The Aptitude to Fly

“A power of Butterfly must be –
The Aptitude to fly
Meadows of Majesty concedes
And easy Sweeps of Sky -”
― Emily Dickinson

The EB Awareness Event started yesterday and was quite a success with a full sim and lots of people shopping. 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 so a lot of the décor sold at the fair has butterflies on it.

Kaerri Rae has made an entire set of furniture with monarch butterflies as the motif especially for this event with a large chunk of her income going to DEBRA of America. She offers two sets: one in white with dark gray accents and one in dark gray with white accents. Depending on your décor, you can choose a set and use the pieces with your own existing furniture. I set up two little nooks to show the set, and I included a few other pieces that will be sold at the EB Awareness event, including a darling lamp from Plato Novo.

 

 

My sweater is also being sold at the event, a generous offer from Parallax Resident. The sweater comes with a texture-change HUD for some great sweater options. I have seen this in the men’s version too and it’s terrific. Portions of the sale of this sweater go to DEBRA of America. My jeans are a pair of great bell bottoms that Datrip Blackbart has at the Vintage  & Cool fair in several colors. My shoes, which I adjusted to my Slink feet, are from Renee Harvy and can be worn without the feet. My handbag is one of the gacha items at Miffhoi Rosca’s kiosk at Season’s Story.

Mochi Milena did an amazing job on the extensive skins she created for this month’s androgynous theme at Genre. I already knew that she put considerable effort into creating options for fembois and women who want cleavage and makeups. I really appreciate that Mochi offers these options to people who want to explore their identity. My hair is Mina Nakamura’s latest for the Dressing Room Fusion and so perfect for the season with a texture change hat as well as the mesh hair. Love this look!

Hair: MINA Hair – Carlijn BB (no materials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at the Dressing Room Fusion *

Skin: [PF] Ashley <Peach> – Lid 01 (ltbrown – thick) / Female by Mochi Milena for Pink Fuel, available at Genre *

Eyes: #adored – cloud eyes – earth – b by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at the Mystic Realms Faire *

Sweater: [Phunk] Womens Fishermans Sweater by Parallaxx Resident for Phunk, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Jeans: Legal Insanity – Meadow bell bottom almost black jeans by Datrip Blackbart for Legal Insanity, available at the Vintage & Cool Fair *

Handbag: =Zenith=Saladbag (Colour Knitting) by Miffyhoi Rosca for =Zenith=, available at the Season’s Story

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual and Elegant1 by Siddean Munro for Slink

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

Shoes: ::Duh!:: Red Sequin Slipper by Renee Harvy for Duh! *

Furniture: Butterfly Set White Complete by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri, available at the EB Awareness Event *

• Butterfly Chair White
  Butterfly Chandelier White
  Butterfly Curtain
  Butterfly Lamp
  Butterfly Lamp Large White
  Butterfly Lamp White Small
  Butterfly Picture White
  Butterfly Rug White
  Butterfly Side Table
  Butterfly Sideboard White
  Butterfly Topiary Medium White
  Butterfly Topiary Small White
  Butterfly Trio Pictures White
  Butterfly Wingback White
  Round Butterfly Table White
  Spring Flower Arrangement Grey

%Percent – Debra Flower Lamp (russetkhaki/Med) *MESH* by Plato Novo for %Percent, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Interior: Culprit Dragonfly Cottage (Mesh) by Eku Zhong for Culprit

I Wanna Hold Your Hand

Yeah, you’ve got that something
I think you’ll understand
When I’ll say that something
I wanna hold your hand

~ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand” by the Beatles

A darling Beatles tune is what I found for this darling look from the latest events. First a top from crisshoney Violet, a simple draped top with cherry blossom stems for the Boho Culture Fair. Then pants for men or women from Nix Marabana that she is offering in several colors at Genre. My great wedged sandals are Eudora3D’s featured item at the Vintage & Cool Fair (with texture change HUD for almost every detail you can think of). And my necklace is a lovely feature from Hannah Daviau, 75% of which goes to proceeds for the EB Awareness Event.

Ikira Frimon is offering this great sexy long ‘do with bangs and an extensive texture change HUD at Body Modification Expo. And Ms. Shyla Diggs has created an exquisite set of new skins being offered at her store. Most of the big events (except the EB Awareness Event, which is just opening today) are closing this weekend so get there now to find these lovely pieces.

Hair: [^.^Ayashi^.^] Michi hair-fatpack Ikira Frimon for ^.^ Ayashi^.^, available at the Body Modification Expo *

Skin: -Belleza- Grace SK 2 R by Shyla Diggs for –Belleza– *

Eyes: .ID. Intense Eyes – Hazel by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Top: *-GC-*Shabby Flower Tshirt Mesh White by crisshoney Violet for Gypsy Chic, available at the Boho Culture Fair

Jeans: Anachron – Androjeany Female – White by Nix Marabana for Anachron, available at Genre *

Necklace: DMZ – Drop-By-Drop Necklace – Ebony//Brandy by Hannah Daviau for DaneMarkZ, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual and Elegant1 by Siddean Munro for Slink

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

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: Eudora 3D Vintage High Wedges by Eudora3D for Eudora 3D, available at the Vintage & Cool Fair *

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo *

Hear Blessings

“But listen to me. For one moment
quit being sad. Hear blessings
dropping their blossoms
around you.”
― Rumi

In a few days, the EB Awareness Event starts. It’s a chance to tell people about Epidermolysis Bullosa, 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. 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. Thanks to Cerise Emor for putting this event on. Cerise volunteers to help children with this condition in RL. Designers are all donating part of their sales proceeds.

Hannah Daviau is one such designer, a married mother of one in Denmark who makes fashions in SL from mesh templates, adding her own special touches. Hannah is donating 75% of all her sales to DEBRA of America to bring awareness about this condition. Her generous offer is much appreciated, and I am thrilled to show her gorgeous dress, shoes and necklace as a darling ensemble. Hannah is willing to share her blessings as an artist with this worthy cause and to support Cerise as well in her wonderful work. Please honor her by buying and wearing her great work.

I wrote about EB last year and am quoting it here if you want to hear a personal story about why I am glad to support this event:

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.

Sawsan Secretspy is offering this gorgeous skin at the Boho Culture Fair. I have to say, without fail when someone sees me in SL with one of her skins, they are blown away by how beautiful I look. There is something sexy and sensuous about her skins. Perhaps it’s the subtlety of the makeup colors or the beautiful eyes or the sexy blush. MissAllSunday Lemon’s lovely hair for the Sun Market, a little mini-event at Fallen Gods, is a gorgeous casual look with a wonderful braid as a hairband. Get it!

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Ariel Mesh Hair – Chocolate by MissAll Sunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at the Sun Market *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Nessie Darktan 01by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at the Boho Culture Fair *

Eyes: {S0NG} :: Gloom~ Abyss Eye by Funeral Plutonian for {S0NG}, available at the Cosmetic Fair Halloween Edition

Dress: DMZ – Linda Dress – Cocoa by Hannah Daviau for DaneMarkZ, available at the EB Awareness Event (opening October 25) *

Necklace: DMZ – Tears Of Joy – Coal/Brandy by Hannah Daviau for DaneMarkZ, available at the EB Awareness Event (opening October 25) *

Ring: Ariskea [SkyStone ] Gold Ring 1by Diaxm for Ariskea, available at the Body Modification Expo *

Handbag: Ariskea [SkyStone ] Brown Leather Clutch 1by Diaxm for Ariskea, available at the Body Modification Expo *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: DMZ – Hera  – Cocoa by Hannah Daviau for DaneMarkZ, available at the EB Awareness Event (opening October 25) *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Spread Your Wings

Spread your wings and prepare to fly
For you have become a butterfly
Fly abandonedly into the sun
If you should return to me
We truly were meant to be
So spread your wings and fly
Butterfly

~ “Butterfly” by Mariah Carey

Soon the butterflies will be out, flitting around flowers, spreading joy. I can’t wait. In the meantime, I can fill my home with colors and butterflies, specifically this furniture Kaerri Rae is selling at the EB Awareness Event with part of the proceeds going to Debra of America for research into Epidermolysis Bullosa. I wrote about the disease and a classmate who had it yesterday, but as I was listening to this song by Mariah Carey, I was thinking about the bravery of the parents of such children. The song talks about letting some you love spread their wings and fly and for a parent of a child who is so easily injured, what a leap of faith to let their butterfly out into the dangerous world. That’s why support of the patients of EB is so important. It would be wonderful to see these Butterfly Children fly.

I wear Ivy Burner’s darling sun dress for the Monochromatic Fair. This is a kind of essential party piece in my mind—perfect for casual dances, beach parties or shopping. The flowered texture is almost retro and the lined hem and belt makes the dress pop. My shoes from Pill Kanto are his interpretation of pumps with a open sole, which he is selling at L’accessoires. (Shouldn’t it be “Les accessoires”? I keep getting tripped up by this.)

My fresh and beautiful skin from Sawsan Secretspy was a natural for this look. The pale red lips, the gorgeously lined eyes with a touch of yellow give my red dress a bit of glamour and a little retro touch. With Circe Ishtari’s newest hair, a combo updo ponytail with click-to-tint color menu, this pretty red ensemble compliments the butterfly décor.

So flutter through the sky
Butterfly
Spread your wings and fly
Butterfly

Hair: Tokyo.Girl Hair Ariane [all color] ~updo tail~ by Circe Ishtari for Tokyo Girl *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Leilani Tan 02 by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at the Spring Break Fair *

Eyes: [UMEBOSHI] Ren eyes -Seal- by Keiba for UMEBOSHI

Dress: ~Sassy!~ April dress – red by Ivy Burner for ~Sassy!~, available at the Monochromatic Fair *

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

Nail appliers: Nailed It – Bright Set by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

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

Shoes: MIAMAI_Organica pumps – carmine by Pill Kanto for Miamai, available at L’accessoires *

Poses by Olaenka Chesnokov for oOo, available at Pose Fair 2014 *

Furniture by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri, available at the EB Awareness Event *

Black Vase With red Hibiscus
Butterfly Cabinet
Butterfly Chair
Piero Butterfly Table R&B
Butterfly Rug
Framed Butterfly Picture

Frolic Bar Chair Left
Frolic Bar Chair Right
Frolic Modern Side Table w/ Gold Trim
Frolic Table Lamp
Modern Coffee Table w Gold Trim
Butterfly Rug 2

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 *