Sunshine

Keep your face always toward the sunshine – and shadows will fall behind you. ~ Walt Whitman

This morning I woke to perfect sunshine, lovely warm air that wasn’t too humid, a dozen peaches, and the anticipation of my little cousin (she’s 12) coming to visit. I made a peach cobbler (gah, the putzing with the peaches!) and frozen yogurt (awesome) and we had burgers for lunch. Then I took my cousin and son to the pool in this brilliant weather and cleaned the kitchen. It was just a lovely day, full of sunshine and the contentedness of small joys.

So I didn’t feel a need to dress up in any manner more than something pretty. I started with this loose dress from AvaGardner Kungler, who is a pro at textures, colors and proportions. Ava always brings elegance to her fashions, even the most casual, and this outfit feels rich even if it’s not “dressy.” I paired it with lace leggings from Tatyana Ultsch, who is also a pro at textures. These leggings will work with asses and mesh bodies but also come as pure system pieces with add-ons, which I prefer. My shoes are darling wedges that Senzati0n Domenitzo is offering in a gacha at the Aloha Fair.

Sawsan Secretspy, who is one of the most prolific skin makers in SL, I swear, is offering this gorgeous skin for the Aloha Fair. In several bright, sunshiny make-ups, it’s sure to add warmth to your look. My hair is one of Queue Marlowe’s newest, loose curls casually pinned up in back with her ever gorgeous textures. And my pretty, delicate hanging earrings are Maxi Gossamer’s new offer for Uber.

A day without sunshine is like, you know, night. ~ Steve Martin

Hair: AD – val – dark blondes by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Iwana Tan 02 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at the Aloha Fair *

Eyes: #adored – siren eyes – kelp by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Dress: (Kunglers) Mirian dress – Rose by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Leggings: :::i::: Lace Leggins Style2 – trans (1) by Tatyana Ultsch for :::insanya::: *

Earrings: MG – Earrings – Ashira Hoops 3 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Uber *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Izzie’s – Slink Metallic Nails Applier Huds (hands & feet) by Izzie Button for Izzie’s

Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) – Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – El Paso (Fatpack 1) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at the Aloha Fair *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

The French Connection

I put on my rouge and wash my hands in front of the whole world! ~ Marie Antoinette

Genre opened earlier this month and the theme was Baroque, so of course, everyone threw their efforts at gilded furniture and voluminous dresses with an eye towards the court of Marie Antoinette. I gathered quite a few things from the event and crowded them into this blog because, as you know, excess was never a concern in the court of Madame Deficit.

First my beautifully rendered dress from Dreamfantasia Nightfire, who is a singular repository of beautiful texture and historical sartorialism in SL. Remember when we constructed all sorts of fussy prim pieces for these shapes and now mesh can do it? I have accented the dress with a brooch from Tiffy Vella and pretty little shoes from Arora Zanzibar.

My furnishings are all from Genre, including the pictures, vase and chair from Charles Lacrima and the lovely desk, which also includes other chairs and a table from Discovering Destiny. (I can imagine these pieces could be removed from a Baroque RP setting and might do as antiques in an eclectic household.) My mirror from Connie Stratten actually includes six poses for photography and if you’re really handy with PS (and have the patience), you could do your reflection. (I clearly have neither the skills or patience.) My poses are from Genre as well, a set from Nancoix Urquan called Sarabande, which have a lovely drama to them.

My sky-high hair from Plurabelle Laszlo comes in several tints (though Marie herself had a light blonde hair) and includes the lovely dark roses you see but I added Kerryth Tarantal’s hair piece as well (because, you know, extravagance). My skin is one that LumiyaRae made specially for this round with the darling little heart-shaped beauty marks and blush Marie Antoinette was famous for.

Finally my darling Ladies in Waiting are actually also wearable animated rats (!) that are adorably dressed in baroque costume. You get one to display and one to wear and if you are one of those who likes collecting darling animals in SL, these are custom made for you.

Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai – Liaison Dangereuse – Blond with Roses by Plurabelle Laszlo for .Bliensen + MaiTai, available for Genre *

Hair piece: Spyralle Lace Fontange with Roses by Kerryth Tarantal for Spyralle, available for Genre *

Skin: L~Delphine: 4-Honey/Versailles{Mid Cleavage/LB} with L : 4 – Honey {Uber Cleavage} 1 by Lumiya Rae for Lumae, available for Genre *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – velik by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Dress: ~The Library~ Marie -Blue by Dreamfantasia Nightfire for ~The Library~, available for Genre *

Brooch: Eclectica ‘Blenheim’ Baroque Brooch by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica, available for Genre *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) – Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: .: ZcZ :. Antoinette Slipper (L) – Bartholomew Blue by Arora Zanzibar for Zanzibar CreationZ, available for Genre *

Poses: Sarabande by Nancoix Urquan for {NanTra} Poses, available for Genre *

Posing mirror: .mien. {frivolity} by Connie Stratten for Mien Poses, available for Genre *

Desk: *OAL*/*SP* Valezquez by Discovering Destiny for On a Lark, available for Genre *

Ladies in Waiting:

• [UN] Ratcoco – Alouette – Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *
• [UN] Ratcoco – Amelie Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *
• [UN] Ratcoco – Yvette – Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *
• [UN] Ratcoco – Marie – Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *

Décor:

• Vase de Porcelaine Russe by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre
• Fauteuil Louis XVI et motifs Versaillais by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre
• Set de tableaux Italiens – II by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre
• Set de tableaux Italiens – III by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre

A Case of You

Oh I could drink a case of you darling
Still I’d be on my feet
oh I would still be on my feet
~ “A Case of You” by Joni Mitchell

Been having a few of those days lately where I just want to go home, sink into a chair, and have a glass of wine while I listen to my favorite music and relax. I feel like I am behind on a few tasks, least of which is showing this fabulous furniture, which I set up a while ago to photo. First there is this fabulous retro living room set from Froukje Hoorenbeek that includes all her fabulous animations, from purely sitting and enjoy a glass of wine to actually enjoying some time with a favorite sweetheart, smooching or more. Who knew such innocuous furniture could hold such hot thoughts?

Of course if I flop down on this great massage table from Tya Fallingbridge, someone may come along and give me a massage. Or not. But it sure looks beautiful and tempting in the corner of my bedroom with separate tables of towels and massage oils. This is still at Fameshed for a few more seconds so grab it while you can.

Tya has also made this absolutely stunning bed that includes singles and couples poses and some adult surprises. With carved tropical wood and a sheer curtain across the top, it’s a gorgeous bedroom set that she had at Liaison Collaborative and now has in her store. I put wall hangings from Trace Osterham on each side and hung a darling little mobile/lamp from Plethora in the corner.

My lovely dress, which I also wore for my video with Phobos, is one of Spooky Mistwallow’s lovely interpretations for this mesh dress. I particularly have loved her patterns, which are proportioned nicely on the dress. My new peeptoe pumps are Eudora3D’s newest and come with matching bracelets, sold separately.

Finally I have to brag about this gorgeous skin from Mochi Milena, which she has set up as a free piece for newbies and a very low price for the rest of us mortals. If anyone worries that newbies can’t get good content, they should pull them over to Mochi’s shop to grab this skin. It’s absolutely gorgeous (and ridiculously generous). My hair is lovely braided updo from Mariru Catnap that I grabbed from Fi*Friday before Hair Fair and promptly forgot about, which was a shame because it’s absolutely lovely.

I remember that time you told me
you said “Love is touching souls”
Surely you touched mine ‘
Cause part of you pours out of me
In these lines from time to time
Oh, you’re in my blood like holy wine
You taste so bitter and so sweet

Hair: .:CHEVEUX:.F057 Browns01 by Mariru Catnap for .:CHEVEUX:.

Skin: [PF] Renee <Hazel> – Pure (dkbrow) by Mochi Milena for Pink Fuel

Eyes: #adored – siren eyes – coconut by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at theCosmetic Fair Beach Party

Dress: :KR: Fabiana Dress – Memory by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *

Bracelets: Eudora 3D Karnamal Bracelet Copper by Eudora3D for Eudora 3D *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: :[P]:- Slink Applier [NAILS-Feet]:// Concord by Aikea Rieko for Plastik *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Eudora 3D Karnamak Pumps Copper by Eudora3D for Eudora 3D *

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Furnishings:

• Dutchie art deco chair left by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco sofa adult by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco chair right by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco brown and blue rug by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie art deco coffee table by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie lilies by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• Dutchie Ein Windstoss by Emil Orlik by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *
• +CONVAIR+ Airplanes! for FFL by Tobias Convair (no longer available)

 

• Trompe Loeil – Roanna Sleigh Seat Brown With Blanket by Cory Edo for Trompe Loieil *

 

• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali Bed White – Adult by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali End Table – Right by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali End Table – Left by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Throw Rug by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Bali Dresser by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode*
• Plethora – Paper Butterflies Light by PlethoraSL for Plethora
• {theosophy} Palmerston Wall Hanging (Tuscan) by Trace Osterham for {theosophy} *

 

• [PM]Pixel Mode – Insouciance Massage Bed – Adult by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Insouciance Towels Table by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *
• [PM]Pixel Mode – Insouciance Oils Table by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *
• Melilla Drapes by Jolie.Applemoor (no longer available)

 

• {theosophy} Nicholaston Skybox by Trace Osterham for {theosophy} *

Aubergine

“How can people say they don’t eat eggplant when God loves the color and the French love the name? I don’t understand.” ~ Jeff Smith

Eggplants are about to come into season, and I am prepared. The French word  for eggplant is, of course, “aubergine,” a much more luscious and beautiful word for their deep purple color. This dress made me think of that word. The color is not as blue black purple as aubergine; it’s more a bordeaux but this is not a blog entry about wine. It’s about eggplant.

I love this new dress from Harry Hyx because it’s sleek and structured and beautifully tailored to fit. The design lines in the texture add high style and the criss-crossed straps that don’t quite lay flat and have a believable dimensionality. I accessorized with high heels from Eku Zhong, made to fit the SLink feet, that have a gorgeous gold texture, and earrings from AvaGardner Kungler.

I ran over to the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party (which is indoors, so don’t worry about wearing sunscreen), and I found that Stasey Oller has put out this lovely skin for blondes. I have not always picked up on her work because bright pink glossy lipstick is not my thing, but this skin is a great palette for such or for more subtle looks. I chose one of her glossy lips to wear with it, sheer and without teeth. I know people like parted lips but they are very hard to pull off right. My hair is Truth Hawks’ newest for men but also fitted for women. His textures are, as always, luscious and this style really looks great on women who can pull off short hair.

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Tom [Female] by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: Pink Acid Annette (Bare) – Butterscotch <3 by Stasey Oller for Pink Acid, available at the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party

Makeup: Pink Acid Overly Transparent Lip Gloss – Berry by Stasey Oller for Pink Acid, available at the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes –  glacier by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at the Cosmetic Fair Beach Party

Dress: ISON – leather trim dress  (plum) by Harry Hyx for Ison *

Earrings: (Kunglers Extra) Luna earring – Lavender by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at L’Accessoires *

Bangles: Boho Bangles – Laquered Gold and Diamonds by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance)  – Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: KoiKoi Perfetti GOLD by eku Zhong for KoiKoi

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Rendezvous

Normally I do photos but today I am showing a video that my friend Phobos Jamberoo made so he could help me show the revamped RendeZvous animator. It’s been around a while (8 years!) but JenzZa Misfit and Valdarica Vale have completely redone the scripts on the animator since it’s first iterations. Now you can enjoy all the fun of it (walking together, sitting together, dancing, kissing, etc.) with new features such as same region teleporting, camera sharing, adjustment memory (so if you’re tall like Phobos and shorter like me, you can adjust the animations and it sticks), updated animations and transitions and some new poses. Our favorite new thing was, of course, the canoe, which rezzes and gives you paddles. It’s great fun to take it around the water on a sim.

If you want to try this, bring a friend and go to Muse Isle, where they have set up a whole area for checking out the RendeZvous II. There is a swimming/canoeing area, walking paths, sitting areas—the whole scenario for getting the gist of the animator. You can also purchase the animator at Vista Animations, DMC Creations, the Dublin Shop and on Marketplace.

Animator: The RendeZvous II Couples Walker & Animator by JenzZa Misfit and Valdarica Vale for Muse Isle *

Five Years

“Five years from now, you’re the same person except for the people you’ve met and the books you’ve read.” ~ John Wooden

I realized a couple days ago that I started my blog five years ago. The first year I blogged every single day, faithfully, and then after year two I kind of let myself off the hook for every day and now I average about 3-4 times a week (or sometimes twice a day as when I was blogging Hair Fair and sometimes not at all as when I was working on the SL11B blog).

I started my blog when my friend and now partner, Callie, asked me to be a moderator for the fashion bloggers group. I was not a blogger myself but she knew she could keep me in hand. Working for a designer, I definitely had ideas about what bloggers should do if they wanted to suggest they would promote a brand (I still do). So I started my own blog to see how onerous those requirements were. (Short answer: it’s tempting to PS the hell out of my photos but I won’t do it so my readers see the actual content, SLurls are a pain in the ass but necessary so people know where to find things, and drama is not in short supply but I try to keep my head down.)

I also started my blog to get into the habit of writing every day. I had read Haruki Murakami’s book, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running, where he had written about the pain and joy of writing and running, and the discipline of doing both. Doing my blog has enriched my intellectual life and allowed me an outlet to discuss what I am thinking about, reading, and doing.

 

Blogging fashion for SL has changed quite a lot during this time. The number of bloggers has exploded and the whole blogger “industry” has changed quite a bit. I have been lucky  as I have wonderful designers who send me things to show in my blog. I have tried to honor their hard work with my own hard work. It’s not always perfect and certainly not the most spectacular, but I have been tried to exhibit consistency and integrity. Thank you to the many designers who have contributed to my blog. I hope I gave you something in return.

Over the last five years, the opportunities to enhance my blog have changed too. WordPress offers tons more templates and CSS options; Flickr recently changed up how they link; the SL Facebook community has exploded. I have tried to keep up with most of those things. I find it has become more time consuming to produce each blog entry as I navigate all the new things I need to do to keep myself relevant.  For example, I revamped the blog over the past few days with a new theme (which you see here—what do you think?)

It has been an honor to be asked to create and contribute to blogs including being a fashion blogger for Koinup, running the Costa Rica fashion blogs and then Dream Seekers Estates, creating the new blog for LivGlam and now Damselfly and Sage Fashions, and running the social media for SL11B, including running their blog (in which I created every single page and entry you see). My biggest honor, of course, was being asked repeatedly to create images for Linden Lab for their splash pages for Second Life and Marketplace.

Here is the grand finale: if you are a regular reader of my blog, thank you. You have been my most important supporter, and I would not have kept doing this for five years without you. When people tell me that they read my blog, I am always excited and touched. It is really important to know there is someone out there who “hears” my words and finds something of interest, information or thought for themselves. Without you, there is no reason to do this.

“So the fact that I’m me and no one else is one of my greatest assets.” ~ Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Veronika Non-Rigged-Mesh Big Pack by Shylah Honey for :::Damselfly Hair::, coming soon

Skin: -Belleza- Claudia SK 4 Dk R by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for –Belleza *

Eyes: #adored – siren eyes – big wave by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Dress: -AZUL Bridal- Faith/Onyx by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Jewelry: MG – Earrings –  Mayfair Bell Diamonds by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Walk on Air Hair

I call this “Walk on Air” hair because I always find Wasabi Pills’ mesh hair so delightful. MissAllSunday Lemon was one of the first hair makers to work with mesh, and it shows. Her pieces are well-developed with gorgeous textures and she can jump genres from fantasy to casual in a snap.

MissAllSunday’s specialty is the braid, and she uses it liberally in her pieces for Hair Fair. Braided bangs in a winsome face-framing curly ‘do, pigtail braids, and a thick braid pulled to the front, MissAllSunday shows off her mesh skills, even throwing in a windblown look.

Her textures and hair colors are lush and shadowed well in her mesh. (It’s not just texture—shadow and highlighting play a part in her hair). And the best part? A part of the sale of each of these pieces goes to Wigs for Kids, which will leave you walking on air.

Hair (top to bottom):

• /Wasabi Pills/ Midori Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• /Wasabi Pills/ Nana Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014*
• /Wasabi Pills/ Breeze Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• /Wasabi Pills/ Barbara Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for Wasabi Pills, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Melodia Tan 02 A by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::. *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes –  glacier by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Dress: =Mirage= Afrika Dress – Colors by Spooky Mistwallow for Kastle Rock Couture *

Ensnared by Hair

I got Queue Marlowe’s hair for Hair Fair the moment she finished, slapped it on my head and went “wow”! Once again, Queue made a splash at Hair Fair with three new unique styles combining mesh and flexi and curls and braids. As always, they come with Queue’s great textures on her texture-change HUD.

Queue gives us a taste of what she’s good at. First the curls, which are bouncy and twisty and voluminous. Combining mesh and flexi, she gives the ultimate in curly hair. Then she made a stylish short cut with curls tumbling around the face. Finally a fantasy braid, gathered across the face and wrapped around to drape over the shoulder.

Every single purchase kicks a bit to Wigs for Kids, so you’re not only getting ensnared by this hair but also giving to kids who need hair implants after medical conditions have made them lose their own. It’s a win-win proposition!

Hair (top to bottom):

• AD – 42 by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• AD – other by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• AD – ring by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: !Imabee: Florentien – Darling by Brandon Papp for Imabee

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – velik by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at The Big Show

Dress: Egoisme S-line by Ramses Meredith for Egoisme *

Honey Bear Hair

The styles Carina Larsen is offering at Hair Fair made me think of a honey bear because of their charming textures and styles.

Carina does include a men’s hair, which I wear myself, trying to make it as cute as the others. But for women there are three styles, one a generous gift!

All the styles include Carina’s texture-change HUD and the capability to change the colors of the ribbons. Find these darling new styles and many more at Hair Fair.

Hair (top to bottom):

• Amacci Hair – Greta by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• Amacci Hair – Marco by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• Amacci Hair Coco by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• Amacci – Hair Fair 2014 Gift – Zoe (Variant pack) by Carina Larsen for Amacci, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: {FF Doll} Nora Natural _ no cleavage by PeachieMuah for Fresh Face *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – velik by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at The Big Show

Top: Shirt – Border Navy by Malone Brandi for [MotiAme], available at Kustom 9

Earrings: MG – Earrings – Kinbaku Heart by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer *

Buenos Aires Hair

I named this after the beautiful capital of Argentina because this hair reminds me of the gorgeous women of that cosmopolitan city. (Also because I am running out of rhymes, but really, the hair is gorgeous.) Gia Pawpad has switched up her brand name and moved to mesh with a great texture change HUD that allows for such lovely color looks as these.

Upswept or worn down, the hairstyles are lovely and fit well (as you can see over this gorgeous sweater dress from Poulet Koenkamp which includes its own texture-change HUD with what seem a million options but are really only something like 27).

Wear your hair back or up to show earrings like these from AvaGardner Kungler or wear it down to reveal the gorgeous ombre textures. Gia is offering all four of these styles at Hair Fair with part of each sale going to Wigs for Kids. Make yourself beautiful while doing something beautiful.

Hair (top to bottom):

• [LoQ’ue] Vodka by Gia Pawpad for LoQ’ue, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• [LoQ’ue] Mezcal (updo) by Gia Pawpad for LoQ’ue, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• [LoQ’ue] Brandy by Gia Pawpad for LoQ’ue, available at Hair Fair 2014 *
• [LoQ’ue] Absinthe by Gia Pawpad for LoQ’ue, available at Hair Fair 2014 *

Skin: -Belleza- Ria Med 5 Br by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for –Belleza *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – evergreen by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley *

Dress: :: PM :: Felicity Dress *Complete Pack* MESH by Poulet Koenkamp for PurpleMoon Creations, available at the Gypset Market *

Earrings: (Kunglers Extra) Luna earring – Sunset by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at L’Accessoires *