My Ripponburn ladies 10:14

ina chose this herself - what an eye for fashion!

Another Ripponburn adventure has come and gone! It must have been the coldest day of the week, everybody (including me) was bundled up. Of course, they have heating! But the lounge room is giant and budgeting is important! I must start with Ina's mani as it is absolutely gorgeous! She was probably fifth in line or so and I always circulate my swatch sticks to the next ladies so they can have a think while I finish up others. Ina thought of this combo and I tell you, totally cool! Pale green and navy shatter. Groovy.

gladys

margaret

helly

I think Gladys and Margaret were first. Something simple for Gladys, who has stopped biting her nails!, and Margaret wanted sparkle. When we were finished I noticed Margaret's nails match her ring! And she is so happy as she has found her wedding rings. I told her many times they were safe and, of course, her daughter had taken them for safe-keeping. Helly was next and happy to get her nails done as last time she couldn't. Which red was a tough decision so I ended up giving her both in a ruffian! Happy!

jenny

joyce

lena

Jenny wanted what Dorothy had last time (thank goodness I brought it). That was a neat development. Looking at each other's nails and then deciding what to get for next time. Joyce almost talked herself out of it but her husband was there and said she should get her nails pink like she always does. So she did, with some sparkle on her accents. Poor Lena is almost blind and can hardly make anything out but wanted red nails (as always).

joan

nellie

dorothy

Miss Joan got talked into a darker colour again! This obsession with pink must stop. She wears browns and reds and earthy tones so I think she should accentuate with those colours. She is easy to talk to, another favourite of mine. Even gave her a wee heart on her accents. Nellie has the most beautiful nails and hands. Like Gladys. She can wear almost anything and goes for all sorts of ideas (though she does like blue). I convinced Dorothy to try something new. She just wanted her regular copper-ish colour but I said a navy accent would really pop and match her rings. And she liked it!

lilian

joan 2nd

Lillian and Joan 2nd were the last two. Lilian went for a spangled banner US theme. She also wanted white shatter on top and we tried that. But no. Shatter on glitter does not work. The idea was groovy, though. Maybe with top coat first. Anyway, she was happy with the red and sparkles. And Joan wanted the brown-red. You would think I only have two reds with me! But I had heaps, usually 20+ polishes to choose from. But one takes A, another B and the rest gravitate towards A and B. I do try to sway into a direction but in the end, they have to be happy, not me. Back in two weeks!

Mani breakdowns: 
Ina: two coats OPI Thanks a Windmillion, one coat OPI Navy Shatter.
Gladys: two coats OPI Get Your Number.
Margaret: two coats China Glaze For Audrey, one coat OPI Spark de Triomphe.
Helly: one coat OPI Skyfall, one coat China Glaze Red Pearl.
Jenny: two coats ILNP Birefringence.
Joyce: two coats Revlon Innocent, one coat OPI Spark de Triomphe (accents).
Lena: one coat China Glaze Hey Sailor.
Joan: two coats OPI Sourdough, two coats OPI Czechbook (accents) with Sourdough heart.
Nellie: two coats OPI Unfor-greta-bly Blue, tips in Zoya Electra.
Dorothy: two coats OPI Sourdough, one coat OPI Navy Shatter (accents).
Lilian: two coats China Glaze Hey Sailor, one coat Lynderella Elf Assured.
Joan 2nd: two coats OPI Sourdough.

PANZ Challenge: Dressed Up Nudes

So exciting - a challenge. I like the idea of a challenge as it makes me think outside my usual pattern. I have been a bit lax on the ol' Crumpet challenges (bad llama) and want to get back into that. But, the super fun NZ polish group PANZ (polish addicts new zealand) are starting challenges off their cool new blog (new panz blog).

As you can see (and read) this challenge had to do with nudes and jazzing them up a bit. You could also bling them, but I'm not that into bling. You had to use your own designs, your own nails, have done it yourself, no archive manis allowed, one polish manis not allowed (love this one! no non-art manis!). I decided to do a tape mani with hand drawn flowers. I was on the fence a bit in doing a skittlette, so incorporated a bit of skittlette in the mani.

I started with a sheer nude base. Only one coat and you can see VNL shimmering through the stripes. That part is intentional! Then I taped and applied OPI Barefoot in Barcelona, a fab nude for me. Very close to my skin tone, or put it this way: warm like my skin tone. Just one coat as the polish is rather thick and the sheer base gave it something to latch on to. I let that dry, but no top coat. I did four fingers on my left hand and the thumb of my right. I manicured the rest of my nails in two coats of Barcelona.

Using a mix of brown and white acrylics I one stroked flowers on to the striped nails and to the tips of the "plain" nails. The first level of flowers was more white, the second level more brown. Then I added some light gold glitter in the middle of the flowers (OPI Spark de Triomphe). Top coat sealed the deal.

The whole mani looks very subtle, easy on the eye, but not boring. Thx PANZ for the idea, think it's great. I am looking forward to more challenge ideas in the future!

right hand

right thumb

French blue gradient tips with sparkle

This is what I would call my go-to mani for those days when you want some sparkle, just a little nail art (usually due to scheduling problems) and some elegance. I always think this is a very classy nail art solution. You can use almost any tip colour - from French white through darks. Maybe not black. Would look like dirty nails – or that you're trying too hard to be Lorde!

The base is the simple beautiful OPI Bubble Bath. One coat. That is enough to give a sheen to your nails as well as a nice base to work off of. I used OPI Unfor-greta-bly Blue for the tips. I sponge gradiented them in different areas. Trying this time to get more of a marble effect. Then the gradient "line" was covered with Zoya Electra. Top coat brings it all together.

And that was that. Easy peasy. Touch up on tip wear is fairly easy, if need be, with just sponging on some more blue and top coating. I will probably keep these on for this Saturday's market. They look a bit winter-y with the icicle type glitter and blue shimmer tips.
Today has been a bit of a non-event. The internet keeps shutting itself on and off. I heard from Internal Affairs and they need my actual birth certificate (vs an authorized copy). I spent three hours looking all over for it! Finally found it. Therefore, the day flew by with nothing much accomplished!!! To calm myself after my nice long walk to the post office, I made a red wine and thyme stew that is simmering on the stove.

Duochrome shimmers à la Lucy

Ode to Lucy! I saw this last week or so and immediately was in the mood for duochromes. Lucy's original post used white cross stitches (didn't really like that) but otherwise was totally totally fab! (here is her post).

I used two duochromes for the mani and applied over a dark blue base. I started with ILNP Mutagen, an almost Ozotic 503 dupe. Almost. The polish shimmers in green through purple to brown. The other side is Ozotic 502, a copper-brown-red shimmer. I alternated one coat Mutagen, one coat Ozotic, one coat M, one coat O. Then top coated.

When all was dry I added some black cross stitches. Probably not good enough, but effective. Then top coat again. Very simple and beautiful mani. I got heaps of comments on them at the market. Apologies, these photos were taken after two days of wearing the mani as I had no time (in the daylight) to take pics! But still looking good!

My Ripponburn ladies 9:14

gladys

Another fun day at Ripponburn has come and gone! The weather is getting colder so the ladies are grouped closer together. A smaller group, as well. And for the second time in a row, gingernut cookies on the table!!! I started with Ina as she missed out last time. She seemed to be doing very well and coping with her loss. I guess at some point in life you anticipate it and learn to expect it. Still no fun, though.

ina

lilian

margaret

This was followed in quick succession with Lilian, Gladys and Margaret. They were all sitting around the table, their backs to the oil heater. I brought some newbies for them to try and Ina's looked very elegant - a light coffee shimmer with rose gold glitter. Nice! Gladys had totally groovy green and purple glitter (I know! Soooo fab!) on dark green. And Margaret tried the new China Glaze pink (can you believe it - I am buying pinks! - really just for them, though) with the rose glitter. That glitter is really, really nice!

jenny

janice

dorothy

Lilian seemed a bit out of it and has now for weeks. I think she misses Ivy. She never sticks around the whole time I am there anymore. She is talkative with me, but then leaves and goes back to her room. I hope she is OK. Helly couldn't get her nails done as she was going to the hospital for checks and they do not allow that. But she sat the whole time with us. So onwards with Jenny - who is now knitting jumpers to beat 60. I tell you, the girl can knit! Janice moved a tad away from her blues - got teal blue!!! I think it is great she wants blues and things. That Joan and her pink..... arghghgh ! Dorothy got a totally groovy cool blue duochrome - matched her sapphires beautifully!!! I told her never to take it off, looked so good.

joan

joyce

joan 2nd

Pink Joan, yes, still pink. But things didn't turn out for her as she planned! Her daughter had just bought her a red jumper for the upcoming "ball" and it was sitting on the table. I told her that pink nails would not fly and she needed red with sparkles. So there. They looked so good, too! She suffers from calluses and things but with the red nails, you can hardly notice them! Much better than a light colour. Joyce got a nice pink with a glitter nail. And Joan the 2nd wanted red, but I added a cool multi-coloured glitter to lighten them up. Poor Joan 2nd. I feel she is having a harder and harder time of articulating herself. A bit confused. I hope things are going OK for her. Such a nice lady - well, they all are! They have invited me to their upcoming ball, but need to see if the Mr is up for it. I told him there would be beer!!!!


Mani breakdowns:
Gladys: one coat CND Serene Green, one coat Glitzology Baby Dragon
Ina: two coats OPI DS Illuminate, one coat China Glaze I Pink I Can.
Lilian: one coat Layla Fuchsia Sky, one coat Zoya Electra
Margaret: two coats China Glaze Pink of Me, one coat China Glaze I Pink I can
Jenny: one coat Layla Fuchsia Sky
Janice: two coats China Glaze For Audrey
Dorothy: two coats ILNP Birefringence
Joan: two coats China Glaze Hey Sailor, one coat China Glaze Make a Spectacle
Joyce: two coats China Glaze Pink of Me, one coat China Glaze Make a Spectacle (accents)
Joan 2nd: two coats China Glaze Hey Sailor, one coat Lynderella Elf Assured