Creole Day

Hi Guys

This post is very late.

Last Friday was Creole Day here on my beautiful island Dominica. This is a day when we dress in our traditional wear. The girls in what we call the Jupe (jhipp) and the women in a robe (wobe) dwiyet. Men wear a white shirt and a black pants with a red sash across the waist. These days however, not many women or girls wear it the traditional way. Rather, we have our own designs or styles made but with the same cloth of the traditional wear which is the Madras Cloth. I have posted a pic of the Madras Cloth lower in the post.

Its a day when we eat mainly local dishes the best being crab callaloo. My fav dish ever!

I did my mani to match my skirt. I used three colors for the base and three others to stamp (My polishes are mainly santee polishes).Creole Day is a pretty colorful day.

Some of my co-workers and I on Creole Day. Not everyone is dressed for the occasion.

 

Thank you for stopping by

 

 

My prayers and thought go out to those from New York/New Jersy. May the recovery process be a speedy one.

Stripping Tape and a Kitten Rescue

Hey guys

I wanted to play around with my striping tapes again and came up with this cool mani. I actually really like this one. I may leave it on for a few days.

I used two colors from Santee. The base is Metallic Gold and the top is Titanic. Now I've had this color for quite some time and I've not been using it because I just did not like the look. But I'm so loving it today. I placed three gold rhinestones on each finger because I have them and they are so under used (is that a term). Thought I'd bring them out to play. On my left hand I have red rhinestones.

Now I was not able to take many photos of this mani and this is where my kitten rescue story comes in.

When I started to take the pics I heard a cry outside (did I mention it was about 12:30 midnight? Well it was).  When I went out to look it was on of my kittens. He'd fallen in a space which is between my building and the next. There is no way to get it out but to lower something in and try to get it to go in so we could pull it up. We ended up using a belt which we kinda hooked around it and it brilliantly clung to it so we were then able to pull it up. Only after an hour though.

So in the few pics I took this was the best. And the clean up was not so great either.

This photo shows the stripping tape on the base. Left hand

This is the kitten which was rescued.

This adorable love of mine is another kitten named Rescue. Why? Because we rescued him from the same place my kitten fell last night. We actually rescued him twice. He belonged to the neighbor  We kept him because we did not want to go through the drama a third time. He was a mess when we got him because he'd spent a night under pouring rain. We did not know he was there then. So we've nurtured him, loved him and fed him more than those we already have. I love him so so much

Thanks so much for stopping by. Much appreciated. xx

Four Elements Challenge - Earth

This is the final task in the Four Elements Challenge. I must say this challenge was a bit tougher than anticipated. I was more excited about this one than the last three, mostly because I liked the idea/inspiration for this one best.

However, when I started to do the actual designing, I realized this was not going to be as easy as I thought.

My inspiration for the earth challenge came from an image of the cross section of the Earth. From the sky down to the very core.

The first image is my final attempt at this task because I did it a week ago and was not satisfied and tried again. I'm not jumping up and down about it though

This image is of my first attempt. I was not very satisfied with it which is why I did it over. But, I think the red in this one kinds of makes a huge difference. This might actually be the better of the two.

I hope the concept came across though.

Thank you for checking out my attempts at this challenge. I enjoyed it though it really put my skills to the test but I guess that's why its called a challenge.

Take care now

Where in the World Challenge - Spain

On our world tour as I like to call it, we are  making a  stop in Spain. This country is known for so many things. It's music, bullfighting, lovely beaches, Art and just so much more. It's quite a lively place to be. No I haven't been but sometimes when we watch tv and read about places it's like we've been there.

Today my mani for Spain is  inspired by the Chupa Chups Lollipop. I must say I did not know it originated from Spain. I'm learning so much with this challenge. The company was founded in 1958 by Enric Bernat. He got the idea after witnessing an angry cursing mom whose child's hands were dirty from melting sweets. These candies on a stick can be found around many cash registers around the world. Though the company is now owned by a Dutch-Italian Corporation, it's roots are from Spain.


I used an orange based from an un named polish. Well it's not in English so I don't know the name. I used various colors for the lollipop and white acrylic paint for the sticks and dots.
  

See you on our next stop. Maybe I'll be passing your way.

Four Elements Challenge - Air

The third task in the Four Elements Challenge is Air. I'm really not so very happy about this mani. I wanted to do the sky with clouds which I think I succeeded at but then I wanted to add butterflies because butterflies fly in the air.

I attempted to stamp a different butterfly on each nail but the clouds and sky got covered in the process. I was not happy with it but just could did not feel like starting over. I'm not so over the hills about it so I'm not going to say much.

Where in the World Challenge - Canada

The second stop we're making on this great journey is to Canada. Today, my mani is inspired by two Canadian Inventions.

Basketball was invented by a Canadian. James Naismith invented the sport in the US while he taught at a training school in Massachusetts. He had  to come up with an in door game and long story short, he came up with Basketball. They used a peach basket rather than a net then. 

I stamped a single basket ball on my index finger.

Reginald Fessenden also a Canadian, was the first person to broadcast words and music over radio waves. He is the inventor of radio telephony.

In this regard, I decided to stamp a little radio on my remaining fingers. I used a white background with red tips as these are the colors of the Canadian Flag.

I like this pic because of how the orange, which is from Colour Club Nail Art, seem to glow in the dark.

AIS: OMG It's and invation of The Greeks into Troy

Hi

Today's challenge is in reference to an invasion and we're to use our creativity. Go nuts basically.

When I first saw Cheeky's Summer Collection Plate CH49 I remembered the movie Troy. There is a scene where the Greeks are on their way to attack Troy because Paris (a prince of Troy) basically stole Helen the Queen of Sparta. They travel to Troy with about 1000 ships and this stamped image is pretty much what the scene looks like.

I used a simple dark blue color and stamped with konad white. Its not a fancy mani today.

Below is a photo of the scene in the movie I mentioned above.

 Till next time xx

  

Where in the World Challenge - Australia

Hi Guys

I have joined yet another Challenge. Why? I just love them so. I hate neglecting my nails and I've been doing so and these challenges keep me more dedicated to them. It also keeps me more dedicated to this blog which if you've ever read my welcome post will see that I started it to help me to be more committed and finish things I start. Doing challenges helps a lot.

Anywayyyy. I joined the Where in the World Challenge (pretty awesome I must say) which was started by Jin of Superficially Colorful and Gosia from Life in Color.

The first country we shall be visiting is Australia. For this challenge, I decided to do Australia's national flower. It a pretty yellow flower called the Golden Wattle. It grows in many parts of Australia. September 1 is celebrated as National Wattle day in Australia.

 I used acylic paint to draw the flowers and stems and a light brown with a bit of shimmer to it from The Color Workshop

Till next time xx

Breast Cancer Awareness

The Month of October is recognised as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I did not catch the Go Pink Wednesdays notice on time so I could not join in but I wanted to do one of my own anyway.

 

In Dominica (my lovely island) to support people who have been diagnosed with the disease there are a number of activities taking place this month. There was a walk last week dubbed "Walk for the cure"

 

One thing that many people are not aware of is that men are also at risk of getting breast cancer. It is about 100 times less common among men than among women and risk of getting breast cancer is about 1 in 1,000.

 

In this regard, I painted the tip of my index finger blue in support for the men who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

 

I used:

 

Santee's Baby Pink and Stamped with Jewellery Red which has a nice shimmer to it.

A ribbon design form an XL Stamping Plate.

Nabi's Crack Nail Lacquer on the tips.

I must applaud all the companies who have made great effort to join in the cause for a cure like O-P-I, Essie, Avon Orly, China Glaze etc.

I must say this is not my best stamping work but...

 

Thanks for stopping by.

xx

Four Elements Challenge - Water

Hi Guys So we're back with this week's task for the Four Elements Challenge. Water.

I really wanted to do a water marble mani but the polishes just weren't cooperating. I was so disappointed. I have no idea what I was doing wrong this time. These are the same polished I used before and I even bought some more just for this cause and I had no success. I had to come up with something else. I was stumped then it hit me. Hey you live in the land of rivers and waterfalls. In Dominica as the Nature Island of the Caribbean we proudly boast three hundred and sixty five rivers/streams. For a tiny island, that's incredible. We also have an abundance of water falls, the 2nd Largest Boiling lake in the world, beautiful beaches and non stop rain. So we're blessed with water all around.

I decided to attempt a Waterfall nail art. I got my inspiration from our Highest Waterfall, the Trafalgar falls which I have posted an image of. I've only been to this fall once about four or five years ago. Huge rocks to climb but it was worth it.

Me at the Trafalgar Falls

I can't say I'm jumping up and down over this mani but at least I tried. We are a green island so the green represents the trees which surround the Trafalgar Falls and at the tip I created a pool. The brown dots are supposed to represent rock because each pool of water has an arch of rocks at the end to help maintain the pool. I remember growing up as a girl actually putting rocks in place to create deep pools in the river where we'd spend our summer days. I wish I could come up with something better but that's all the brain would allow.

UPDATE

I drafted this post on Sunday and it is Tuesday and I've decided to give the water marble one last attempt.  This is what I came up with. Both colours represent water. We have some real green pools here such as our emerald pool and the blue sky usually makes water appear blue.





Four Elements Challenge - Fire

I came across this new challenge on Nail Crazy's blog but it was really created by Taya. It's not to much and quite doable so I thought why not.

The challenge may be done with either nail art or make up under the theme - The Four Elements (Fire, Water, Air, Earth). I'm not much of a make up chick so I'm not even going to go there but will tackle the nail art, my passion.

The First Challenge is Fire. I joined the challenge late but I still have time.

I just got these stamping plate from Cheeky's Summer Collection so I thought I'd be the perfect design for this challenge. CH52.

I though of a flame for example from a candle or the stove. It usually has a blue base then red and yellow/orange. Soooo, I incorporated all theses colours. For the base, I sponged on (did I say this right) the yellow and blue. Then, I used two colors, the orange (which is actually a neon orange from Color Club-Art Club). I did not have any other orange so I had to use another brush in the bottle since the nail art one is so thin and the red is Konad's Princess Special Polish Cool Red.

See you on October 11, for the water challenge.

xxx

Adventures In Stamping - Metallic Madness

The Challenge for Sunday, October 7 is Metallic Madness.

I have some Metallic Polishes but sadly they're from no popular brand. Small price to pay for living on a small island like mine. They don't sell the OPI's and Essence and China Glaze and all those other cool polishes that I see on other blogs but I'm hopeful that one day I'll be able to buy them from somewhere.

The design I chose is from Cheeky's summer collection CH42 and on my ring finger a crazy design (as I like to call it) from an XL Plate. Which is quite fitting if we're doing a madness design.

I stamped with Santee's Rich Gold and was quite surprised with how well it stamped.
                                                                                                                                                                                                   

I'd say it came out ok. I like it. Even got a compliment from a prominent business man on the island which was quite a shock to me.

Till Next Sunday.

xx

Cheeky Comic Book Expressions

My Cheeky 2012 Summer Collection Plates are finally here. I was so excited to receive them but now I just have no idea which design to use. It takes me longer to make up my mind than it does to do the mani. Hmmm.

The first one I've decided to use is image plate CH47. It's of Comic Book Expressions. Though I can't say I'm a big comic book reader, (actually I don't remember the last time I read one) this one called out to me.

I first did a gradient with sponge. I tried this technique which I saw here by another awesome blogger. I was quite satisfied with the results but I think I need to try another type of sponge.

I used four different colours because I figured comic books tend be to quite colourful.

I stamped with Konad's Princess Special Polish Deep Jungle, Cool Red, Yellow and White.

I had no issues with the plates. I loved how the images stamped. Very clear and the stamper picked up everything.

I used all the images on the plate except for one but that's just because I did not want to use it.

Usually when we buy image plates, there are so many designs yet some never get used. I'm challenging myself to use each plate, though I'm not sure about the monster one. We will see. I guess this means I will be posting quite a bit of cheeky designs in the future.

I want to try layering and doing more creative things with stamping rather than just a base colour and an image. I'm not saying I will do this all the time but I will try some.

Some People who do free hand nail art tend to think that those of us who stamp do so because it's easy and not much work to it but that is so not the case. Therefore, I want to challenge myself and do some things with stamping that will make them think hmmm maybe there is more to it than I think.

So Lets see how this works out.