UEFA Champions League Final 2011

A quick turnaround of the playoff nails was necessary in order to show my support for FC Barcelona in the Champions League. It's the end of another season. Well, the seasons were already over, but now with no more club football to watch (minus friendlies and not including MLS) the emptiness is really noticeable. I went for Barca because I did not want Man U to win (thanks for obliging Spanish FCB with that 3:1 final scoreline). I don't have a Spanish team so there wasn't really a conflict of interest. But next year the German FCB will definitely win. Anyway... On the right hand I had mini Barca crests with "FCB" on the pinkie. On the left I incorporated elements from the crest. The St. George cross, the Catalan flag, the team colours and the old school football. They were completed Friday but were short lived only lasting until Tuesday (today). As I type my Stanley Cup Playoff Finals homage is drying. Go Canucks Go!

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Conference Finals

The Royal Wedding nails lasted a long time since it took a while to find out who would make it to the Conference Finals. Once that was established, these nails got done. On the left hand is the Western Conference. NHL, San Jose Sharks, "West", Vancouver Canucks and a shoutout to Montreal in 2012. The right is the Eastern with the Boston Bruins and Tampa Bay Lightning.

Royal Wedding - Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

I consider myself a bit of a monarchist and I was really excited for the Royal Wedding. After a day of mourning, I removed the Canadiens nails and prepared for April 29th. I tried to represent Kate's engagement ring on the ring fingers, not sure if it's a pass or fail. C+W on the pinky fingers. I did a generic bride from behind given that the dress was (obviously) still unknown the night before the big day, but I got a bit of the a-line shape so success? Union Jacks on the index fingers. I went with Prince William's RAF uniform on the thumbs and chose wrong. He wore his uniform as the newly appointed Colonel of the Irish Guards.
I had fun with these nails, but they might not last long as I'm thinking of Playoff nails next... minus the Boston Bruins of course.

Montreal Canadiens - 2011 Playoffs - Round 1

It was a busy week. Vimy Ridge nails were removed on the 13th, Hillsborough nails were finished that night and removed on the 17th, and now it's time again for Montreal Canadiens nails. Classic logo design on the left hand. I had to take it up a notch though and did mini player portraits on the right. Price is (obviously) on the thumb, and from index to pinky finger there is Gionta, Cammalleri, Gill and Plekanec. I think these are competing for my all time favourites (to this point). With the series very sadly tied 2-2 at the moment, hopefully my unwavering dedication can help them win 2 more.

Hillsborough 22nd Anniversary

On 15 April 1989, 96 people (Liverpool supporters) were killed in a crush at Hillsborough stadium. It was the worst stadium disaster in British history and it has had a big impact on LFC. It is considered by many to be the reason Kenny Dalglish (Player Manager at the time) ended his managing career in the early 90s, the Sun newspaper's coverage of the event led many to boycott the paper (still ongoing), it is the reason the British top flights have all seater stadia - these are just a few of the impacts the disaster had on Britain. You can read more and watch videos/documentaries by visiting: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/hillsborough

There is currently an independent panel looking into the disaster and their report is expected to be issued early 2012. For the memorial this year I did Hillsborough nails. The torches are based off the ones on the Liverpool crest, the left hand has 96 (for the 96 killed) and YNWA (You'll Never Walk Alone). The right hand has OPI's "Black Shatter" on the tips - interpret as you will, I saw it as constraints preventing justice for the 96 that are being pulled back as the result of the inquiry report gets closer (hopefully).

Vimy Ridge 94th Anniversary

I hate to admit it, but I didn't remember the anniversary of the Canadian assault on Vimy Ridge was coming up until midway through the first full week of April. So, my plans for the next design had to be delayed slightly since I can't not commemorate this date. And sure, that whole 'Vimy Ridge made us a nation' thing is just a myth, but the first time the Canadian Corps fought together is not, the victory is not, and the impact Vimy has had on defining our history is not. I feel like there should be the Canadian Red Ensign flying behind that bit of text. But I digress. The right hand is adapted from "The Ghosts of Vimy Ridge" by Will Longstaff (1931). The thumb is an approximation of the maple leaf that is on Canadian war graves. The left hand is text from the grave of a Canadian soldier (and others, I presume): "Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn." The thumb is just rows of crosses to pay homage to the killed and missing.

Tiger Stripes

When I returned from vacation I took a break. That is to say I had purchased OPI's "Black Shatter" polish and decided to do a test run before I incorporate it in a design (still to come). When that came off I had about a week before the next set needed to be completed so I remained simple. I wanted to do something orange and I've not done an animal print before so I thought I'd try tiger stripes. The design is based off the back of a tiger with the stripes centred on the spine, so to speak.

Vancouver Whitecaps FC

So I planned a trip back to the province I grew up in that (not coincidently) coincided with the first Whitecaps game of the season and their first in Major League Soccer. As such I had to do Whitecaps nails. Being a procrastinator, they were done far too late in the evening the day before my flight so they weren't, perhaps, as polished as I would've preferred but I had quite a bit of fun with them anyway. And it was nice upon arriving in Vancouver that people actually knew what it was as opposed to just commenting on the nice design and asking what "Caps" meant. If it were possible for me to write "Vancouver Whitecaps FC" on a single nail, that definitely would've happened. But, it was a great game, with a fantastic final scoreline. Despite the fact that I'm a 'Caps fan, I'd been following TFC in the seasons before Vancouver was promoted. As such, it was good to be able to see De Rosario (who has since been traded to NYRB) alongside Hassli, DeMerit, et al. Definitely worth the trip.

Rrroll up the Rim to Win!

I feel like this will be my year. I say that every year though... The Roll Up odds have not applied to me for a couple years now, with wins in single digits while coffees bought reach the 70 and 80+ mark. Sometimes I wonder if it's a test of my loyalty. A while back I wrote a prayer to say before each cup of coffee. It ran something like this:
"Dear Tim Horton, I thank you for this coffee I am about to drink. Please let it have the success you had in your career and not that of the Maple Leafs."
It didn't work. Then I thought perhaps I'd offended the coffee gods and removed the prayer from my routine. Still losses. But this year, definitely my year. Let the free coffees be plentiful! Not this cup though, it told me to play again. As if I needed a reminder.

Philipp Lahm

This was the original design plan mentioned in the previous post. Philipp Lahm (captain of Bayern München and the national team). I had thought of going greyscale but I don't have enough variants to make it work so I went with black and white and did his kit in colour.

It was only fitting that I eventually pay a proper tribute to Lahm. He is my favourite player. When I started watching football during the '06 World Cup, his was the first goal I saw scored. I followed both Germany and his progress for the rest of the tournament. When it ended and I decided to follow club football, I chose Bayern because Lahm was (and still is) there. Granted, he was on loan at the time to Stuttgart, but I figured he'd come back, and he did. Last year, Ballack was out of the W.C. with injury and Philipp was captain. Wonderful. Last month, Bayern traded Van Bommel and Philipp was made captain. In addition to a contract that runs for the next 5 years, this was all very good news despite Bayern's poor performances. And that is the background on why I love football in general and Philipp Lahm in particular.