Action Kids' Club Blog Tour!

 

(Hey people! Today I'm participating in a blog tour post from Lydia Howe, the author of this awesome new kids' book Action Kids' Club! Turning the microphone over to her now so make sure you keep reading!)

 

Today we’re at the forth blog tour stop, celebrating the release of the first book in the Action Kids  series, Action Kids' Club. . Read the post from yesterday at this blog. 

The answer to yesterday’s quote puzzle is: Failure is an event...it’s not a person. - Don Howe

Today I’m really excited to have an interview to share with y’all! Leah, who illustrated Action Kids' Club, will be answering some questions!

1. First off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? Well, I'm 18, I live in the rural north Florida countryside, and I have four younger brothers. I love telling people about Christ, drinking hot tea of various sorts, and laughing, among many other things! If you really want to learn more about me you can check out my About page up there at the top of the blog. :)
2. How long have you been drawing?  Since I could first pick up a writing/drawing instrument. So basically, all of my life.
3. Tell us a little bit about your process? It depends on what I'm working on. If it's an illustration project like what I did with this book, I have to visualize the subject in my head first. Then, when I've come up with a satisfactory mental image, I start sketching casually with pencil. When I get a nice pencil draft done, I bring out the inks, which consist mostly of Prismacolor illustration pens. Then comes the coloring, which is probably the most enjoyable part. Afterwards I do mild touch-up work and scan the picture.
4. What is your favorite thing about being an artist? The freedom it gives me to express the ideas in my head. I have an excessive amount of creativity, and being an artist allows me to manifest that creativity in a physical form. It's very satisfying.
5. What inspires you to draw? Mostly just random people. Specifically, faces. Every face conveys so much uniqueness and beauty. God's incredible design never ceases to amaze me, and I love to study it through art, which helps me to understand it better. For example, sketches of the skeletal system help me in my comprehension of anatomy. Also, being a writer, I'm constantly in the mood to draw my characters which inspire my art projects significantly.
6. If you had one piece of advice for aspiring artists, what would it be? Practice, practice, practice! Every fellow artist I've known, when I asked them this question, said the same thing. Literally the best thing you can do to improve your skill is to actually do it. The more you draw, the more you will understand the craft and develop your own unique style.  

___

 

Here’s your quote puzzle for today. Figure it out and leave the answer in the comments section and you’ll be entered into a drawing for a great prize! And, check out my blog to find out about the $50 gift card I’m giving away!

 

Khuh lv d vlpsoh exw srzhuiro uxoh... Dozdbv jlyh shrosh pruh wkdq wkhb hashfw wr jhw. -Nelson Boswell

Make sure you check out this blog tomorrow for the answer to the quote puzzle and the next stop on the blog tour. Thanks for stopping by! 

 

Action Kids’ Club Back Cover Blurb: 

Twelve-year-old Olivia Hall’s dream of a friends' club ends when she finds out her family is moving. Her parents assure her it's a good thing, opening a new world of possibilities for the Halls. But going from ‘miss popular’ to ‘the new girl’ won’t be easy, and Olivia is not convinced.

Soon she begins to realize that although her life has suddenly changed, there's plenty of adventure to keep her on her toes. From making new friends at Forward Focus, to hanging out at the world-renowned Kids Zone, to meeting the curious head chef, she discovers that there's much more to life - and her new surroundings - than she ever imagined. How will she make the most of these new opportunities? Or will she let them slip away?

 

 

About the Author: 

Lydia Howe (aka Aidyl Ewoh) is a twenty-something adventurous author who enjoys hiking in the mountains of Asia and South America, building life-size models of dinosaurs, taking road trips across Europe and cooking for large crowds. 

Lydia grew up in a barn and has always dreamed of living in a tipi. She is trained as a John Maxwell coach and her passions include self-development and Christian apologetics One of her life-long dreams was realized when her first book, “Cave Secrets of the Pterodactyl”, was published by Answers in Genesis in 2013. Her second book, “Action Kids’ Club” was published in November of 2014. Find her online at her Blog, Facebook, Twitter,  Google+, Goodreads and Pinterest.

 

---

 

 

(Answer key to puzzle)

A B C D E F G H I  J   K L M N O P Q R  S T  U V W X Y Z 

D E F G H I  J  K L M N O P Q  R S T  U V W X Y Z  A B C

 



Once Upon A Time #SNOWING Necklace! {review}

 

Ugh, it's been a while since I last posted...life just hasn't really permitted me lately to post on this blog, this year. I recently began classes with the Ocala Piano Conservatory, and I'm also trying hard to finish my studies with ICR so I can get started with college stuff. Ayyyyy, and those are just two things.

 

Anyhoo, it's also been a while since I did a review here on Apassionata.

 

So guess what we have today!? Something really cool and unique from Love Infinitely Gifts!

 

It's an OUAT Snowing Shipper necklace! In case you don't know what "Snowing" refers to, well....actuallyyyy, you probably won't care about this post at all in general, if you're not an OUAT fan. Haha. But anyways, Snowing refers to the 'ship name' of Snow White/Mary Margaret and Prince Charming/David.

^_^ I love deeez peoplessss so much. They are positively adorable! And contrary to the 'traditional fairy tale romance', their story isn't all just smooth-sailing and fluff. What they've been through to be with eachother....gahhhh.  <3

Some of the other OUAT couples I don't care for, *coughCaptainSwancough* but these two? I shipped them so hard from the moment they both got on screen. And what's even cooler is that the actors actually got married in real life. (I hope they stay together!)

 

I have mixed feelings toward the screenwriters of Once Upon A Time. On one hand I'm kinda aggravated they decided to include Frozen in this next season. I'm also mad how they murdered most of my favorite characters (is that anything new, though?) and ended up pairing Emma with Hook.  But one thing they got right was Snowing. So I guess I can forgive them.

 

Anywayyys so now that's out of the way, let's get to the review shall we?

 

I was so excited to see a whole collection of OUAT-themed jewelry on this Etsy shop. And then I saw this piece....

 

 

It's just so gorgeous! I love everything about it. It's constructed well, easy and lightweight to wear, and all around perfect, really.

 

 

As the Etsy description says, it truly is a beautiful piece in person. The sword and snowflake really pop out at you.

 

 

Ever since I got in in the mail I've been wearing it everywhere, with everything. New favorite fashion statement!

 

I have no complaints here. Nada. Nothin'. Zip.  

You should go check out the OUAT Inspired Pieces collection for yourself. End of story. 

 

I don't agree with some of the stuff from this shop, but I really like the OUAT collection.  And if you're into this show then I know you will too. So what are you waiting for?! Go give it a peek already!

 

 

Note: I was provided this item in exchange for my honest review. All opinions expressed remain mine and mine alone.

 

"Paradox" by Brian McBride {book review}

 

| Music listened to while writing this post:

Bullet Soul - Switchfoot

Under My Thumb - La Roux

Hurricane - Natalie Grant

Stompa - Serena Ryder

Brave - Sara Bareilles | 

 

So, I was given the privilege of getting to read and review an awesome Christian fantasy volume, created by a teen writer friend of mine, Brian McBride.

 

First of all, let me give you a little snippet of what this thing is about.

 

Paradox is a self-published Christian fantasy novel aimed at the young adult audience (14-18).

 

 

    Here is the premise/back cover description: Four troubled teens, two worlds, one God, one goal: to defeat the Darkness before it's too late. When David, his twin sister Alicia, and their two best friends, Jake and Hannah, stumble through a portal and into another world, Paragon, they discover that they are not who they thought they were... they are descendants of an ancient race known as Starcrafters, and they've been endowed with God-given abilities - impossible abilities.

    They train and learn to harness their abilities. Now, they are ready to take on the Dark Prince.

    Their attack on the prince is interrupted, however, when they are taken by a group known as the Renegades who are after universal domination by means of an artifact known as the Paradox Stone.

    They must escape the Renegades, retrieve the stone, and defeat the Darkness; all while learning to trust one another and work as a team, and to put their faith in the one true God.

 

 

Okay. So let's get something straight before we go any further.

 

I. adore. the. title. of. this.

 

Paradox.

 

Isn't that just the most epic title you've ever seen?

I'm totally serious. Paradox is one of my most utter favorite words ever and so therefore you can imagine my ecstasy to see it being utilized as the title of an awesome YA fantasy novel!

 

 I haven't read a whole lot of fantasy lately, and in general, my reading list stays pretty much to the bare essentials - school-related stuff, Bible, etc. I just don't generally have much time for anything else these days.

So therefore Paradox was probably the first full-fledged fantasy that I have read for a while. And let me say, I will never ever tire of fantasy. Ever. As much as I love historical fiction, and reality-based stuff, there is nothing like stories involving griffins, dragons and knights in shining armor!

 

If you're in the mood for a read like this, then you won't be disappointed with Paradox.

 

While I was unable to devote an entire day to reading it, like I would've liked to, (once I get going on a good book I just can't put it down!) it definitely held my attention.

 

As I've said before, I am always really interested to read the works of other teen authors - especially when they're Christians! So, from the beginning, I was anticipating this read even for that reason alone.

 

Now, unto the review!

 

Plot:

I liked it. Sometimes it was a little hard to follow, but overall it was good. Definitely a strong, medieval-fantasy plot and nothing short of a thriller!

 

 

Genre:

As stated previously, it's a Christian medieval-fantasy. I mean, are any words further necessary?

I think that's just about as epic a genre as they come. In Paradox, you get all the details about medieval fantasy which make it so fun, and at the same time it is all tied together by solid Biblical foundations and allegorical references to Scriptural truths.

 

 

Characters:

My favorite character in Paradox was Jarush. I loved his strong, leader-like position in the story and group of other characters. Being random here, I'll also note Shael - simply because, being obsessed with cool names and such, well, I love his name.

As for the four teens, the main characters, I had some trouble relating to them and therefore found their emotions hard to empathize with. It was slightly difficult to follow their inner conflicts and thoughts since the story flitted back and forth from their perspectives so frequently.

However, it was refreshing to see their characters develop as the story progressed. Especially with David and Alicia, who had a terrible relationship in the beginning of the book. I was really touched by how they grew in maturity and even a relationship with God as time went on.

 

 

Setting:

 I was hardly left to my own imagination when it came to picturing the setting in which the story took place. Brian has painted a very detailed, vivid picture of the world which Paradox unfolds in. I'll add, since we're already on the topic, that detail was one of the greatest strong points in this book. Excellent mental imagery and exposition, all around.

 

 

Underlying theme(s):

This is one of my favorite things about Paradox. The underlying theme. As said previously, Paradox is full-to-the-brim with Scriptural references and analogies, very blatantly so.

I love this. It's great to read a fantasy novel so unabashedly promoting the truths of God's Word.

Of the different allegories and references, my favorite was the continuing theme of humility and complete, 100% giving-yourself-to-God and being willing to do whatever He wills. Even if it means jumping off a cliff into a seemingly endless abyss. The emphasis on totally-devoted faith was excellent.

 

 

Overall:

Overall? It was a great volume! I enjoyed reading it, and it certainly had me flying through the pages! I loved the bright contrast of good and evil. When I finished, it made me want to write in my own medieval novel, honestly. There is just so much in this book. So many immensely creative characters, places and concepts - It's inspiring!

 

Yes, I would definitely recommend it. It's an awesome book, I lie not.

 

{Get your own copy of Paradox here here.}

 

 Brian's Facebook page | Brian's blog

(Come on, you know you wanna check them out!)

 

 

Note: I was provided an E-copy of Paradox in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone and I never employ flattery or falsehood in my reviews.

 

 

Natural Cosmetics Haul {review}

(Photo courtesy of LynBDesigns)

 

Howdy y'all! Today I thought I'd do something a little different and put together a dual-review post... kind of like a make-up haul.

 

So. What are we looking at for today? Firstly, a bottle of Oobleck nail polish from LynBDesigns.

I was sent this several weeks ago, and practically as soon as it arrived in the mail I tried it on. You can get a small picture of what my nails looked like, in the pictures below. (And of course, a much better example is included above, from the Etsy listing itself.)

 

 

 

I really fell in love with this color. It's such a fun, bright shade and almost a cross between a mint and very light green.

 

 

These photos sadly do not capture the true color of this polish - which is why I included that picture from LynBDesigns to begin with. It's really the only one that fully gives you the accurate color.

 

 

So, this is a pretty decent sized bottle. Lots of polish! I know it will last me a really long while.

 

Now, as much as I adore the color(it even has some flecks of glitter in it!), and as much as I love the fact that this was homemade, I do unfortunately have a few negatives with this polish.

 

The main detail is, that it's very hard to apply. At least, for me it was, anyway. I spent a good 45 minutes trying to get it applied just right without looking sloppy. This was easier said than done, because for some reason the polish had a tendency to clump up on my nail very quickly.

 

 It also took a long time to dry, which hindered the entire process further.

 

I'm certainly no expert at manicures but I also can recognize a nail polish that's difficult to use. Sadly, this is one of those.

 

However, once I got it on without it clumping and looking dreadful, I did like it, and enjoyed wearing it. As previously stated, I just love the color - it's very me.

 

Conclusion: If this stuff was easier to apply, it'd be perfection in a bottle. But sadly, it's not. I'll still use it, but probably not as often as I would had it been less hard to use.

 

 

 

Next up we have two natural, handmade eye shadows from WillowTreeMinerals.

 

I was sent a sample in Iced Latte and Soft Wildflower.

Now, as I always say, I really like to use cosmetic products which are made with natural chemical-free ingredients. These eye shadows certainly fit that bill, which made me happy. Also, I like how these were packaged. Their containers are unique looking, I think.

 

 

I didn't actually choose these colors, they were selected on the basis of being two of the artisans' favorites.

If I'd chosen the colors myself, I probably wouldn't have picked these personally, being a fan of more noticeable, colorful shades. However, I am not against them either.

 

(Photo courtesy of Willow Tree Minerals)

 

The Soft Wildflower is a nice, subtle shadow which is very light and barely noticeable on the skin. It mainly just adds a little sparkle and sheen, so if you want to go very natural and light I can definitely see how this would be a good option.

 

 

Once again my photos today just aren't giving you the picture, sadly.

 

 

The Iced Latte shadow is considerably more noticeable. I wore it Sunday, to lunch, but Mom said I looked like I had dark circles under my eyes. So. This shade was just not for me. I'm sure it would look better on someone else, but I guess my complexion and face just didn't match with this one.

 

 

The verdict on both these shadows? They aren't phenomenal, but they're not terrible either. I liked using the Soft Wildflower and would recommend that one for a light, natural look. I can't honestly recommend Iced Latte though since, well, it just didn't look good on me.

 

Both shadows were a tad hard to apply. I've used powder eye shadow before, so I can say that not all powder shadows are inherently messy.

 

Let me just tell you guys, I hate to give reviews that are anything short of rave sessions. It's...hard to willfully write something negative. Especially when you appreciate the generosity of the business that sent you the item to review!

 

So, a shout out to LynBDesigns and Willow Tree Minerals for letting me be honest about your products, and for providing the products, to begin with!

 

ForStrangeWomen Organic Perfumes {review}

 

Let it be known, I'm a total perfume junkie.

 

I can never resist the chance to try new perfumes if they're offered to me. I might be a 'tomboy', but hey, I still like to smell good!

 

So, anyways, I received two samples from ForStrangeWomen, a shop on Etsy offering a variety of different organic perfume oils/scents.

 

The first was a sample of the shop's "Violin in the Attic" scent. It came as a single application infused in a ribbon. (Isn't that different? I don't think I've ever seen samples such like this before.)

This scent is a moderately heavy, musky scent which does indeed remind me of old wood...and the title fits it perfectly, because I can very easily picture a rustic violin smelling similar to this!

 

The other scent was "Fireside Story." This one is considerably heavier, more potent and muskier.

It has a woodsy sort of ambience, and also reminds me slightly of a bonfire, due to the slightly smoky/musky smell it also carries. It is a deep, rich and luxurious scent.

 

 

I really like how both these scents are completely organic, and all-natural. I hate putting a bunch of junky chemicals on my skin, because, if you didn't know already, the human skin is extremely quick to absorb anything on its surface! (And who wants toxic substances floating around in your bloodstream?)

 

They are both quality scents, I can tell. It would've been nice to try a larger sample, but I think it's a neat concept infusing the oil into a ribbon. Not to mention it saves on shipping!

The packaging and design was very professional, and I loved the little emblems on the ribbons wherein the oil was infused.

 

Find your own "Fireside Story" and "Violin in the Attic" perfumes here. As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, there is a great variety of oils to pick from, and so many creative names! ("Violin in the Attic" instantly got my attention, anyways!)

 

Note: I was provided these items from ForStrangeWomen in exchange for my honest review.

"Monster" by Mirriam Neal {book review}

 

So, many of y'all have probably heard about this new novel by teen author Mirriam Neal.

When I first discovered it, and read the short little synopsis/back cover bit, my interest was instantly hooked.

I really reaaaaallly wanted to flip through it and see what it was about, so I asked Mirriam if she wouldn't mind me doing a review on Monster. I was so excited when she approved my request! Besides getting to read through an awesome book, and getting to share it with y'all, this is my first book review on this blog! Whoop!

   Let me first say that I'm always interested in seeing novels that are written by young people/teens, being a young adult myself. It's always inspiring to see what can be done...no matter how young/old you are! (1 Timothy 4:12)

Okay, so on to the review. First of all though, you need to read a bit about this book so you can understand this review better. Here's the back cover snippet:

The year is 2053, and Eva Stewart is a promising young scientist assigned to a remote Alaskan facility. Here she will work for WorldCure, a global organization dedicated to finding the cure for fatal diseases. Soon she is made a Handler and designated her own Subject for research and experimentation. However, Thirteen is not what she expected, and Eva is soon drawn into a horrific plot kept quiet by WorldCure. As everything she thought she knew collapses around her, Eva must discover the truth behind her Subject, her beliefs…and herself.

Dramatic, huh? Exaaactly. And it only gets better.

I literally read this book in two days. I stayed up till' 4 in the morning because I simply could. not. stop. I kid you not, I'd have kept on reading if not for the fact that, well, it was 4 in the morning and my body was crying out for sleep. The next day, as soon as I got home from work I started reading again in and finished the whole thing in a couple hours.

You know a book is good when you can't abandon reading it till' you're finished with it.

 Plot: 

The very beginning chapters pulled me in instantly. There was not a stand-still moment in the entire thing, and not once did I find myself bored with it.
The plot itself was really intriguing, and while some things I was expecting, there were events that totally blew me out of the water, leaving me speechless and completely shocked.

Genre:

Mirriam lists Monster under Bioethics/Semi-Dystopic/Suspense/Thriller/Romance for genre.
I agree with this classification, the story certainly fits on each of those levels. If there was a level that least applied I might say semi-dystopian, because really the only thing that makes it feel anywhere near dystopian is the WorldCure facility and non-human act. Elsewise it feels like a modern contemporary for the most part.

It's definitely one of the best thrillers I've read. And, the bioethics part was phenomenal in so many ways. Suspense...I was on the edge of my seat the entire time, so obviously it didn't flunk that aspect! The romance side of it? Oh. my. word. One of the best romances I've read recently.
I don't want to give away any spoilers but I'll just say that I found Mir's and Eva's relationship so incredibly perfect and immensely sweet. Gah, my heartstrings. The whole romance both broke my heart and touched me at the same time... Let's just leave it with this. I reallllly hope those two get married.

Characters:

AHHHH... first of all, yes, Mir was perfect. I wanted to cry for him, hug him and cheer him on in many places. His childlike innocence... I have no words to describe it. He is overall a beautiful character and definitely one not easily forgotten.
Eva is a bit hard to relate with at times, and I wish more of her backstory had been expounded on. However, I still like her a lot - she becomes more likable as the book progresses.
Pocky, oh he was darling. Eva is privileged to get a Christian professor in her life like him!
As far as antagonists go, Dr. Ross, Jude, and the wonderful folks at HRI just made my stomach churn. It didn't take long before I despised them just as much as the protagonists did, themselves.

Setting:

  Description of setting wasn't horrible, but I just wish there'd been a bit more. I love details, myself; and since I've never been to Alaska I'd have loved to have read a bit more concerning the Alaskan setting here. The actual setting itself I found pretty cool -  if you'll pardon the pun.

Underlying Theme(s):

I know that this is simply my own interpretation, but I found Monster to be extremely pro-life - which I appreciated highly. I found many things concerning WorldCure, Mir and the non-human act among others, to relate to things of the current times... Abortion, euthanasia, and racism, for example.
Many excellent arguments for the sanctity of human life were provided in this novel, in an extremely non-preachy way. I really loved the conversations between Eva and Pocky concerning what defines human life. The trial at the end was superb.
What is human life and who defines human life were both questions that pushed the entire plot, in my eyes; honestly I think this fact alone is one of my favorite things about Monster.

Overall:

1. The plot was epic. 2. The characters were, for the most part, deep and full of character/the opposite of just plain characterizations. 3. Setting was good. 4. I loved the genre, and 5., the underlying theme was terrific.
Overall this book was excellent, excellent, excellent. I'm a huge fan, and firmly believe this book should be read by 98% of folks in today's society and culture. People need to read this kind of thing. Maybe it would get them thinking about things they never deemed very important...such as the basic question: what defines humanity?
As far as writing style goes, Mirriam might as well have dropped me smack dab into the book, into the direct world of her characters, because that's where I felt I was the whole time. I felt Mir's bitterness and pain; I felt anger for his needless suffering and cruel surroundings. I sympathized with Eva, a seeker of truth but equally lost on where to go to find it. I felt my eyebrows knitting together in hatred at the horrific things being called 'humane' and 'normal' in Eva and Mir's world.

Yes, Monster was brilliant. I lie not.

All I can say now is...I sure hope there's going to be a sequel!

{Get your own copy of Monster here.}

 

Note: I was provided an E-copy of Monster in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone and I never employ flattery or falsehood in my reviews.

TonyaRingDesigns Elven Armwarmers! {review}

 

 

So, you guys might remember from theses costuming photos I did a post about back in May. Well, I never explained where the lovely green Elven arm warmers which were included as part of my garb came from!

 

To answer that question finally? They were sent to me from TonyaRingDesigns.

 

These arm warmers were hand stitched. I really love the deep forest green color, and the white scrollwork stitching - it truly carries an Elvish look!

 

 

I wore these to the medieval party back in May, as obvious in the photos above. As I said in that post, I perspired a good deal and was running around, dancing and generally staying pretty active. Therefore, the durability of these gloves got tested pretty thoroughly.

 

End result? They're solid! A little warm to wear in the end of May/early June, but I didn't mind that all too much. Especially since they matched perfectly with my outfit, and I got numerous compliments on them!

 

They're a little wrinkled here because this was after a day's use, and trip to the washing machine.

 

I absolutely love how the end hems come to a triangular point - this is another feature which makes them look quite fantasy-period.

(Sorry these photos aren't prime quality. I was sort of encumbered with horrible lighting and lack of choices for background scenery today.)

 

I see no visible flaws with this gorgeous pair of arm warmers. Actually, I see no flaws period! Only a beautiful, unique accessory that has obviously been intricately crafted with excellence. 

 

Overall, I like them a lot and believe they are a splendid addition to my costume wardrobe. They're nice because, as evident in the pictures at the top of the post, you can wear them to appear like fake sleeves of an undershirt or other garment. So you can throw in a classy, Elvish layered look, without wearing a completely separate top underneath!

 

Of course, you could also wear them totally on their own to look like fabric gauntlets, or fingerless gloves, if you desired. 

 

To conclude, why not check out TonyaRingDesigns for yourself? You'll find a lovely selection of other handmade arm warmers, gloves and the like. This shop offers nothing less that the highest quality so you'll surely not be disappointed!

 

Happy Friday!

 

Note: I was provided this item from TonyaRingDesigns in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone.

Porcupine Quills & Chainmail {review}

 

 

So, I know it may seem like I've been posting an awful lot of reviews lately. I apologize if this has become excessive to you readers - it's just, that when I get something to review, I don't like to have it sit around for a while without being reviewed. It doesn't feel fair to the person who sent me the item to review - does that make sense?

 

So. It's not like this blog is going to become solely a place for reviews. I just wanted to clarify. For now, I'm just in a season of being blessed to be able to get to offer opinions on some awesome things, that's all! *grins* And speaking of awesome things, that's why we're here today.

 

I got sent a unique Handmade Persian Chainmaille bracelet from ShricketHandmades some time ago.

 

 

In the beginning, after conversing with the shop's owner, I was expecting this piece to be more chainmail gauntlet styled., and thought I'd let my brother review it.

 

However, obviously my alleging proved false. Even though this wasn't a piece of semi-armor, as I was expecting, it's still really cool. I decided to review it myself since my brother's not big on jewelry. (he was hoping for chainmail armor, haha)

 

 

It's a simple bracelet, and more on the masculine side. I can picture a guy wearing it. However, it's also a unisex piece, and I like simple things because they can add a little something complementary to an outfit, without being "too much".  This bracelet could be worn with basically 99% of my wardrobe - that makes for a pretty versatile accessory.

The metal links are solid and do feel like real chainmail. There is a smaller, less sturdy, standard jewelry chain at the end where the clasp attaches, so that the bracelet could extend for a larger wrist. 

And of course, let's not forget the epic little porcupine quill at the end of that chain. 

 

This little detail makes all the difference on this bracelet. Honestly, it adds a ton of uniqueness... and boosts the overall coolness, in my opinion. Seriously. Whenever do you find jewelry that has porcupine quills affixed to it? 

 

 

Overall, I like this bracelet a lot. It's cool against the skin, making for a nice, practical summer accessory. I do have to be aware of the quill, because it's fragile and I wouldn't want to get it all bent up accidentally. Not to mention, it wouldn't be very pleasant to accidentally stick myself with it!

 

So...Have you checked out ShricketHandmades yet? If not, well, there's the link - so yes, you should go give them a visit. There's a pair of  neat porcupine quill earrings up right now, and some other chainmail and crochet stuff. Go take a look!

 

 What do y'all think of chainmail jewelry? What about porcupine quill accessories?

 

Happy Saturday!

 

Note: I was provided this item from ShricketHandmades in exchange for my honest review. All opinions remain mine and mine alone.