Hey Friends!
I hope you are all enjoying the longer days and brighter weather! I’m writing this to check in with each of you and to present my next steps in my tattoo career 
Starting this path a mere 6 months before Covid was a tumultuous task and has remained challenging for the last seven years. Moving out to the countryside and starting a little hobby farm has changed my lifestyle for the better as a lot of you know, and I’ve been commuting forty five minutes to work three to four times a week.
I have had so much luck in tattooing, and I know that I will continue to see that luck work in my favour. I’ve dealt with such economic uncertainty since starting this path, and have always been able to pivot, learn, and make anew when change begs for it.
I have the best clients, truly, and have been able to have some of the best experiences with you all. You have followed me from place to place as I’ve made this career work in my life.
A time of great change
Recently, there’s been some big changes and challenges in my life that are conflicting with my work as a tattoo artist.
On April 28 I got accepted to the Bachelor of Theology program at Atlantic school of theology. With completing this program, I will be able to help and guide others, as an ordained minister in the United Church
Coincidentally, the day before I got this acceptance letter (divine timing), I closed my calendar to bookings for the first time in ever.
Since then, my SUV decided to break down (again) on me, and due to a supply chain issue I cannot get the drive shaft required for my vehicle. I could be stuck looking for this part for weeks.
My husband works in Sussex and has had to drive me to work at 8am, then go immediately back for his shift at 10am most days.
This issue has been interfering with my ability to get to work for the last three weeks, as it took that long to diagnose the issue.
An issue that may not even be solved for the foreseeable future, due to global supply chain problems out of my control.
I’ve reached out to tattoo shops in Sussex and Hampton about renting space that’s closer to my home. After reaching out to others, I’ve learned that’s not an option right now due to either lack of space or lack of business.
Now, I know late stage capitalism is hitting us all hard right now but this many conflicts at once no longer qualifies as average stormy weather in the flow of life.
My final decision/solution?
After talking with my husband and crying of literal relief that my mind finally accepted what my body had been telling me,
I decided it’s time for me to take a step back from tattooing and take an official break.
That’s exactly what it is: a step back. I’m not quitting forever, it’s not that.
Tattooing is so intrinsically a part of me now that I’ll always love it and enjoy the work, I just can’t do it full time anymore, and it’s far too much responsibility to balance while I’m in school.
I want a family. I want time back in my schedule to spend with my farm. I want to eventually build, or purchase a baby barn to renovate into a tattoo studio on my property. I need time to do this.
So, what now?
I’m planning to work for my husband too while he starts his landscaping business, and work for my mother with her seasonal business, and start school.
Hopefully this will free up some time to actually build a little detached office/ tattoo sheshed on the farm so I can finish the projects I have going on now.
I know this means for some you are going to have to wait that long to get your artwork finished…
Those who I’m completing sleeves on or large artworks, I’m happy to travel to you to finish these pieces.
Kitchen table special. Yup. I said it.
Sleeves and large unfinished projects only; because this is supposed to be sabbatical time lol.
Here’s how I’m going to manage this:
Appointments this month are NOT affected. I will be toughing it out and making it out to Saint John.
This only affects appointments moving forward after May.
If you would like to be on my wait list, please email me at artbykassketc@gmail.com with the word “Waitlist” in the subject line. No body text required.
If you have an ongoing large project that you want to organize a finishing schedule for, please send me a reply asking for possibly travelling to you good ol’ kitchen table style (or you to me in Upham on the farm) to finish these pieces.
I will also continue to seek a space I can rent for a day or so for those of you who prefer only to see me in a studio setting until I have a space built on the property for it. My goal right now is for this space to be ready in a year from now.
It’s incredibly important to me that I do finish these works and continue to foster a relationship with you as a client, if you’ll still have me do my work!
I hope we can work something out.
Please let me know if I can do anything else to ensure that your work will be finished.
With great love and gratitude,
Kass
NEEDLE&QUILL 
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