Miranda fought many years to make her dreams a reality, but we’re so glad she perservered. Now as a mother of two, Miranda has 17 years’ worth of of work to inspire her kids. She recently opened up her own studio, Magnolia Tattoo NY, in Kingston, New York. Miranda’s work is gorgeous — you can see a lot of her mother’s influence in her incredible florals.
How did you get into tattooing?After high school in 1996, I traveled across country on a Greyhound bus. You could get a ticket for 80 dollars, it was good for three months, and you could get on and off the bus as much as you wanted. After visiting some friends, I wound up in Oregon to see my brother. He was making custom body jewelry for a tattoo shop in Eugene. He introduced me to everyone there and I got a job as the counter person. After some time, expressing my interest in tattooing and showing my progress artistically, I landed a short apprenticeship with Brian Norstrom. He had me scrubbing tubes, making needles, and tracing flash. Unfortunately, I was only able to do a few tattoos under his guidance, before he moved to Hawaii. By that time, I was too far in to give up, so thankfully I had a lot of brave friends who let me do simple pieces on them. In 2000, my father became ill and I moved back to New York to be closer to him. I found a tattoo shop on the Lower East side that took me in in spite of my weak portfolio. If it weren’t for tattooers Stephanie Tamez and Emma Griffiths, I don’t know if I would have made it. They took me under their wings and showed me the ropes of “street shop” tattooing. I am forever grateful to the people who gave me a chance. It’s in their openness that I found a home in tattooing.
What was your first tattoo?I had been bugging my parents for years to get tattooed. Then when I was 17, they took me to get one as a Christmas present. It was some Celtic knot work across my shoulders. I mean, what teenager in the mid ’90s didn’t want some Celtic? More from CafeMom: Lady Tattoo Artists We Love: Sophie C’est La Vie Share a story about a meaningful tattoo that you have done.In the 17 years I’ve been tattooing, I have been fortunate enough to be able to do so many meaningful tattoos. Clients have trusted me enough to laugh, cry, and share some of the most visceral parts of their lives while sitting in my chair — stories of loss, betrayal, overcoming great obstacles, rising to an occasion, or just the sheer joy of life. It all happens. So many times a tattoo can be just as powerful for the tattooer as it is [for] the client.
Have you ever tattooed yourself?Yes I did …. I feel like it’s just something you should do when you are starting out. If you are willing to amateurishly put the needle to someone else’s skin, you should be willing to sacrifice some of your own. I tattooed a black Pacific Northwest–inspired design on my foot. It was not the most pleasant experience. I now leave tattoos being done on myself in the hands of other tattooers. More from CafeMom: 21 Majorly Cool & Tiny Micro Tattoos Who and what influences you in your work/life? I have to say all the amazing people I’ve worked with over the years have really inspired me and helped shape the tattooer I am today. Also everything in my life is very nature-centric, so I have to say that it always comes out in my tattooing and painting. Since having children, I’ve started seeing the beauty in simplicity. Not everything has to be elaborate to be amazing.
Check out Miranda on Instagram: Miranda Lorberer Images via Miranda Lorberer
title: “Lady Tattoo Artists We Love Miranda Lorberer” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-05” author: “Terrence Griffin”
Miranda fought many years to make her dreams a reality, but we’re so glad she perservered. Now as a mother of two, Miranda has 17 years’ worth of of work to inspire her kids. She recently opened up her own studio, Magnolia Tattoo NY, in Kingston, New York. Miranda’s work is gorgeous — you can see a lot of her mother’s influence in her incredible florals.
How did you get into tattooing?After high school in 1996, I traveled across country on a Greyhound bus. You could get a ticket for 80 dollars, it was good for three months, and you could get on and off the bus as much as you wanted. After visiting some friends, I wound up in Oregon to see my brother. He was making custom body jewelry for a tattoo shop in Eugene. He introduced me to everyone there and I got a job as the counter person. After some time, expressing my interest in tattooing and showing my progress artistically, I landed a short apprenticeship with Brian Norstrom. He had me scrubbing tubes, making needles, and tracing flash. Unfortunately, I was only able to do a few tattoos under his guidance, before he moved to Hawaii. By that time, I was too far in to give up, so thankfully I had a lot of brave friends who let me do simple pieces on them. In 2000, my father became ill and I moved back to New York to be closer to him. I found a tattoo shop on the Lower East side that took me in in spite of my weak portfolio. If it weren’t for tattooers Stephanie Tamez and Emma Griffiths, I don’t know if I would have made it. They took me under their wings and showed me the ropes of “street shop” tattooing. I am forever grateful to the people who gave me a chance. It’s in their openness that I found a home in tattooing.
What was your first tattoo?I had been bugging my parents for years to get tattooed. Then when I was 17, they took me to get one as a Christmas present. It was some Celtic knot work across my shoulders. I mean, what teenager in the mid ’90s didn’t want some Celtic? More from CafeMom: Lady Tattoo Artists We Love: Sophie C’est La Vie Share a story about a meaningful tattoo that you have done.In the 17 years I’ve been tattooing, I have been fortunate enough to be able to do so many meaningful tattoos. Clients have trusted me enough to laugh, cry, and share some of the most visceral parts of their lives while sitting in my chair — stories of loss, betrayal, overcoming great obstacles, rising to an occasion, or just the sheer joy of life. It all happens. So many times a tattoo can be just as powerful for the tattooer as it is [for] the client.
Have you ever tattooed yourself?Yes I did …. I feel like it’s just something you should do when you are starting out. If you are willing to amateurishly put the needle to someone else’s skin, you should be willing to sacrifice some of your own. I tattooed a black Pacific Northwest–inspired design on my foot. It was not the most pleasant experience. I now leave tattoos being done on myself in the hands of other tattooers. More from CafeMom: 21 Majorly Cool & Tiny Micro Tattoos Who and what influences you in your work/life? I have to say all the amazing people I’ve worked with over the years have really inspired me and helped shape the tattooer I am today. Also everything in my life is very nature-centric, so I have to say that it always comes out in my tattooing and painting. Since having children, I’ve started seeing the beauty in simplicity. Not everything has to be elaborate to be amazing.
Check out Miranda on Instagram: Miranda Lorberer Images via Miranda Lorberer
title: “Lady Tattoo Artists We Love Miranda Lorberer” ShowToc: true date: “2024-09-03” author: “Billie Kaiser”
Miranda fought many years to make her dreams a reality, but we’re so glad she perservered. Now as a mother of two, Miranda has 17 years’ worth of of work to inspire her kids. She recently opened up her own studio, Magnolia Tattoo NY, in Kingston, New York. Miranda’s work is gorgeous — you can see a lot of her mother’s influence in her incredible florals.
How did you get into tattooing?After high school in 1996, I traveled across country on a Greyhound bus. You could get a ticket for 80 dollars, it was good for three months, and you could get on and off the bus as much as you wanted. After visiting some friends, I wound up in Oregon to see my brother. He was making custom body jewelry for a tattoo shop in Eugene. He introduced me to everyone there and I got a job as the counter person. After some time, expressing my interest in tattooing and showing my progress artistically, I landed a short apprenticeship with Brian Norstrom. He had me scrubbing tubes, making needles, and tracing flash. Unfortunately, I was only able to do a few tattoos under his guidance, before he moved to Hawaii. By that time, I was too far in to give up, so thankfully I had a lot of brave friends who let me do simple pieces on them. In 2000, my father became ill and I moved back to New York to be closer to him. I found a tattoo shop on the Lower East side that took me in in spite of my weak portfolio. If it weren’t for tattooers Stephanie Tamez and Emma Griffiths, I don’t know if I would have made it. They took me under their wings and showed me the ropes of “street shop” tattooing. I am forever grateful to the people who gave me a chance. It’s in their openness that I found a home in tattooing.
What was your first tattoo?I had been bugging my parents for years to get tattooed. Then when I was 17, they took me to get one as a Christmas present. It was some Celtic knot work across my shoulders. I mean, what teenager in the mid ’90s didn’t want some Celtic? More from CafeMom: Lady Tattoo Artists We Love: Sophie C’est La Vie Share a story about a meaningful tattoo that you have done.In the 17 years I’ve been tattooing, I have been fortunate enough to be able to do so many meaningful tattoos. Clients have trusted me enough to laugh, cry, and share some of the most visceral parts of their lives while sitting in my chair — stories of loss, betrayal, overcoming great obstacles, rising to an occasion, or just the sheer joy of life. It all happens. So many times a tattoo can be just as powerful for the tattooer as it is [for] the client.
Have you ever tattooed yourself?Yes I did …. I feel like it’s just something you should do when you are starting out. If you are willing to amateurishly put the needle to someone else’s skin, you should be willing to sacrifice some of your own. I tattooed a black Pacific Northwest–inspired design on my foot. It was not the most pleasant experience. I now leave tattoos being done on myself in the hands of other tattooers. More from CafeMom: 21 Majorly Cool & Tiny Micro Tattoos Who and what influences you in your work/life? I have to say all the amazing people I’ve worked with over the years have really inspired me and helped shape the tattooer I am today. Also everything in my life is very nature-centric, so I have to say that it always comes out in my tattooing and painting. Since having children, I’ve started seeing the beauty in simplicity. Not everything has to be elaborate to be amazing.
Check out Miranda on Instagram: Miranda Lorberer Images via Miranda Lorberer
