Getting to know me, and meet some other bloggers!

Hello!!

Some of my fellow bloggers and I decided it would be fun to have a round-up to each other's blogs; just answer a few fun questions and let our readers discover some new bloggers. This idea came from Inky Whisker's Musings, so thank you Jenna for an awesome idea!


What is the focus of your blog?

My blog has a blended focus. My core has always been my 'Before & Afters', where I show a swatch of a polish with no nail art, and then show it decorated. Sort of like a two-fer! I do all sorts of nail art, but my preferred method is stamping. I also do reviews of the products I use.


What made you start blogging?

My love of nail art was rekindled after I saw a video on youtube about nail stamping. I started playing with it, and was plastering nail pictures all over my Facebook page; I thought to myself that probably most of my friends aren't interested, so I started a blog to show those who were interested and keep track of my designs for myself. I originally did this as part of a larger website I had, and then decided a stand-alone blog would be easier. When other people started following, I was extremely surprised!

What keeps you blogging?

The people I've met through it, and my continued passion for nail art and nail polish. I've met so many wonderful people in the US and Canada of course, and have people I now count as friends in Norway, Slovenia, Australia, and Brazil. How amazing is the internet!!


What other blogs were inspirational to you?

My first real nail art inspiration was the now defunct Konad Abuse ( :( ); she did something similar to before-and-afters, and inspired my format. My other inspirations were Pointless Cafe, My Simple Little Pleasures, and Dressed Up Digits.


What advice would you give to someone just starting a nail blog?

Do it for the love of polish/nail art, support brands you love, and do honest reviews. I've known people who think 'I'm going to do this so I get free polishez!', and then get a very rude awakening when they see how much time and energy is involved in it. It takes at least ten hours for me to do a post about a six polish collection that would cost me $24 to buy myself (and that has colors I wouldn't necessarily have bought myself, or that I have ten similar colors already), between initial swatching, taking/selecting/editing photos, and writing up the post. Do the math--this isn't a lucrative way to spend your time. But if you have a passion for the polishes and the art, and you're introducing your readers to products you love and supporting brands you believe in, you'll be happy and will enjoy blogging. And when you enjoy what you do, that shows.


What is your polish Holy Grail?

At my very best effort, I can come up with a list of 20 polishes that I can't decide between. So I'm going to answer this way--specialty polishes. Holos, flakies, duochromes. I'm a sucker for anything like that! When I first started blogging there were very few of these around, but now they're everywhere and are even combined in one polish! Duochrome holos! And now even duochrome flakies!! It's enough to make a girl swoon...sigh...


If you were stuck on a deserted island, what one item would you take with you?
My kindle kitted out with an everlasting power source. Life on a desert island with tons of books to read--there's worse ways to spend a life. :)


Can you share a couple of manis you are especially proud of?

Sure thing!!

This peacock manicure is one that I'm very proud of:

 

As so is this free-hand Monet manicure:

So there's me! I hope you enjoyed my 'about-me', and if you want to discover some awesome bloggers, check the link-up below. :)

Happy Superbowl Sunday!!
M.

An InLinkz Link-up