Come Away With Me

 

It's been such a long time since I have been able to make a post.  Trying to keep up with real life work and Second Life 'work' has really limited my time for blogging.  I am hoping to be a bit more consistent than I have been the past couple of months, however.

In early July I opened a small pose shop.  I was really apprehensive about it, but as you know, I have adored poses in world for many years.  With the closing of my two favorite pose shops, I decided that I would take a stab at creating my own.  I don't get to work on poses nearly as much as I want to because of my obligations in my real life, but I am learning and will hopefully soon have a wide variety of poses available.  I have a few single packs available and my first couple pose is available exclusively at Designer Showcase for the duration of the September round.

Aren't these shoes adorable?  I think riding boots are such a cute look for this fall, and I am very excited that LaRoo has created such a pretty pair.  Both the mesh and the texture are full of detail which is always essential for a good product.  The boots are also versatile because they can be worn casually or with a more professional or 'dressed-up' look.  They are available in five colors exclusively at FaMESHed.


Credits
Clothing: [Dress] Summer Dress in Red by DRIFT @ The Dressing Room Fusion New and [Leggings] Sheer Tights in Khaki by Izzie's
Shoes: Riding Boots in Brown by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed New
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant 1 by Slink
Nail Applier: Glossy French Slink Add-On by je suis
Hair: Malia in Sable by [elikatira] New
Skin: Lulu 07 BR by Glam Affair No Longer Available
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Skyfall by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Poses: [1] Come With Me by Flash Friendly Poses @ Designer Showcase New and [2] Stand 011 Mirror by Flash Friendly Poses
Location: The Pixel Bean Coffeehouse

Sweet Nothing

Things I enjoy about summer... being able to sleep until noon and managing to actually make two blog posts in one week!  If only the summer could last forever.

My photos today were completely inspired by the new release by LaRoo Shoes at FaMESHed.  I always think schoolgirl whenever I see socks worn with shoes that are typically worn without socks... like heels.  The Ellie Sock Pumps are extremely adorable and very well made.  They are available in ten solid colors and four floral patterns.  A HUD containing twelve colors is also included for the socks.  FaMESHed closes at the end of the month, but I'm sure these will also be offered at LaRoo's main store afterwards.

Credits
Clothing: Montgomery in Sea by coldLogic
Shoes: Ellie Sock Pumps in Peach Floral by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed New
Hands: Mesh Hands Relaxed R and Elegant L by Slink
Nail Applier: French Nails by Izzie's
Hair: Daffodil in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Lulu 07 BR by Glam Affair @ The Arcade
Skin Applier: Slink Hands Skin Applier America by Glam Affair
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Ardent Eyes in Skyfall by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Poses: [1] Shy 3 and [2] Pencil II 6 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Pretty Island

Enjoy the Silence

A new round of FaMESHed started this past week which is where I found almost all of the items in the outfit I'm wearing.  I really like this "sales" event because there are a lot of good quality designers who participate.  It's not really a sales event, however, since all the items are priced as they normally would be.  That of course is completely fine since designers do deserve to be compensated for the amount of time and effort they put into their products.

The top I'm wearing is from Tee*fy, and you really do get a lot of value for your Lindens with this item.  There are twelve total color options available with nine out of the twelve including three different designs in the purchase: a striped version, a polka dot version and a solid version.  It will be difficult for me to not add a few more colors to my inventory... especially the pastels.  Five sizes of each shirt and a modifiable alpha layer are included in your purchase.  A free demo is available.

I picked the pants I'm wearing up from FANATIK, and I had a really difficult time deciding between black and pink.  The girl in me always wants to buy pink, but I went with my husband's suggestion and snagged the black.  They do, after all, go with more things.  The leather texture on these pants is very pretty.  Eight total colors are available and each contains five modifiable sizes with a modifiable alpha layer.  A free demo is available.

The skin I'm wearing is one of the three skin available by Glam Affair at the current round of Collabor88 which only has a few days left.  I was really disappointed when the designer decided to leave The Dressing Room; I probably own almost every skin that was included in the TDR collections.  When Aida popped up at Collabor88 I was, needless to say, ecstatic.  Glam Affair truly does produce some of the highest quality skins in all of Second Life.  If you have ever purchased a high quality skin, you know what an amazing deal 188L for a single skin is.  Three brow colors are included in your purchase, and a free demo is available.

I am deeply in love with the eyes I'm wearing from IKON, and the best thing about them is that they are completely free.  Each month IKON sets out a pair of never before released eyes for one week free to the stores VIP group members (free to join).  Theses Lucid eyes are the first pair in a new line coming from IKON.  The eyes are only available through February 7th; so, don't put off visiting too long!

The shoes by LaRoo at FaMESHed may just be my favorite design by the team yet.  The Lizzy T-Strap Pumps are very feminine and girly.  Ten colors are available; each color features a solid black sole and heel with the body of the shoe featuring the various colors.  A skin and nail color HUD are included with your purchase; instructions for the HUD and the RGB values for popular skins are available on LaRoo's website.  A free demo is available.

If any of you have every wondered where I find the locations I use in my photos, it isn't from me endlessly searching the entire grid before I find the perfect location.  I actually browse the Beautiful Landscapes of Second Life flick group for interesting looking SIMs.  Most people who post their pictures there include slurls to the location.  The blogger that led me to the beautiful Kalki SIM is the very talented Danni Ravinelli.  I always appreciate fellow bloggers who don't mind posting their secrets for others to find and use.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Olga Sweatshirt in Stripe Grey by Tee*fy @ FaMESHed and [Pants] Leather Leggings in Black by FANATIK @ FaMESHed
Shoes: Lizzy T-Strap Pumps in Pink by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed
Jewelry: Uva Earrings by miel Group Gift
Hair: Josie w/Roots in Mocha by TRUTH
Skin: Renee - Trending 02 D by Glam Affair @ Collabor88
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Lucid Eyes in Optimism by IKON Group Gift
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Gesture L and Mouse R by Slink
Poses: [1] Model 252, [2] Model 228 and [3] Model 285 by Glitterati
Location: Kalki

A Lesson in Patience

Today has definitely been a lesson in patience.  I typically take my pictures in Second Life on my desktop and edit them on my laptop; I do it this way since my desktop, which is a gaming computer, is a lot faster and can take better pictures while my laptop is the only computer I have that has PhotoShop.  I have known that my laptop was having issues for a while, but today it finally just gave out.  Well, not completely out, but I tried to turn it on for three hours very unsuccessfully.  After a bit of research, I think the CMOS battery has went out on my laptop; it is a pretty common problem with the version I have and is a really cheap fix.  The problem... you basically have to dismantle the entire computer just to replace the battery.  I cannot see myself doing that.

I was left trying to figure out how to use GIMP to edit my photos.  There are some aspects of it that I do like better than PhotoShop; for example, I think the healing tool has clearer results and is easier to use in GIMP.  The IWarp tool is not quite as smooth at the liquify feature in PhotoShop, however.  I'm sure that with practice I will be able to use this program as well as I am able to use PhotoShop (which isn't really saying much).  The extra time to look up tutorials really pushed my nerves.  You would have to have the patience of Job to not be irritated by having to take it all in at once.

Now... on to what I'm wearing!  The top I have on is a new item from Auxiliary available at The Dressing Room Fusion.  The design is extremely adorable, and the three colors it comes is are very pretty.  A free demo is available for you to try; it really annoys me when designers don't have demos out for mesh items.  Each piece fits differently... some not well at all depending on your shape; I really hate wasting money and really appreciate the designers who offer free demos (1L demos are a whole different rant lol).  The straps don't really fit my avatar well (they stand up a bit higher than my shoulders), but I knew that I wanted to wear a long hairstyle; so, that really wasn't much of an issue.  Overall, it's a very fabulous piece for only 70L!

The leggings I "matched" up with the top are actually a modifiable pair of textured white leggings a designer friend of mine passed me long ago.  They are a staple of my inventory when I cannot find pants that match well enough with a top.  Perhaps Auxiliary will release some colored pants in the future to match for the people who don't like tinting!

The newest release from LaRoo Shoes are absolutely amazing!  The Sparta Pumps are the first release by the design team to include a foot base.  I know that some people are a little intimidated when it comes to tinting.  I typically don't aim for a "perfect" match because if I did I would be here for days. Close is normally good enough for me since colors can change with windlights and shadows; I think I did pretty well with my first try.  Tinting the skin with the included HUD is a little different than with others; you first choose the skin closest to your skin color and then adjust the RGB values instead of simply inputting the value of your skin.  I really love the window that pops up for you to enter the codes instead of having thirty seconds to type them into local chat.  LaRoo does offer detailed information on how to operate the color change HUD and the RGB values of well know skin designers on their website.  The values for the skin I'm wearing were not listed, but I'm sure the list will grow with time!  The shoes are available in twelve colors, and a free demo is available for your convenience.

Speaking of skins, I'm sporting the newest skin release from Izzie's titled Ginerva.  The skin is available in eight tones and includes a modifiable shape, freckles option, moles option, four brow colors (with the exception of the mocha tone which only contains one), cleavage options, a nail base, twelve lipsticks, eleven eyeshadows, eyeliner, blush and a brow shape.  As with all Izzie's skins, a free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Mullet Top in Cocoa and Turquoise by Auxiliary at The Dressing Room Fusion and [Leggings] White Cotton Leggings by Siss Boom (Not available)
Shoes: Sparta Pumps in Tan by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: Uva Necklace by miel Group Gift
Hair: Rebel in Mocha w/Roots by TRUTH
Skin: Ginvera Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant 1 by Slink
Poses: [1] Elegant 3 and [2] Elegant 1 by aDORKable Poses
Location: Innsmouth

Helix

The idea for this outfit was completely inspired by the new shoes from LaRoo that are currently being offered at FaMESHed.  They reminded me of the combat boots my sister used to wear when we were teenagers.  Of course she never wore them with anything resembling what someone in the military would wear; she definitely dressed them up.

I found the undershit I'm wearing while shopping at House of Fox for the shorts that I am also wearing.  I love the illusion of modest sexiness that it gives with the high neckline and semi-see through texture.  Everything is technically covered, but you can see just enough to want to see more.

The jacket that I paired up with the outfit is a newish piece by DIRAM.  The dramatic shape really caught my attention as well as the nine flamboyant textures it is offered in.  The only thing that I don't really like about the this particular texture for the jacket is that the stripes do not line up down the sides under the armpit.  It's a pet peeve I've had for years even with real life clothing.  Perhaps that is why I no longer wear stripes in my real life.  A free demo is available, and your purchase includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer.

As mentioned previously, the Liberty Boots are part of the current collection available at FaMESHed.  I continue to be increasingly impressed with each new release from LaRoo.  The detail that is obtainable with mesh designs make a three-dimensional world presented on a two-dimensional screen appear so much more real.  LaRoo also had a new release this past week with their first skin and foot shoe; I hope to get a post up with those in the coming week!  The Liberty Boots are offered in ten colors, include three mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available.


Credits
Clothing: [Jacket] Blake Blazer in Rayure by DIRAM, [Undershirt] Vintage Sheer Top by House of Fox, [Shorts] Tailored Shorts in Black by House of Fox and [Tights] Sheer Tights in Black Less Sheer by Izzie's
Shoes: Liberty Boots in Black by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed
Jewelry: Ebru Earrings by Bens Beauty
Hair: Escape in Brown 08 by [elikatira]
Skin: Jadis Natural A TRD #24 by Glam Affair (This makeup is no longer available)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner in Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Glass by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Elegant 1 by Slink
Poses: [1] Odyssey 5 and [2] SidePony 3 by aDORKable Poses
Location: DangerInEvolution LEA27

Pieces of My Closet XI

Sorting through my inventory is always interesting, but I've had a reoccurring problem of forgetting not only about the things that are unorganized but also forgetting what I have in the organized section of my inventory.  I came across a blog about a visual inventory organizer on Every Second Man yesterday that had me very intrigued.  I checked out the marketplace listing and thought that the system was a bit pricey; I definitely was not about ready to shell out 699L for a product that I wasn't sure would work for me.  Fortunately, the designer has a very thorough website with an example of how the system works.  In short, this program is designed to allow you to efficiently organize and catalog your inventory with pictures and custom tags.  I honestly do not know how I have survived without this for the past three years; it is most definitely worth 699L plus some.  If you want to use the wardrobe to not only organize your inventory but to be able to wear outfits directly from it, you do have to be using a RLV capable viewer.  No matter the size of your inventory, I highly recommend this product.

I'm not typically a fan of system layer dresses that have a prim piece stuck between the legs; too often the prim piece is shaded differently than the dress, and it just ends up looking bad.  I made an exception with the Malika dress by Baiastice (since the items from this brand are extremely well made!) that I found in my inventory.  I had been wearing the boots by LaRoo the entire time while sorting in the hope of finding something that would look good with them.  For some reason, when I saw the dress with the boots I was instantly reminded of a favorite movie from my childhood.... Teen Witch.  The combination looked like something Louise would have worn.  Unfortunately, the dress by Baiastice is an old Dressing Room item that is no longer available; the designer does have similar type designs offered in her store, some of which are mesh.

So the boots by LaRoo aren't technically something old that I rediscovered in my inventory, but they were already there when I started sorting this week; so, that should count for something!  LaRoo is a newly formed collaboration brand between Cracked Mirror and CrashOV Uladstron; all designs offered by this brand are completely original mesh creations.  The Clyde Boots are available in twelve colors and feature a partially laced shoe with a girly touch of studs adorning the toe and heel of the shoes.  A free demo is available for you to try, or you could pick up the free Christmas version via the subscriber; simply click the board to receive the shoes.


Credits
Clothing: [Dress] Malika in Scarlet Red by Baiastice (No longer available) and [Tights] Sheer Tights in Black by Izzie's
Shoes: Clyde Boots in Black by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: Chouette Earrings in Gray by je suis
Hair: Lewna in Indecisive Blonde 2 by ploom 50% Off Sale
Skin: Mistletoe (With Love Hunt 2011) by Atomic (No longer available)
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Curl Lashes by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Pose: Moody 2 by aDORKable Poses @ Zodiac
Location: MadPea Carneval

Obscure

I hope everyone has had a great couple of weeks since the last time I posted.  A combination of a large amount of real life work to complete and a new found addiction to Pretty Little Liars has kept me away, but I should be back on a regular basis now.  I really need to stop finding new shows to watch on Netflix... especially when they have 2+ seasons available for you to watch.  I get so sucked in and then just have to keep watching episode after episode.  Lol  I suppose I could have worse addictions.

I came across the oversized sweatshirt I'm wearing when I was covering FROST for Seraphim.  I have to admit that I have always been a bit turned off by the store name Cynful since it doesn't really sound very conservative at all.  I shouldn't judge a book by its cover, right?  After checking out the designer's profile, I think the name of the store may actually be a play off of her name, Cynthia Ultsch.  Curiosity lead me to check out the main store location, and I actually do like quite a few of the designs available.  Perhaps you will be seeing more from this store on my blog in the future.  The oversized sweatshirt is available in six colors and includes five mesh sizes and an alpha layer; a free demo is available for your convenience.

Izzie's is participating in this month's round of Collabor88 with an exclusive version of Geanna available in two skin tones, fair and pale.  Each skin includes four brow colors, a nail base and a brow shape.  A free demo is available for you to try; you may also want to snag the exclusive nails by Izzie's while you are there which include nine colors and three sizes.     

A new jewelry set was recently released by je suis titled Chouette.  Eleven strap colors are available for both the necklace and the earrings.  The pearls and metal pieces are both color change; ten colors are included for the pearls and five colors are included for the metal pieces.  The jewelry is resizable by script.  While you are at je suis, check out the We Are Back! section; a lot of previous event exclusives have been placed out for a limited time.  Grab them while you still can!

LaRoo Shoes officially opened their main store location about a week and a half ago with two new releases.  All designs by the two founders of the brand are completely original mesh creations.  The Arsene Boots are available in twelve colors and come with twelve strap colors and four heel colors changeable via a HUD.  The boots are extremely well made; the mesh is very smooth and the straps give a little extra dimension to the look of the shoe.  I honestly love how mesh boots bend with my avatar's legs.  I used to avoid boots when we had to rely on prims and sculpts because boots that contained two or more pieces per shoe could end up looking extremely odd when walking or posing.  That is something that we thankfully don't have to deal with anymore since mesh has come along.  A free demo is available for your convenience.


Credits
Clothing: [Top] Oversized Sweatshirt in Snow by [Cynful] @ FROST and [Leggings] Sheer Tights Colors in Pink by Izzie's
Shoes: Arsene in Black by LaRoo Shoes
Jewelry: [Necklace] Chouette Necklace in Gray and [Earrings] Chouette Earrings in Gray by je suis
Hair: Indulge in Brown 03 by [elikatira]
Skin: Geanna Frostbite Skin Pale DB by Izzie's @ Collabor88
Makeup: Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Curl Lashes by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Relax by Slink
Poses: [1] Model 219, [2] Model 228 and [3] Model 254 by Glitterati
Location: Pretty Island

Caged

I haven't really had a lot of time this week to sort through inventory; so, I decided to forgo a Pieces post and do something with new items instead.  It seems that this time of the year is always so busy.  I am definitely ready for the holiday break!

I really love working with props and should probably use them a lot more than I do in my posts.  This full mesh prop is the latest release by Diesel Works titled Nightingale's Sorrow; it comes loaded with fifteen fully adjustable poses.  Needless-to-say, it is perfect for dramatic shots.  If you are looking for something a little more cheerful, Diesel Works released a 'sister prop' in gold titled Nightingale's Glee; this version comes complete with a swing and sixteen fully adjustable poses.  Both props can be demoed at the main store location and are also available via the Second Life Marketplace.

The shoes I'm wearing today are a new release by the recently opened LaRoo Shoes.  This brand is a collaboration between Cracked Mirror and CrashOV Uladstron that features entirely original mesh shoes.  The Anca Boots are available at the current round of FaMESHed; there are twelve beautiful colors to choose from, and each color includes twelve strap color options changeable via a HUD.  Four sizes are included in the purchase, and a free demo is available for your convenience.

Credits
Clothing: Needful Things Romper in Black Raven by JANE Free
Shoes: Anca Boots in Red by LaRoo Shoes @ FaMESHed Main Store Coming December 7th
Hair: UKA687 in Black by booN
Skin: Geanna Skin Pale DB by Izzie's
Makeup: [Eyeshadow] Fuyu Eyeshadow Silver by Izzie's (Included with Fuyu Skin purchase), [Lips] Lipstick Dark Red by Izzie's (Included with Geanna Skin purchase) and [Eyeliner] Black Eyeliner Gentle Fume by Acid & Mala
Eyes: Eternal Eyes in Storm by IKON
Lashes: 2011 Lashes Curl by LeLutka
Hands: Mesh Hands Casual by Slink
Poses: [All] Nightingale's Sorrow Prop by Diesel Works