Dance Me to the End of Love

Dance me to your beauty with a burning violin
Dance me through the panic till I’m gathered safely in
Touch me with your naked hand or touch me with your glove
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love
Dance me to the end of love

There is something so romantic about a dark song about love until death. This song seemed a perfect accompaniment to Babyhoney Bailey’s offering for the Potter’s Field, which will be going on from July 24 – August 24–an artistic and design challenge to some of the grid’s younger and more interesting designers based on a dark theme. This dress is a beautiful and dramatic piece from Babyhoney Bailey, built from a foundation of simple but well done system pieces accompanied by dramatic prims including a glowing monocle.

I wear the ballerina boots Babyhoney offers for the dress (at a mere 44L!) because they are actually pretty. I was never in love with this weird contorted shoe shape (that is as painful looking as foot binding),  but for this ensemble it works. Babyhoney also offers the outfit as a lingerie set complete with parasol (because it’s rainy in those dark romantic other-lives). I was particularly impressed by how she used the system skirt layer to make a bottom for the bodice—ingenious!

Finally, the skin is also from Babyhoney Bailey. Her skins are getting more refined as she gets more experience. I like the asymmetrical nature of this skin—the mouth is slightly uneven, the mascara tears streak down crookedly. The whole look is enhanced by a huge hair from MiaSnow Myriam that may no longer be available.

Dance me through the curtains that our kisses have outworn…
~”Dance Me to the End of Love” by Leonard Cohen as sung by Madeleine Peyroux

Hair: MIASNOW Hair – SPECIAL DAY Red Dark by MiaSnow Myriam for MIASNOW

Skin: Djinn & Tonic  <MUA> Potter’s Field, The Mistress N-Black by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn and Tonic, exclusive to The Potter’s Field *

Dress: The Mistress, Gown by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn and Tonic, exclusive to The Potter’s Field *

Lingerie: The Mistress, 2.0 by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn and Tonic, exclusive to The Potter’s Field *

Boots: Djinn & Tonic – Potter’s Field, The Mistress Boot by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn and Tonic, exclusive to The Potter’s Field *

I want a photograph of you…

I want a photograph of you
but not a photograph of you
I wanna be closer than that
I wanna be closer than that…
Closer than that photograph.
~ Chuck Close by Tim Fite

How often have you wanted to reach out and touch another person in their avatar? Maybe an avatar is closer than a photograph…

Certainly with this skin from JOMAN Mai, you are closer than a photograph. The skin is at once an illustration and a photograph. It’s evocative, winsome, and otherworldly. The body is lovely with a beautiful navel (which you would notice with an outfit like this). I would not say all her skins hit the mark—they suffer from the pastel cartoon quality some skins have–but this one certainly said something to me.

I show it with separates from Jojorunoo Runo. She has experimented with shapes and translucencies to create interesting silhouettes for avatar apparel. The top is simply a photosourced knit texture but she makes it interesting with prim straps and a scarf. The skirt is cleverly engineered, attached to both legs and pelvis. Shoes are a vibrant yellow pumps from LeeZu Baxter and Enktan Gully to echo the yellow across the eyes and the little flower earrings from Mika Nieuport.

Closer than that, closer than that photograph…

Hair: booN BON000 hair black by boo Nakamura for booN

Skin: JM:Mai skin_devonz sakuran nomal by JOMAN Mai for JM:Mai

Top: ~*RunoRuno*~ Knit Tank by Jojorunoo Runo for ~*RunoRuno*~

Skirt: ~*RunoRuno*~ After Ballet Class Skirt by Jojorunoo Runo for ~*RunoRuno*~

Earrings: MIEL ELO EARRING by Mika Nieuport for Miel

Bracelet: Djinn & Tonic – Coco Blvd Bangle by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn & Tonic

Shoes: .*Courtisane*. La Sauvage – Yellow by LeeZu Baxter and Enktan Gully for Courtisane *

P.S. Thank you to my sweet Chatty for enclosing my photo in a polaroid for this blog. As always, she made my life tons easier and made me look great :)

Casual Blonde

Summer weekends are so easy. Throw on a top, jeans, sandals, put a pin in your hair, all set. It’s a good time to count blessings, to be grateful for what we have rather than what we don’t have.

In this case I have a new top and new capris. The top, from LeeZu Baxter, comes in sheer and opaque, but I chose sheer, because she has made the color so beautifully delicate, especially as it is draped at the decollatage. It’s a t-shirt, yes, of the silkiest sheerest material. I wear it over a bra from 5th and Oxford—a chic, sexy look that suits. The capris are well-drawn system pieces from Babyhoney Bailey. This is avatar fashion at its essential—no prims, no gimmicks. Babyhoney’s work stands the test with great seams, wrinkles, colors and a nice round booty.

My ‘do is a new one from Truth Hawks with his ingenious streaks. I have subtly applied white streaks to this delicious champagne for that sun-kissed look. Tuli Asturias gives me a healthy glow with one of her new Jade skins.

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

Hair: >TRUTH< Peyton Streaked – champagne by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

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

Top: Oui Oui Shirt SHEER (Jacket Layer) /turquoise by LeeZu! by LeeZu Baxter for LeeZu!*

Bra: (5th&Oxford) The Tease – Bra *SAPPHIRE* 2 by Roslin Petion and CJ Carnot for 5th and Oxford

Capris: Djinn & Tonic [Clam Diggers, Darkwash] by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn & Tonic *

Bracelet: *ByKay* ~ Isis Bracelet (White Gold) by Kayleigh McMillan for *ByKay*

Sandals: J’s Real Toe Belt Platform Sandals 8Colors (Silver) by JB Gazov for J’s

Poses: Everglow poses by Fanny Willis for Everglow *

Little Libertine

“Spitting in a wishing well
Blown to hell… crash
I’m the last splash
I know you, little libertine.”

~ Cannonball by The Breeders

‘Cannonball” is a song I heard a lot in grad school—I had a roommate who ran around in her Doc Martens, blasting Cannonball on her stereo and passionately lecturing me with her hybrid Oxford/American accent about the articulation of snake spines as she cradled a skeleton in her pale hands. Her name was Kate. Kate, whose pet snake’s name was Nate–Nate the Snake.

Kate would have worn this outfit, no problem. She was not goth but she liked to show off her small shape and pale skin. This new dress from Babyhoney Bailey—it could have gone two ways. With its great ruffles at the neckline and around the skirt, its sexy girly spaghetti straps, I could have dressed it up with stockings and heels, but it was so perfectly Kate, I found Gospel Voom’s Docs in my inventory, pulled on stockings from Canimal Zephyr, and headed out to the club.

I put on dark lipstick. Now, Kate was not always a make-up wearer but when she did, she liked a dark lip to offset her porcelain skin. This makeup from Tuli Asturias is perfect. Her dark hair was perpetually a mess—the humidity in North Carolina did her in, so this hair from Kavar Cleanslate pretty much fits the Kate bill.

“I’m the last splash.” ~ The Breeders

Hair: Exile Scene/blackcherry by Kavar Cleanslate for Exile

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Jade (tone 3/bl) :: 10c by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Dress: Djinn & Tonic – Roxy Dress (Black) by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn and Tonic *

Tattoo: AITUI TATTOO – Angelic Embrace I by Jesseaitui Petion for Aitui

Stockings: Canimal – Ripped stockings – black by Canimal Zephyr for Canimal (tinted black)

Boots: [Docs] 8 Hole – F – BLACK [bagged] wear by Gospel Voom for Gos

It’s Golden

Part of living life is that feeling of bleah that sometimes creeps over. I had it yesterday. We really are living in tough times—people are out of work, oil is leaking like mad in the Gulf, a whole country in Europe is going bankrupt, we are still engaged in war, SL seems a mess, a friend passes away—should I go on? *sigh*

But then, as it always does, the sun rises to the next day. The flowers in my windowboxes are growing already and reflecting their color into my bedroom. The neighbor’s birds squawk joyfully (cockatoos next door—don’t ask). The weather is beautiful! I log in and someone makes me laugh right off with her stories. A newbie I once helped sends me one of her creations, and it’s absolutely amazing. I hear from a dear friend who I had thought I had lost to the aether of the internet, and he has a new wonderful job. I am so happy for him. It’s all golden. It really is.

The golden today starts with Sysy Chapman’s 69L dress from this week. With its two-toned top, cute halter and darling wavy prim skirt, this is a cute dress for bopping around the grid.

I accessorize with bracelets from Babyhoney Bailey which I have had for a while and loved. I would wear these in real life—they are very chic with their abstract textures.

What makes me even happier is wearing Tuli Asturias’ new skin with a new hair from Lamb Bellic. I love this low gathered ponytail with the strands escaping, the fullness of the ponytail. I have already given my review of Tuli’s new skins.. *happy sigh*

There’s always another day… always.

Hair: !lamb. Lost – Kit Kat by Lamb Bellic for lamb.

Skin: []::Tuli::[] Jade (tone 4/br) :: 05b by Tuli Asturias for Tuli *

Dress: SYSY’s HDH wk 29 – Peachy 69 dress by Sysy Chapman for SYSY’s

Earrings: * *Primagine* Victoria Set by Trixie Bumbo for Primagine

Bracelets: Djinn & Tonic – CoCo Bangle and CoCo Blvd Bangles with Skinny Bangles by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn & Tonic

Shoes: ::Mine!!! Carla Heels_Brown/Gold by Marcy Susanowa for ::JustMine!!

Keen for Green

Day two of the great Valentine Day gift hintfest for you dolts.. I mean, folks who need to find things to give your beloved ladies. I am starting early on this so you have plenty of time to pile up the ideas.

Day two of your shopping trip takes you to a sweet little shop owned by VNP Ninetails. Push all the way to the back room. There you will find gowns based on a common photo sourced bodice with several variations. This one can be found in about 30 colors (!). Its virtues? Well there are the many colors available. I chose this amazing olive green (which always suits a redhead). I was concerned about matching shoes to it, but it comes with the shoes! Then there is that sexy sheen to the material. Photo sourced or not, it looks hot. And check out the back. Ay caramba! Between the strappy sexiness, the dip to the derriere and then that perfectly shadowed bum, well, dang! You can’t do much better. And it’s transferable! (Yes, folks, give it as a gift!)

I accompany it with copper hair from Elikapeka Tiramisu. The skin is a luscious and glowing Alyson from Tricky Boucher. Look at those ripe lips and the beautifully drawn eyebrows (again, the eyebrows.. oy!) But check out the décolletage and the back. With a dress like this showing the sexiest areas, only the best will do.

Let me comment about the poses. I haven’t always mentioned them but this time I have to. I found Diesel Works at the Shoe Fair and have enjoyed Rogan Diesel’s work since. Rogan likes the female body, it’s clear, and he’s prepared to make you feel as sexy as a model as you can dare to pose.

Step two for showing your honey how beautiful she is:

Hair: ETD Tiana – Copper by Elikapeka Tiramisu for ETD

Skin: -Belleza- Alyson SK 8 by Tricky Boucher for Belleza *

Dress with Shoes: .::Vassnia::. Classy Pie by VNP Ninetails for Vassnia

Ring: ALB CLEO GOLDEN flowerball ring (R) hand by AnaLee Balut for ALB

Bracelet: Djinn & Tonic – Coco Blvd Bangles & Skinny Bangles by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn & Tonic

Poses: From Venus and Piper series by Rogan Diesel for Diesel Works

Romantic song for the day: “You’re the Best Thing” by Style Council

Day Off

I’m having one of those days when I just want to run away and take the day off. I don’t want to do my hair, dress up, sort my notecards, talk to anyone—I just want to be left alone to torture prims or something.

I want to wear something comfy, so I put on this really cute tank top from Babyhoney Bailey. The former model is now a fashion maker herself, and wow, she really does some great work. I LOVE this tank—the subtle shadows, the print with the vintage ladies, the flirty skirt.

I paired it up with jeans from Miseria Daines. They are really well done with rips and wrinkles and that sort of relaxed grungy feel that is so important on a day like today.

My hair’s a mess, thanks to Kavar Cleanslate. This style is my wavy hair, loosely tied, needing a wash probably. But still looking cute!

Finally, slip on clogs from sakka Flow. Easy, comfy, ideal when I am flopping around the sim, trying to force a prim to my will and ignoring the blue screens in the corner.

Well after realizing how cute I look, the day is looking up:

Hair: Exile Monica/coffee by Kavar Cleanslate for Exile *

Skin: Pulse Skin-Life/Tone 4 Warm m1by Lorac Farella for Pulse *

Top: Djinn & Tonic – Vintage Tank (Femme Faces) by Babyhoney Bailey for Djinn & Tonic

Jeans: [Miseria] Bitter Jeans – Dust by Miseria Daines for [Miseria]

Clogs: Sakka’s Studio ** Clog Shoes/ Caramel buckskin by sakka Flow for Sakka’s Studio