Tat-two

Get the pun, huh? huh? Oh I'm so clever aren't I? But yeah, I'm thinking it's about time for tat numero dos. I know what I want to incorporate into it, I'm just not exactly positive on the design yet. So I'm counting on feedback people!!!! This one is highly personal and I can't exactly go into the reasons why for all the parts, but that's fine. It's going to be going on my lower back off to the far left. First, please tell me that doesn't say tramp stamp at all....

So Part 1 of the imagery: the words. It's either going to be "Stay Gold" or "Nothing Gold Can Stay". I'm leaning towards the first. For those of you who don't know where that comes from, the latter is a line from a poem by Robert Frost that was used in one of my favorite books, The Outsiders. The first is really "Stay gold, Ponyboy" but many people shorten it. To vaguely explain, this is really to represent my recent changing view of the world and how awful of a place I've realized it can be. Not that I think that everything is awful, but that I've just become more realistic with how much suckery there is out there. My golden, naive view of the world has been shattered and there's no getting it back.

The Boys of The Outsiders.

The next part of the tat that I really want to incorporate is some reference to the band Nada Surf. Now there are two options that I can see for this.  One would be to do some tattoo like the one below and instead of using the stars that are there, use the stars/moons from this design. I don't know if that's obvious enough though and I think I feel too much like I'm stealing someone's tattoo.

One option...

The other option would be to steal the idea of the album artwork from The Proximity Effect and use that instead. I would replace the album title with "Stay Gold" and take out the band name. Instead of the yellow and blue balls I think I would want leaves tousling in the wind, twisting and turning, but in the same pattern. I would want them to be two different colors, but I'm not sure what would look best on skin color and still fit the idea of the poem. Something golden and maybe something red? I also might stretch the image out a little bit so it's not so scrunched.  This is the idea I'm leaning towards the most right now. Also, if there was somewhere I could put a little robot in there, that would be AMAZING, but I can't think of anywhere. Maybe just hide him in the pattern instead of one of the leaves?

Option 2 - which I'm leaning towards.

Ok dudes,  so that's a what I'm thinking. I NEED FEEDBACK!!!! I'm terrible at making these decisions on my own. These are the concepts that I want in there - "Stay Gold" and a reference to Nada Surf. If you have any other brilliant ideas, please throw those out there too! Hoping to do it soon!

Rawr!

So this weekend was the makeover weekend!!! Finally! I was so so sooooooo in need of it in so many ways. So I knew I was getting the tat in RI so I got some local recommendations from a coworkers in our Providence office about where to get my hair and nails did.



First thing was the hair. I'm incredibly inspired by everything about my female punk idol Brody Dalle (Rancid's lead Tim Armstrong's ex-wife), inlcuding her hair. Unfortunately, I dont have raw, overprocessed punk-rock shit hair, so any haircut ends up with KK=Neve Campbell. Not that this is awful or anything, just not really my personality either.

NOT Brody Dalle.

So after some super lucky last minute cancelations I ended up at Christiaan Salon to get my hair done. The stylist totally understood what I was going for, which was such a relief. Plus she was quite pierced herself, so I knew she wasn't going to pull like a madwoman on mine (and she didn't!). For once in my life, I also was able to DONATE my hair, yes, MY hair, to locks for love. So that was extra-awesome too. I thought I *might* be able to, so it was fun finding out that I could. And finally, after a little research I found out that the Goldwell Spruhwaechs (Spray-Wax) recommended to me was animal friendly (aka on PETA's "does not test on animals" list). So I didn't even have to do any crazy shopping.

So this is after two days. The color is awful - I tried henna-ing, but I dont think I put enough product in my mix, so it didn't take well. I'll wait a while and then figure out what to do next.... I need a single color. Maintainence has been really easy so far. The spray wax totally gives it the texture that keeps me more towards Brody and less like Neve. I really LOVE the cut.

Next was the nails. After doing some shopping and getting a really cute wrap dress at Second Time Around, I ended up going to the suggested Studio 1 Nails. That was meh honestly.  They did a mediocre job for $25. I would have rather stayed at the original place where I got my hair done and paid $10 more and had a more relaxing service. That's OK though. You live and learn. I'm missing nails of paint already hahahaha.

Next was tattooo time. I finally got myself some tea so I would be alert. I wanted to remember this. Then I headed over the ArtFreek on Wickenden St. The place had actually been recommended to me buy the finance guy that sold me my car hahaha. But I totally trusted him and it was worthwhile. My artist wasn't quite what I expected. Usually they're a little more talkative and open and friendly. He was really quite....disturbingly quiet even. Kinda reminded me of this guy (prison break, 24, xfiles, etc), but bald and glasses:

He was fun and fine and all, but not what I expected. The other artists there were much more what I imagined. Anyways, he totally worked with me, let me reposition it over and over (big surprise there) and this is what I ended up with:

So all in all, I'm pretty happy about it.  There are a few little things in retrospect (not going to point them out lol) that I would change if I could. But that was part of the point of starting with something simple and plain and so straighforward - there really wasn't a way this could come out that I would hate it. So it's good :) I'm so glad I started with this. I feel so much more prepared and informed and like I know what to expect in the future. It's WAY less intimidating and I know what things to think about that I woudln't have otherwise thoughts about. So good learning experience definitely. Oh and if anyone doubted this would happen, yes, I am totally and utterly freaking hooked. I loved it. Completely freaking loved it. Can't wait for the next one. I was hoping that the summer/sun thing would hold me off until the fall, but now I'm not so sure.

Anyways, that's it! That would be the makeover weekend. And I'm feeling good! Must say I'm strutting my stuff a little lately and getting random compliments left and right. Feels like the sex kitten is on the prowl :)

Shhh!! Don't tell Mom+Dad!!!!

Well after years and years of debating, I think I'm closer than ever to considering taking the plunge and getting my first tattoo. If you know me, you know my list of piercings is pretty damn long (don't understand how I don't set off metal detectors), but I've yet to po my tattoo-cherry. Why you may ask? Well really it's the whole permanent thing. Yeah my piercings are going to leave random scars and weird holes in all likelihood, but I can also probably put small discreet simple jewelry in them too if I want. I also responded really well to tea-tree oil when I was developing a keloid on my industrial when I first got it, so I'm hopeful about that. Anyways, that's at least a decade away until I have to worry about that.

But as for now, yeah, it's all the stereotypical reasons that people don't get tats. Worried about work, changing you mind, tackiness, sagging, kids, wedding, parents, life, special occasions, etc etc etc. So it's something that I've be torn over for years. There's one that has always ALWAYS resonated with me, and that's just an old school pair of swallows on your chest. The symbolism and imagery has always done it for me, and not to mention I think when done right, they're just gorgeous (yes, even in a wedding dress - although my gramps would will me). But again PERMANENT = SCAREY. And your chest is pretty out there. Granted it's really more your brestbone than your boobs so you won't really have much sagging.... can you hear me talking myself into this?

More than I would want, but you get the idea.

So what's this post about then? Well I'm considering stronly doing a quote of sorts somewhere. They can be kind of cheesey, but I'm finding some that I really like the jist of. This whole idea of accepting that I can't control the future has been really important/empowering/influential on my lately and something I've tried to enforce in my life (unsucessfully) many times before - so it's not like it's coming out of nowhere. Now where to put it is the questions. I really like Rachel Evan Woods' back tattoo, but I want to keep my back clean for now (just in case......), and I also think you need to be kinda of waif-ish for this look - which if you know me, you know I have no interest in. Elbows down is a no. Nothing in the crotch area (a place where many girls are throwing their swallows nowadays). So it's kinda weird.... but I kinda like these foot tattoos. The just go around the edge and if you have flats on it looks really cute and you can obviously cover it at times. And if I decide I hate it, it's only on my foot. So something like this...

Or with the option of maybe going up and around the leg a bit? Maybe adding some shapes?

This would of course all depend on what quote I ended up choosing and how it fit, yadda yadda yadda. So I guess that was the meat. Now the potatoes? Here are some of the ones that are standing out for me. Highlighted quotes or portions (is that silly?) are front runners. Others are just included to get the jist of what I'm looking for.  

• I know not what the future holds, but I know who holds the future..
• The only thing we know about the future is that it will be different.
• The best way to predict the future is to create it.
• The future is called "perhaps," which is the only possible thing to call the future. And the only important thing is not to allow that to scare you.
• Nobody trips over mountains. It is the small pebble that causes you to stumble. Pass all the pebbles in your path and you will find you have crossed the mountain. 
• A door opens to me. I go in and am faced with a hundred closed doors.
• In time I will fade away/In time I won't care what you say/In time, but time takes time you know (ben folds)
• but it's your life/and you can decorate it as you like/beneath the paint and armour in your eyes the truth still shines/jane be jane (ben folds)
• maybe something from it means everything by Save Ferris - that whole song justs pumps me up.
• You need to remember, you need time to forget/We need the time to change our minds/And separate the present from tomorrow/Disguised as yesterday (h20)
• And no one said it was gonna be easy, but I'm not afraid to try/ With the odds stacked up against me I will have to fight/ One life One Chance Gotta do it Right. (h20 - i see this as maybe a future rib?)
• maybe this weight was a gift/Like I had to see what I could lift (nada surf)
• 
  
  durrrr... what about "Here I Am, Still Intact" hahahahahaha.  That might be the winner. 

So now I'M EXPECTIN MAJOR FEEDBACK AND IDEAS!!!!! Anything! More quotes, placement ideas, font styles, possible shapes/images to add, "those ideas suck katie", that'll be fun, "you're feet are way too ugly", weird...  whatever you think. I needs me some help. I was given a specific recommendation of ArtFreek in Providence from a guy I trust pretty well, but I'm open to otther suggestion as well. Also less worried for writing than something like the swallows I'm sure will follow....Lordy my parents are going to flip LOL. The lip ring was bad enough, but really.... they HAVE to know it's coming eventually. So yeah, FEEDBACK BITCHES!!! :)