Color and coldLogic

The new release from coldLogic and Strawberry Singh's color meme are a terrific combination for today's post. In Second Life and in real life I always get a lift from reds. Anything from rusty orange reds to deep cherry reds make me smile. Pair red with black and I'm ready to swoon. The coldLogic release of shirts, shorts and skirts have plenty of great color combos for this fashionista besides cherry and black. The detailing on this blouse is adorable in any color!

Meme instructions: Blog a picture of your favorite color or a variety of colors that you like. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in the comments and share your picture in the Blog Memes Flickr Group. 

Credits:

coldLogic shirt - sisney.cherry sheer (New Release)
coldLogic shorts - davar.black&cherry (New Release)
Maxi Gossamer - Earrings - Nova Dream Moon
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
TRUTH HAIR Elyse
Pink Fuel Sora <Alabaster> - No Eyebrows
IKON Spectral Eyes - Blue (M)
Mynerva Eyebrow Style 2~Brown Light
Mon Cheri "Falsies" Eyelash - Upper+Lower

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

Evolution of an Avatar

The other day an old Second Life friend logged in for the first time in about five years. She had picked up new hair from Truth and new skin from Belleza when we got together, so I sent her off to SLink for mesh hands and feet (and a pair of boots), then back to Belleza for appliers to match them to her skin. I explained about standard sizing for mesh clothes and how to "add" versus "wear" alphas and attachments. She made some minor adjustments to her shape, then we headed out to coldLogic for some much needed style updating. I left her looking at Ikon eyes and searching for the perfect mesh eyelashes.

Seeing all of this through the eyes of someone who knew Second Life in the old days led me to a renewed appreciation for how far Second Life has come since the introduction of mesh thanks to the ingenuity of creators. I love you guys!

Credits:

coldLogic dress - loring.blush mocha (New Release)
Ingenue Pandora Flats (Slink Feet Add-On) - Sepia (at The Arcade Gacha Event)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Flat
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky

Glam Affair - Slink Visage Applier - Romy 3 ( America ) (at Skin Fair 2014)
TRUTH HAIR Perla
Glam Affair - Vera - America - Clean E
IKON Promise Eyes - Green

Pose from Diesel Works

Trompe Loeil - Valiano Bistro Chairs Copper (at FaMeshed)

Trompe Loeil - Valiano Bistro Table Copper (at FaMeshed)

Crimes of Fashion - A Second Life Book Cover Meme

I can't stop giggling. When I saw Strawberry Singh's book cover challenge, I immediately thought of old pulp novel covers as my inspiration. Sam Spade had better watch out. Dolly Baroque is coming to town!

Meme instructions: Create a book cover to show your avatar in fiction. It does not have to be based on a real book, it can be one that you make up. Don’t forget to leave a link to your cover in the comments and share it in the Blog Memes flickr group.

Credits:

D!va Hair "Layla" (Type A)(Red amber)
Mandala Polly Necklace
Valentina E. Dita Belted Pencil Skirt Black
Valentina E. Dita Tucked Chemise Black
Valentina E. Dita Vintage Fur Bomber Silver
IKON Promise Eyes - Green
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky
DeeTaleZ HUD for Slink Visage "Face Viola" 

DeeTaleZ BODY MIXEDTYPE

Diesel Works Pose

Love for VIP's

PXL Creations has a Valentine gift for members of its VIP group, this lovely special edition Jade skin called Love. It's a perfect skin for a night out with that special someone on Valentine's Day, don't you think? The group costs $250 Lindens to join, and it is worth every digital cent, for the truly lovely and exclusive bonus gifts such as this skin.

Credits:

PXL Creations Jade NAT "Love Edition" MEB C2
Mandala Simple Ears HUTUU
Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
IKON Spectral Eyes - Green
Maxi Gossamer - Earrings - Keshi Pearl Heart  - GOLD
Maxi Gossamer - Necklace - Keshi Pearl Heart - Short - GOLD
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

LeLutka - POCAHONTAS hair - Bournville

 Cracked Mirror Athena Dress (coral) (at FaMeshed)

Black and White - a Meme

I love it when Strawberry Singh's meme for the week is a photography challenge. This week she has challenged us to take a headshot with black and white processing in mind. I like the drama of black and white photography, and find the studies in contrasts fascinating. There are lots of gorgeous submissions to the Blog Meme flickr group and I highly recommend looking through them. Thanks, Berry, for the challenge!

Meme Instructions: Share a black & white portrait (headshot) of your Second Life avatar. You can post a raw shot or process the image as much as you like. Don’t forget to leave a link to your image in [Berry's] comments and also share it in the Blog Memes flickr group.

Credits:

TRUTH HAIR Gaia 2 

Glam Affair - Vera - America 03 C

IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

Miamai Catwalk Lashes Glitter 01
ISON - asymmetric tank dress (sand)
Lazuri Maysoon Ring

MANDALA Necklace 777 jewelry set Yellow
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

Warm Me Up with coldLogic

The new coldLogic release is cozy layered sweaters and skirt/leggings. With temperatures in the single digits I needed this look! The cute LP Ono glasses are a steal at My Attic @ the Deck, and yet another gorgeous Truth hair was released to feed my hair addiction.

Credits:

coldLogic pants - montana.cayenne (New Release)
coldLogic shirt - deschanel.cayenne sheer (New Release)
Maxi Gossamer - Necklace - Knotted Shimmer Pearls
Maxi Gossamer - Ring - Royal Khadijah Estate - Small - GOLD
TRUTH HAIR Esperanza (New Release)
Glam Affair - Vera skin - America - FLF E
LP Ono Glasses - Tortoise (at My Attic @ the Deck)
BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

IKON Spectral Eyes (left) - Amber

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

Tools of the Second Life Photo Trade - A Meme

 I took this photo Sunday night before i saw Strawberry Singh's meme for this week. Honestly I wasn't trying to copy your look Berry! But I do love the memes, so even though I'm not showing any tools in the photo, I'll tell you about them.

There's only one HUD that I always wear for photos and that is the very handy (and very free) AnyPose Expression. I use it mostly to focus eyes and occasionally change my expression. I have several other tools, but I only wear them when I need them.

I haven't updated my Pose Anywhere HUD in a long time because I prefer using pose balls or stands. When I use my HUD and need to touch something to bring it into focus, my camera view changes because my avi turns around. I save this tool for places where I can't rez a pose ball.

I love my Animare Pose and Animation System. It's perfect for those small adjustments I sometimes need to make to a pose. Sometimes a different tilt to the head or a small hand adjustment can make a big difference to a look.

Non-photo tools are my Vista Animation Overrider that I've worn for years and my wonderful texture organizer from my building days, the Skidz Partz - TMat. It's a great way to keep those textures organized and to reduce the size of my inventory. You can even store poses in it, although I haven't tried that. It may seem pricey, but I've had mine for years and it still works perfectly.

In other news, I've been feeding my hair addiction with this latest Truth Hair release called Bryn. I feel fabulous - at least until my next fix.

Credits:

TRUTH HAIR Bryn

Maitreya Vintage Lace Gown - Antique Part1

Maitreya Vintage Pearl Necklace

Glam Affair - Cleo - America - Clean F

  IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

Mandala Simple Ears HUTUU

Beetlebone Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

Practical Jokester, Moi?

Strawberry Singh has started her blog memes again. Hooray! Last week was a "what did you do for New Year's Eve" meme. Mine was too uneventful to blog about. My friend who was going to spend the evening with me came down with a cold, my sons had friends over and I spent New Year's Eve staying out of their way. YAWN!

This week's meme is about practical jokes - jokes I'd played or had played on me.

Meme Instructions: Share one or more practical jokes that either you have played on others or others have played on you inworld. If you have pictures or videos to share of it, even better. Don’t forget to leave a link to your post in [Berry's] comments.

I hung my head and sighed. I couldn't think of a single practical joke! I asked Ayla for help and she couldn't think of anything either. I threw a surprise SL party for her and her RL husband to celebrate their real life wedding, but other than getting them to the party under false pretenses it wasn't a joke.

We decided we were awfully, awfully boring, or forgetful or both. She logged for the night and at that minute I gave my forehead a slap. I remembered the day we decorated our friend Friar's home with grafitti. I still had my grafitti, so I recreated the scene of the crime, maid outfit and all. Here's the original picture! Ayla's was a god awful rendering of body parts. Maybe she'll share it. I got caught (go figure, how'd he guess it was me?). Here's a bit of our conversation about the matter:

Friar Tyles stands tapping his medieval foot on the floor as the lass begins to clear the wall of the strange symbols know as 'words'. With a devilish grin he tilts his head to the side to catch a glimpse of the lovely thighs on display and says...'I'm not sure who Ayla was but her friend has a good grasp of anatomy'

Dolly Baroque squints at the crude drawing above the fireplace and says, "Anatomy? Like the stars and such? I suppose it does kinda look like a rocketship, but what's that other thing? Twin moons?"

Friar Tyles bursts into peels of laughter at the misunderstanding. Pointing at the "W" with two dots at the centre hs tries to keep a straight face as he says...'I believe that is the constellation 'breastus major' also know as the funbag constellation'

Dolly Baroque turns to look at him, bowing to his superior wisdom. She was not likely to tell the gentleman what SHE thought the picture looked like.. not a rocketship and stars, that's for sure. "Well you'd know best Sir..." she says sweetly and turns back to the wall scrubbing.

Credits:

Belleza - Ria Med 1 R

Belleza - Ria Med Freckles 1

MANDALA Simple Ears HUTUU
BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
IKON Spectral Eyes  - Amber
Maxi Gossamer - Ring - Royal Khadijah Estate - Large
Paint brush
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
TRUTH HAIR Luella

Provocation Maid costume

Provocation Maid rim

  

A Lesson in Truth

Truth Hair is the lesson. The first new Truth releases of 2014 are gorgeous! And remember when I told you there was so much more to blog for Collabor88? In the top photo the Belleza Skin, Yummy Accessories earrings, and The Secret Store blouse are all available at Collabor88.

In the second photo the dress is from Tee*fy, the clutch from Baiastice, and the black pearls from Maxi Gossamer. All at Collabor88!

Credits:

(Top Pic)

TRUTH HAIR Luella (New Release)

Yummy Pearl Wisp Earring - White (at Collabor88)

 The Secret Store - Mary Pleated Shirt - White Polka (at Collabor88)

Belleza - Ria Med 1 R (at Collabor88)

Mandala Simple Ears HUTUU

BeetleBones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

MIEL HIPSTER PEEPERS - tortoise shell

(Bottom Pic)

TRUTH HAIR Snow - Gingers (New Release)

Belleza - Ria Med 1 R (at Collabor88)

Belleza - Ria Med Freckles 1

Belleza- Ria Med Gloss Lip 4

Baiastice -Yara clutch-black (at Collabor88)

Maxi Gossamer - Necklace - Knotted Shimmer Pearls (at Collabor88)

Maxi Gossamer - Ring - Royal Khadijah Estate - Large - SILVER

Yummy Pearl Wisp Earring - White (at Collabor88)

Tee*fy Julianna Fluffy Dress Classic (at Collabor88)

Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands

MANDALA Simple Ears HUTUU

IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

2014 First FaMeshed of the Year

A new round of FaMeshed began with the beginning of the new year and I went shopping! There are more new mesh eyes from Ikon, a cute new Wasabi Pills Emily hair, great jewelry from Maxi Gossamer and  a very interesting and original peplum leather top/cardigan duo (in one piece) from Coquet. A HUD allows texture changes to the sweater. I added striped leggings from coldLogic for a bit of fun.

Happy 2014!

Credits:

Coquet Peplum Black (at FaMeshed)
Maxi Gossamer - Necklace - Royal Khadijah Estate - Long Combo - GOLD (at FaMeshed)
Maxi Gossamer - Ring - Royal Khadijah Estate - Large - GOLD (at FaMeshed)

Wasabi Pills Emily Mesh Hair - Gingerbread (at FaMeshed)
coldLogic leggings - chea.red
MANDALA SIMPLE EARS HUTUU
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands 

Glam Affair - Vera skin - America - FLF E
IKON Promise Eyes - Green (at FaMeshed)

Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)

Pose from oOo Studio

 

A Beautiful Mess

Oh Truth Hawks, I love you. The latest releases are inspired!  The new Gaia hair is casual and tousled and REAL! And for those of us who absolutely can't bear to let the hair stay in our eyes for long, it comes with a slightly tidier version as well. Two styles (sort of) in one! This is one of three styles released right before Christmas. You'll want them all, I promise.

Credits:

TRUTH HAIR Gaia Ginger pack (New Release)

IKON Spectral Eyes - Green

ISON - leather asymmetrical jacket  (black)

Miamai Catwalk Lashes Glitter 01

Glam Affair - Vera skin - America - FLF E

Happy Holidays

I wish you all peace and joy for the holiday season and the new year.

Credits:

  

PXL Creations JADE PA Winter C2 (VIP Group Gift)

LACUNA XMAS Cami - Candy Cane
IKON Spectral Eyes - Green
Miamai Catwalk Lashes Glitter 01
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
TRUTH HAIR Dove

MANDALA pearl rain 2 earrings

TokiDoki at The Dressing Room Fusion

There are so many great new releases out right now, but I can't pass up a sale. The Dressing Room Fusion is all new and my favorite piece of the new collection is the long sweater from TokiDoki. I'm also loving my new Truth hair and again, that lovely Maya skin from The Skinnery (a gacha item at The Arcade), this time in toffee.

Credits:

TokiD Juliana sweater_medium (fusion hearts) (at The Dressing Room Fusion)
Ingenue - Odette Heels (Slink Feet Add-On) - Graphite
JANE - drew long sleeve tee.rd raspberry
Maitreya Flare Jeans #7
Maitreya Mesh Shopper - Mischka
TRUTH HAIR Melita (New Release)
the Skinnery Maya 11 (toffee) BB CL1
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

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

Jalwa Skin at We Love Roleplay

Jalwa Skins keep getting better and better. Creator Chandra Masala has a lovely new specialty skin at the latest We <3 Roleplay event. It come in the goth shade with or without white eyebrows and a closed or open mouth version. Appliers for our SLink hands and feet are available at the main store. Since I wasn't exactly in a fantasy mood but loved the makeup and parted lips, I went for the no brow version and added Mynerva brows from my inventory. It works, doesn't it? I may need to go on an eyebrow buying spree just to mix things up for new looks with my skins.

I can't get enough of my new mesh eyes from IKON, currently at FaMeshed. I'm going to go back to get another color or three.

Credits:

Jalwa - Snow Queen - Goth - Cleavage - Teeth - Browless (at We <3 Roleplay)

Mynerva Eyebrow Style 2~Black Light
Beetlebones Mesh Lashes V.01 (Dainty brown)
Valentina E. Dita Tucked Chemise Black
Bliensen + MaiTai - Moonchild - Earrings - Dark Silver
IKON Spectral Eyes (at FaMeshed)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
TRUTH HAIR Rocky

 

It's December!

It's December and in Second Life that means new releases at events like The Arcade Gacha Event and FaMeshed. Pure Poison, one of my favorite jewelry makers, has this delightful star jewelry and clutch purse at the Arcade. I feel kind of bad ass in this eyepatch. Just don't call me the Governor. The D!va hair is also at the arcade. It comes with the option of starry hair decorations which you can turn off as I did for this photo. I love the versatility.

The jacket and skirt are new mix and match Baiastice releases at FaMeshed. My Arcade win of the Ingenue silver shoes was the perfect match!

Lastly, but certainly not least, an exciting new release at FaMeshed this month is Ikon's new mesh eyes. Finally Ikon mesh eyes and they're gorgeous!

Go to the Arcade HERE.
Go to FaMeshed HERE.

Credits:

D!va Hair Daisy (Type A)(Black amber) (at The Arcade)
Baiastice Kaji Jacket with top-orchid (at FaMeshed)
Baiastice Tulle Skirt-grey (at FaMeshed)
IKON Spectral Eyes - Green (at FaMeshed)
Ingenue - Noella Heels - Silver (at The Arcade)
Pure Poison - Star Broche (at The Arcade)
Pure Poison - Star Clutch (at The Arcade)
Pure Poison - Star Earrings (at The Arcade)
Pure Poison - Star Eyepatch (at The Arcade)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid
-Belleza- Leila Med 4 R