All Tied Up...

Hi everyone!

I hope to be back later today or tomorrow to post my entry for the FabNailArt Challenge, but for now I'm just leaving a note to say I'm still here! For anyone who doesn't know I am also big into the fibre art/craft scene. Anything handwork and I'm hooked. Knitting, crochet, weaving, spinning, felting, tapestry, rug hooking. Basically I'm all over the place with it. :p But the local guild I am a part of is having a sale at the end of November and I am currently preoccupied trying to work up a selection of product. Between Halloween and Christmas the posts might dwindle a little. 'Tis the Season yaknow? Requests are coming in from friends and family for handmade presents! :)

When my husband and I lived out in the country we had 7 alpacas. I learned so much about taking good care of my fluffy buddies. They were oodles of cute. And as an added bonus once a year I got all this fluffy fibre to spin into wool. Below is some of my hand spun alpaca (from Airo). The outside ones are dyed after spinning using Indigo.


My fibre blog is in need of some serious TLC. I've been neglecting it! I want to spend some quality time making it over and uploading some photos of current projects. I have my big floor loom in commission for the very first time. It looks so amazing out in the middle of my studio laden with colourful thread. I'm doing a line of crocheted sculptural jewelry which I hope to be showcasing very soon as well.

So in a nutshell? I'm COMPLETELY STRUNG OUT. :P

Love Yas!
JQ

Apothica 25$ Gift Certificate Giveaway

Hey everyone!

Just a quick post to tell you about an international giveaway by Apothica. Apothica sells Essie Polish and Nail treatments, and that's what really gets me excited! Here's a link to Essie at Apothica

You can fill out the entry form at Concrete and Nail Polish! You get seven extra entries for blogging a 100 word post with a link! There are other ways to ear extra entries as well, like tweeting, following on facebook, signing up for the Apothecary Newsletter etc.

I'm stoked about this giveaway because I really want to get my paws on the Good To Go topcoat,Matte About You, and Fill the Gap.

So far I only have two Essie polishes Vermillionaire and Lacquered Up. I want Mint Candy Apple, Sew Psyched, and Pretty Edgy!

Okay Onward to more manicures!

<3
JQ

Let's Rock With Numbers Entry

Greetings Jellybeans!

Well this month seems to be filled with manicures for challenges and competitions. It's been a lot of fun! Here is my entry for Parokeet's Let's Rock With Numbers challenge (for the Essence goodies).

I always find that any time I use rhinestones for my mani I spend so much time just running my fingertips over the bumps and eventually I just pick them right off. I thought it would be neat to do a rhinestone manicure based on the numbers 0-9 (the same as letters a-j) in the braille alphabet.


I used Claire's Snow Ball and Balck Hole for the base colours. Then I used my dotting tool to make six large dots in opposite colours on each nail. With a smaller tool I placed dots the same colour as the base on the "empty" braille spaces, then used rhinestones in the opposite colour as the base to create the raised braille.

Topcoat and voila!

I spent so much time running my fingertips over these. For the first time I could actually handle the sensation of all the rhinestones because they had a purpose. :) I didn't pick any off.

If you want to check out the other entries and possibly vote (There's a bit of a process involved. If you scroll down past the photo entries there's a link to the instructions) please click here!

Thanks again for stopping by. And thank you everyone for all the comments you leave. I've been trying to respond to each one!

Hearts off the charts,
JQ