Love as a Weapon

Wasn’t like I was looking, wasn’t like I had a plan.
Sometimes you get lucky and it falls right in your hands.

~ “Love as a Weapon” by Little Scream

Before we think the blog is titled some angsty thing, the song is really about using love as a good thing—as a weapon against darkness. That being said, I just like the song and the lyrics as I heard them had all sorts of goodness. More goodness is this sexy dress from Annie Melson for the Mesh Body Addicts event, a fitmesh for several mesh bodies, including the Maitreya Lara, slinky and sensuous and beautifully textured with a deep-cut decolletage. I accessorized with bracelets from Crashnoww from Shiny Shabby (round closing soon—get there) and high heels from AvengeStore, made of 100% original mesh and textures.

Serene Footman has turned his sim, Furillen on Love of Life, into Radiohead-land. I am all for this as Jonny Greenwood is on my secret list of future husbands (along with John Dickerson and Neil DeGrasse Tyson). For years I named my parcels things like “Everything in its Right Place” and thought I was an isolated weirdo in SL, so I am pleased to find out I am not the only one. He is streaming non-stop Radiohead on the sim (probably induced by everyone poking him with suggestions for songs, including my request for “Jigsaw Falling into Place”) and people are taking Radiohead-themed photos. Maybe I will get to take my own….

That being said, Skin Fair 2016 is still going on and still packed as far as I know. They promise to remove those crazy script things later in the Fair for those of you who find them onerous, so plan on getting over there later rather than never. Grabbing demos from the Pale Girl Productions Info Group will help your shopping as you can try them on at home without all the hassle. I am wearing AvengeStore’s applier for the Skin Fair, a gorgeous, sexy sophisticated look that makes the Catwa Jessica mesh head look great. My long wavy locks are Shylah Honey’s featured piece for Hairology with a great set of textures for massive variation.

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Cedar Rigged Mesh by Shylah Honey for*~*Damselfly*~*, available at Hairology *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Jessica V4.7 by Catwa Clip for CATWA *

Skin applier: [Avenge] Layla applier for Catwa – bronze by AvengeStore for [Avenge], available at Skin Fair 2016 *

Eyes: L’Etre – Mesh Eyes [#60] by dam1710 for L’Etre

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara V3.5 by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: *JB* Carrie Dress – FatPack – Lara by Annie Melson for Just Because, available at Mesh Body Addicts *

Jewelry: **RE** Moonflight Arm Cuff – FP and **RE** Moonflight Bracelets – FP by crashnoww for RealEvil Industries, available at Shiny Shabby *

Shoes: [Avenge] Crystal Mules – gold by AvengeStore for [Avenge] *

Taken using the LUMIPro 2016 HUD by Stefan Buscaylet *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Up, Up and Away

Would you like to ride in my beautiful balloon
We could float among the stars together, you and I

~ “Up, Up and Away” by the Fifth Dimension

Fashion for Life starts in a few days and now the bloggers are going to flood the sims, showing shots of the beautiful builds. Barnesworth Anubis was kind enough to answer my desperate call at the beginning of all this and he built this gorgeous sim with canals to match our travel theme. He has suspended a hot air balloon tethered to the ground (which somehow I got into—go figure). All of Barnes’ buildings have been redone in mesh for this show. Thank you, Barnes.

My absolutely gorgeous dress is Lavea Alter’s exclusive for Fashion for Life. I think you’ll be seeing this one all over the grid because of the gorgeous colors and silhouette. It’s elegant and sexy all at once. I just loved wearing it while I toured the sims. My shoes are also exclusives for Fashion for Life from Senzati0n Domenitzo, who has switched over to making her sexy shoes for Slink feet. My elegant jewelry is Kathrin Dassin’s lovely set for Fashion for Life. Remember, this year ALL sales donate a percentage to RFL, so anything you purchase will go to the bottom line. And the designers were incredibly generous with their time to put them in the special RFL vendors, designed by Dwen Dooley’s team with a great web interface.

My skin is one of Aida Ewing’s lovely delicate skins for The Arcade, shown with a  lip gloss. The trading has been fast and furious on these skins and you will be lucky to get any one of this set. My gorgeous wavy hair is Shylah Honey and Tommy Fairplay’s great wavy new ‘do, an exclusive release for Fashion for Life. Shylah and Tommy have really upped their game with their new mesh hair. Every single piece I have worn lately has delighted me with great textures and fabulous shapes. Each hair comes with a great clear texture change HUD with the texture swatches large enough to see what you are trying on. I love the tendrils off the face, the gentle waves, the way the mesh fits to the avatar. They have come a long way!

The world’s a nicer place in my beautiful balloon
It wears a nicer face in my beautiful balloon
We can sing a song and sail along the silver sky
For we can fly…

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Kippar by Shylah Honey for:::Damselfly Hair::, available at Fashion for Life, starting June 7 *

Skin: -Glam Affair- Liv skin- Asia – 04 A with -Glam Affair – Gloss 03 by Aida Ewing for –Glam Affair-, available at The Arcade *

Eyes: Buzz] Ardent Eyes – Angel by Eleri Catlyn for Buzzeri, available at Kustom 9 *

Dress: Fission: Fashion For Life Exclusive dress by Lavea Alter for Fission, available at Fashion for Life, starting June 7 *

Jewelry: Moondance Jewels Oscar Diamonds Necklace, Bracelet, and Earrings by Kathrin Dassin for Moondance Boutique, available at Fashion for Life, starting June 7 *

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

Nail appliers: Nailed It – French Manicure – Pastels Set by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Essenz – Detroit Limited (Fatpack) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Fashion for Life, opening June 7 *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Libertango

“Music is the most direct art, entering through the ear and going to the heart.” ~ Astor Piazzolla

When I saw this gown from Carrie Snowpaw that she is featuring at Fashionart, I was immediately reminded of Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” a famous piece of tango nuevo. I went searching online, of course, and found it being danced in a gown similar to this while being performed by the Russian Philharmonic, which I could only consider was kismet. (Click through because it is seriously gorgeous dancing and beautifully arranged and performed. And here is another dance performance even more gorgeous.) Why did I think of this music? The gown is elegant and dramatic all at once, ruffled and sleek at the same time, feminine and bold. With gorgeous jewelry from Zuri Rayna that includes texture change in the different gems and stones, it’s an elegant, dramatic piece perfect for this ensemble.

I can’t help but think that the drama also comes from this gorgeous skin that JuneMonteiro is featuring at Fashionart. June is, in real life, a textile designer, so her sense of fashion and art extends from RL into SL. Her skin is elegant with the heated zest of a Brazilian beauty. She offers the Slink appliers free at Fashionart for her skin, and she also sells a set of liners and lipsticks. My high up-do is one of Shylah Honey’s gorgeous pieces for Fashionart, an abundance of soft hair and wisps and drama, perfect for a passionate tango.

“Music is more than a woman, because women can divorce you, but not music. Once you get married, [it] is your eternal love for life and [you] go to the grave with her ​​on top.” ~ Astor Piazzolla

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Drewleigh Big Pack Non-Rig Mesh by Shylah Honey for :::Damselfly Hair::, available at Fashionart *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Mariah Skin Cream Black Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Eyeliners 010 and .:JUMO:. Mariah Guarana Lips by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:., available at Fashionart *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – evergreen by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley, available at Stuff in Stock *

Dress: Snowpaws – Viale Gown – Watercolor by Carrie Snowpaw for Snowpaw, available at Fashionart *

Necklace and earrings: Zuri’s Chantelle’s Heart Necklace~ Elite-Metals/Pearls/Gemchang with Zuri’s Chantelle’s Heart Earring Elite by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

Bracelet: (Kunglers) TDRF #039 – R Bracelet – Golden by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at the Dressing Room Fusion *

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

Nail appliers: Nailed It – MvW Autumn Set HUD (wear) by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

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

Shoes: Essenz – Rhodes (Fatpack) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Fashionart *

Poses by Tutys for Tutys