As a general rule, I detest pictures taken of me. There are only a handful of photos that have been taken of me that I can A. tolerate or B. actually like. Oddly, Adam Bird has taken 90% of them. I've known Adam for years, we've been friends since my college days when I dated his friend, and Adam shocked my roommate and I by climbing the balcony to our second floor apartment. Adam is an extremely unique individual (the very sort I prefer to surround myself with), a phenomenally talented photographer, and someone I count among my closet friends. Last weekend, I went back to Michigan because he was getting married, and it was a great time seeing everyone. (AND getting Yesterdog!!) The day after, when Chris and I went by Adam's studio so Chris could fully submerse himself in photography nerdiness, Adam decided he wanted to take pictures of the two of us, and that he did. What you see below is a small portion of the product of that 10 minutes of photographic genius.
Adam is one of those rare photographers that can capture someone's insides. Their soul, their emotions, and something very important to me, the exact feeling of what is going on at the moment that shutter closes. He took one of my (and my family's) most prized photographs, a photo of my grandfather and I at my sister's wedding, which was just a month before he passed away.
Anyway. If you need photographs, wedding, portrait, fashion, artistic, anything, Adam is someone I would recommend VERY highly. He never asked me to make this post, honestly, other than my posting of his photos (of course I asked him permission!!) he has no idea I am writing this post. Take some time- hit up his website, his blog, and if you want photos- HIM!
His website:
Adam Bird Photo
His Wedding Site:
Adam Bird Weddings
Amazing. I love him! :)
Beware: Goofball pictures ahead!
Monday, 2 May 2011
A Whole Different William
This guy is the 'Wooly' variety...
Like the newly-wedded dapper young Prince William, this 'Willy' also has a bit of a bald spot. However, unlike the dear prince I speak of, with a flick of a magnet, you can cover this guy's bald spot up. :) Of course I speak of Wooly Willy, the simple children's 'toy' that consisted of a cardboard printed with the face of a bald man with a very red nose, a raised plastic window, a magnet, and some iron filings which you repositioned to create hair, mustaches, eyebrows, etc.! Really high-tech toys that we grew up with that will always hold a place in our hearts. Today's nail design is inspired by all the days I spent in my childhood drawing mohawks, fu manchus, beards, and unibrows on that flat bald man.
I used American Apparel Cotton as a base, with CND Bicycle Yellowto create stripes on the ring finger. For the faces, I used Urban Outfitters Nude 3, China Glaze Hey Sailor! for the nose, and American Apparel Hassid to outline and for the hair. Topped it all off with 2 coats of Seche Vite top coat.
Do you think Wooly Willy was a Wooly Bully?
Some simple stamping..
Since I had a little time yesterday, I did some stamping. I used one of my new Bundle Monster plates, but the actual image I used, can be found on both Konad and the older Bundle Monster plates. I started with 2 coats of Essie Splash of Grenadine. Which I couldn't get really good color accurate pics, so I'm sorry. It is more pink IRL. My camera wasn't working well, and the sun wouldn't stay out long enough :(
See this first pic was inside, and is possibly the closest to accurate
See this first pic was inside, and is possibly the closest to accurate
These were outside, when I was literally chasing the sun in my backyard, lol.
I then used the plate, BM-209 and Claire's 14 Karats for the design.
Update on Junior, he is doing great, become VERY active and jumping all around, and eating well :)
My very own name card!
As the title suggests,
I finally got my name cards printed !! Few days back, got my brother to send my name cards for printing and yes! It was really exciting to see my own name on the name card. Felt really good. Can't really find a good enough word to describe how I felt. Ask me for my name card the next time you see me! (:
Another thing is, I'm contemplating on removing the tagboard cause there are alot of spam messages and I'm getting really irritated with it. If you see it gone one day, not to worry. You can still get to me through the comment box at the bottom of each post. (:
I finally got my name cards printed !! Few days back, got my brother to send my name cards for printing and yes! It was really exciting to see my own name on the name card. Felt really good. Can't really find a good enough word to describe how I felt. Ask me for my name card the next time you see me! (:
Another thing is, I'm contemplating on removing the tagboard cause there are alot of spam messages and I'm getting really irritated with it. If you see it gone one day, not to worry. You can still get to me through the comment box at the bottom of each post. (:
Sunday, 1 May 2011
SJC Funfair 010511
The funfair at St. Joseph's Church yesterday was a blast! The church organized a funfair in conjunction with their 165th anniversary, and I took up a stall there since I'm from that church as well. The church will be undergoing renovation after next week, so all proceeds from the funfair will go toward the church's building fund.
My Primary 2 cousin, Fhilis, stayed over at my house on Saturday to help out on Sunday as well. Hence, I took the opportunity to use her as my model. Some of the designs were taken from http://www.rina-alcantara.com/ and I tried them out.

Tadah !! Decided to try out designs that I've never tried before. Some are repeated cause I really couldn't think of 10 different designs at 9 in the night.

A closer view on her left hand. Featuring a few characters - the cow, bear (which turned out like a hamster), panda which I've done before during the Singapore Poly event, the minnie mouse ribbon and a simple flower. I really love the cow! It was the love of many parents at the funfair as well.

A closer view on her right hand. Featuring the usual polka dots, cupcake which I really love as well. The "cherry" wasn't suppossed to be so big! Somehow the OPI polish for that was exceptionally runny and it flowed down. Tried to rectify it and that was the best I could do. The heart, need to brush up on my outlining! The tree with clouds in the sky, wanted to add in the sand, but her nails are too small. Probably workable for adults. And the bumble bee! It looks opposite in the picture because of the angle I took the picture.
Business was really good! All my OPI were sold out. So were the mother's day packages and top/base coat bundles. Majority of my customers who did manicures were children! They were so cute. According to the parents who told me, in past years, their children would pull them to the game stalls. But this year, they pointed and said they only wanted to come to my stall to do their nails! Hhahha. All of their coupons went to their children's nails already. It was a waste that I didn't manage to take pictures of their nails cause many were queueing to get their nails done. If any of you have the pictures, do tag me in facebook!
Some parents approached me and asked if I do nails for children's parties and functions. Why not! Just call me. I'd definitely be more than happy to go if my time allows me to. It feels like a great joy to be able to integrate my job as a teacher into doing nails for children. I see a little link there now. (:
The children were really sweet. One of them even turned around to say thank you to her mummy for giving her the money to paint her nails. It's a joy to paint for children. Will want to do it more in future!
My dented mani that was totally worth it :)
Morning guys!! Okay, so a friend/neighbor came over Friday night carrying this tiny pet carrier, and inside was an adorable baby bunny!!! She had found him at her work, and she didn't want to leave him, thinking he would die. She had plans Saturday morning, so I of course volunteered to bunny sit. She named him Junior, and after some research, discovered he is about 2 weeks old. OMG you guys, his cuteness is almost too much to handle. My Chihuahua Rolo, seemed to even love him, and let Junior snuggle next to him. They had fallen asleep in my lap and I had to share some pics. I'll get to the mani after this :P
Here he is eating. Eeeek, too cute, I even woke Jack up from his nap to watch, lol.
So here is my dented mani. Well he was back in his cage when I did my nails, but a little while later, I got him out again to eat, and he is feisty, and his tiny nails, dented my mani, but ti was totally worth it. This is 1 coat of Urban Decay Bruise over 2 coats of Ulta Cocktails Anyone, which is a dark purple.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Ummm....Nope! DO NOT WANT
This is one of those manis, that didn't turn out how I expected, but it actually looks better in the pics, lol. I received my set of new Bundle Monster plates a few days ago, and only had 1 night of play time so far. I saw what appeared to be peacock feathers, and since I'm kind of on a kick, I decided to use that image first :) Okay, well I started with a coat of black and a coat of Sally Hansen Turquoise Opal. I figured that all the colors in Turq. Opal, would resemble feathers better. I'm sure I would have liked this better, had I used different colors, and didn't eff up the design placement on my pinkie. It drove me crazy, lol
Then I used China Glaze Millenium and plate BM 212 for my design
Friday, 29 April 2011
HELLO KITTY NAILS
Meow! This is my version of hello kitty nails.


On these nails I embedded lace for my very first time! Yep that is real lace on the ring fingers. I also used gold and silver confetti from youngnails.com On the pinky I used a #3 golden halo sparkles from sparklesnailproducts.com




These are natural nails with gel polish. I marbled different colors together. Gel polish lasts for 2 weeks or longer with no chipping!

Doing a full coverage nail is the new trend. I faded 2 glitters from artglitter.com. A chunky silver called biker babes and another glitter called pewter.

Another full coverage set of nails. The big glitters at the tip are #69 Dark Nite from sparklesnailproducts.com


Dragonflies with 3d flowers on the ring fingers.


This is 2 glitters I mixed together from sparklesnailproducts.com #123 Desire and #125 passion.



I did these nails to look like butterfly wings.




On these nails I embedded lace for my very first time! Yep that is real lace on the ring fingers. I also used gold and silver confetti from youngnails.com On the pinky I used a #3 golden halo sparkles from sparklesnailproducts.com
These are natural nails with gel polish. I marbled different colors together. Gel polish lasts for 2 weeks or longer with no chipping!
Doing a full coverage nail is the new trend. I faded 2 glitters from artglitter.com. A chunky silver called biker babes and another glitter called pewter.
Another full coverage set of nails. The big glitters at the tip are #69 Dark Nite from sparklesnailproducts.com
Dragonflies with 3d flowers on the ring fingers.
This is 2 glitters I mixed together from sparklesnailproducts.com #123 Desire and #125 passion.
I did these nails to look like butterfly wings.