Ladyboss Collective

Hey Edinburgh folks! Have you checked out Ladyboss Collective on Candlemaker Row yet? If not you need to pop in to Edinburgh's snazziest nail bar and concept store.

Ladyboss Collective was opened in May this year by Amber Vermeulen after studying Fashion, spending a couple years working in hospitality and doing some traveling she decided it was time to open her own 'dream store'. She had been playing around with Nail Art for a while and it dawned on her that it was the missing link to making her dream come true. Not long after qualifying as a trained nail technician an opportunity to open a pop up shop arose and she jumped at the chance! Through her art school connections and working in hospitality she already knew quite a few creatives on the Edinburgh scene. She teamed up with a bunch of her favorite boss ladies and the 'Sassy concept nail bar featuring a gaggle of the best creative Ladybosses' was born.

I caught up with the Ladyboss herself for a wee chat and to get my nails done in the shop. Amber had done my nails once before and came recommended by a friend and before this appointment she asked me for three words for things I liked so she could create a custom design for me. I didn't make it easy for her and chose; Cats, Space and Vintage as my three words. I had seen some universe nails she'd done on Instagram a couple weeks before and loved them and we all know I love cats and anything vintage. Amber did not disappoint! She had all her cat decals at the ready, including some vintage/antique looking ones and showed me a couple for her free hand cat designs too but I settled on the decals that had a strong resemblance to Grumpy Cat.

Space Cat Nails!!!!!!

We sat and had a catch up while she layered up the varnish and glitter to create the universe effect on my nails and then positioned one cat on each hand, we done want over kill now, and then added more glitter to make them merge with the design. 

We chatted about why she started Ladyboss, how she stocks the shop and what inspires her. As mentioned already she has a lot of contacts in the local creative community and uses them to her advantage, she chats to everyone who comes through the shop and reaches a few folk that way as well as recommendations from people already supplying her. She also makes the most of social media and says 'I sometimes randomly message people I like and ask them to get involved, there are so many talented people out there often it seems you just have to ask'.

Some of the huge selection of stock.

Amber finds her inspiration for her designs in all sorts of places but likes to keep up to date on the nail art trends through Instagram and Pinterest, while I was in she was showing me a practice nail she'd been working on for a festive Christmas jumper design and it was awesome. She's great at working with people to find out what their style is, when I walked in for my first appointment with her I didn't have a clue what I wanted and walked out with stunning blue Mexican Día de Muertos nails, perfect for my summer holiday. 

Some of Amber's other designs

So if you're out and about in Edinburgh then you should pop in and say hi, check out her amazing stock that ranges from prints through clothing (vintage and new), jewellry and zines. There are some amazing stocking fillers and presents to be found and maybe a wee something for yourself too. Obviously I would totally recommend making an appointment to get your nails done while you're there as Amber is a pro! You can check out the Collective on her website and check out her Instagram for her latest designs and whats going on in store. 

Ladyboss Collective - ladybosscollective.co.uk - 23 Candlemarker Row, EH1 2QG 

Wish List Wednesday - Barruntando Ceramics

It's Wish List Wednesday again and this month I've discovered and fallen for Barruntando Ceramics. I actually found them through the Red Door Gallery website. The gallery is a stones throw away from my work and a great place to pick up gifts and homewares, it's stocked by local and independent makers and the staff are so friendly!

Barruntando Ceramics have their own Etsy site as well as distributing internationally from there base in Spain. The pieces are made by a group of five ladies who all came together over their shared love of ceramics, they hand craft in white earthenware clay because they like the purity of its colour and it's strength.

They make the most adorable pieces that are practical and cute, their work includes; spoon holders, cake toppers, salt and pepper shakers, jewellry, figures and their signature yarn bowls. Originally I was going to base this post around the Jurassic Clay Collection, set of five dinos that are hand painted and full of character but as I kept looking through their Etsy page I fell for the Mermaid Miniature Figures, Unicorn Cake Toppers and the Trees Ring Dish too.

They say that their main goals are to 'Create different, bold and modern, light and original utilitarian pottery.' and I think they have hit the nail on the head. So if you are looking for an interesting gift, something to brighten up your home or a little quirk to add to your special day then you should check them out. Everything is hand made and decorated so all their pieces are unique, no two are the same!

I'll leave you with a picture of the adorable dino team to swoon over. xxx

Wish List Wednesday - Lucky Dip Club

Luck Dip Club takes you right back to the lucky dip bags that you would get at school fetes or the corner shop combined with the amazing feeling when you receive snail mail that isn't a bill or from Farmfoods and that is why it is this weeks Wish List Wednesday!

Once a month a new themed Lucky Dip box is launched. Themes have varied from Valley of the Unicorns to Magic Forrest and this months Sleep Over box. Each box is crammed with goodies like pretty handmade jewellery, kitch stationery, lovely homewares, paper goods and wee DIY craft kits. Each and every box comes with a personalised item and all the products are unique for the Lucky Dip Club boxes dream up by Leona, the bright spark behind it all, apart from one piece in each box where she invites creative makers, designers and illustrators to add excusive new designs for the boxes. The upcoming October box collaborator is Nikki McWilliams whose Tunnocks Tea Cake cushion I featured in Wish List Wednesday a few weeks back.

It all start in May 2014 with 100 boxes that sold out in a day, now over a year later she is making 1400 boxes a month (with a little help) that sell out in hours! There are two ways of of nabbing one of these beauties, you can buy a one off box or you can subscribe to a monthly box for slightly less and you can unsubscribe when every you want but you need to get in there quick. With so much packing to do hold Leona holds monthly Packing Parties with donuts & cocktails to pack the boxes in the Lucky Dip Clubhouse. You should really check out this ladies Instagram - she knows her donuts and cakes and marshmallows... Leona describes the Lucky Dip Club as 'A super fun confetti cannon of original surprises to inspire, encourage & celebrate your unicorn life!' Set your alarms for 7am on the 1st of October folks if you want to get your paws on the next box.

Nutans Health Food, Coffee & Snacks - Review

It was a Thursday evening after work and we needed to grab food quickly and locally before a gig. Martyn, the bearded one, works near Tollcross and finishes at 6pm so near there was the ideal area. There are loads of great places to eat around there but Martyn had been to Nutans with his friend Ed before and recommended we try there.

Before the restaurant Nutans first incarnation was the Bollywood Coffee Box in Bruntsfield on the edge of the links. The police box was decorated and surrounded by planted flowers and as you passed it the most amazing aromas came out of it. I always meant to stop by and grab something but was never in the area when I was hankering for a curry. Everyone I had spoken to raved about the place and, Bala, the lady who ran it.

Luckily for me Bala has now opened a sit in restaurant in Tollcross, near the Cameo. She does a vegetarian and non-vegetarian curry a day and plenty of tasty sides, drinks and sweets. Oh and it’s BYOB! The restaurant of colourfully decorated with a quirky chandlers made from glass bottles and the warmest welcome you could imagine. She appeared to remember Martyn as she handed us our menus and told us to help ourselves to drinks from the display fridge. While we were sitting there two other customers came in, a gent who appeared to be a regular (she was asking after his wee son) and a woman who had been traveling and come back to Edinburgh before she traveled home and her first stop (she still had her case with her) was Nutans!

Martyn and I shared the paneer pakora to start, they were spicy with big chunks of paneer and came with two dips. I ordered the vegetarian curry of the day, mixed vegetable daal, it was beautiful, like a massive curry flavoured hug! It had obviously been cooked really slowly and the lentils and totally broken down and make it almost creamy, there were green beans, cauliflower and tomatoes through it and was served with rice. Martyn ordered the chicken korma and Bala asked if he wanted it mild like a traditional korma or spicy, he went for spicy and he loved it! As we had to rush of to Liquid Rooms there was no time to stop and savor the sweets but we'll have to next time. So both our curries, two drinks and a starter came to less than £20 which we though was fantastic, especially with the quality and atmosphere of this charming restaurant. I would highly recommend it and I'm already looking forward to going back.