Hey lacqueristas and fellow stampaholics,
As you know I've started up this new feature called
Plates I Love! on my blog. Today's post is part deux of my
Messy Mansion feature. If you didn't read Part 1 check it out
here. Today I got the chance to pick the brains, so to speak, of the creator and owner of Messy Mansion nail art plates Julia McGowan, and I think you are gonna like what she has to say! So without further ado let's start the show ;)
When did you become interested in nail art and what led you to stamping nail art in particular?
Around
18 months ago, I decided that I'd had enough of mud, pirates, and
dinosaurs. As the mother of two little boys (now 5 and 2) I really
needed some girl time! I'd loved painting my nails as a teenager, and I
even had some of my old polishes from back then! But my clean up was
horrific, and I knew I needed to refresh my skills, so I turned to
Youtube to find some inspiration. That's when I came across nail
stamping. I loved that it looked so quick and easy, and that after
buying the initial plates and stamper, you didn't have to keep paying
for supplies to keep your nails looking fancy. I bought the cheapest
stuff I could find on eBay, dug out some thick encrusted brown polish to
stamp with and got started. Except I didn't realise you had to remove
the plastic off the plates, so after throwing them in a corner, buying a
new stamper, and watching more videos, I finally worked out I had to
remove the film!
How did you decide to launch your own brand of stamping plates?
I
first decided to design a plate when I wanted some images that nobody
seemed to stock. The idea was to get the designs for myself and sell
off the rest to hopefully cover my costs. Once I got started it
ballooned from there! I wanted more designs, people kept suggesting
ideas, and I got some great feedback on my plates, which all encouraged
me to just keep creating.
When you are creating your plates what inspires you?
The
weirdest things! Greeting cards, wrapping paper, jewellery, wallpaper,
ancient manuscripts, artwork, the tiles at the back of my fireplace,
trees on the drive into town... basically anything that grabs me
visually, that has a beauty and form to it that I want to capture. I've
loved drawing and creating since I was a little girl, and before I got
into stamping plates I designed jewellery, did some interior design, as
well as lectured in Multimedia at a local college. I love to capture
the essence of the theme, but try to avoid the clichés... especially
with events like Christmas etc. I get great satisfaction out
of creating images that are instantly recognizable, but still a little
bit quirky and different.
Are you creating for your fans, yourself, or for someone else in particular?
All
of those. I started creating for myself, and I still do that. I
don't make anything that I can't imagine in a manicure, or that I
wouldn't wear myself. Having said that, I definitely listen to my fans
and use their ideas as inspiration. I love hearing what people want,
and I love their reactions when I can give them what they are after. I
really get a buzz out of seeing the creativity and
awesomeness folks make using my plates. It makes me happy.
What big plans or crazy ideas do you have for the future?
Shhh..
can you keep a secret? ;) (Let me insert myself in the interview here lol clearly I can't!) Well... more plates, obviously. But I've
also been working on stamping polishes and indie polishes that all fit
in with a theme. Sometimes I can't find the exact polish I want for a
look I have floating around in my head. So my upcoming "Waterworld"
image plate will come with an Indie polish called "Waterworld" and a
stamping polish that compliments it called "Seafoam". I often have
folks ask me what polishes I'm using in my manis, and so I thought it
would be really cool to make polishes and plates that all worked
together. Kind of a one-stop-shop so people can re-create a look
without having to hunt around for specific polishes.
I'm also organizing the production and distribution of a range of
plates a graphic designer friend put together. The LilyAnna plates
should be released later in the year. Can't wait!
Sneek Peeks of upcoming plates in 2014
Whats YOUR favorite brand/creator of nail art plates?
You really can't go past the other Indie plate makers. I swoon
whenever Natalie from Nailz Craze releases more plates, and I'm hoping
to catch up with the creator of Emily de Molly soon because I really
want her gorgeous new plates too! (And plus.. she's super cool to hang
out with.)
If you could change one thing about the nail art scene what would it be?
I
actually love the nail art scene. I've met so many fantastic people
through it and made some wonderful friends. I occasionally hear about
dramas, but being in Australia, by the time I get up in the morning and
get on to the internet, it's all over. Which is how I like it. LOL
Seriously, the creativity and generosity of the nail art community
really blows me away. It inspires me to create more, think more,
express more, push the boundaries more and collaborate more. We live
in a rural area, and by having such a great bunch of people to be
involved with, even if only on the internet and occasionally in
person, it hardly feels remote at all. If I could change anything, I'd
have us all live closer so I could check out everyone's manis in
person!! Maybe an international road trip is in order!!
Anything else you want to share with your fans?
That's the toughest question. :) Just my favourite quote, I think.. “Don’t
ask what the world needs. Ask what makes you come alive,
and go do that. Because what the world needs is more people who have
come
alive.”
- Howard Thurman. So just be brave, whatever that may mean for you.
Oh.. and post your manis on my facebook page! Your awesome manis
inspire me. :)
You can purchase Messy Mansion Nail Plates
here
Add your lovely manis and keep updated on the latest previews on her Facebook
here
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So ladies what did you think? Isn't she so damn cool and more importantly kind? I have to say reading about her difficulties when she initially started stamping made me laugh out loud. How many times have I heard someone say what the hell is this little sticky crap over the top of the plate (referring of course to the blue or clear film like it was back in the day). I'm so glad she kept at it though because I am always so excited when she releases new plates! Her shop reopens on the 25th of November so get your mouses ready and warm up those carts :)
I'm also looking forward to these coordinating stamping polishes and bases. She is totally gonna rock our worlds! I hope you all enjoyed reading this interview and let me know what you think. I have more plate makers upcoming, but if there anyone YOU want to hear about in particular let me know! Thanks so much for reading and I'll see you next post!
