A big change is coming
a letter with some really exciting news + invite to winter art market + practical updates.
Well well here I am again. After more than 2 months of not writing to you I am back. Okay, I did send a letter around a month ago but that was a practical one so that doesn’t count.
The reason why I didn’t write to you is also the main theme of this letter - CHANGE.
And owww do I got some good change to share with you all this time.
I will give practical updates at the end of this letter about:
Last spots to get tattooed in 2025
Last spots for private flashday 27/11
Tattoos I did the last couple of weeks
Invite to Winter (art) market at C3-studios
Since I hit burnout I’ve struggled to get my workflow right and not to overwork myself. On top of that I moved to a different city almost 2 years ago which meant that I had to travel around 3 hours total on a tattoo day. You can imagine that the time, energy and costs of doing this have a big influence on me.
I couldn’t see myself work somewhere else than at the Ink Society, so I just kind of sucked it up. On top of that, I didn’t saw myself tattooing at any shop I knew in Rotterdam.
But a couple of months ago I had to conclude … this isn’t doable anymore. I decided to contact someone I knew who had a small private/personal shop nearby and asked if I could guest there once a month. I hoped that by doing this I earned some really needed extra income, without needing to spend travel costs or loose energy on traveling. I hoped that with this (yet again) tweak, I could continue working at the place I loved working so much.
So around two months ago I tattooed during my first guest spot in Rotterdam. The tattooer who I contacted just moved into a bigger studio where she could also host more artists. And you can probably already guess what is coming next…
After a day of tattooing - even though I didn’t wanted to admit it straight away - it all clicked. Where there wasn’t a studio before I could myself tattooing, now there suddenly was. The space and lightness I felt was something that stayed with me the following days and so I needed to come to terms with myself and make a big decision.
Where there first was only obstacles and endless small twitches just to make it a bit more doable, now there was a big opportunity and the answer to all my problems right in front of me.
A contemporary studio with artist from different disciplines. There is even a freaking garden where we already put our hands in the soil. And all of this within 25 minutes biking from home.
And so I made the decision to start tattooing in Rotterdam at studio Kyō starting in 2026!
This decision of course also came with some tears, because this means that I will be leaving the Ink Society. A place where I came home safe after a lot of shit that I experience in the tattoo scene before. A place that made me feel seen and where I grew to the artist I am today. I am grateful for everything that place and colleagues gave me and specifically I’m thankful for dear Wietske who took care of me while I hit rock bottom in my burnout and helped me out with staying afloat.
What will this mean for your tattoo booking? / Last spots in 2025
If you already made your appointment with me, I will still tattoo you in Utrecht, so no worries! I still also have some last open spots in my agenda for 2025 in Utrecht. When all these spots are filled, I will mention in my booking form and on instagram that I will take bookings in Rotterdam.
Last spots in 2025 in Utrecht
Saturday the 13th of December at 14:00
Saturday the 20th of December at 11:00
Tuesday the 23rd of December at 11:00
Tuesday the 30th of December at 11:00
You can book in your appointment by filling in this booking form. If you want to get tattooed in Rotterdam this is of course possible. please let this know in the booking form so I can plan you in for January onwards.
The studio is around 5 minutes biking from central station and around 18 minutes walking =).
I plan on guesting in Utrecht at the Ink Society once in a while after I settled down in Rotterdam. This way I can still work with my dear colleagues there and tattoo those who aren’t able to travel to Rotterdam. When I have a guest-spot planned in Utrecht, I will share this online (and here in my newsletter).
Last spots private flashday 27/11
Because I wasn’t able to tattoo everyone during the last flash event at Kyō and because I wanted to give others a change of still getting tattooed who where not able to come to the event, I planned in a private flashday on Thursday the 27th of November!
I still have 2 spots left (at 14:00 and 15:30) to tattoo the below lino stamp tattoos (the ones with a red dot are already taken).
Practical information:
Size: Fixed size 1,8 x 1,2 cm (they fit on the fingers, but can also be done on other placements).
Cost: €100,- for 1 stamp (you can pay with cash)
Only on appointment, NO WALK-IN!
How to book: fill in below form (some of the information in the form is related to the tattoo studio where I work in Utrecht, this can be ignored).
Address: Tollensstraat 49b, Rotterdam (the Netherlands).
The physical lino stamp is used to stamp the image onto your skin. You will bring the stamp home with you.
Good to take into account is that the whole process of tattooing during a flashday goes faster in comparison to how I normally work. This so more people are able to get tattooed. I will still take care of you of course! It’s good though to think beforehand where on your body you want the tattoo so that the stencilling process goes smoothly.
Tattoos I did the last couple of weeks
Invite to Winter (art) market at C3-studios
Come by during the Winter (art) market on Sunday the 14th of December at C3-studios in Rotterdam (Huismanstraat 30) from 12:00 till 18:00.
There will be art, vintage items, crafts, soup, glühwein and more. I will sell my latest two A5 prints (see picture below flyer) and my Palestine print (full profit goes to a family in Gaza).
Thanks for reading what I have written to you. You can always send me a message to get in contact with me if you have any questions, inspiration to share or want to collaborate with me!
With love,
Mandy
Links to my work
✿ Tattoo booking form*
✿ Available tattoo designs
✿ Instagram
✿ Website
✿ Youtube
*I currently only tattoo in the Netherlands, I will share here when I have international guest-spots planned.
Hi Mandy! Thank you for sharing your journey. It is very inspiring! And a big congratulations on your new space!
Hugs Susanne