If you're not following my main blog
StellaBella, or on
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Facebook, than you just don't know what you are missing! I write about home/design stuff, love, travel and life in Brooklyn. I keep the stories and photos original and my sister, Rachel and friend, Nicole have since joined the team! I have had to hold back, but I can't wait to share the exciting journey with everyone!
After a photo of my tattoo was
featured in the NY Times this summer, I was sent a link to apply for a spot on the 2nd Season of
NY Ink, on TLC.
Once you have more than a few tattoos, you start compiling a mental
list of pieces you would like to get next, so it wasn't hard for me to
chose one of those ideas that had a personal meaning behind it. I
filled out the form and sent it in. I forgot about it until I was
contacted by TLC, auditioned, did an on-camera interview, and the next
thing I knew I was being given the option of any artist at the
Wooster Street Social Club
to give me my tribute piece! It was a whirlwind of unexpected events
for sure! I chose wisely, and we filmed the long process on one
unforgettable day in October, while
Reality TV occurred around me. My story, and the beautiful tribute piece made it onto an episode which will air very soon, so stay tuned.
Here is my story that got me onto the show:
Once upon a time on a beautiful Brooklyn day;
Jeremiah,
Jeremy
and I entered an antique shop on Flatbush Avenue. The year was 2003,
and we had no idea that walking into this store would bring a very
special animal into all of our lives. Jeremy saw these ceramic "hear no
evil, see no evil" set of monkey lamps from the window, and insisted we
go in to see how much they were priced at. The owner tried hard to get
us to take the grey one-eyed cat that showed up at his backdoor, 3 days
prior. "The lamp is $200, but that damn cat is free!" Jeremy went
back the next day, and took her home.
Lefty was her name.
When Jeremiah and I moved into the infamous
duplex,
Jeremy gave Lefty to us - he was traveling often, we had more room, and
there was always someone around, so it made sense. Plus,
a spiral staircase
is like a built-in cat toy! I liked having her around, but wasn't
attached. I didn't have many pets growing up, and you wouldn't really
call me the biggest animal lover. And she only pranced from room to
room, perching herself in a window when she got the chance. But when
Jeremiah moved out, I was left as her only keeper - other friends and
roommates came & left over the years, but Lefty became my
responsibility.
One
day, I came home from work to small puddles of water scattered over the
hardwood floors, and no Lefty in sight. It took me awhile to notice
the small pieces of purple in some of the wetness, as I cleaned them
up. She had gotten into my new roommate's bag of wrapping paper, and
purple
grosgrain
ribbon was all over the place. I finally found her tucked away in an
unlikely place & when she realized she had been spotted, cried
with what seemed like all she had left. She was in serious pain, and
early the next morning I took her to the local
Park Slope Vet Hospital,
conveniently less than 2 blocks away. After multiple tests, and
finally surgery - 8 feet of tangled, purple ribbon was removed from
Lefty's intestines! I nursed her back to health over the next few
weeks, and that was the beginning of our beautiful friendship.
We've
had a strong bond ever since the surgery. Lefty was there for me (as
much as a pet can be) during the darkest, loneliest time in my life.
Being a single girl in her 20's living in NYC will make your skin
tough. My walls went up higher and higher after emotional scars and
bruises hurt too much, or a lover's heartbreak burned too
hot. Friends didn't feel like real friends anymore, and meeting new
people was a gamble, with odds stacked against me. The city that I
loved so much, made me feel very alone in the world at that time, as if
everyone had turned their back. No one to lend a helping hand, or had
time to talk, and I felt like I was sinking into depression. A
"Quarter-Life Crisis" is what some call it, and lets just say it took
alot of honest, introspective work to pull myself out of it. At the end
of each of these sad, lonely days - I would hear Lefty's "Meow" as I
walked in the front door, and I knew someone still needed me.
Through
these trying times, Lefty was my "Good Luck Charm". She had obviously
seen a few of her 9 live's flash before her, and she isn't a mean or
nasty cat for the life she was dealt, missing the eye and all. She's
such a happy and friendly pet, and I wish I could understand her because
she sure has alot to say! Maybe, she wants to tell me how she lost the
eye? I wish I knew, all I hear is - Meow, mEow, meoOOOow!
Once
I turned 30, things started to fall into perspective for me. My
priorities became more focused and I stopped worrying about the things
that were out of my control. I started to love myself again, and that
is more important than anything. To quote the glorious
RuPaul,"
If You Can't Love Yourself, How In The Hell Are You Gonna Love Someone Else?" Amen.
On my recent trip to
Spain,
I picked up this t-shirt (below) for a friend, at a tattoo shop in
Madrid. This is when the idea came to me for a Lefty Tribute piece. I
love Japanese artwork, and they can transform into some beautiful
tattoos, but I tend to collect more traditional American work. The
image on the t-shirt seemed to melt the "Good Luck Charm" aspect of the
Maneki Neko
prosperity cat, with a more modern, less Japanese look. With Lefty's
markings and one-eye - I thought this could definitely be one bad-ass
tribute piece!
Lefty is still a very healthy and happy cat as we moved this summer to the Loft, and despite being a dog lover -
Big Ronnie
adores her! I was glad I didn't wait until it was a memorial tattoo -
she still has many more years in our family! Stay tuned to
TLC Thursday night @ 9pm
to see my episode, the entire tattoo process, reality tv drama, and the
amazing artwork that is finally unveiled! Shout out to my make-up
artist,
Ashleigh Ciucci and stylist,
Jeremiah Canonico. I will post a Part II after the episode airs, pictures with the artist, and behind-the-scenes shots!
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