Barbara Ericson has been doing tats for less than a year, but she already has a good handle on the industry and its quirks. Ericson came across airbrush tattoos with her youngest son at the state fair. She did some research when she got home, and found the forum. The rest, as they say, is history. She ordered a kit and created Tats All Folks in Port Charlotte, Florida.

Of course, the ink doesn’t always flow properly, and the money doesn’t always come in immediately. Ericson tried to work a booth at her local flea market, but after many ordeals with the equipment, she had to leave the market. However, she followed a fantastic piece of advice we have heard before on this blog: “Never ever give up….but especially when you get discouraged.” She moved past the discouragement, worked out the kinks in the equipment, and now she can book events without fear.

Now that Ericson has Tats All Folks are up and running, she is doing shows and tats. Her favorite design is the Dolphins and Hibiscus, which she finishes with a crystal. She says, “I think finishing a nice design off with a crystal gives a polished, dressed up feel.” July 4, 2009 was her favorite show so far. Not only did she have some great earnings, but “the whole atmosphere was great and the happy people just made me forget that I didn’t stop once to go to the ladies room!”

Her final piece of advice is this: “People will always voice their thoughts and opinions, but I tune out the ones who discourage me. It took me this long to finally realize that no matter what it is, no matter how nutty or against the odds your idea seems to anyone, if this is your passion then go all the way with it, and it WILL pay you back. I just wish I learned about this much earlier on in life, but oh well. Things always happen for a reason even though we don’t always know what the reason is.”

To learn more about Ericson and Tats All Folks, visit her website at www.lastride.org.

If you would like to be featured in a Wednesday post, email ellyn@tatstore.com with “Wednesday Spotlight” in the subject line.