Summer Reading

“There is a temperate zone in the mind, between luxurious indolence and exacting work; and it is to this region, just between laziness and labor, that summer reading belongs.” ~ Henry Ward Beecher

Summer is a wonderful time to sit down with a good book, especially when it’s hot outside. I remember, as a kid, being in some summer reading contest in the library every year and trying to gobble up as many books as I could. Since these are the hot days of summer, I wear as little as possible and read read read. Today I am out on the beach in a Erratic Rain’s new bikini for Uber, a two piece set fit perfectly to the Maitreya body. Yes, I am wearing ridiculously sexy shoes as well because, well, gotta look good when you’re sunning and this pair from Senzati0n Domenitzo for My Attic, tops the sexy list.

My long hair seems unusually perfect on a breezy beach but this is SL, and fantasies abound. (Like the one about walking through sand in high heels.) Shylah Honey has made this hair exclusively for the Mix Event, which starts on August 1. And I purchased the skin Lumiya Rae is offering at The Lexi Project because it was so gorgeous and came with appliers for LeLutka and Omega. After trying it out on the Leda head, I decided this was the perfect look (especially after squashing my shape head a bit). I added a lighter lipstick by applying Carrie Janick’s lipstick set and then using the head HUD to dial the intensity down, mixing the purple from the original skin and the pink from the lipstick set.

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Karsyn Rigged-Mesh by Shylah Honey for *~*Damselfly*~*, for the Mix Event*

Mesh head: LeLutka Leda HUD 1.1 by JadenArt for LeLutka *

Skin applier: Lumae :: LeLutka Head : Fae – T5 – Amber // Violetta by Lumiya Rae for Lumae, available at The Lexi Project

Lipstick applier: Shakeup! Anuska Lips for Lelutka Mesh Heads [Fall Palette] by Carrie Janick for Shakeup!, available at The Showroom

Eyes: Mesh – Marble Eyes – Space by Soleil Reid for Dead Apples

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

Bikini: erratic / beth – bikini top and bottom / pink (maitreya) by Erratic Rain for erratic, available at Uber *

Shoes: Essenz – Porto (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at My Attic *

Chair: {NANTRA} Chaise the Wave by Nancoix Urquan for {NANTRA} *

Namaste

“Your little boat goes west and you congratulate yourself, “What a navigator I am!” And then the wind blows you east.” ~ Katherine Boo, Behind the Beautiful Forevers: Life, Death, and Hope in a Mumbai Undercity

I have been reading Katherine Boo’s book about a “slum” in Mumbai, which is on the edge of the airport behind an ad for ceramic floor tiles, advertised as “Beautiful Forever.” It’s an amazing book, both in the writer’s understanding of the many influences on one group of people in a small community in a very large and diverse city in an even larger diverse country. It won the National Book Award for good reason. It’s an enjoyable read if nothing else. She writes fabulously.

We tend to have a very monolithic view of India in SL (and I speak of “India” not as a country as it is now but as that region, which could include Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka). My Indian friends in SL, the ones who live in India or abroad, seem to have no qualms about this, possibly because India is just too damn big to wrap their heads around much less expecting anyone else to. Whether you speak Marathi or Tamil or Bengali or Urdu or English, whether you eschew eating cows or pork or believe in many Gods or One or a Holy Trinity, you can be Indian.

So I gathered all these items from this month’s Genre, which is themed “South Asian,” and assembled them in a celebration of this amorphous beautiful place that spreads itself not only over South Asia but throughout the world. (My son’s Urdu-speaking preschool teacher grew up in Uganda, for example. My Hindu-speaking friends spent their childhoods in Singapore.) First, Hadarah Steamer’s beautifully textured set in mesh with glorious patterns and colors and jewelry and even a bindi! Add Plurabelle Laszlo’s slip on wedges and a nose ring from Photos Nikolaidis and the outfit is complete.

Lumiya Rae has made a sublime skin for this round with luscious chili-spiced lips and beautifully defined brows. I added Constance Daehlie’s gorgeous eye makeup, also available at Genre. My lovely wavy locks are MissAllSunday Lemon’s hair for Fameshed, which worked perfectly with the head scarf from Hadarah’s set.

Genre is all about entire immersion, so gorgeous furniture from Spooky Mistwallow and a scattering of pillows with poses and rugs from Cherelle Capra completes the South Asian theme. Namaste.

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

Skin: L ~ Eliana : 5 – Caramel / Priya {Mid Cleavage} by Lumiya Rae for Lumae, available at Genre *

Makeup: #adored – kali eyeshadows – gold by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at Genre *

Eyes: #adored – dream eyes – black coffee by Constance Daehlie for #adored

Outfit (with bracelets and bindi): Saima Golden Outfit by hadarah Steamer for Sweet Lies Designs, available at Genre *

Nosering: A:S:S deLuxe – Mayur by Photos Nikolaidis for A:S:S, available at Genre *

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

Hand tattoo: Jalwa – Khaliji 5 Henna Applier Hands by Chandra Masala for Jalwa

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

Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai – Giddha – for Slink Mid – black by Plurabelle Laszlo for .Bliensen + MaiTai, available at Genre *

Poses: {NanTra} Bollywood Dreams by Nancoix Urquan for {NanTra} Poses, available at Genre *

Background: =Mirage= India Wall Unit (9LI) by Spooky Mistwallow for =Mirage=, available at Genre *

Furnishings by Cherelle Capra for [CIRCA], available at Genre *

• [CIRCA] – “Journey” – Floor Pillow – South Asian Green
  [CIRCA] – “Journey” – Floor Pillow – South Asian Brown
  [CIRCA] – “Journey” – Floor Pillow – South Asian Red
  [CIRCA] – “Journey” – Floor Pillow – South Asian Autumn
  [CIRCA] – “Journey” – Floor Pillow – South Asian Khaki
  [CIRCA] – “Journey” – South Asian Area Rug Set

Put to the Test

“We’re all put to the test… but it never comes in the form or at the point we would prefer, does it?” ~ David Mamet

The Arcade is coming soon and all the sneak previews are starting to emerge. Trace Osterham made this fabulous collection of carnival games, the kind you put your hand on or pull a lever and find out what your personality trait is. They have been scripted for one or two people (depending on the topic) and include sounds and glowing flashing lights. The rare is, of course, the fortune teller, who gives you a cryptic fortune you wear and read. The graphics on the pieces are amazing and Trace did these in mesh himself, so you won’t find them anywhere else. Get one or get all for your SL rec room or carnival! (Please note I rated “The Devil” below. Maybe THAT’s why I scored “Hot Stuff” on the other one–see above.)

Beanster Potato has a few brands she makes content for, all of them sporty and fun with great textures and versatility. This dress is one of her 20.Five brand, priced low and designed for casual wear. Beanster uses prepurchased mesh for these pieces, and she makes no secret of that. The advantage of buying them is in her great textures and the texture-change HUD she includes with every piece. I wore the dress, clicked to the turquoise I liked, and then the shoes, and clicked to my silver. Done!

Mirja Mills just put out this darling medium-length ‘do with a barrette holding back a lock of hair. As always, the hair comes with a HUD to allow quick choice of your favorite hair tone. Lumiya Rae is selling this lovely skin for girls who like beautifully defined features and pretty puckery lips. Appliers are available!

Hair: .:EMO-tions:. * HILARY * by Mirja Mills for.:EMO-tions:. *

Skin: L ~ Delphine : 5 – Caramel  / Bare {Mid Cleavage} by Lumiya Rae for Lumae

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

Dress: 20.FIVE Mesh: Sinas Dress (Fitted) by Beanster Potato for 20.Five *

Bracelets: Elysium – Kira bracelet – geometric silver(mat enabled – ver 2) by Aleida Rhode for Elysium *

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

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: 20.FIVE: Helga Heels by Beanster Potato for 20.Five *

Testers by Trace Osterham for {theosophy}, available at the Arcade (opening soon)

• {theosophy} Age Tester
• {theosophy} Enemy Tester
• {theosophy} Evil Tester
• {theosophy} Hottie Tester
• {theosophy} Love Tester
• {theosophy} Passion Tester
• {theosophy} Sass Tester
• {theosophy} Zultor the Fortune Teller

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

The French Connection

I put on my rouge and wash my hands in front of the whole world! ~ Marie Antoinette

Genre opened earlier this month and the theme was Baroque, so of course, everyone threw their efforts at gilded furniture and voluminous dresses with an eye towards the court of Marie Antoinette. I gathered quite a few things from the event and crowded them into this blog because, as you know, excess was never a concern in the court of Madame Deficit.

First my beautifully rendered dress from Dreamfantasia Nightfire, who is a singular repository of beautiful texture and historical sartorialism in SL. Remember when we constructed all sorts of fussy prim pieces for these shapes and now mesh can do it? I have accented the dress with a brooch from Tiffy Vella and pretty little shoes from Arora Zanzibar.

My furnishings are all from Genre, including the pictures, vase and chair from Charles Lacrima and the lovely desk, which also includes other chairs and a table from Discovering Destiny. (I can imagine these pieces could be removed from a Baroque RP setting and might do as antiques in an eclectic household.) My mirror from Connie Stratten actually includes six poses for photography and if you’re really handy with PS (and have the patience), you could do your reflection. (I clearly have neither the skills or patience.) My poses are from Genre as well, a set from Nancoix Urquan called Sarabande, which have a lovely drama to them.

My sky-high hair from Plurabelle Laszlo comes in several tints (though Marie herself had a light blonde hair) and includes the lovely dark roses you see but I added Kerryth Tarantal’s hair piece as well (because, you know, extravagance). My skin is one that LumiyaRae made specially for this round with the darling little heart-shaped beauty marks and blush Marie Antoinette was famous for.

Finally my darling Ladies in Waiting are actually also wearable animated rats (!) that are adorably dressed in baroque costume. You get one to display and one to wear and if you are one of those who likes collecting darling animals in SL, these are custom made for you.

Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai – Liaison Dangereuse – Blond with Roses by Plurabelle Laszlo for .Bliensen + MaiTai, available for Genre *

Hair piece: Spyralle Lace Fontange with Roses by Kerryth Tarantal for Spyralle, available for Genre *

Skin: L~Delphine: 4-Honey/Versailles{Mid Cleavage/LB} with L : 4 – Honey {Uber Cleavage} 1 by Lumiya Rae for Lumae, available for Genre *

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

Dress: ~The Library~ Marie -Blue by Dreamfantasia Nightfire for ~The Library~, available for Genre *

Brooch: Eclectica ‘Blenheim’ Baroque Brooch by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica, available for Genre *

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

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

Shoes: .: ZcZ :. Antoinette Slipper (L) – Bartholomew Blue by Arora Zanzibar for Zanzibar CreationZ, available for Genre *

Poses: Sarabande by Nancoix Urquan for {NanTra} Poses, available for Genre *

Posing mirror: .mien. {frivolity} by Connie Stratten for Mien Poses, available for Genre *

Desk: *OAL*/*SP* Valezquez by Discovering Destiny for On a Lark, available for Genre *

Ladies in Waiting:

• [UN] Ratcoco – Alouette – Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *
• [UN] Ratcoco – Amelie Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *
• [UN] Ratcoco – Yvette – Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *
• [UN] Ratcoco – Marie – Display by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available for Genre *

Décor:

• Vase de Porcelaine Russe by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre
• Fauteuil Louis XVI et motifs Versaillais by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre
• Set de tableaux Italiens – II by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre
• Set de tableaux Italiens – III by Charles Lacrima for Grotti, available for Genre

One Thousand and One

On Sun and Moon of palace cast thy sight,
Enjoy her flowerlike face, her fragrant light.
Thine eyes shall never see in hair so black
Beauty encase a brow so purely white.
The ruddy rosy cheek proclaims her claim,
Though fail her name whose beauties we indite.
As sways her gait, I smile at hips so big
And weep to see the waist they bear so slight.

~ “The Arabian Nights” by Sir Richard Burton (1850)

Genre is open this month with “Arabia” as its theme. I searched the four corners of the event to find you the best in exotic treasures to create the look for today in the spirit of role play. I piled on the treasures to share here, including this darling outfit from Nahtasha Uriza, who has paired a gathered halter with loose, flowing pants with a cut up the leg. The pattern is subtle, which is good because it allows lots of embellishment, which I took advantage of.

On my feet are Tiffy Vella’s exquisite slippers, bejeweled and beautiful. These alone are worth the trip to Genre if just to wear them and admire them. Then I decorated my skin with Chandra Masala’s lovely henna tattoo, which works on my Slink hands, nails painted by Ravenna Rossini’s great metallic nails.

Jewelry is essential for this look, and I really took advantage of attachment points. My bindi from Draconias Timeless includes an elaborate color change hud and additional jewels that lie over the brows. My nose ring from Amilia Zabaleta includes a tiny gem and my choker from Jalynne Ohmai has great textures for a more antiqued treasure look.

Truth Hawks’ newest long curly hair is ideal for this look. I can almost smell the cinnabar fragrance in his beautiful locks. Lumiya Rae (also know as Amesha Jewell) is offering this luscious seductive skin with all her characteristic artistry at Genre and I chose Constance Daehlie’s bold makeup to intensify my look. Poses from Nancoix Urquan from Genre give my dancer beautiful form and I posed under the gorgeous gazebo Kerryth Tarantal has made for Genre.

“Orientalism can be discussed and analyzed as the corporate institution for dealing with the Orient—dealing with it by making statements about it, authorizing views of it, describing it, by teaching it, settling it, ruling over it: in short, Orientalism as a Western style for dominating, restructuring, and having authority over the Orient.” ~ Edward Said

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

Skin: L ~ Odette 4 – Honey/Arabian Nights {Mid Cleavage/Freckle} by Lumiya Rae for Lumae, available at Genre *

Makeup: #adored – sura shadows – winter by Constance Daehlie for adored, available at Genre *

Eyes: [Buzz] Ardent Eyes – Angel by Eleri Catlyn for Buzzeri

Outfit: Painfully Divine Shazadi -blue- by Nahtasha Uriza for Painfully Divine, available at Genre *

Bindis: ~*S.E.*~ Sweet Sheba (Bindi) by Draconias Timeless for Souzou Eien, available at Genre *

Nose ring: AZE Bedouin Sands Gold Nose Ring by Amilia Zabaleta for AZE Jewelry Designs, available at Genre *

Necklace: [UN] Desert Zephyr Necklace by Jalynne Ohmai for Unrepentant, available at Genre *

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

Nail appliers: Frogstar – Nasira Metallics Fingernails HUD by Ravenna Rossini for Frogstar, available at Genre *

Hand tattoo: Jalwa – Khaliji 5 Henna by Chandra Masala for Jalwa, available at Genre *

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

Shoes: Eclectica ‘Scheherazade’ Arabian Slipper-yellow by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica, available at Genre *

Poses: {NanTra} Scheherazade by Nancoix Urquan for {NanTra} Poses, available at Genre *

Gazebo: Spyralle Pearl Gazebo by Kerryth Tarantal for Spyralle, available at Genre *