Burmese Map of the Universe

I am such a lucky tattoo artist- in more ways than one, but one of the main ways is that I have a very 'ahem' CREATIVE group of friends. My people want tattoos and they want interesting and inspiring stuff, dammit. I still have only done one piece of flash EVER.

I get messages like this on Myspace (this one is from my friend Cerridwyn):

I was thinking of maybe a chest or back or 1/2 sleeve....
With all these incorporated in an art nouveau/kai/mucha way:
bird skull/antlers
octopi/kracken/ships/ocean
moths
weird flowers-poppies/love in the mist/yarrow
pretty ladies(maybe)
bicycle parts
bones
iron work/skeleton key
twirly designs

Holy Cow, right? There are 1000 ideas in each one of the things she mentioned!

Recently Jessica was sent the most beautiful "inspiration package" to use in the design of a 1/2 sleeve tattoo. It was from a friend of ours- Amie, (who HAS a degree in graphic design) and great taste as evidenced by the package; pictures of feathers, bandanna fabric, works by Jean Toroop and Camille Rose Garcia, actual bits of lace and rickrac...it was really cool. She also wanted to incorporate a needle, thread, spiderwebs and keys into the design. We were a bit overwhelmed, to say the least. Overwhelmed and overjoyed.

What about this guy?