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Showing posts with label Q's & Heys!. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Q's & Heys!. Show all posts

Q's & Heys!- Nailz Craze

Saturday, May 17, 2014
Woohoo! Third time ice cream! And trust me, I have some for you down the line. Today's interviewee is no other then Natalie Bogachov from Nailz Craze blog, and stamping plates line! I originally knew this amazing lady from her Polymer clay and art blog , Plushable, and kinda lost track of her when it closed. About a half a year ago (maybe more?) when I mentioned to Misha (remember her?) I live in Israel, the first thing that came up was Natalie, and soon after my obsession to her art- on nails this time- renewed, and I've been obsessing over her blog ever since.
SO, after this long introduction, it's time for the interview!


To start things off, tell us a bit about yourself.
I'm a creative soul that lives a quiet and non-exciting life. I tend to be obsessed over things that I love like nail polish, cosmetics, food and TV series. Creativity is something that guides me throughout everything I do.

Ice cream nail art from my third interviewee

What is the one nail polish you can wear forever without getting bored of?
Since a classic red is my go-to color, I think it's safe to say I can never get bored with it.

What is your worst nail habit?
My worst nail habit would be using my nails as 'tools' for removing stickers from items or pry things open), which is basically a big no no. But since my nails are pretty hard and don't tend to break, I get away with this crime.

Sorry, didn't I mentioned great swatches? Glitter Gal Transfusion

You are very loyal to your long [amazing] square nails. Is there another shape you want to try? Is there any shape you will stay clear of?
It took me a while to realize exactly what I like and decided to stick with it. I don't really see myself change the shape of my nails drastically, although I've always wanted to try the pointy almond shape on my nails but I'm afraid it might be way too dangerous with this long nails lol. I actually tried it once with false nails and kind of liked it!
Fake almonds for a Lana Del Rey look.

How did you get into nail polish and nail art?
I was always into art and aesthetics, and I don't know how or why, but I suddenly became obsessed with everything mint, and somewhere along the way my pursue after the perfect mint nail color (which was clearly Essie Mind Candy Apple) led me to a crazy nail polish obsession that started about two years ago.

What lead you to start your blog?
I've always liked writing and blogging, sharing my knowledge and experience with others. I actually had an art & crafts blog at an Israeli platform for years, but when my new obsession came along I decided to start a new blog dedicated to nail polish and nail art.

You own a line of indie stamping plates. When, and why, did you decide on creating them?
Not so long ago the range and selection on nail stamping plates wasn't that large and mostly available from big companies like Konad etc. At the time the designs were limited and mostly way too small for girls with long nails such as myself, which was frustrating to use. Being a graphic designer, I started to work on my own stamping plates with unique designs that I thought would help the nail art lovers to create unique and interesting designs. I believe that my brand was one of the first indie nail stamping plates that were out there.

Some plates were just too small. Stamping nail art.

Your plates are very popular among many bloggers - What is your key of success?
I was certainly surprised by how quickly my small indie brand became successful! I think that it was mostly thanks to the unique designs of the plates, which no one offered before, At the time when I created the brand I was a beginner blogger, but the nail art community was so kind, welcoming and enthusiastic about my plates designs, so this just might be the main reason behind the success.

Did you create the plates based on what YOU want on your nails, or based on what others might like? Why?
This is actually something that was difficult for me to define at first, but I believe that eventually I created the designs based on things that I liked and thought would be interesting for others to use as well.

Blue nails art using a Nailz Craze plate

-While your blog is full with quality swatches, your beautiful nail art stand out in the crowd. Where do you get your inspiration from?
I can’t place a finger on a certain blog or style that inspired me, I guess it’s a combination of many things that I saw and liked. There are so many great blogs and sources of inspiration that inspired me along the way. I think that aspiring to something that you see and like is a great way to improve and evolve.

Origami nail art
Do you have a manicure or an achievement you are especially proud of?
That's a very interesting question! I think that my overall blogging skills improved quickly and I was pretty proud of it. I have to admit it's even a bit embarrassing looking at older nail art and swatch photos of mine, but this is also a great reminder that if you put your heart in something that you love you can achieve surprising results.

Tell me- Is this embarrassing? The nail polish that started it all.

What do you want to wish yourself for the future in terms of the nail polish world?
I've never seen myself as that person with high emission, so I just hope to keep on doing what I love and keep sharing my love with others. I would like to believe that this hobby of mine and my blog will be something that I will be keep on going for many more years, and hopefully my readers will keep on enjoying it.
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Q's and Heys!- Accio Lacquer

Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The second person to take the interviewee chair and let me dig deep into their soul is Mishka Gillies from Accio Lacquer! Read on to see why her rare nail art is to be way more appreciated, how the two of us connect, and what are some sentimental polishes in her growing stash!


-First of, tell us a bit about yourself, aside from the nail polish.
I'm pretty much the same person in real life that you see on the blog...but more boring. I make really, REALLY bad jokes, I read a lot, get far too emotionally invested in TV shows and films. Pretty average, I suppose.

-How did you get into nail polish?
I started getting into lacquer after my dad passed away, but it real took over when I found out that China Glaze had a Hunger Games collection. I have been obsessed with the books since day one, and the thought of owning polishes inspired by the series got me hotter than Hades!

-What was the first nail polish bottle you've ever owned?
Oh, I represented with my Tinkerbell peel-off polish! My five-year-old self ROCKED that pink magic!

-What is you most precious bottle of polish, the one you'll save in the apocalypse? Why?
A bottle of Sally Hansen Mint Sorbet that my dad bought me when we were in California.

-What is you worst nail-habit?
It's a scary truth. I don't know if I should tell you about the reality that is my right hand. My non-swatch hand rocks nubs so hardcore that, to see it, you would NEVER believe I was a nail blogger. Even when I go out, I don't paint it. Seriously, caveman status. [my remark- That's just me! Minus the nubs...]

-Which nail shape will you never try, and which one you are just building up the courage to change to?
I'm not sure that there's anything I will never try, I just doubt I'll ever stray from my squares. But I LOVE me some almonds!

-Why and when did you start your blog?
I started blogging back in December of 2012. My stash was getting out of control, so I really felt like I needed to start doing something to compensate for how much polish I owned at the time. "See, you can't shame me, nameless friend. I'm a nail blogger. It's totally normal for me to own hundreds of bottles of polish."

From Mishka's first post EVER

-Where do you get inspiration from?
I mainly draw inspiration from all of the books I read, and films and TV shows I watch. I'm a very media-driven person, it would seem.

-Share with us some of your favorite bloggers.
Sooooooo many!!!! I know I'm going to forget some, but my mainstays are:
4Boys1Mom, Adventures and Mishaps in the Land of Polish, Flails & Nails, The Nailasaurus, Chalkboard Nails, Lace & Lacquer, Claw of Cthulhu, Royal Milk Tea, Oh Three Oh Four, The Lacquerologist, Kimber's Lacquer Korner, Paint Those Piggies, The Crumpet, Kat Stays Polished, Globe & Nail
And OF COURSE The Lazy Nail! 
I'm all about humor, great swatches, and nail art. The blogs up above give me all of those things and more. 

-What is your favorite manicure of yours?
I feel like my favorite manicure always changes, but my favorite for right now has to be the one I created using Delena from Fandom Cosmetics.

Delena by Fandom Cosmetics

-Your blogs is flooding with indie brands. Which brand is your favorite?
Oh my glob, you might as well ask me what my favorite thing about George R. R. Martin is!!!! I have a handful of absolute loves, but I don't know that I could name one favorite.

Squire of Trelaine by Incidental Twin

-And here is an even harder choice to make- what is your one and only fandom?
TIMING! I answered the above question without looking at the one below. There's some relevancy happening here. As much as Harry Potter, Doctor Who and all of the others mean to me, A Song of Ice and Fire is at the top of my pyramid. Those books changed me in a way I cannot even describe.

Mishka's collaboration polish inspired by Game of Thrones

-What is your all time favorite gif [or gif set]?
Now there's one that I really don't think I can answer. I am very, very partial to any gif with Dr. Steve Brule, though.

Dr. Steve Brule

-You are well known in the nail art community for your wit, your puns, and your gifs. How does it feel to know that so many people look up to you as a blogger?
Honestly, that part still blows me away. It's incredibly humbling to realize that so many people care. It has absolutely changed my outlook on life. <3

-You take part in many giveaways, and it seems you are quite addicted to them. Why do you love them so much?
That really connects to the above question. The amount of love that I get from my Readers makes me want to share my happiness. I know it sounds completely cheesers, but it's the truth. <3

-Is there a goal in the nail art world that you want to achieve that you haven't already?
Oh lawdy, there will always be goals. Without them, life would be stagnant and boring. My current nail art goal is to become better with my fine paint work. My left hand is my swatch hand, and I'm actually left handed. So training my non-dominant hand to get things done can be tricky at times.

Tartan nail art

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Q's & Heys! - Chalkboard Nails

Monday, March 17, 2014
Ok, I feel like some explanation is due to who ever is not following my Facebook page. I've decided on a new segment in the blog, in which I'll interview different people from the nail art world, such as bloggers, polish makers and more.


So to start things off, I have an Interview with the lovely Sarah Waite from Chalkboard Nails, that I'm sure you all know of. If you are not familiar with her blog, this will be a great starting point for you, and even if you do- you'll get to know a bit more about the blogger behind the nails.
So let's start!

-First of, tell us a bit about yourself, aside from the nail artist side.
I live in Arizona, USA with Sean, my boyfriend of seven years, and my darling bichon poodle mix Chowder. I love reality TV, cheese scones, and sleep. When I need to unwind a bit, I like to play video games.
Nail art for Chowder's 6th Birthday

-What was the first nail polish bottle you owned?
I don't remember the very first, but when I first started getting into nails I bought two together: Sally Hansen Xtreme Wear in Gunmetal and Sinful Colors Dream On.

-What is your most precious bottle of polish? Why?
Clarins 230. Not only is it rare, expensive, and beautiful, it's the only bottle of polish that Sean has ever given me!
Clarins 230

-What is your worst nail-habit?
Sometimes I am guilty of picking off my polish if it chips!

-Which nail shape will you never try, and which one you are just building up the courage to change to?
I just gathered the Courage to change my nail shape to round from my usual square, and I can't believe I waited so long to do it! I love round nails! I would like to try going a bit more almond someday, too. There's not much I wouldn't try, as long as they weren't too long. Long nails drive me crazy.
Reinventing her own nail shape

-Why and when did you start your blog?
I started blogging in July 2011 after I saw a leopard print nail art tutorial online. I thought it was the coolest thing ever and rushed out to get the materials I needed immediately. I decided to start a blog to document my adventures in learning about nail polish, and it all just kind of grew from there!
Leopard nail art from July 2011

-How did you get into nail polish it the first place?
After the initial tutorial got me hooked, I joined a polish group called Polish-aholics Anonymous on Facebook. Oh my goodness are those girls enablers! I saw so many shades, finishes, and brands that I didn't even know existed. They definitely nurtured my polish addiction (indirectly).

-Where do you get inspiration from?
Some of my favorite manicures to do are the ones inspired by pop culture or fandoms that I like. I've done Mythbusters, Adventure Time, Lord of the Rings, Mario, and Despicable Me nail art, just to name a few. It's always fun for me to share those with people, especially when they like the subject as well.
Despicable me 2- Minions nail art

-You've claimed yourself quite a spot in the nail art community. How do you feel about the fact that so many of us look up to you? Does it add any pressure?
I honestly can't believe how much my blog has taken off as much as it has. I feel really lucky to have made this little space for myself in the nail art realm. Having people look up to me only motivates me to keep improving and coming up with new ideas!

-Not so long ago, Nicole by OPI did a big interview with you and shared it online. What did you feel when they first approached you? How did you prepare yourself [and your nails] for such an event?
Oh god such a range of emotions. I was excited at first, and then nervous about doing a live video interview, and then conflicted about what to do on my nails. The videos were filmed in my house, which really helped put me at ease, and I made sure to look my best so I could just focus on answering the interview questions. I chose to do a simple but eye-catching nail art look with Nicole b OPI textures; I wanted it to be something anyone could do but that still had impact.
Sarah's manicure for the Nicole by OPI interview

-Share with us some of your favorite bloggers.
Basecoat Topcoat- The things this woman can do with polish are mind-blowing. She has a really wonderful painterly style.
Adventures In Acetone- Jacki is a nail art machine! She creates tons of content & is blessed with a great eye for balance.
Nails by Mei- Mei is one of the most innovative nail artists right now. Her work is so fine tuned and precise, and her line work is unbelievable. I recommend keeping up with her Instagram for the latest pics!
Mr. Candiipants- Candice's work has such an effortlessness that I really admire. It's carefree without being messy.

-What is your favorite manicure of yours?
My favorite manicure in recent memory is the freehand radiant orchid that I did to celebrate Pantone's announcement of the 2014 color of the year.
Radiant Orchid nail art

-How do you organize your stash? Do you have any tips as to how to store a growing collection?
I store my collection in IKEA Helmers, sorted by brand. I have lofty dream of organizing by color but honestly I know that I just won't naitain that. My best advice is that you shouldn't invest a ton of money in a solution that isn't scaleable. I like the Helmers because they are all uniform and I can stack them on top of each other if needed.

-Any tips for the nail artists out there?
Be original! There's nothing wrong with taking inspiration from your favorite nail artists, but you'll make a name for yourself by creating things that are unique.
Sarah is not ALL about free hand

-Any tips for the bloggers?
Don't over-commit yourself. If your blog starts to take off, it can be tempting to say yes to every opportunity that comes your way. However, my advice is to take it slow and figure your personal limits so you don't get overwhelmed. Blogging shouldn't feel like a chore!

-Is there a goal in the nail art world that you want to achieve that you haven't already?
It would be awesome to have some of my designs used as inspiration for nail wraps (with permission, of course)!
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