“A client called me for services for her sister who was retiring as a Lieutenant Commander from the U.S. Navy after 25-plus years. She needed Naval-related art because she had been asked to sing the National Anthem at her retirement ceremony. I searched Google, Pinterest, and numerous other galleries for inspiration of something phenomenal. The inspiration didn’t include the thumbs in the pictures, so I suggested putting her sister’s Naval insignia on them.”

— Mistie Rhode, Claremore, Okla.

Have you created a set of nails that has a deeply personal story behind them? Submit them to beth.livesay@bobit.com to possibly appear in a future installment of Behind the Nails.