With Rob (in background) and my Artist Clive ready to start!!

So, after about 3 years of wanting and planning and much much thought,
I finally made the final decision to go ahead and have my angels, Jack & Sam's Footprints
Tattooed onto my Shoulder Blade by one of the most awesome Artists in Colchester,
Clive from *Tattoo Inc*

My two baby Boys, Jack & Samuel had died shortly after their Births on
November 27th 2000 and February 26th 2002 from Potters Syndrome.

So, after some initial visits to Clive's Studio, and spending time talking with Rob, and Clive's Girlfriend Katie
about what I was hoping to achieve, I left my *Angels Footprints* and my*Ideas* in their very safe hands...

I went back a week later to see what Clive had come up with regarding the design of my Tattoo.
I left the actual design up to Clive, explaining to him just a few certain points that would really mean
the world to me and he followed my dreams perfectly.

I so needed to have my angel Jack's Footprints *above* my angels Sam's prints, as Jack is 15 months older
than Samuel and I feel blessed to believe that Jack is taking care of his baby Brother Sam and
watching over him always.

I also dearly wanted to have 2 tiny Dragonflies somewhere in the Design, as we have these
2 Beautiful Dragonflies that come and visit us every year in our garden at home and honestly *Play* with us
throughout the Summer Days, causing great delight to our Children Sophie and Ben.

We honestly believe our Jack and Sam are with us in our garden when our Dragonflies come and visit.

So, after fixing the appointment, I was booked in for June 27th 2006 at Midday!
This was the day before my 37th Birthday, and I was scared, scared, scared!!

Andrew took the day off work and we arrived an hour earlier so we could discuss the Design and go
through any further questions I had to ask, but it was oh so very simple!!  Clive had prepared
the outline of the design and handed it to show me...  It was *Awesome*!! I didn't change a thing!!

We went through all the obvious Safety procedures etc, (for those who know me, you can just imagine
that if I asked a question once, I asked it twice, then a third, and fourth etc), lol!! I was so scared of the unknown!

I was greeted by *Rob* as we entered Clives Studio and he immediately put my mind at ease...  He joked about
everything that I was worried about, and even had my Husband Andrew laughing with him, at me!!!!
Rob is a wonderful guy who instantly manages to put you at ease and calm your fears for Newbies, like me!!.

Finally, the call came through the door that Clive was ready for me and It was all go go go...

I walked in, shaking nervously, reading and replying to text messages from my dear friend
Lynda (Lyndabeau). I couldn't believe after all these years, I was finally going ahead with this...

I was asked to sit astride a chair for the Tattoo (which caused instant amusement to my Husband lol)
and then Clive started to prepare everything...

Beside me was a huge Mirror, the width of the wall, but I couldn't bear to watch.
I kept my head buried in my hands on the top of the chair.
Before Clive even started I was sweating and panicking already (I am not good with pain if you hadn't of guessed)
and my husband Andrew was poised with the Camera ready for the first photo...

The First Photo below is when Clive had transferred the Design onto a kind of Tracing Paper,
and then pressed it to my skin...  He then told me was about to do a few small lines so I could get used to the pain
and the feeling of the needle on my skin.

~ Here's that Moment ~ The First Lines ~

The First thing Clive was to Tattoo was the Wording which took me many months to finally decide on...

I honestly thought these few words simply said it all!  I didn't need to have my
Babies names on my Tattoo, as I have their whole existance deep within my heart, so
I chose some very simple words that mean everything to me and my angels, and these were...

Too Beautiful For Earth

The Photo below shows this moment where the Wording had been Tattooed first...

After about 2 and a half hours, it was time to start the Footprints and the shading!!
Oh boy, that hurt even more, lol!  Truly it did!!

In the Photo below you can just see Sam's Footprints nearly Finished as Clive was working on them.
Very painful but worth every needle and every detail of their Precious Prints

(By this time I was getting pretty cold, and so pulled my jacket over my right shoulder to try and warm up)

Ok, about 3  hours into the Tattoo and I was in awful pain and Clive knew it, lol!!
My language wasn't as clean as it should have been lol, and sadly my Artist Clive was getting most of it
although I guess he is totally used to it, but I still felt bad :(

There was not much left to do now, just the colouring in of the beautiful Dragonflies to go...
I chose the colours that represented the colours that remind us of Jack and Sam.

On Jack's Funeral Day we had Pastel Blue and Lemon Flowers for him and on Sam's Day, he had Red & White.
These colours were the chosen colours for our two Dragonflies Wings, and Clive did this perfectly!

The colours are not too dark, they are more pastel and Clive captured this perfectly!!

The photo below shows just as Clive had nearly finished the Footprints and just before starting on the Dragonflies:

~ Tattoo Finished ~

Ok, after just over 3 hours Clive had just finished.

Below is the Completed Tattoo, taken immediately after it was finished
(although in this Photo it appears slightly shiny due to the After care that was applied)

 It is also obviously swollen and raised from the skin, normal after a Tattoo, and I can't wait for it to heal!!

Jack's Prints are at the Top, watching over his baby angel Brother Sam's at the bottom!

...and below are the Original Footprints of Jack & Sam that Klive drew the Tattoo from :)

To see the tears in my husbands eyes when Clive had finished said a million silent words...
I could tell just by looking at him that Clive had captured every line/crease and fold in their Precious Footprints.

We left to go home to show our Children Sophie and Ben and both our families!  They all just couldn't
believe how beautiful and perfect they were! Both our Families were so touched by this very Special Tattoo!!

~ Healed Tattoo ~

After taking care of my Tattoo and applying the Aftercare that was given to me, I was absolutely amazed to
find that my tattoo healed within 4-6 days!

I had barely any scabbing at all, (I hardly bled at all throughout the Tattoo Procedure itself),
so that may have been why :)
After the Slight Scabbing had fallen off, there was some dry flaking (like Sunburn) and it felt like Sunburn too, lol!

It healed completely within about 6~7 days!!

The Photo below was taken today: July 17th 2006, exactly 20 days after I had it done!

It is awesome!

Some say that having a Memorial Tattoo can also play a part in the Healing Process of our Grief...
I have to say now since having this done that I am in total agreement of this...

I have my Angels Footprints Imprinted on me forever, and their Memories forever within my heart!!

Clive and his Staff at *Tattoo Inc* in Colchester are amazing people!! They are so talented,
giving their complete dedication to the Custom Work that they provide!

My Thanks go out to Clive, Katie and Rob for helping to get me through this, and for
putting up with me during the whole experience when the pain got almost too much to bear :)

*THANK YOU ALL AT TATTOO INC*

To see some of the wonderful Work that Clive and Katie carry out at their Studio in Colchester, Essex,
Click on their Logo below:

(To come back here, just hit your back button)

To Visit the Memorial Websites that I made for my angels,
(Jack left and Samuel right below), Click here:

www.jackandsam.com

Love Justine

xoxoxoxoxox