It’s Been a While!

I can’t believe the last blog post I did was back in April! Now it’s summer already… according to the calendar at least! Things have been hectic for me. I’ve been on holiday, teaching, petsitting, nursing and of course doing my nails, lashes and brows. I really have neglected all social media.
Facebook reach is appalling and it seems such a waste of time to post on there as no one seems to see it anymore. Other places I post get a much better response so I have let it slip! Find me on:
Instagram www.instagram.com/moleenddesign
Twitter: @molenaildesign

I had a lovely holiday in Barbados then it was back to work with a vengeance. Summer had sneaked up on us so suddenly everyone wants to get their fingers and toes fit for summer airing and holidays are looming! Lash and Brow Treatments have been popular for holidays, Lash Lift especially with it’s zero maintenance appeal. Lash Extensions are a must if you want the full on fluttery glamour, with a few coloured lashes added to the outer sweep for the more adventurous.

I have new gel colours and effects in for the Summer months, with Cat Eye Effect being most popular at the moment followed closely by pastels. Neons are always great for the beach or even just fine days!

Special Offers

All new Special Offers and Discounts will be emailed out to members of the Special Offers Newsletter Club. Click here to join. I will send a voucher each month to be either printed or downloaded to your phone, just present it to me and receive your discount. Join now and get ready for July Special Offers! I’m off on an advanced Nail Course at the end of July so look out for August Offers incorporating this!

I have a long list of ‘Things To Do’ still, Stationery and Loyalty Cards being top of the list. The website Galleries still need to be sorted out and organised in a way which works.

St Patrick’s Day Nail Art

St Patrick’s Day – Topical Nail Art!

March 17th is St Patrick’s day (and is also my parents’ wedding anniversay – double celebration!) and every year the Irish, or Irish at heart celebrate the day. It began as a religious feast day for the patron saint or Ireland and is now an international festival celebrating Irish culture. Across the globe there are parades, dancing, drinking and lots of green! I have seen St Patrick’s Day celebrated in the UK, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, India and Australia and almost always Guinness is involved!

Nail swatches of Shamrocks and Guinness

Last year, my client was off to Dublin and was after Shamrocks for her nails so I did a couple of swatches and couldn’t resist doing a Guinness one.

Shamrokl

This year another client is off to Dublin for St Patrick’s Day so she opted for the emerald green glitter nails with the Guinness harps on her ring fingers. This design is a combination of glitter and hand painting. I’m hoping Fran sends some pics of the nails on location with a Guinness in hand!

St Patrick’s Day nails with Guinness Logo

According to Wikipedia ‘On St Patrick’s Day it is customary to wear shamrocks and/or green clothing or accessories (the “wearing of the green”). St Patrick is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish. The colour green has been associated with Ireland since at least the 1640s, when the green harp flag was used by the Irish Catholic Confederation.’

Seven things you didn’t know about the saint, the parades, and Guinness

Happy St Patrick’s Day!

Just a Quick Post – Nails

I’m still madly catching up on everything, I see the light at the end of the tunnel, then suddenly my To Do List gets longer and longer! The websites are all just about sorted now. That’s it, I’m retiring from web design! No more HTML for me.

The Value of Independence

It’s been so hectic lately that my 1 year anniversary of working in my own studio slipped by! It’s been an amazing year and a real eye opener! Thank you to all who have supported me, it’s highly appreciated! Although Mole End Design has been around for years for my Graphic Design and Website work, it’s been migrating more and more towards my nails, lashes and brow business, now with waxing and spray tanning. The studio is now fully functional. Before October 2014 I did the odd set of nails, brows or lashes from home while working freelance elsewhere. It is now a fully stocked bespoke studio, away from the hustle and bustle of town life and fully private. it makes a real difference having everything I need under one roof, and if I feel inspiration coming on, I just pop into the studio and with the tools and accessories to hand, I can create instantly. It was the push I needed!

I’m petsitting inbetween clients for the rest of the month with my trusty sidekick stepping in to sit with the dogs while I work, racing back and forth. Hopefully I will get time to catch up on all my admin while I’m away from home without the distractions of glitter and polish tempting me to play!

More blogs coming soon… ‘I Painted a Cake’, ‘Seasonal Offers’ ‘Christmas Designs’…

Marooned without technology!

I’m looking after a beautiful Labrador this weekend who has recently lost his big sister (and is very confused) so he is my constant companion while his parents are away! I’m bringing him with me on appointments. I was hoping to get caught up on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram etc while I am here but they have blocked ALL SOCIAL MEDIA on their router so the only way I can do it is via my mobile which has an appalling signal.

Meanwhile, I will upload to the blog and see if that gets to Facebook… around the houses!

French on natural nails with gold chrome smiles and pearl accents and stunning white glitter on accent fingers

Normal service will be resumed Wednesday. Nails, brows and Lashes appointments still being taken.

Just off now to do some nails and pick up a brand new commission. I can’t say too much about this yet but it’s a very exciting development!

More soon,

Was that Summer? Time to show the Summer Toes while it lasts!

Summer toes We’ve had a few lovely days, punctuated with black clouds and rain in Dorset. It’s a time to get those summer toes on show and glitter has been really popular. The sun really makes them gleam!

Fingers crossed we get a few more hot and bright days over the next few weeks. Foils can really catch the light, with many designs on offer. Simpe plain metallic foils to full patterned holographic prints. Handpainted nail art or stamping can further embellish the toes. Neon Pigments are perfect for the toes, bright and fun with limitless variations. From a simple colour polish to full on Nail Art, I can create something for you.

Offers will be posted soon for August on my Special Offers Newsletter. Subscribe to my Newsletter to be first to hear of New Products, Promotions and Special Offers. Join Here

Gelish Toes with Gold holographic glitter

Silver glitter base with chunky holographic hexagon glitter highlights

The toes on the left are created using Gelish My Fobidden Love with Gold holographic glitter pressed into the big toes and as on the tips of the remaining toes. These were created to match a wedding outfit. The toes on the right have a silver base gel polish then fine silver glitter burnished onto it. Chunky holographic hexagon glitter was then added to catch the light. This is stunning in the sunlight.

Toenails can last weeks as toenails don’t grow as quickly as fingernails. Some go as long as 8 weeks before a fresh set. Ideal for holidays as they are chip and maintenance free.

Gelish matching fingers and toes

Gelish matching fingers and toes using Good Gossip. Very sparkly in the sunlight. This lady’s right big toe had been kicked and the corner was missing so I built it up to match the other toe.

Gelish pink base with Glitter

Base of Gelish Good Gossip then Superglitter applied for an iridescent look.

Silver toes with chunky glitter

Neon pigments with Uber Chic stamping

Shellac toes with Foil overlay

Stamped Gel Polish Toes

With an extensive range of colours and effects to choose from, you can be certain of a set of toenails created to your satisfaction!
Lorraine signature image

Neon and Sorbet Pigments for Summer!

Neon and Sorbet pigments for nails I love these Neon and Sorbet Pigments, they’re so versatile, they lend themselves to so many designs! The Neons are super bright and fluorescent and the Sorbets are a little more subtle with a sheen to them. They are used like additives so can be used for Ombré effects and fades.

On their own or teamed with stamping and a bit of glitter they are amazing. Highly recommended if you like your brights bright – definitely a good choice for the summer months! So vivid and eyecatching, perfect for holidays at home or abroad, or just to brighten up your day.

neon and sorbet swatches

Sixteen colours, 8 Neons and 8 Sorbets on colour pops. The camera does not do them justice. These are so bright and fluorescent.

The Neon and Sorbet Collection

Neon Rainbow toes with Uber Chic Stamping

These toes were destined for a wedding in Greece. Rainbow pigments blended across all 10 toes with stamped detail over the top. Perfect for Hot climates, these colours really glow in the sunshine and are perfect for summer toes.

Neon Pigment with DRK Enlaced Stamping and Gelish Waterfield for added sparkle

Hot Pink Pigment with black DRK Enlaced stamping in a random fashion over the top. Embellished with a swish of Gelish Waterfield for an added sparkle, they really catch the eye.

It’s almost Christmas!

Lots of glitter and handpainted robins and baubles this year, and not all of it red!

It’s almost a brand New Year and a fresh new start for me. I’m away on holiday from 8th – 27th January then after that, I get my head down and get stuck in! I am booked on a couple of new courses to further my skills, one for nail art and one for lashes. I need to get the main site finished which I hope to do over Christmas…fingers crossed!

Have a great Christmas and Best Wishes for 2015

Gelish with silver sparkle

Gel2 Red polish with handpainted robins

Gelish blues

Gel2 Red with Silver glitter panels

Classic Red with gold burnished glitter for a festive look

Stamped and dotted nails

Christmas baubles handpainted with gold glitter accent finger

Baubles and Gold Glitter

Shellac Blackpool with Gelish Waterfield and holographic glitter, with Svaroski crystal on ring fingers

Christmas baubles, ribbons and trees handpainted on a rich plum base

Gel nails with sparkle

Halloween

It’s Halloween, soon be Christmas! Time to think about some Christmas Nail Art Swatches and designs.

I’m still working on the website, assembling images and getting things together. I’ve had a major sort out of my laptop and I can see the light finally!

I have 2 more eyebrow extension models in next week, can’t wait to get started on adding this to my eye treatments. Eyebrow extensions will be an add on treatment geared specifically towards clients who may have sparse brows through overplucking or those with alopecia. I’m still trialling the longevity of these brows, so for the moment if you’d like to try a few, give me a call.

Gelish at Mole End

Halloween Treatments

Halloween and Fireworks Nail designs. The Day of the Dead nails were requested by my client inspired by a picture she had from Pinterest. The foils are always popular and lend themselves beautifully to fireworks designs. I’ve used Shellac with CND Additives previously but they are always popular and look amazing in the flesh, the light catches the shimmer.

Foils with Firework details

Foils with Fireworks bursts

Day of The Dead Nails

Shellac Firework Nails