Hi Goddesses
Today we feature a really lovely lady, Jenni from Gold Specked Nails. We aren't really "friends" friends, but because of our mutual admiration I feel like I know her and love her.
We first met through stamping, something at which she is awesome. If you want to see stamping with multiple colours, gradients and all sorts of other magic, she's your girl.
Jenn was worried when she wrote this post. I remarked how "different" hers was to every other one I'd read, but she didn't realise I meant it in a good way. This is the post of a creative, someone addicted to colour and to art, and it is such a different approach to my own. I KNOW you're going to enjoy this one xx
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What is your name and what is your blog
I’m Jenni, my blog is Gold Speck Nails, I’m
also on Tumblr, Pinterest, a neglected
Twitter, and
have a very neglected Facebook
page. I live in the North East UK, A
short ride from Newcastle.
What can we expect to see on your blog / How would you
describe your style / your blog’s style
Expect to see loads more manis, I don’t have any challenges
coming up at the minute, but I’m sure there will be more in the future. My
personal style is a bit odd when it comes to nails; I love a bit of everything!
From simple and elegant same colour stamping, odd colour combos, to wildly
tacky animal print, excuse the pun ;] When it comes to my blog my style at the
moment is huge photos with a lot of ramblings and the odd funny cat photo. But
I’m thinking about giving my blog a makeover soon!
Why did you decide to start the blog –
I decided to start the blog after becoming obsessed with
Konad & Bundle Monster. I’ve always been into nail art, and when I was
younger it was a case of sticking on individual hex glitters into the pattern
of flowers, or using tape to use multiple colours. Before I discovered nail
stamping I would often paint my nails, press in some awesome glitter when the
polish was tacky, and then go in with a fine tip marker pen to create tiger
stripes, or swirly designs. So when I started stamping I was taking photos,
trying out new things and the photos would just sit on the computer. After
about 6 months of reading about 10 blogs religiously every day and being
inspired; I decided that I wanted to have somewhere to document all my
experiences, and share my photos, and see what people other than Scott, family
and friends thought xD The reason It took me so long to start a blog was
because my camera was busted, and I’d just gotten a new one for Christmas.
How many followers do you have / how many visitors do you
get a day / if you have an established blog, how have you “built” your
following
At the minute I have 442 Google Friend Connect Followers,
Blogger is telling me today that I have so far had 168 visits. But I find I
always get more visitors when I’ve posted something new. I don’t know if my
blog would be classed as established, but I have visitors who come and peak at
my nails, and loyal readers who comment and make my day; and that’s what
matters. I did gain quite a few followers from my first giveaway, but I think
posting consistently is a better way of gaining readers.
What do you do in the real world, and how do you fit blogging
in with your lifestyle ?
Honestly I don’t do anything but blog right now. I have no
social life to speak of as I don’t even have money for transport, never mind
money to do something, so at least it means I don’t have to worry about finding
time to do my nails, or set up a post.
What is the favourite post you have done
Favourite Post of mine has to be my Disturbia Nails, I love
the brand, was inspired by the shirt straight away, and had such a total surge
of creativity while planning and painting them that it just made me feel good
:]
http://goldspecknails.blogspot.co.uk/2011/09/disturbia-trip-nails.html
What is your most popular ever post
This was my most popular post according to Blogger stats, I
don’t get it because I really didn’t like these at all, but at least someone
did xD I think it got some extra views after I started using Pinterest.
Which blogger do you most admire / who do you follow / who
are your go to bloggers
Ohhh crap that’s a toughie, how many do I list? Argh, Okay these are all bloggers that I
admire, follow, and look to for inspiration. Fingers Polish Mania, Persistently Glittery, fyeahilovenails, Nail Stories, The Crumpet, omgnoodles, Polish Amor, Nail Polish Wars, Gnarly Nails, Nailpocalypse, Spellbinding Nails.
When blog posts go wrong – pls share a photo and link of a
blog post of your own that you are ashamed of / wish you could redo / didn’t
turn out how you wanted it to.
It was quite hard for me to pick one for this, as majority
of my posts within the first few months of blogging are a little shameful :P
but I picked these cause the stamping didn’t totally work, and then when I
tried to fix it, that didn’t work either. Canny crap as I’d describe them, and
for those that need translation; canny means quite XD
http://goldspecknails.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/lilac-flowers.html
Pick a further 3 manis of your choice from your blog
I think this might’ve been the first time I’d ever attempted
drips, and I loved wearing these.
http://goldspecknails.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/under-sea-we-stamp-on-sundays.html
These are special to me as they were the first nails I did for Adventures In Stamping. And I love that place, I know I’m not as active as I used to be, or could be, but I do still try to checkout everyone’s manis. I get some of my best inspiration from the weekly challenges :]
These are special to me as they were the first nails I did for Adventures In Stamping. And I love that place, I know I’m not as active as I used to be, or could be, but I do still try to checkout everyone’s manis. I get some of my best inspiration from the weekly challenges :]
Below is another stamping challenge mani, and I just totally
loved these, sponged background, glitter, rainbows, filling in stamping, I
loved ‘em, and will do them again :]
Finally your stash – talk about your favourite brands, colours,
must have tools, your “number” etc
Ah.. My stash. I haven’t counted my polishes. And honestly,
I never will until I have somewhere proper to keep them all organised, instead
of plastic boxes in plastic drawers, the most organisation I have to my stash
is one box is for nail art pens. One box is stamping polishes, chromes, glitter
top coats, flakies, and nail decals, and my plates live in a small box with the
stamper and scraper. The other 4 boxes it’s a free-for-all. Some of my
favourite polish brands are Models Own, Barry M, Miss Sporty, George (Asda),
NYC Chromes, and China Glaze, even though I don’t have many.
Must have tools for me are stamping plates, and polishes
that are good for stamping. My nail art brushes were a cheap set from eBay,
another I have is a Citadel paint brush from Games Workshop it’s so so tiny,
great for line work. Nail art pens are
always good to have, as is a lot of top coat, and a decent base coat.
Oh and one last thing – what tip would you share with
someone who is thinking about starting a blog ?
I would say take advantage of scheduled posts now and again
even if you don’t need them, just so posting won’t feel like a chore :]
Let’s
Get Personal
What’s your earliest polish memory
Earliest polish memory would have to be when I was maybe 6?
Getting a cheap makeup set with a polish from Santa’s grotto, I can’t remember
wearing it though. Other than that I got
a set for Christmas once, when I was 12 that had a loooad of little polishes,
but I can remember being bummed with the formula and didn’t use them that
often.
Fave film, I honestly love so many films it’s so hard to
pick, but a favourite since I was 14 has been Donnie Darko. I love the
soundtrack too.
Fave type of music
All sorts, It really just depends what type of mood I’m in.
How old are you lol
22, Slowly creeping up to 23 ;(
Are you a cat or dog person
Cat.. if it wasn’t obvious :P
Fave book
I really don’t read a lot so I don’t have one. I did just
finish the 4th Dexter book though (after having it for almost 3 years:P)
and that was pretty good ^-^
If you won £5million on the lottery, what would you do
What wouldn’t I do? When Debbie first sent me this I read it
all quickly just before bed, and I spent the following two hours trying to fall
asleep while insanely planning how I would spend and invest that sort of money.
I would take care of my family, I would give to charity,
hire a personal trainer, get more tattoos, invest by buying some properties,
take my very first flight, visit every country I’ve ever wanted to, road trip
across America, get married. Buy a home, learn to drive, get qualified up to
the eyeballs, open my own salon/nail bar.. Jeez when I think about that kind of
money, or even a fraction of that, it’s insane. The idea of being able to truly
see the world carefree is a little overwhelming.
What inspires you
Anything from colour combinations, to patterns in magazines,
clothing, nature, seasons, quite a lot really.
Share a quote that means a lot to you
I don’t have one.. well not one that’s overly inspiring.
