Rainy Night

I rely on windlight settings for my Second Life photos so much that I occasionally forget how interesting local lighting can be. I must remedy that. This photo was a happy accident when I turned on the lamp on my Digs Mapleton Dock in the dark. 

There are always new releases to blog, but I'm saving my money for some of the big events that will be starting in September. (Can you say Arcade Gacha's first anniversary?) I figured I could surely put a mix of designers look together out of my ever growing inventory. I'm kind of loving this casual look for my rainy night.

Credits:

D!va Hair "Flora" (Type B)(Red amber)

Yummy Sea Trinkets Charm Necklace
Tres Blah Half Tucked Tee - Peach
Tram -J.I cardigan
HANDverk April Showers Parasol.salmon.rabbit
Mon Tissu Cotton Pants ~ Grey

Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Toes
Slink Tri-Colour Wedges Multipack
Glam Affair - Cleo - America - 06 F

Slink Mesh Hands (av) 

Pose by Exposeur

Almost the End of Summer

When summer comes to a close the days are warm but the evenings get a little nippy. Usually. Where I live we're having the hottest weather all summer, but at coldLogic there's a chill in the air. So the new release dress and jacket combos are perfect for the changeable weather. To add a little color from my black and white Karr dress, I combined it with the berry jacket from the Roberts combo. I'm feeling quite the lady today!

I realized something when I saw Strawberry Singh's meme this week. I can't do it justice. I want to - it's a terrific meme about taking pictures of favorite sims. But I'm on a four year old MacBook Pro and for me Second Life is lately (and by lately I mean about the past six or seven months at least) a blur-rez-blur-rez cycle of textures. To get a halfway decent photo I need to be in controlled circumstances and either hold everything in the picture in edit mode, or check in the develop menu under rendering "render full textures" and hope I don't fry my graphics card in the process. On my favorite sims I've been unable to take a picture with textures that fully rez.

I had hoped that once server side baking was up and running that maybe it would ease that blurring cycle, but it hasn't. I hate that improvements to Second Life mean that a four year old laptop, otherwise in fine shape, becomes obsolete, but it seems that is what has happened. I'm kind of bummed about that.

The background for my photo above is my home at Alterior Living. My friend Aprilmae Devin owns the sim. Ayla and I rent from her. If you're looking for a beautiful place to call home, there are a couple of parcels unrented. Here's the best that I can do in the spirit of the meme. This is a raw shot of the place I call home in Second Life.

Credits:

coldLogic dress - karr.cotton (New Release)
coldLogic jacket - roberts.berry (New Release)
Pure Poison - Black Viper Necklace

Hucci Embessa Leather Sandals - Collection
Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Toes
Slink Mesh Hands (av)
TRUTH HAIR Chilali [NoRoots] - Gingers02Fade
Glam Affair - Cleo - America - 06 F
Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3) 

Pose by Picture This

Let's Give the Girl a Hand

I've been away or planning to be away for a few days. Between that and discussing new roleplay characters for the Wendigo Lake roleplay sim I've hardly taken a picture lately (more about Wendigo Lake in another post). As I mused about what to do for a photo, I received a notice from Valentina E of a new product. WHOA! End of musing. My Applause Bikini is inspired by none other than Lady Gaga. Come on everybody! Let's give the girl a hand (or two to cover her backside). Also it's a great excuse to get the Hucci sandal/boots that fit my SLink feet. What else could I possibly wear with this bikini? If you run out to buy the bikini (you know you want to) check the marketplace first. It wasn't in the store when I rushed over to buy. Just so you know, the second photo is a teensy bit NSFW.

Credits:

Dura hair - Boys&Girls 46(Sienna) (New Release)

Hucci Akita Leather Boots - Moonglow (New Release)

Valentina E Applause Bikini (New Release)

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3)

Slink Mesh Feet (Av)

Slink Mesh Hands (av)

Glam Affair - Cleo - America - 12 F

Mandala SILVER tukemono earrings

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

It's MY Ice Cream

From the look in my eyes you can tell that Ayla and April are trying to wheedle my ice cream away from me. GO GET YOUR OWN! I'll even give you the landmark! This delicious confection comes from the Atelier Kreslo Ice Cream Festival. There are plenty of yummy flavors from which to choose.

Another delightful confection is the cropped tank top and matching flirty skirt from 22769 Casual Couture. It's their offering for the Gallery Gift Shop this month. Are you happy now? So shoo - do your shopping and let me eat my ice cream in peace. (wink)

Credits:

Dura - The 3th year Anniversary hair(Sienna) (group gift)

22769 ~ [femme] Mary Skirt Blue/Pink (at The Gallery Gift Shop)

22769 ~ [femme] Mary Tank Pink (at The Gallery Gift Shop)

Atelier Kreslo Festival: daisy cookie cream

Maxi Gossamer - Earrings - 92 Summer Of Love Peace Sign

Slink Mesh Hands (av)

Glam Affair - Cleo - America - 06 F

 Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3) 

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Starstruck brown)

Are You a Joiner? A Strawberry Singh Meme

Strawberry Singh wants to talk about groups in Second Life, and it's a good topic. Do we have enough group space? What do we use them for? What makes us want to join a group?

Meme Instructions: Answer the following questions about groups and share some of your favs with us. Don’t forget to leave your link in Berry's comments!

1. Have you reached the 42 group limit? I've reached the limit a few times. It's embarrassing to not be able to join an invitation only group because my groups are full! I have winnowed them down to 29 at the moment. I used to be a builder and had a lot of groups related to that. Recently I left all but a few I can't bear to be without, or ones that would be a hassle to rejoin due to fees and other requirements. Of course after reading everyone else's submissions to this meme, I'll probably probably be begging for 84 groups.
2. Do you do a lot of group hopping to keep up with all the groups you want to stay a part of? Some, but not a lot. I love creators who have the web-based group option and and prefer to join those groups whenever I have the choice.
3. What makes you want to join a group? There are different kinds of groups. We have a land group on our sim which is a must. Roleplay groups serve a different purpose and every roleplay sim has at least one, and usually several groups that you must be in if you play there. There are some groups which are purely informational. I belonged to an Elect Barack Obama group in 2008. But of course, the majority of my groups are store, event and blogger groups. Store and event groups I join to keep up with new releases and events, or because they have a great group gift.
4. A lot of store VIP groups have a group fee which you have to pay to join. How do you feel about paying group fees? I'd rather not but I do belong to a few groups that require a fee. If the group receives frequent group gifts I'm OK with that. But believe me, if the creator goes months without a group gift I won't be a happy camper. I might join if the VIP group gets discounts on merchandise, but I often forget which groups offer that, so it's not as big an incentive even if I love the creator.
5. Name a few groups that you are a part of that you feel everyone should look into joining and share your reasons behind that.
   
   •  No group is for everyone, but if you want to learn to build in Second Life, I highly recommend Builder's Brewery. Every week a new schedule is released for classes on everything from building with prims to making textures to learning Blender. One minus for me is that the group chat is VERY chatty. But it's a nice group of people sharing their skills.
   •  The Fifty Linden Friday group is a must for me. I don't always shop the event, but I don't want to miss it either!
   • I belong to the Lelutka group because I can't bear to miss a new release and the Dura group because they send demos of new releases to members, which I find very handy. I'm still in the Celoe group because if they DO release something new I'll be there in a flash.
   • Honestly, most of the other store groups that I like are the web-based groups that don't require a group spot. Truth Hair and Hucci come to mind. Both have group gifts on occasion, and they both keep me up to date with new releases. The only downside to the web based groups is that (a very few) creators add you to their group just for visiting their store. DON'T do that. I' still trying to figure out how to leave one particular group!
     
   Credits:

One Bad Pixel Cigarette Pants Black

Pure Poison - Amelia Studds Earrings - Gold

Ricielli Mesh - Spiked Bra + Pullover /#pow (at The Dressing Room Fusion)

Slink Mesh Hands (av)

[LeLutka]-POCAHONTAS hair - IrishRed

Glam Affair - Cleo - America - 01 F

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Starstruck brown)

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3)

Luxurious Materials In Bed

I made an interesting discovery as I was setting up this photo. My plan was to take a photo of Fashionably Dead's bra and half slip set and clever garter and flask which were released at Collabor88 for August. I used the Claryon bedroom set from The Loft, also a Collabor88 item. The discovery came when I turned on shadows and started playing with lighting. The bedspread began to shimmer like a real silk spread. The new Claryon bed is Materials ready - Linden Lab's latest shiny (literally) for our viewing pleasure.

Materials is a texturing process creators can use to give added depth to our Second Life objects. With it, texture responds to light and shadow. So far it's only available in the official viewer. I've taken photos of a few items using Materials, but this was the clearest expression yet. I had to share because this bed is lovely if you can't see materials, but with them - it's breathtaking. I added the raw shots below to show how dramatic a difference Materials can make.

This photo (a raw shot) uses Strawberry Singh's onyx windlight setting.

This photo (also a raw shot) merely adds the light of one table lamp at the right side. See the difference?

Credits:

Fashionably Dead Garter Flask - black (at Collabor88)
Fashionably Dead Roaring Night Clothes Bottoms - Black (at Collabor88)
Fashionably Dead Roaring Night Clothes Top - Black (at Collabor88)
Slink Mesh Feet (Av)
Slink Mesh Hands (av)
TRUTH HAIR Gattina - Gingers01
Glam Affair - Cleo - America - Clean F
 Glam Affair - Cleo - Freckles 2

Book pose prop and pose from Magnifique Poses

At Home with Dolly

When I go to events I don't just buy new release clothes, I buy furniture and houses, too. The Modern Villa is the new release by Trompe Loeil at Collabor88. I'm slowly decorating it and the great room is shaping up nicely with Dig's new Douglas sofa, table and wall art at Liaison Collaborative's Garden. The rug and floor cushion are from Pilot, the floor lamp is from Trompe Loeil's Oceana group at this month's FaMeshed. Other assorted accessories are from Dutchie, Post, and Mud Honey.

Part of the fun of decorating a home in Second Life is the pleasure of mixing the work of different designers into a cohesive look. For my fireplace grouping I used the Trompe Loeil Oceana sofa, chairs, trunk and coffee table. I mixed in a floor lamp from the Digs Douglas grouping, a table lamp, mirror, wall art, and some accessories from The Loft's Alders grouping at Collabor88. The Mission style dresser and the books on the trunk are from Apple Fall at Collabor88. The only items NOT from a new event are the Pilot rugs, the hydrangas in a glass vase from Apple Fall and touch of greenery in the right corner from Rustica.

I think I'm going to be happy at this new house for awhile. Did I tell you it has a pool?

If It Had Been a Snake...

Obviously this post is about inventory because Strawberry Singh has made it her weekly meme. Trying to find things in my inventory reminded me of a phrase my grandmother used to say - "If it had been a snake it would have bit me!"

I can feel superior to Berry because my inventory is less than half of her size, but then again, I've blogged less than half as long. To be frank, my inventory gets scarier to deal with all the time. I love to talk strategies for inventory organization and management and I hate hate HATE to do it. So what does the snake have to do with inventory other than remind me of my grandma? They both frighten me. Snakes and my inventory, not my grandma.

Meme Instructions: Copy and paste the questions and answers below, delete my answers and input your own. Don’t forget to leave a comment on Berry's blog (mine too, if you like) with your link so Berry and all the rest of us can read it!

1. What is your current inventory number? – 37,544
2. If you had to delete your whole inventory and could only keep one thing, what would it be? –Just feed me rat poison because if I have to choose one thing it will kill me anyway! (Who knew inventory was so traumatic, right?)
3. What is the last thing you purchased? – The Loft's Claryon Bedroom Suite at Collabor88. The curtains and chandelier in the picture are from that set.
4. Which item do you wear most often? – I never take off my Mayfly Mesh Eyes or my SLink hands.
5. When you search for the word penis, how many items pop up? (NO LYING!) – I'm way too embarrassed to say. OK, if you insist - NONE! ARE YOU HAPPY NOW, BERRY? That's why I took a naked picture with my new Diesel Works snake pose prop to bolster my naughty girl status! I breathed a sigh of relief, however, when I typed in an alternate word for the same thing. I got a couple hits. (wink)

Credits:

Yummy Faceted Solitaire Ring - Diamond (at Collabor88)

Wasabi Pills Haley Mesh Hair - Gingerbread

Glam Affair - Katya - Europa 02 D (at Collabor88)
Ingenue :: Pickford Heels :: Blush (at Collabor88)
Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3)
Slink Mesh Feet (Av)
Slink Mesh Hands (av)
Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dollface brown)
Diesel Works - Serpent Pose and Prop (at Collabor88)

Dancing Deco Dames

We danced all night in my new Loft living room (available at Collabor88) until April overdid it with the bathtub gin and took off her blouse. Tsk, tsk, I warned her. Although I complain occasionally about April's lack of interest in shopping, when it comes to vintage she'll buy out the store!

We're both decked out in our 20's finery from Collabor88's second anniversary event. The pleated pants (and the sexy vest that April is wearing) from Ison are so well made I'm going back for another color or two. I've already bought two colors of the Tres Blah sequin top that I'm wearing. We both donned the darling flapper hair from D!va. It's so versatile with its hide function on the menu that we didn't feel like we were wearing the same hair. The fun couple pose from Exposeur (also available at Collabor88) kept us dancing into the wee hours.

Credits:

On April (left)

D!va hair - Layla in Cats eye (at Collabor88)

League Skin Isla Medium Champagne Blonde
Ingenue Shoes Pickford Heels :: Ebon for Slink Feet (at Collabor88)
ISON - razzle pleated pants (black) (at Collabor88)
ISON - razzle vest (black) (at Collabor88)

Volstead Headdress Peacock Headband (at Collabor88)

Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Toes
Slink Mesh Hands (av) 

On Dolly (right)

PXL Creations KATE Vintage "Red" makeup (at Collabor88)

PXL Creations KATE Vintage '20 Style Eyebrows (tattoo)

D!va Hair "Layla" (Type A)(Onyx) (at Collabor88)

Yummy Faceted Solitaire Ring - Diamond (at Collabor88)
Tres Blah Sequined Top - Pewter (at Collabor88)
fri.day - Peggy.T-Straps (Midnight) for Slink Feet (at Collabor88)
ISON - razzle pleated pants (black)
Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Toes
Slink Mesh Hands (av) 

Vintage Glamour at Collabor88

I am so thrilled with this month's Collabor88, the event's second birthday. The new art deco build is lovely and there are three times as many stores taking part. It will take me awhile to go through what I've already bought, and I still plan to go back for some of the items I demoed. If you're a vintage glamour fan, this look is one you will want. The stole from Ryvolter (Vive 9) and the Deco pearl necklace are must haves. The Secret Store dress may be my favorite flapper dress ever and the Ingenue shoes are perfect for any period.

Credits:

Yummy Faceted Solitaire Ring - Diamond (at Collabor88) 

LaViere - Elizabeth/DriedChilli (at Collabor88)
Ryvolter - Mink Princess Stole - Champagne (at Collabor88)
DECO - MESH Marilyn Pearls (Cream) (at Collabor88)
Ingenue :: Pickford Heels :: Blush (at Collabor88)
The Secret Store - Sequined Flapper Dress V2 - Nude (at Collabor88)

Glam Affair - Katya - Europa 02 D (at Collabor88)
Beetlebones: Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3)
Slink Mesh Feet (Av) 
Slink Mesh Hands (av)

Poses By Flowey (at Collabor88)

Grandma Roared!

Oh Collabor88! Because of you it's 1929 and my personal stock market just crashed! That's my way of saying the 20's and art deco vintage offerings at August's Collabor88 are irresistible. From flapper hair, clothing, jewelry, and skins to furniture, homes, decor, and poses, I was transported to the roaring 20's with bootleg booze hidden in globes.  The clever globe is by Standby Inc., and a terrific mirror from Art Dummy is my background. Both items are found at Collabor88.

Go with lots and lots of money. You'll want it all.

Credits:

Lamb Hair - Zelda (Mesh) - Snickers (at Collabor88)
[Cynful] The 'Shimmy' Dress (at Collabor88) 

PXL Creations KATE Vintage "Red" makeup (at Collabor88)

Slink Mesh Hands (av)

flowey. heirloom cigarette holder (at Collabor88)
Pose by Flowey (at Collabor88)

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

Shower Her With Annual Reports and Silk Stockings

Strawberry Singh's meme/challenge of the week is about our Zodiac signs. Oh my!

Meme instructions: Copy and paste the following questions and answers into your post; then delete my answers and input your own. Don’t forget to leave a comment on Berry's post with a link to your post so we can all come by and check it out!

1. What is your birthday and/or Zodiac sign? – My real life birthday is in January and I am a Capricorn.
2. Do you believe in or follow astrology? – I'm ambivalent. I don't follow my horoscope in the paper because - well - how vague can you be, right?
3. Do you feel your sign’s attributes reflect who you are? – I've learned from an astrologer friend that a sun sign (mine being Capricorn) is only part of the story. She calls me a double 12th house Capricorn - because my sun and moon are both in Capricorn in the 12th house (the house of secrets - sort of Pisces related). We're ruled by Saturn who I think ate his children in the myth. He's kind of a stern taskmaster. How other people perceive me (according to her) is by my rising sign. It has something to do with the exact time we're born. For me that's Aquarius and that's good because Capricorns have a stern rep, but Aquarians are associated with Hippies - a lot more fun. I have a bunch of planets there, but I don't want to bore you with my arcane knowledge of the astrological meanings of Mercury, Venus, and Jupiter. All that said, my favorite Capricorn description was on a Sylvia calendar from years ago. It said something like "To capture the attention of the Capricorn goddess, shower her with annual reports and silk stockings. She's ambitious, loves classy things and has good legs." That's me in a nutshell if you add to that list a nice shiny espresso machine.
4. Have you ever been to a psychic or astrologer either in RL or in SL?  My friend has been an astrologer since the 70's. She has read my chart many times. Her philosophy (she's a Jungian) is that the alignment of the planets in your birth chart is a map of strengths and weaknesses in your psyche. But she doesn't see astrology as fortune telling, more as a jumping off point to self-knowledge based on the collective unconscious. 
5. Do you read your horoscope daily and try to follow any advice, recommendations or warnings it may have for you that day? Oh lord no!
6. Do you have very strong feelings about astrology, either negative or positive? Strong feelings? No. I do like reading annual reports and wearing silky stockings on special occasions. Eerie, yes?

Credits:

booN WMO003 hair chestnut
booN gathered raised hairbase chestnut
Maitreya Lux Sweater - Wool-Mix Creme
Maitreya Mini Skirt * Vivid Leather Lust
Slink Mesh Hands (av)
Glam Affair - Cleo - America - Clean F
Beetlebones Mesh Lashes

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3) 

LISP - Mesh - Tea Poses 2 - Walking & Holding

Digs - Emmet Desk

What's New?

Do you like My Hair? It's from Monso and it's materials ready. See the glint in the hair? The shine moves with the sun when shadows are enabled. It's subtle, but adds richness to our 3D environment.  My new hair is only one of several new releases that I'm excited about.

The Maxi Gossamer necklace and earrings and the DARLING twist on a denim skirt from Baiastice are available through the month of August at FaMeshed along with the Monso hair. My top, and the sandals that are add-ons for SLink feet, are both new at Beetlebones. I so wish I'd fatpacked the sandals!

This mesh gate and fence set by Botanical is only available at FaMeshed through August. It's  gorgeous with so many building options.  I want to redo my land just to set it off!

Credits:

Monso My Hair - Lizzy/ Red

Beetlebones Cropped Petuna Top (CREAM) (new release)

Beetlebones SUNANTHA SANDALS (new release)

Baiastice Denim white Tulle skirt-faded blue (at FaMeshed)

Maxi Gossamer - Earrings - Window to My Heart (at FaMeshed)

Maxi Gossamer - Necklace - Window to My Heart (at FaMeshed)

Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Toes

Slink Mesh Hands (av)

Glam Affair - Cleo - America - Clean F

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

Mayfly - Liquid Light Mesh Eye (Summer Shore, w3)
Poses from oOo Studio

We Heard That Gentlemen Preferred Blondes

The other day my good friend and fellow mischief maker, Aprilmae Devin, commented on my Vintage Women post. I was a brat in return and practically ORDERED her to make some Marilyn Monroe poses. She makes very very naughty animations and some less naughty poses (because I make her do it). Here's a TP to Alterior Motions if you're adult verified.

Well, she did it. Marilyn poses! We donned our favorite Hucci costumes, rustled up a couple of top hats from another outfit and took a picture. The Marilyn poses will be released soon.

I took another photo because April made several poses and I was messing around with projectors. I'm also a magpie who had to have the latest One Bad Pixel release because - ooh look - spangles!

My skin, which I blogged in my last post, is PXL Creations' Love Donna Flora donation item. It's the best Marilyn Monroe inspired skin that I've ever seen!

Credits:

Top pic - both of us
Hucci Cocktail Bunny 
Slink Mesh Hands (av)

April (left)
League Skin Isla Medium Champagne
D!va Hair - Flora - Cats eye

Dolly (right)
Dura Girl*31(Strawberry)
PXL Creations OpenMouth PRO TEETH v1.3
PXL Creations DIVA The Classic makeup (at Love Donna Flora!)

Bottom pic
One Bad Pixel Glimmer Bikini (new release)
Wildo HAT201101 black (no longer available)