The Molehill

The Molehill

Share this post

The Molehill
The Molehill
tattoo tour
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More

tattoo tour

ink fever running its course

Feb 07, 2023
∙ Paid
5

Share this post

The Molehill
The Molehill
tattoo tour
Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More
Share

I never really wanted a tattoo until I did. Last summer, I noticed myself being attuned to other people’s tattoos and saving artist profiles on Instagram. I’m not sure why the ink fever started, but since then I’ve gotten six tattoos.

After a shower I like to examine each tattoo as I dry my limbs with a towel. Checking in on them like school roll call: bobby pins, mary janes, mirror face, fish charm. starfish. bag.

Each one reminds me of a distinct memory, a time in my life. Because also all of my tattoos have been done by artists in LA, I think of them as souvenirs from short trips. Here are some of the stories behind my tattoos.


Most recently I got my favorite FW99 holographic Miu Miu bag tattooed on my lower calf. No one is going to know that it’s a Miu Miu bag but that’s fine.

When I got this piece done, Emma Chamberlain was in the tattoo bed next to me. I have watched a few of her vlogs but can’t say I’m a big fan, so it was cool I guess? To see a famous person if only to observe and eavesdrop. I turned my screen brightness all the way down and furtively googled “emma chamberlain net worth.” I looked over at her. She wore a maroon sweater and brown corduroy pants, and was talking to her artist about needing more craft hobbies, maybe she’d take up crochet.

Three weeks later in the dead of winter, I think to myself this tattoo is going to age like shit because I did not account for how dry my calf skin is. Under bright lighting, it looks reptilian. I try to put lotion on it daily. It’s ok though. Not every part of me is going to age well.


I got my fish charm tattoo not 24 hours after the Miu Miu tattoo. This was a matching tattoo with Ethaney: the first time we came to LA together we said that the universe would send us a symbol and we we would know to get that as our tattoo design. Well, the universe sent us a fish. I knew I wanted a design that didn’t read as a scientific drawing of a real fish—I wanted it to be obvious it was a fish trinket. A lucky charm. My artist Emily excels at designs of miscellaneous bijouterie, antiques, washed-up treasures. I always love being at Angel Kisses studio. It feels like being in an airport terminal and a college dorm at the same time, in a good way. I read Ricky’s tattoo poems and tear up. We eat gas station food and doordash noodles. It makes me feel young and scrappy and free.

This post is for paid subscribers

Already a paid subscriber? Sign in
© 2025 Viv
Privacy ∙ Terms ∙ Collection notice
Start writingGet the app
Substack is the home for great culture

Share

Copy link
Facebook
Email
Notes
More