Since there are so many comments about the tat thread, let's see where most quilters would prefer to spend the money.

I have nothing against people with tats, but I would rather have my stash growwwwwwww !!!!!!!

I vote fabric.

Fabric too. BUT, have you ever seen the pet tatoos that Brandon Bonds does? They look like watercolor, and are very pretty. And I am sure totally expensive. If I ever wanted a tat, I would get one like that....they are pretty!

I don't have any tats although my son would love to buy me one. I vote for fabric, and the next time son brings up my tat, I am going to ask him to buy me fabric instead. I can picture his face already LOL

my vote goes to fabric

Not that I am against Tats or anything, but I would spend the money on fabric. LOL

Sure tattoos are permanent and some are really nice, but think of all the things you can do with fabric. What else can you do with a tattoo? :lol:

No matter how nice a tattoo can look, when time takes it's toll on your skin, that tattoo will not look that nice at all. A quilt on the other hand, may be more valuable with time. Give me fabric anytime.

I refuse to volunteer to be in pain too.

FABRIC!

I only have 1 Tat (and it was only to cover up a very ugly birthmark I've hated my whole life) Otherwise, I'll spend $$ for fabric! :)

Fabric!!!!! .....BUT BUT BUT Look!!!!!!! :lol: :lol:

I'll take fabric any day - tatoo's hurt!

I've been thinking of getting a tat!!! I want a red rose right over my left breast......as I get older, I'll finally have a long-stemmed rose!!!!! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

(just joking -- fabric all the way)

Don't get me started on tats!!
My oldest son has a million of them. The first time I saw his first one I cried b/c all I could think of was his cute little chubby legs as a child. He felt really bad that I cried though- said he thought I would see the artistry in it.
He stopped showing them to me after that :D
Luckily my other 2 sons aren't into that. Oldest has enough for the whole family!!
So glad he kept his sweet face untouched :D:D
So I think you know my vote lololololol

A tattoo requires care, not just during the healing process, but forever. It requires moisturizing regularly, sun will fade the inks, use sunblock when you are going to outside if it will be exposed to the sun.

I have several tattoo's that were done years ago, they are all as bright as the day they were done, I have never had to have any of them touched up.

Time will take a toll on them if they are not taken care of, the same as a quilt that is uncared for will show the neglect.

It all depends on a person's threshold for pain. The most painful areas on the body to get a tattoo are the area over the ribcage and the foot. I have a full chest piece that was done in one sitting and it was more irritating than painful. Now the one of my foot had me wanting to smack the tattoo artist! lol

In answer to the question of this thread... I would probably buy fabric... I have no plans for any future ink work.

I look at tats and think (sometimes) pretty...then imagine what it might look like when the person is 70/80 years old. FABRIC wins every time!

Shadow, you just reminded me of something. I had a patient a few years back who was close to delivery. Her stomach was huge naturally and it was a tattooed scene. I always wondered what it looked like after the baby YIKES :D:D:D

I would never choose a spot like the stomach or on the breast itself. Mine are all in places that pretty much keep their shape. Except for the one on my foot and my chest piece, the majority of mine are hidden by clothing. Each one has a personal meaning to me.

I just bought a vintage machine on ebay, my latest purchase, so could I vote for a super cool machine? After that fabric and batting.

Fabric, hands down!!! Don't want a tat, but give me fabric!!!!

I have not problem with tats. I don't have one but can appreciate their artistic appeal. They are not something I want on me though. I'll take fabric.

You know, I understand the personal meaning and artistry. My son is the same way. It's just hard as a Mom but I've gotten over it!! :D They really are beautiful but in the beginning........... ya know :)

Fabric is the answer...however I have one and want a second one...both with very personal meanings to me. Small and placed out of common view for the same reason. My mom told me to "think about it long and hard because just like your face...it will always be with you." Love it and it worked. I was 36 before I got the first on that I wanted. Still want the second but need the money for fabric now. :-)

My son has two and I have asked him NOT to do any others for the reasons many have stated. His are large and I am afraid as he ages his he will have regrets about them.

Fabric for me.

Fabric for me, too. I am a former bridal seamstress and I don't know how many dresses I had to alter to cover a tat because "Grandma doesn't know I have it!!" I have seen some ugly ones and in places where the sun doesn't shine. (We had to help the brides put on their gowns and fit the dresses.) No tats for me!!!

I have 6 tats and a ton of fabric. I'm allergic to the ink in some of my tats and so far I'm not allergic to any fabric so I'd have to spend my money on more fabric.

I have about $2000.00 worth of ink on me.

5 tats....
left shoulder......heart and roses (5x7)
right shoulder.....harley eagle (4x4)
over my heart....R & D (my first letter of my name and my youngest son's)
right upper arm.....scorpion
right calf.....a tribal eagle

I am done with the ink, so now it's fabric time.....lol

I have 5 tats, and love them. BUT, having said that, I think I would buy fabric. I do have a money tin at home that I put my loose change in to save up for my tats though.

BOTH! I have 3 tat's and want more. I would really like to get my whole back done but I want to loose weight first so no telling when and if that will ever happen and who can stop buying fabric anyway?????

If I had to choose on the spot right now (if I had the money) it would be a tat only because my stash is large enough to last quite a while, long while

Fabric would be the way I would go.

Why do we have to choose?!
I have lots and lots of fabric, but I also have a tat. Please, please let me keep both. :P :-D

Fabric for me !!

No comment... don't want to get anything started on here! :)

I don't have any tats but my husband and all the kids have them. I vote for fabric!!!! I'd rather see colors in my stash that I can work with rather than ink in a bottle or on the skin. My kids would love to see me get one - maybe I should get a patchwork tat????

I like fabric but I like tats too. I have seriously been thinking of getting an ankle bracelet type tat with my three grandson's names in it. Haven't figured it all out yet. Would also like to honour my brother who had tats and he passed away 4 years ago - he loved tulips so would like a tulip with his name in it somehow somewhere.

well, I have 1 tat that I designed myself (a chain of 3 roses over my heart with my 3 daughters' first initial attached to the stem) and it is plenty for me ... I vote fabric :D

:thumbup: Neat idea but careful...you could start a trend with those who like tats :shock:

Only you, Marseye, could come up with a picture like that!!!

I can remember seeing a LARGE chap of about 50 some years ago, who was literally covered in tats. He was bald, and wearing short shorts (any shorter and they would have been a wide belt!) and thongs (flip flops). From the top of his head to his toes he was literally covered in tats of all colours of the rainbow. You would have been hard put to find an area on his body the size of the end of a pencil that didn't have ink on it.

Can imagine what he looked like in latter years - especially if he lost weight. Put me off having one for life.

Ink absolutely escapes me....NOW FABRIC....OMG have to stop buying that.

Margie

I have a tattoo on my bum, and then I had hip surgery, so it looks like a patchwork piece now cut in half and sewn back up - both sides are covered! :lol: