Stopping by Woods–KittyCatS & Friends Advent Calendar, Day 10

The woods are lovely, dark and deep,
But I have promises to keep,
And miles to go before I sleep,
And miles to go before I sleep.

~ “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening” by Robert Frost

I went over to the lovely Garden of Whimsy and was reminded of Robert Frost’s poem about the deep dark woods. They have set up the sim so nicely without too much kitschy stuff and enough wonder that I enjoyed myself. I am wearing xxsaltandpepperxx’s cute chevron-patterned dress, a giftable look available at Christmas on 34th Street. I matched mokkinha’s ankle boots to the look. You can see a subtle chevron pattern in the boots.

Today’s featured gift is Aleida Rhode’s custom mesh earrings, which she is offering as the gift in the KittyCats & Friends Advent Calendar in three colors—silver, copper and onyx. With a decorative hanger, they are almost like ornaments but more delicate. My skin is one of Silent Alchemi’s lovely looks. I needed to take off a mesh head for a day and get some air, and with this glowing skin, I feel beautiful. I added lipstick from Synjari Myriam, also giftable at the Christmas on 34th Street. She offers each package with evening and daytime tones, which is clever. My short sassy hair is one of Leyla Flux’s great looks for Hairology, which opened today!

Hair: [KoKoLoReS] Hair – December by Leyla Flux for [KoKoLoReS], available at Hairology *

Skin: *Birth* Perdita Skin (HoneyTone) Natural1_Cleavage_gloss by Silent Alchemi for *Birth* *

Lipstick: .:SF:. “Winterkiss” Lip Color – Evening: Pomme Apple by Synjari Myriam for Senzafine, available at Christmas on 34th Street *

Eyes: #adored – nova eyes – frost by Constance Daehlie for #adored, available at Winter Trend *

Lashes: .LeLutka.Kyra lashes.01 by Thora Charron for LeLutka *

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

Dress: S&P dress Keira maitreya exp grey by xxsaltandpepperxx for Salt & Pepper, available at Christmas on 34th Street *

Earrings: Elysium – Bubble earring – silver by Aleida Rhode for Elysium by Aleida Rhode, available December 10 for the KittyCatS and Friends Advent Calendar at the KittyCats Wonderland Sim *

Boots: T&S – Demonia Boots by mokkinha for Tales & Stories, available at FROST (opening December 13) *

Poses by Luna Jubilee for !bang

Taken using the LumiPro HUD V3.41 by Stefan Buscaylet *

Taken at Garden of Whimsy

Splash

“…to slip beneath the surface and soar along the silent bottom of the sea agile and shining in water honeycombed with light.”~ Ellen Meloy

The theme of Genre this month is “Mer-folk,” so clearly a shot over Linden water is in order. I wore Chandra Meehan’s gorgeous mermaid tail as part of my look. With a mesh center piece and gorgeous tails that combine mesh and flexi and translucency, this mermaid tail is spectacular. The tail comes in several colors—not just this lovely electric blue. My trident is also on sale at Genre in three colors to accessorize a mermaid or merman thanks to Tala Laval. Horns on my head from Draconius Timeless make my mermaid a watery creature rather than just a lovely woman. They come with a great scaly headbase and would suit both men and women.

The life of a mermaid is no doubt stressful, and Spooky Mistwallow knows every girl deserves a Calgon moment, so she made this darling tentacled bath for Genre. With effervescent bubbles that emerge from the tub and an animated foam, the tub is a place where a mermaid can relax and bathe or, feel frisky, bring her merman in for some intimate moments as the bath includes both single and couple poses. It even comes with a darling tentacle towel holder.

My glorious skin is Tuli Asturias’ new release for Skin Fair 2014. As usual, she givse us her shapely nose, beautiful lips and brows, and soft blush. Tuli’s face is exquisite, though I am biased—I was always a Tuli girl. Her skin comes in three tones with appliers sold separately. I have dressed the skin up with a makeup from Constance Daehlie that includes little fins to beautify the look and deep murky eyes from Cruella Pennell make my mermaid watery. My necklace, which could be seen as an octopus or alternately as Chthulu, I suppose, holds a brilliant egg. Tiffy Vella is really mastering mesh! All are available at Genre. Finally, I chose a recent hair from Queue Marlowe with her brilliant ombre coloring to top my mermaid off.

“If you swim effortlessly in the deep oceans, ride the waves to and from the shore, if you can breathe under water and dine on the deep treasures of the seas; mark my words, those who dwell on the rocks carrying nets will try to reel you into their catch. The last thing they want is for you to thrive in your habitat because they stand in their atmosphere where they beg and gasp for some air.” ~ C. JoyBell C.

Hair: AD – bree – splash by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: [:T:] Sunny / skin fair 2014 / tone 2 by Tuli Asturias for Tuli, available at Skin Fair 2014, Sim 2

Makeup: .:SF:. “Sirene” Eye Makeup – Azure/Blue by Synjari Myriam for Senzafine,, available at Genre *

Eyes: a: mermaid havila eyes: aqua by Cruelle Pennell for Adoness, available at Genre *

Mermaid outfit: !dM Undine **ELECTRIC BLUE** by Chandra Meehan for deviousMind, available at Genre *

Horns: ~*S.E.*~ Dawn Child of Proteus (Blue) by Draconias Timeless for ~*Souzou Eien*~, available at Genre *

Necklace: Eclectica Octopus Neckpiece-Turquoise by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica, available at Genre *

Earrings: Reef Earring – Blue by Augurer for Luminary, available at Genre *

Trident: [LJ] Oceanic Trident – Arista by Tala Laval for Losthaven, available at Genre *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1 Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Flat Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: #adored – mermaid hand manicure by Constance Daehlie for adored, available at Genre *

Poses by Nita Bracken for Serenade

Bath: =Mirage= Mermaid Bathtub by Spooky Mistwallow for =Mirage= Arabian Treasure Company, available at Genre *

The Scent of a Woman

“…a woman not yet seen, but whose perfume accumulates on the horizon like a storm cloud.” ~ Fernand Dumont, région du cœur et autres textes

My favorite perfume in college was Opium. And then Eau de Givenchy. Two very different scents—one cloying and sticky with richness and spice, the other very floral and fresh. Some time after that I wore Romance from Ralph Lauren. Now I wear Noa, a huge bottle of which I got in the Charles de Gaulle airport duty free when I was on layover from Berlin because I could no longer find it in the US. (Now I can get it online but I bought a barrel of it so I am still set for a while.)

The problem with virtual living is the problem of the other senses. Many people suggest touch is missing but I think it’s scent that is missing even more. The scent of a lovely lady walking by in a long gown, such as this one by Synjari Myriam. I bought the “Cream,” which is more of a taupe to me. I love the flutter cap sleeves and the wrapped front on the bodice. Synjari has managed to give this a richness and sheen with her deft texturing.

Gianni Broda (who goes by various display names I can’t keep track of) issued this gorgeously rich skin a few days ago, which he is selling at Fi*Fridays with hand and feet appliers. I think it’s gorgeous, especially with this side-tied hair from Truth Hawks, who just released a bunch of new gorgeous ‘dos. Bracelets are from one of my favorite jewelry makers, AvaGardner Kungler. My necklace and shoes came from Collabor88—Maxi Gossamer and Darling Monday. Some gorgeous finds there this month!

“The question that women casually shopping for perfume ask more than any other is this: “What scent drives men wild?” After years of intense research, we know the definitive answer. It is bacon. Now, on to the far more interesting subject of perfume.” ~ Tania Sanchez

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

Skin: *CASHMERE*Giselle Skin(DarkTan)Natural by Gianni Broda for *CASHMERE*, available at Fi*Fridays

Eyes: .ID. Brooding Eyes – Dark Brown by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

Gown: .:SF:. “Rosalie” Vintage Dress – Cream by Synjari Myriam for Senzafine, available at The Theme Park

Necklace: MG – Necklace – Knotted Shimmer Pearls – 1 by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at Collabor88*

Bracelets: (Kunglers Extra) TDRF #031 – Golden bracelet by AvaGardner Kungler forKunglers Extra, available at Dressing Room Fusion *

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

Nail appliers: Flair – Nail Hud Add On – Slink Avatar Enhancement – Set 199 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at The Attic *

Feet: Slink AvEnhance Feet High by Siddean Munro for Slink *

Shoes: fri. – Miranda.Heels (Mocha) by Darling Monday for fri.day, available at Collabor88*

Poses by Dove Swanson for Long Awkward Pose (no longer available)

A Christmas Carol

“There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.” ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

I am so PLEASED to congratulate Fabfree for winning the Avi Choice awards for best blog. I sincerely think there was no better blog for the title. (I am not being gracious here—I mean it.) I was good friends with Renee Lowenhart when she was running the blog, and I know how much work she put into building Fabfree. Love Trill and the other ladies have taken the baton and run with it, keeping up the fine standards Renee set and making it even better. They work DAMN hard on that blog, bringing people news of great items, keeping the free area at the Wash going, and running a ginormous group of freebie hunters. And they put slurls on EVERYTHING (and I know how much work that is). I know I refer new people to the blog at least three times a week. I am so pleased they got the award.

That being said, I am also pleased that I ranked in the top 5. Of course it’s not scientific and of course it’s all about some crazy poll on a website but dang, let me gloat just a little here for being in the top 5. I was thrilled to be nominated, so of course for this I am so honored. Thank you for voting for me! And congratulations to the other blogs!

That being said, I will now take you back in time to the Victorian era when Christmases were festooned with holly and velvet and delight galore! Actually, I’ll take you over to Genre, whose theme this month is “Victorian Christmas,” and a ton of creators are participating. I am actually amazed at some of the work because I can tell it’s original mesh, not templates, and it’s been done with the event in mind.

Take for example the skirt I wear from Kaliope Karas in plaid with a green hem, which I separated from a whole outfit she is offering so I could show Kerryth Tarantal’s gorgeous jacket with her distinctive complex textures. Kerryth has grown by leaps and bounds, looking at this, having drawn in all the fine detail—buttons, shadows, piping. She’s not just laying a fractal on a prim anymore. It’s gorgeous. And you can barely see but Tiffy Vella has made the most darling mesh shoes with a Victorian brocade print and a ruffled vamp.

The accessories at the event are exquisite. The gorgeous choker and earrings from Ellantha Larsson are simply a taste of what is being offered and Synjari Myriam’s top hat is one of many toppers up for sale. Chandra Masala offers this porcelain and pristine skin with a hark back to bygone days and I wore one of Helena Stringer’s makeup tattoos to get a deeper lip.

You will also find a variety of Victorian creations to furnish your house including this curio desk from Morgana Brid, which includes texture change features to change the wood and upholstery. And Lashae Karsin used her posing talent to make a stately Victorian chair that also has a few standing poses. Abathyr is generously offering the Christmas stocking I show with a texture change script to allow different names to be embroidered on the stocking for a mere 10L. In fact, almost every creator offers one 10L item so being Victorian this holiday won’t break the bank.

“And so, as Tiny Tim observed, God bless Us, Every One!” ~ Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

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

Skin: Jalwa- Zahida – Victorian – Eyebrows by Chandra Masala for Jalwa, available at Genre *

Makeup: *TSM* Mistress Lips -Last Kiss by Helena Stringer for The Stringer Mausoleum, available at Genre *

Eyes: PC Eyes – Christmas Tale – medium medium by Lano Ling for Poetic Eyes

Jacket: Spyralle  Snowflake Lace Jacket Red by Kerryth Tarantal for Spyralle, available at Genre *

Skirt: KaliKo – Joanie Christmas Caroling Skirt by  Kaliope Karas for KaliKo, available at Genre *

Choker and earrings: .:ellabella:. Bygone Medusa – Yule by  Ellantha Larsson for .:ellabella:., available at Genre *

Top hat: .:SF:. “Memento Mori” Mini Top Hat – Thulian by Synjari Myriam for Senzafine, available at Genre *

Shoes: Eclectica Victoriana Shoe for Genre-red by Tiffy Vella for Eclectica, available at Genre *

Décor:

• Christmas Horn w Foliage COPY MOD by Pamela Galli for La Galleria
• C&F Burg Xmas Stocking w/ Texture Switcher by Abathyr for Cog & Fleur, available at Genre *
• Flash Friendly Poses – Victorian Salon Chair by Lashae Karsin for Flash Friendly Poses, available at Genre *
• {A} Curio Desk Set by MorganaBrid for Arcana Antiques & Oddities, available at Genre *
• .jamais201XXmas.Snowy fruitcake & Swan biscuit by Quark Fallen for Arbres Obscurs

Her Cruel Arts

Here thou art painted in the dress
Of an inhuman murderess;
Examining upon our hearts
Thy fertile shop of cruel arts:
Engines more keen than ever yet
Adorned tyrant’s cabinet,
Of which the most tormenting are
Black eyes, red lips, and curled hair.

~ Andrew Marvell, The Gallery

Our mistress of the cruel arts of beauty seduces with her pale skin and deep red lips, dark eyes and curled hair. Start with the sexy burlesque outfit Synjari Myriam has made for Genre. Part of the Western theme of the event, the burlesque outfit features mesh top and bustle with a flexi skirt and lovely texturing and it’s offered at a terrific price (as is everything at Genre). Check out the lacing on the back!

My skin is one of Rocketta Haven’s surreal skins for the Designers United event going on right now, themed appropriately, “Surrealism.” While I don’t find surrealism a really sellable topic (how many times can you say “Ceci n’est pas une pipe” and wear it like you mean it?), some of the items push past the theme and offer beauty or utility. Certainly Rocketta’s ethereal set of skins got me to scamper over and with the alluring lips and gorgeous freckles on a pale gray façade, this is a beautiful alternative to the usual.

Valencia Southard teamed up with Nyunyu Kimono to offer a posing stool that includes some fabulous poses as well. While the stool seems awfully short for any avatar (you can’t see the legs amidst my skirt—I am hovering in the air), the poses are beguiling. (I did make myself 5’ tall in SL and the stool was still too short for me, incidentally.) I am not sure how the stool is surrealist but it’s certainly lovely.

My hair is Queue Marlowe’s other offering this week, a blunt banged curly ‘do with fullness and body. With a great color change hud, I was able to find this rich red color in a snap. Queue, Queue, how I love you!

Of which the most tormenting are
Black eyes, red lips, and curled hair.

Hair: AD – madeline – dark reds by Queue Marlowe for Analog Dog *

Skin: KOOQLA Queens(Red) (dark brows) by Rocketta Haven for Kooqla, available at Designers United

Eyes: IKON Utopia Eyes – Black (ML) by Ikon Innovia for IKON *

Outfit: .:SF:. “Molly” Burlesque Ensemble by Synjari Myriam for Senzafine, available at Genre

Nails: Nailed It – Prim Nails – Love Donna Flora by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

Shoes: [Gos] Mae Platform – Naturelle Collection by Gospel Voom for Gos Boutique *

Pose prop: NYU for (marukin) [automatism] posing base stool by NyuNyu Kimono and Valencia Southard for Marukin, available at Designers United