Handmade Jewelry: Fable and Fury

Victorian Framed Rosehips and Leaves

When I found Fable & Fury's shop on Etsy I probably added half the store to my favorites list immediately! All the pieces are laser cut stainless steel with excellent detail. They come in black or silver with a few red pieces here and there. Last May I picked out five necklaces and two pairs of earrings for myself. Shipping was fast and the packaging was all beautiful. I ordered all of the necklaces with a shorter chain, which is a considerate option provided in each listing. I haven't found much information about the person behind Fable & Fury, but these are hand-crafted wonders! Here is a little descriptive info:

"Fable & Fury silhouettes depict distinctive yet symbolic imagery, woodland and sea creatures, iconic portraits, and the curious concoctions that inhabit our imaginations."

 Fable & Fury even offers a few selections in red:

Victorian Silhouette Raven earrings

Fable & Fury also has a wonderful selection of portraits. There's Vincent Price, Vampira, Bela Lugosi, Frankenstein and his Bride for horror fans. There's Alfred Hitchcock and John Waters for movie buffs. There's Morrisey, David Bowie, Johnny Cash and Tom Waits for music lovers. The only problem is deciding which to get!

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Makeup Storage: Helmer from Ikea

The Helmer drawer unit from Ikea seems like it was specifically made to store makeup in. Is it? Most likely not, but that doesn't stop us makeup lovers from snatching them up. Is this the holy grail for makeup storage? Possibly. It's inexpensive at $39.99 compared to other storage units and holds an amazing amount of product. It slides right underneath my makeup table to conserve space. It comes in red, white, or silver. It comes flat with instructions on assembling and bending each sheet into drawers. It was easy to put together, but took a little time. Its six drawers are each tall enough for most foundation bottles and nail polish bottles. There is a drawback to this lovely unit though, and it's that there isn't a catch at the back keeping you from pulling the drawers completely out if pulled quickly. I would hate to drop a full drawer of makeup!

I promised myself I wouldn't have more makeup than what can fit inside just one Helmer...

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

MAC Launch: Fall Colour, Cindy Sherman, official product photos and promo info

MAC & Cindy Sherman Fall Colour Collection - Official US Launch Date: September 29th, 2011

Press Release:


Fluidline - USD $15.00
Ash Violet - Blackened purple
Blacktrack - Solid flat black

Lipstick - USD $14.50
Fleshpot - Pale muted pinky beige (satin finish)
Violetta - Bright clean violet purple (amplified finish)
X-S - Dirty red chestnut (satin finish)
Plum Bright - Purple (satin finish)
Neon Orange - Bright clean orange (amplified finish)
Show Orchid - Vivid hot pink (amplified finish)
Fusion Pink - Bright coral (amplified finish)
Ruby Woo - Vivid bluish-red (matte finish)

Lip Erase - USD $18.50
Dim N37

Pigment - USD $20.00
Tan - Muted pinky brown bronze
Emerald Dusk - Deep yellow blue with white pearl
Blue Storm - Rich metallic blue
Starless Night - Deep black purple with light purple pearl
Neo-Orange - Intense neon salmon (matte finish)
Magenta Madness - Intense neon blue pink (matte finish)
Violet - Vivid bright violet purple (frost finish)
Golden Olive - High frosted green-gold (frost finish)

Lash - USD $15.00
36

Parlor Smoke Eyeshadow Quad - USD $38.00
Parlor Smoke - Mauve grey (frost finish)
Cross Cultural - Neutral brown (matte finish)
Steel - Almost black (veluxe pearl finish)
Indigo - Navy (matte finish)

Bronzing Powder - USD $23.00
Solar Riche - Mid-tone deep orange brown

Nail Lacquer - USD $15.00
Coco Clay - Warm chocolate (creme finish)
Oyster Shell - Light stone grey (creme finish)

Kohl Power - USD $15.00
Feline - Rich black

Eyeshadow - USD $15.00
Three Ring Yellow Yellow green (veluxe pearl finish)
Passionate Real mid-tone red (matte finish)
Blue Candy Clean blue (satin finish)
Shock-a-holic Deep purple (satin finish)
Royale Clean violet (matte finish)

Chromagraphic Pencil - USD $15.00
Process Magenta - Matte magenta
Basic Red - Primary red
Hi-Def Cyan - Cyan blue
Rich Purple - Dense purple

Mineralize Skinfinish - USD $28.00
Lightscapade Soft candlelit beige with multi-dimensional shimmer
Porcelain Pink Soft pinky coral with gold veining

Jumbo Penultimate Eyeliner - USD $19.50
Rapidblack True black

Lipglass - USD $14.50
C-Thru Peachy beige with shimmer
Pink Fade Pale pink
Orange Tempera Pale peach
Good Times Pale mauve

Angel Flame Quad - USD $38.00
Chamomile - Creamy pale yellow (satin finish)
Feather Pink - Mid-tone pink (satin finish)
Angel Flame - Coral that flashes pink/yellow (frost finish)
Gravel - Blue-grey (matte finish)

MAC Fall Colour: Wild Colour Eye Shadows, photos, swatches, and review.

MAC recently teamed up with the brilliant photographer Cindy Sherman for their new fall color collection. It includes over fifty products split up into three sections: Midnight Blue, Angel Flame, and Wild Colour. I purchased the five eyeshadows. It's due to be released in the US on September 29th.

MAC Fall Colour Eyeshadows: Wild Colour

All five eyeshadows are limited edition. Shock-a-holic is a re-promote from the 2010 Dare To Wear collection. Passionate is a re-promoted from the 2007 C-Shock collection. Without realizing it, I already had Passionate in my collection, so check your stashes for that one! I swatched all of these over bare skin. I felt that Shock-A-Holic was driest and applied poorly, but it might do better with a primer. Three Ring Yellow is the only shimmery one in this collection, all the others have a matte or satin finish. I'm really taken with Three Ring Yellow. I know it'll go great with Gorgeous Gold or Lucky Green, which are two of my favorites!

Three Ring Yellow eyeshadow (veluxe pearl) yellow-green, swatch

Passionate eyeshadow (matte) mid-tone red, swatch

Blue Candy eyeshadow (satin) clean blue, swatch

Royale eyeshadow (matte) clean violet, swatch

Shock-a-holic eyeshadow (satin) deep purple, swatch

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

MAC Posh Paradise Mattene Lipsticks, photos swatches review (Part I)

MAC Posh Paradise Mattene Lipsticks

Rare Exotic, Eden Rouge, Deliciously Forbidden, Unknown Pleasures, Potent Fig

MAC's Posh Paradise limited edition collection was released on September 15th with ten mattene lipsticks, eight paint pots and two nail laquers. The PRO release is a few days before, so if I'm on my toes I can get everything I want ahead of time. This time I couldn't make a decision if I wanted to get everything or just a few things. I like to see swatches before I buy! I purchased five of the Mattene Lipsticks.

See more of them in Part II here.

I love the consistency of these. They're Mattenes, but the boxes all say Semi-Matte. They're not as difficult to apply as MAC's true matte colors, like Ruby Woo, which tug and pull at the lip. They apply with ease and are still quite moisturizing. The pigmentation is great too. I can't express how pleased I am that MAC re-released the Mattenes. It's such a tease that it's only in the limited edition collection though. Love these.

MAC Posh Paradise Mattene Lipstick swatches

Rare Exotic - bright blueish pink
Eden Rouge - bright blue-based red
Deliciously Forbidden - berry pink
Unknown Pleasures - a dark blue-based red (named after the 1979 Joy Division album!)
Potent Fig - deep blueberry/grape purple

MAC Posh Paradise Mattene Lipstick swatches

Half the paint pots sold out on the first or second day they were available. It is a mad dash for MAC addicts everywhere to get their hands on new paint pot shades. Since I procrastinated, I only ended up getting Hyperviolet, a beautiful deep purple shade, and didn't want to pay regular price if I ordered from Nordstrom.

MAC Mattene Lipsticks: $14.50 for .17 ounces
MAC Paint Pots: $17.50 for .17 ounces

Most of them are already sold out on the MAC website, but some are available through Nordstrom.

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

NOTD: Black on Black

I recently picked up a couple of matte polishes from Zoya and I've been dying to put this look together. I applied two coats of Zoya's Matte Velvet Lacquer in Dovima  and then applied OPI's Black Onyx polish across the tips. I wish I had a matte black polish when I was fifteen -- it's so perfect for a teenage goth.

A few weeks ago I found an image of nails just like this on Pinterest that I promptly pinned to my Nail board. I followed the watermark to the original post on Chloe's Nails.

Sure, my photos aren't as fabulous as hers. This is what I get for zero photography knowledge and an old camera. I'm hoping to upgrade in the next few months to something substantially better. But will I learn how to use it? ...

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Mac Blogger's Obession, photos, swatches, and review.

No one loves MAC more than a beauty blogger. MAC handpicked nine bloggers to fly to their headquarters in Toronto, Canada last January to create their own unique eyeshadow and lipgloss colors. These were released on June 21st as part of the MAC Bloggers Obsession collection. I was on vacation when they were released and by the time I was home again, they were all sold out! Fortunately, MAC re-released them in July and I was able to pick up all four shadows.

Sparkle Neely, Sparkle & Hocus Pocus

Sparkle Neely, Sparkle by Amber of Beauty Blogging Junkie
Catch the reference to Valley of the Dolls, anyone? This color was a pleasant surprise for me. I didn't expect it to be so beautiful! It's a  medium rust brown with velvet finish with gorgeous gold sparkle. It looks so brown in pan that I didn't expect all that gorgeous sparkle!

Hocus Pocus by Lianne of The Makeup Girl
This is a charcoal color with a satin finish. It creates a beautiful smokey eye perfect for a wide variety of skintones. It's a pewter shimmer.

Jealousy Wakes & Parisian Skies

Jealousy Wakes by Christine of Temptalia
This is the kind of green that I'm always looking for. I gravitate towards rich greens and this is it!

Parisian Skies by Lesley Ellen of Lipstick Powder N Paint
This muted grey-blue was inspired by a Monet painting.

Sparkle Neely Sparkle, Hocus Pocus, Jealousy Wakes, Parisian Skies swatches

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

8 Classic Red Lipsticks

I know there are many, many people who swear they don't look good in a red lipstick -- but that simply isn't true! Anyone can rock a red lipstick, it just might take some time and effort to select the right shade for your skin tone. Maybe you need something on the pink side, or maybe you need something on the orange side. I know, it's a challenge if you don't know where to start. Also to be considered is the type of finish that you like. Take a look at my post on dark red lipsticks. Here is a selection of reds to think about.

1. MAC Viva Glam I - Described as an intense brownish blue-red, this is not only an amazing shade, but 100% of the purchase price goes to HIV/AIDS charity!

2. Bobbi Brown Hollywood Red - This is a semi-matte full coverage lipstick described as a bright candy red.

3. MAC M.A.C. Red - Possibly my all time favorite primary red.

4. Lotus Organic Cosmetics Classic Red - This long-lasting blue-based red has super hydrating shine.

5. Urban Decay Gash - Gash has a sheen finish and described as having a light-reflecting glossy lustre.

6. MAC Ruby Woo - This lipstick is super matte. Consequently it pulls the skin and is not the easiest to apply.

7. Bobbi Brown Vintage Red - This one is definitely on the orange side. It's also a semi-matte full coverage lipstick in fire engine red.

8. Aveda Poppy - This is another blue-based red lipstick. It's extremely moisturizing and I love the spearmint scent. It makes it feel so refreshing.

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

8 Dark Red Lipsticks for Fall

For the past few weeks I've been picking up dark red lipstick shades here and there. It's been all I think about makeup-wise. In the past few days I've been wearing Kirsch. I love the Mattenes and wish they were part of the permanent collection. I think the slender tube makes for a more precise application. The new Posh Paradise collection just came out and includes a range of the Mattenes. I'll share them when they arrive! Take a look at my post on classic red lipsticks.

1 MAC Kirsch - is a Mattene lipstick was released with the Cult Of Cherry Collection in August 2008.  It's a beautiful blackened cranberry.

2 MAC Prince Noir -  is a Matte lipstick that was released with the MAC Me Over collection last month. It's a dark burgundy. It's the darkest of the shades I've selected here.

3 MAC Musky Amethyst - is a Frost lipstick that's a great go-to when I want something dark but not as bold.

4 MUFE Rouge Artist Intense 48 - is a dark satin black currant shade.

5 MAC Dark Side - is an Amplified creme lipstick in deep burgundy.

6 MAC Rebel - is a Satin lipstick in vivid pinkish-purple. This was also just released with the MAC Me Over collection and was added to the permanent line. Yes, this is much more pink than red.

7 MAC Hang Up - is a Cremesheen lipstick in deep berry. On the MAC website it looks it's darker than Prince Noir, but here you can tell it isn't.

8 MAC So Scarlet - is an Amplified lipstick also from the Cult Of Cherry Collection in 2008 that's a clean grape burgundy.
 

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

MAC Launch: Posh Paradise, official product photos and promo info

MAC Posh Paradise Collection - Official US Release Date: September 15th, 2011

Press Release:

Succumb to temptation in a Paradise that invites taboo encounters. Rare and exotic, these delights are divine; fig leaves meet fashion beneath a jungle canopy where Seeds of Desire sprout. Discover Unknown Pleasures with lavishly lush Nail Lacquers and Mattene Lipsticks. Semi-matte lips get ultra-pure colour in a slinky, slither-smooth formula that feels as light on the lips as lust. Trespass tantalizingly with pearlized Paint Pots in shades that create seamless coverage while blending smoothly over lids. Indulge yourself with a plush, posh and provocative collection of hypnotic hues.

Mattene Lipstick - USD $14.50
Naked Bliss - Neutral light pink
Rare Exotic - Bright mid-tone blue pink
Legendary - Mid-tone brick red
Unknown Pleasures - Deep red blue
Seeds of Desire - Deep brown plum
Eden Rouge - Bright blue-red
Delectable - Orange-beige
Potent Fig - Deep blue grape
Deliciously Foribbden - Mid-tone berry
Fresh Amour - Light lavender

Paint Pot - USD $17.00
Treasure Hunt - Light pearled yellow (frost finish)
Half-Wild - Mid-tone purple (frost finish)
Hyperviolet - Deep violet (frost finish)
Nubile - Light peachy nude (frost finish)
Idyllic -  Mid-tone copper bronze (frost finish)
Genuine Treasure -  Reflects antique gold (frost finish)
Pure Creation - Mid-tone frosty blue (frost finish)
Imaginary - Blackened navy (frost finish)

Nail Lacquer - USD $14.00
Immortal - Gold Pale gold (frost finish)
Rain of Flowers - Blackened violet with violet pearlized pigments (frost finish)

OPI: Five Reds

Five OPI red nail polishes in direct sunlight.

A Oui Bit of Red, An Affair to Remember, Peru-B-Ruby, Bogota Blackberry, Bastille My Heart

Now that it's nearly fall and I'm in the spirit of the season, I'm thinking all about rich reds. I pulled out five reds from my OPI collection of polish to share with you. I switched the second and third polish in this photo of bottles from how I apply them. The second to the left is actually the middle finger color. OPI's nail polishes all come with the wide flat brush for superior application. Their website doesn't list color descriptions or finishes, which I find irritating.

A Oui Bit of Red

A Oui Bit of Red (creme finish) is part of the Classic Collection and also came out with the Fall 2008 La Collection De France. It's a brilliant, primary, cherry red and has a creme finish.

Peru-B-Ruby

 Peru-B-Ruby (shimmer finish) is a pinky magenta red. It's a reddish-pink with shimmer.

An Affair In Red Square

 An Affair In Red Square (shimmer finish) is from OPI's Russian Collection from 2007. It's a shimmery satin red.

Bogota Blackberry

Bagota Blackberry (frosted finish) is an OPI fan favorite from their Classic Collection. It's listed in the pink collection on their website, but it's dark enough to be a purplish-red. It's a berry red with shimmer.

Bastille My Heart

Bastille My Heart (creme finish) is also from the 2008 La Collection De France. It's a deep burgundy/wine red.

Bastille My Heart is currently my personal favorite of OPI's dark red shades. Do you have a favorite?

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Tarina Tarantino for Paul Mitchell: Sparkle & Style straightening iron and hair dryer

I recently got a peek at a Paul Mitchell catalog featuring Tarina Tarantino's new collection for the brand. She designed both a smoothing / flat iron and a hair dryer with super cute patterns featuring cameos of pretty pink-haired ladies! I couldn't find any photos online yet though, so this comes straight from the video on this website. This special holiday collection will be released in November.

image from Tarina Tarantino/Paul Mitchell

It looks like these are the regular Paul Mitchell formulas with pretty packaging, but I can't say for certain because the images are too small. The hair dryer looks like it's the Express Ion Dry TurboLight model. The smoothing iron looks like the same model as their their Express Ion Style. Unfortunately I don't have any further information about this collection.

Would you purchase the hair dryer or the straightener? Do you use Paul Mitchell products?

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

MAC Me Over Nail Polish Swatches, Deep Sea and Purple Majesty

Autumn is the season for rich plums and dark natural hues. I'm a bit late uploading these new MAC nail polishes. I'm a busy lady! They were released on August 25th as part of the MAC Me Over collection. These are limited edition. Each photo has two coats of polish. I feel that both of these shades are perfect for fall!

MAC Deep Sea

MAC Purple Majesty

Deep Sea is a deep teal shade and Purple Majesty is a rich burgundy plum. They're both a creme finish.


Retail price is $15.00 for .34 fluid ounces.

♥ ♥ ♥
Lotus

Tarte for True Blood eyeshadow palette, photos, swatches, review

Tarte True Blood Eyeshadow Palette


the light
fairy (shimmering pink)
dusk (matte warm taupe)
dawn (shimmering gold dust)
werewolf (matte chocolate)
waitress (sparkling pink champagne)
nocturnal
charmer (sparkling burnt copper)
glamour me (sparkling deep plum)
stake
bayou (shimmering gold tan)
telepath (sparkling warm rose)
the true death (sparkling silver)
immortal
moss
legend
"V" (sparkling crimson)

Tarte for True Blood deluxe lifted natural eye primer with Firmitol
Tarte for True Blood deluxe lights, camera, lashes! clinically proven natural mascara
Tarte for True Blood full-sized emphasEYES aqua-gel eyeliner