a tattoo journey

So it all started last spring actually when I was ready to have some covers of really old, very meaningless, ink from my 18 year old days covered up!  My hubs was eager to have me go to his friend and after some fear, I did and he started the work that started my whole piece.  However, I soon began to see that I needed to find an experienced artist to do what I wanted.  I didn't know where to start, and so I took a little break.  One day though, through knowing a fabulous person, I found my artist and my journey continued.

As many of you know, I started with many little birds, a great quote, and a simple hand drawn, by me, birdcage.  The work didn't look so great.  I knew there was so much more I wanted from this, but didn't know where to go next.  I did know though, that along with my little birdies, I needed three bigger birdies, to represent my girls.  Of course, I am the cage...and two of these three and starting to fly further away.  So my fab artist started out with a simple floral design and my Paige bird.

and we are starting to fix the cage and color...

my doggie loves me and my new, unfinished ink...

and color...  and design complete and brought through the cage.  I am so happy!

I love this last shot so much, although you can't see the bottom left flowers which are gorgeous.

Now, you may notice, two more birdies are to come.  We haven't really decided where to put them, but the two will be close by, as my two oldest are very close in age, and close.  I think one will have spread wings.  My next session, a whole month away...boo! we are actually re coloring all the springtime work.  It honestly didn't heal well, and looks not so great next to this masterpiece.  I am hoping Mr. Artist Awesome Sauce can fix that, although the style is very different.

So birdies to come, and I have so many more important symbols in this head, that I am eager to one day add to this canvas.