About 2 months ago I posted about my tattoo dreams. I wanted a tattoo and finally felt like I was a place in my life and with my decision that it would never be a regret. I have issues with making big life decisions (I don't even dye my hair, folks), but I felt I could make one, even if that decision was something as silly as getting a tattoo.

Whenever I thought one day several months ago about getting a tattoo, and came up with the idea of getting a compass, I knew that was it. A compass tattoo would be perfect.

But I didn't want some gaudy nautical compass scrawled across my arm. I wanted something somewhat delicate and feminine. A compass, but understated.

So I began designing, and came up with these:



I started doodling them on my left wrist, which is where I had planned on getting it placed forever, and everytime I doodled it got bigger. And bigger. And slowly started moving up my arm.

I knew at this point that it was time for me to talk to a professional.

As a picky designer, I searched states for the perfect tattoo artist. I googled tattoo artists in every state in the southeast, and must admit that I even googled Las Vegas, because, come on, how cool would it be to jet-set to Vegas to get tattooed. And then go see Thunder from Down Under.

I ended up going with an artist in Mountain City, TN, only an hour from here, at his studio called Mark of Cain, because he did the most amazing line work I have ever seen. And he has a respect for his craft that I really can appreciate. I mean, he won't even tattoo you without coming in for a consultation days before you get inked. He also does everything free-handed. No stencils at all.

I went over 2 weeks ago for a chat, looked at his portfolio and studio, and talked about what I wanted to do. We talked about shading options, as I was completely into either getting dotwork or an engraving style. He tried to talk me into getting regular shading done, and we talked about the overall design.

I went home that night, and for the next few days, designed and researched obsessively. I realized fairly quickly that I hated traditional shading, but didn't want the dotwork or engraving to age badly. And I came to the conclusion that I just wanted some really awesome, simple and delicate linework, and this is what happened: 

I took this into him last Thursday so giddy about the design, and full of carbs after pigging out on Cheetos to curb my anxiety. I sat for 3 hours while he drew this on my forearm (totally freehand) and then inked it with the smallest needle I've ever seen. He reinked 2 or 3 more times to thicken the lines. And he did a superhero job. I never in my life knew a human's hands could be so steady and accurate. He could probably be a fantastic surgeon if he ever desired a career change.

And so, I'm inked. And I'm so in love with my arm that I can't stop staring at it. It's the perfect size, in the perfect location, and was perfectly done.

It's a perfect visual representation of who I am. It's my branding logo, if you will. Part designer, part geographer. Mostly designer. Delicate, but in a place that, you have to admit, is a little daring and bad-ass. All very me.

Now the question that I keep getting: will I get another?

Most definitely. I don't know where, or of what, but this is not the end of my tattoo dreams.