Strength of Spirit

“It is not the strength of the body that counts, but the strength of the spirit.” ~ J.R.R. Tolkien

Epidermolysis Bullosa is a rare disease that affects 1 in 50,000 children born throughout the world as a result of a genetic disorder. It varies in severity among its sufferers. It is characterized by a defect between the anchoring of the skin between the epidermis (top layer of skin) and the dermis (second layer). People who suffer from EB suffer from skin fragility, blistering and constant pain. “Butterfly Children” is what kids with the disorder are called due to the fragility of their skin. A group of designers and bloggers in SL are putting on the EB Awareness Event with proceeds going to DEBRA of America, a national research charity group dedicated to curing EB. Thank NatashaAngelFire and Cerise Emor for putting this event on and organizing it in a little over a month. Cerise volunteers to help children with this condition in RL. Designers are all donating part of the proceeds from sales to DEBRA of America.

I agreed to blog for the EB Awareness event because I knew a boy in my high school when I was growing up who had this devastating disease. Rolled from classroom to classroom in a wheelchair by a special education teacher, Adam was one of the best students in my Advanced Geometry class. His skin was friable and ruddy. His face looked raw and painfully exposed with scabs and irritations all over his face and head.  His hands and feet were stumps. He resembled an old man more than a child.

No one picked on Adam—that would have been too overt. He was simply invisible. He could not participate in regular school activities; he was rolled around between classes to avoid getting hurt by the boisterous physicality of high school kids. He was welcomed by us geeks in Advanced Geometry; we understood being invisible. When he participated in class—raised his hand or laughed with us—we were heartened. (He was really cute when he laughed.) That year in that class was solely remarkable to me for his presence.

I am sure Adam has died. His skin was very fragile; he was truly debilitated physically, though clearly not intellectually or emotionally. He was a normal boy in a body that failed to contain him due to a genetic anomaly that was no one’s fault. I am glad he got the opportunity to join us in that class and in high school. We were the better for having him in our company.

Now I am not sure how thrilled Adam would feel being called a “butterfly,” but the theme stands. AnneMarit Jarvinen has contributed to it with these gorgeous poses with a butterfly prop and floral backgrounds. Tella Twine is donating 100% of her proceeds from the sale of two dresses, available in several colors including this lovely pink one I am wearing. She also has a gift for visitors. My shoes, from Tash Porthos, are an event exclusive (she also has a dress) and my nails and makeup are lovely donations from AnneAlyce Maertens.

My lovely skin has butterflies around the eyes and it’s an exclusive offered by Marisa Gregan. She has appliers available for the skins, so do not hesitate to check this out. My hair is an exclusive from Kohana Xue, who is also offering two “Spring” packs of other hairs only at this event. I love my orchid necklace from Hannah Daviau with butterflies flitting around, perfect for spring. Consider the generosity of these creators for the Butterfly Children and their fragile lives and spend lavishly.

“… [A]nd when all the wars are over, a butterfly will still be beautiful.” ~ Ruskin Bond

Hair: +Spellbound+ Serenity // Fatpack by Kohana Xue for +Spellbound+, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Skin: *APS* DIVA SKINS -JOLIE- T3 Debra Exclusive 2 by Marisa Gregan for Apparence Skins & Shapes, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Makeup (eyeliner): ::DS:: Karma Eyeshadow 10 by AnneAlyce Maertens for Dulce Secrets, available at the EB Awareness Event *

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

Dress: Peponis EB-Awareness Blossom Pink by Tella Twine for Peponi’s, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Necklace: DMZ – Summerlovin’ – Rose by Hannah Daviau for DaneMarkZ, available at the EB Awareness Event

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Relaxed Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: ::DS:: Ombre Sunrise Slink Nail HUD by AnneAlyce Maertens for Dulce Secrets, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Shoes: [d.l.s] :: EB Exclusive MESH ladies high heels by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret], available at the EB Awareness Event *

Poses: KaTink – Chasing Butterflies by AnneMarit Jarvinen for KaTink, available at the EB Awareness Event * (includes the butterflies prop)

Background:  From KaTink – Soft Blooms Pack by AnneMarit Jarvinen for KaTink, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Downtime

“Our culture encourages us to plan every moment and fill our schedules with one activity and obligation after the next, with no time to just be. But the human body and mind require downtime to rejuvenate. I have found my greatest moments of joy and peace just sitting in silence, and then I take that joy and peace with me out into the world.” ~ Holly Mosier

I have been tremendously busy as of late with several projects in and out of SL as well as my RL, and sometimes I have said “Yes” when I should have said “No.” I am learning how to handle how I approach some of it, so it’s a good experience. Today’s blog is a mega blog because I just had to get in so many things—I hate not showing some of the awesome content I have seen lately and I want to share it with all my readers. And I wanted to create a refuge, the sort that would help me find some downtime.

I just put up Trace Osterham’s new skybox made entirely of mesh with optional radiators. The build is welcoming and camera-friendly. With warm colors and textured brick walls it has a simple, open floor plan, but the layout defines spaces. With a land impact of 36 for the build only, it’s also great for low prim usage so you can completely fill it with all your favorite furnishings (most of which I show here are also ridiculously low land impact).

Trace includes this HUD with the skybox so you can swap out textures on the walls and woodwork as you please. The accent colors give the skybox definitely different “moods” as you try them out. I went for warm and neutral, but the green, for example, could make the space look more “industrial.” The decorative “painting” you see on the walls—the modern flowers—are actually prims that Tash Porthos made to be tinted in SL. As you can see, I got kind of wild with the colors, choosing orange, red, and even a light green against the brown wall of the dining room. I love having this option to “paint” bare walls.

I filled mine with some great new furniture from Tya Fallingbridge that she has come out with this month. First is this darling bed with little attached lamps that have derby hats for shades that she has at FaMESHed. With a texture-change sheet set and tons of great animations, it’s perfect for any couple living in a cozy skybox.

This great little dining room set from Tya features texture change on the table runners and comes with animations in the benches. The lovely chandelier has matching wall sconces you could use throughout your skybox. And the rug, which I have used in several places in the skybox, also includes texture change. (See it in the bedroom, on the floor under Tobias Convair’s sectional sofa, in front of the fireplace and here in the dining room—same rug with different textures).

Tya is selling this darling little bench in several versions at The Home Show 2014 with a wall-hung letter tray in complimentary woods and a lovely scrolled coat rack. This set, mixed and matched as I did, would go great in a foyer or home entryway. I have it in the bedroom opposite the bed.

This great shelf from Cory Edo, which she is featuring at Fameshed, is great for filling a wall space, especially when you have lots of books or gacha items you want to display. (I only show the Tommy lamp from McChris Flanagan that I was unable to show the other day.) I filled the shelf with books and yarn I made myself!! (I’d pretend I made it in mesh but really, how hard is to rez a sphere and cover it with yarn texture…?)

My outfit is easy and almost hippy, starting with the midriff-tied shirt with a decorative yoke from Ivana Canieri, which she is featuring at 100 Block. I love the pastel colors, especially since the blue goes with my beaded sandals from Maxi Gossamer, who is featuring a turquoise blue on the leather portions of the sandal but has given a great texture change for the beads (which are materials enhanced natch). My awesome jeans are Kinu Mayako’s great exclusive for the 100 Block. They come with five great denim textures in a HUD so you can pick just the shade you want. I am wearing Truth Hawks’ newest braid, a darling natural look with headband that can be switched via HUD. My skin is Aida Ewing’s offering for The Season’s Story, a natural look for a great day off with downtime.

“It is important from time to time to slow down, to go away by yourself, and simply be.”~ Eileen Caddy

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Elyse by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Glam Affair – Brandi – America 01 B by Aida Ewing for –Glam Affair-, available at The Seasons Story *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – darkest brown by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley, available at Kustom9 *

Top: F.owl – Knotted Hipster Shirt BLUE by Ivana Canieri for F.owl, available at the100 Block *

Jeans: [ SAKIDE ] Denim Worker Pants by Kinu Mayako for [ SAKIDE ], available at the100 Block *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Relaxed Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Flair – Nail Hud Add On – Slink Avatar Enhancement – Set 209 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at Cosmetic Fair *

Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro for Slink

Sandals: MG – Sandals – Ibiza Summer Beaded by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at the Monochromatic Fair *

Poses by {Imeka} Charmy – Pose Pack by NatiWilliams for Imeka, available at Pose Fair 2014 *

 

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

 

Décor:

[PM]Pixel Mode – Wire Form Coat Rack – Copper by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Home Show 2014 *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Hallway Bench – Dark Wood by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Home Show 2014 *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Stuff Holder – Dark Wood by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Home Show 2014 *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Derby Bed – Adult by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *

+CONVAIR+ Modern Leather Sectional.black by Tobias Convair for Convair *

[dirty.little.secret] :: wall stencil :: weeds 1 by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret] *

[dirty.little.secret] :: wall stencil :: weeds 2 by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret] *

[dirty.little.secret] :: wall stencil :: weeds 3 by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret] *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Senza Tempo Table by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Senza Tempo Seat by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Gattera Ferrero Platter by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Throw Rug by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

7 – Square Frame Wall Leaners by Agustkov for Seven Emporium

Trompe Loeil – Novel Decor – Suitcase Endtable with books by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil *

Trompe Loeil – Birdcage Worn Copper Short by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at FaMESHed *

Trompe Loeil – Round Shelf Copper by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at FaMESHed *

DMF – Living Lamp (Tommy  – Common) by McChris Flanagan for Dew Me Furniture, available at Erotigacha

Dutchie row of books by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *

:CP: Hemmingway Book Pile by Isla Gealach for Cheeky Pea

[what next] Pile O’ Books by Winter Thorn for {what next}

{what next} Knitted Pillow (caramel) by Winter Thorn for {what next}

{what next} Laptop by Winter Thorn for {what next}

Kauri Vase 1 by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri *

Kauri Vase 3 by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri *

Yarn by me

Raking Leaves

Here by the baring bough
Raking up leaves,
Often I ponder how
Springtime deceives,–
I, an old woman now,
Raking up leaves.
~ Thomas Hardy

The hour has been added back to our days and now the days grow dark quickly where I live. I spent the afternoon in the rare sunshine (it’s been raining a lot), raking up the birch tree leaves that have fallen in my front and back yard. I got what I fear is one of my last bike rides in for the season and dumped the gangly tomato plant at the curb. The herbs are safely inside, sunning in the kitchen window. The hibiscus is unhappily standing in my office (not sure I can get it through the winter—probably not).

A warm sweater is what is needed now—and this long sweater dress from Angelina Eizenberg does the trick. I love the colors stitched into the sweater, the big cowl neck and how it covers my bum, which gets cold outside. Of course, I can’t give up my capris just yet, so these darling short jeans from Siddean Munro (she doesn’t just do feet, folks!) are the ticket. Rustic boots with a handy color-change HUD from Tash Porthos keep my feet warm and cute too.

Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher have just released a new skin—Nina. It’s become the reigning principal among the top skin makers that makeups and a variety of looks is the way to keep things going and Shyla’s keeping up with the best of them. Of course we have again the subtle makeups, the beautiful eyes and brows and the gentle blush. And underneath the big sweater, there is a gorgeous body, of course. Truth Hawks made my casual and cute ponytails—much less little girl than just easy wearing.

Days decrease,
And autumn grows, autumn in everything.
~ Robert Browning

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Marleen by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Belleza- Nina Sk 3 BR by Shyla Diggs and Tricky Boucher for -Belleza- *

Eyes: Glossy Gold Dust EYES by Candace Hudson for Hudson’s Clothing Co.

Sweater: ~*INDIE ROSE*~ MESH Roll Neck Sweater Dress – Black by Angelina Eizenberg for Indie Rose Designs

Capris: Slink Crop Split Jeans Black by Siddean Munro for Slink *

Boots: [d.l.s.] :: MESH Suede Color Change Combat Boots by Tash Porthos for Dirty Little Secret *

Rake: -RC- Leafy Rake by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

Poses by by Willa Whybrow for dfo and by Trieste Minuet for !bang

*aG* NarrowTree Small Autumn by Alir Flow for alirium

-RC- Leafy Rake Leaf Pile for jumping! by Redd Columbia for RC Cluster

The Fall: Leaf-covered ground by Lyle Maeterlinck for Bloodlines

~*Forest Floor*~ Birch – Small by Uni Ninetails for Forest Floor