Stamping! Lacy nails with french tips

Today's mani was inspired by Tracey at Simply Into My Nails. When I saw her negative space mani I just had to try it. What I liked most about it was that she had done french tips in the same polish as the stamping which is a lovely way of hiding that visible nail line.
Tracey used a Born Pretty plate, but as Messy Mansion 44 arrived in the week I thought I'd give that a try.
My nails are horribly stained. They always have been even before I started painting them and it is actually the main reason I do paint them so I was a bit nervous of doing a negative space mani. I am not sure I will do a bare nail again as I can still see the yellowyness - I have a huge selection of lovely nude polishes so I will use a base colour next time.
Anyway, although Tracey did her tips last, I did mine first as I felt I was more likely to make a mess of that. I wanted to go for a fairly subtle look for my first attempt so I chose A England Sleeping Palace which is a lovely soft dusky holographic purple. I am still getting the hang of the new stamper and I haven't picked the image up perfectly but I am reasonably pleased with the way these turned out.
I have never had a french mani so these do feel a bit unusual to me but I certainly want to try this again.

A England Sleeping Palace
and Messy Mansion 44

 

 

 

A England Sleeping Palace

Well, this one is just absolutely beautiful. Although I think Saint George is my most favourite A England, and possibly even my most favourite polish, Sleeping Palace may well be coming a close second!
Sleeping Palace is one of A England's new Burne-Jones Dream collection. This is made up of 5 polishes and the shades are based on paintings by Edward Burne-Jones, who was a designer and painter. I have also just found out that he worked closely with William Morris.
As I did architecture at University I am obviously familiar with (and love) the works of William Morris and the Arts and Crafts movement, but had never heard of Byrne-Jones. Maybe my love of this style and era explains why the shades in this collection attract me so much and I think, having tried this one, I MUST have them all!!!
Sleeping Palace is a dusky purple with a holographic shimmer, it is extremely wearable as a beautiful muted shade, but then as it catches the light the holo shimmer is just gorgeous!
I wore this yesterday to meet some lovely friends in London, and I was proud to have such a wonderful polish on my nails. The sun shone and they looked just stunning.
Coverage was great, one coat was almost enough but I did two just to be sure. They are wearing well, and if possible I am loving it more and more, watch out Saint George - you might not still be my number one!!
I took a few pics with flash when I first applied it and then a few more when the sun came out.

A England Sleeping Palace - flash photo

 

Sunshine pics

  

 Some garden pics, with my beautiful Japanese Maple and Sambuca Negra

 

 

 and finally, with my William Morris curtains! (how could I not, having discovered the connection!)

Sleeping Palace with William Morris in the sun

Sleeping Palace with William Morris in the shade