franken-polish "Woodland Whispers"

I remember making this polish as if in a dream; a vague, carefree wandering through color, without destination or objective.  The result was thoroughly surprising- a new favorite!  Looking back, I don't know what possessed me to mix teal, orchid pink, violet, and blackened olivine gold together, but I hope it possesses me again because DANG.  Sometimes your brain just needs to get out of the way and let the muse take over.

This polish makes me think of fairies in the forest, wings flickering covertly through leaves while tiny voices reach out to each other and intertwine in the mist.  Secretive.  Elusive.  Ethereal.

 

>>> woodland whispers <<<

 

frankenpolish "Sassenach" {inspired by Outlander}

So I've had quite an eventful month since I last posted.  Some friends and I started an organization, Missoula Solidarity Alliance, and organized a Unity March & Volunteer Fair, and generally stepped well outside my secluded little comfort zone.  Coincidentally, the story of MSA's logo actually foreshadows the first life of the Outlandish heroine who inspired today's polish.  For our symbol, we chose the white poppy, a peace symbol from Britain which was first distributed by the Co-operative Women's Guild in 1933, during the period of widespread fear throughout Europe that proceeded WWII.  The white poppy, therefore, is a reminder that we are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided.  The world was indeed divided, though, in 1939, and as a result the fictional character of Claire Randall was deployed as a British combat nurse.  When she accidentally travels back in time through a stone circle, her medical skills are immediately useful in rebellious 18th century Scotland.  She is regarded with suspicion by her Scottish hosts/captives, and frequently referred to as "Sassenach".
 
Claire Randall: I distinctly heard the barman in the pub last night refer to us as Sassenachs.
Reverend Wakefield: I hope you didn't take offense. It only means Englishman, after all, or at worst, outlander.
― Diana Gabaldon, Outlander

After I made this polish, it reminded me of Claire's resilience and passion, while invoking the ubiquitous blues, reds, and greens of Scottish tartans.  Complex, enigmatic, fierce, bold, mysterious- that's Claire for you!

>>> Sassenach <<<

franken-polish "Pumpkin Juice" {inspired by Harry Potter}

BOO!!!  It's been a while.  A year and a month and a week and a day, or so.  I wasn't actually planning on blogging again, truth be told.  I posted my last post three days before I bought my house, and everything just got wilder from there.  It's been an astonishing year!  A lot of things have changed, but my love of polish and color and wonderment hasn't.  I did discover a different angle on it, though, and that's what brings me back here.

My third Helmer was overflowing (I know, I know), and I had all this drugstore/mainstream/dupes/etc. polish that wasn't getting enough love.  I wondered, could they be upcycled, rediscovered, reborn?  I had long dreamed of creating my own lacquers...  And thus, yet another craftsy obsession ignited my imagination.

The frankening bug has hit me hard these past few weeks since I started.  I've made over forty frankens already... jeepers!  Halloween seems an appropriate occasion to debut my first franken polish monster, so without further ado...

>>> Pumpkin Juice <<<

Orly "Explosion of Fun" - Sparkle Holiday 2014

New Year's Eve sneak up on you?  Yeah, me too.  Like seriously, I thought yesterday was still the 29th, even though I was well aware that the day before that was in fact the 29th, so I've been all kinds of confused today.  If you're needing some last minute festivity for tonight, allow me to suggest the Orly Sparkle collection for Holiday 2014, in particular "Mirrorball" (as we'll see tomorrow) or, my personal favorite, "Explosion of Fun"!  Feeling midnight party-ready yet??

Christmas Eve NOTD: Girly Bits "Eggnogaholic" + Orly "Halo"

You know, I'm not usually all that into eggnog, but I was having a lovely tea time with my dear friend Grace yesterday, and kind of rediscovered the eggnog magic.  Every time I have gone to make tea during the last week I would look in the fridge at the eggnog, and ask whoever happened to be nearby if they thought a dash of it would be good in tea, and everyone unanimously was like ew no gross Marisa, what the blazes are you thinking, but then yesterday I finally just went for it because whatever YOLO and, you know what?  It was absolutely amazing.  I made everyone in the house try it, and they all agreed that it was delicious.  A big ol' mugfull of hot water steeped in Celestial Seasonings Nutcracker Sweet black tea, plus equal parts eggnog and skim milk, plus a bit of agave nectar for extra sugar with that spice... heaven.

Unfortunately, today when I went to recreate my scrumptious treat, I was quietly devastated to discover that we were out of both Nutcracker Sweet and eggnog.  :(  Bigelow Eggnoggin' black & green tea blend was just not the same.

Thankfully I have a beautiful eggnog confection that my giant, college-football-playing brother cannot devour, like he does any and all other edible things: the aptly-named glitter crelly by Girly Bits, which served as the base for my Christmas Eve manicure.  Inspired by snow angels, shining stars, and all things beautiful and bright, I was and am so in love with these heavenly lacquers together in seraphic harmony.