For years, Andrew and I have admired others’ tattoos and talked about getting our own. Then, over the past month or so, we really discussed what was holding us back. And really, there was no good reason. Would we regret it? Could we rock tattoos when we are old and wrinkly? With lots of discussion with each other and friends who have taken the plunge, we decided that getting a tattoo is, in our opinion, an amazing form of self expression that we both felt comfortable with (and excited about!).
Of course, we did not take the designing process lightly. I chose a Picasso line drawing I have loved for years (so I know I will not get tired of it), and Andrew asked me to design one for him including his love for music and each of our boys (and me!). I was inspired by folk art and wanted some detail but also keep it simple and clear. There’s a peek of his below, though it only shows the very bottom- his design spans the entirety of his inner arm all the way up to his armpit and includes leafy vines climbing up the strings of a guitar, my silhouette with milk maid braids, and all three of the boys marching, sliding, or leaping from the guitar. I think he will share it with the internet world at some point, but right now we want close friends and family to see it in person first, ha!
It was such a fantastic experience to do this together, to go through a kind of transformation over the course of the past few months. We have been growing in so many ways, and this kind of commitment felt like another part of that growth. I’m really happy with our decision!
Do you have any tattoos or plan on getting any? I’d love to hear all about it!
They look great.
Tom and I are ink free and I can’t imagine that changing, but I like that you two did it together and that it was really thoughtful and intentional. It’s one of the only times I’ve actually thought about doing it. Well, at least thought about doing it since I was sixteen, or that one time in Austin when I really wanted to get a Texas Longhorn on my rear-end. (Assports, i.e. tattoos on your butt from all the places you visit turns out to NOT be a million dollar idea.)
They look great, can’t wait to see all of his, I’m sure its amazing! I go back and forth and would maybe take the plunge one day but my husband will never, he can’t see himself pulling it of. Tattoos have become such a wonderful expression of creativity and personality, they can tell a person’s life story just by looking at them. I love that!
These look really amazing! It’s so neat that the two of you did this together. I don’t have any tattoos, but perhaps someday!
Wow! These are unique, extremely well done, and very cool!
These are wonderful. I’ve toyed with the idea of a tattoo for years, but it’s so rare to see one that doesn’t invoke flashbacks to the trashy bars and amusement park I used to work at. The look has certainly changed sice I was a teenager!
These are really gorgeous, and I love that you did it together — not to mention that you designed your husband’s! I love a really well-designed and meaningful tattoo, but in real life, I tend toward the unadorned (I don’t even have my ears pierced!), so the likelihood of my getting one seems pretty slim. 😉 I *do* love seeing other people’s, though! Thanks for sharing yours.
Those are beautiful!! Great design on your husband’s, too. The Picasso drawing is perfect for a tattoo. I have tattoos in the exact same spot as you, on the same arm that represent everyone in my family, including one for Cormac I got a couple months ago. I love them all.
Aaaah, I got my first tatto(es) last week. They were homemade (by a friend whom a trust), and I even managed to get a bit wrong due to the panic. I’m still getting used to them, but mostly I want more. Good job on that design, and love the placement of both!
Oh, wow! The design that you did for your husband’s looks sooo neat from what I can see. I would love to see the whole thing. The picasso looks pretty on your arm and I love the red lips. My husband has two tattoos, but I don’t have any.
oh my gosh! yours looks SO awesome! can’t wait to see andrew’s, from what you showed it looks cool 🙂
i have one tattoo that i got on a whim when i was 17. honestly, it’s a bad tattoo. it’s a celtic design and now that i have stretched and shrunk 5 times with pregnancy it resembles a brain, or at least that’s what the kids call it. i’ve considered covering it up but probably never will. ironically my husband got his first tattoo at the same place i did (only many years earlier) and his was terrible as well 🙂 he has since gotten it covered up. he has tattoos all over him now.
Yours looks lovely–the red lips are just perfect. I’m dying to see the rest of his. I love that you designed it!
i love the concept behind your tattoos! i have one on my back that i got done when i was 18 (so “rebellious” lol.) it is a swallow (signifying a loyal, everlasting love) on a poppy (for remembrance)..yeah i was a hopeless romantic even then 🙂 my husband and i have talked about getting a tattoo together but he is deathly afraid of needles so that may never happen 😉
You guys are so adorable together, and I love that you shared this! I have zero tattoos. My parents both have them, my father is very heavily tattooed. I think it was almost a reverse rebellion for me to have virgin skin 😉 I have contemplated it at various significant moments in my life, but I also kind of like having ‘nothing’.
Your’s looks beautiful. Picasso is such a great choice! And Andrew’s looks great from what I can see too, so special that you designed it for him.
I love your new tattoos! And your adventurous spirits.
So, I have this bird on my wrist that I’ve had for 5 years. It represents that I am a songbird, and has two little notes above its head that represent Julian and Audrey. Except, maybe about a year ago, I noticed that the bird kind of looks like….a penis. I’m not even kidding. And once you see it, you can’t un-see it. So I’m going to get it covered up in whatever way works, even if it means losing the bird entirely to whatever the cover-up piece is. I just contacted an artist last night about it.
To make up for the lost wang-bird, I’m going to have each kid say the word “love” into a microphone, import that into ProTools (sound editing software), and take the waveform of each and have them tattooed on my forearm. I’m letting the kids pick what color they want their waveforms to be, too. And since I’m also a baker, I’d like to get a teeny tiny little whisk on my arm somewhere. I’m not sure. I’ve suddenly exploded with tattoo ideas, after feeling like I was going to be content with just one. I feel like, why not? It’s my body, but it isn’t like I get to keep it forever. I might as well have some fun with it while I’m here.
The tattoos look great. Good on you. I have two tattoos and I love them both.
dang! just when i thought you couldn’t possibly get any more hip!.. (hipper?)
cool designs, for sure!
and allison – your idea with the soundwave sounds pretty awesome too!
Love.it.
The only reason I haven’t gotten one is because I can’t think of something I know I won’t get tired of… I love what you chose!
Oh my gosh, they’re adorable! You two are adorable! I absolutely love yours and can’t wait to see more of his. And may I add that the dress is so sweet and adorable too. All this adorableness, methinks I might faint…