The Elf in Myself

“If you do not have the courage to be yourself, what will you be?”― The Silver Elves

We all find a way to find an alternative personality in our special world of SL. Some people choose to be elves. It’s never been my dream personally (I am always going for this wealthy, childless, single woman fantasy in SL myself), but I needed to find the elf in myself so I could show off the awesome new mesh ears that Maximillion Grant is featuring at the Mesh Body Addicts Fair. What is so cool about these ears is that they are expressive—just like his mesh heads. So when you smile, the ears smile with you. When you frown, they go down. You become more than just an elf—you’re a feeling elf. Max told me that he is working on offering the opportunity for creators to put earrings on the ears but wanted to get these out for the Mesh Body Addicts Fair. Skin appliers are also being developed (I think I saw Lumae has come out with some already.) And you don’t have to just wear them with the Logo heads—they can be used with expression with other heads or your system head!

I did my best to dress up as the sort of elf I probably would be—pretty casual. With Tricky Boucher’s reconfigured Freya body, I was able to wear this darling shorts and top outfit from Giz Seorn that she is featuring at Shiny Shabby. It comes with an optional necklace and has a great summer vibe. I am not sure but I figure elven girls can have tattoos, so I used Lanna Cobalt’s pretty tat from the Mesh Body Addicts Fair to decorate my shoulders and wore lovely blossom earrings AvaGardner Kungler is featuring for The Crossroads Event. My skin applier, from Inka Mexicola, is also featured at the Crossroads Event and includes a nice set of lipsticks as an option. It comes with several brow options and looks fabulous on the Sadie head. I am so glad lonlysoule decided to include Omega appliers with her latest eyes for AnyBody. I hate having to mess with mesh eyes when the Logo head takes Omega appliers so easily. Finally, MissAllSunday Lemon made a darling, ear-revealing hair for Chapter Four. With bangs and two cute braids tied in their own bow, it’s a perfect elven ‘do.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Candy Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at The Chapter Four *

Skin applier: Essences – Runa Medium01 [OMEGA] with Essences – Runa Lipsticks [OMEGA] by Inka Mexicola for Essences, available at The Crossroads Event *

Mesh head: LOGO Sadie v5.0 by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Mesh ears: LOGO Expressive Elf Ears – Sadie by Maximillion Grant for LOGO, available at Mesh Body Addicts Fair *

Eye applier: .ARISE. Lana Eyes / Pink Omega Applier for LOGO Eyes by lonlysoule for Arise, available at AnyBody

Mesh body: -Belleza- Freya V2.01 by Tricky Boucher for –Belleza– *

Outfit with necklace: GizzA – Sunshine Outfit [Pink] Belleza Freya by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Earrings: (Kunglers) Venus earring – Romance by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at The Crossroads Event *

Tattoo: *PerveTTe* [HUD] [Omega] Fantastic [50%] by Lanna Cobalt for *PerveTTe*, available at Mesh Body Addicts Fair *

Sandals: Zaara : Janya jeweled sandals *fuschia* by Zaara Kohime for Zaara *

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Raspberry-Filled Almond Torte Cookies

These cookies get a double-dose of almond flavor with a crunchy almond topping and almond extract in the frosting. ~ Cook’s Country

True to my word, another cookie recipe, and these are a bit of work but so good and beautiful! I may be sending a batch this year to Max and Polly in thanks because they just released the update for the Alex mesh head at LOGO with makeup and so much more. Yes, now you can apply Omega makeups AND Omega eyes! (I have more to say about that in a moment.) You can also tint the skin, inner eye (more important than you think), lashes, hair base and Omega makeups.

And now you can also fiddle around with expressions, using a typed command to evoke certain expressions (even one you have made yourself—so if you hate saying “lol” but prefer “laugh” it will go off at your command), set the timing on those expressions (for example if the smile seems insincerely short), and set a series of expressions animating in order (imagine doing a machinima where you could just have it go off in a sequence *wink*wink*). Max includes a very thorough explanation on the LOGO site (that I have linked through).

Omega makeups are included now, which is remarkable. However, makeup creators need to make sure they make makeups using the most up-to-date Omega scirpts—ones that find the zone of the eye versus the lip. (Older Omega scripts just lay over the whole surface layer.) That’s why I am able to show you Alaska Metropolitan’s great eye shadow but I can’t use her lipstick as well (though she has promised to update her Omega makeups soon). I encountered this same problem with a Catwa head when I tried to combine lipstick with blush. Contact your Omega makeup creator and ask them to upgrade!

I was also able to use one of the few Omega eye appliers to change the color of my eyes. I was so very very happy to be able to do this rather than fit in mesh eyes. The eyes that come with the head are already fit perfectly. I really hope eye creators start making Omega eyes for just this kind of application (thanks WeaponizedSugar for offering them on MP).

Max has also made it easier to include add-ons. Now they are boxed in an HUD, you click and it automagically adds the required scripts to your HUD. I was able to add the expressions expansion packs to my HUD that easily! He offers all his makeup add-ons this way too.

You see here Monicuzza Babenco’s beautifully freckled Beatrix for My Attic, which she has made for several mesh heads but which fits the Alex head so wonderfully. The freckles are gorgeous on the face (and also on her body applier, which is sold separately). Elikapeka Tiramisu’s gorgeous style for Shiny Shabby complements the look I assembled with other pieces from Shiny Shabby including Giz Seorn’s brilliant sheepskin coat over a knit cardigan (a wonderful combination of great textures and mesh with a trendy silhouette) and Thetra Blackheart’s multi-textured jeans. Aleida Rhode’s beautifully-made 100% original mesh (I know because I saw the models) include a great texture change hud for parts of the boot and can be worn without mesh feet so you don’t have to worry about fitting.

Hair: [e] Becca by Elikapeka Tiramisu for Elikatira, available at Shiny Shabby *

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

Skin applier: *YS&YS* Beatrix Tone02 Skin Applier for Logo Mesh Head Alex by Monicuzza Babenco for *YS&YS*, available at My Attic *

Makeup: alaskametro<3 “Matte Smoke” eyeshadow – Omega HUD by Alaska Metropolitan for Alaskametro

Eye applier: :{WS}: Omega Eye Applier – Redrum Medium by weaponizedsugar for Weaponized Sugar

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

Jacket: GizzA – Norsk Jacket with Cardigan – Women [Blue] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Pants: E-Clipse LuceJeans Grey (Maitreya Compatible) by Thetra Blackheart for E-Clipse, available at Shiny Shabby *

Boots: Elysium – London ankle boots – charcoal by Aleida Rhode for Elysium, available at Shiny Shabby *

Poses by Luth Brodie for Reel Expression (no longer available)

Photos taken at Furillen, created by Serene Footman

Persuasion

“Her pleasure in the walk must arise from the exercise and the day, from the view of the last smiles of the year upon the tawny leaves and withered hedges, and from repeating to herself some few of the thousand poetical descriptions extant of autumn–that season of peculiar and inexhaustible influence on the mind of taste and tenderness–that season which has drawn from every poet worthy of being read some attempt at description, or some lines of feeling.” ~ Jane Austen, Persuasion

A stroll around NevaCrystall’s Baby’s Ear this autumn, and I can smell fall in the air and feel the cool breeze. Good thing I have this cute outfit from Giz Seorn, a mesh twosome from Shiny Shabby that comes I several seasonal color combos. The fit is not entirely perfect to my Maitreya body but with some tinkering, I was able to get the XXS to work with some alpha work. The textures and silhouette are great so it was not out of the question. I applied tights from Alaska Metropolitan, who sells such appliers at a steal. And awesome boots from Senzati0n Domenitzo, also at Shiny Shabby, complete this chic fall look with a leafy necklace from Mea Carnell.

Nicole Button has finally brought her skins to mesh heads and she has chosen to fit them to the Catwa Jessica mesh head. With the straight nose and expressive eyes of the skin, it was a great match for this head, especially since Nicole includes several makeups with the look. My hair is MissAllSunday’s layered and tousled casual look for Uber, a “classic” cut that will serve many ladies (and possibly gentlemen) well.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Chanel Mesh Hair – Black coffee by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at Uber *

Skin applier: Egozy.Mendoza(Fair)Catwa by Nicole Button for Egozy, available at Uber *

Mesh head: CATWA HEAD Jessica V4.2 by Catwa Clip for CATWA *

Eyes: [theSkinnery] Chocolate eyes – Bittersweet by Umazuma Metaluna for [theSkinnery] *

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

Sweater: GizzA – Chloe Cropped Sweater [Cream] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Skirt: GizzA – Chloe Asymmetric Skirt [Charcoal] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Necklace: Meva Leafs Necklace by Mea Carnell for Meva *

Nail applier: #adored – street smart mani {maitreya}by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at Genre *

Tights: alaskametro<3 “Kat” tights – Charcoal by Alaska Metropolitan for AlaskaMetro, available at Anybody

Boots: Essenz – Bratislava (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Shiny Shabby *

Poses by Dove Swanson for Long Awkward Pose

Taken at Baby’s Ear

A Good Saturday Afternoon

“So many books, so little time.” ~ Frank Zappa

There is nothing more wonderful than a lazy Saturday afternoon browsing books. I took a trip over to Saffronia’s Books after a stop at Café Rosewater, both on the Crestwick Island sim, to get a cup of coffee (large, soy milk, splenda) and browsed through the books. I am never really looking for anything in particular—just looking. I might end up with a book about knitting or a romance novel or even a book of poetry or I might just browse. Once in a while a good art book will catch my attention.

Of course, dressing chic on such occasions is in order, and I assembled several pieces from Shiny Shabby that fit the bill. First a cute shorts set from Giz Seorn with a texture change HUD for the belt and top so I can choose from one of six top colors and two belt colors to coordinate my look. Then I slipped on Cocoro Lemon’s fitted blazer over the top. The blazer comes in several colors and has the option to have a tank underneath. A chic necklace of emerald stones from AvaGardner Kungler and bangles from Jaycee Dover embellish my look. My low-caught ponytail is Mina Nakamura’s ‘do for Shiny Shabby, a beautiful look with strands tucked behind the ears, and cute poses (some of which I modified using my Avimote PoseMaker) from Anne Dakun, allow me to browse at leisure with a coffee in my hand.

The big news to this look, however, is the release of Bax Coen’s Regency boots, now fit for several mesh bodies and available at her store. Yay! Any oldbie in SL can tell you how Bax made the number one, most desired boot in SL for the longest time, and when mesh came along, Bax had to reconfigure her boots substantially to mesh and with the advent of mesh bodies, she has reconfigured them once again to fit mesh bodies. I found the boots fit my Maitreya body perfectly and looked fabulous. She offers them in several colors (including bright jewel tones) in leather, and then in suede and metallic.

Monicuzza Babenco has really gotten into making mesh head appliers. (She does wonderful ones for the Lelutka heads.) She has now come out with Omega appliers expressly made for the Logo heads, which allow for a variety of expressions. I also chose to use Thora Charron’s lashes with this head and Ikon Innovia’s mesh eyes. It’s a great time to experiment with the things you have in your inventory to see what will work with the mesh heads to create your own look. Of course, Monicuzza’s skin is gorgeous on this face and includes hair bases!

Hair: MINA Hair – Anais (no materials) by Mina Nakamura for MINA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Mesh head: LOGO Infinity Alex Omega Hybrid Mesh by Maximillion Grant for LOGO *

Skin applier: *YS&YS* Erika Tone 03 – Skins Applier for Logo Mesh Head Alex by Monicuzza Babenco for*YS&YS* *

Eyes: IKON Triumph Eyes – Green by Ikon Innovia for IKON, available at Shiny Shabby *

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.02 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – HUD V3.3 Lara by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Jacket: *COCO*_StretchBlazer(DarkBrown) by cocoro Lemon for COCO, available at Shiny Shabby *

Jumper: GizzA – Bonnie Set [Stone] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Necklace: (Kunglers Extra) Triss necklace – Emerald 1 by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at Shiny Shabby *

Jewelry: LUXE. Margi Swirl Bangle Gold and LUXE. Margi Wrapped Bangle Gold by Jaycee Dover for LUXE, available at Shiny Shabby *

Boots: BAX Regency Boots Chocolate Suede (Maitreya Lara) by Bax Coen for Bax Coen Designs *

Poses: Label Motion – Karla by anne Dakun for Label Motion, available at Shiny Shabby *

Seat: [Con.] Checkered Cab Seat by ValiantCo for Consignment *

Book: +CONVAIR+ Studio Sketch Book by Tobias Convair for +CONVAIR+

Gadget: Avimote PoseMaker PE 1.02 by Avimote Dreamscape for Avimote *

Taken at Café Rosewater and Saffronia’s Books on Crestwick Island

Spring Again

“It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke

I know every season Serene Footman changes up his sim at Prides Crossing so I went down to take a peek and I was much rewarded with springtime beauty on the sea. I wandered the grounds, nearly avoided a wild turkey, petted his dog and took a few photos of myself in this lovely dress from Giz Seorn, which she has at Shiny Shabby this month. Available in several colors, the dress combines very real mesh details (not just textures but actual cut out shapes) with a lovely springtime lightness. With a beautifully framed cut-out back, the dress is a must have. I paired it perfectly with flower-embellished sandals from HauteCoutureDesign.

JuneMonteiro brings spring time freshness to Skin Fair with her line of skins that also all come with TMP appliers. She includes four eyebrow options and a ton of luscious lipsticks and glittering eye shadows plus Slink appliers. These skins are truly hand-drawn with elegant features. Truth Hawks has issued a number of new hairs this past week including this side swept look with straight bangs upon which I placed one of Jacinda Jaxxon’s Coachella Bound gacha hair flowers.

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

Skin: .:JUMO:. Alexa Skin Cream Brown Brows with .:JUMO:. Alexa Lips Bourbon by JumoFashion for .:JUMO:., available at Skin Fair *

Eyes: {D.A} – Marble – Jeans by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples, available at The Men’s Dept.

Dress: GizzA – Cara Dress [Plum] by Giz Seorn for GizzA, available at Shiny Shabby *

Hair flowers: {le fil casse} coachella bound! flowerchild hair cluster spring by Jacinda Jaxxon for le fil casse

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands V2.1 – Casual by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: [LB Solid Pink2] *Slink* Manicure and Pedicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

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

Shoes: Poute- Lolitta Flat Sandals- FATPACK by HauteCoutureDesign for Poute *

Poses by Valencia Southard for Marukin

Photos taken at Prides Crossing, assembled by Serene Footman