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} *

Your Fire at Your Desire

Her weapon were her crystal eyes
Making ev’ry man mad;
Black as a dark night she was,
Got what no one else had.
Wow!

She’s got it,
Yeah, baby, she’s got it.
Well, I’m your Venus,
I’m your fire at your desire.

~ “Venus” by Shocking Blue

I debated which version of this song to feature, but the one by Shocking Blue had to win because it was the original. This is a look that fell into place and the song came right to mind. First I got this great dress from Mariska Simons, a sexy wrap dress with bejeweled straps and a great texture change HUD that allows five texture choices and four choices for the jewels. With great shadowing and textures, it’s drop-dead sexy. I paired it with great platform shoes from Tatyana Ultsch that she is featuring at Vanity Fair, which include a HUD with what seem a kazillion texture possibilities. I included two jewelry pieces I picked up at the Dressing Room Fusion—a great cuff from AvaGardner Kungler and big terrific earrings from Ekilem Melodie.

Inka Mexicola has come out with a new skin, delectable and dreamy and a perfect palette for dressing up with makeup from Constance Daehlie. I love Constance’s luscious lips and her perfection with eye makeup liners. My high ponytail from MissAllSunday Lemon is a welcome change to the long hair styles all over the place, a great look with bangs for a sexy, almost-domme look. Sexy poses from Nancoix Urquan and Tracy Redangel make it all come together.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Quinn Mesh Hair – Ash by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at FaMESHed *

Skin: Essences [Bijoux] medium01 *brown* by Inka Mexicola for Essences *

Makeup: #adored – go to liners – curlt up and #adored – belle matte – supa red by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Eyes: #adored – dawn eyes – light blue by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Body: Maitreya Mesh Body – HUD V2.1 Lara by Onyx LeShelle for Maitreya

Dress: ~Blacklace~  Glimmer:  Mesh Cocktail Dress by Mariska Simons for Blacklace *

Earrings: MONS / MESH Mandala Earrings (L) Silver by Ekilem Melodie for Mons, available at the Dressing Room Fusion

Bracelet: (Kunglers Extra) TDRF #059 – bracelets – Desert by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at the Dressing Room Fusion *

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

Nail appliers: #adored – sparkling nights manicure {slink + omega} by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Feet: Slink Avatar Enhancement Feet Mid by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: :::insanya::: Leya Heels by Tatyana Ultsch for :::insanya:::, available at the Vanity Fair *

Poses by Nancoix Urquan and Tracy Redangel for {NanTra} *

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

The Painter

“Painting is poetry that is seen rather than felt, and poetry is painting that is felt rather than seen.” ― Leonardo da Vinci

Fashionart is opening in a couple days with the theme of art as inspiration for fashion. I am getting psyched up for the event, preparing my artist’s mind for the exclusives. This cute dress from Johnydeep is a darling start with an artist’s palette on the front. Upon wearing it, I realized my mission as a painter, and set up an easel and started painting. (One of Diana Baroque’s paintings so I could look good. I couldn’t paint my way out of a paper bag.) A jaunty colorful cap from Ravenna Rossini and high heel shoes from Teekie are two more of the exclusives from Fashionart. (And if you think an artist does not wear ridiculously sexy high heels, you clearly have never met Eshi Otawara in RL.)

My glowing skin is the Nutmeg version of Carina Larsen’s newest release. With pretty brows and eyes and delicate lips, it’s a distinctively beautiful skin. Carina released a set of mesh eyes that include a HUD for sizing and glow, which I have been showing for the past few blog entries. My long locks, which fit perfectly under the hat, are Truth Hawks’ newest. Nancoix Urquan has a set of great poses for sale at Fashionart as well. Bring on the art!

“I dream my painting and I paint my dream.” ― Vincent van Gogh

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

Skin: Amacci Skin – Tyne (Nutmeg) – 10 Rose by Carina Larsen for Amacci *

Body paint: :: YaYo :: – Canvas – Body – No Face by Brandi Monroe for YaYo

Eyes: – Zenith Eyes – Mesh Eyes with HUD – Teal by Carina Larsen for Amacci *

Dress: The Dress of a Artist by johnydeep for J&A Megastore, available at Fashionart (opens May 9)

Cap: Frogstar – Ryden Cap (F) Original by Ravenna Rossini for Frogstar, available at Fashionart (opens May 9)

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

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink

Shoes: FOR SLINK HIGH HOLLY MESH BLACK VIDA HEELS by Teekie for Hollyhood, available at Fashionart (opens May 9)

Poses by BoatHouse Paint Brush (wear me) and BoatHouse Painting Pallette (wear me) by IzzieBellah Hinterland for BoatHouse

.:-CatniP-:. Easel  (Standing Paint Animation) by Akasha Wachmann for .:-CatniP-:.

[PM]Pixel Mode – Draped Photography Background by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode *

Painting by Diana Baroque

Poses by Nancoix Urquan for {NanTra} Poses, available at Fashionart (opens May 9)