52 Weeks of Color Challenge: Thistle

If you know your Scottish history then you know that the thistle is the official floral emblem of Scotland. Legend has it that a soldier from an invading army stepped on one when sneaking up to attack, cried out, and thus gave himself and his group away. If you take a good look at one it’s easy to see why it might hurt to step on one…but what on earth was that guy doing wandering around with no shoes or flimsy shoes? Sheesh, man, if you’re going to go marauding, make sure you are properly shod!

One of the most important dates in Scottish history is the Battle of Culloden. Because I have friends that like to make random things I have access to a replica of the memorial cairn that stands on Culloden field today. It was worth a moment to pause and reflect…and mostly to thank my lucky stars I was not born in that place and in that century.

Congrats to Yvette Donner and Lashae Karsin, who win the Trend hair from Lelutka. Watch for it in-world! I made an educated guess as to color. Berate me if I have chosen poorly!

Next week, I’ll be giving away a couple of gift cards to Ibizarre. I am just loving Anyusha’s new mesh work!

Hair: >TRUTH< Felecia (Mesh) – espresso by Truth Hawks

Jewelry: MG - Ashanti Cerise by Maxi Gossamer

Shirt: Ibizarre mesh. Kalana Floral Tunic - french lilac by Anyusha Lilienthal

Pants: coldLogic trouser - mazza.white by coldLogic

Shoes: *Sherael* Natalie Pump – Lilac by Sherael Concepcion

Thistle: The Flower Plant Scottish Thistle by Karina Jewell

Poses: !bang, Essential Soul

Pose Fair 2012: Horse Love

Captivity has a great mesh horse prop at the Pose Fair. When I first saw it I was reminded of a photo I took when my Uncle Tim took me and a group of cousins up into the high Uintahs on horseback. It remains to this day one of my favorite trips ever. So I pulled the photo out of the scrapbook and scanned it. This is Zach, he was always my horse when my uncle took us on these overnighters. He was a big part-Clydesdale, part Morgan and we got along well together.

I know, I know, I am the height of fashion here. Let’s just remember that I was sleeping on the ground and about a hundred miles from anywhere, so no judging, please!

I have named my mesh horse Zach in my old friend’s honor.

There are five different poses that come with the horse and you can change the color of the coat and the mane. I tried to get him to look as much like my Zach as possible. And as for me, I did manage to find a similar, albeit more stylish sweatshirt and hat. I really like this casual hat style from Argrace. No Green Eggs and Ham, but we’ll just call that an improvement. My jeans are from PerleRare at Oh! and they are perfect for comfy horseback riding, being definitely more curvy-style than many other mesh jeans I have seen.

Hair: *ARGRACE* Military Cap "Loose Chignon" ~ (Dark brown) by rika Oyen

Sweatshirt: {mon tissu} Austen Pullover / Rigged Mesh by Elie Spot

Jeans: .:Oh !:. Mesh Jeans Light Blue by PerleRare Freese

Horse/Poses: Captivity Poses - Horse Love by ShannonCharlize Gossip Girl @Pose Fair South

Location: Realms of Mystara

Pose Fair 2012: Couples

A while I go I did Luna Jubilee’s Love Challenge and talked about my friend Stewart. It would appear I embarrassed him rather badly. But you know, embarrassed in that slightly embarrassed-but-sort-of-sheepish-pleasure sort of way. He has gone through a bit of a transformation, probably because when you have a mad girl running about snapping pictures of you when you aren’t aware of it, and posting them online for the world to see, it behooves him to be a bit more prepared.
There are some adorable couples poses available at the Pose Fair and I have seen so many great ones in the blog feeds. The two I chose today are both piggy-back poses. One thing I love about SL is being the kind of wispy little thing that men can throw over their shoulders and haul around with ease. Alas, the last time that was possible I think I was eight.
This first one is from Ploom. I like how the pose works perfectly with no body parts sticking through any others.



This next fun pose is from Everglow and it just oozes with cuteness. Stewart was a bit worried that his back would break but fortunately he lived and his back remains unbroken.



This next pose isn’t from Pose Fair, but it did go right along with the carry-Eliza-around theme. This one is from Magnifique, who is at the Pose Fair, but this one might not be there. And don’t let that smile fool you, Stewart was still grousing about his back!  I suspect he wanted to dump me unceremoniously into Izzie Button’s perfectly rendered pond.



If you haven’t had the chance to check out Pose Fair, your opportunity is winding down—Pose Fair goes through April 30th.


Eliza:
Hair: >TRUTH< Gabriel – espresso by Truth Hawks
Sweater: e! Snuggly Sweater ROSE by Eclectic Wingtips
Pants: coldLogic capri - lepore.greens by coldLogic
Shoes: [Detour] KickFlip Sneakers – Grey  by Detour Sideways


Stewart:
Hair: Exile Owen/whiskey by Kavar Cleanslate
Skin: -Belleza- Shawn Tan by Tricky Boucher
Outfit: *JB* Saunter - Hoodie/Shirt Outfit by Annie Melson
Shoes: Quixote Black Boot by Kewin Monentes
Poses: Ploom, Everglow, Magnifique
Location: Izzie’s

Pose Fair 2012: Marukin

Some of my favorite new poses from the Pose Fair have been those from Valencia Southard at Marukin. I am always intrigued by the names Valencia gives her poses, and they never fail to resonate realistically with me. Much as I would like to say that I leap around editorially all the time, the truth is that I just want to show what real clothes would look like in a position that a real body would normally assume. Marukin provides a lot of options for that. In fact, in the second photo is a pose I used this very day when a student asked if she could come make up her test at a certain time. (My face was not as serene, though, since I was mentally going through what other appointments or meetings I might have scheduled!)

My shirt is from a new-to-me store, Oh! It’s only on the Marketplace right now, but hopefully it will soon make it in world! I love the flow and semi-transparence of this mesh top! It comes in about a jazillion (totally made-up word) colors and patterns so check it out.

Hair: [LeLutka]-PHOEBE hair – AlmostGoth by Thora Charron

Necklace: SIGMA Jewels/ Lynn necklace (copper) by Sofi Trenkins

Top: :Oh !: Mesh Veil Top Gold Spirals by Perlerare Freese

Bangles: SIGMA Jewels/ Boho bangles (beige-taupe-brass) by Sofi Trenkins

Pants: coldLogic trouser - mazza.khaki by coldLogic

Shoes: SLink Tiger Heels Brown by Siddean Munro

Poses: Marukin @Pose Fair South

Location: Sandbanks Island

52 Weeks of Color Challenge: Shuttle Gray

This color reminded me of a song I sang in a choral group many years ago. I remember the gray, sad feeling it gave me but at the same time I luxuriated in its deep harmonies and beauty. And it makes you feel gray without ever using the word once.

Rainsong

Houston Bright (b. 1916)

Clouds hang heavy above the plain
They bring the smell of a summer rain,
And my heart, it is heavy too,
And my spirits are heavy too.
(See how the rains do pour as if forevermore.)

Clouds drift low in a shadowed spell
They bring the memory of one farewell,
When a spirit from life withdrew,
When the soul of my love withdrew.
(See how the rains do pour as if forevermore.)

Raindrops fall from a sodden sky
They drum a querulous lullaby
As in memory of one who sleeps,
As if crooning to one who sleeps.
(See how the rains do pour as if forevermore.)

I am not able to embed it, but there is a lovely version HERE, if you want to hear it.

So this color suited my mellow ponderings. After I saw the color for this week I headed over to the Designer Circle and found this perfect mesh dress from Ibizarre. Dress, check. And then I saw the amazing grouping of gray-toned shoes that Pixieplumb Flanagan put out for the color challenge this week. What an awesome idea! I very quickly found something perfect! Shoes, check!

Congratulations to Jade and Petd who are the winners of the Turquoise set from Maxi Gossamer. This week I’ll be giving away one color pack of Lelutka’s new Trend mesh hairstyle to two people. See you next week!

Hair: [LeLutka]-TREND hair – WalnutWhip by Thora Charron

Skin: Izzie's - Cassandra Skin sunkissed by Izzie Button

Dress: Ibizarre Loana Minidress MESH dark grey by Anyusha Lilienthal @ Designer Circle (through April 28th)

Shoes: BabyMonkey Cynthia Pump Steel by Pixieplumb Flanagan

Pose: Frooti @ Pose Fair North

Location: Mayfair

Pose Fair 2012: Frooti

I think this cute pose set was the first thing I bought at the pose fair this year. I had been hoping for a good set to show off my sweet dress from Geometry:

And to accompany my dress a lovely new offering from BenS Beauty, the India Necklace:

You’ll find Frooti at Pose Fair North!

Hair: ^;^CaTwA^;^ Christina/Espresso  by Catwa Clip

Eyes: IKON Horizon Eyes - Pale Gray by Ikon Innovia

Necklace: ..:: BenS Beauty ::.. India Necklace Reds by Snow Martiel

Dress: <Geometry> Ananda > Red by GeometryClothing

Shoes: -Nardcotix MANA Breezie Stiletto Crimson by Nardya Rousselot

Penthouse: Paris Penthouse Skybox by Barnesworth Anubis

Poses: Frooti (@Pose Fair North)

Evana

With the weird weather we have been having, I feel like I should be far away from the city and in a place like this:

Then of course, since in SL I can actually wear something like this and not frighten the daylights out of everyone, I would grab my adorable new Seashell bikini from Rezzie Luckstone. My lovely skin from Carisma Creations is the perfect backdrop:

 

And now, I am off to enjoy that water!

Hair: ::Exile:: In The Meantime:Pecan by Kavar Cleanslate

Skin: Carisma Creations Evana Skin Fair by Antonin1

Eyes: IKON Horizon Eyes - Pale Gray by Ikon Innovia

Swimsuit: * RezIpsa Loc * ~ Bikini, Seashell Peach by Rezipsa Luckstone

Anklet: Maitreya Dragonfly Anklet by Onyx Leshelle (part of Bare Feet)

Necklace: Primitive Design_Kekoa Sea - UNISEX necklace by Geyer Schnyder

Poses: HopScotch

52 Weeks of Color Challenge: Bright Turquoise

First of all, congrats to Aeva Nikolaidis for winning the Las Islas shells from last week! Watch for them in-world, dear!

I had a lovely day with my friend Caroline at Izzie’s main store. It was a perfectly bright and happy day. And there was so much to choose from in this color it was hard to make a decision as to what to wear, and what to give away! But at least we had fun, and we got to use a great pose from Label Motion at the POSE FAIR!

And for my giveaway this week, I will give away Maxi Gossamer’s gorgeous Silver Drop set to two lucky people. Happy Sunday, everyone!

Caroline:

Hair: TRUTH  Auralee (champagne with roots) by Truth Hawks

Dress: *BOOM* Hye Tube Dress (celeste) by Aranel Ah

Shoes: WISH Diamante Heels  (no longer available)

Jewelry: Artistry by E The Zhang by Endra Graves

Eliza:

Hair: Maitreya Green II – Bistre by Onyx Leshelle

Top: coldLogic combo - may.aquamarine by coldLogic

Pants: coldLogic trouser - mazza.white by coldLogic

Shoes: (Shiny Things) Party Pumps – aqua by Fallingwater Cellardoor

Necklace and Ring: MG Necklace - Silver Drop with Turquoise by Maxi Gossamer

Bracelet: MG Bangle - Lost Eden - Miriam - SILVER + TQ by Maxi Gossamer

Poses: Label Motion (@Pose Fair, opens April 15th), !bang

Madrigal

If you like fantasy (and face it, this is SL, who doesn’t?) then you must not miss the novel Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor. I always like a good fantasy novel, and one that has a decent romance in it just adds to the goodness. However, this one deals with it all in quite a twisty-turny way, and I was conflicted all the way through with how creepy it was and at the same time not wanting to put it down. This book came to mind when I saw Ikon Innovia’s new Horizon line of eyes. This line from the book popped into my head:

Black greasepaint made a mask around her eyes, which Akiva could see were large--brown and bright, vivid and sorrowful.

-Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone p.246.

Now aren’t they just?

It goes on for a bit about how lovely this girl is, bat wings and horns and hooves notwithstanding, so I turned to one of Hush Darkrose’s new skins to achieve said loveliness.

If he ignored the fact of her bloodied blade and her closely fitted black armor, her devilish wings and horns, if he just focused on her face—so unexpectedly lovely—she looked like a girl, a girl who had found a young man dying on the beach.

-Laini Taylor, Daughter of Smoke and Bone p.246.

I can see how this girl might be a bit scary as well:

Hair: [elikatira] Comfort - Black 04 by Elikapeka Tiramisu

Horns: *~*Illusions*~* Gazella Horns by Siyu Suen

Skin: Hush - Emily - Flirt – Caramel by Hush Darkrose

Eyes: IKON Horizon Eyes - Dark Brown by Ikon Innovia

Wings: TD Bat Wings by Tos Demme

Outfit: Deviance Mistress Black by Surreal LeShelle

Hooves: Fauny Legs & Hooves *Mocha* by Azlyn Shamrock

Warpaint: DA Leopard WarPaint Black by Soleil Reid

Pose: F*cking Ninjas

Location: Labyrinthe de Mythos

Giving Up

I saw this sentiment on Rezzie Luckstone’s offering at Wear Gray and it stayed with me the whole day. Many people assert that giving up is the weak, easy thing to do, but I disagree. Sometimes giving up is very, very difficult, sometimes impossible. Sometimes that heart just won’t let us do it. Many times that’s a good thing and difficulty is overcome. Sometimes a life is wasted in pursuit of the unattainable. But the urge to keep trying is a large part of our humanity. After all, how does the saying go?

Mind over matter.

Hair: >TRUTH< Auralee – night by Truth Hawks

Shirt: * RezIpsa Loc * ~ Basball Tee, Quote, Teal by Rezipsa Luckstone

Jeans: {mon tissu} Nora Skinny Jeans / Flats Dark by Elie Spot

Shoes: *Zanzo* Cat Nap Slipz by Drusus DuCasse

Poses: Essential Soul, Action

Location: Loop & Cole

52 Weeks of Color Challenge: Seashell Peach

All kinds of Easter-themed ideas came to mind this week, but when I finally sat down and asked myself what my perfect seashell wish would be, the answer was actual shells. I grew up in a landlocked state, so the spell of the ocean came to me later in life. My husband grew up on an island so he never feels happy unless the ocean is within eye-shot. And I am a convert, I must admit. There is only one thing that relaxes me totally and completely and that is walking along looking at the ocean and picking up shells. My niece came to visit in December and even though the water was cold, she caught the fever too. Check out her little bag of shells…

There’s just something magical about those left over pieces of some life that was lived wholly underwater. And who can forget that whooshing sea-sound when listening to one:

My favorite shells in SL are made by Naiman Broome, the talented designer of the Las Islas Estates. He has created so many fabulous things, but I do love the shells. And you never do know when you might need some, so that will be my giveaway this week to one lucky commenter!

The following people won the Analog Dog gift cards from last week, so watch for them in-world!

1. Laura18 Streeter
2. Softpaw Sommer

Hair: [Shag] - Your Wish – eve by Sebastien Aries

Eyes: IKON 'Sunrise' Eyes - Silver&Green by Ikon Innovia (no longer available)

Shell: Naima Singing Shell Cypraecassis rufa 1 by Naiman Broome

Jewelry: Diamond Dreams Cowry shell by Bethanne Boyd

Top: *League* Seashell Blouse –Cream by Nena Janus

Bra: {mon tissu} Lycia Lace Bandeau Bra ~ Peach by Elie Spot

Jeans: Leverocci - Ankle Length Jeans Cadet Blue by Jin Elfan

Location: Las Arenas Rosadas

Pose: Studio Sidhe modified

Damiani

Pompeja Rossini’s latest skin is called Damiani  and I’m a big fan:

I really love a couple of things about this skin---first of all, that face! Trust me as the wife of a husband whose beard line is prominent even when clean shaven, this is a very realistic look.  I also really like the more subtle muscle definition on the arms and legs. Too often in SL male skins can be less like normal guys and more like Arnold Schwarzenegger in his Mr. Universe days.

If clean shaven isn’t your style, though, there are many options for Damiani.

Hair: Truth Drake Espresso by Truth Hawks

Eyes: pc classic dark soil by Lano Ling

Skin: LaVie Damiani #2 Soft Shade Tan by Pompeja Rossini

Tank:  GB Tribal Tank Top by Takuya Jinn (Group gift)

Shorts: s’Lade MEN Brown Shorts by Harsh Slade

Shoes: SOREAL Superstars White by Kwamey Pinion

Location: Innsmouth

C’est La Vie

When I saw these adorable mesh skirt and top sets from Pompeja Rossini at LaVie I knew an instant trip to the beach was in order! Flirty Blush is available in six different colors.

Hair: /Wasabi Pills/ Dominique2 Mesh Hair by MissAllSunday Lemon

Outfit: LaVie Flirty Blush Turquoise by Pompeja Rossini

Poses: pda

Location: Las Islas

There’s Someone Else

 

 

Hair: [LeLutka]-EDITORIAL02 hair – WalnutWhip by Thora Charron

Dress: -paper.doll- Hannah: Paisley by Zoey Gabardini (@ Zombiepopcorn Event)

Jeans: *GF* Capri Jeans -indigo- by Cerberus Noel

Boots: MIEL TIMBER BOOT NATURAL (army) by Miel Nirvana

Location: Innsmouth

Big Hair

Curly hair fascinates me. I had a roommate with super-curly hair once and I could spend hours sitting there pulling the strands of her curls straight, letting them go and watching them spring back into the curly shape. Needless to say she was a very patient and forbearing friend! My own hair in RL is somewhere between straight and curly, but with no uniformity, so instead of nice volume I get either a limp mess or a rats’ nest. Just another reason to be grateful for SL hair! And for this style in particular, from Sebastien Aries at Shag.

Also new to love today is the brand new Kim set from Endra Graves at Artistry by E. My sexy henna art-tattoos are courtesy of Guenever DeCuir at Collisions.

Hair: [Shag] - Pussy Galore – mystic by Sebastien Aries

Eyes: IKON  'Sunrise' Eyes – Bronze by Ikon Innovia

Armband tattoo: :CoLL:. Henna Armband II by Guenevere DeCuir

Jewelry: Artistry by E, The Kim Set by Endra Graves

Top: coldLogic top - tebbets.butter by coldLogic

Pants: *League* Zipped Leather Pants –Diesel by Nena Janus

Shoes: SLink Tiger Heels Brown by Siddean Munro

Poses: pda

Location: Solaria