Sunday interlude

I tested the limited edition varnish from the Glitter Nail Lacquer limited edition. I found that one absolutely gorgeous when I saw it in the shop: it is the Bold Red (colour nº405)

I had to put two coats to make sure the nail was well covered and I couldn't see the nail through. It is really nice on the nails and the colour is bright enough (this picture doesn't do it justice). It lasted for a long time as I kept it on for about two weeks before it started looking a bit old.

The only downside to it is when trying to remove it: it is a nightmare! It took me forever to remove it AND I ended up with glitters everywhere.

In all, I am still debating whether I will wear it again purely because of the hassle it is to remove it and get rid off the glitters. But I have to say that it is so gorgeous that I will probably use it again very soon.

That's all for today :-)

Stitch of the day: Herringbone stitch

I have always been intrigued by how they manage to make those beads turn to that angle. Now I know!

Although I think it depends on which colour you use for this stitch as I find you don't really see them bending inwards with those pearly beads. But it is nice...I say lol

That's all for today :-)

Just because...

...you have fun with anything crafty, doesn't mean you are good at it. Just like being a butcher doesn't mean you know how to cook the meat right (yes, I am getting somewhere with this introduction, I swear)

There are loads of things I would love to do well but simply suck at and not only when it comes to crafts: French braiding, maths, cooking rice without a bag...

One thing I would really love to be better at is drawing: I have a notepad that I use to draw or sketch my ideas when it comes to the jewellery I make with polymer clay. Most of the time though, you will see that the finished result looks nothing like what is on the paper! You would probably think that I had changed my mind in the process and made something different than the original plan (whereas in my head, I think that both look the same lol)

I saw an app on the App Store two days ago and as it was voted best app of 2012, thought I would give it a try. And here is what I have done with it:

I am already a bit addicted and have made a few other sketches but jewellery related this time and I think I have found myself a very useful tool for the future. Maybe more practical than my notepad.

What do you think? Not too bad, huh? Maybe with a lot of practise, I will manage to make good things.

That's all for today :-)

Stitch of the day: even count Peyote stitch

Think I got it right this time. Funny enough, I had tried doing this one before but just couldn't understand it for a reason I ignore. Seems my brain finally decided it was OK today :-)

 

 

That's all for today :-)

New book

I got myself a new book just before Christmas (yes, a little treat).

Compendium of Beading Techniques



I love it: it is very useful and has some very good tips with nice pictures in colours. It shows you all the different techniques you can use while working with beads (well, the basic ones you need to get started).

It has all the basic stitches you need to know. And bonus to it: a foldable page has a chart which helps you measure the size of your seed beads which I find very helpful.

I have now to try testing those stitches. Let the work begin!

Merry Christmas

It is Christmas Eve today!!!

Yeah! Just a few hours before the food and laughter and Christmas pressies!

Oh wait a minute...no. Well, this year, for the second time in my whole life, I will spend Christmas away from my beloved family. So no big dinner around the table with all 13 of us (yes, but it has never brought us bad luck on that night, honest!).

Christmas in my family is quite something. We always say we will not make too much food, but it is never the case. We spend so much time chatting and laughing (and waiting for my brother to get there way after the scheduled time...mwaaah!) that by the time midnight comes, we are still either at the end of the starters or just starting the main lol

Then we open the presents, which usually takes a good hour as there are many of us and we tend to do more presents that we said we would. Then we eat again.

It normally ends with boardgames (more or less the same each year but we never stop enjoying them) and chats until the early hours. I wouldn't have it any other way. Well..except this year obviously lol

I will be thinking of them all today while they all get ready, rushing around to prepare the food, running to the shop because of that tiny thing they have forgotten but that is so crucial for the dinner.

I will miss you guys! I love you all :-)

Crisis over

I have bought a new needle for the jewellery (actually, I bought two new needles, just to be sure!).

I have now completed a bracelet and a necklace.

Let's just hope my friend will like the pictures I have sent her :-)

Wish me luck!

Sunday interlude

I tried something new today. Yes! it is my nails today...I think. I might post another one later tonight if Madame L sends me hers :-)

Anywho! I have tried the "Caviar manicure":

Not sure how it will turn out tomorrow as I am not convinced thos little beads are going to last long on the nails. I have put a top coat on it, just in case.

That's all for tonight....or maybe not lol we shall see!

Oh noooooo!

I was working on my friend's wedding jewellery. I was really into it, had (what I think is) a good idea and that's when the tragedy happened:

Yes, my beading needle broke. It snapped right in my hand...not without sticking itself in my skin though. It's nighttime so I'm stuck and will not be able to get to the bead shop before at least the weekend (that's if there is still a bead shop after Friday, of course lol).

Why oh why?! I was so inspired. I had just finished one bracelet and was right in the middle of the second one :-(

Sunday interlude...

Hi Everyone,

This week, Madame L is getting all christmassy :-)

And here is what she has to say about her new design (yes, I've managed to make her write it as I am away).

"Last week I only used a plain green varnish which, according to Madam L's little sister, was too flashy.
As it is the festive season, I tried a festive manicure.  I have tried a red glittery nail polish from L'Oréal. This colour runs though when applying the top coat (even though I have waited an hour for it to dry). As you can see, I am not very good as my Santa is not perfect, neither is the silvery line"

I personally think that for a first design like that, it is actually pretty good. I find this Santa cute. Just starting to get very worried now: she seems to be doing great without me!! Soon I will not be allowed to do her nails. But it is at the same time promising as I now know she will continue doing her nails even when I'm not there.

Well done Madame L!

Here is the link to the picture that she used for this manicure. (I am not sure if this design is from this blogger or if it is a photo she posted from somewhere else, so I cannot put a link to the tutorial)

That's all for today :-)
Hope you've all had a good weekend!

Sunday interlude

This week, it is all about cracking effect.

I love how the two colours go well together: it makes it really...chic, don't you think? And I am not a fan of that effect normally. What about you?

Hope you had a good weekend!

That's all for today :-)

Another challenge for Pti Kikó!

And I am quite excited about it, but so scared at the same time!

A friend of mine is getting married next year and I am to make the jewellery (necklace + bracelet) to go with her wedding dress.

I am really honoured to have been asked this task but as we cannot see each other until then, it is proving challenging to be able to put ideas together to make sure it will turn out the way she'd want it to be AND that it will go with the dress!

So we exchange by emails: pictures, measurements and colour themes for the day.

I realise now that I do not know what sort of haircut she will be wearing (I might make earrings if I have time to). 

There are so many questions in my head that I realise I have not asked her yet lol
- What haircut will you wear?
- What kind of make up?
- Will you wear a bolero/jacket/shawl with that dress?
-...have you considered shop bought options...just in case? lol
-....aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!

I must not panic though. But it is, to me, a huge responsibility.

It is interesting though as since I have put my Fimo away, I have to be more creative and do with what is around. So the easiest thing to find are...beads! (of course). Got myself a needle, some thread and beads. I have been watching so many tutorials and have already learnt new techniques (doesn't mean I master them though haha!). Right now, I am discovering bead weaving.

Obviously, I cannot show anything until the day so, I can only keep you posted on the progress as things go.

I just really hope she will like what I will come up with. If not, at least I will have tried. It is true that I would have loved to do that with polymer clay but hey! C'est la vie!

That's all for today :-)

Sunday interlude

Hi everyone!

This week, I am, again, not with Madame L. How can she live without me? I know! She just...survives...just. But she is fine. Honest!

Anywho! She played with my niece who wanted her nails done so this week it will be about her more than Madame L. Well, still a bit because she is the one who did this, not me.

First, little pandas:

Then, zebra style (and not Gangnam style, haha!....ok....I'm out...)

I find the latter very good considering it is her first time. I have never tried this myself.
For this, she used Kiko's Mint Milk (nº389)

And she has found the time to quickly improvise on her nails tonight. Last minute mani:

Comments anyone?
Hope you all had a great weekend!

That's all for today :-)

I just love my new camera

It does the coolest things...I think :-)

The other day, my boyfriend (who came to visit) and I went to a shopping centre. We had a little wonder around, walked in a toy shop and could possibly not stop when we saw that:

We had to stop and play. Connect 4 has to be one of our favourite games lol We can spend some time playing on it on my iPod when stuck in transport, or tube, or train... Of course, you will have guessed that I was the yellows. I always win! Ok...as he is going to read this, he did win a game that day too. Eventually we had to leave the spot to a little boy who wanted to play with his mother...

Then we deserved a good treat, so to Starbucks we went. And that's when I played with my camera. This option to filter the colors is just great. I love it!!

That's all for today :-)

After the Babyshower.....

The birth!!

My dear twin has given me a new nephew: that makes the grand total of nephews and nieces to 7. Not all hers of course lol

This little one is so tiny and cute it is unbelievable. But then, we have a habit to make super cute babies in the family. Do not ask how we do it (or they, as I am just the auntie)...we just do!

So back in August, I decided to make him a Bunting Bag (or "Nid d'Ange" in French, which literally means "Angel's nest")
This project is by far the most adventurous thing I have ever attempted to knit! I've had to start all over again 3 times as I kept on making mistakes with the cable pattern. The baby arrived on 15th and I finished it on 17th at night (started it on 30th August....yes....): I even sewed the buttons in the car on the hospital car park lol There are some mistakes but in all, I am proud of what I have achieved considering I have only knitted gloves and scarves before. I had about 5 hours sleep in 3 days (that's including the travelling day on Sunday) but the most important thing is she liked it :-)

He is so small he will not be able to wear it until at least a couple of months, but it will be used.

So here is what picture number 4 of my Sneak Preview post was: the Bunting Bag!
Any comments?

 Oh! I found this pattern on the Drops Design website, by the way.

That's all for today :-)

Another late Sunday Interlude...

But I do have an excuse! Lol
I was travelling on Sunday so could not actually make Madame L's weekly manicure. I did make sure she had something to work with while away though: got her a couple of nail polishes from Kiko for her to do her nails :-)

So I am proud to say she did her manicure and sent me the picture for me to publish. I am actually thinking about having her make the Sunday post as a guest now, hehe! She doesn't know it yet.

So here is what she did. Unfortunately, I do not remember the number or name of that colour (I forgot to take a picture of it before I left)

Cute and simple!

 

New bracelet

I tried one of those braided style bracelet as I had some memory wire left.
What do you think?