4 months of catch up

 I did not realize I had neglected updating for so long. It began with me moving my computer before I physically moved so I lost the ability to upload photos (blogger was not cooperating with my work computer). Then it was unpacking, and I didn't have a desk, and so forth. So let's cram everything from October until now into this one post. In October, with the return of the NHL season, the classic Montreal Canadiens nails. I also tried out a Montreal Canadiens style french tip on the left hand.

Then in November it was Remembrance Day nails, made a bit more poignant after the shootings on Parliament Hill, hence the black and the Forget-me-nots. Poppies and maple leaves on the tips.

 Also in November there was a tribute to my favourite comic - Lumberjanes! Featuring some of the Lumberjanes badges up to that point. These were the "Up All Night", "Space Jamborie", "Friendship to the Craft", "Naval Gauging", and just hearts on the left hand. On the right (from thumb to pinkie) "Friendship to the Max" [which I think should be 'friendship to the ax'], "Jail Break", "Pungeon Master", "Robyn Hood", and "Everything Under the Sum" badges.

 In December after I moved it was Xmas nails featuring candy cane stripes and Mummers (to remember Newfoundland by).

 And finally at the end of December/start of January were World Juniors nails. And Canada won gold so huzzah!


Working on new nails now, hopefully I won't be as remiss in updating for a while.

Olympics & Hello Kitty

Did the thumbs up for the Olympics in Russia (swept curling and hockey - woo!). And by request of one of my co-workers little Hello Kitty's on the fingers.

Canada Day/First Day of the Somme

Getting ready for Canada Day with some Canadian nails. On the left hand "Eh?" which I do say quite a lot, and two maple leafs on the flanks. On the right hand our national animal, the beaver, on every nail. The one on the middle finger looks a bit angry, unintentionally, and the one on the index a bit quizzical. The pictures in the background are proposed flags for Canada before the adoption of the current.

And since Canada Day also falls on Newfoundland's Memorial Day, forget-me-nots atop part of a Union Jack on the thumbs to commemorate the first day in the battle of the Somme during the Great War. 

Catching Up

 I had done Christmas nails. On the right hand were little penguins and snowmen peeking out from the top of the nail. On the left was a line of Christmas lights and snowflakes. They had to be touched up the same day, I thought they were dry, they thought differently. Then I just put off uploading them. By the time they were coming off I decided, now I must upload them. And realized I never took a picture. For the first time since I started this blog I forgot to capture them. 

 These ones, with the orange background, I did for the World Juniors. At least the right hand. Canada didn't win a medal, maybe they were unlucky. On the left hand I tried out that newspaper technique. It smudged a bit but I think that will be eliminated with practice. Just to recap, this involves 1. Paint your nails a light colour. 2. Cut small strips of newspaper print, 1 for each nail. 3. Dip your nails, 1 at a time, into rubbing alcohol (or vodka) for a couple seconds. 4. Press on the newspaper and hold for 5 seconds. 5. Cover with a clear topcoat to seal in the newspaper words. I think they're really cute.

 I went on a trip after the World Juniors and had intended to do something complex, but working late the night before and catching a flight at 6 in the morning meant that when I would've been doing my nails the prior day, I was packing. But I got the "mini collection" of candy coloured nail polish for Xmas and decided to just do a multicolour. I added the darker shade on the tip just for interest, they looked a bit bland without.

And now, this blog is all caught up.

Euro 2012 Knock-out Rounds/Canada Day

The finals of Euro 2012 fall on Canada Day this year, so these nails serve a double purpose. On the thumbs is a mini-Canada tribute with 1¢ on the left thumb and the maple leaves and 1¢ on the right thumb. This is also a tribute to the penny, which is being phased out. In a rare shout-out to the nailpolish used, I've included a pre-design image of the thumb using "Magnetic Force" polish. The variations in colour are achieved by hovering a magnet over the wet polish. I thought it was pretty cool and turned out really interesting. 

The fingernails are stars in the German colours and little football player silhouettes also done in the German colours. Nothing too complex, but hopefully it'll be lucky for the knockout rounds. So far so good, with Germany moving on to the semi-finals.

Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

 I forgot to upload these a week and a bit ago when I actually did them (sorry Mom!). For the anniversary of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, these nails were done. On the left hand, an outline of Canada and a maple leaf. On the right, Jean Chretien <3, Pierre Trudeau, and the Queen, circa 1982 (from the photo of her signing it into the constitution). On the thumbs, because Bayern Munich was in the semi-finals (and is now in the final!), a partial crest.

Canada Day/Memorial Day 2011

July 1st is Canada Day and for the past few years I've always done red and white nails with maple leafs - except last year because I had World Cup nails. It has also always been a bit difficult because I didn't have my nail polishes with little brushes and it's very difficult to work with either a normal sized polish brush or a toothpick. My first design with little brushes were actually maple leafs for the Olympics in 2010 but they turned out pretty badly. This year was my chance to go all out. On the right hand I have little RCMP officers in the red serge and two Canadian flags. On the left fingers I have the beginning notes for O Canada (the part that coincides with the singing of "O Canada".

July 1st is also the first day of the assault on the Somme in the Great War. For the Royal Newfoundland Regiment, this was one of their major contributions to the war and the Regiment was very nearly wiped out in that single action. For Newfoundlanders, July 1st is also Memorial Day. I payed a little homage to the RNR by including the bottom half of a soldier with blue puttees (Blue Puttees being the nickname for the first soldiers due to them having blue puttees...) on the left thumb.

IIHF World Juniors

The first games of the World Juniors (Buffalo, NY) were held on Boxing Day. Stores in Newfoundland are closed Boxing Day (very sad) so my sale shopping had to be done Monday. This left Sunday to watch some hockey (particularly since the Liverpool match was postponed due to a frozen pitch) and repaint my nails. Christmas is over, time to move on. The original plan was to have Germany on the left hand and Canada on the right. I want Canada to win, but I'd like Germany to do well. Unfortunately I broke my thumbnail on the right hand trying to get something out of a box (an endeavour in which success still eludes me) and decided not to risk getting nail polish remover in the somewhat open wound. With the hands uneven I opted to have Canada on both hands with a little shout-out to Germany on the left thumb. I decided to experiment with a landscape set up which gave a bit extra space to include hockey sticks and have the boards in the background. Granted, this layout has been done before (Canadiens, Vimy, Discworld) but this round was undertaken with a bit more intent. Germany lost their first game 4:3 but Canada was victorious against Russia with a 6:3 final scoreline.

Vimy Ridge

As a Canadian who loves military history, for April 9-12 it was necessary that I pay tribute to the Canadian Corps taking Vimy Ridge in 1917. It was the first time Canadians fought together in a single action and has inspired many 'nation' myths since. Regardless, it's an important point in Canadian history and Canadian military history. The thumbs gave the dates. The left hand showed the German lines and the movement of Canadian troops while the left showed the Canadian lines and the movement of Canadian troops. The "V" was the location of the ridge. Since Canada's flag was the Red Ensign I included the Union Jack along with a maple leaf (on the cap badges).