frankenpolish "Vintage Hydrangea"

There is a special time on a winter night when the milky sky will gather up all the snow-reflected light, and create from it an opaline mauve glow.  This color reminds me of that phenomenon, one of my favorites and most treasured during the year.

I love winter, as anyone who knows me even a little bit can attest, and I love flowers, and I think this twinkling muted mauve strikes a lovely balance between the two for this romantic month of February.  I think it might be a relatively easy one to make, too!

>>> vintage hydrangea <<<

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 <<<

 

franken-polish "Molly Weasley" {inspired by Harry Potter}

The other day I randomly, without searching or planning or really even thinking about it, pulled China Glaze "Glimmer More" and Wet n' Wild "Undercover" out of my "for frankening" box together, and I thought, PERFECT.  It was immediate chemistry.  A beautiful blushing fall bouquet!  I'd been intrigued by "Glimmer More" as an autumnal component, but hadn't quite thought about how I might use it, and then it all came together at once.  I added China Glaze "Material Girl" for rosy sparkle, and Milani "Golden Romance" for a luminous glow.  It turned out exactly like I hadn't yet imagined!

After I was done, I thought about what I should name this autopilot franken, and the retrofitted inspiration came to me as quickly and effortlessly as the creation had: Molly Weasley!  Molly Weasley, the magical mother of six assorted wizards and one brave witch; warm, generous, fiery Molly with the heart of a lioness.  She is a woman brimming over with cozy sunshine and a fierce protectiveness for those she loves.  It's a glowing love that I thought this franken exuded with great joy ♥️

>>> Molly Weasley <<<

 

Molly Weasley

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 <<<

Guest Post with *Lacquer Slacker Liz* featuring CrowsToes: An Edgy Ocean Dream

Happy day, Twinklings!!  And what a special day it is here on this tiny, twinkling blog, to receive a visit from my very own polish angel... Lacquer Slacker Liz!  Polish angel, nairy godmother, blogger BFF; if blogging is an adventure at sea, an edgy ocean dream even, then Liz has been my lighthouse.  Not only does this fabulous lady have a discerning sense of color and a meticulous eye for detail, she writes with a compelling degree of humor, sincerity, and passion little seen in beauty blogging, or the written word in general.  I tend to start my morning reading Lacquer Slacker Liz, for the polish of course but also simply for Liz's clever quips and brilliant descriptions- I always end up with a smile on my face, and I often feel like standing and applauding Liz's en pointe narrative :)  She also tends to capture the many personalities of a polish in many lights, in such a way that I have been frequently smacking my own forehead for having passed up whichever lacquer that Liz then goes and reveals to be such a gem.  Exquisite torture.

Besides producing an excellent resource for polish lovers, Liz is full to bursting with vibrant enthusiasm and golden-hearted generosity, and it has been my greatest pleasure in blogging to get to know this fellow color lover and lacquer loony.  (Sorry not sorry for all the sappy sap... sometimes you just gotta get down with your feels ;) )  Behold, and enjoy!!

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Thanks so much, Marisa, for welcoming me to Tiny Twinklings!

I'm totally psyched to be guesting here as I'm a huge fan! I'm afraid I won't be able to duplicate Marisa's engaging, whimsical style or her beautiful prose, but we share a serious enthusiasm for color as a replenishing source of joy that feeds the soul as well as the eyes. The featured polish for my post is one that I purchased specifically with Marisa in mind, long before she asked me to guest post, because it does exactly that.

An Edgy Ocean Dream was created by indie polish maker CrowsToes exclusively for international etailer Edgy Polish in Sweden. I came across this beauty on Be Happy and Buy Polish and was immediately smitten. Sending away for a polish from Sweden is a bit of an extravagance, but as Jessica said in her review, this one is worth it. Described very simply as a "mid-tone aqua holo with a highlight of golden flecks," this is a gorgeous complex holographic polish in a vibrant medium-light aqua enriched by superabundant golden flakes. The reflective flakes take on a gleaming pale sea green look from the base color, giving the polish a lush tropical south sea vibe, and add a beautiful burnished foily speckled look to the polish in indirect light and shade. In direct sun there is a magnificent linear prismatic display with a blazing central flame of cerulean blue edged by sparkling bands of aqua, green, yellow and red, all floating over a semi-metallic flash of pale sea green. So gorgeous! 

Application was a pleasure. The consistency of An Edgy Ocean Dream is fluid, full-bodied and dense with flakes. It has a certain thickness because of that, but nevertheless goes on with a creamy, self-leveling flow over the nail. Pigmentation is very good, with completely even opaque coverage in two medium coats, which is what I used for this manicure. Cleanup is fairly straightforward with a little bit of stickiness on the part of the golden flakes. An Edgy Ocean Dream dries naturally in very good time to a silky smooth, shiny finish. Topcoat does not diminish the holographic effects in any way. 

Photos show two coats of An Edgy Ocean Dream over Seche Rebuild treatment and Pretty Serious All Your Base basecoat with a topcoat of Seche Vite. 

What did I tell you? Just wonderful and totally worth the postage from Sweden. It got here really quickly, too. I love the complexity of greens and blues and the semi-tarnished foily finish that is created by the inclusion of the gold flakes with the holographic formula -- they play together so very well. And the name is perfect, no? 

Thanks for reading! 

love,

Liz

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

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check out some of the recent activity on Lacquer Slacker Liz:

Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/05/polish-my-life-blue-pansy-and-mentality.html <<

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/05/girly-bits-youre-my-hooper-hero.html <<

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/05/essie-petal-pushers-and-shimmer-polish.html <<

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Lacquer Slacker Liz

>> http://lacquerslackerliz.blogspot.com/2015/04/alchemy-lacquers-naiad-of-spring.html <<

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I just want to thank our lovely Liz again for guest posting during this insane time of my life.  An angel, indeed!!!  And how gorgeous is this polish?!  I sometimes think Liz might be clairvoyant; really, it was like she premeditated me when she proposed this lacquer as our guest star.  She'd already known I'd love it when I didn't even know it existed, haha!  I, too, am enthralled with this inspiring name, its physical manifestation, and of course the permeating Swedish-ness of it all...  I'm a fourth Swedish myself, and the fact that this polish comes exclusive from the charming city of Malmö is quite compelling to the imagination.  How luxurious!  

I see I have disappointingly few personal photos of Malmö, but voilà, here I am with Santiago Calatrava's infamous Turning Torso.  I had just graduated high school and was excited to be starting architecture school; now, five years later, I am about to graduate college, and am excited to be soon starting out in the profession for realsies.  Funny how things come full circle, isn't it?

XOXO

Marisa + Sprinklepuff 

Different Dimension "Luck & Leprechauns"

Happy Saint Patrick's Day, loves!  Really slipping this one under the wire...  But you know how it is!  I could never resist a good festive polish, and this one is very special indeed.  Wearing it, I can just feel the leprechaun formations soaring over the violently-violet World Cup Stadium, little lanterns aglow, a shower of gold raining down over the Irish supporters, the arc of a rainbow bowing up towards the star-studded sky, the great shimmering shamrock rising over Ireland's end...  We're talking Quidditch now, in case you weren't following :)  March always lures my imaginings and daydreams to the British Isles, and I think I can feel a Harry Potter audiobook binge-listen coming on...

(Queue Ludo Bagman's voice:) "And with that, I GIVE YOU... DIFFERENT DIMENSION!"

Okay, so it's not quite so snappy as "I GIVE YOU... POTTER!", but I'd bet that any nail addict out there gets the same rousting rush of exhilaration all the same.  Tee hee.

"Luck & Leprechauns" glitter gradient over "My Lucky Clover"

Hare Polish: "Oh What Fun It Is To Love" + "Test Your Love!" + "Love You To Pieces!"

Happy happy Friday, gorgeous!!  The ominous 13th it may be, but for myself, I am looking forward to a peachy Valentine's Day tomorrow, and choosing to disregard the sinister portents.  What's a superstitious day against an auspiciously delightful polish on the nails, anyway?  And if you're needing some ideas for a love lacquer to suit your Valentine mood, well, I might have some ideas... :)  Are you a natural beauty in need of a cozy, rosy hue?  A fearless flirt for whom only bright and bold will do?  Or perhaps, an enigmatic temptress, glimmering in the sultry darkness?  Or, are you something else entirely...?

For inspiration, I have assembled all of my *love*-themed Hares, and mood-wise, they run the gamut, but they do have a few things in common: dazzle power, and awesomeness.  They are especially precious to me because they were all first worn and loved by my most favoritest Lacquer Slacker Liz.  Each time I indulge in sporting one of these HARE polish treasures, I am simply in awe of her generosity in sharing these stunning creations with me, and feel like if anyone is channeling Cupid's divine spirit this year, it would be darling Liz for uniting me and HARE in true lacquer lurv :]

Hare Polish "Oh What Fun It Is To Love"

Hare Polish "Test Your Love!"

Hare Polish "Test Your Love!"

Hare Polish "Love You To Pieces!"

Hare Polish "Love You To Pieces!"

 

♥ * ♥ * ♥

Rainbow Honey: January 2015 Mystery Bag!

Hello there, fairy friends!  Long time, no nothing, I know.  It has been a busy and wonderful week, exploring Portland and the Oregon Coast with my darling man, but as he returned to Montana so did I return to reality (including the dwindling window of primary relevance for this post, haha).  I now have both a mystery bag subscription and my change-of-address in order, so next month should be much more timely, Twinklings!!  And so, on that harried note, I present the January Mystery Bag (WHEEE)!!

OPI: Gwen Stefani Holiday 2014 Collection ["Rollin' in Cashmere" trio, etc]

Hello darlings, and Happy Monday to you!  What with school started up in full force once more (for the last semester of my life!!!) the posts will be fewer and farther between, most unfortunately, and despite a desperate backlog of swatches, holiday and otherwise :(  However, I just had to get this one up for multiple reasons: one, because all of these polishes were popping up for excellent deals immediately after Christmas at TJMaxx, Marshall's, etc, well in advance of when I would normally expect these to appear at discount stores (uh, usually next year!).  But indeed, the Rollin' in Cashmere trio featured here (incorporating "Rollin' in Cashmere", "Comet in the Sky", and "Snow Globetrotter") was snapped up at TJMaxx for *$9.99* by my savvy Auntie Deborah, who very kindly loaned it to me for swatching and news-sharing, before she tried them even.  Thank you oh so much, Auntie!!  You may consider this your bargain-hunting hit list, kittens.

Glam Polish "Dancing Through Life"

Happy (belated) Ninth Day of Christmas!  Yes, I know, it is actually the Tenth Day of Christmas currently here on the West Coast, but I've been wanting to post this polish in honor of the *nine ladies dancing* for weeks now, and while I was indeed panic packing yesterday for my move back to Portland today and wasn't able to get this post up at that time, I hope you'll agree that that the occasion is worth revisiting for this stunning showstopper!!

"Dancing Through Life" was released this past November as part of Glam Polish's Broadway Collection.  This awesome little company has been going nuts down there in Australia, debuting new amazing nine-part collections (plus occasional smaller collections) every month for a while now!  I mean, the creative stamina is just astounding to me.  I thought this one was just so perfect as a delicately chic winter polish, even after the holidays have come and gone.

Icing : Cashmere "NYE" *starring Auntie Deborah*

Happy New Year's Eve, all you Twinkling goddesses out there!  Since I started this blog, I've been collecting pictures of manicures I have done for friends, as swatches and NOTD fun, but more importantly, as proof and validation that beauty reigns in all hands (and humans in general) regardless of nail shape, age, industry, etc.  My Auntie Deborah, once a makeup artist, now my fairy godmother, kindly posed for these swatches way back in September, but with a name like "NYE" I thought it only fitting that this polish, and my first guest feature, should debut on the last day of the year!!  Here's to a sparkling night of champagne kisses, and a most wonderful 2014!  Let this post and this night be a celebration of the profound beauty in heart, body, and soul that shines in all of us.

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.

Sephora Formula X "Alchemy" & China Glaze "Golden Seal"

Happy Fifth Day of Christmas, loves!  I didn't even realize that we are already halfway through the Twelve Days of Christmas until an hour and a half ago, and even though I have a terrifying mountain of holiday swatches sitting on my desktop dying to be posted, I just had to make last minute room for these ones in honor of them *five ... golden ... rings*!!!!!

China Glaze "Golden Seal" + Sephora Formula X "Alchemy"

Sephora Formula X "Alchemy"

China Glaze "Golden Seal" + Sephora Formula X "Alchemy"

Fair Maiden "Sleigh Bells In The Snow" & "The Stars Are Brightly Shining"

"I'm dreaming of a white Christmas // just like the ones I used to know // where the treetops glisten // and children listen // to hear sleigh bells in the snow..."

I cannot help myself; these polishes make me want to sing!  There's the obvious cause of blatant suggestion - "O Holy Night, the stars are brightly shining..."- but also, these lacquers are so radiantly gorgeous that you might just be inspired to "fall on your knees!".  You may even "hear the angel voices!"  Oh night divine, indeed.

 

"Sleigh Bells In The Snow" + "The Stars Are Brightly Shining"

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Lorac *The Royal* holiday eye shadow palette set

Hello there, princesses!  Seeking some shimmering shadows for your next royal ball?   Well good, because PRINCESSES ONLY*; we're talking about *The Royal* Eye Shadow Palette Set, after all.  (*Princesses-at-heart absolutely do count.  Welcome to Tiny Twinklings, Your Highness.)

I think I'll let the pictures do the heavy lifting in this post, since there are quite a few of them, and also because I'm feeling lazy after all dis photographing :P  Several of you have asked for eyeshadow looks to go with your eyeshadow swatches in the past, so I've been having a go at it lately.  Has it been helpful for you?  If this kind of post is working for you, or if there is something you would like to see, pretty please let me know in the comments so that I can optimize these reviews for you.  Because hey, my readers really are royalty around here!  ♥

Crowns of Copenhagen

This set hasn't received much press at all, though by merit of its packaging alone one would think it should.  These crowns look exactly like the three kroner that stack in a spire over every old government building in Copenhagen, and the ones imprinted on the Danish krone coins.  The colors also remind me of the Rosenborg summer castle interior; I lived four blocks away from the slot during my time in the Danish capital so it is a fond place for me.  I often walked, picnicked, and sketched in the castle grounds; once we even did a zealous group workout on the lawns.  Just imagine, a whole bunch of us out there in front of a fairytale Renaissance castle, doing lunges and pushups and planks... in honor of the Queen, of course.  Anyways, these palettes are kind of nostalgic for me, so I was bound and determined to own this set, even if the colors aren't wildly unique or imaginative.  This regal collection full of precious metals is quite perfectly suited to holiday soirées and parties, or anytime you just need a little glamour in your life and on your lids.

Rosenborg Castle

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Laquerlicious "Warm Sugar Cookies" Holiday 2014

Sprinklepuff want a cookie?  Sprinklepuff is a unicorn- Sprinklepuff DEFINITELY wants a cookie.  I'm sure many of you have been confused by this mysterious Sprinklepuff, but rest assured; the lovely Casey of Glittering Elements and I are working on something special in honor of my favorite magical friend, and when it is finished, we will get to meet Sprinklepuff at last!!  ♥

Sprinklepuff and I are both in luck because there are literally mounds of delicious holiday cookies in my kitchen right now.  The holidays just aren't the holidays unless sugar is absolutely everywhere, amirite?  And then there's this polish, which is like cookie camouflage in the Christmas goodie (Candy Cane) forest.  Those cookies aren't even going to know what's coming until... OM NOM NOM.     . .. . ... (crumbs.  . .. . these are crumbs. .. . . {Sprinklepuff hungee} .. . ...)

Laquerlicious "Warm Sugar Cookies"

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Rainbow Honey : Holiday 2014 "Honey Gold" & "Don't Gingersnap At Me!"

Hello, honey bunnies!!  It was a Rainbow Honey nail mail day for me (HOORAY) and all these holiday goodie-inspired pretties are putting me in the mood for baking.  My mom's heritage is solid Scandinavian so around here when the snow begins to fall, sandbakkels are in the making.  Omm nom nom.

You may recognize this "Don't Gingersnap At Me!" from last year's holiday selection, though thankfully for those of us who missed it, those three festive holiday glitters have made a return this season, in complement to this year's holiday offerings, "Honey Gold" & "Gingered!".  This holiday is all about luxurious, spiced metals, and I'm not really sure whether to feel hungry or glamorous so I'm embracing a confused mélange of both.

Pür Minerals "Let It Glow" bronze, blush, & brighten cheek trio

It was only when I started typing out the name of this holiday set that the name hit me: "Let It Glow".  LET IT GO.  I guess now we know why I felt an irresistible draw to the set... it's that flurrying Elsa power, at it again.  Serendipitous indeed that I randomly decided to swatch this box for the last day of my Frozen swatchathon! ❄

"Naughty & Nice" ... "Sugar & Spice" ... "Glisten & Glow"