I feel compelled to try new things this year, and I debated between getting a nose piercing or a tattoo. I decided on the tattoo for two reasons:

1. I’m not crazy about my nose…it’s crooked, probably because of my cleft lip and subsequent surgeries.

2. I’m a word person, and I liked the idea of expressing myself in words on my body as a personal statement.

I pondered what words and images to use, but when I came up with a quote, I knew it was the right one. My decision was sealed when we saw a production of “Midsummer’s Night Dream” in the park this summer and I witnessed the little, fierce Hermia expressing herself!

So yesterday I took the plunge. I found a tattoo artist at New Rose Tattoo, a woman-owned tattoo shop in SE Portland, and talked to her (Carrie Smith) about my ideas.

Here is a photo collage of the process, thanks to my lovely and talented photographer/friend who accompanied me!

Putting on the stencil

Ready to go!

Ouch!

Outside lines done

Starting on the text

 

At least I was able to smile! Thankful I had a friend to talk to and distract me!

I survived! With Carrie Smith at New Rose Tattoo

 

Before bandaging

Photos of the shop

 

After I got my tattoo and had lunch with my friend, I went off to get my hair done. I was threatening my teenager Chris that I would get blue hair (he was much more horrified at the thought of having a mother with blue hair than a tattoo). So my hairdresser had a little fun–she put a blue feather in my hair!

Can you see the blue? With Nick later on at Costco

 Today it’s a little sore–feels like a sunburn–but I’m very happy with my new tat!