Twenty Fourteen

I'm sure I won't be the first person to say that as it's a new year and all that, I should aim to blog a bit more. I probably definitely will be blogging more!

My last update was last August where time to sit down and compose a blog post really was scarce. My nail business has been going from strength to strength, with orders coming in regularly and appointments staying constant each week.

As some of you may or may not know, being a nail artist isn't my full-time job. I actually work full-time as a Retail Assistant Manager and when I'm not doing that, I'm taking care of my two-year old monster bundle of joy. So fitting a nail business around all of that is no easy feat and something I've worked on balancing the past year.

Nails has opened up a wealth of exciting opportunities for me and I've met some amazing people through it, so it is something I will continue to heavily focus on and will always aim to deliver to those of you out there who do follow me and are inspired by my work! And who knows, one day I may be able to quit my full-time job and just do nails for the rest of my life! One can only hope!

But anyways, back to what I actually wanted blog about - my online store! Most of the nail sets that I design are now available to buy in my online store which I have re-opened today! So if you've seen something that's taken your fancy on my Instagram or Tumblr, and you've decided you can't live if you can't get those stunning leopard print, gem-emblazoned, glittering beauties on your nails, then please visit my shop!

If you have any queries about any of the sets you see or you have a custom request, then please send me an e-mail to: emily.theprettynails@gmail.com. 

Alternatively, if you want to just keep updated on my latest designs, then please follow me on Instagram which I update nearly daily: @the_prettynails!

Until next time,

Emily xo

A Fashion Film x The Pretty Nails

It's been a while...

Life has been insane hectic...to say the least! 

Since starting up my Nails Shop in January, it has genuinely gone from strength to strength, and I have had an incredible amount of support and encouragement from followers on Tumblr, Instagram, people I've met through them and not to mention my nearest and dearest.

A few months ago I was offered the fantastic opportunity to work on a Fashion Film. Fashion is something I hold close to my heart having studied it at Uni and being an avid follower of the trends, so when the opportunity was placed before me, I jumped at the chance!

You Are About To Meet Yourself

More than anything, I fully embraced the opportunity to get really experimental and create something beyond what I even thought I could achieve. I was given a very specific brief and colour palette to work with and produced a series of nail sets for the models.

The outcome was stunning. The styling, hair and make-up was beautiful and my nails helped seal it altogether. A huge well done to Leonora Scott who pulled it altogether and gave me this amazing opportunity. 

Emily xo

My Top 5 Nude Polishes

Hello!

I have been a sucker for nudes this year - nothing new, I know, but I love a gorgeous nude manicure, so thought I would share a couple of my faves this month. 

(Left to right)

1. OPI 'My Very First Knockwurst'

2. Topshop 'Milkshake'

3. OPI 'Skull and Gloss bones'

4. Sally Hansen 'Naked Ambition'

5. Essie 'Sand Tropez'

OPI - 'My Very First Knockwurst'

This polish is one of my most highly requested colours! It's a light pink toned nude creme polish and is just delightful.

I used it in the above design. The colour is a perfect nude on my skin tone and works deliciously with dark colours.

Topshop - 'Milkshake'

I am in love with the Topshop polish range. They do a fabulous range of colours, with the polishes themselves being hard wearing and affordable at £5. 

The leopard print fade using 'Milkshake' as the base pink colour is another popular design of mine. 'Milkshake' is a pretty pastel pink creme with a good consistency to the polish, leaving it very opaque when applied and not streaky. 

OPI - 'Skull and Gloss bones'

One of my all time favourite nudes and what I would consider to be a 'greige'. 

Part of the 'Pirates of the Carribean' collection, I haven't come across a colour like this. I love my grey polishes, but I adore the nude tones in this polish especially.

Sally Hansen - 'Naked Ambition'

This was a recent purchase, but I fell for the peachy nude tones in this polish.

What I love above this polish is the subtle shimmer laced through it and its got a good consistency and good coverage even on a first coat.

Essie - 'Sand Tropez'

This polish is notoriously my go-to nude polish.

It's a solid nude and as with all Essie polishes, it is good quality with good coverage even on the first coat. 

This a must for all nude collections!

So there are my current top nude polishes! Let me know what nudes you love and any you can recommend!

Emily xo

Feb-stagram!

I have had such a hectic past few weeks my blogging has fallen behind!

Here's my February in a snapshot!

(Left to right)

1. My nails ready from my trip to Paris.

2. One hot mess.

3. My son's swag is on point. Baby varsity jacket x skinny baby chinos.

4. Nails I did on the lovely Hannah.

5. Cute pink fadey leopardy nails I did on the lovely Georgie.

6. My buddies and I finally arrived in Disneyland after an epic 10 hours drive from England to France!

7. Cinderella's Castle.

8. Cheesey Disney ears.

9. Buzz Lightyear ride was AWESOME!

10. Meeting Mickey!

11. Waiting for the Disney Dreams show - it was AMAZING!

12. Absolutely wastegash in Billy Bobs Saloon.

13. Well on our way...

14. "Fun on the Beach" in hand...getting faded!

15. The night after...

Disneyland Paris was insane. Obviously being a theme park fan and having had endless talks about how amazing Disney is and how well worth a visit it is - we took the plunge, booked a weekend away and drove  over to France! 

I can't recommend it enough! I can't wait til my little boy is a bit older so I can take him, but even for someone my age, it was mind-blowing. So magical and so many fantastic things to see. The rides aren't as thrilling as you'd get at like Thorpe Park, but the experience on the rides is indescribable. There is so much attention to detail and obviously Disney is engrained in my childhood so it always left me in awe!

Onto other news, I have designed 4 new nail sets and they're now up in my online shop!

Please visit my shop here or click the link at the top of my page to check out my new designs!

Instagram: the_prettynails

Emily xo

 

Valentines Day Promo!

This is my first time posting from my phone...so I hope this works!!

As Valentines Day is just a week away, I thought I'd give away a treat and let all you creative claw-lovers get 40% off of any false nail set in my online shop!

This promo is for one week only and expires on Thursday 14th Feb 2013 - so to take advantage of this fabulous offer, visit my store: www.etsy.com/shop/theprettynails and enter in: theprettynails40, at the checkout!

Happy Valentines in advance!

Emily xo

Shop: www.etsy.com/shop/theprettynails

Tumblr: the-prettynails.tumblr.com

Instagram search: the_prettynails

Jan-agram!

I have had a fabulous start to 2013 that I regularly blog through my Instagram! Here's some of my highlights from last month...

(Left to Right)

1. Even at 16 months...my son is rocking his beanie swag!

2. Post work face.

3. Getting my nail designs ready for my Nail Frames!

4. Purple x Turquoise x Rhinestones & Pearls nails for my lovely friend Gabby.

5. My first custom painted false nail set ready for my shop!

6. Me on the first day of heavy snow! 

7. My sons' first time in the snow! As you can see - he was stunned!

8. www.etsy.com/shop/theprettynails is NOW OPEN!

9. Pastel x Leopard x Black x Pearl - my most popular false nail set!

10. Nude x Leopard x Dark nails on a gorgeous friend of mine.

11. Work Party time! Me in a gorgeous studded black dress from Warehouse.

12. Hard work pays off - me and my award :D

13. "Sometimes you miss the memories, not the person." A nice reminder of the good things but knowing you've now moved on.

14. Cute, short, pink nails on the lovely Charlotte.

15. My birthday claws! Finally mastered the art of gel nails on myself!

16. My birthday morning - aaaah I'm now 25!

17. My son had the raging urge to continually poke the birthday cake I spent hours making! 

18. Getting creative with the icing and trimmings! Blueberry cupcakes with swirly pink icing, gems and pearls!

January has been really exciting with the launch of my online shop, receiving recognition for the success of my department at work and February is my birthday month so obviously it's one of my favourite times of year!

I was extremely spoilt on my birthday (as you can see above!) so huge amounts of love go out to all my closest ones (you know who you are!), those who celebrated with me and who thought of me! I am extremely lucky to have such close people in my life and I wouldn't change anything in my life for the world!

I have thoroughly indulged in clothes last month - new year sales and birthday bits, so I'm aiming to get an outfit(s) post up soon!

In the meantime - why don't you have a browse through my shop!

www.etsy.com/shop/theprettynails

or

visit my Tumblr - it's my online moodboard filled with inspirational bits and all pretty things I love to look at!

www.the-prettynails.tumblr.com

Until next time,

Emily xo