Hi Goddesses
And welcome to a mini spree! I have about 30 polishes for review at the moment, and managed to play with some beauties at the weekend, but before I can post about them, I need to finish what I had started before I took a break, so welcome back to the glorious world of Literary Lacquers.
Luggage For Your Journey is a tribute Limited Edition that Amy released a few months ago in honour of Terry Pratchett, and to raise money for Alzheimers. Sadly since then, Lord Terry of the Discworld has lost his battle, but he leaves the world richer both for his uniquely twisted imagination and his candour in the face of the horror that is Alzheimers.
The polish itself is a rich, burnished cup of tea, featuring Amy's trademark sparkle.
As legendary as ever is her ability to take a warm polish and yet let it burn with ice-blue holo fire. It's quite a trick.
I paired this with some very simple stamping from MoYou Pro Collection 03, and using Barry M Gold Foil.
I liked the old fashioned nature of the pattern, and between them, I think they look like wallpaper from yesteryear, no doubt slowly peeling at the corners.
This polish was sent to me for an honest review. Don't forget to follow Literary Lacquers HERE.
Hi Goddesses
Today's vintage mani is a curtain / velvet / Victorian inspired thing. I always love it when people do same colour stamping, and the top colour pops like embossed velvet.
I wanted to do something similar, but very textured, but I chose 2 polishes that whilst glorious in their own right, well ... I'm not sure they made such a perfect couple.
On base we have the utterly amazing "there are no words for how gorgeous you are" Alcatraz Rocks by OPI. I have really done this polish a disservice by not wearing it until now, as it would definitely have been one of my top3 polishes of 2013.
This is perhaps the most exquisite polish OPI have released in the LONGEST time, a Liquid Sand of such complexity and majesty that neither words nor photos are enough.
The polish sits on a dark purple axis, with glitters of pink, gold, petrol - you name it, it's there. But it's hidden. So on the surface, it looks darkly serene, but look closer and there's a whole world of complexity at your fingertips.
I've deliberately included some blurred shots, as they give the best hint of what's going on. Most cameras (like mine) tend to flatten out the magic when presented with a polish where there's just so much going on, but hopefully, if you puzzle all the photos together, a collage of OPI wizardry will emerge.
For the stamping I used Too Fancy Lacquer Prima Donna. This is a silvery lilac and stamps exceptionally well.
However .... it's really hard to detect the holo over Alcatraz - it almost looks like any old silver. You can see it bending at the corners of a few photos. Sad to say, this is another one of those manis that just looked so much more amazing on the nail.
And this was my dilemma. The only way I could do the holo justice would have been to add top coat, but I really thought that would send the whole thing over the edge into a blur that would cause my camera to implode. So trust me - real life, this looked sensational.
Oh, and the stamp? MoYou Pro Collection 03.
Hi Goddesses
Today's mani comes to you with peace and serenity, and the calm of angels.
For a long time, I've believed in guardian angels. They told me my daughter was ok when all the doctors told me I needed a termination; they told me her dad was "the one"; they've reassured me about jobs, bad days and countless other things, and sometimes, when I need peace, I imagine a huge pair of wings enveloping me and hushing away the darkness, and it works.
Today is also the 13th anniversary of my mother's death. I miss her terribly, and she too gave great hugs. Without my mother, I wouldn't have wanted a child, and Beth too, gives great hugs. It's the circle of life :)
So what am I rambling on about? I don't know really, but there is something godly about the power of a hug, and its ability to hush away our white noise. It's holy, almost.
And that brings me back to the angels. They're not just for Christmas. I choose to believe they are all around. I choose to believe my mother is all around. I choose to believe in love and hope and peace - because, if I don't, there is only the darkness, and what sort of a world is that?
Today's mani featured Sally Hansen Complete Manicure Greige Gardens, Too Fancy Lacquer Silent Night, and a feather from MoYou Pro Collection 03.
Whatever you're going through right now - hugs xx
