I love sunflowers. I have a sunflower tote bag
Sunflower seat cushions
sunflowers embroidered by Farfar
with amazing detail
I have a painting by my favorite artist, Ann Maree Beaman.
I have kitchen crocks lovingly chosen by my mother.
I even have a whole sunflower corner in my kitchen
Of course I grow them in my garden, though I can't understand why I have no pictures of them. I do have this favorite shot of my boys, taken three years ago. Sunflowers are grown as a crop all over our part of Colorado.
But my favorite sunflower is my sunflower tattoo. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted a tattoo. I find the meaning behind them and the artistic talent to create them endlessly fascinating. When I see a tattoo on someone, and have the opportunity to do so, I usually ask for the story. It's fascinating to me to hear all the different reasons people choose to use their body as a canvas for permanent art. My reason was to celebrate a hard fought personal victory, and to honor God's two most precious gifts, my boys. There was never any question about what my eventual tattoo would be, should The Engineer one day decide he was OK with it. (It's not that he's forbidden it, or prevented me, it's just that up until my victory, he couldn't understand, and found them unattractive. Despite my longing for a tattoo, I wasn't about to do something to my body that my hubby didn't find attractive.) So when my fight was over (which is a whole post by itself, not really on the sunflower theme) and I once again asked him if I could commemorate the occasion by finally getting a tattoo, he said, “Sure. I get it now.”
So on 8/21/10, with Best by my side, I got my tattoo. Here are a few shots of the process.
First he drew the outline of the design in pink sharpie. Then once we were decided on the final version, he drew over it in purple sharpie.
Next he did the outline of the whole design.
Then came the more time consuming coloring and shading.
He's a pretty well known tattoo artist. I had to wait six weeks for an appointment.
He worked my boys' initials into the vine.
Here's what it looks like today, all healed.
I'm very glad it's warmer weather, because now I get to display it daily. And smile when I see it.
I'm again participating in the fab Ms. Jenny Matlock's Alphabe-Thursday meme. Check out the other great S posts here!
35 comments:
wow, I could never get a tattoo, I wouldn't able to stand the pain or even look at the needle but if I would ever to do so, I might go for a sunflower - I like the vines of your tattoo with your kids' names -- it is very meaningful
I love sunflowers! They are a very special flower! I love your tattoo. I have been thinking about getting one myself but just haven't, maybe to celebrate turning 60 I should!
I love sunflowers too, they just make me smile! The thought of needles just makes my knees turn to jelly, so no tattoos here! I really like the design you came up with, with your sons initials incorporated in the vine. Kathy
Cool tat!
No tattoos for me but yours is an earned reward for a battle well-fought. Congratulations.
that looks beautiful but painful.
Being a native Kansan I <3 sunflowers as well.
Sunflowers are so wonderfully cheerful. I've never met anyone who didn't like them!
I have a big bunch of tattoos. I posted the entire process in March 2009. It's quite addictive, isn't it?!
Oh cool tatoo..you're the most of Sunflower lover!!
What beautiful details! Sunflowers always look so whimsical and joy filled.
Love that your kids initials are in the vine:-)
Mary
very cool. love the tat....also that painting...love how it lows out of the pic and onto the frame...there is just something about sunflowers that brings hope...
I LOVE your corner cabinet and the painting is awesome.
I think that it's really neat that you incorporated the kids initials into the vines.
SWEET SUNFLOWERS! Love 'em!
Wow! That's a beautiful tattoo and I love all your sunflower decorations.
Your sunflowers are beautiful (so are your boys). Never want a tat but I do enjoy the subtle ones on others. The design of yours rocks!
I really loved this stop on my little journey through Alphabe-Thursday's Letter "S"!
How lovely that the Sunflower has come to mean strength, resilience and victory to you!
It must made me smile every single time you look at your ankle.
I have to be honest, I could never do it. I dislike needles so much. My younger sister wants us to get tattoos of snowflakes in remembrance of our sister that died but somehow I can't get my mind around it. I know she is mad at me for not following her dream, but I told her I'd admire hers!
Thanks for sharing this.
I really loved this story!
A+
Way 'sunny' post...me like it a lot...we so love sunflowers here...awesome tattoo and wonderful sunflower accoutrements...Namaste
I love sunflowers too, but to get a tattoo, of any kind, I don't have the guts to go through pain. Yours is so pretty!
what a gorgeous tatoo :D
I've always loved that you love sunflowers-- it says so much about your character. Sunflowers. Not roses. Not orchids. Sunflowers. Cheerful, no nonsense flowers, with hardy stalks, that follow the sun. If we ever do the Swedish folk painting in your pretty room, we will have to use sunflowers!
I love all your sunflower items. Your tattoo is beautiful! I love that your sons' intials are in the vine!
I love sunflowers too. Seems everyone does LOL. I think you were very brave to get a tattoo, ouch!! I love that it has meaning for you. It looks neat. Great S post.
I love the way your artist worked your sons initials into the vine ... He did an excellent job of the tat, it looks so happy and fun!
I love sunflowers (maybe because I lived in Kansas for several years). You are Brave. No tattoo's for me, I don't like needles. Have a great weekend.
My daughter loves sunflowers, too. They suit her personality perfectly. (She even has a tattoo!)
=)
My youngest daughter loves sunflowers and I always grow them each summer. My middle daughter got a tattoo in Jamaica on her honeymoon. Some kind of tropical flower. My youngest wants one but has been waiting for my oldest to design it. Me, no way. I am not brave enough.
LOVE your tat, love the color also, and those initials "worked in"! Wish I had gotten one 20 years ago when I was only 57...oh well, just seems like a wast now. Congratulations on DOING it though.
Well, that settles it! I am starting a sunflower painting next week. When I finish it (who knows how long that will take) I will show you. I love sunflowers too. I also liked your post and your tatoo.
You're braver than I!
I love sunflowers too - I think every garden should have a few, even if just for the birds!
I love sunflowers too. When my boys were young, they used to grow one each every year.
Lovely sunflowers :) !
Blessings,
Catherine
Sunflowers are so cheery! Ilove how you worked the initials into your tat!
very cool tattoo...but it does look very painful..ouch! needles give me the willies. I love sunflowers too...we finally have a garden that we can grow them in, so finger's crossed we will enjoy our own home grown sunflowers this year.
I think the sunflower is the perfect tattoo for you! and around the ankle is the only place I would possibly maybe consider one. But like you my hubby is vEry anti tats!
Great post.
lovely ones!
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