So this happened today…
A couple of friends and I went and got tattoos together. It was a ton of fun! I got two new tattoos, I guess could be classified as “literary tattoos” (I obviously can’t get enough of this particular theme when it comes to my body-art.) They satisfy the book-nerd in me!
On my forearm I had “awake my soul” tattooed in Jane Austen’s script. Why a Mumford & Son’s song quote, written in a long dead author’s “script”?
When I was ten years old I discovered Jane Austen, and the writer in me. It happened at what is still one of my favorite places in the world, a library. Our local library was a beautiful building, the facade was covered in coral rock, the interior, dark mahogany wood, and it smelled like heaven. I happened upon a junior version of Pride and Prejudice serendipitously in the children’s library. I loved it, and soon discovered it wasn’t the original. I bravely made my way into the grown up library, a magical place with its shelves that reached the stars and quickly found my way to Austen’s classic. I didn’t realize it was a classic, as I stood on tiptoes to see the top of the check out counter. The librarian raised an eyebrow at me, and asked if I’d like to read the “junior version instead, you know, the one with pictures?” I replied in turn, I’d “already read that version- three times”, and wished to read the original. She smiled at me and stamped the card at the back of the book. I remember feeling like I held a treasure in my hands as I walked away.
The discovery of Jane Austen’s book, essentially awoke my soul to writing. I also can’t help but adore the meaning behind the lovely song.
Just below my thumb I had two teeny-tiny quotation marks placed. It’s to act as a bit of a reminder to me, to not forget about my “passions”. I especially love this quote by Truman Capote, “To me, the greatest pleasure of writing is not what it’s about, but the inner music the words make.” It essentially describes exactly how I feel about the tattoos I got today.
Nicole Olea’s love language is communication. She does this best using her keyboard as a freelance copywriter and editor. Creative and resilient with high-level experience in social media management, content creation, and eCommerce marketing, Nicole Olea was a professional volunteer, sharing her skills with various non-profit organizations who paid her in hugs. For the last 20 years, she’s lived a quasi-nomadic life, moving across the country and the Atlantic with her active-duty husband and their three kids. She’s awkwardly stumbling toward her goal of becoming a saint. She’s got God-sized dreams and wants you to have them too!
I love Jane Austen, and honestly, this describes it perfectly. I LOVE to read, I’ve been a book nerd since I was a child, and most people remember me as the little girl who always held a book in her hands. So many wonderful books! But Jane Austen, she changed everything. P&P immediately zoomed to the top for me, past Gone With The Wind and so many other books I previously favored. She wakened me soul….and I also realized I have a thing for English writers. I love Charles Dickens, and (corny, sorry) but I really like JK Rowling too 🙂
I love that you put so much thought and so much of YOU in to your tattoos. After tattooing for many years, I can say that it is RARE for someone to do that. I love your choices!
Omg, my sister would love these. I’ve got to order this as a gift.
Cute! I’m a tattoo virgin. I’ve always wanted to get one but never had something with enough meaning for me. Glad yours have a great meaning behind them!
Such beautiful self expression. have been wanting to get a tattoo for some time. But I just have not settled on the perfect one yet. I want something that really speaks volumes about me yet it small enough that only those really looking at me and really know me will see and understand. Your new tattoos are beautifully done Nicole!
I have a tattoo and it is of my muse, which the weird thing is a frog in a jester’s outfit. I’ve seen literary tattoos but never the just quotation marks. I want to get another tattoo but not sure what.
It has been 10 years since I’ve gotten a tattoo. I’ve been itching to get a couple more lately, such a musical quote. I love your choice! It perfectly reflects you.
HilLesha O’Nan
Love the thought behind your tattoos. I am not a tattoo person, but hope if I did there were be deep meaning behind it.
I really love that. I am so itching to get a new tattoo!
LOVE these tattoos. So personal!
Love that you took the time to really consider what would be meaningful down the line before getting your tattoos. They’re great!
That is wonderful that they have such meaning for you.
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this. I have considered a tattoo but something small and discreet but meaningful like you did. Maybe one day.
Your tattoos are so beautiful and feminine! And I love the meaning behind them!
I love that you put such thought into your tattoos. They’re beautiful.
They look so delicate & feminine. Very pretty!
Love it! I have several tattoos, and they all have so much meaning to me. Love them.
I haven’t dared to get a tattoo yet, but I love these ideas a lot! That picture of you with your camera is an amazing picture. My husband is really big into tattoos.
These are beautifully done! If I were to get a tattoo, THIS is how I’d do it!