Grayness

That ambiguous centerpoint
between black and white:
shadow and concrete,
pencil marks, storm-
laden skies, burnished
silver, doves’ feathers.

And thus begins a poem written for a dear friend. The poem is all about gray, be it pewter or heather or dove or oyster, pearly or pepper, silver or smoky. This ensemble is an homage to gray. I start with a beautifully drawn tank and skirt from Elie Spot (which I bought at separate times but which went together wonderfully). I love how the sculpty skirt still seems to have movement and lightness, and this is due to the well done shadows in the skirt itself and the clever engineering of the skirt.

I top it all with this awesome new style from Elikapeka Tiramisu, which she debuted for 50L Friday. I think women all over SL are popping that on their head and saying, “Dang, I look great!” Face framing, versatile, I anticipate it will become a classic SL style. My skin is a pale one from Alexandra Barcelos, who has heretofore always dropped tan skins on her fans. I think it came out nicely.

“Her laughter was a shiny thing, like pewter flung high in the air.” ~ Pat Conroy

Hair: [e] Again – White 05 by Elikapeka Tiramisu for [elikatira]

Skin: Ana . Milky . Sea by Alexandra Barcelos for Filthy Skins *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Pale Grey (M) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Top: {mon tissu} Joli Beaded Tunic ~ Light Gray by Elie Spot for {mon tissu}

Skirt: {mon tissu} Scattered Birds Skirt  ~ Gray by Elie Spot for {mon tissu}

Necklace: Florina necklace – silver by Fallingwater Cellardoor for (Shiny Things)

Bangles: Florina bangles and Ruma bangles by Fallingwater Cellardoor for (Shiny Things)

Shoes: AOHARU_WALK_SuedeLaceupSandal_White by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Merry Freakin’ Cussmas

This yuletide has been a trying time for me. First there were the putzy cookies with the chocolate that slid off when I dipped them and the jimmies that flew into every crack and crevice of my kitchen. Then there was the infamous gingerbread house that required a half hour of sanding to get the edges straight, had frosting that was like cement (which dried all over my fingers), and used gumdrops with a suspicious aftertaste. Then there were the fifty oddly-shaped gifts to wrap, the tape roll that shot under the sofa into a dusty area (I suck at housework, ok?), the huge rolls of flimsy wrapping paper to handle in a small space, the darn Pillow Pets which could not be wrapped or packaged. And I won’t even tell you about shopping in my small local grocery store during the holidays, which involves half-blind elderly ladies in fur coats steering oversized carts down the narrow aisles and picking through the stollen and pfefferneuse.

Since SL is a place of fantasy, I have enjoyed the fantasy of having a gift-wrapping room like Candy Spelling’s infamous room, one where all I do is wrap gifts. Gin Galtier indulged this fantasy with her Gift Wrapping Station, which I installed in a corner of my sim and merrily wrapped gifts unencumbered by mess, dust bunnies and the aggravation of finding enough room to wrap that impossibly shaped box of candies.

I wear a cozy sweater from salire Landar, which is very nicely textured with the prims lining up with the system piece on the avatar extremely well. This is not an easy task at all and salire pulls it off (and at a very tasty price—this was 50L). Salire meant this to be a mini dress but I am wearing jeans underneath because chances are I will get Sharpie marker all over my skin if I am not protected.

I still love me some Tuli Asturias. This was part of a set offered through the Skin Addiction group’s Black Friday sale. She needs to release some new skins before I really start swearing! My scarf was Machang Pichot’s offering last year in a holiday gift, and my boots are this season’s answer to looking sexy and festive all at once. Bax Coen once again hits it out of the park, with her Prestige boots offered in this color changing boot with fleecy tops. Not only do you get red and dark red, but also green and blue if you want something less.. cussmassy.

On my cookie tray: Repressed Rage Roundabouts and Preholiday Meltdowns (with nuts—deal!)

Station: elefantu – Gift Wrapping Station (Linked, 105 Prim) by Gin Galtier for elefantu *

Hair: [e] Melody – Red 08 by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Claire (tone 3/dk) :: 04 with []::Tuli::[] Claire (tone 3) red lips by Tuli Asturias for Tuli

Sweater: *salire nordic knit/White by salire Landar for *salire

Jeans: Ibizarre Lolo Jeans by Anyusha Lilienthal for Ibizarre

Scarf: AOHARU_BT_KnitScarf_G2_Christmas by Machang Pichot for Aoharu

Boots: BAX Prestige Holiday Boots by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs*

More Knitting

I know you’re all dying to know about my forays into knitting. Well, it’s been… dangerous. No, I didn’t poke myself in the eye. I went to the knitting store down the block and the other one a few miles from my house and was caught rubbing the skeins against my face. And then I was forced (*forced* I tell ya) to purchase a skein of angora wool that came in variegated shades with a deep blue base (called, appropriately, “Neruda”). So I have started Project Three before Project Two is done. But Project One IS done. So I am off on my latest project, which is a simple scarf with a 1 X 1 stitch. It’s so easy it’s stupid. But the yarn.. *sigh*. It’s so soft and so pretty.

The problem with the yarn stores is they show completed projects and they look soooo beautiful and almost achievable. The ladies sitting in the stores are doing sweaters and shawls and socks and making it all look so fun and simple, you think, well dang, I can do that. A hundred bucks later, you ARE doing it and swearing you will never stop because if you do, that’s a hundred bucks of stash.

This sweater from machang Pichot would be more than a hundred bucks of yarn and it would be quite the accomplishment for ANY knitter. I am guessing the yarn is an aran, probably a good wool, something from Scotland. I can only image the graph that would generate the pattern. Machang is certainly ambitious. She even got tassles on this sweater, and it’s very comfy with its finely shaped sculpty sleeves and main body. (That button alone has to cost a good $20 in real life.. really.)

Then you have the little knit boot cuffs from Emma Gilmour. Definitely a fine gauge knit, probably wool (waterproof, dontcha know) over a fine cowboy boot. The jeans are from Juju Armidi. The hair is an updo from Truth Hawks, to keep it out of my face. And underneath it all? A very fine gauge knit tank from Truth Hawks as well, offered in the 10-10-10 set, and made of a silk yarn.

Once the needles are in your hands, everything looks like it should be knit.

Hair: >TRUTH< Midori – burgundy by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Jade (tone 3/br) :: 01a by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Jacket: AOHARU_PonchoCardigan_NordicBR by machang Pichot for AOHARU *

Top: >TRUTH< Tanks10 [sky/sand] by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<, available in the 10-10-10 vendor at Callie Cline

Jeans: Armidi – Grace Jeans – Faded Chic 1 by Juju Armidi for Armidi

Boots: [SC] Surf Couture – Elsa Boots – White by Emma Gilmour for Surf Couture

Chair and poses: [what next] Knitanista Set (boxed) by Winter Thorn and FrankLee Anatra for [what next]

Rug: SideWays Tibetan Karela Rug (red, burgundy, green) by Kimba Sideways

A Chill in the Air

Fall has come in too quickly. I am still staring at the shorts and t-shirt in my drawers, wondering if I will ever be able to wear them again. It’s not so bad because fall brings back the best part–snuggling up.

So I have snuggled up to .. myself. Yeah, that’s my male alt modeling for me. I needed a hunk in a pinch and there he was, chilling in his box, so I pulled him out. (Yeah, really, what kind of loser snuggles their other doll except me?) The reason was this adorable seasonable skybox from Gin Galtier. She has made 50 only to be sold on Marketplace and for that alone, it’s worth considering. I don’t normally do “on location” shoots, but the colors in this skybox are so pretty and autumnal, I wanted to show something cozy.

Check out the sweet desk in the corner with Gin’s eclectic styling. The skybox comes complete with all decor, which is also modifiable and removable. So you can hack this skybox as you please and still have a cozy nook for warming up. At 215 prims, it’s a lightweight packed with a lot of goodness.

And if nothing else, it’s chock full of great photography opportunities. (How humiliating—being cute with myself… *sigh*. What I do for “art.”)

My outfit is the kind of cozy I need on a chilly day. Doc Eldritch knitted up this beautiful sweater last year that comes with a hood or this great cowl. My jeans are comfy and sexy and made by Anyusha Lilienthal. And I love these boots from Ansor Hoorenbeek (who does women’s as well as men’s.. hello), which come with three different leg options. The great leg warmers make me feel cuddly. My boy is dressed in a great sweater from mappy handrick, jeans from machang Pichot and shoes from Guu Nishi. But really, this is all about the skybox…. and the girl ;)

“Then summer fades and passes and October comes.  We’ll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure.” ~  Thomas Wolfe

Featuring elefantu [October Song] Limited Edition Skybox by Gin Galtier for elefantu, sold on Marketplace *

On her:

Hair: Meredith – Dark Copper by Calico Ingmann for Calico Ingmann Creations

Skin: LAQ ~ Julie – 02 [Peach] Glow skin (red hairbase) by Mallory Cowen for LAQ

Sweater: DE Tango Fall 09 Sweater – Toffee by DoC Eldritch for DE Designs

Jeans: Ibizarre Lolo Jeans by Anyusha Lilienthal for Ibizarre

Boots: [ hoorenbeek ] Warmleg Boots – Brown by Ansor Hoorenbeek for Hoorenbeek

On him:

Hair: LAQ ~ Radiant M05 (L) – Midnight by Winter DiPrima for LAQ

Skin: no.07 :: Demetris – Natural :: Goatee 01 – Hair by Aeon Jiminy for no.07

Sweater: *ARAI* Nit_gray by mappy Handrick for ARAI

Shirt (underneath): *ARAI* Jersey_black by mappy Handrick for ARAI

Jeans: AOHARU_BT_VintageDenim_Black by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Shoes: HOC Industries – Easy Striders by Guu Nishi for HOC

Stranger in a Strange Land

If you’re wondering if I know this good looking guy, I sure do. Bram Ellison has been a friend of mine for quite a while, and while his avatar’s attractive, it has more to do with his personality than how is avatar looks. Generous, kind, intelligent, and gentlemanly to a fault, Bram is the kind of guy you are honored to have in your friends list. It doesn’t hurt that he’s easy on the eye ;)

“I pretended to be somebody I wanted to be until finally I became that person. Or he became me.” ~ Archibald Alexander Leach, aka Cary Grant

On September 19^th, 2006, I logged in to Second Life for the very first time. Until the exact moment my avatar appeared I had never heard of a virtual world and had no idea I had just entered one. I thought I was signing up for an online class. Surprise!

Since part of the purpose of the guest blog is to talk about how we developed our persona, I thought you might want to know just how embryonic I began. I had never even been in a chat room! So the realization that all around me were 3D representations of real people talking and interacting in real time was a bit overwhelming. “Dude. You are sooo not in Kansas,” pretty much summed it up. But I decided to stick around to figure out where the heck I had landed and if there were flying monkeys involved. Turns out there were, and one of them was me.

 

My first take on the place was that you weren’t supposed to be yourself at all, and I was shocked when people kept asking personal questions. I mean look at the name: “Second Life.” It practically screams, “Try something new!” So I set out to define who I wanted to be in my second life. That was too lofty a goal, so I settled for WHAT I wanted: a boat, and to not look like I was begging for bananas.

I got a small boat to live on and was a happy lil’ Jimmy Buffett-blaring simian for a while until I began to get handy with the shape tools. There are 77 selections in 9 categories and there’s a bit of work involved in getting to know and use them well. But you have to start someplace, and the person I picked to emulate for physical cues was Cary Grant. The man just oozed style, and the better I got at shaping the more I appreciated his taste and grace. I started paying more attention to clothes, skins, accessories, and hair. (I also found out you could buy shapes! Oh well.) But through all the Cary channeling, I always came home to the boat, beach, and Buffett.

What you are seeing in these pictures is my culmination of the two styles. Flick Carlucci took these photos at very cool sim called “Virtual Decay.” She’s got a great eye and is fun to work with. No matter what I wear from tux to tennis shoes, I’m all about the best possible design and texture. (Read, picky as hell.) I like simple classic colors and styles with a casual slant and the shirt/jacket combo and the jeans from AOHARU fit the bill nicely. The boots are my favorites from Jeepers Creepers. The shape is still my own creation and I think the Redgrave skin suits it well. The hair is from Truth and I totally dig it. Oh, the sweet Rickenbacker M330 guitar is from Nortique Guitars. Now here we are four years in. I’m still on a boat and I know who I am. Jimmy Cary Grant Buffett, aka Bram Ellison. Or maybe he’s me. ;)

We are the people our parents warned us about. ~ Jimmy Buffett

Hair: Elysium, espresso by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH<

Skin: Cruz, deep tan by Emilia Redgrave for Redgrave

Eyes: Rainy Day by Pompeja Rossini for Damiani

Shape: Bram Ellison for Bram Ellison

Jacket with Shirt: Black with white shirt by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Jeans: Vintage dark by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Necklace: Stone Cross by JesseAitui Petion for AITUI

Tattoo: Northwest Spirit by JesseAitui Petion for AITUI

Boots: Oslo, black by Eponymous Trenchmouth for Jeepers Creepers

Guitar: Rickenbacker 330 Guitar by K1TTY Munro for Nortique Guitars

Photography by Flick Carlucci.

Photos taken at Virtual Decay.

Heartthrob

I have been writing my blogs while watching “Coffee Prince,” a Korean sitcom/drama. It’s hilarious. A rich bachelor is being encouraged to get married by his battleaxe grandmother. In order to get out of being set up on dates, he hires a young woman delivery person to be a young man he can be seen with so the rumor is that he’s gay. At one point he dresses the young woman up, and she learns how to “be a man.”

I had the same experience styling myself for this blog. While I found the jacket and jeans myself, I was critically assessed for my bad shape and hair (and my lack of “smooth” with the ladies) by a male. The jacket with shirt comes from mappy Handrick, who is currently having a very generous sale on men’s items. The jeans are my favorite boys’ jeans—loose where they need to be and tight in all the right places. The bracelet is from Jon Ree, who has some awesome pieces for men as well as women. I think these could pass as manly, right?

The skin is from Aeon Jiminy, one I have been wearing a lot in these blogs. I like this skin a lot—it doesn’t look like all the other guys. It’s masculine and sexy with a youthful look and great whiskers. My revised shape helps it greatly. The hair is amazing—from Winter DiPrima, it’s a great offering for men who want to look sexy and cosmopolitan. My stylist was right on about this hair–it’s packed with “smooth.”

Words have no wings but they can fly a thousand miles. ~ Korean proverb

Hair: LAQ ~ Radiant M05 (L) – Midnight by Winter DiPrima for Laqroki

Skin: no.07 :: Demetris – Natural :: Goatee 01 – Hair by Aeon Jiminy for no.07 *

Jacket: *ARAI* Leather Jacket_black by mappy Handrick for Arai

Jeans: AOHARU_BT_VintageDenim(Pack A) by machang Pichot for Aoharu

Bracelet: Bracelet — Men’s Domingo silver links by Jon Ree for Mustang Trading Post

Shoes: HOC Industries – Easy Striders by Guu Nishi for HOC Industries

Chatty Sez

Sometimes you have to dedicate a blog to someone. Today it’s to ChatBrat Pipitta, who has been helping with SL7B and is one of my many bffs in Hey Girlfriends. I have not known Chat long but she is a real sweetheart, a hard worker, a cutie pie, and a mensch. Can you say much more for a Girlfriend?

Thje reason I named this for her is because she helped me assemble this outfit as I was doing other stuff. I say in IM, “Chatty, can I wear this dress as a top?” She says, “Harper, I do that all the time. Love it!” So I am wearing this top, a new pretty from cocoru Lemon with an off-the-shoulder sculpty prim, black with white polka dots. Can you get cuter? And then I have leggings. ChatBrat says, “I always wear leggings with tops like that.” These are leopard skin from Aoharu. Who said you can’t wear spots with spots?

The hair? Well ChatBrat says it’s ok–it’s cute but not too cute. She says, “Wear it!” I really like this hat and hair from Ilze Erin with color changing scripts for the hat and flower. I think I got it in one of those gacha machines that I love so much. We debated the boots while we were supposed to be working on something more serious. “Did you enter that in the database? Do you like these boots?” I ask her. “Yes, I did and yes! I love those boots!” she says. Another great find from cocoru Lemon.

When ChatBrat talks, I listen!

Hair: :Liriope: MOG black by Ilze Erin for Liriope

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Jade (tone 4/bl) :: 06b by Tuli Asturias for Tuli

Top: *COCO*_OneShoulderPolkaDotsDress_Black by cocoru Lemon for COCO

Leggings: AOHARU_BT_Leopard_Leggings_White 1 by machang Pichot

Earrings: [chuculet] sofia – earrings – silver/black by Farah Palmer for chuculet

Boots: *COCO*_ZipperBootie by cocoru Lemon for COCO

Legally Blonde

In my SL, there is one blonde and one redhead and one black-haired Raven. It so happens that Callie Cline is the blonde (though I have seen her in brunette hair many times). I am the red head. Raven Pennyfeather is the black-haired beauty. Today I am putting the kibosh on the rule—legally.

Who sez Callie is the only blonde in town? This blonde wears a cute denim flirty dress from Hinano Runo. If you are going to do flirty, denim is the way to go. As with all of Hinano’s work, the textures are clean, well done, and alpha free.

Shoes are from machang Pichot. I think we all agree that machang has brought a lot of goodness to SL with her wonderful textured sculpty work and fun fashion aesthetic. These beauties are some of her first. Her toes are cute and of course, the whole set comes with a skin and nail color changing HUD.

What makes me a blonde today, however, is Tuli Asturias’ new line of skins called Jade, due out May 28. Absolutely beautiful, as all of Tuli’s skins, this skin is a smoother skin than her Eva line, less glittery than Belle, more caucasian than Sayuri. The dewy freshness of this line of skins, the perfection of the lips with their gentle gloss, the beautiful eye make up and lining around the eyes.. I am beside myself. I chose to wear the light brow because after all, I am legally blonde today.

I’m not offended by all the dumb blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb… and I also know that I’m not blonde. ~ Dolly Parton

Hair: >TRUTH< Hannah – seaspray by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Jade (tone 4/li) :: 04a by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Dress: [indigo] FrontZipperDress by Hinano Runo for =Hal*Hina=

Earrings: Ear Candy ~ Large Creme Pearl Teardrop by Maeve Mortlock for Ear Candy

Shoes: AOHARU_WALK_SuedeLaceupSandal_White by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Manly

As you all know, I like to don a male shape and do some male modeling when SC isn’t able to. I just got my hands on some really terrific men’s skins, so I took this opportunity to enjoy the view for a while and share it with you.

I have done a few other male blogs and my male friends all come back and complain that I am not man enough. What gives?! (Besides that I am really a woman, but come on!) I received the new Mark skin from LaVie, and this time I am challenging you to tell me I am not manly enough. Especially wearing this great new hair from Truth Hawks. Stop complaining, guys—these hair makers are working hard to get you what you need. And how could you pass this one up?

Check out this chest! (Yeah his eyes are not open. We don’t need to be looking in them anyway. We can be looking at his chest!) And check out the poses. MANLY poses. Rogan Diesel is a man and he gets that you guys don’t want to look like dorks. He has made masculine poses that go beyond the caveman to the sensuous and sexy without looking wimpy.

I am wearing jeans from machang Pichot. Usually when someone does male and female clothing, they do one or the other more strongly. machang seems to have a handle on both types. These jeans are light colored, I know, guys, but look at the belt! And I didn’t tuck them into the boots this time. Come on! The boots are the gift given by Limer Fredriksson for the Le.Look holiday giveaway. Manly boots. Look!

You make me feel.. you make me feel… you make me feel like… nevermind.

Hair: >TRUTH< Hank – cocoa by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: LaVie Mark Full Beard Cut Hair Base Normal by KaoZ Koba for LaVie *

T-Shirt: *TSM* Equilizer V-neck Tee in Steely Teal by Helena Stringer for The Stringer Mausoleum *

Jeans: AOHARU_BT_VintageDenim_Washed by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Boots: hoorenbeek : LE.LOOK! l’homme – Boots by Limer Fredriksson for hoorenbeek

Poses: from the new Dante set by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works Animations *

PeterX, if you read this, ping me ;)

The Man Show

As part of my New Year’s Resolutions, I am going to strive to have more empathy. That’s a pretty vague resolution, but it has to do with understanding where other people are coming from, walking in their shoes.

So I have been taking a walk in men’s shoes lately. I have some opinions, some of them pretty common sense, some of them kind of philosophical, about men’s content in SL. I have already expressed some of this in other venues, but I will continue to pursue them in my mind and perhaps in this blog or my other.

Regardless, you all get the benefit. Today’s ensemble came from a gift set (not a freebie) that machang Pichot set out for sale so people could purchase transferable gifts for their friends for the holidays (in other words, I am not sure it’s still available). It was a godsend for many a woman purchasing for men on the grid and a steal. machang’s work is top-notch, between the incredible use of sculpty prims, the beautiful and realistic textures, and the amazing styling. I mean, check the butt on these jeans. To DIE for. A man could get one of these gift packages and walk out into SL knowing he was suave and sexy.

One thing a friend pointed out to me, and this has nothing to do with this outfit, is that being a man in SL and being fashionable, is a difficult task. Yes, we know—there are no decent hair choices, the clothes suck, etc. But beyond that, the attachments for men, the ways of styling an avatar that was birthed originally from a female shape (it’s true! Ruth was the mother of us all…) and then codifying men’s fashion into this world—it’s amazing it gets done at all. And then add to that that most men are pretty deficient in fashion sense. It’s surprising more men aren’t walking around with just t-shirts and jeans! It’s to machang Pichot’s credit that this amazingly handsome look came out.

I show Tricky Boucher’s skin Ewan II here on my male shape (still a work in progress). I have to say I inevitably send men to Belleza because the skins are realistic, manly, and proportionate. He does photosource but he combines his photosourcing with good blending so the entire body is seamless. As I understand, Tricky will be coming out with two more men’s skins in the next week or two—definitely Thomas, which is the whole line corresponding to the male skin he offered as a gift at Le.Look and another. I can’t wait to see them.

Bryce Tully’s new hair tops my head. When men IM to ask where to get decent hair, I am ready for them with a notecard of places. Bryce shows up on my list, but not on many other’s and I am not sure why. We are all, appropriately, in love with the hair that Maddox DuPont makes (cuz it’s darn good) but folks like Bryce have been putting it out there for a while and keep working on it and making it better.

Handsome is as handsome does:

Hair: Bryce ~ Dexter – Coffees – Espresso by Bryce Tully for Bryce Designs

Skin: -Belleza- Ewan v2 SK 1 (hair) by Tricky Boucher for Belleza *

Jacket and Shirt: AOHARU_BT_LeatherTailoredJK_withShirtBK_DarkBrown by machang Pichot of Aoharu

Pants: AOHARU_BT_VintageDenim_Black by machang Pichot of Aoharu

Scarf: AOHARU_BT_KnitScarf_G2_Snow/ChocoFudge by machang Pichot of Aoharu

Boots: ANEXX_2WayBeltLaceupBoots_Gray/Male by machang Pichot of Aoharu