Shades of Grey

The term "shades of grey" has been going around my head since yesterday and I just realised why when I googled it: it's the erotic literature that has been hitting the headlines!  I think I heard it on Chelsea Lately yesterday morning when I had a lie in after an eventful 24 hrs (I went with a friend to A&E as she broke her ankle after our Friday night out) and the snippets I heard of the content I didn't want to stick in my mind (gross) but the title seemed to.  

Today's dotticure could be termed "shades of grey" with it's base of China Glaze "Concrete Catwalk" and dots in Zoya "Trixie", Sally Hansen "Platinum", Color Club "Worth the Risque" and A England "Merlin".

xoxo

I've joined the cult!

I've joined the cult,
With a bottle of cruisin' nude,
Adorned my fingers,
Because I'm no prude,
With it's shimmer of pink,
To lighten the mood,
I've made it a party,
With five glitters dude! 

xoxo

My Manicure Burning Bright

Oh Hague of OPI, you burn so bright,

Your vivid orange is a shining sight,

Covered with patterns of Dashica might,

Their swirls a vision of pure delight,

A thumb full of Metallic 4 Life,

My manicure on this April night.

xoxo


p.s. my inspiration; my dress:

Drops of Snow

I meant to do a snowdrop manicure when it was snowdrop season but I clean forgot! However, as snow has intermingled with sunshine of late, this is perhaps a fitting delay.  

Ingredients: China Glaze "Grape Pop" and "Tree Hugger" with Essie "Going Incognito" and Zoya "Purity":

xoxo

Spring Skittle #2

An update on my spring skittle from yesterday.  I've done a whole nail in Essie "Going Incognito" and Zoya "Moxie" and on my index I have added Color Club "Holiday Splendor":

xoxo

I've been nominated for the Versatile Blogger Award!

A surprise awaited me today, Becky from paintmynailsatmidnight nominated me for this award!  Thank you Becky!

This award is for new bloggers using the following rules:

1. Nominate 15 fellow bloggers who are relatively new to blogging.

2. Let them know you have nominated them.

3. Share 7 random facts about yourself.

4. Thank the blogger who nominated you.

5. Add the Versatile Blogger award to your blog post.

My nominations (do I know 15 relatively new bloggers?!):

1. pretty digits

2. nevorpurify

3. Lab Muffin

4. 365 days of color

5. copy that copy cat

6. cosmeticcupcake

Aaagh, I can't think of 15!!  This will have to do.....

My facts:

1. I have 3 cats: Leo, Libra (Libby) and Lola.  They were a wedding present to myself three years ago.

2. I have been married three years and a smidgeon to a wonderful bald dude.

3. I love being the centre of attention.

4. I have a law and economics degree.

5. Last year after the office end of year appraisal, I gave my husband an end of year appraisal and asked him what my favourite colour was.....he went through all the colours he could think of but the answer was that I don't have a favourite colour as I love all colour!

6. I love food: cooking and eating! And tomorrow I plan to make giraffe (aka tiger) bread.

7. I detest religion and don't believe there is a "god".

Not too long ago, I read something written by a professional nail artist that demeaned bloggers like me for writing blogs posting pictures of their manicures that copied the designs that she had created and gave themselves pats on the back with awards like this when she saw them as thieves.  It gave me mixed feelings to read this.  This was of course a rant by this professional about copyright.  It's hard to claim copyright in the creative world unless it's the written word or more defined pieces of artwork.  In fashion, the high street make their money by recreating the ideas of fashion designers who sell their work for thousands for the masses so they can look "trendy" and this is all nail bloggers are doing.  I love polka dots but every time I do a polka dot manicure, I'm not going to try to find out who first came up with that idea and credit them.  It's nice to do if you copy someone's creative work and you know / remember where you saw the idea but mostly people in the nail art blogging community are feeding off each other's creativity and recreating designs they have seen somewhere or other.  When I first saw that Becky had nominated me, it brought to mind this rant so I had mixed feelings about receiving this "pat on the back" but I don't think I should.  I am a firm believer in paying compliments, they make people feel good to give and receive them and I'm just happy to share my love of nail art and have a hobby with a community of fellow enthusiasts.  

And although I hate chain mail and this sort of thing is exactly like chain mail, I will partake in this "pat on the back"

xoxo

Spring Skittle

I'm springing into Easter with this skittle but I think it will be gracing my hands for one day only!  I'm not too keen on two of the fingers so I think I shall swap three of them tomorrow.....

In this manicure, I used the following:

Thumb: China Glaze "Laced Up" with Zoya "Purity"

Index: Zoya "Kirsten" with Konad butterfly in Konad white

Middle: Color Club "Lavendarling" with Orly "Blue Collar", Laced Up, CG "Grape Pop" and "Happy Go Lucky"

Ring: Essie "Navigate Her" with a L'oreal frosted pink, Zoya "Ciara" and Essie "Going Incognito"

Pinky: Nubar "Mod Agua" with Orly striper.

xoxo

Perceval Preened

Perceval with your red resplendent,

Dressed here as if from the Orient,

With a coat of Salvatore and a trim so dark,

All topped off with bamboo black.

A England "Perceval" topped with Dollish Polish "Team Salvatore" glitter and a french in Color Club "Where's the Soiree?" and a final embellishment of bamboo leaves using BM 208.

xoxo

Art d'ongle de Marrakech pour le mois de conscience d'autisme

Today's manicure started with me thinking of cobalt blue for autism awareness month and reminded me of my first holiday with my husband (then boyfriend).  

A few years ago, we went to Marrakech and twice we visited the most lush and beautiful place in the city: Jardin de Majorelle, a house once owned by Yves Saint Laurent, painted in stunning Moroccan colours of cobalt blue and deep yellow .  As well as being the one place of luscious greenery in an arid city with dried out former palace gardens, it was the coolest place to be that hot June and a lovely place to while away some hours reading in the blistering heat.

The blue ended up being an accent rather than the main feature and when "Dating a Royal" by OPI was placed on top of "It Colour" also by OPI, the vibrancy of the colour became a darkened hue.  "It Colour" is much more vibrant and warmer than it appears in my photos so don't trust the colour.  I'll try to catch a daylight image tomorrow with no warm sun as snow is forecast for 7am (boo after last week's glorious sunshine!)

I had imagined a much more complex design but ended up with simple dots to create the trellis of my favourite holiday photograph.  I still like this manicure but I have a feeling I will recreate the photograph another day in another variation on my "ongles."

For now:

Jardin de Majorelle

xoxo


Update: daylight photo! (excuse the dry skin, it has been snowing and the heating wasn't working in my office so this made for a fun day and added to my usual dry skin issues)

My Manicures March 2012

Tradition Dictates

Drawing near is "Easter" time,

Not something close to this heart of mine,

But Spring is something I can embrace,

The weather turns, sunshine does us grace,

The flowers spring from out the soil,

Chocolate eggs do our diets spoil,

Decorating real eggs, traditions dictate,

So this is one that I did create.

I always planned to konad on an egg this Easter but we decided to have an egg decorating competition at work so this is my entry (no promotion in my part as a member of the social committee!):

xoxo