Hello, it's competition time again on the Penny Masquerade blog, with an especially lovely prize- this I'm Late I'm Late Gold White Rabbit Cameo Necklace with Pocket Watch and Fan, another of the cameo-trinket combinations of which I am so fond is up for grabs for anybody who tweets, posts (like this!), follows the blog, or even just pick a favourite piece. Well, that last one's not quite as easy as it sounds, trust me.

I'll include a selection of links below so that you can enter too, or even just buy some of the pieces on the Penny Masquerade Etsy pages. And if you don't win? Penny Masquerade's Blog posts similar competitions for new (and beautiful) pieces practically every month, so become a follower and keep your eyes peeled. Well, good luck :D x

Bye for now,

Rachel xxx

P.S.~ Here are the links:

www.etsy.com/listing/47601114/im-late-im-late-gold-white-rabbit-cameo

pennymasquerade.blogspot.com

Hello, sorry I haven't written a post in a while, but I've been in the middle of my GCSEs for several weeks now and time between exams and revising to keep up with my blog has been hard to find. Anyway, I'm here now, so here goes:
My jewellery of the day today is the Maiden Voyage-Gold and Blue Ship Cameo Necklace with Anchor, shown above. It's the prize for this month's Penny Masquerade competition (yay!) but is also for sale on Penny Masquerade's Etsy pages. Obviously, the nautical theme is bang on trend, but the brilliant thing about this piece is that it's different. So many shops at the moment are full of plastic anchor charms and stripy ribbon and I'm so pleased to see Penny Masquerade's take on the trend, especially as it makes me think of holidays- YAY!!!! You can enter the competition now (the winner will be chosen on the 30th of June) by blogging, tweeting, following, or simply commenting on the competition below. Whatever you decide to do, make sure you follow the link and enter now!

My art of the day is also a sketch of a ship. I know, I know, Kay Nielsen again, but this is such a lovely picture I couldn't really think of anything else for this post. As an illustration to the original story of The Little Mermaid, by Hans Christian Anderson, I feel that the artist has really understood the themes, especially with the sad colours and flowing shapes. Maybe read the original, if you have time (I'll include the Sur La Lune link below)- it's quite a bit different from the happy-ending stuff most people were brought up with...

Right, that's it for today because although my next exam isn't until next week, I should probably be getting on with some more revision. Oh dear. Please enter the Penny Masquerade competition for my jewellery of the day!

Bye for now,

Rachel xxx

P.S.~ Here are the links:

www.etsy.com/listing/47564790/maiden-voyage-gold-and-blue-ship-cameo

pennymasquerade.blogspot.com

www.surlalunefairytales.com/littlemermaid/index.html

I have spent all day tidying my room and have to go back to it in a minute so this isn't going to be an especially long post. Also, I have about 20 minutes left of what is officially "today" so I'm going to have to hurry up to get in all of my things of the day.



I find Pre-Raphaelite paintings fascinating. One of my favourite places to go for art is the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, and I have to say that the photographs you see online of the paintings never do them justice. They really do look completely lifelike, it's incredible. This picture of Cinderella (cleaning all day like I have been!) is by John Everett Millais; I don't think it's intended as an illustration, as he only did one, and he's done similar single paintings of other fairytales, including Puss in Boots and Red Riding Hood, but it's still amazing how he's interpretted the theme so well. It's also nice to see a change of theme, rather than mythology or Shakespeare.
Well, what else could I have as my jewellery of the day?! Another Penny Masquerade piece and one of my favourite types of design; this illustrated You Will Go To The Ball magnified setting is accompanied by wonderfully appropriate little charms, in this case, a golden broom and a Swarovski crystal heart. I think the idea of wearing such an ornate illustration is so lovely, especially because of the scalloped edging and decorative twist- it's not just a flat image, it's a piece of art.

And now I reall y will have to go because I'm technically 4 minutes into tomorrow and that kind of makes the idea of things "of the day" a little bit redundant. Never mind, all that's left to say is good morning! Now I'd best be getting back to putting all my books in order.

Bye for now,

Rachel xxx

P.S. ~ Here are the links:

www.etsy.com/listing/47542612/you-will-go-to-the-ball-red-and-gold

www.surlalunefairytales.com/illustrations/cinderella/millaiscindy.html

www.bmag.org.uk

Yay! Holiday time! Well, actually, one week of revising, but never mind. I have already chosen my jewellery of the day, based on what I plan to do this morning, which is bake some gingerbread cookies and (possibly) a cake. Introducing the Ready For The Oven novelty charm necklace from Penny Masquerade. Combining two of my favourite things - cakes and fashion - this design is absolutely adorable and a bit unusual too; well, who wouldn't want to stand out from the crowd. In fact, I might put on my gingerbread man hairband when I've finished writing this :)

Today's Old News Story is that, 57 years ago to the day, Edmund Hillary (who, by the way, looks a bit like Rob Brydon, don't you think?) and Tenzing Norgay were the first (known) people to reach the summit of Mount Everest- go them! Where does this fit in with biscuits? Well, Tenzing buried a selection of sweets and bisuits in the snow as a Buddhist offering to the Gods. Unfortunately, they were only able to stay for a quarter of an hour because they were low on oxygen, which would be a bit disappointing, wouldn't it?!

Finally, today's artwork is by on of my favourite illustrators, Kay Nielsen, whose fairytale pictures were my inspiration for my Hansel and Gretel art exam piece. I love the way the house looks so decadent and inviting and the trees, which are curled around it as though to point the way, look so evil in comparison. The delicate balance of subtle symbolism and literal interpretation of the Grimms' story is incredible; speaking of the Brothers Grimm, for those of you who haven't read the original fairytales, their original tales were much darker than the ones we hear today. When I was researching for my Art GCSE I found an amazing fairytale website with many of the original stories- hardly any would get published in our modern, PC society. I'll put the link below. You can find a selection of illustrations (including Nielsen's) there too. Right, I think I've spent enough time wittering on now so I'm off to revise maths.

Bye for now,

Rachel xxx

P.S.~ Here are the Links:

www.etsy.com/listing/47843930/ready-for-the-oven-gingerbread-men

www.surlalunefairytales.com

My jewellery of the day today absolutely HAS to be Penny Masquerade's Gold Typewriter necklace; I just sat a chemistry exam and my hand is aching from writing- i wish we were allowed to type. I love miniature things. I was given a miniature teapot necklace for my Birthday and it's so unbelievably cute, like a little dollshouse accessory. Ooh, and they ha d a typewriter necklace like this in one of my local shops, Berry Red, recently, and I wondered if it was a Penny Masquerade creation, though it didn't have a label on so I suppose I can't really be sure.

O.K., so I know that everybody has kind of seen this already, but my art of the day, aside from the jewellery of course, is Will Ashford's interpretation of an old book- on the one hand, I'm annoyed because he's defaced a book, on the other, I wish I'd thought of it. I have to say, I much prefer this to Tom Phillips' The Humument - this one has more of an illustrated feel about it. The whole story's been re-written by highlighting certain words and illustrating over others. I recently made a Hansel and Gretel book sculpture for my art exam, which I really need to upload...
Anyway, that's about it for today, because I really ought to be revising for my next batch of examinations *sigh* never mind...

Bye for now,

Rachel xxx

P.S.~ Here are the links:
www.etsy.com/listing/47967266/murder-she-wrote-gold-typewriter
farm3.static.flickr.com/2049/2393325654_e8ba5d39e0_o.jpg

And so it begins...

O.K., so I've finally got around to creating my own blog, inspired by my favourite blog ever, Penny Masquerade (formerly Ruby Rouge)! So, as a tribute to my inspiration, this blog is going to be all about the lovely jewellery on sale at Penny Masquerade's Etsy site. It's completely original and sooo cute - i especially like their lockets, cameos and (of course) Lewis Carroll-inspired pieces. And, on top of all of that, the site runs a competition pretty much every month, so that you can WIN one of the pieces (well, two this month!) - all you have to do is talk about it (like I am now) on a blog, twitter, or even on the Penny Masquerade site. This month, there's a bit of a bird theme going on, with a bronze owl necklace (he's called Mr. Feathers! How cute!!!) and a pair of silver birdie earrings- all you have to do is write!!! So why not follow the links below and you could be in with a chance of winning them (at least visit the Etsy site, you will fall.in.LOVE.)

Bye for now,

Rachel xxx

P.S.~ Here are the links:
pennymasquerade.blogspot.com
pennymasquerade.com