Body Art, Chapter 2

Contrary to what some might believe my husband and I did think about this for quite a while. The original plan was for us both to get a compass. We enjoy traveling and exploring so much, this is also how we met for the first time. Not to mention the compass is a great reminder to continue going the right direction even if the path gets treacherous.

I wanted my tattoo on my wrist and he wanted his on his calf. I realized that a compass would be challenging to put on the wrist without making it much bigger than I wanted. So I started coming up with other ideas and collecting inspirations; my husband compiled all of them into a sketch. Next thing you know I decided to get tattoos on both my wrists.

This is a picture of the rough draft he made.

I really liked the sketch! I thought it was so sweet of him to draw the birds in the middle facing each other so that when the two wrists meet the birds kiss. I liked it so much I had him draw it on my wrists in Sharpie so I could see what it would look like. That was an interesting experience... The Sharpie bled a lot but I got a decent idea of what it would look like. The Sharpie faded away in a couple days and I was ready for the real thing!

After doing entirely too much research we chose a place called Grinn & Barret Tattoo. Isn't it such a fitting name? We decided that I would not go first, that way I could still back out if I wanted to. It was fun to see the artist's interpret our sketches and make them their own. I was excited to have original art displayed on my wrists. Somehow I actually ended up in the chair first. What did I do? Well I just Grinned and Bared it!

It didn't hurt as bad as I thought it would and lucky for me it was relatively fast. Although I do clearly remember one point where it felt like the needle was hitting the bone.

 

My husband's took quite a bit longer than mine did.

Even though I was told what to expect during the healing process, I still wasn't prepared for all the changes that would take place. My wrists were swollen for a couple days and eventually the tattoos began to peel freakishly. Apparently everyone heals differently. A lot also depends on where you get the tattoo. The worst part for me was the itching. My wrists itched so badly! 

This is what my tattoos looked like on day 3.

You might be wondering why I chose to get this design tattooed on my wrists. Well I think it's pretty special that my husband designed it and it reminds me of his love for me. I also admire nature and God's marvelous creativity! The squirrel reminds me to plan and prepare for the future and beyond. The birds remind me not to worry. I think I waste a lot of time worrying about what others think and about all kinds of other things that don't matter. 

 Matthew 6:25-34 "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these."

 

I think my tattoos turned out great and I'm happy to say that if I "need" to cover them I can do so with fun accessories. And In case your wondering my husband is really happy with how his turned out too.