Crave

“But he who dares not grasp the thorn
Should never crave the rose.”
~ Anne Brontë

I just updated my computer. New SSD and Windows 10. This is a revelation. It’s like getting your old car detailed and tuned up and climbing in to peel out down the highway. I am still uploading all my programs but it sure is great. Today’s outfit features Hilly Haalan’s sexy lace-hemmed dress. It comes with a texture change HUD that has a ton of luscious colors and fits my Maitreya body pretty well. I accessorized with darling slip on mules from Senzati0n Domenitzo and a gorgeous jewelry set from Zuri Rayna, which she has put out for your early Valentine’s Day shopping (hint, hint, guys). The set comes with earrings, necklace, bracelet and a gorgeous hair comb.

My beautiful applier is Rocketta Haven’s new applier for LeLutka heads. With a delicate face and a subtle touch, Rocketta has made a gorgeous and unique face for the LeLutka heads. Each applier comes with a set of shadows and lipsticks and an Omega body applier. You can purchase additional eyeliners and lipsticks separately. MissAllSunday Lemon’s lush hair for Fameshed makes my look complete. I love her new HUDs!

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Mackenzie Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon for /Wasabi Pills/, available at FaMESHed *

Skin applier: KOOQLA – PomPom (02) with KOOQLA – PomPom Black Eyeliner by Rocketta Haven for KOOQLA

Mesh head: .LeLutka.Mesh Head-LOTTE v1.3 by JadenArt for LeLutka *

Eyes: .ID. Attraction Eyes #15 by Audrey Lamede for Insufferable Dastard

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

Dress: [hh] Jolene Dress Lace MAITREYA SIZE by Hilly Haalan for Hilly Haalan *

Jewelry: Zuri Rayna~Only You Rose Necklace, Bracelet and Earrings V2 Champagne/Cuppa by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

Nail appliers: [LB Razor Color] *Maitreya* Manicure by Santana Lumiere for La Boheme

Shoes: Essenz – Granada (Maitreya) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz *

Poses by Luna Jubilee for !bang

And the Band Played On, Part 2

I need to get new headphones. In my previous post, I stated that the MadPea Cursed Collection did not play music. It does indeed! When the instruments are set on the platform, they play the music from this video, composed by Harter Fall.

Each instrument plays individually as well! So add to the animations, the beautiful mesh construction, the gorgeous textures and the scripting, and you get quite a bang for your Linden at the Arcade . Find out more about Harter’s work on the collection on their website.

Band set: MadPea Cursed Collection by Harter Fall for MadPea, available at the Arcade*

• MadPea Cursed Collection Suitcase – The Stage
• 1. MadPea Cursed Collection – Harmonica Box
• 2. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trumpet Box
• 3. MadPea Cursed Collection – Violin Box
• 4. MadPea Cursed Collection – Lyra Box
• 5. MadPea Cursed Collection – Snare Drum Box
• 6. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tambourine Box
• 7. MadPea Cursed Collection – Hunting Horn Box
• 8. MadPea Cursed Collection – Recorder Box
• 9. MadPea Cursed Collection – Cymbals Box
• 10. MadPea Cursed Collection – Glockenspiel Box
• 11. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trombone Box
• 12. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tuba  Box
• 13. MadPea Cursed Collection – Bass Drum Box

 

And the Band Played On

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes a whole orchestra to play it. ~ Halford Luccock

When I received the Mad Pea Cursed Collection gacha set for this month’s Arcade, I wasn’t quite sure what to think. A mysterious message came with it directing me to open the packages with the enclosed tools and then rez all the instruments on the stage platform. As I opened each crate and box (which come with clever animations to replicate unscrewing or crowbarring or loosening bolts), I saw each beautiful instrument emerge and magically move to its spot on the platform, regardless of where I rezzed it on the platform. Very spooky.

I had to try each instrument, of course, and they are all scripted to be played as instruments with darling animations. I erroneously stated originally that they don’t play music but they do, which you can find out about here. Since I anticipated wearing the baton and stepping to the podium as instructed, I wore the tuxedo dress Fhara Acacia has at Shiny Shabby and accompanied it with Zuri Rayna’s drop dead gorgeous new jewelry set. I ran to Steffi Villota’s store to get her new Paige applier for the Lelutka mesh head because it was just so gorgeous and topped my look with Chiaki Xue’s messy but elegant ‘do.

Ready to go, I stepped up to the podium, baton in hand, and raised my arms. Rather than being “cursed,” the entire set is blessed with whimsy and joy because as the animation started, the instruments raised up on their own and began dancing around the podium with musical notes. I did a little animated gif below to show because a photo just couldn’t explain how awesome this set is. The whole set of gacha pieces, singularly and as a collection, has been constructed with such care and skill and whimsy that I would recommend you run out and jam that machine with your linden. It’s just so fun!

Hair: *DG*63 HAIR – MIX COLOR FAT(+Bangs) by Chiaki Xue for Dura *

Mesh head: .LeLutka.Mesh Head-STELLA v1.1 by JadenArt for LeLutka *

Skin applier: DeeTaleZ *Appliers* for LeLutka Heads *Face Paige* MIXED by Steffi Villota

Eyes: IKON Triumph Eyes (left) – Loam by Ikon Innovia for IKON, available at Shiny Shabby *

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

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

Dress: Ricielli – Tuxedo Minidress /Black by Fhara Acacia for R.icielli, available at Shiny Shabby

Jewelry: Zuri Rayna- Serenity Bracelet- Fall Mocha/Garnet/Onyx by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

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

Poses: an lar [poses] The Rochester Series by Katya Valeska for an lar poses, available at Shiny Shabby*

Band set: MadPea Cursed Collection by Harter Fall for MadPea, available at the Arcade*

• MadPea Cursed Collection Suitcase – The Stage
• 1. MadPea Cursed Collection – Harmonica Box
• 2. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trumpet Box
• 3. MadPea Cursed Collection – Violin Box
• 4. MadPea Cursed Collection – Lyra Box
• 5. MadPea Cursed Collection – Snare Drum Box
• 6. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tambourine Box
• 7. MadPea Cursed Collection – Hunting Horn Box
• 8. MadPea Cursed Collection – Recorder Box
• 9. MadPea Cursed Collection – Cymbals Box
• 10. MadPea Cursed Collection – Glockenspiel Box
• 11. MadPea Cursed Collection – Trombone Box
• 12. MadPea Cursed Collection – Tuba  Box
• 13. MadPea Cursed Collection – Bass Drum Box

The Crocus’ Coming

You might think that after thousands of years of coming up too soon and getting frozen, the crocus family would have had a little sense knocked into it. ~ Robert Benchley

I’ll be honest. I am so over winter. I just want it to be all over and for spring to slide in quietly and happily with crocuses peeking out and snow melting and sunshine and greenery on the trees. Crocuses came to mind when I wore this dress, a deeper purple than a crocus but purple nonetheless and a harbinger (I hope) of spring. Mami Jewell has made this gorgeous dress for Miss France MVM with a full mesh sheath accompanied by mesh and flexi prims to embellish the dress. Mami is using her great expertise from the past in creating movement and lushness in the dress but bringing it to the new mesh so now her dresses can be fully worn on a mesh body. Yay!

Sawsan Secretspy has released this skin for Designer Circle and this time I am wearing it on the system body. Because she has appliers for Slink hands, I can wear it flawlessly. I added makeup from Constance Daehlie to enhance the beauty of the skin and also the beauty of this jewelry from Zuri Rayna, which she made in an extraordinary number of versions. I wanted to make a comment that Zuri does a lot to ensure great customer service, including an engraving service and sales people active on her sim to help model jewelry. It’s a shopping “experience” at her store.

My updo is a lovely piece that Shylah Honey made for Fameshed with a great texture-change hairband. It’s a remake of an old hair that Elvi Hartley loved with whispy tendrils in back and a great elegant style. And of course, you get the full compliment of textures in the fabulous HUD.

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Morrsy Non-Rig Mesh by Shylah Honey for Damselfly, available at FaMESHed *

Skin: .::WoW Skins::. Ana Bronze by sawsan Secretspy for .::WoW skins::., available at Designer Circle *

Makeup: #adored – cruz shadow – purpley and #adored – belle sheer gloss – purple 1 by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Eyes: #adored – firstborn eyes – purple by Constance Daehlie for #adored *

Dress: -AZUL- Camille/Amethyst by Mami Jewell for –AZUL- *

Jewelry: Zuri Rayna~ Belle Heart Necklace and Earrings-Amethyst/Plum/Black by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands V2 – Elegant1 and Elegant by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail applier: Flair – Nails HUD Slink A/E – set 237 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair *

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

Libertango

“Music is the most direct art, entering through the ear and going to the heart.” ~ Astor Piazzolla

When I saw this gown from Carrie Snowpaw that she is featuring at Fashionart, I was immediately reminded of Astor Piazzolla’s “Libertango,” a famous piece of tango nuevo. I went searching online, of course, and found it being danced in a gown similar to this while being performed by the Russian Philharmonic, which I could only consider was kismet. (Click through because it is seriously gorgeous dancing and beautifully arranged and performed. And here is another dance performance even more gorgeous.) Why did I think of this music? The gown is elegant and dramatic all at once, ruffled and sleek at the same time, feminine and bold. With gorgeous jewelry from Zuri Rayna that includes texture change in the different gems and stones, it’s an elegant, dramatic piece perfect for this ensemble.

I can’t help but think that the drama also comes from this gorgeous skin that JuneMonteiro is featuring at Fashionart. June is, in real life, a textile designer, so her sense of fashion and art extends from RL into SL. Her skin is elegant with the heated zest of a Brazilian beauty. She offers the Slink appliers free at Fashionart for her skin, and she also sells a set of liners and lipsticks. My high up-do is one of Shylah Honey’s gorgeous pieces for Fashionart, an abundance of soft hair and wisps and drama, perfect for a passionate tango.

“Music is more than a woman, because women can divorce you, but not music. Once you get married, [it] is your eternal love for life and [you] go to the grave with her ​​on top.” ~ Astor Piazzolla

Hair: *~*Damselfly*~*Drewleigh Big Pack Non-Rig Mesh by Shylah Honey for :::Damselfly Hair::, available at Fashionart *

Skin: .:JUMO:. Mariah Skin Cream Black Brows with .:JUMO:. Mariah Eyeliners 010 and .:JUMO:. Mariah Guarana Lips by JuneMonteiro for .:JUMO:., available at Fashionart *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – evergreen by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley, available at Stuff in Stock *

Dress: Snowpaws – Viale Gown – Watercolor by Carrie Snowpaw for Snowpaw, available at Fashionart *

Necklace and earrings: Zuri’s Chantelle’s Heart Necklace~ Elite-Metals/Pearls/Gemchang with Zuri’s Chantelle’s Heart Earring Elite by Zuri Rayna for Zuri Jewelry *

Bracelet: (Kunglers) TDRF #039 – R Bracelet – Golden by AvaGardner Kungler for Kunglers Extra, available at the Dressing Room Fusion *

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

Nail appliers: Nailed It – MvW Autumn Set HUD (wear) by Giela Delpaso for Nailed It *

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

Shoes: Essenz – Rhodes (Fatpack) by Senzati0n Domenitzo for Essenz, available at Fashionart *

Poses by Tutys for Tutys