Craptastic at best (bad photos ahead.)

Snip. (Extreme sock mark closeup.)

Here are a few pictures of the new tattoo. It's still crusty and peeling and the lighting is depressing, but I'm still excited. I want to add a few flax blossoms here and there, but I am tattooed out right now.

The frogged yarn was important to me because I am such a mess. Life isn't about perfection, but persistence. Plus we were trying to cover the old tattoo completely.

The text says, "Proverbs 31." I recognize the irony of a "religious tattoo." Nobody needs to point that out.

For those of you who aren't familiar, Proverbs 31 reads...

Proverbs 31:10-31 (New International Version) (Colored emphasis is mine.)

10 A wife of noble character who can find?

She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her

and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,

all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax

and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,

bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still dark;

she provides food for her family

and portions for her servant girls.
16 She considers a field and buys it;

out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;

her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,

and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff

and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor

and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;

she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,

where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,

and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;

she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,

and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:
29 "Many women do noble things,

but you surpass them all."
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Give her the reward she has earned,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Since I am the only woman at my church who knows what a distaff is and uses a spindle, I feel entitled to own this passage. I'm a wife and mother--it's my career--and I give everything I have to it.

And, yes, it did hurt. A lot. Who decided that the most painful tattoo spots are the most appropriate for women? Yikes.

The Tattoo-ine Salon

The Tattoo-ine Salon. (part1), originally uploaded by waihey.

My tattoo is almost healed. I took a few pictures, but you really want me to wait until I can shave my leg again. Trust me.

I've been stalking Flickr this week. The secret lives of toys fascinate me. Then again, I'm easily fascinated.

I miss my husband terribly. Whenever I hear someone complain that she hasn't seen her mate for 3 days for a business trip, I roll my eyes.

It takes energy, trust, and hope to stretch love across an ocean for a year. It takes everything I have, but I would give more if I could.

If the one you love is within smooching range, take advantage!

Flax, just like a fairytale princess

I got my grubby mitts on some flax and I've been spinning like a bewitched princess.

While I prefer animal fibers, I don't mind the flax.

I spun a few hundred yards dry and it's very twine-like. I've been wet spinning since then. Instead of keeping my hands in water for hours, I've been slathering myself in cheap-Christmas-gift-lotion. It works better than water at tucking in ends, and it washes out when I boil the yarn to soften it.

I'm crocheting a topdown raglan in laceweight merino. So far, so fun.

Leave is over

It was fun. I had forgotten how lovely it is to have a husband.

We got tattoos. Fun, huh? Jami went to our church in Great Falls before she moved to Helena. She is an amazing, interesting person. She has fierce faith. I adore her.

The look on his face is priceless.

I had an old (17 years old) tattoo reworked. I was a little ashamed of this tattoo because it was ugly and meaningless. Jami fixed me right up. I had to sit for 2 sessions to get it done, but it was worth every minute. I'll show a picture of the finished piece when it heals.

Before:

Here is the obligatory picture of me knitting while she tattooed the yarn and needles. I also have a pair of scissors, a spool of thread, a sewing needle, and a crochet hook.

I've decided to go to Seoul for 2 weeks this summer. I can't wait.

I'll catch up more soon. I've got to concentrate on not scratching my tattoo for a while.