Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue

Five foot two, eyes of blue.
Oh, what those five feet could do!
Has anybody seen my gal?

Turned-up nose, turned-down hose
Flapper? Yes sir, one of those
Has anybody seen my gal?

~”Five Foot Two, Eyes of Blue” by Ran Henderson, Sam Lewis and Joe Young

My grandmother was five foot two with eyes of blue and could pull off a flapper look pretty well. I should probably scan in her photo to prove it. She had the finger waves, the flapper gowns, the long beads, though she was a bit more modest than the ones we see in movies. For example, this dress from Spooky Mistwallow, that she is featuring at this month’s Genre, would be quite a bit sexier than my grandmother would wear. With a low cut back and glittering embroidery, it’s a great dress for a modern flapper. Add long beads from Maxi Gossamer and t-straps from Cerberus Noel plus seamed stockings from Bax Coen, and it’s a wickedly alluring look.

Voshie Paine is offering this blushing skin with ruby red lips at Genre for this month’s art deco theme. I added a little beauty mark from Launa Fauna to up the allure of the skin with its sexy liner. My bob from Elikapeka Tiramisu is the perfect cut for the newly liberated lady of the 20s, especially in this bright red.

 

 

But could she love, could she coo!
Cootchie-cootchie-cootchie coo!
Has anybody seen my gal?

Hair: [e] Looking – Red 08 by Elikapeka Tiramisu for [elikatira]

Skin: .la petite morte. madison t2 m6 GENRE by Voshie Paine for la petite morte, available at Genre

Beauty mark: L.Fauna Beautymark – Monroe by Launa Fauna for L.Fauna

Eyes: IKON Vanity Eyes – Denim (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON

Dress: :KR: Moonshine Party Dress – Black by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock, available at Genre

Jewelry: MG – Necklace – Ritzy Shimmer Pearls – Group 2 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer

Nails: [PM]Pixel Mode – Diamond Edt. Mesh Nails : Regular by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode

Stockings: BAX Soft Shine Pantyhose Black 20 Seams low-waist by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs

Shoes: *GF* Strap Shoes “Alex” -patent:red by Cerberus Noel for G Field

Poses by Faery Sola for Studio Sidhe, available at Genre

Your SL Evolution

“I want to grow. I want to be better. You grow. We all grow. We’re made to grow. You either evolve or you disappear.” ~ Tupac Shakur

It’s no secret I helped on the SL10B because I can’t stop talking about it. However, my own personal exhibit is something I have not said a lot about. I had applied, thinking I would do something about my blog, but instead I decided to hook into the theme of SL10B and do something about “Looking Back, Looking Forward.” A natural treasure trove of ideas came from the Flickr group I started in the SL forums a couple years ago called “Your SL Evolution,” in which I challenged people to show their avatars’ evolutions.

Rather than count my avatar changes, which are already too numerously documented, I really wanted to see and show how others have evolved. Looking through the images, I realized it’s a very personal revelation. I truly appreciated how the participants enthusiastically shared their own images.

To build my exhibit, I asked my friend Stephen to help me sketch out a plan. We settled on a timeline, which metaphorically represented the passage of time and did a simple exhibit without a building so people could walk through and look at the images.

I contacted almost every person who had put an evolution photo in the Flickr group for permission to use their photos and asked them to send a current photo. The response was overwhelming. I had about 60 people say yes, some of them well known designers, bloggers, models and builders and some of them just ordinary SL citizens who contribute to the community in various quiet and impactful ways.

To have small a cross section of SL shows a lot more than simply showing one avatar’s evolution. The variations in transformation are amazing. Some people changed in looks substantially while others remained the same. (I know I show myself as a redhead throughout my transformation—how boring.) You see the development of technology for avatars, from system brillo pad hair all the way to mesh boobs.  You see the fads of wings and flexi hair and parted lips. You see the quality of photography improve and the savvy of the gaze turning from “here is my experience to remember” to “here is the experience I want to frame for you.” You can see the identity of an avatar change from male to female and the struggle for understanding “self” in all the evolutions.

I hope you get time to look because it’s really marvelous, and I really got some terrific people to agree to participate. Here is the list of participants and a genuine thanks to all of them for agreeing to submit to MY gaze:

Bethany Heart
Blackliquid Tokyoska
Caer Balogh
Casja Lilliehook
Catwoman Ember
Chandhi Khondji
colleen desmoulins
Damien Fate
Daniel Voyager
Danni Darbyshire
Dario Darrow
December Dollinger
Erika Walsh
Eve Kazan
GM Nikolaidis
GoSpeed Racer
Isla Gealach
Jeanie Waydelich
Jo Yardley
Kanashi Yuhara
Kean Kelly
Keito Lane
Kyra Ishtari
LeeZu Baxter
Lexi Morgan
Lixena Lamourfou
Lizzy Stlouis
Loki Eliot
Maeve Byron
Marianne McCann
Mavi Beck
Mimmi Boa
Mokatana Boa
Mouse Mimistrobell
Naraelina Ordinary
Natalia Gustafson
Nimil Blackflag
Nylon Pinkney
Peachez Preiss
Percila Paine
Sachi Vixen
Sama Yalin
Samara Barzane
Serenitee Bliss
Sierra Sugar
Skell Dagger
Sophia Harlow
Strawberry Singh
Sway Dench
Taiko McCaw
Tania Tebaldi
Tuki Loon
Vick Spitteler
Wildstar Beaumont
Willow Zander
Winter Jefferson
ZZoieZee

See “Your SL Evolution” at SL10B Community Celebration now until June 29, when they shut the sims down. (P.S. The stream playing on the parcel is KCRW Eclectic, my favorite station.)

Get Lucky

We’ve come too far to give up who we are
So let’s raise the bar and our cups to the stars

~ “Get Lucky” by Daft Punk with Pharrell

At noon slt today, the SL10B Community Celebration opens. There are over 350 exhibitors and their friends, over 300 performers doing over 500 performances and presentations, and over 200 volunteers who have joined together to make this celebration over 22 sims a fun one. I have an exhibit there and a small part in volunteering myself.

You can get all sorts of information at the website, find slurls, schedules, and interesting facts.

I will be partying, enjoying my own exhibit, and hassling Doc myself. Ever the fashionista, I will be dressed up to party, and I chose this dress from SamanthaSJones for my first day. She is offering it a Fi*Friday at a super low price and it’s great. I love the artistic drawings and then the spots of color. I wear Bax Coen’s new leggings with it to add another spot of color and BabyChampagne Sass’s shoes for SL Fashion Week. And BabyChampagne Sass is also exhibiting at SL10B. Come see her exhibit!

Truth has come out with more hair this week and one for men!! I love this style. I felt like January Jones in it, for some reason. It also shows off my earrings from Maxi Gossamer and my new skin from Aida Ewing, which is her Summerfest offering.

We’re up all night for good fun
We’re up all night to get lucky

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Colbie – LightBlondes04 by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Glam Affair – Summer – America 04 A by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair, available at Summerfest *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Field (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: [LG] Boutique-[Summer 13] Glina Linen Dress by SamanthaSJones for LIV-Glam, available at Fi*Friday *

Necklace and earrings: MG – Earrings and Necklace – Solitaire Heart – GOLD by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at FaMESHed *

Tights: BAX Ornament Leggings Bands Purple short by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs *

Shoes: {{BSD Design studio}}enlightenment(R)green croco by BabyChampagne Sass for {{BSD Design studio}}, available at SL Fashion Week *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Blue True Dream

i thank You God for most this amazing
day:for the leaping greenly spirits of trees
and a blue true dream of sky; and for everything
which is natural which is infinite which is yes

~ e.e. cummings

I took a break from SL10B to listen to some music and relax at Rara Destiny’s place and it was so pretty, I decided to do my blog photos there. I have been running around in this swimsuit from ValentinaEvangelista—perfectly fitting mesh pieces with a great print and shadows. I am not always thrilled with mesh swimsuits—what’s the point? But this one fits perfectly and uses another silhouette outside the typical bikini. A beautiful necklace from AvaGardner Kungler—another of her nature-inspired pieces—dresses my look up. And Gospel Voom is offering darling cupcake-printed espadrilles to his group members. Get over there quick!

Summerfest is opening somewhere (didn’t get a landmark) but it shows to be good as Tricky Boucher and ValentinaE are both participating. This is one of Tricky’s skins, an Ashley, with his typical luscious coloring and features. My hair is one of Queue Marlowe’s newest. It comes with a hud that allows you to “stamp” the hair with decoration, but I left that off this time in favor of a big hibiscus tucked behind my ear.

how should tasting touching hearing seeing
breathing any–lifted from the no
of all nothing–human merely being
doubt unimaginable You?

Hair: meme earth by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: -Belleza- Ashley Summerfest SK 2 by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-, available at Summerfest *

Eyes: IKON Vanity Eyes – Glass (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Swimsuit: Christina Bottoms and Top Turquoise by ValentinaEvangelista for Valentina E. Couture, available at Summerfest *

Necklace: (Kunglers Extra) Yara necklace – Silver by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at L’accessoire *

Flower: +LALA Moon+ Bianca-Flower [ Hibiscus ] by RuRu Nagy for LaLaMoon

Shoes: [Gos] Lolita Espadrilles – Cupcake by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique*

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Photo’d at Rara’s

My SL10B Newbie Makeover

Remember Ruth? She was the mother of us all. And she leads off this challenge I am issuing for SL10B and SL’s Tenth Birthday.

KT Syakumi, one of the co-leads of SL10B Community Celebration, asked me to sort out some of the library avatars she had found in a dusty archive. I couldn’t help but box them up, “advertise” their fine features and have a little fun. I realized they have the patina of “newbie” and they were the first things residents want to get rid of when they figured out they can look a lot better, so I wanted to make them seem more appealing.

These avatars will be offered as freebies for people to wear at SL10B when it opens June 16. (Yes, I know.. they are free already. Come on and laugh with us here.) We hoped people would grab them in nostalgia and enjoy their fine low-lag qualities.

The Casual Girl was my first avatar. What was yours? And what did you do to make it look better right off? (I know I fluffed her hair out a bit, made her a bit bustier and lost the dreadful flip flops.) I thought she was hot stuff.

My challenge to the bloggers (and others) out there who want to take this on is to show us your first avatar and improve it. Show us what your first steps were AND show us how you could dress that avatar up today. Just make sure that your photos are Rated G. You can wait until the party opens on June 16 or you can drop me a notecard to ask for an avatar set. I am hoping we will see some creative mixes and enjoy some fun memories for this special birthday for Second Life.

And yes, I will do one too!

I set up a group for this in Flickr to consolidate them all called “My SL10B Newbie Makeover.” I am looking forward to some fun things and some fond remembrances of SL. Share your stories and laughs. Tell us what you thought the first time you saw your “self.”

You can see all the avatars I photo’d on my pages on Flickr under the set “SL10B Looking Back.” And of course, grab them for free at SL10B when it opens on June 16!

Wild at Heart

“This whole world is wild at heart and weird on top.” ~ David Lynch

Even if you’re wild at heart but can’t be wild all over, you can dress the part. I chose to do so with this ruffled skirt from Delirium Sol, a new find for me, who has put her fabulous rockabilly/pin-up textures all over a number of great template meshes. Don’t diss the template mesh when the textures are creative and exciting, and Delirium’s certainly are. I top it with Poulet Koenkamp’s new jacket with color changing HUD. After clicking brown, taupe, and yellow, I settled on black, to match the ruffle in the skirt. (And Poulet isn’t above using template mesh either.. nyah.) I wore older shoes from Cocoro Lemon that still fit the bill perfectly. When they are good, they stand the test of time.

My skin is Tricky Boucher’s offering for his Belleza Best Buys this weekend. If you were not able to afford a Belleza skin or need your fix on the cheap, these skins are a bargain for the beauty that Tricky offers. With the same sexy bod, luscious lips and gorgeous eyes, you can get a piece of Belleza at a bargain.

My twirly updo is one of Queue Marlowe’s new releases with long locks hanging down in front and curved bangs up top. And I couldn’t help but show AvaGardner Kungler’s jewelry from her new Primavera collection. She is inspired by nature in many of her jewelry pieces, making intricate statement pieces that glitter like the beauty of wild things.

“A prayer for the wild at heart kept in cages.” ~ Tennessee Williams

Hair: mimosa obsidian by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: -Belleza- Ava Sk BBB 1 by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza- *

Eyes: IKON Lucid Eyes – Coffee (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Jacket: :: PM :: MIlana Jacket in Black by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations *

Skirt: ^v^DRBC^v^ Purrfection Ruffle Skirt by Delirium Sol for Deathrocker Bettie Crocker

Jewelry: (Kunglers Extra) Khloris  – Golden  ring and necklace by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Gesture Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Appliers: -Belleza- Slink Hand Applier PALE by Tricky Boucher for -Belleza-

Nail appliers: Orc Inc : -  Blend Fatpack by Nicole Twigvald for Orc Inc. *

Shoes: *COCO*_RuffleAnkleBoots by cocoro Lemon for COCO

Poses by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works Animations *

Note: I have a note that the Hair Fair is opening their photo contest for this year. If you are crazy about hair, this is probably a great chance to score a lot of hair for a long time. Theme is “Movies Inspire Me.” The whole set of rules can be found at the link provided. Don’t forget that donations from Hair Fair go to Wigs for Kids, to give RL kids RL hair. Good luck!

Anima Nera

“Women think of all colors except the absence of color. I have said that black has it all. White too. Their beauty is absolute. It is the perfect harmony.” ~ Coco Chanel

Today’s entry is named after a licorice-flavored liqueur from Italy—Anime Nera, meaning “black soul.” I would not say my soul is black but I am certainly rocking the color or absence thereof. First with this great little dress from SamanthaSJones, which comes with a system top and a great little mesh skirt. With a corseted high waist and studded leather skirt, this dress will get you to any club in style and is on sale TODAY. Add to it my gorgeous jewelry from Maxi Gossamer, who has included, as she does with all her jewelry, a color change option so you can wear it all in black.

Sachi Vixen’s Brooke makes me look glamorous and dark without being mean or evil. Her skins are, top to bottom, carefully considered works of art. My sassy cut is the newest from Chiaki Xue, good for a girl OR boy but perfect for this look.

“‎”But when I fell in love with black, it contained all color. It wasn’t a negation of color. It was an acceptance. Because black encompasses all colors. Black is the most aristocratic color of all…. You can be quiet and it contains the whole thing.” ~ Louise Nevelson

Hair:  *Dura-Boys&Girls*44(Black) by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Skin: AE Skins – Brooke T3 Scarlet with AE Brooke Eyebrow Tattoo Dark T3 by Sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve *

Eyes: IKON Utopia Eyes – Light Blue + Rust (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON

Dress: [LG] Boutique-[Summer 13] EDWIGE Salsa Outfit by SamanthaSJones for LIV-Glam*

Jewelry: MG – Earrings and Bracelet – Tarentella Gypsy with MG – Rings – Atlantis Moon – Large – SILVER by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at FaMESHed *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Gesture Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Appliers: :AE: Skin Appliers for SLINK Hands by Sachi Vixen for Adam n Eve *

Shoes: – Shoes Helena – 12colors / REDGRAVE by TeamRedgrave for Redgrave

Poses by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works Animations *

Parfait Amour

Imagine a liqueur with rose and violet petals and orange with a subtle hint of vanilla. That is Parfait Amour, French for “perfect love.”

I chose the name of this post ebcause I wanted to find the perfect purple liqueur to describe this look. Chambord was out—this is too delicate for that. But Parfait Amour seemed ideal—perfect love. And love is what I felt for this great dress from ValentinaEvangelista, being offered at Fameshed this go around. Everyone else is showing the other dress, which is just as fantastic, but I loved this one with its pretty ruffled decollatage and gorgeous print. I love what Valentina is doing with prints and how she is making her mesh bottom up. Her work just feels luxe. BabyChampagne Sass also does her mesh ground up and these darling sandals with mesh-textured panels are chic and cool at the same time.

My hat and hair are Tabata Jewell’s lovely item at the Summer Fashion Festival, which is still going on through June 16. It’s a great kick off to summer to have a sleek ponytail like this with a broad brimmed hat. My jewelry is one of the many pieces Maxi Gossamer is offering at FaMESHed, again in her terrific style. Sometimes a woman wants a simple piece to hang around her neck—nothing so fussy. This simple heart set fits the bill and since it’s not overwhelming, both necklace and earrings can be worn together.

My skin is one of Aida Ewing’s many gorgeous offerings at The Arcade. Among the set of skins, there are several skin tones. This happened to be America but if you are looking for something different, keep trying because you’ll pop up with one of her five tones.

We waste time looking for the perfect lover, instead of creating the perfect love. ~ Tom Robbins

Hair: Vanity Hair:Wet Martini-Umber by Tabata Jewell for Vanity Fair, available at the Summer Fashion Festival *

Skin: Glam Affair – Lulu 04 BR by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair , available at The Arcade *

Eyes: IKON Destiny Eyes – Starfall (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON

Dress: :V.e. Betty Dress S Leaf Orchid by ValentinaEvangelista for Valentina E. Couture, available at FaMESHed *

Jewelry: MG – Necklace and Earrings – Solitaire Heart – SILVER by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at FaMESHed *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant  Left and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1 Right by Siddean Munro for Slink

Appliers: Glam Affair – Slink Hands Skin Appliers ( America) by Aida Ewing for Glam Affair

Nail appliers: Orc Inc : Slink Avatar Enhancement Nails – Fatpack Rich Colors by Nicole Twigvald for Orc Inc. *

Shoes: {{BSD Design studio}}Modern chic Geometry – Pink baby by BabyChampagne Sass for {{BSD Design studio}} *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works Animations *

What’s Your Evolution?

If you are living under a rock, you might have missed that the 10th Birthday for Second Life is coming up. A community of residents have organized to offer the biggest party on the grid for SL10B from June 16 to June 29. They have allowed me to sit in the corner a babble a bit about things there on their blog and generally harass the leads, Doc Gascoigne and KT Syakumi.

I know a few opportunities for you to participate if you aren’t already:

1. Dizzy Banjo is reviving his Message in a Bottle from SL5B. You will love contributing to this. Go to his blog to find out how you can participate. (I tried to do it last time and was a fail at the software. This time I will NOT blow it.)

2. If you are a blogger, there will be a Press Day on June 15 to see the sims ahead of time. Contact Gemma Cleanslate to be added to the SLB Press group. I highly recommend you send her a notecard with your name and blog so you can expedite getting added to the group.

3. I am going to be building an exhibit around a Flickr group I opened a couple years ago about Your SL Evolution. Several great folks had responded in the group including Strawberry Singh, Marianne McCann, Cajsa Lilliehook, Harper Ganesvoort, Isla Gealach, and Chandni Khondji.

I will be taking select photos from that group and making a display at SL10B to talk about SL avatar evolution to match this year’s party theme of “Looking Forward, Looking Back.” If you want to add to the group, I will be looking at photos until June 4 and sending out requests to use. (Yes, a couple days only but I need to figure out how to make this thing, and my building partner has limited availability—and patience.)

4. That being said, in a few days I will be issuing a blogger challenge for all the great bloggers out there. I hate teasers like this but it needs its own blog entry.

A Butterfly’s Life

“I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days – three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain.” ~ John Keats, Bright Star: Love Letters and Poems of John Keats to Fanny Brawne

The grid is being inundated with events at the beginning of the month again. Not only do you have the opening of the Arcade, but also the Summer Fashion Festival and several other things going on. The number of complaints of people who can’t seem to figure out why they can’t get into the Arcade goes up exponentially during those first few days. (I am guessing it’s because you and 2000 other people are trying to get in at the same time maybe…?) Despite Umberto’s best efforts, you simply can not jam 200 avatars on a sim, all complaining in chat about lag, sorting through their inventory, trying on demos, and pumping linden into one vendor, trying to get the one piggy that they must have out of 50 choices and occupying the sim for hours at a time while they go afk to do laundry or call their mom. Life is too short to keep trying the first day and frustrate yourself, even second life. Really.

Flit off instead to the Summer Fashion Festival. I went last year and discovered a number of new designers, including Ariadna Garrigus, the organizer of the event, whose work I had not seen before. Each vendor is obliged to offer an exclusive item AND a gift, and there are plenty of lovely things to choose from. Take this dress from Moreno Forwzy (how do you pronounce that?) who is offering this lovely butterfly dress with butterfly sleeves and a ruffle near the bottom. I have not seen this silhouette before so I am guessing it’s an original mesh (though I could be wrong). If so, it’s well done with a darling texture. Ariadne is offering the shoes as a gift with blossoms on the strap and a simple skin matching HUD. And my background screen, from Hanstrid Inshan, is another gift you can get your hands on.

 

My necklace fortuitously landed on in my hands carried by a rabble of butterflies and their wings. AvaGardner Kungler has always been inspired by nature, and she brings it to us with this lovely set that comes in three metals and three colors.

I am not telling you to forgo the Arcade–it goes on all month. Wait until the diehards clear the sim and you can enjoy your shopping or wait for the numerous yard sales for trading that pop up to find the less rare pieces you really want. Tricky Boucher is offering a gorgeous set of skins this month, and you really can’t go wrong with anyone you get. The one I show is not a rare but has the rare beauty Tricky always offers.

Mina Nakamura is offering this lovely mesh ‘do at the Numberology event, which also opens tomorrow. That is another alternative for shopping this weekend. I saw a number of great designers would be there.

“Life is short. If you doubt me, ask a butterfly. Their average life span is a mere five to fourteen days.” ~ Ellen DeGeneres

Hair: MINA Hair – Silvia by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at Numberology beginning June 1 *

Skin: -Belleza- Ellie Gacha 8 by Tricky Boucher for Belleza, -Belleza-, available at The Arcade beginning June 1 *

Eyes: IKON Ardent Eyes – Blossom (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Dress: M&M-r49-size3 by Moreno Forwzy for M&M, available at the Summer Fashion Festival *

Jewelry: (Kunglers Extra) Gaia – Bronze  necklace and (Kunglers Extra) Gaia – Bronze  ring by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra *

Shoe: Armony igs73 Summer Shoe by Ariadna Garrigus for Armony, available at the Summer Fashion Festival *

Background: Serenity Room Divider V.2 by Hanstrid Inshan for Serenity, available at the Summer Fashion Festival *

Poses: Get Loose by MelissaJeanne Flores for Elephante Poses, available at the Summer Fashion Festival *