POCATELLO — A tattoo shop has opened in downtown Pocatello with a new vision in mind.

Moon Beams Tattoo and Boutique is the first tattoo shop to join the Pocatello-Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce and specialize in a fine-line tattoo style.

Genevieve Burke had been running her crystal boutique online for roughly a year but wanted to find another way to supplement her family’s income and continue to homeschool her daughter. She had always loved tattoos, so she took the leap by training at a week-long course two months ago for fine-line tattooing at Sweet Pea Aesthetics in Salem, Utah.

“We all have different paths as tattoo artists,” Burke said. “Some of us went to training like I did, and some of us did apprenticeships. But ultimately, I look up to everybody that’s doing it and chasing their dreams as tattoo artists because it’s a lot better to support each other than to tear each other down.”

In addition to tattoos, Burke also sells handmade jewelry and crystals made by herself and other locals.

“I make all of the sun catchers and earrings and jewelry in the shop, and I have a guy that hand carves all of the crystal cluster carvings for me,” Burke said. “They’re all one-of-a-kind and handmade. I also have a friend that does some stickers and some paintings as well.”

Burke said that she wants to develop her style around colored fine-line tattoos without black ink.

“I would really love to develop that skill and have it be one of the primary things that will bring people in,” she said. “I have done a few (fine-line color tattoos) and I absolutely love them, I think they’re really cool.”

Burke also got certified in “tattoo camouflage,” which allows her to cover stretch marks and scars to make them unnoticeable.

“I can go in on your (healed) stretch marks and kind of color match your skin and then tattoo over those stretch marks,” Burke said. “Your stretch mark will kind of blend in with your skin. I can also do that with scars and stuff as well.”

Burke can also tattoo freckles in a natural tone, or “if you really want to be out there, you can get rainbow freckles,” she said.

Burke said she strives to be very sanitary and goes the extra mile by properly disposing of her needles and other tattoo waste through a sanitation service, which isn’t a requirement in Idaho.

“I think a lot of times trash doesn’t always end up in the landfill like it’s supposed to,” Burke said. “The thought crossed my mind, what if I tattooed somebody with HIV or Hepatitis B, and a little kid randomly found that needle? I just wouldn’t be able to live with myself if something like that happened. It’s just really important to me to be really safe and extra cautious. I don’t know that any of the other tattoo studios do that, but I take a lot of pride in that.”

Burke described what she wants her tattoo and boutique to become.

“Another thing that I really work really hard on is to make sure that I’m a safe space for the LGBTQIA community,” Burke said. “I think that’s really important. My mission is to provide a really safe, happy and good vibe. When you walk in, you feel good, you feel accepted, you feel happy and you feel comfortable. It’s just a fun place to be.”

Burke hosted an open house and ribbon-cutting event with the Chamber of Commerce on June 1.

Burke said she decided to join the Chamber of Commerce because she likes “how much they are involved in the community.”

“Pocatello really has an amazing community,” she added. “I joined the chamber not only for that, but also for the ability to learn from other business professionals to help grow my business and support theirs as well. I really, truly believe in supporting small businesses.”

Moon Beams Tattoo and Boutique is located inside the Valentine Ballroom building, 357 W. Center St., Suite 204. To learn more, visit tinyurl.com/2rdtn769.