25/05/2023
I want to start by saying I never thought I would have to write this post. It has been an incredibly difficult decision for me to make, and one that I hope you all understand.
I have dedicated the last 9 years of my life to tattooing. It is a career I feel so blessed to have been introduced to and so lucky to have been able to build throughout the last decade of my life. But unfortunately, the time has come for me to close Water Lily Ink.
Many of you will know that I suffer with my health - both physically and mentally. Sadly, lots of you will also know that in the last 6 months alone, I have been diagnosed with two more chronic pain conditions which only seem to be getting worse as the days go by, alongside also struggling with my mental health more than ever and awaiting assessments for further possible diagnosis’.
I am not writing this for sympathy, but if anything, I am writing this so that anyone else out there who struggles, knows that sometimes hard decisions need to be made in order for us to carry on and keep picking ourselves up.
On top of my own health struggles, again I think it’s known by lots of you that I have three precious children who all have special needs diagnosis’ themselves. As a mother, I feel so so blessed to be able to raise such amazing little humans - but to see their own mental health declining because I am not around as much as I’d like to be is heartbreaking.
Between my own health issues, seeing my children needing me and all of the rest of the things life brings - it has become too much. Being told constantly by professionals that I am spreading myself too thin, and I need to cut down stress as much as I can - this means only one thing. The only way I can stay healthy and support my little family is to strip everything back and take some time to be with my children, to support them and help them keep growing into the amazing little people they are becoming.
I know that not everyone will understand my decision, but it is what it is and there is nothing in this world that can or ever will come before my children.
So, from the 22nd June, Water Lily Ink will be closed. The following has now been put in place;
All touch ups - please contact me ASAP to get booked in for any any touch ups that need doing before I finish.
Ongoing work - any tattoos that need finishing off before I leave, again please contact me ASAP to arrange this so you do not miss out.
Vouchers - anyone with vouchers, make sure you get booked in ASAP.
New customers or work - no more new work or customers will be booked in. I am so sorry, but I need to leave the rest of my time free to finish up anything ongoing before I leave. No more vouchers will be sold.
PLEASE continue to support my apprentice Anderson (Open Water Tattoos). He will be continuing taking bookings up until the closure date - and will then update you all on his business page once he finds a new premises to work from to book any future work!
I want to finish by saying a massive thank you to each and every person who has supported me throughout the years and been tattooed by me. It has been an absolute pleasure to create the artwork I have created for you and I will miss it dearly. But now it’s time to put my family first.
Jemma 🫶🏻
