Catching Up....

Since it's been a few weeks since I last visited my own blog, I thought I'd play a little catch up those of you who may be interested with a picture post of what I've been up to.... besides shoveling snow that is {wink}  And since there are more than plenty of pictures of that marvelous white stuff on the social websites these days I will spare you the photos here, except where unavoidable, because, hey ... when taking photos outside, the stuff really is unavoidable!

First up is a finish that started a year ago Christmas for my oldest daughter.  The quilt got stalled when my machine broke down and then life got in the way of completing it until I made a point to put the smile on her face by finishing it....

The next two quilts are custom memory quilts that have been in the making for a few years. The lady who requested these saved her mother's clothing for several years after her mother's passing and brought them to me requesting quilts be made .... long story short, she will have three lone star quilts completed from her mother's clothing when completed...

 These two are the smaller, baby sized quilts ... ready for quilting.  The bulk of these materials are from shirts, skirts, and dresses, and at the direction of the customer, I've added in the solids in an attempt to tie together the materials into a larger piece.  The third lone star is also in completion process and just about ready for quilting, but not ready for photos... 

In the "want" for a gift quilt recently, I cruised the internet in search of jelly roll quilt ideas. Yes, I have books with jelly roll patterns, but I wasn't feeling any of the patterns I had for the purpose I wanted.  So ... inspired by this quilt which I found at PippaPatchwork:

but not locating the pattern in the time frame I created for myself, I decided to give it a go myself and ended up creating this quilt using my Bali pop of Hoffman Pacific blue batiks with some additional fabrics from my stash.... 

It has been quilted and sent on its way. 

I've worked on a few other projects that were mailed away and weren't mine to share and spent a lot of time heating the house with the oven, baking goodies to share with others so I don't consume them all myself.  

I miss my therapeutic bike riding time and dream of a day and place where I might be able to bicycle year-round but for now am grateful for the cheaper therapy of creating and sharing with others ... it does my heart (if not my waistline) good!

I am also trying to prepare for the next hop I am participating in which Thearica is cheering for us called Flags on a Stick .... you can read about it at Sew We Quilt.

Until we next visit, I wish you a happy heart!

Pink Skittle Nail Look - Obnoxious Royal

Products used for this look:
Index: essence, colour&go, sparkle sand effect, no. 182, 'Hello Rosy' (new)
Middle: essence, colour&go, no. 104, 'Sweet As Candy'
Nail decorations: from a nail art wheel (Offertissima), some from an old essence collection
Ring: essence, colour&go (old collection)
Velvet powder: essence limited edition, Guerilla Gardening, no. 02 'Mission Flower'
Small: Yolizul, no.221
Nail sugar pearls: Catrice limited edition, Candy Shock, shade 'Cotton Candy'

I like the new sparkle sand effect polish from essence (hello rosy). It's a little difficult to apply evenly, but once dry, it looks great and has a great sandy texture, I recommend it. I loved wearing the velvet nail powder. It gives such a great feeling, it's not inconvenient or weird like I thought it might be. If you haven't, you should really try this form of nail art. The nail sugar pears I bought a long time ago in a limited edition collection by Catrice. I am only using it now for the first time, and I really like it. I was surprised how well they stick to the nail, and they can make it 2-3 days. I think these are great for wedding nail art. 

At first I wore these nails (photo below), but I decided I don't like it, so I switched it up. Which of these two looks do you prefer? I like the look with nail decorations, I felt like I was an obnoxious Royal (in a good way, LOL).

What do you think of this look? Would you wear it? Which nail is your favorite? Let me know, and thanks for stopping by, don't forget to follow me on bloglovin, GFC, twitter or Facebook.


xoxo, Jelena

Baking Paper Nail Art - Hearts

This look is simple - I applied base coat, sand polish on the ring finger, and nude polish on the other nails. The hearts I got by using a method called 'baking paper nail art' that I learned from Demelza's World (LINK). There's only a little twist - I did not use scissors to cut out my shapes, instead I used paper crafting tools (photo below). I bought mine at Lidl a while ago, and I have 10 different patterns, some are too large to be used on nails, but the hearts are the perfect size. You can buy these paper art tools at any craft store (there are some at Muller).

I am in love with this technique. The craft paper tools give me lots of fun shapes to play with, and the nail polish is easy to remove from paper (just don't use matte nail polish, as they will not be easily removed from paper). Once the nail polish is removed from baking paper, I just press it on my nails and apply top coat. For more details on how to use this technique, go to Demelza's VIDEO.

Here is what my paper craft punch tools look like - I am having so much fun with these.

 

Polishes used for this look:
Ring finger: essence colour&go, 165 here's my number

Nude: Maybelline Colorama, no.254

Base: Eveline 8in1 Total action (this polish is not meant to be used like this, but I use it as a base now because if I use it the way it was intended, it causes my nails to hurt - so yeah, I do not recommend this product)

Top Coat: Essence Studio Nails, Top Sealer

Fast drying tool: essence, nail art, express dry drops

Have you tried baking paper technique before? Do you have any paper craft punch tools? What do you think of this look?

xoxo, Jelena

Blue - Green Ombre Heart Studs

Products used for this look:
Heart Studs: KKCenterHK N.NAIL Studs Heart White 6mm Nail Art Decorations [NNAIL-DRN628]- LINK
Base: Catrice, Limited Edition, Neo Geisha Collection - 'Discreet Artist'
Index: Catrice, no. 540 'Am I Blue Or Green?' (old)
Middle: Eveline, miniMAX, no. 808
Ring: Catrice, no. 340 'Run Forest Run!' (old)
Small: essence, colour&go, no. 54 'Trust In Fashion' (old)

Review of the heart studs: HERE
Other looks using these studs: HERE
How to paint the heart studs: HERE

I did a similar look a short time ago, but the colors ranged from yellow to red - I liked that look better than this one. These colors don't agree with me. What do you think -  Yay or Nay?

xoxo, Jelena

***KKCenterHk has sent me the N.NAILS Heart Studs for reviewing purposes. All opinions are my own.

Balea - Sunny Peach Dusch Sorbet Review

Product type: Shower gel
Brand: Balea by dm
Product name: Sunny Peach, dusch sorbet
Price: 12 kn
Rating: subjective 5/10; objective 7/10
Recommendation: Not for you if you want a product that foams up easy and is convenient to use in a hurry. Good for you if you want a shower gel that smells good and helps you relax, and you're not in a hurry.

Overall, I am not in love with this product. The scent is amazing; however, it does not foam up as quickly or as much as I'd like. It does not foam up in the hand-to-body contact, you have to rub it in between palms, so that's not convenient to me for a 5-minute shower. However, it leaves my skin feeling smooth and the smell is very relaxing. The name ''sorbet'' implies that it's meant as a relaxation tool, not so much as something to use in a hurry. Also, you have to squeeze the bottle very hard for the product to come out. So I don't know, think it over and decide if this is for you. I will not re-purchase because it's not something I'm looking for, but it will not go to waste, I'll eventually use it up. I just wish the texture was creamier and the product foamed up better.

Did you try this product? Do you like it?

xoxo, Jelena

Carmex Lip Balm Jar - Review

Product type: lip balm
Brand: Carmex
Product name: Classic Carmex, moisturising lip balm (jar)
Price: 17,50 hrk (on sale this week in Muller (Croatia) for 11 hrk)

Rating: 100/100
Recommendation: Once you go Carmex, you don't go back. If you like trying out many different lip balms, you should stay away from Carmex, because after you try it, no other lip care product will ever be good enough.

This lip balm is long-lasting, it protects my lips in the cold and in the wind, and makes them smooth. It leaves a thin layer, but that is all you need to protect your lips and moisturize them. I've already mentioned Carmex (stick) in a POST, but this time I bought the one in a jar. I carry the stick with me everywhere I go, and I use the jar at home.  Since I've met Carmex my lips are no longer dry and they're always in perfect condition. I heard about Carmex before, but only recently found it in croatian stores (Muller). Carmex is supposedly very good for cold sores, but because I've never had those, I can't say if it works or not. 

About the tingling sensation that you feel when you apply it (I got used to it, and don't feel it any more), I found this explanation on their website: 

''Why does Carmex tingle when you put it on?
Two natural ingredients—camphor and menthol—give Carmex a cooling effect and help relieve the irritation of rough, chapped lips.''

And here is my new stick. When I recently got the flu, even though I had a house full of lip care products from other brands, none of them were good enough, so I (with a fever) went to the store to pick this one up - that's how good they are.

Have you finally tried Carmex? What are your thoughts?

xoxo, Jelena

Nuxe Reve de Miel Face Cleansing Gel - Review

Type of product: Mild facial-cleansing gel (soap-free)
Brand: Nuxe

Name of product: Reve de Miel, Face cleansing and make-up removing gel, with Honey and Sunflower
Rating: 10/10
Price: 200 ml - 109 kn (14 euros)
Recommendation: I have repurchased. I do not use it for removal of make up, but it's a great facial cleanser. It leaves my skin feeling fresh and clean, but is also gentle and doesn't irritate. A pleasure to use it. It says that it's meant for dry and sensitive skin, but I have oily skin and I love it.

I use this product at morning and at night - I apply it to damp skin, foam it up, and then I just rinse it out. Doesn't dry up my face and doesn't make my skin feel tight. Sometimes when my skin is very oily, I apply it first to remove most of the oil, and then I apply it again and rub it in well - for a better, deeper cleaning. But, the truth is, one wash would be sufficient. If you would use this to remove heavy make up, you would have to use it a few times in a row. But I only use it as a facial cleanser. It removes all the oil and sebum and I am left with a fresh and clean face. The product is meant for dry and sensitive skin, well actually, on the brand's website it says it can be used for all skin types, but it's best for dry and sensitive skin. Well, I have non-sensitive oily skin, and I don't understand it - this product did wonders for me, so I am amazed to see that it's not at all meant for my skin type. Before this product I had the Nuxe Reve de Miel 'Face and Body Ultra-Rich Cleansing Gel'(the packaging of 400 ml). From my memory, both of them feel like they're the same product. Maybe I need to read the ingredients list or take a closer look, but they both do an amazing job. 

I remember when I first started using this product, I did not like the smell (a sweet smell of honey), but I fell in love with it, and now I enjoy the smell and find that it relaxes me. So, for me, the smell is a plus! But it's a very sweet smell, so it's something to consider if that's not your cup of tea. I got this product at a Dm which carries Nuxe products (only a few do), so I used my dm 25% off one product, and also 15% off entire purchase, so it was a bargain. But even if I hadn't used the discounts, it's worth the price. After 2 months I've only used up about 1/3 of the product. You can buy this product at any pharmacy.

Ingredients:
AQUA/WATER, GLYCERIN, SODIUM LAUROYL SARCOSINATE, MEL/HONEY, SUNFLOWER SEED OIL PEG-8 ESTERS, ACRYLATES/C10-30 ALKYL ACRYLATE CROSSPOLYMER, SODIUM COCOAMPHOACETATE, PARFUM/FRAGRANCE, PHENOXYETHANOL, GLUCONOLACTONE, LAURYL GLUCOSIDE, COCO-GLUCOSIDE, GLYCERYL OLEATE, SODIUM HYDROXIDE, CARAMEL, SODIUM COCOYL GLUTAMATE, SODIUM LAURYL GLUCOSE CARBOXYLATE, ALLANTOIN, SODIUM BENZOATE, TETRASODIUM GLUTAMATE DIACETATE, 1,2-HEXANEDIOL, CAPRYLYL GLYCOL, CITRIC ACID, CALCIUM GLUCONATE, TROPOLONE, HYDROGENATED PALM GLYCERIDES CITRATE, TOCOPHEROL [N2005/A]

Have you tried any Nuxe products already? I've also tried their Multi-Usage Dry Oil, which is an amazing product and it's the best smelling product of my life. I'd love to hear your experiences with this brand. See you soon,

xoxo, Jelena

Pink Ombre Nail Look

Thumb: L'oreal no. 603 (old) - 1 coat
Index: Catrice, 360 Raspberry Fields Forever (old) - (this shade is a bit off for this look)
Middle: Essence (old) - 1 coat
Ring: Maybelline, 26 Candy Bar (old) - 3 coats
Small: S-he (dm's brand), 115*/121 - 2 coats

You know how much I love wearing Ombre nails, so here is one more Ombre look - the main color theme is pink. Personally, what I loved the most about this look was how good white nail polish looks. Damn! I'll be wearing more white nail polish now. I saw this ombre look on Workplaypolish and I had to recreate it. Check out her work HERE and HERE.

What do you think of this? Do you wear all-white nails? Well I think this looks fab...Thanks for reading, see you soon.

xoxo, Jelena

Nail Look: Moustaches And Monocle

Product: Nail art stickers from KKCenterHk
Brand: 3D Nail Seal Beard Series - Beard Pattern Nail Seal-453 [3D-453]
Rating: 10/10
Price: USD $3.15
Recommendation: I recommend it, it's cute and easy to use.
Link: You can find this product HERE.

I'm loving these stickers - they look stunning. You just pick one up and place it on a dry nail, and then just apply top coat. The stickers do not stick out from the surface of the nail. I think the size is good for any normal-sized nails, they suited me just fine - and my nails are narrow. With the package you get moustaches of two different designs and in different sizes, plus the cute 'monocle & top hat' man. KKCenterHk have many beard and moustache stickers available, go HERE to check them out.

Nail polishes used for this look:

• Maybelline COLORAMA, no. 254: I am wearing two coats of this stunning nude shade. This polish is very watery, so you need to apply thin layers. Once dry, it is very shiny and gives a very smooth texture. Overall, I love the shade, it's the perfect nude, I wear it all the time. Price: around 19 HRK.

• Maybelline COLORAMA Polka Dots, no. 197: This is my top 3 nail polishes ever, it looks amazing. Easy to apply, fast-drying, it contains black and white glitters of different sizes, and I think this is a must-have product. Highly recommended.  Price: around 19 HRK.

• Essence Studio Nails - Better Than Gel Nails - Top Sealer, High Gloss: My favorite top coat, it dries very fast and leaves nails very shiny. Great texture. However, if I hit my nail on something, it causes little cracks. But still, it's better than any other top coat available for that price (around 18 HRK).

What do you think about this look? Do you love moustaches? Do you use nail stickers? Let me know, and thanks for stopping by!

xoxo, Jelena

***KKCenterHk has sent me the nail stickers for reviewing purposes. All opinions stated are my own.

Alverde Schminkpalette 10 - Swatch And Review

Product: Creamy make-up palette, no. 10
Brand: Alverde naturkosmetik by dm
Rating: 2/10
Price: On sale 10 kn, regular price 40 kn (5 euro)
Recommendation: Avoid at all costs if you have any intention of using this.

I've written about this product before, but I did not post swatches. Well, carnival time is upon us, and to my horror, I've seen this horrible product again in DM, so I thought I might write again and warn you about it. I bought it because I thought it looked so cute (and it is cute), but the product is useless. The pigmentation is bad (except for black, and maybe red), and the product will not stay in place. When applied, no matter what base/setting is used, it will always stay creamy and sticky, so if you touch your face it will smudge, or worse - transfer to clothes or people. And the feeling of having something like this on your skin is not nice. I think this product might appeal to people with kids - they might think it would be useful to paint the kid's faces for halloween/carnival. But, what you will get is 5 hours of work trying to wipe this off of every single surface. If you happen to see this in store, avoid it. I wish I never tried mine out at all, it would look so pretty if it wasn't smudged. Yeah, the packaging is cute and very sturdy, that's why I graded it with a 2. If the packaging sucked, it would be a clear 1. Maybe I'm missing something? Anyone tried this out? Were you able to use it?

So there you go - an adorable-looking product that I am unable to use at all. Any product that you've tried that had a great packaging and appearance, but disappointed you when you tried using it?

LOOK by Bipa - Kabuki Brush Review

Product: Kabuki brush

Brand: LOOK by Bipa

Rating: 10/10

Price: about 35 HRK / about 5 euros

Recommendation: Buy it, I would repurchase 100%.

What a great product this is - it's my favorite beauty tool. I got this brush after hearing amazing reviews from many beauty bloggers. I love hot pink, so the design of this brush agrees with me. It's so soft, picks up the product easily, and it's so stunning in appearance you will love using it. I love the feeling of brushing it against my face. The product is really great quality, hairs do not fall out, it's so soft and gentle, and it does the job well. Cleaning is easy and doesn't damage the brush. In my opinion it's a must-have in anyone's collection, it's cheap, but a quality tool. You can use it for many different purposes/products. I've purchased more LOOK by BIPA brushes and tools, so more reviews coming soon. Do you have this product? Are you as happy with it as I am?