How Do I Look?

Here's another Pose Fair find, this time from Savoir Faire - The Dressing Room Prop. I dressed it up a bit with the Apple Fall coat and palm tree, and the Standby Inc birdcage. The prop has ten darling built in poses. This pose is just calling out, "How do I look?"

Credits:

Tee*fy Vanishing Clouds Skirt Sky
Tee*fy Vanishing Clouds Top Sky
Glam Affair - Vera - America 02 F
Argrace Hair - HARUKA - Cinnamon

Leverocci - Satin Wrap Heels Lavender
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
Mon Cheri "Falsies" Eyelash - Upper+Lower
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

The Attitude Is In the Pose

 Hooray for poses! If you like taking pictures in Second Life you collect static poses. I have so many poses in my animations folder and they never get deleted. They don't age. A pose from 2008 can be just as fresh looking as a pose from 2014. Still I buy more. With Pose Fair in full swing until May 3rd, Strawberry Singh's weekly meme is about our favorite pose makers. Maybe I can make up for the times I forget to credit pose makers.

Meme Instructions: Share a picture of your favorite pose or a list of your favorite posemakers on the grid! Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments and share your picture in the blog memes flickr group.

1. In the top photo I'm smoking away in oOo Studio's Rita pose (number 4). Olaenka Chesnokov makes natural poses that fit me well. I look for poses that have energy in them, as if I am capturing someone mid-movement. The energy and attitude are easy to find when I use an oOo pose.
2. Another posemaker I return to over and over again is Diesel Works. Rogan Diesel makes sexy poses suitable for fashion shoots that I can't resist. I have his pose stands scattered all over my platform and usually get dressed and accessorize for a fashion photo while standing on one.
3. I'm in awe of Del May's work. Talk about attitude! Her couple and group poses are beautiful and unique. The single poses capture a carelessly perfect hipster vibe that I've never seen anywhere else.
4. I'm a big fan of pose props. Sometimes I need a pose prop for inspiration. I snap up Chandni Khondji's Hopscotch pose props because they're cute and well thought out whether I'm riding a magic carpet, viking ship, or police call box!
5. I hate to think that they aren't making new poses still, but I loved Olive Juice and Adorkable poses. My friend Aprilmae Devin has made some lovely poses when I bullied her into it and has them available at her store Alterior Motions.

 When I go to Pose Fair my mission is generally to find a new pose store or two to add to my ever-growing collection of poses and props. I really liked Infiniti's Walk the Line pose prop. It gave me something fresh and fun to photograph, and there are a good assortment of poses built in.

Credits:

Argrace Hair Victoria - Ginger (top photo)

Argrace Hair HARUKA - Copper (second photo)

Mon Cheri "Falsies" Eyelash - Upper+Lower
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber
Maitreya * Hemlock * Half Tucked Shirt (New Release)
Maitreya Boyfriend Jeans - Sky (New Release)
BoHo HoBo Scarf Ladie's Small (candystripes)

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid

Glam Affair - Vera - America 02 F
 

Collabor88 Goodies for April

I'm late in pointing out how great Collabor88 is this month, especially if you like florals and other girlie-girl goodies. But I'm not too late! Baiastice offers a darling top/dress, and coordinating leggings that fit perfectly under the top. The Hucci sandals with butterflies for SLink high feet are by far my favorite item this round. They're well worth fatpacking at Collabor88 prices.

Also at Collabor88 is the wearable pose balloon chair from Flowey. The Truth hair, Fleur, is available at Season's Story - Spring, also filled with loveliness and worth a visit.

Credits:

Hucci Vinnitsa Sandal - WildPink (at Collabor88)
Baiastice Jade Balloon top-Hawaii pink (at Collabor88)
Baiastice Lesha trousers-aqua (at Collabor88)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - High
TRUTH HAIR Fleur (at Season's Story)

Adam N Eve Carolyn 2 Tone C Applier for Slink Visage Head
Adam N Eve Skin Carolyn 2 Tone C Bare
Flowey air chair with poses - watercolor blush (at Collabor88)

Flat Ebbe and Me

I've been waiting for Strawberry Singh to do this meme ever since she plurked about stalking meeting Linden Lab's new CEO a week or so ago. I had such fun with Flat Rodvik and I figured Flat Ebbe Linden would be a fun date. However, Berry thinks we should just lecture poor Ebbe about how to be a good CEO. Sorry, Ebbe, our date will have to wait.

Meme instructions: Pick up a copy of Flat Ebbe Linden from Berry's marketplace store for free and take him to one of your favorite places on the grid. Also, share at least three things that you’d like to tell Ebbe. Please remember to leave a link to your post in Berry's comments and share your Flat Ebbe picture in the Blog memes flickr group.

So Ebbe, as we pose for a pretty picture standing in the courtyard of Cory Edo's beautiful creation newly released at Collabor88, the Cortona Villas, here are my thoughts:

1. I really like what you have said about Second Life so far. You have inherited a passionate and creative user base who created everything interesting to see and do in SL, so we don't really see ourselves as customers of a product. We are creators and supporters of a surreal visionary world. We built it, we feel connected to it. I think you get that and I really appreciate that you do.
2. You're in a honeymoon phase, but eventually you will tick off one group or another in SL. While this ire will probably be a by-product of some benefit you want to introduce, it will happen and you will be tempted to withdraw from your current accessibility so you don't have to listen to a lot of - well - let's call it counterproductive trash talk. As a communications professional in another life, I can tell you that once you have opened the conversation with your customers as you have done, closing that conversation when things get challenging is a mistake that leads to bad feelings and loss of trust for the entire community - not just the ones who were ticked off in the first place. Have a communications strategy to deal with these issues as they arise. Appoint other Lindens to speak on the issues and keep the messages consistent and honest.
3. Advice for retaining new users - here's one little thing that seems to have been overlooked for years - the waddle-walk of a newbie. I'm not suggesting you need to fix the dorky stands (you're using one of them in the picture), but couldn't that waddle-walk be turned into something more graceful? A script in the shoe with a nice smooth female or male walk? Anything? The new starter avatars with mesh outfits and hair are a good beginning, but give a poor newbie a decent walk.

Credits:

Argrace Hair HARUKA - Cinnamon (Unrigged / resize)
Mutresse Guzla Shorts (at FaMeshed)
Tee*fy Sophie Cut-Out Ruffle Top Bloom (at Collabor88)
Ingenue Pandora Flats (Slink Feet Add-On) Sepia (Gacha item)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Flat

Glam Affair - Vera - America 02 F
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

Bicycle and pose from What Next

 Trompe Loeil - Cortona Villas (at Collabor88)

Potted plants from Apple Fall and XED Designs

Dear Dolly's Advice for SL Newbies - A Strawberry Singh Challenge

Hi Newbies! I don't know how you found my blog but you are so lucky that you did! I'm going to give you a little advice on a successful beginning to your Second Life. The fabulous Strawberry Singh has a blog too and challenged other bloggers to offer tips to you newbies out there.

I'm going to give you five new tips based on my exhaustive SL experience and knowledge. Then go back to Berry's blog post and read her tips and check out her comments section for other bloggers offering helpful tips as well.

1. Second Life can be a fabulous platform for creativity. Everything you see as you look around you was made by someone who was once new and confused just like you. What should you do first? I did a blog post awhile ago about updating a starter female avatar on a budget of $10 USD or $2,500 Lindens (not freebies). The style tips are still relevant and there are SLurls to the shops, so check it out HERE. 
2. You'll need to buy Lindens to shop, and if you're not ready to commit to that, just throw on an outfit out of your library and head out to explore. Where to go? Check out Ziki Questi's Blog for art installations and pretty sims that welcome visitors. Or try browsing through this Flickr group, The SL Tourist Board, where every photo has a SLurl to the sim where the the photo is taken.
3. Meet people. There are clubs and cafes all over Second Life. Open Search and teleport around the grid until you find somewhere you like. Listen to music and dance, chat with other patrons. If you ask nicely you can get some answers to things that still confuse you.
4. Learn SL etiquette. If you've heard about SL sexy times and you want to experience it, go to one of the many adult themed places where your advances might be welcomed. Don't proposition random strangers around the grid. Don't think you can hide behind an avatar to be rude. Word gets around about obnoxious avatars quickly. Don't beg for money or walk into someone's private home making a nuisance of yourself. Do speak in full sentences when you type. Do read avatars' profiles and take the time to fill yours out with relevant information about yourself. If you see an avatar whose style you admire, DO compliment them and ask for shopping tips and/or landmarks to their favorite stores. 
5. Don't expect SL to be easy to use, because it takes awhile to figure out even some basics. Stick it out. Make friends, learn together. Share You Tube tutorials and blog tutorials, take in-world classes. Before long you'll be giggling at newbie questions and mistakes and waxing nostalgic for the days when everything in SL was new and thrilling just like we do!

Credits:

COCO JacketOverShoulders (AppleGreen) (at FaMeshed event)
COCO Shirt&Shorts(SmallFlowers) (at FaMeshed event)
COCO Shirt&Shorts_Hands(Tone-3) (at FaMeshed event)
Pure Poison - Magda Sandals - Lime (New Release)
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky
TRUTH HAIR Harriet
Adam N Eve Carolyn 2 Tone C Applier for Slink Visage Head
Adam N Eve Skin Carolyn 2 Tone C Bare

IKON Spectral Eyes - Blue
Desk and chair from Digs
 

Tell a Story of Maidens Fair

Roleplay captures the imaginations of many in Second Life. A themed sim setting of a medieval forest full of dangerous rogues is just the right setting for this JunBug two piece outfit I found at the latest We <3 Role-Play event. Between that and my medieval chic new hair from Truth I am inspired to search for a prince in need of rescue.

Also at We <3 Role-Play is FATEplay's new release, Dany. This lovely dress inspired by the Game of Thrones comes with a cape that can be worn separately. Without the cape it can be worn as an original modern dress, don't you think?

Credits:

top photo

JunBug April Corset Skirt in Mint (at We <3 Role-Play)
April Laced Top in Mint (at We <3 Role-Play)
Celtic Sword (from our libraries)
TRUTH HAIR Lagertha (New Release)

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky

Adam N Eve Carolyn 2 Tone C Applier for Slink Visage Head
Adam N Eve Skin Carolyn 2 Tone C Bare
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

bottom photo

FATEplay - Dany Dress - Sapphire
ISON - lace-up gladiator sandals (tan)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky
Adam N Eve Carolyn 2 Tone C Applier for Slink Visage Head
TRUTH HAIR Lagertha

Hello Again

I really should take off my SLink mesh head. I kind of miss my face, and I only have so many skins to put on Becky so far. Then again, I love that my SLink face has interesting expressions that are just so photogenic! Please, please, skin designers - make more skins for SLink heads! So far I have skin appliers from DeeTaleZ, Glam Affair, Izzie's, and Adam N Eve. Are there more out there?

FaMeshed as an event never lets me down. I always come away with something new that becomes a wardrobe basic. Mutresse's release of tank top and shorts is a good example. I have a top almost like that in real life and wear it all the time in warm weather.

The photo prop from What Next has been in my inventory for awhile, but oldies can still be goodies. I'm nostalgic for public phone booths in the cellular age, I guess. I haven't used one in YEARS!

Credits:

Mutresse Guzla Shorts (at FaMeshed)

Mutresse Nadya Tank Top (at FaMeshed)

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky

TRUTH HAIR Lottie

DeeTaleZ for Slink Visage "Face Viola" MU MIXEDTYPE

IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber 

  

Spring Season Challenge and Fitted Mesh

March, they say, comes in like a lion and leaves like a lamb. Strawberry Singh has challenged us to think Spring for this Monday challenge, and Spring is windy here. It's just as well, because I found this gorgeous wind blown hair at Argrace this morning!

Meme Instructions: Share a spring-themed picture and/or answer the following questions about the season. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments and share your picture in the Blog Memes Flickr Group.

1. What is the spring season like where you live? – Spring in my area is a lovely rebirth, and the flowers begin to bloom a week or two earlier than just an hour's drive north or south for some reason. Maybe it's because of the river valley, but I don't really know why for sure. Maybe we're magic.
2. What’s the first thing that pops into your head when you think of spring? – Yellow flowers like daffodils and forsythia. They're the first flowers that bloom in my garden. Today I noticed my daffodils have poked through the soil, though there are no blooms yet.
3. Which spring-themed sim in Second Life is your favorite at the moment? – It All Starts With a Smile is lovely right now in all its spring glory.

It All Starts With a Smile

Another thing Berry talked about was fitted mesh that adjusts to our shapes instead of us adjusting to standard sizes. Cracked Mirror has two new fitted mesh releases for FaMeshed including the jumpsuit I'm wearing in the top photo. Standard sizes are also included. Alpha layers still need to be worn, but I did notice a sleeker fit when I compared it to my usual size small. Thank you Cracked!

Credits:

Cracked Mirror Roxanne Jumpsuit (mauve) (at FaMeshed)

Argrace Hair HARUKA - Cinnamon (New Release)
Cae Timeless Earring
Erratic Clarice - mesh sandals / gold
Maxi Gossamer - Bangles - Sparkly Pearl Cuff
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky

DeeTaleZ for Slink Visage "Face Viola" MU MIXEDTYPE
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber