A Busy Week

There are MASSIVE changes in the wind.

I'm super excited about all of them.

The only think I'm not looking forward to is a renovation.

We're going to be living in a bit of a mess in the near future.

Hopefully it won't last long.

Stay with me and hold my hand.

It's going to be dusty!!!

In the meantime, here are some Beastie pics from this week.

Mochi cake and warm custard.

Yo Gabba Gabba jammies from Uncle Wade

Bedtime Stories with Bampa.

(Don't fret! Theses are battery run tea lights.)

Dippy eggs and soildiers.

Making do and mending some of Mommy Beast's baby dresses so that Beastie can wear them this summer. 

These are bringing back all sorts of fond memories.

Using Gel Extensions to Regrow Bitten Nails

I get asked sooooo many questions about whether or not gel (or acrylic) nail application will harm your natural nails. I'm pretty excited to be able to show you some amazing results.

My model is a nail biter and always has been. She tried really really hard for a couple of weeks to not bite. She always made sure her nail polish was fresh and pretty. A huge trigger for most biters is peeling polish. (If I just chew off this little torn edge the rest of the polish will look better!)

These are her nails after two weeks of diligent polish application and almost no biting. 

(Proud of her!)

We applied some tiny little almond tips using gels to extend her natural nails.

We waited six weeks!

These are her own natural nails after six weeks and a very gentle gel removal. Removing the extensions should take time! Do not go anywhere that makes you feel they are rushing to get them off. Every time you have gels or acrylic nails removed, your natural nails should be pretty underneath. 

Being exposed to the air is what makes your natural nails strong and hard. When you have your hands in water for a long time, it softens your nails. Exposure to the air hardens them back up. It's the same when you remove the gel coating. Your nails will be a little bit soft until they have a chance to harden back up.

 I've freshened her nails up with a quick mani and a very thin top coat of clear gel to protect them. 

Hope that helped clear some questions up for you.

Remember, getting your nails done (or having extensions removed) should be a treat. You should ALWAYS feel pampered and cared for. Don't settle for less!

In other news...

Look what Maggs made me today!!!

Natural Almond Gel Fill For Nammy

It's been about a month since Mom's had her last nail day with us. 

We put in a pot roast, put on Anthony Bourdain and sat in for a nail fill.

I talked her into more of an almond shape from her traditional rounded tip.

I think she likes them.

This pic shows the grow out. They are about four weeks old here.

I've already shaped the tips ready for filling.

Baby Beastie fancies herself a bit of a nail tech too.

Here they are all filled and waiting for their dust off and top coat.

I got some colour added (and some others taken away) this week too.

We've had some unexpected warm weather.

Feels like spring around here already!

Some Hexagon Quilting and a Snowman

Thought it was about time to start using up all the little bits of fabric left over from all of our Christmas projects. Decided that a quilt may be in order. I have vague memories of how to put one together from when the kids were young..... I think I made one up twenty years ago or so? How hard could it be..... I mean really?

I'm lucky that the colours seem to be co-coordinating nicely.

Well..... I'm trying here people.....

The corners don't exactly line up, but the piece lays flat. I'm sure it'll be awesome when I get it finished.

We ran out of carrots...

I leave for the day job sometimes quite early. I've been enjoying the crisp quiet mornings we've had lately. I wouldn't give up our beautiful winters for anything. Love the crunchy footsteps and the clean smell of a new snowfall. I highly recommend it.

Cabbage Rose Nails with Gold Leaf

I love me some delicate little rose prints. So I tried my hand at a teensy little one stroke rose nail.

I wanted to try to do a filigree edge but I have no foil, only gold leaf. (I know.... poor me.) 

Here is my very blurry thumb. I didn't have it in me to try the opposing hand. It was late and I'd had a few tipples.....

Beastie and I managed to make some lentils and pork with these delicious molasses pull a part buns! 

This is Baby Beastie and George the cat brushing their teeth together. George is 17 or there about and Beastie is 2. Proving that age is no barrier to friendship.

Waving Goodbye to 2016 With Christmas Krampus Nails

To say that we are looking forward to 2017 is a HUGE understatement. 

There are so many new plans and immense life changes hoped for in this new year that I've been having problems sleeping. 

I've given my notice at the (truly loved) day job. 

I'll be leaving them in July 2017. 

I turn 50 this year!!! 

Really!?! 

50.... 

So, taking that into consideration there will be many many wonderful (and frightening) alterations made to the way we spend our time. 

Thank you for dropping by to hear the news.

I hope you'll be here with me next year to see me through.

I may need a bit of hand holding.

I'll try not to be too needy.

Best wishes to all of you for this shiny new year.

Baby Beast's Bunny Mittens

We've sewn The Baby Beastie some ferocious Bunny Mittens by scaling down one of our very first published sewing patterns. 

Bunny Mitten Pattern

Bunny Mitten Construction

Bunny Mitten Finishing

Squashed a round cookie cutter into a teardrop shape to make these yummy hedgehog sugar cookies. We started by smearing some melty chocolate onto each cookie and loaded broken up sliced almonds onto the back third of each cookie. We made faces with sugar beads. 

New Jimmy Shirt, Burda 6874

Another Great shirt for Grandpa Jimmy!

I'm loving the straight forward directions in this Burda pattern.

It's the second shirt we've made with this pattern and I think it'll be the new go to shirt pattern for him.

As usual he's gone into Fabricland with me and picked out his own fabric. I wasn't sure how well this gradient floral would work as a shirt, but it's fantastic!

We used wooden buttons from our button stash. We also made it about an inch longer than the previous shirt. It'll tuck and stay tucked! Do you have a favorite men's dress shirt pattern? 

Christmas Sewing For Lily

 Hello There!

We've had an excellent Christmas here at our house. We were missing our oldest and my brother. We didn't get to visit with Mom and Pop Corner or the brother in laws either. 

It was very quiet this year. 

We decided in mid November that we should make all the gifts this year.....

If I ever utter that idea in any of your presences again in any month after July...... Just slap me!!!

We made the Baby Beastie soooooo many things!

This is her Super Beastie costume, made from pink lame....

She got a 1950's mini apron.

Foxy Jammies and slippers... 

(They match her Mom's baby doll jammies)

Sweet little mouse jammies and Monkey slippers.

A gnome jumper and silver dot blouse.

Reversible jacket.

So toastie warm!

Grandpa Jimmie's very first Christmas Make!

Lily's Weeee Stove!!!

She LOVED it!

Wouldn't open anything else after she opened this and had to make us all some "food"!

Hope you all had the Christmas that you wished for.

Looking forward to a bright and shiny new year with HEAPS of new adventures!