Rebel 4 A Cause Series April- Gaia Love Collection and inspirations

Hello Loves,
Since my Hiatus I have changed a few things around. I realized I was making myself bonkers thinking I can do monthly releases and keep up. So I decided to release three months at a time, this gives me time to formulate, package, plan and release the collections while giving myself time in between each collection release for other things like collaborations with other indies or releases that are more fun and not cause based. Don't get me wrong I love the cause collections but it has been a nightmare with logistics and quite frankly I'm not making any money off it. Which isn't even a profit issue so much as a make enough to keep going issue. SO I did try to resolve that with the Invader Zim releases. Anyway...

APRIL-GAIA LOVE COLLECTION

      Since April is Earth Month to me, or at least it has an Earth Day, I wanted a collection that not only made one think but also made one aware of themselves and this wonderful planet we live on. I am fortunate enough to live in a state where drought and fires are very prevalent. This is supposedly one of the worst droughts in 30 years on record. I say fortunate only because it makes me very aware of my water usage, my electricity usage and my own carbon footprint. Do you ever think about these things? As a whole global planet, we are abusing the crap out of our home. If you don't keep your own domicile clean and happy, what happens? I can't pretend to understand everyone else's mentalities, only to share my own.

   Our earth is a finite resource, this means, when we have used, abused and destroyed her, what then? We are very much on a solid path of destruction. Everything we do either contributes to one side or another. Who uses Dove? Did you know dove uses south east Asian rain forest for their supposedly sustainable palm farms. Did you also know that they give their farmers free range to murder ANY animal that enters the farm, whether it be our closest living genetic relative the Orangutan (My fave Great Ape, not Monkey, although we are all PRIMATES, and to prove their closeness, just watch a video of a baby orangutan crying, shave it and its just an ugly human infant) or any other endangered or protected species, such as Elephants, Tigers and Rhinos. 

   I'm not a huge Greenpeace fan, conceptually yes, action wise no, they have become as inflammatory as PETA, however this video sums up all I just said in about 1.5 minutes...Anti-Palm Farm campaign

Here is an article that explains in detail the info on the Deforestation of Borneo, Sumatra, Indonesia and elsewhere and what that actually means for us as a global community-Article, Click me

If you can't read, Click and watch me!

Here's another by product of the Palm oil deforestation-Slash and burn problem...

   I personally refuse to use palm oil or any unsustainable, conflict or inorganic oil in my products, the organization I hope to benefit from this month's collection feels that this is not the answer. There are ways to meet market and global demands of products that don't include killing the earth or her children- WWF solution

   This is only one example of deforestation and it's devastating ecological effects in the world, all over raw and pure, unexplored forests are cleared for man's greed and the production of cheap and unsustainable products for the global market. What can you do to help? 

   DO reduce, reuse and recycle and my new fave to upcycle items that can be, watch your carbon foot print, I guarantee you wont die walking less than a mile to the store or to run a few errands, and when you do chose to purchase products, know where they come from and what your purchase supports, if I do nothing else in this world, I want to create conscientious shoppers...

This Months 25% will go to benefit one of my fave organizations ever- http://worldwildlife.org/

 Up First we have Gaia Love-

This gorgeous mid tone green shimmer shadow is the perfect mix of greens, golds and shimmer

Sunlit swatch

Shadow jar pic

Flash jar shot

This is Gaia Bruies on the left and Gaia Love on the right in natural light. top is raw, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX jumbo liner in Milk.

Next up is Gaia Bruises, a dark, almost brackish green with strong gold, teal and green shimmer in it, these two blend perfectly for a green based smokey eye. It almost reminds me of a deep bruise, initially I called it bruises heal, as in Bruises heal but extinction don't... Ruminate on that as I try to explain why Gaia- This whole collection is Gaia, it originally was inspired by my love of Bob Marley and his Song Kaia Love, for which I named my last dog. Here is what Senior Wiki says:

             "In Greek mythology, Gaia (/ˈɡeɪ.ə/ or /ˈɡaɪ.ə/; from Ancient Greek Γαῖα, a poetical form of Gē Γῆ, "land" or "earth";^[1] also Gaea, orGe) was the personification of the Earth,^[2] one of the Greek primordial deities. Gaia was the great mother of all: the primal Greek Mother Goddess; creator and giver of birth to the Earth and all the Universe; the heavenly gods, the Titans, and the Giants were born to her. The gods reigning over their classical pantheon were born from her union with Uranus (the sky), while the sea-gods were born from her union with Pontus (the sea). Her equivalent in the Roman pantheon was Terra.^{[3]" Gaia-WIKI}

Gaia Bruises in Lightbox, top is raw, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX jumbo liner in Milk.

Shadow Swatch Credit to IG@AkroGirl 

She used the veil on the inside lid and that stunning shifting dark smokey green on the rest of the lid.

In this Collection we are offering a Blush called Gaia Blood, it is a very rusty, red blush with shimmer, it is a bit darker than our first blush, Addis Ababa. I thought of the rust reds we get from the iron core of our planet, the blood of our earth. This blush will give a healthy glow to any skin tone and is, as all our pigments are, always oil, paraben waxes and filler free.

In Sunlight

 With Flash

In Shade

The Beautiful Karin Using all three pigments from this collection

The Polish in this month's collection, if you could guess are green, go figure, my style lately has been to include one glitter bomb and one either grelly (Glitter Crelly) or a ConShimmer (Contrasting Shimmer)

I have one Glitter bomb and one Conshimmer for you, the Glitter bomb is proving to be a crowd fave.

Up First is Gaia Graffiti, a glitter bomb with black, white, and all shades and finishes and sizes of green glitters, I consider it the earth tagging us back...

 In shade

With Flash

My favorite!!! Macros: Swatcher Credit: Kim

IG@Tbergy97 

Her swatch shows Gaia Graffiti over Gaia Tears with some fun nail art added.

The second polish for April was Gaia Tears. It was a mossy army green with strong blue and turquoise shimmers. This would be the tears part of Gaia.

Swatcher Credit: Kim

IG@Millnpolish

***Also since the release of this collection I have added 5ML Mini bottles for press samples and also for purchase as I know that budget and desire sometimes do not equate 15ML, lol.

 I have decided I will not continue any of the polish from this collection, when gone, it's gone, get yours before that happens****
XOXO,
Ashes
I,A.M...CustomColor Cosmetics and Lacquer

I'm Back, I promise

Hello my lovely colorists,
I am sooooo sorry about the unexpected hiatus, it was not intentional and I feel like a horrible blog owner.
I did have some unexpected puppy trauma and bills and did close down the shop for a few weeks, with surgery for one and a seizure for another I was a distraught dog mom. I can always count on the pug to be the rock tho, she seems to always be just fine when the other two "delicate" flowers have problems.
I did have to rework how I view blogging. It did sorta of become like a chore, like homework. I've been out of college for a while, even if I do plan to go back eventually, it still feels like I am writing papers and doing research for things when I just want to sit in my craft room and create...
I didn't feel this way about blackfish at all or even the veil collection. So how do I get myself as motivated for the others? I just gotta do! lol.
I think my solution was to release a crazy and fun collection all just for me! I mean, I hope you all enjoy the heck out of it too, but I really did it for me! LOL
Anyway, my loves, I sincerely hope that you forgive my absence and remember to check in on our little Custom Corner of the world ever so often or if you feel like a laugh or a cry, I can guarantee in these pages you can find both.
Your support and love mean the world to me and I appreciate every single one of you, so with this I want to remind you all to come visit my FB or IG and enter my giveaway. I do now have a relatively neglected Pinterest now too! lol
You all are the best Custom Colorists a girl could ask for,
XOXO,
ASHES

One of my fave pics, Zoe Pug and Kaia Love is a Frenchton, They use to love our California Coastal Highway 1 beach trips~

Yes her tongue is always out, yes puglet almost always looks this pathetic!

Here is the love of my life, my BF, and Kaia using Zoe as a Pug Pillow and Jah, the rescue bossy.

The top pic was two xmases ago, where my mom's dogs and my dogs had to help us wrap presents, or at least form a QC line...

SHHHHH, don't tell anyone, this goofball is my fave!

DOG PILE!

New logo/label in the works and new collections to come as well!!!

Torn in War- March Collection Inspiration

Hello Lovelies,
     I do have some swatchers that have some photos of a better persuasion coming my way. Until then this is what we are all stuck with. So, thank you to those that have bared with me.
    There is something just incredibly sad and harsh about a country that is experiencing a revolution or civil war. To imagine a country, a generation, a peoples so distraught with their daily lives that they need to revolt is something hard to imagine as a westerner, especially an American. We have to right to say this is crap without true fear of prosecution. However this is simply just not the case with many of the countries in Africa which have experienced some form of civil or military war over the last 200 years.
    Many of these conflicts are actually rather racially instigated. One tribe versus another, a mentality institutionalized by Western Colonialism in the continent. Now, while it would definitely be easy to just blame these conflicts on "THE Man" it is actually a rather prevalent concept throughout the world, however, the situations in many of the African Nations are definitely a result of the Great Colonial Empires manipulating and controlling one group over another. This is definitely the case in South Africa and several other countries. I cannot actually sit here and claim that I know or even understand the motivations of these very real and palpable wars, what I can say with 100 percent certainty is that the actions of yesterday will most certainly have an effect/consequence for tomorrow. Especially the ones we forget about that are helplessly stuck in the middle.
     This months collection will focus and remember the children that are unfortunate victims of these civil wars. We often forget that in non military wars, it is the civilian population that takes the brunt of the conflicts. Also known as women, children and the elderly. What happens when you lose your parents, even just one? I'm not sure I can really even begin to delve into the psychological damage of being bombed out, watching your mother raped and decapitated in front of you or watching your brothers, ages 5-17, taken to be brainwashed and trained as a new child militia.
    Because of the level of poverty that plagues most African countries like Liberia or Sierra Leone, even if a family member survives, the hardship of caring for a child, especially girls and children with special needs or considered "cursed" because of cultural superstitions, are generally abandoned to orphanages. Take just a second to think about that word, Orphanage. Now think about what that represents to you, any visual imagery or first instinctual feelings about what an institution like that means to you. Any one think of some famous books in western literature about little Orphaned children and the hardships and utter horrific existences they endured? Can you even begin to imagine? Now transport that to one of the most third world, disjointed and utterly diseased ravaged continents in the world. Can you imagine even less now?
     One of the products I named after a Ballerina that inspired me from one of my favorite Documentaries, "First Position" (Click Here). I had the opportunity to meet the director and was truly blessed that she is just awesome as the movie she created. Part of her awesomeness was this eye for seeing talent and finding those with amazing and truly inspirational stories. One being a Miss Michaela DePrince. She is one of these children and has experienced much adversity to get to where she is today. She is an amazing dancer which is another challenge she has experienced as in classical ballet there is truly this underlying belief that black dancers cannot do classical ballet. This is being challenged all over the ballet world and Michaela is one of the ones front lining the re-education.

Click here for an interview and article where she talks about her debut at South Africa Ballet

      I don't want to just make this blog or any of the blogs I write to be just a pity party, woe is the poor of the world. That isn't the only message. Many of the Survivors, because yes, they are strong and awe-inspiring Survivors, have proven to be some of the most amazing people, turning what has happened to them into a tool to fight back and continue to improve themselves and the world around them. I see this is as being the silver lining. Although there is always the reality that many do in turn create more hatred and chaos, how can you blame them? It is all they know.
     I truly feel that children and war are just not conducive. It is the saddest tragedy and there will be many countries that continue to leave orphaned children in the wake of the destructive war torn path they create. We've seen it in Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya and more recently Syria. I have no idea how to even convey all the emotions and feelings that are stirred in me when I think of this topic. I cannot even begin to imagine, although it has always been my inspiration to adopt children that come from much less advantaged countries. It breaks my heart to think of all the children in the world that have no one, no matter the circumstances of how they became orphaned, they should never have had to experience what they did/do.

MK DePrince- Lip Gloss tint

This Violet Lip Gloss leaves a nice glossy tint of color, not a stain and not totally sheer, this fun and gorgeous color is great way to welcome Spring in style. 

I was inspired by Michaela and her beauty and strength despite what she has suffered it has only made her a better person and helped her on the path she has begun as a professional classical ballet dancer!

FreeTown

Thumb, Middle and Pinky fingers have FreeTown

This bright but dark purple has strong contrasting pink and some purple and blue shimmer in it. This is a really beautiful color. Very cool toned and flattering for a fun Spring color. FreeTown was named after the Capital of Sierra Leone, where Michaela was born. It was the first town and country to be reclaimed and governed by Freed American Slaves. I was inspired by the excitement and vindication I can assume the settlers and Founders of FreeTown felt. It represented something so hopeful and yet has become so disparaged after decades of bloody civil and diamond wars. It had to be given it's own spotlight.

Chaos Survivor

Chaos Survivor over Sinful Colors Nouveau Purple 

I feel like this one's name and meaning is pretty self explanatory. Each one of these children that endures and survives these atrocities are chaos survivors, all the way. There are hearts and stars and even some butterflies. Hearts for those that still ache and stars for those who have turned this nightmare into something that makes them standout and shine and butterflies represent transformation, which is something each of these survivors had to do to overcome being just another faceless victim. 

Sudan's Lost Boys

***I'm actually not sure if I will be offering this for sale. I sent out the top three pics to swatchers and when I made another batch it came out much more opaque and darker and less sparkly, so this is being added to the inspiration but most likely wont make it to the store.***

      This color, Sudan's Lost Boys, was inspired by and named after all the children that have had their youths stolen and their freedoms. Rebels with a gang mentality that abduct and kidnap young boys and make them kill their own countrymen. They are left with very little real world skills, education or family. 

If you'd like to know more click these links:

Unicef Lost boys Of the Sudan

Lost Boys a film about 2 refugees journey to America.

War Torn

 The Black shadow on the left is the eye pigment War Torn. This shadow is black with bronze and gold shimmers. Top is raw/dry, middle is wet and bottom is over NYX Jumbo Liner in Milk.
This shadow is for all the countries that have experienced, are experiencing or are still suffering from the aftermath of war. This extends so far out of the African Continent that it really is hard to fathom. From Haiti to Bosnia, Cambodia and Tibet, Armenia and Iran, and every where that has suffered the destruction of living in a country that is War Torn.

Craigslist Rwanda

      This Matte apricot shadow, Craiglist RwandaClick, is a great pairing with War Torn. It's name was inspired by some of the stars that have shined through some of the worst Civil war and tragedies in Africa. Siblings were reunited 10 years after the war to create their country's second largest website to help unite all Rwandans. A cooperative website like this can help create community over distance and help Rwandans reclaim some of their lost economy due to massive genocides. Who could have guessed the gravity of a website that we use all the time. At least I do. ( More Swatches are on the right side in the pictures above under War Torn.)

     I can watch as many documentaries or read as many stories as I can, but none of it can substitute for the experience these children go through and must endure for years after. Some are lucky, some are not. Some are adopted young and have the opportunity to reclaim their lives, some are left, alone, scared and unable to just be kids. Prostituting, rebel conscripted and at a very high risk for suicide. Is it not bad enough there are orphanages overflowing with children who lost their parents to an incurable disease but to also have the probability that they could also be killed in violent conflicts and massacres.

Its because of stories like this that I do what I do.

      Please know there are always things that can be done to help and you can be that change. 

This collection has transformed a little from the beginning but I like where it has gone and am very happy with what has come together. 

Here are some organizations where you can help:

AAO-All As One

Global Giving

World Wide Orphanages

25% of your purchase price will be donated to All As One to  help the children of Sierre Leon and help them try to reclaim some sense of normalcy and a life with pride in their country and themselves. The problem with adopting African Orphans is that only 13 countries have so far signed the Hauge Convention which underlies legalities and safety for children in countries with little to no litigation for these types of adoptions. Not to mention if said country cannot produce enough supply for the demand, it does not deter them from kidnapping and selling children that do not belong to them or shady parents selling their own children for a profit as there is very little regulations and documentation to verify the child's origin and safe handling. So many issues and moral quarries presented with problems like this and while I personally support adoption, I also understand the reasoning behind not adopting children from countries with no set laws or recourse for the issues presented with this. I think it is better to help them and empower them to be the change they want in their own countries and create the infrastructure so badly needed to ensure civil wars and rebellions don't just keep becoming a cyclical problem.

Thank you so much for listening and I hope it helped remind you while we live this pretty comfortable life, there are those that don't and still continue to suffer the aftermath of these atrocities.

Elmer Glue base coat for Glitter Manis

Ok, Ladies,
On to bigger and better things. While doing this fun but slightly annoying nail art challenge, I've discovered I use a lot of glitter.

 Like every mani and soaking my nails every couple days in acetone gets old real quick... SO, I attempted the Elmer glue base coat. It was easy. I did use a base coat, my OPI nail envy, still!!!
 I have a pen style so I dabbed on dots and used a smallish paint brush to even out the coats, be careful to watch for pooling on the side of nail bed.
Here is what the dried product looked like: Almost can't even tell which nails I painted right? Perfect!

Then I just painted them like normal, no problems. And you sincerely can't even tell that I used something as common as Elmer's glue.

For REMOVAL:
This part was even easier. I only wore them for a day but I had no issues or wear for that one day. And I was so impatient I had to see if it works. Plus, new mani in a couple days. I actually almost even forgot that I was wearing glue, lol!

Here's a video to show you how easy removal was and of course life is not complete without a flappy hand goodbye!!! LOL

Final report! YES- why waste any money on a fancy peel off base coat? This is perfection. I cannot for the life of me remember who's blog I saw but I saw a few, there are a poop ton of tutorials, this wasn't meant to be one of them, just an awesome experienced shared!!!
XOXO,
Ashes