I'm so very nervous of being branded a kitchen scratcher. I haven't been able to find a apprentership, I live in a small town and moving isn't a option.

I have a tattooist friend (3 actually, but I lean on one the most) who is always on hand to give advice and guidance. Every thing I do gets shown to them and they give feedback. I'm starting the health and safety and infection control diplomas soon. I don't tattoo from home, I tattoo from a salon in the evenings. I'm also looking into intensive tattooing courses.

With all of this I still feel so damn guilty. I've been warned from tattooists that I'll be labeled a "kitchen scratcher" even though these tattooists all taught themselves, admit they really were tattooing underage people in their kitchen when they first started.

I care so much and only want to learn to get as good as I can get. This is really what I want to do as a career. But I feel as though I won't be let in to the community, or will be given a bad name if I learn this way.