By Lulu

Every tattoo has a story. Some tattoos occur on a whim, some are mistakes, and others are well planned pieces of art with meaning to the person receiving the ink. Traceylee is one of those ink junkies. She was a nurse for 27 years and now has a cleaning business in the Villages. Originally from Connecticut, Traceylee has spent most of her life in Florida and now lives in Lake County. Her first tattoo was done at sixteen years old, a tribal tattoo with a bear claw, representing the Native American ancestry on her father’s side. On her back is a dragonfly and a cherry blossom tree. But her “sleeves” are a tapestry she has been etching over the past 10 years. When I asked, “What makes you endure the pain of getting tatted?” Traceylee replied, “I love the art and color and I find the experience each time exciting.” On her arm, a poinsettia represents her mother as it was her favorite flower and her oldest son’s David’s birth month flower.

A larkspur represents Traceylee’s birth month, a daisy is for her daughter Savannah’s and a rose represents her son Austin’s and her granddaughter Paislee’s. I asked her what her elderly clients think when they first see her skin art. She says most are wowed! Traceylee rides a 2019 Sportster 883 Iron. She says her bikes have always been Harleys. Previously she rode a 1994 883 “Hugger”. Some around the Edgewater area may recognize her from working at No Name Saloon, Charlie’s Timeout and AJ’s Timeout.

Most of her artwork has been created at Tropical Tattoo in Ormond Beach. She rides all the way over because she loves the work they do. Her artist John Himmelstein has been doing tats for 33 years although he only looks like he’s in his 30s. The work in progress has continued since I snapped these photos. She has visited John for four more tats!

If you are considering getting a tattoo see the guys at Tropical Tattoo on S. Yonge St. in Ormond Beach. I got my cross on my neck there and it is the only place I would go…if I ever got brave enough again!!