Love

Let us discuss “love.” I thought a lot about this. I consulted books, I read poetry, I considered philosophy and history and religion, and I thought about whom I love and who loves me.

I came to this conclusion: love, for me or from me, makes me a better person. I realize the people who love me, elevate me and make me elevate myself. It’s in the giving and receiving of love—romantic, motherly, friendship, brotherly–that I work towards being my best self. The positive reinforcement of love, the support it provides, the safety net, the acceptance I receive—it all nourishes me. In return, I can give back the same because I receive it and I can nourish others.

That being said, Valentine’s Day is really for amorous lovers, so I have a few things specifically for lovers here. First of all I show a bed from Froukje Hoorenbeek, who recently decided to spice up her offerings with a few love-making beds. I specifically say “love-making” as opposed to sex because it is evident from the features that Froukje includes, these beds are not for one-night stands. The beds include ample numbers of couple’s sex sets, all very nicely animated (from what I could tell with my one avatar) and all seemingly more geared towards a woman’s taste—lots of women’s pleasure as well as men’s in these poses, all I’m sayin’. The bed also includes lots and lots of cuddles and some solo poses, that you see above. Get one for your new home with your Valentine and make love all night long ;)

Another amorous item for Valentine’s is lingerie and I show one of camilla Yosuke’s newest releases here. With its innocent lace and flower styling, this set would be perfectly innocent except she makes the material sheer, allowing a sexy peekaboo that would race any woman’s lover’s heart. Camilla is all about the details—the lace around the edges, the garter holding a stocking that is pulled up (not straight across), a seam up the back of the stocking. Tell me your Valentine wouldn’t love this!

Finally, I wear Hart Larsson’s newest skin for this shoot, mostly because I didn’t get a chance to show off the beautifully drawn body and sensuous lips. I did not wear one of the eye shadows the sells with the skin this time. There was no need. Hart draws beautiful expressive eyes.

I shot this series of photos in a skybox made by Gin Galtier. Gin is an expert at making small, intimate spaces. This loft, with its high ceilings and ballet bars running down one wall, is a nod to the conversion of industrial spaces into work and living spaces for urban areas. What I don’t show (and should but there is only so much real estate on my blog here) is a beautifully made window looking out into an urban courtyard, giving the entire space the touch of authenticity it needs.

“The most important thing in life is to learn how to give out love, and to let it come in.” ~ Morrie Schwartz

Hair: >TRUTH< Francesca – auburn by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: [PXL] Linda G3 NAT RoseLips DEB by Hart Larsson for [PXL] *

Lingerie: Amy White and Purple Lingerie Outfit by INSOLENCE by camilla Yosuke for Insolence *

Bed: Dutchie adult bed green II by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *

Skybox: elefantu – Converted Ballet Studio Skybox Apartment by Gin Galtier for elefantu *

A Chill in the Air

Fall has come in too quickly. I am still staring at the shorts and t-shirt in my drawers, wondering if I will ever be able to wear them again. It’s not so bad because fall brings back the best part–snuggling up.

So I have snuggled up to .. myself. Yeah, that’s my male alt modeling for me. I needed a hunk in a pinch and there he was, chilling in his box, so I pulled him out. (Yeah, really, what kind of loser snuggles their other doll except me?) The reason was this adorable seasonable skybox from Gin Galtier. She has made 50 only to be sold on Marketplace and for that alone, it’s worth considering. I don’t normally do “on location” shoots, but the colors in this skybox are so pretty and autumnal, I wanted to show something cozy.

Check out the sweet desk in the corner with Gin’s eclectic styling. The skybox comes complete with all decor, which is also modifiable and removable. So you can hack this skybox as you please and still have a cozy nook for warming up. At 215 prims, it’s a lightweight packed with a lot of goodness.

And if nothing else, it’s chock full of great photography opportunities. (How humiliating—being cute with myself… *sigh*. What I do for “art.”)

My outfit is the kind of cozy I need on a chilly day. Doc Eldritch knitted up this beautiful sweater last year that comes with a hood or this great cowl. My jeans are comfy and sexy and made by Anyusha Lilienthal. And I love these boots from Ansor Hoorenbeek (who does women’s as well as men’s.. hello), which come with three different leg options. The great leg warmers make me feel cuddly. My boy is dressed in a great sweater from mappy handrick, jeans from machang Pichot and shoes from Guu Nishi. But really, this is all about the skybox…. and the girl ;)

“Then summer fades and passes and October comes.  We’ll smell smoke then, and feel an unexpected sharpness, a thrill of nervousness, swift elation, a sense of sadness and departure.” ~  Thomas Wolfe

Featuring elefantu [October Song] Limited Edition Skybox by Gin Galtier for elefantu, sold on Marketplace *

On her:

Hair: Meredith – Dark Copper by Calico Ingmann for Calico Ingmann Creations

Skin: LAQ ~ Julie – 02 [Peach] Glow skin (red hairbase) by Mallory Cowen for LAQ

Sweater: DE Tango Fall 09 Sweater – Toffee by DoC Eldritch for DE Designs

Jeans: Ibizarre Lolo Jeans by Anyusha Lilienthal for Ibizarre

Boots: [ hoorenbeek ] Warmleg Boots – Brown by Ansor Hoorenbeek for Hoorenbeek

On him:

Hair: LAQ ~ Radiant M05 (L) – Midnight by Winter DiPrima for LAQ

Skin: no.07 :: Demetris – Natural :: Goatee 01 – Hair by Aeon Jiminy for no.07

Sweater: *ARAI* Nit_gray by mappy Handrick for ARAI

Shirt (underneath): *ARAI* Jersey_black by mappy Handrick for ARAI

Jeans: AOHARU_BT_VintageDenim_Black by machang Pichot for AOHARU

Shoes: HOC Industries – Easy Striders by Guu Nishi for HOC

Pretty is as Pretty Does

I have a few friends in SL that I speak to more in IM than face to face. We don’t get together and party. We don’t play together. We just talk about inane things, like jelly donuts and who is cute and how crappy it is to go through rolling restarts. Nothing earth-shattering but very friendly and fun.

Delora Starbrook is my sugar plum for such stuff. She IMs me, we chatter. She is designing—tweaking and tinkering and uploading, and I am writing blogs and sorting inventory and moving prims around. I have the sneaking hunch we are like two office workers, chatting across our desks while we work. She is the girl in the desk on the other side of the cubicle. Under normal circumstances we would not know each other but in this crazy place, we are thrown together and rather like each other.

Delora has delighted me more than once—in naming a camisk after me, in trying to quit smoking, and now in sharing her lovely work. This lovely tea-length dress by Delora reveals a beautiful mind, one that loves romance and prettiness. She has perfected her textures, layering brocade with subtle shadows and sheen. Here she combines sculpties and flexis well, making an overall dress that would make any woman feel beautiful wearing it.

I show the dress with a dewy skin from Gala Phoenix and pretty let-down locks from Parvarti Monday. Cailyn Miller’s jewelry stands the test of time in SL—I believe I received this choker in 2007, and it still looks beautiful today.

Pretty girl:

Hair: fri. – Eloise – Jealous Red by Parvarti Monday for fri.day *

Skin: :GP: Sundust [Dark] June-Zenia 1 by Gala Phoenix for Curio

Dress: *HD* Rhapsody – Red by Delora Starbrook for Haven Designs

Jewelry: *Cailyn’s* Victoriana Set (Ruby) by Cailyn Miller for Cailyn’s

Shoes: HOC Apparel – MIB Stilettos 2 by Guu Nishi for HOC Industries