Gathering Dust (and making dust)

in #hobbieslast year (edited)

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Other than a few shots for work, my camera(s) have been gathering dust, literally. Nothing to be alarmed by, this is not the first time.

I have a few long time hobbies/passions/interests that I rotate. Sometimes it can take a year to come back to one, but that’s fine, I don’t wanna force it. I have no control over which of my hobbies consumes me at any given time, and I’ve learned that it’s alright, they’ll always come back.

My long time hobbies are photography, knitting, cooking/baking and decorating the home. I dabble in other stuff too but the mentioned have been my interest for 20+ years.

My latest and newest obsession/interest has been doing my nails. I got into doing gel polish last year and now I’m also learning how to do a gel overlay and even sculpt a nail extension. I’m quite a simple creature with unsteady hands so I haven’t done much of design to speak of, but I really enjoy doing my nails.

I am very hard on my hands and nails because I do manual labour plus cook and clean, so I need really strong nails. Gel has been a godsent and it looks incredible for weeks without me even having to so touchups. I rarely break nails anymore because the gel overlay protects them so well, but if I do, I now know I can just sculpt a new nail to match the others.

Having my nails done and not having to worry about messing them up even though I work in a very manly profession makes me very happy. It’s about balance you know.

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Say no to ”pink tax” and buy your isopropanol and acetone from the hardware store for a fraction of the price.

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My right thumb has some lifting and damage because I fell over it while shoveling snow, but miraculously (aka because of strong gel overlay) the nail itself didn’t break. I didn’t file the lifting away for weeks because the finger was quite badly bruised and sore, but now I finally got to start over with it.

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Can you tell the nail on my left infex finger is artificially extented on this red set? I think I got it to match pretty well, even though it was my first time. I’m also surprised how strong it is, even though the hybrid gel I used felt super soft compared to the real nail while filing.

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For weeks now I’ve been watching nail videos on Youtube and I find it very relaxing. I’m also really tempted to get more nail supplies and dabble in some designs other than a single colour. Que me having long stiletto nails with rhinestones in a few months…

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I love your nails! Always been jealous that you can keep them long cos they’re strong. I enjoy gel nails so much although I take sometimes the whole day doing it on myself. 😭 Getting nail supplies are also addicting hahah especially when you watch Jounail on Youtube and see her pretty gorgeous designs😍

I have been layering a shit ton of gel to get rock hard nails so they last 😁 I think it took me 5 hours the first time I removed a set of gel and re-did it 😂😅 now I’m down to like 3h for a simple set 😂

Ooooh I was just watching Jounail yesterday and everything is sooooo pretty 😍✨

Hahaha me too. I put on thick gel on top even when it’s short just so it is protected when it grows cos my nails are like paper. Huh 3 hrs is really a good time! That’s the salon’s average time to do polygel extensions lol

I’ve never had my nails done at a salon so I wouldn’t know 😅

Do you ever use tips? I’m tempted to get clear stiletto tips to try out a jelly look. There are so many pretty seethrough looks on Pinterest 😫

Yeah sometimes. But I find it annoying how easy they fall off. I’ve tried using the polygel and base gel as a glue but I guess since the material is smooth plastic it needs a rough surface to act as a tooth. I also tried filing the inside of the tips with the drill before sticking them but still falls off easily. Maybe I just need a better technique 😅
They are really really pretty and neat tho!!

I was wondering how well they last because obviously the plastic is slippery. I was looking at soft gel full cover tips and how you can file them down near the cuticle once they are on and then put more gel on top.

Yeah you can do that as well, and I think is the best way. Some put it half way and some just put them just at the tip of the nails. I’m just too lazy with the gels hahah cos I want them to be perfect smooth-like nails but takes a loooong time to do. But yeah if you’re going to do the gels anyway might as well just do that so you can have smooth and even surface under the nails. I really hate it when the gels under the nails are not perfect lol

So many puns throughout your post. Don't let dust get on the camera sensors :)

I've had a long break from using my cameras, yet at the same time, I'm photographing wedding #4 for the year later today.

I just had the sensors cleaned a while back, they were filthyyyy.

Well then you have been using your cameras for quite a bit, shooting a wedding is no small feat!

It went well, all the organisers, staff and couple were absolutely gorgeous people, on the happiest days of their life!

That sounds fantastic. I would never shoot a wedding, too much pressure!

I made dark jokes with the groomsmen, got along with the bride and groom; and just observed a great party of people having fun and celebrating the fact that they knew each other. It was a laid back day. :)

Secret: Wedding photographers re-enact what they miss, and a newly married couple are always keen to kiss each other for photos :D

I'm trying to think if you could add metal to your nails and not look like a serial killer. You've got lots of lightweight aluminum and the tools to sculpt it. Then you could have a permanent set that you'd simply need to reapply every once in a while.

The last photo made me think of it. You could have a base of aluminum, then add the pink or red to make it seem a little less metallic.


Your nails always look amazing.

Hahahah do you want me to get charged for carrying knives in public? 😝

This is actually weird that I read your comment after I was thinking about doing a shine like the last picture but with red on top for my next set! So you are definitely onto something.


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Just add this as one of your selfies in the AI and see what it produces.


😎