This weekend might not have actually been centered entirely around my shoulder – there were also birthday parties & dinners & running through thunderstorms too, after all – but it sure felt like it was!
Going down for my second appointment I was really excited, and a lot more prepared than the last time. I ate a huge lunch before hand, brought movies for distractions (Jurassic Park & Hot Fuzz), and instead of water I brought gatorade and a slurpee- anything with sugar to help keep my energy up. I sat for just over two hours for the outline, and I knew the colour would be longer but I had no idea how long I would be able to sit for. I wanted to get it finished though and while I’m definitely not brave, I have determination coming out of my ears.
We hadn’t talked about the colour at all up until that point, and I couldn’t wait to hear what Rich had in mind. We talked about the cherry blossoms starting pink and fading into white, and the branches being all different shades of greens. He recommended that we finish it in two sittings, but I asked if we could call it as we saw it, so we sat down and started.
I really surprised myself, because I was able to get it all done in one sitting! It took a little longer than I thought and I ended up sitting from 4:30 – 9:00! We took a few small breaks through the evening, but I was so proud of myself for being able to just ride it out. Between both appointments, it took seven hours for my shoulder to be finished. I think that means I should get a badge that says I’m Tough Stuff :)
The only downside was that I took a stronger version of Tylenol towards the end of the sitting (in Canada you can get over the counter Tylenol that has a little codeine in it) and discovered that sometimes codeine makes me sick! When I got home from the appointment I became extremely light headed and started feeling like I had the worst flu I’ve ever had in my life. Mister was a honey about it, but we had almost no sleep on Friday night, and I’ve felt pretty beat up all weekend trying to catch up.
Over all, I’m incredibly happy with the finished product. The colours are going to be much more faded when it heals, but I love how feminine it looks, and how the pink fades out to white in all the pedals. I can’t get over the shading in the branches, and I can’t wait to see it when it’s healed! I wanted to take some better, closer pictures, but the reality is I’m just too tired! I’m going to have a little photo shoot later this week for my June Six Months + Six Dresses post and I’ll show you more then.
I just love being finished something I’ve been waiting so long for :)
{ 80 comments… read them below or add one }
gor…jus!!!! and well done for sitting for that long for it too
SO AMAZING! It looks absolutely gorgeous, Kyla! Congratulations you tough thing!
It looks so awesome! Hope you heal fast so you can show it off!! ;)
Gorgeous. Just freaking gorgeous.
The tattoo looks absolutely amazing Kyla! Gorgeous.
You are completely tough stuff! It looks great!
It looks awesome. I don’t know if I would be able to sit that long. I was getting antsy when I had gotten my small tattoos done.
wow kyla, that looks amazing! you’re right, it’s very feminine. and yes – 7 hours DOES qualify you for a tough stuff badge of honour!
It looks so beautiful! I love the colors and can’t wait to see more pictures!
it looks beautiful! :)
That is a long time to sit still – well done you! Looks great, sounds like you were working with a great artist.
That sucks that the codeine made you sick, though. Boo for that!
Lovely, and the shading looks great! Bet you’re glad it’s finally over!
Looks great! So proud of you :) If only I had the courage to do something like that…
wow. no way i could’ve sat that long. it’s beautiful though. looking forward to some more great pictures from you this week!
In love! You’re a rock star!
wow. that is absoultely gorgeous. very very nice.
beautiful.
Oh I LOVE the colours! It’s gorgeous and suits you so much!!
7 hours? Yikes!!!
Aww! It looks so great!!! I love it!
Aww! It looks so great!!! I love it!
Looks awesome! You are a brave little lady.
I am not allergic to anything EXCEPT for codeine. I found out the hard way when I got a prescription in college for it. Lots of throwing up. Ick. Not what you want when you’re already sick!
I do love it, and it has really inspired me to finally get my back piece done!
WOW!! It looks perfect – and huge props for sitting through the whole thing!! Hope you’re feeling better after the T3. The tattoo looks AMAZING.
Kyla it looks fantastic. I love it! What a trooper for sitting for 5 hours too.
Your tattoo is beautiful! :)
Oh gosh, Kyla, I knew it was going to be beautiful but it’s even more so than I thought it would be!! I love love love it and can’t wait to see more of it!!!
Seriously Kyla – you are totally Tough Stuff!
You ARE tough stuff, lady… for gettting it all done in one sitting! It looks amazing though. Like I said before, if a tattoo wasn’t permanent, I would totally go and get something like this.
You look gorgeous! Happy for you :)
Your tattoo is seriously stunning! It fits you so well and looks wonderful on you! I love the colors, it’s so pretty, so soft, so feminine. LOVE it and can’t wait to see more photos! <3
Gorgeous, Kyla! Way to be tough! ;)
Looks gorgeous, lady. You’re definitely a trooper.
Such great colors. I tend to prefer black/white/grey tattoos, so often when I see a friend’s unfinished piece – just an outline – I get nervous when they show me the final product, afraid I won’t like it and they’ll be able to read that all over my face. But this? Beautiful. I love it.
It looks beautiful. I can’t wait to see some macro shots!
That looks amazing!!! I can’t believe you sat for so long ~ you’re brave!
It looks great! I can’t wait to get mine!
Beautiful! The colors look great!
Ghad it’s so pretty!
It looks beautiful! And I can’t imagine sitting that long to finish a tattoo! My husband does it pretty often though. Sorry you got sick – the result is amazing, though!
I love it! I’m not nearly brave enough to get a tattoo (needles + lindsay = BAD situation), but it’s cool to see how much artistic talent goes into creating something like this. Hope you’re feeling better!
WOW! That tattoo looks amazing! I’m not sure if I’d last that many hours… You are tough!!! It looks great!!
it is beautiful and you are *such* a tough chick :)
Beautiful, Kyla.
Absolutely gorgeous!! I can’t wait to see it after it has healed!!
Oh exciting! Tough stuff, indeed – can’t wait to see healed shots :)
It’s breathtaking! I love it. :)
Well it looks fantastic! Tattoo are always the center of attention when making an appointment…everything else kind of fades to the background. At least for me that’s how it is.
I’ll admit, I’m not a big fan of tattoos, especially big tattoos that you have. In most cases, to me, they just look trashy.
But your tattoo?! OHMYGAWD! Totally beautiful. So feminine, so un-trashy. It kinda makes me want to get a tattoo!
The only thing more amazing and beautiful than that tattoo is yourself!
It’s so amazing! I love how it turned out. Can’t wait to see it healed! :)
nicely done kyla, it looks amazing. i love it.
i’m in awe. your tattoo artist is SO talented! he did such a breathtaking job… and it totally fits you! :) so beautiful, dear… i can’t wait to see more photos of it!
beautiful!
WOW That tattoo is AMAZING Kyla! WOW. You are very brave. I have five of them but they are all very small because I’m too chicken shit lol. Can’t wait to see the pictures once it heals. :)))))))
Ah-mazing! So beautiful and daring of you to get that beautiful tattoo! Congrats on it being done :)
AMAZING!! you’re a rockstar :)
Seriously gorgeous. I’m impressed! I can’t wait to see more/closer up photos!
Lovely! It’s perfect! You are brave. :)
I really want another tattoo, but have NO clue what to get. :p Which means I probably will never get one.
It’s beautiful!
I want one but I am way too much of a chicken when it comes to pain and a commitment-phobe.
1. It is BEAUTIFUL!
2. Hot Fuzz is one of my all-time favorite movies.
3. You are so much braver than I am.
Wow, gorgeous & love the colors! You’re REALLY brave for getting through that especially in a long sitting! I couldn’t even handle 10 minutes, lol.
Beautiful tat! Really superb job! You definitely get a tough enough badge in my book. I have 7 tattoos, but I’ve never sat that long for any one sitting (2 hours at the most for me).
Is it your first tattoo? They say, it’s hard to stop once you have started, and Veronica’s comment seems to prove it :-)
It’s beautiful! Props to you on being able to sit there for that long…I’d have died :)
The little birdie on my foot took about a half hour and that KILLED. Granted, I think there’s a bit more flesh on the area where you had yours done, but still. You deserve mad props for sitting that long. And possibly also a medal. Looks great!
It looks absolutely beautiful! Congratulations on having it done!
So the PAIN part is not so much fun, but it looks fantastic, so… pain is beauty right? Maybe not, but I remember my mother repeating that anytime she was ripping tangles out of my hair??? ;-) AND it looks like it’s HEALING well, which is another perk!
LOVE IT. Looks gorgeous.
GORGEOUS, Kyla. You went with your gut and it turned into a beauty, just like you! Hope you’re feeling better!
It is absolutely beautiful and badges all around, there should be several badges for this one…showing up prepared, sitting stamina, and pain threshold. You are one tough chica!
It’s gorgeous!!!
It looks amazing! I can’t wait to get my tattoo. It won’t be nearly as intricate as yours. The colors are amazing.
I love the finished design, Kyla! It looks so fantastic. I’m sure its a relief to know that you’re finished.
Very nicely done Kyla.. It looks great.
this is one of the prettiest tattoo i ever seen! <3
your tattooer is such a great artist!!!
How did I miss this even on Twitter? Oh wowowow!! It looks beautiful!
It is (and YOU are) completely stunning. :)
Wow at sitting for a total of seven hours! I can tell it was worth it, though–your tattoo is gorgeous and inspiring!
I WANT! You look fabulous!
Heloooo Winnipeger (I ready your revealing the city post so I hope that doesn’t freak you out! I kind of know L.A though so she can tell you I am not some weird cyber person ;-) And ohh shoot there is that connection thing you were talkig about in your post..teehee!
Anyhoo..was super excited to see a post about your ink..I noticed your tatoo as soon as I came to your blog and wondered “where did she get it?”, “who is the artist?? Yeahh so happy to see it is in Winnipeg :-) I am due for another tattoo so it is alway nice to see what other people are doing..or inkin’..well you know what I mean!
Love your blog..I’ll be back to visit again :-)
It looks so beautiful. Not a lot of big tattoos look elegant but yours definitely does!
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