Business Spotlight: Pins and Needles Tattoo

Art and creativity have always inspired Mike Elie, and eventually those passions led him to tattooing and the opening of Pins and Needles Tattoo, a well-known body art studio that has served Southern Maine for more than two decades.

Longtime tattoo artists Mike Elie has brought his successful
Pins and Needles Tattoo studio to Windham offering quality
body art at affordable pricing. SUBMITTED PHOTO 

Located at 608A Roosevelt Trail in Windham, Pins and Needles is owned by Elie and specializes in tattoos of all styles. After operating a successful studio in Portland for more than 20 years, Elie brought his business and loyal following to Windham a few months ago and is looking forward to becoming part of the local community while welcoming new clients.

The new studio offers a clean and comfortable setting where clients can work with experienced artists to create custom body art at fair prices.

For Elie, tattooing is about much more than putting artwork on skin. Tattoos often carry stories with them. They can commemorate loved ones, celebrate milestones, represent relationships, mark accomplishments or serve as reminders of experiences that changed someone's life. Others simply allow people to permanently display artwork that reflects who they are.

Being trusted to create something with that kind of permanence is one of the things Elie appreciates most about his profession. With more than 26 years of experience, he has created countless tattoos and understands that even a seemingly simple design can have a much deeper meaning to the person receiving it. He enjoys knowing that long after someone leaves the studio, the artwork and the memory connected to it remain with them.

“For me, the best thing about what I do is seeing the artwork on people walking around,” Elie said. “It is everything.”

His own journey into tattooing began with art and an unexpected visit to a tattoo studio.

“I was doing painting and working in construction,” he said. “I visited a tattoo shop in Madison, Connecticut and fell in love with it.”

Elie later met and was mentored by a veteran tattoo artist in Connecticut who encouraged him to dedicate his future to creating body art. What began as an interest developed into a career that has allowed him to combine artistic creativity with the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life.

The studio regularly features tattoo designs on social media with upfront pricing and flash sales, while artists can also work with customers to turn their own ideas into custom pieces.

According to Elie, his greatest challenge is helping a customer get a tattoo in a timely manner. Sometimes a client arrives knowing exactly what they want. Other times, they may have only an idea, memory or feeling they hope the artist can translate into an image.

“Sometimes people come in with no reference,” Elie said. “We’ll need to ask them what they’re looking to achieve. We work with them to get the designs just how they imagined.” 

That process is important because unlike other forms of artwork, a tattoo becomes part of the person wearing it. Elie and his staff take time to help clients feel comfortable, whether they are sitting for their first tattoo or adding another piece to an extensive collection.

Elie advises anyone considering a tattoo to spend time looking at an artist’s previous work, thinking carefully about the design and choosing the artistic style that fits what they envision.

Elie said that tattooing itself has also changed considerably during his career.

“The ink and the machines have changed and the quality has improved,” Elie said. “Inks used to be made from questionable pigments. Now 90 percent of them are FDA-approved.”

Through the years, the heart of the profession remains the same for Elie. Every tattoo begins with an idea and ends with something a person can carry for the rest of their life. There is satisfaction not only in creating the artwork, but in knowing he has been entrusted with a small piece of someone’s story.

Through decades of experience and emphasizing the quality of his workmanship, Pins and Needles continues to earn top reviews.

“These guys made us feel right at home from the very minute we walked through the door. They were all super friendly and so patient with us and the many others that came in while we were there. We had our knife holding dinosaurs done by Jimmy. He did great work. I think this might be our new shop for our yearly couples’ tattoo.” Renee Paine

“Today was my first time visiting the shop for one of their flash events and needless to say, I was very impressed. I’ve been to a lot of shops and different artists and I have to say Mike and the staff that I met today were extremely friendly, their prices are reasonable and won’t break your bank, quick but quality work, and a super clean environment. I will be going back next week for another!” Arie Pom

“My husband and I just got some flash tattoos done by Big Mike. He was amazing. Very personable, efficient, and incredible line work. Free handed a tattoo on my husband’s finger and we couldn't be happier with the outcome. We will be coming back for all our tattoos!” Shelby Stanhope

Pins and Needles Tattoo is open from noon to 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome every day but on Wednesday, which is by appointment only. To learn more, call or text 207-774-8282 or find them on Facebook under Pins and Needles. If you have a design in mind, you can send them a message with it and they can give you a price up front. <