A few months back, I experienced the death of a dear sister, friend, and client. Her name was Emily Drew. I met her a few years back right after I had Sonja. She was referred to me by my cousin John, and we hit it off instantly. Every time she would come and see me, it was like dropping in a special world with a goddess sister. An artist herself, she supported me in the best way anyone can- give me freedom to create as I see fit for them. As the years went by we became closer and closer. Really connecting in spiritual ways and as friends...We started bridging from client to friend- messages to each other in between appointments, thinking about each other...
When I heard of her death, it gutted me! We had plans to get together for a fun date and I just couldn't get over how happy and excited we were to have a date. The last time I saw her, I went to her restaurant and she fed me! She fed me this wonderful meal that ended with this amazing gluten free key lime pie.
I knew instantly this was going to be a hard one. I knew all her friends and family were going to be devastated to say the least. I knew deep down this is not what she would want. Emily was full of life and was doing the best she had been doing. She was fucking gorgeous and had an amazing dog, Athena that she loved. Emily sparkled like no other. Pure radiance.
The last tattoo I did on her was "love and be loved". I drew it for a flash page I did around valentines day and I personally connected with that quote. It was me working out my own thing and when she told me she wanted that above her priestess we did, I was amazed. It was a complete honor to tattoo that on her.
I am just so saddened by her death. I think about her, and it just pains me. There is nothing that can fill an emptiness that death causes. It's an ache that just stays...All I have been able to do is go through the waves of pain and sadness on the heals of her death and then as the shock wanes, her memory remains. I was lucky enough to do all these memorial tattoos in her honor.
It was emotionally challenging at times. Doing the tattoos and knowing it was for a friend of mine that died, it hurt but I feel that it was important for me to be the one to tattoo her dearest friends. We all needed each other. I am grateful for all of this, even with all the pain.
Rest easy sweet Emily Drew. You will never be forgotten and your radiance and love burns on. Thank you everyone who has been supportive to me in my time of loss and thank you everyone who got tattooed in her name. I am not showing all of the pictures I took of her and her friends and the people that got tattooed...Thank you, I am in complete gratitude.
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| Gemini priestess on the wonderful Emily. I miss her. |
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| Memorial for Emily on Beatrice. Celestial and sparkly, just like Emily. |
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| On Emily's boyfriend, Kyle. We tattooed the mandala on the back of her thigh. "Emily drew a heart". |
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| Sketches I did for Emily. She was so fun to draw for. |
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| mmmm, key lime pie |
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| Emily |
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This is on Terry. It is her first tattoo. Emily wrote a lot of letters and drew a lot herself. This heart and always is in her own writing. Tattooing her writing was hypnotic to me.
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