whew – that’s quite a lot!!!

So you know how when you run into a friend that you haven’t seen in a bit and you ask each other “what’s new?”. It always seems like not much has gone on.

Sit down and try to write a Blog Post about everything that has happened in the last couple of weeks and realize that TOO much has happened to possibly explain. In the last few weeks since I have been here last I have (in no particular order):

Been to North/South Carolina to visit family
Spent time with my Mom, Step-Dad, Daughter, Sister and Sister’s boyfriend
Caught up with some old friends
Started back to painting class
Lost my Birth Father
Been lost by an airline and then rescued by my Husband
Made some tattoos
Played with Paint
Attended Figure Drawing Class
Ran two tattoo shops (hired a new artist!)
Ran my furthest distance to date (7.8 miles)

Here are some pictures of some of that and some other stuff that I haven’t mentioned. Hopefully in chronological order if I can figure that out…

This drawing was done for a client and wasn’t quite exactly what he had in mind. I would still like to tattoo her and posted her on my Instagram asking anyone who was interested in having her tattooed on them (minus the shamrock) to let me know. I have received a lot of “likes”, but no one has stepped up and said that they would like to have her. So if you would like this lovely lady permanently on your person somewhere, please let me know.

*Update* – I did just receive an email from someone who is definitely willing to live with this lady!!!! Thank you so much for the interest : )

I look forward to being able to make her a tattoo (I can do so much more with shading with a machine than I can with a pencil).

Finished this pair of paintings (they are signed now, so my personal rule is that I am not supposed to touch them again once they are signed). Also posted this photo on the Instagram already.

Tattooed a partial coverup on a friend of mine’s daughter. She wanted to cover the kanji and save some of the existing work if possible. I hadn’t made any of the tattoos on her neck – but I did make the flowers on her shoulder a few years ago.

I have been tattooing a “forest” on my friend Michelle. Michelle and I have been friends since High School (and she still likes me!) This was the latest addition. She had asked for a dancing willow tree – feminine and brightly colored.

Had lunch with my Mom and my Kid at the most amazing restaurant in Charlotte called Cowfish. Food was amazing – and catered to all of us (me being gluten intolerant and Teigan being Vegan).

me and my kid being silly…

Played around with paint a bit while at my Folk’s House.

After a whole lot of difficulty in getting home (that may never make the blog – if it gets written down it will most likely be in the form of a long complaint letter to Soutwest Air and AirTran). I returned to Painting Class bright and early Monday morning.

Took a break after Painting Class and spent the afternoon with one of the most Charming Gentleman in Rochester who (whom?) I was most honored to make a tattoo for.

Then that night back to Figure Drawing Class. I arrived late, but apparently before the model did. One of the guys from the class had stepped up and was posing for us (clothed). I imagine it is far more difficult than it looks to hold those poses as well and as long as they do.

I was having a super hard time when I started out… Then I made this one which was the first time one of the models had ever asked if they could take a photo of the drawing. Instead I took a photo of the drawing and gave him the original. I was very flattered. I don’t even care if he was just trying to be nice – it made me feel good.

Then to painting for the long pose. Started out with a full body which I scrapped quickly…

Moved onto working on just the face instead, which I was much happier with:

Tuesday was a medical tattooing day (no photos of that) but when I returned to the shop, there was a great surprise. Flowers had been delivered to me from my friend who I am not allowed to mention by name on the internet.
Thank you so much! They were greatly appreciated and will make for reference for some tattoos and maybe even a painting. One of the most beautiful arrangements I have ever seen. (and as of today they still look great)

Some regular tattooing went on this week. Worked on a couple of sleeves tattooing into those ditches and elbows and funny bones – all of those places that look great tattooed, but really suck getting tattooed.

The Cthulhu sleeve is just about finished – want to add the horn on the other side of the head and fill in a little bit of back ground (can I fit more skulls in there?). I’m really happy with this one and Bob is great fun to visit with while we are working. This session we had a whole long discussion about “back in the day” dive bars in Rochester.

Eric is finished with the sleeve portion of this Buddha/Mara piece. I may need to go in for some touch ups, but not much at all. Next we will work below Buddha to bring the piece a little lower on his torso and add one or two more antagonists to the scene. Eric is also a great client and a few of us at the shop look forward to his visits. I’m excited about this tattoo and also a little bit sad that it will be finished soon. Hopefully Eric will let me make something else for him in the future.

Saturday I added a shoulder piece to the Sleeve that I made for John. Yet another great client. Super fortunate that everyone I worked on this week was so awesome. It was hard to come back to Rochester and leave my kid behind in North Carolina – but the amazing people that trust me to decorate them make it much easier. I was also able to grab some healed photos of his other half sleeve now that it is healed. I am hoping to have him stop by some day when it is daylight so that I can get some better photos of both of them healed. John is all finished for the time being at least. It was great getting to know him a little bit and I hope he enjoyed the process as well.