoo appointment drunk or high… you will be expected to be cooperative as your artist does his/her work… it is best that you are in a serene state of mind, try to get there naturally by being certain of your decision… alcohol, pills, other drugs can have undesirable effects on how you deal with the procedure as well as how your body reacts & heals…

    •    don't be afraid to ask questions, any question at all~!!!

    •    respect & trust your artist~!!! this is paramount to getting a great tattoo… understand that while doing a tattoo may look easy, it's not! it's only the skill & confidence of your artist that makes it look that way…

where? when? how?

(while this appears dated nov 2013, it has been edited to reflect the current correct information as of 2022)

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skinflower cosmic art studio is here in truth or consequences, a fun wee town in the heart of sierra county, new mexico~

available year round for clean, custom, professional tattooing by appointment

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…please feel free to get in touch anytime...

we can arrange a time for you to have a look around & peruse my books for inspiration if you like & have a chat about your ideas... & we can set you up with an appointment whenever you are ready~

questions?  give me a call or shoot me an email

skinflowerart@gmail.com

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remember...

respect for my predecessors...  ~:)

welcome to the new site

watch this space for upcoming news!