I’ve gotten enough tattoos now to know whether an idea for new ink is right when it hits me. My red heart felt singularly perfect when it occurred to me, and felt ever moreso with each passing day before my appointment. My pink “good girl” bows made me vibrate with excitement when I first pictured them, and I’ve continued to love them every day I’ve had them. My “this too shall pass” wrist tattoos were more impulsive, but I’d loved that phrase for a long, long time and knew with certainty that I wanted it on my body.
And when I saw Tender Ghost’s “Do No Harm” patch, I immediately thought: I want that tattooed on me.
I think I just found what my next tattoo might be…
— Kate Sloan (@Girly_Juice) October 12, 2016
It took me over a year to finally get around to it, which is good. You should think something over before you put it on your body, or at least, I prefer to. In the interim, I emailed the artist to get permission (they said, “Yes, that is no problem! Just so you are aware, I do not own the phrase but I did create the designs”), bought the patch, and displayed it prominently on my desk so I would have to stare at it every day. I continued to love it. I continued to want it on my body.
What clinched it was when I remembered a song I wrote in 2008 called “Flowers.” The song and the patch’s slogan touch on a similar theme: caring about how you make people feel, but trying to balance that care with your own self-preservation. It’s an important notion to me – figuring out how to be good to others while also being good to oneself. I think that’s one of the major things we have to learn in this life, and it’s something I’m always working on. As with all my other tattoos, I wanted this one to serve as a reminder of something that matters to me.
So I emailed Laura Blaney, who did my thigh tattoos, to set up a consultation. One of her specialties as an artist is gorgeous, realistic flowers, so I knew she’d be a good choice for this tender-hearted floral tattoo. I showed her the patch, and told her I wanted the flowers in the middle to be white roses, pink tulips, and blue daisies – the specific blooms referenced in that 2008 song of mine. (The song and lyrics are below, if you’d like to listen/read!)
Laura drew up a couple different designs, I picked my fave on the day of, she showed me some different blues and pinks for me to choose from, we laid down the stencil in the spot I wanted it, and then she got to work. I read a kinky novel throughout the ~2.5-hour-long inking session, blissed out and floating in my own world. The pain was enough to trigger a subspacey endorphin rush but not so bad that I couldn’t take it. Getting tattooed is a trip!
I’m really thrilled with the result; it is exactly what I wanted. I was nervous at first about getting such a big tattoo in such a visible place, but it’s so gorgeous that all I want to do is show it off. Many thanks to Laura for doing such lovely work, and to Grace at Tender Ghost for making such inspirational art!
“Flowers”
you’re looking sad
to think that I had
the chance to cheer you up
you dance like a bat out of hell
and I know you too well now
to let that go
so I’m going out to find you some flowers
I’m going out to find you some flowers
I’m going out to find you some flowers
white white white white white white white white roses
you’re happier, maybe
but it’s not my fault
and I find myself wishing you’d hold me responsible
all of this time, you were always alone
but I’m here now, I’m here now, I’m here
I’m here now, I’m here now, I’m here
and I’m going out to find you some flowers
I’m going out to find you some flowers
I’m going out to find you some flowers
pink pink pink pink pink pink pink pink tulips
you’ve gotten too serious; I see it too
you’re wounded and hoping I’m thinking of you
of course I am, always am, now I am lately
dreaming of days with you where it’s shady
and I’m going out to find you some flowers
I’m going out to find you some flowers
I’m going out to find you some flowers
blue blue blue blue blue blue blue blue daisies
the stems and the petals remind you of me
the stems and the petals remind you of me
the stems and the petals remind you of me
see you tomorrow under the tree