In the Dark

“Light can only be understood with the wisdom of darkness.” ~ Ka Chinery

A little foray into the dark, a soft sexy dark with this tank dress from Aikea Rieko that is open up the sides and flirty in all the best ways. She offers this dress in a ton of different patterns but I was attracted to the “star” because of the shimmering lines in the texture. I wear panties from Erratic Rain with strings that barely hold at the sides and a sexy choker with chain from faullon for Shiny Shabby. Shoes from Glamistry complete the look.

These shoes are of particular interest because Glamistry is running the following promotion:

Purchase any single color for Crocus heels and receive 3 more colors absolutely for FREE!

Here’s how it works:
1. Purchase any single color for Crocus heels. Be it marketplace, mainstore or your Crocus’s HUD – doesn’t matter, all will do.
2. Open http://promo.glamistry.com and use the following promo code: JYISVE
3. System will randomly choose 3 colors which you do not own yet and will add them to your HUD for FREE!

Offer ends in Jan 24th 11:59PM SLT!

I’ve tried it and it works!

I am wearing Deesselle Destiny’s gorgeous skin on the Logo Alex head. I have been doing a lot of Catwa skins lately and I really wanted to go back to the Logo head and I am glad to show this gorgeous skin on the Alex shape, which seems to suit it quite a bit. Deesselle includes different brow colors on the HUD. However, Calico Ingmann’s bangs cover these brows so I can peek out sexily from behind them, my lush hair that she is featuring at Hairology in lush ringlets. Hairology opens today with a ton of fabulous looks!

Hair: Febe by Calico Ingmann for Calico, available at Hairology *

Mesh head: LOGO Alex v3.0 Omega by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: DS’ELLES -(WEAR) CERISE Applier OMEGA – LOGO – Alex – JAVA by Deesselle Destiny for DS’Elles *

Eyes: .ID. Attraction Eyes / Mesh / by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard, available at The Men’s Dept

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.4 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: :[P]:- Ziva Tank ://Neutral-Star by Aikea Rieko for The Plastik *

Panties: erratic / valentina – knickers / noir (maitreya) by Erratic Rain for erratic

Choker: RAMA – Collar Lariat Wrap Necklace ‘Gold’ by faullon for RAMA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Shoes: Glamistry : CROCUS Heels – maitreya by Glamistry for Glamistry *

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo Studio *

The Menace of Zucchini

The trouble is, you cannot grow just one zucchini.  Minutes after you plant a single seed, hundreds of zucchini will barge out of the ground and sprawl around the garden, menacing the other vegetables.  At night, you will be able to hear the ground quake as more and more zucchinis erupt. ~ Dave Barry

I have vegetables on the mind, which have nothing to do with this blog but everything to do with the farmer’s market I keep going to and the myriad recipes I have been trying out. The best so far is roasting them in the oven with some of the fantastic olive oil I buy and some coarse grain kosher salt. And I have made stuffed zucchini three times this week rather than being on SL. Need I say more?

I have dressed up in a chic paisley dress recently released by SamanthaSJones with the new wedge shoes from Babette Ultsch I recently showed and can’t seem to take off. I have been wearing it for several days now through several zucchini iterations.

I am showing furniture from several vendors who are donating 100% of their income from sale of these items at Love Donna Flora. Yep, there’s not just fashion but also furnishings. Start with Kaerri Rae’s peacock-themed set complete with mirrored cabinet, rug, chairs, even wall art. A beautiful set like this deserves to be in your home, especially when it benefits Squinternet Larnia.

Fallacy DeCuir contributes this chair with a color change blanket and the shelves you see behind me as part of a set that gives 100%. I have put together several elements from the generous pieces that DeAnn Dufaux is contributing at Love Donna Flora. Imagine not only dressing yourself in the love people are showing for Squinternet but also surrounding your home with this love.

This lovely face comes courtesy of PeachieMuah, who is releasing “fresh” faces on a regular basis. She is refining the look with more defined brows, a lovely deep set eye, luscious lips. My hair is one that Calico Ingmann had at Hair Fair and presumably in her store. I love this asymmetrical style and love the color-change hud she has used for years for her hair.

What was paradise, but a garden full of vegetables and herbs and pleasure?  Nothing there but delights. ~ William Lawson

Hair: Arisa (B) by Calico Ingmann for Calico Ingmann Creations

Skin: (FreshFace) Acacia Olive Bigger Breasts by PeachieMuah for [Fresh Face] *

Eyes: .ID. Twinkle Eyes – Blue by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard, available at Love Donna Flora

Dress: [LG] Boutique-[Summer 13] Davinia Shoulder Chain Dress by SamanthaSJones for LIV-Glam

Shoes: *KL* Sandal Cora Color Set 01 by Babette Ultsch for Kittie’s Lair *

Poses by Rogan Diesel for DieselWorks Animations *

Furniture:

Kaerri Pavone* Set For Donna Flora by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri, available at Love Donna Flora *

Cobblestone – Donna Mini Set by Fallacy DeCuir for Cobblestone, available at Love Donna Flora *

[Park Place]  Jungle Table Decorations by DeAnn Dufaux for Park Place, available at Love Donna Flora*

Hair

Gimme a head with hair
Long beautiful hair
Shining, gleaming,
Streaming, flaxen, waxen

Give me down to there hair
Shoulder length or longer
Here baby, there mama
Everywhere daddy daddy…

I want it long, straight, curly, fuzzy
Snaggy, shaggy, ratty, matty
Oily, greasy, fleecy
Shining, gleaming, streaming
Flaxen, waxen
Knotted, polka-dotted
Twisted, beaded, braided
Powdered, flowered, and confettied
Bangled, tangled, spangled, and spaghettied!

~ from the song “Hair,” from “Hair: the Musical”

I have a quandary here because generally I do a whole avatar “look” and I eschew that multiple mugshot presentation, but I have been inundated with hair… hair in boxes, hair in packages, hair in folders.. wonderful hair! That’s because the Hair Fair is on again this year, and there are many more choices for me to show than I can do in.. a month I bet. So I will be showing some great styles here and through the week.

This post will be my mugshot showing (wherein I just show hair without content or context—just hair.. on my head.) Hair Fair opened yesterday at midnight slt. Join the Hair Fair Demo Group in world to grab copies of these as demos so you are not wandering around the Fair trying them on in a swamp of lag. (And there will be lag—don’t complain—you all want to be there so there will be lag.)

Finally, please note that I show some new skins here and I will talk more about them as the week goes on. Simply admire and purchase!!

Hair: [RA] Khloe Hair – Red Fever by Raspberry Aristocrat for Raspberry Aristocrat, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: :GP: Petal [Dark] Pout-Indulged 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Steel Blue (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Earrings: erratic/hoop earrings/silver by Erratic Rain for erratic

Hair: !lamb. Our Deal – Blur Ombre by Lamb Bellic for lamb, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: :GP: Petal Frex [Light] Airhead-Fluff 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Absinthe (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Hair: MINA Hair – Famke – BG05 by Mina Nakamura for MINA Hair & Bijoux, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: [.:Mascarade:.] Chou – Jolie – by Jahen Foxclaw for [.:Mascarade:.]

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Warm Silver (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Note: This one includes extensions that were not right. Bubbles took the same texture and put it on the extensions so the dark was still on top so as the pieces went together they did not match. I was disappointed because I loved the long hair.

Hair: Clawtooth: Pretty Words (skull) – Soil by Bubbles Clawtooth for Clawtooth, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: [mock] Olivia Skin (no Cleavage) Tone 2 by Mocksoup Graves for MOCK Cosmetics *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Hazel (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Hair: Rosy mood hair / Conifer (red) by Calico Felisimo for Rosy Mood *

Skin: [mock] Olivia Skin (no Cleavage) Tone 2 by Mocksoup Graves for MOCK Cosmetics *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Hazel (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Hair: [LeLutka]-KNOTTED hair – Overcooked with [LeLutka]-HAIRBASE Overcooked by Thora Charron for [LeLutka], available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: * LaVie * Jolie – Anemone – Sunkissed #9 [H] by Pompeja Rossini for LaVie *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Gold (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Hair: Amacci Hair Trisha ~ Wheat Blond by Carina Larsen for Amacci, , available at Hair Fair 2011 *

Skin: :GP: Petal [Light] Summer-Pebble 2 by Gala Phoenix for Curio *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Light Mint (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Note: This comes with a whole fantastic outfit of … hair. Not sure I will ever find a place for the hair skirt but it was certainly fun.

Hair: ChiChickie! Godiva (Hair) – Chocolate by Chiana Meredith for ChiChickie, available at Hair Fair 2011 *

Skin: #5 LaVie Asia -Tiffany- Light by Pompeja Rossini for LaVie *

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Dark Brown (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Hair: Magika Hair // Andarial by Sabina Gully for Magika, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: LAQ ~ Mini – [Nougat] – 09 by Mallory Cowen for Laqroki

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Celtic Green (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Note: The fan changes texture on click so you can match to your outfit!

Hair: Vanity Hair: Shizuka-Noir by Tabita Jewell for Vanity Hair, available at Hair Fair 2011

Skin: :GP: Honey [Dark] Jasmine-Big Red Lantern 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Dark Brown (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Note: This one comes with a hud to change the streaks to any color in her collection.

Hair: !!Calico Ingmann Creations!! Audrey – Light Blondes by Calico Ingmann for Calico Ingmann Creations

Skin: [.:Mascarade:.] Chou – Jolie – by Jahen Foxclaw for [.:Mascarade:.]

Eyes: FASHISM ‘Sunrise’ Eyes – Warm Silver (ML) by Ikon Innovia for FASHISM *

Mélange

I love words that can only convey their meaning in their own language—schadenfreude, bricolage, lasagna… One such word is mélange which means a mixture, often of incongruous elements.

Not a lot of people are willing to take the risk of mélange in their own work—it’s hard to do well. AvaGardner Kungler has managed to pull it off very beautifully in this dress from her collection. When I first donned it, I was stunned by the combination of colors, textures and shapes that all came together to make this unified dress. AvaGardner pulls it off by making a very simple silhouette—an inverted triangle on top of a triangle—and echoing the audacity of the combined textures by exaggerating those shapes. The dress could be flat out wrong if AvaGardner had not had the base brown in the colorways and if she had not chosen such an elegant silhouette.

I am featuring one of aida Ewing’s newest skins with the dress. Aida’s skill has been developing as she proceeds to each skin, her experience being carefully applied. For this set, I was pleased to see more definition to the lips and eyebrows, more elegant color choices, and a lovely shape to the eyebrows and lips. Aida’s skins are not “photoreal” insofar as they have the flaws—pores, shadows, under-eye circles—that other skins have. Nevertheless it’s an attractive skin, especially for photography.

I am wearing a lovely set of jewelry from Julia Merosi, which is being sold at the Jewelry Fair. I love the deep teal of the gems on this jewelry and the unique shape of the stones. She runs the shape from the earrings to the bracelet to the ring (and the necklace, which I don’t show here). The texture on the gem is gorgeous as is most of her work.

I had a bowl of schadenfreude for breakfast, some bricolage for lunch and lasagna with a side dish of mélange for dinner. Topped it all off with an ennui nightcap ;)

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

Skin: -Glam Affair- SofiaV2- Natural 11 by aida Ewing for Glam Affair

Dress: (Kunglers Couture) Ellis – chocolate by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers *

Earrings, Bracelet and Ring: ::je::suis::mysterious::earrings, ::je::suis::mysterious::ring, and ::je::suis::mysterious::bracelet by Julia Merosi for je suis, available at the 2010 Jewelry Fair

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

Welcome Back!

Friends are sneaking back into SL in unprecedented numbers. Back from holiday, back to school, back to create, back to socialize, everyone’s starting to hunker down for the fall into the winter. This evening I spent the evening shopping for AOs with a dear old friend while hearing from another who has just moved across country and is finally settled enough to be back in world.

My friend asked me to take her shopping and I said, well you know, a lot of the same creators are still in world and doing great work. Take for instance, these jeans, by Gin Galtier. We know her creator has been in world for a good amount of time, making funky fun clothes for avatars. I really like the texture of these jeans with their dark denim look at floor-dragging boot cut bottoms.

The top is from Eclectic Wingtips, a designer who has been doing her work for a relatively short time, and I see clear improvement whenever I see her new creations. I really like this wrap top, which comes in a variety of combos at a price that’s nice for separates.

The shoes are the creation of another veteran—Nardya Rousselot. She has made some of the prettiest toes in the metaverse, plump pretty little piggies that are so finely detailed you can see the wrinkles on the skin (yes I cammed that close).

Wanna talk about some oldies but goodies? Let’s talk about Gala Phoenix and Calico Ingmann. First, let me talk about Gala, who has been making skins for avatars since before my first pixels rezzed and doing it quietly and successfully for years. I see her skins all over with their bee stung lips, translucent skin (look closely and you can see the veins under the skin), and beautifully made up eyes. Even the ear lobes have holes for the earrings!

Calico Ingmann is another who has been around since before I was a twinkle in Ruth’s eye. This style, featured at this year’s Hair Fair, is a great updo with a casual bang framing the face, which makes it versatile for both casual, as I show, it, and more formal. Her textures are great, with gentle highlights running through.

Welcome back, dear friends. I was waiting for you to come home… :)

Hair: Meredith – Dark Copper by Calico Ingmann for Calico Ingmann Creations, available at the Hair Fair

Skin: :GP: Sundust [Dark] June-Grass 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio

Top: Fallen Top (Green/Gold) by Eclectic Wingtips for E! – Eclectic Apparel and Accessories *

Jeans: Djinn & Tonic [Bootcut Denim, Patched Darks] Yellow by Gin Galtier for Djinn & Tonic *

Earrings and Ring: Morantique Lush/Vain earrings and ring for Mo Miasma for Morantique, available at Designers United 4

Shoes: NX-Nardcotix MANA Anessa by Nardya Rousselot for Nardcotix *