Come Over for a Bite

Somehow, the original Twilight Zone television shows are still incredibly creepy despite having no special effects and emerging from our black and white past.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eye Shadow: Souzou Eien, Fairy Eyes - Lavender
Lipstick: L.Fauna, Pink II 3
Bites: Fallen Gods, Fangbangers Delight - Messy
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear - Fairy
Hair: Truth, Kalia - driftwood
Necklace: Ticky Tacky, Sweet Dreams - Sleepwalking
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Ho wear, Lady Annabell - purple
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: G Field, Strap Shoes "Alex"

Pose: Glitterati, 118

Location: New Gothika
Light Settings: TOR, NIGHT Nocturne

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Suggestive

Bloggers who sent IMs and Notecards at the right time got to go into the 25L Tuesday Fall Fete a bit early, and I took advantage of that to not only pick up a few things without devastating my pocketbook, and I ran across this outfit from Sweet Poison - a sort of very brief camisk style thing - and couldn't resist despite it being well, well, well out of my comfort zone. The outfit is entirely prim, which means rather a lot of me was hanging out in the breeze. Thankfully, the sim was nearly empty, and if anyone was camming to uncomfortable places they didn't mention it to me, so I got the pictures taken and fled! I do love it, though, from the whimsy of the flowers in both sets of cleavage, to the tiny ruffles with aspirations to become a skirt. I managed to stay under X-Rated, but only by the clever use of angles, or in this case a handy lily pad. This is likely the most skin you'll see on me in a long while, so enjoy!

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Double Frappe Marked Copper (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Ears: De la Soul, Wooby (promotional item)
Hair: Discord Designs, Ruin - Onyx
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Outfit: Sweet Poison, Wishes - purple
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet

Poses: Glitterati

Location: 25L Tuesdays Fall Fete
Light Settings: Places Pathfinder

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Lost in a Jungle of Magic

The 25L Tuesday Fall Fete, celebrating a two years of 25 Linden goodness on every Tuesday, is opening on - wait for it - TUESDAY! The store owners have come out in force to offer up inexpensive treasures and a healthy example of their full price store items. I'll have some more things to show you (I went shopping!) but first I wanted to show off my fantastic new duds from De La Soul - including a special version of her Aestali and Aestalian skins called Marked Copper! For the fae inclined, they come with matching ears with a new 'tipped' style which I really like. I've never done dual colored ears before, but I may be converted.

De La Soul's new tunics are out, too, including this one in aqua. I love the patterning at the cuffs, and these are unisex - included are prim parts sized for the guys, and everything is modify ok anyway, so fitting is a breeze. I ended up shrinking my tunic quite a bit, as it was more 'dress' than 'tunic', and it only took me a few minutes. I'm also showing off her new backpacks - in this case the scribe backpack though there are bunches of others - decorated with all the tools of my trade. Next to this one, I think the cook one is my favorite, which a frying pan hanging off of one side!

The hair is an awesome new-ish one from Secrets Hair, and I really love it - from the flower details along the top, to a fantastic set of beading in the bun at the back (look below). It fit like a dream, and I am particularly fond of the cute little curls on either side of my face, right in front of my ears.

These leather and buckly leg warmers are also for De La Soul, and like the rest are up for 25$L for 25$L Tuesday in grand style! I wore them over a set of digi-legs from De La Soul's daemon style, but they can be worn with regular shoes as well.

The sim I'm on is showing a temporary display from Soror Nishi. I had wanted to catch one of her in-world shows for a long time (she's mostly moved to another grid), so when I read on her blog that she was going to be showing not one but TWO sets of her amazing, other-wordly plants I made solid plans to get there as soon as possible. And take pictures. She totally did not disappoint, but I'm being quite honest when I say my pictures do not do it justice. Most of her plants are semi-transparent or outright transparent, which gives everything an imprecise and vague feeling that I love. The textures she uses are unique, and amazing, and witht he transparency they can layer over each other creating new colors where they cross. Some of the plants let loose with spoors of colors making fuzzy straight lines that cross over each other as well, making layers of boxes with open ends. The effect is amazing, and mesmerizing, and making windlight changes will just improve it for you! Go go go now!

I've been thinking a lot today about experiences, and how our knowledge in one area can make us dismissive of people with different areas of knowledge - sometimes rightly, but other times wrongly, and always with the risk of being rude. My brother told me the story once of a girl he met at college doing her laundry for the first time, as she'd never needed to at home. He was drawn to the laundry room by the smell of grinding gears and her dismay; she had packed the laundry machine so tightly with laundry that it literally couldn't move, much less let any water in to wash things. This experience, he said as he told us of it, gave him a new appreciation for our mom insisting we took part in doing chores.

I had a friend, also, who once cooked us a dinner but who didn't know a lot about cooking. He wanted to do a beef fry up, and purchased stew meat, since it was already cut small; for those who don't know, stew meat is the cheapest, stringiest cuts and is meant to be boiled for a minimum of three or four hours. Luckily, he asked me before he cooked with garlic, as he had assumed a clove was the bulb, and not the individual, smaller piece. And I have gratitude toward my mom for teaching me to cook, and some of the basics in the kitchen, even though I still have a lot to learn.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose Marked Copper (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Ears: De la Soul, Wooby - Tipped Ear (promotional item)
Hair: Secrets Hair, Spring - Dirty Blond (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: De La Soul, Celtic Tunic - Aqua (promotional item)
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Panties: katat0nik, Holiday panties
Stockings: Kyri Style, No 2 Chocolate
Leg Warmers: De La Soul, DigiLegwarmers Belted (promotional item)
Hooves: De La Soul, Deamon Digi Legs (promotional item)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Imparafacile Island
Light Settings: Surreal Brazil

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Pin Up Against the Blackboard

My style tends toward the child-like and the young, and never has that been more obvious than in this school uniform I picked up to get one of the cards for the Choice 2011 event going on right now. This isn't Lolita, which is a more innocent and covered style, but rather an erotic expression of the traditional school uniform (traditional for other people's traditions, not mine; I never wore a school uniform). Viewed objectively, the idea that school uniforms could be eroticized - given that most of those wearing them are under eighteen - should be horrifying. I can't deny, however, that my response was not horror, but rather a long hunt to find a school to take some pin up pictures in.

There is a tension between innocence and debauchery, but another aspect of it is a subtle sort of submission; the innocent is to be pursued, tracked, and captured; the innocent can't be blamed for anything that happens; the innocent can respond with passion without shame because the innocent doesn't know shame should be felt as a cost to passion. Plausible deniability, all wrapped up in a short skirt and a tie.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: cheLLe, Cleo Called Indigo
Blush: H+K, cheeks03
Lipstick: Ag, Stained Face - Cherry Tart
Food: Hanauta, Taiyai eat
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: Exile, Voodoo - Goldrush
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Edelweiss, Elsie - red
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Panties: katat0nik, Holiday panties
Stockings: Kuri Style, 64 Socks
Shoes: G Field, Strap Shoes "Alex"

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Seiai gakuin
Light Settings: TOR, HORROR Castle vain

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Sapphire

Sometimes the urge to throw a dart at the Second Life map and see what falls out is overwhelming. In this case it was closer to throwing a dart into the Destination Guide, though, and I ended up in a place I normally wouldn't go - and I'm so glad! I loved finding all the animals lurking about all over, including raccoons, egrets, and a monkey!

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeshadow: Elymode, A Little Drama blue/yellow
Lipstick: Skinthesis, Liquid Heat - Twilight Apocalypse
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Vicky Hair - Golden (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Bare Rose, Papilio Blue
Necklace: Little Boy Blue, Luxor Necklace
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: G Field, Strap Shoes "Alex" - royal blue

Pose: HelaMiyo, Against a Wall 3

Location: Dreams & Desires
Light Settings: Places Imagine
Water:

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Watermelon Dreams and Candy Frosting

When I saw the new dresses from katat0nik - another designer to jump on the mesh bandwagon - I simply couldn't resist. It moves extremely well with my poses, and comes in four different sizes (I am wearing curvy, which is the second to biggest size). I had a ball using some of the more complex and curvy of my Long Awkward Poses to watch the mesh of the dress curve with it; it really added to the possibilities in my picture taking. The Primalot jewelry I'm wearing was a free gift, and I'll confess I would have never purchased it but I was very grateful for it being in my inventory as I tossed my way through it looking for options. I also added sakura hairflowers from Little Boy Blue - one of his newest releases - and shoes from Lassitude & Ennui.

Something about color really cheers me up! After putting on bright and shiny clothing, and pestering some friends to pay attention to me, I feel much more cheered up! I think Torley's amazing and shiny sim helped, too. Check out the cake in some of the more pictures!! He makes me wish I could afford a sim of my very own.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Cosmetics: De La Soul, Faerie Pastel
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: House of Munster, Lola - pinks
Hair Flower: Little Boy Blue, Sakura Hair Flower
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: katat0nik, Hard Candy babydoll (mesh)
Jewelry: Primalot, Hortensia 2.0
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Skully Pumps

Poses: Long Awkward Pose

Location: Torley Island
Light Settings: TOR, FOGGY Rose Tinted

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

I Can Haz Promoshunz: Men Don't Make Passes

At women in glasses.

One of the things I am growing to love more and more about promotional gifts is the challenge of taking a bunch of things, many of them not things I would necessarily purchase on my own, and turning them into a cohesive and (I hope you agree) attractive look. The tattoo from v3 Tattoo is probably the farthest from my usual style, a cacophony of color and pattern it's a biker's daydream - and I though matching it with the pretty patterns of the Trendstyle dress (don't you see bikers and think pink?) made for an interesting contrast; biker chic meets uber girly.The detail of the tattoo is incredible and it comes in three shading types - dark, faded, and aged. The dress is the closest of the promotional items to my style, a frothy confection of swirls and I simply adore how the dual-color was arranged in both the bodice and the skirt. It comes in a plethora of other colors, but I'm terribly fond of the effect of pink and black together, so I couldn't resist.

The hair from Me. matched the more classy end of things, which was echoed in my retro glasses from {K}Rea. I actually had glasses like that once, only in blue and brown not black. I like the chunky styling of them, but they're very far form my usual look - like the Jacqui hair, which is short and sleek and very modern. The use of textures on the hair to add depth is really excellent, though as you can see there are issues with transparency. All of it is layered over the newest skin line from De La Soul, Aestali with the matching Aestalian for the males. I'm wearing a shade new to this release - Cream Rose - which is a reddened version of her longstanding cream shade. The list of things which come with this skin, including eyeliners and a wide variety of breast sizes, is incredible; my folder is simply brimming with Aestali goodness. It even comes with a complementary backpack with all the beauty supplies you could need in the pockets! A final note on the shoes, from Eclectica - they were a free gift through her group and I have to admit I've already splurged and bought the whole set. Between G Field and Eclectica I may not ever want for shoes again!

I've been doing a lot of show watching, and people watching, and reading, and I have a pain in my paw - like the lion with the thorn in the old story. People so often seem to default to mocking each other, wanting to hurt each other, wanting other people to be upset or suffer. To be sweet and kind is, often, to be a figure of fun, or mockery, or simply something to be ignored. It makes me wonder about myself, about my place in the world and the various social nets I'm linked into; the contrast between cynical and kind, between sweet and adult - can a person live there, encompass all of those things, and still relate to others? Still be of interest to others? Sometimes I feel like the backup friend - the person trotted out when those one would rather spend time with are gone;  more and more I'm wondering how much of those feelings are of my own making.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: cheLLe, Cleo Called Black
Eyecolor: Elymode, Magenta and Pink 1
Lipstick: Rue, Lip Service ~ Sweetlips
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Glasses: {K}Rea, Old Nerd Glasses (promotional item)
Hair: Me., Jacqui (promotional item)
Tattoo: v3 Tattoo, Oriental Express (promotional item)
Wings: ni.ju, Glow Dragon Wings LB Set B(4)
Dress: Trendstyle, Doll Endless Love pink (promotional item)
Bracelets: Amaris, Laced Cuff - black
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Anklet: Linc, Ruffled Cuff Black
Shoes: Eclectica, Hollywood Shoes - Elsie's Red (gift)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Heaven4D
Light Settings: TOR, MIDDAY Rebranded Skies
Water: TOR, Maldives

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Color Challenge: Week Forty-seven - Khaki

Khaki Week was a challenge - largely because the only khaki I had was closer to a shade of light yellowish-green, so I cheated. Milk Tea is kind of the color of khaki, right? After dressing up in so many G Field ruffles, I felt like I needed an antique set of jewelry, and Little Boy Blue came through with Shilo's cameo; smokey blue always goes so well with brown, don't you think?

I live in a world of distractions, of different calls for my attention, of complications and pointless goals. Within the maze of the world I seek beauty, I seek meaning, I seek connection, I seek peace. I think in the seeking, though, I often loose track of that which I want most. It's times like that I have those sort of pathetic wishes, to have people pamper me and give me pretty things and tell me I'm wonderful. Silly things like that. So I dress up pretty, and put on jewelry that friends lovingly made, and take pretty pictures, and obsessively check my blog and flickr stats!

And do some dishes, pick up the floor, take out the trash, and go to bed to hope for better humours on the morrow.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 5
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: Illusory Hair, Kimmi - golden
Necklace: Little Boy Blue, Shilo Necklace
Dress: G Field, Classic Dress "Julia" - milk tea
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Boots: Wireflys, Tan Laceboot

Poses: Glitterati

Location: The Black Road
Light Settings: TOR, EUPHORIA smokey blue sky
Water: TOR, Linear Puddles

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Jewelry Faire: Flippers Deep in Water

It was really fun, and a change, to leave the land and get into the depths for the final forth of the Jewelry Faire - Water. I ended up dragging out a couple of purchases from the Fantasy Faire (yes, it was six months ago - shaddup) - the Sakura Mermaid from Rose Princess and Evie's Closet's Lumina Nymph outfit (though I only used the top and the forehead jewel and the scales). Pearls were in great attendance as donation items at the faire, and I ended up combining them from Eclectica and Beloved; the Eclectica ones are on top, and the Beloved on the bottom - at least in the necklaces.

I'm also wearing something else from the past - the Deco belt from Eclectica; I rarely wear belts, but there seemed to be a call for one here right above the scales of my tail - and this is a gorgeous design. It's also modifiable; fitting it took barely thirty seconds, and I just had to make it a scooch bigger and nip it in at the sides.

I'm having a lot of fun with water effects - reflections, distortions, the different layers on which things can be seen. I also had the fun, with this set, or working off of animated rather than static poses. It's what I did a lot when a friend ran a club and I would take pictures of the dancers, only I was able to focus in on locations and the backgrounds were a lot more attractive (to be honest, most clubs look really, really ugly). It was fun seeing how the surface of the water and my moving avatar could intersect; I think I'll want to repeat the experimentation in the future. The intersection of layers, reflections, and movement fascinate me.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 5
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Kiki Hair - golden
Necklace & bracelet 1: Eclectica, Pearl Mixables - Deco Redux
Necklace  & bracelet 2: Beloved Jewelry, Pearl and Ribbon
Belt: Eclectica, Deco Knot - dark gold (promotional item)
Mermaid: Rose Princess, Sakura Mermaid
Top: Evie's Closet, Lumina Nymph - Aerie Edition
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet

Pose: Various Mermaid AOs
Location: Jewelry Faire - Water
Light Settings: TOR, MIDDAY Cheery Cyan
Water: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Jewelry Faire: Steps Leaving Flowers

I love the effect of "blowing out" the lighting to make things seem luminescent. It makes colors just jump out at you (I think the technical term is "pop") and that really works well with the glory that is Evie's Closet's Ariel flower bikini in rainbow. I have rather a thing for rainbows, as many people know, and this bikini was worth the extensive time I spent fitting it to my curves. It comes with two sizes, and I started with the smaller and moved the flowers out to cover (mostly), but there are also modesty covers included. The soleless sandals from Studio Sidhe actually seem to gleam in the light; I'm really enjoying the different bead variations; this one is brighter colored, though the others are antique and faded in hue - which is really lovely.

The necklace from Fairy Tail is a promotional at the Faire, which is lovely. It also comes in pink. I ended up pairing everything with lovely hair from BC322 with a matching butterfly on it. I had completely forgotten I got this hair until I was looking for something pixie-ish, and this seemed to fit the bill perfectly. So did these custom wings from Falln Angels with color changing roses. I had a lot of fun watching the colors changing, and trying to catch those moments when their hearts and outer petals were different.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 5
Blush: H+K, cheeks 3
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: BC322, Hana-Otome - D Golden
Wings: Falln Angel Creations, Rose Vine Wings Deo
Necklace: Fairy Tail, Jewelry Fair Gift (Jewelry Faire)
Bikini: Evie's Closet, Ariel - Rainbow
Bracelet: SC, Ceramic Bead (Jewelry Faire)
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Foot Jewelry: Studio Sidhe, Soleless Sandals - Antique China (Jewelry Faire - promotional item)
Feet: SLink, Jolie Flat Bare
Poses: Glitterati

Location: Jewelry Faire - Earth
Light Settings: Alchemy Immortalis, Fog Lifting (made brighter)

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Lights Out

I watched half a town disappear into darkness as the lights went out. Street lights, house lights, power; only the glow of a laptop and the light pollution on the mist lit up the world for blocks. Scrambling for candles, sneaking out through the dimness; it amazes me once more how reliant on artificial light I am - how it plays into every aspect of my life in a way rarely considered. Even to go to sleep, that light by the bed is so critical for the ritual of reading before sleep.

I found myself on the shore, then, listening to the waves as the lights clicked back on, all at once.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:


Eyes: Miriel, Standard Eyes, Light Blue
Skin: MiaSnow, Rainbow Tan 3
Hair: Exile, Wild Thing - blackgold
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle - shrunk and recolored black
Dress: Hal*Hina, Flower Mini Dress, Dark Grey
Shoes: G Field, Short Lace-Up Boots, Gray
Gloves: Sn@tch, Long Gloves Grey


Pose: Leafy Hang
Light Settings - [Euphoria] Air Pollution
Water Settings - Glassy
Location: Spencer Museum of Art


Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Jewelry Fair: Bathing in Fire

It was halfway through my photographs that Studio Sidhe's creator IMed me with the small correction about her Soleless Sandals - I had gotten a no-modify version, but all the ones sold are modify ok, which is a real boon! I ended up fitting these to my ankle, and you can see how superior the quality of them are! These are still available at the Jewelry Faire, and they are well worth the look! I think my foot shots are improving, too! Aren't those SLink nails simply divine? I thought red suited the lava!

I ended up buying the Magpie (landmark at the Faire) bracelets to finish my outfit - the rest was in my inventory "new" folder (my new folder is enormous, gargantuan, it's sort of becoming recursive at this point I fear - one misplaced shoe and I might start my own black hole!). I had fun combining the top from G Field (in two different colors) with the skirt from Has Been (which has charmingly retro clothing). I thought the hair from Magika matched an unusually retro feel from me - being enormous earphones like you just don't see anymore!

I loved the fire build, especially the contrast between cooling magma tops and the hotter, brighter colored magma at the edges of magma pools. It really looks like a place where dragons would be playing, making balls out of molten lava to toss to one another. And here I am, in the thick of it!

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 5
Blush: H+K, cheeks 3
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: Magika, Dejaine - blonde honey
Wings: TERHO, Eld
a Wings - red
Top: G Field, Halter Top - black and white
Skirt: Has Been, Zilla Skirt - red
Bracelets: Magpie, Cassana Bracelets
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Foot Jewelry: Studio Sidhe, Soleless Sandals - Antique Bohemian (Jewelry Faire - promotional item)
Feet: SLink, Jolie Flat Bare

Poses: Glitterati
Location: Jewelry Faire - Air
Light Settings: TOR, SUNRISE - Canyon Dreams Red

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Jewelry Faire: Walking on Air

I love these soleless sandals from Studio Sidhe (Slurl to the Faire Location), which are available at the Jewelry Faire in Air. The little gems are very, very cute, and they were pretty easy to fit to my smecksy SLink feet. They are resizable by a menu and not modifiable individuality (something which will preclude making a closer fit to my ankles), but I ended up not having to rezise them for all - I have pretty standard size zero feet. I initially got a no-modify version, but the Studio Sidhe soleless sandals are full mod, which is a glorious thing and makes me shiver with glee! I love the hint at a braid from the bands around the necklace and down the top of the feet - it makes it seem like something pulled together over the weekend to accentuate the arch of the foot; the addition of knots around the beads is a realistic touch that I really appreciate.

The sim itself is gorgeous, well over cloud layer and with transparent bits here and there to add to the feel of air without overly adding to the lag. I really liked that the ground was transparent - it took me a while to notice, but once I did, I was completely charmed! There were some delightful statues I posed on and near, and I think their design was significantly improved by using the same or similar textures - a design point that the Fashion Faire used to good effect a month ago. It make picture taking really fun, too, since my bikini and gems really stood out against the golds of the sim itself.

From a more distant angle, the soleless sandals really, really stand out I think - much like a good nailpolish. I think they really add a playful edge to my katat0nik bikini (free right now at a group-only Lucky Board at her store). I added a necklace from Je Suis (Slurl to Faire Location) which I picked up while I was at the Faire, which was well worth the price since the gems, pearls, and metal are all color change! It's a lovely design, and the curve of the chain around the neck - while making it a slight challenge to fit - adds verisimilitude to a lovely curved design.

I was a little disappointed while going around the Faire to not find as many donation items as I expected. One of my usual practices is to spend money primarily on things which donate to the cause the Faire is advertising, and there were a lot of stores where I couldn't find a donation purchase at all (I didn't count, bit it felt like about half of them) - so I just kept moving. While I can understand faires being about advertising and getting your name out there (and I took some landmarks and freebies for later follow-up), I'm really sad to see people who don't seem to have a donation item at all, even if it wasn't your special, high price or new item.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 5
Blush: H+K, cheeks 3
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: D!va, "Mana" - cats eye
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Necklace: Je Suis, Leah Necklace (Jewelry Faire)
Bikini: katat0nik, Piknik Bikini - light green
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Foot Jewelry: Studio Sidhe, Soleless Sandles - Antique Fae (Jewelry Faire - promotional item)
Feet: SLink, Jolie Flat Bare

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Jewelry Faire - Air
Light Settings: Places Abracadabra 2 (made darker)

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

How Not to Pick Up a Chick in Second Life: Episode Five

[00:42] Sex Seeker: hello you look so hot!
[00:43] Deoridhe Quandry: Thank you.
[00:45] Sex Seeker: going to start thing off prob. bad, but can I shag you?
[00:45] Deoridhe Quandry: No. Why in the world would you imagine that request was welcome?
[00:46] Sex Seeker: sorry its been that kind of night
[00:46] Deoridhe Quandry: ......if your nights are such that you ask strangers for sex, then perhaps you need to log off the internet.

To Another Avatar:
[00:46] Sex Seeker: wow you so hot!

When I say that many guys act as if I'm replaceable, as if they have a "sex object" or "girlfriend" slot they want to fit me into, I often feel like people don't agree with me. The term "oversensitive" gets thrown around rather a lot (along with irrational and hysterical) when I bring this up.

This is a rather bald example of that, though. Sex Seeker is not at all interested in me; even the complement - in light of his subsequent behavior - becomes questionable because the attractiveness of my avatar is unimportant to him; what's important is whether I will supply sex, not who I am or what I look like.

Sometimes I think that for a lot of men, women are like NPCs. You need to figure out what to say to them to get what you want, but the meaning of what you say isn't important - you aren't trying to talk to another person, but rather you're trying to find the up-down-up-down-left-right-a-b code to get sex, and then you can leave the NPC behind.

Honestly, the more I have men treat me like this, the less I want to deal with men at all.

I know it's unfair to generalize... but I'm so tired of it.

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Kei Cream
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Eyelashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 05
Cosmetics: De La Soul, Charlie Makeup - Red Lips
Ears: Illusion, Mystic Ear
Hair: Calico Ingmann Creations, Audrey - blond
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle Wings
Collar: Favole, Prolific
Dress: LeeZu, Oxford Dress - red
Stockings: Kuri Style, 64 socks
Shoes: G Field, Square-toe Shoes "Sophie" - red

Pose: Glitterati, 123

Location: Siden Survival Horror
Light Settings: TOR, SCIFI Shilarto
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Sunsets and Pumpkins

 

Something happened tonight which has happened before and will happen again; someone in one of my groups spoke up with a slur (in this case a phonetic rendering of faggot), insulting a browser, and I objected in the group - where the slur was. The usual resulted; 'why are you starting drama,' 'why didn't you take it to private ims,' 'why are you so oversensitive,' 'I have a transexual friend so...,' 'if words hurt you, you're stupid,' along with the expected insults to my character and intelligence. Interestingly, there was an indirect call on using the term 'class,' which is something I have to think about; I think one can call out bigoted language without being classist, so I'll need to work on my own language in the future.

As always, the interactions pissed me off - but at this point not speaking up would piss me off worse, so I went forward. As usual, my heartbeat picked up; this time my hands literally shook. I was upset for a good half hour, shaking, disturbed; but the use of the slur and the defense of using slurs stopped, so I was happy.

Looking back on it, I can see nothing I'd want to change but my own inherent classism (a big weak spot of mine, along with ableism). I just wish, hope, pray that someday these interactions won't be necessary because using a slur will be unthinkable.

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeshadow: Elymode, brown & gold
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 5
Blush: H+K, cheeks 3
Lipstick: MOCK, Brazen Bronze Lipstain
Ears: Illusions, Mystic Ear
Hair: Analog Dog, tangled - candy
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Falln Angel Creations, Mianoa Robes - orange
Jewelry: EarthStones, Nataliya - Rainbow
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: G Field, Ribbon Slingback Shoes - salmon

Pose: Glitterati, 184

Location: Falln Amusements
Light Settings: Places Eugene BL

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

La Morte de l'Elf et l'Amour

This is my first review of a mesh outfit, so I want to set up a baseline handling until browsers that handle mesh become more common. I use the Firestorm Beta, and a big push toward my picking it up was the announcement that Violent Seduction was going to be releasing mesh clothing - so consider me seriously biased toward this store. Also, the second item she released in mesh was literally a remake of the first outfit I ever bought from her - La Morte Imp in the color Suffering (her new clothing has similar names; I think Coagulate is my favorite).

 

This first picture is to give a baseline of the pre-mesh design; the corset was texture, not prim, and the skirt was made up of a combination of the system skirt at prims on the lower leg and hips to cover the gaps. Given the limitations of prim, this is one of the better very revealing dresses I had ever seen; I hope you can see why I picked it up at the time. I saw it out on the grid, and it effectively introduced me to Violent Seduction.

Here is the most similar mesh version (La Morte Elf has several dual colored dresses, which I think is amazing, but which means it was hard to find a Suffering equivalent - I ended up deciding on Coagulate). You can see there are several design changes - short sleeves, no bows on hips, only one boob-hammock, new little gloves - but the design hinted at in La Morte Imp is realized much more in La Morte Elf especially around the curve of the skirt. Joints are always difficult in Second Life, and one big advantage of mesh is a way to smooth over joints in a way that prims simply don't allow for (now add a way to link to body fat and muscle and I will be a very happy Deo!).

Now, onto some of the details of the outfit (with more pretty pictures to follow, I promise! Yes, this will be a loooong post). I did have to change my shape for this, which was rather expected and no more a pain than my usual "corset shape" modifications. One thing I would like for single-size outfits is a notecard included with the body measurements; it would streamline making shape adjustments since I could identify where I was very off and make the changes. In this case, I made several errors and had to start over, and I couldn't quite bridge the gap around the bottom of the corset (though it's barely noticeable except in pictures angled from below; am I too nit picky?).

You can see the biggest areas where my original shape didn't match the mesh shape was around the top and bottom of the corset, and at the hips. In the case of the corset, I was too big; the hips, I was too small (I love shape variation in Second Life! I've never had to climb into someone else's skin before like this!). I ended up lowering my body fat and belly to zero - the latter is common for corset shapes, but for the former I usually increase the size of the corset (not an option here). I also ended up shrinking my boobs by about twenty points, but I'm not sure that's immediately obvious, and I moved them apart a bit to match the curve of the corset. To match the hips up, I ended up widening the saddle bags, which easily matched up to the "tops" of the skirt. All of my shape errors (besides reducing muscles, which gets you nowhere in the torso) were about height - remember that mesh is linked to height-leading things, which means it will become shorter as you do; a HUGE advantage for those of us on the tiny side!

As you can see in the final design, only a slight amount of "white" shows through at the bottom of the corset - easily glossed over in pictures, and chances are no one will be looking there.

Also, as a public service, here is what your mesh will look like to everyone without mesh-enhanced viewers (which I believe is most of them on the grid right now).

I had a lot of fun with taking photographs in the mesh dress, though, once it was fit - because I was able to use curing, tangled poses which would require a lot of fiddling with prims to make work otherwise. I really got a taste of the advantages of mesh - how it could curve and bend with a body in a natural, interesting, and fun way. I'm not completely a convert; I really think mesh should be made responsive to width factors in peoples' shapes to make a lot of the fitting less of an issue and allow the full variety on second life to continue unabated. As a curvy shaped girl in Second Life, I really value being able to have a round belly and take pictures where that is attractive; a lot of the clothing made so far seems to assume the belly would be zero, and I think that's a shame!

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Lipstick: Skinthesis, Liquid Heat - Deoridhe
Hair: Magika, Ribbonetta - Blond
Hair Flower: G Field, Rose Hairpin (suede) - blue
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Violent Seduction, La Morte Elf - Coagulate
Jewelry: Axiom, Antithetical Concept
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet

Location: Al Naifah

Light Settings: TOR, EUPHORIA - Low saturation
Water Settings: Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Bunniary

This amazing dress is from BunnyStar - it's a moving, particled, gorgeous aviary complete with bunny that you wear about with you.

Expectations and anticipations of pleasure and fun things are an oddity - it's one of those cases where not getting what you expect can actually ruin what you get altogether, even if you'd be happy with what you would get under other circumstances.

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream 
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow 
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Eve - Golden 
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle 
Dress: BunnyStar, The Dreamer Full Outfit 
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger 
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet 
Pose: Glitterati, Jewelry 6 Location: Persnickety 

Light Settings: Coastal Afternoon 
Water Settings: TOR, Waterslides 

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry 
Post processing: Cropping only

How Not to Please a Designer in Second Life

In the vein of "How not to pick up a chick in second life," I have something fresh from the IM history of an acquaintance of mine - reproduced with permission.

[11:19] Second Life: Friendship offer.
Checked profile. Blank. Checked account age. 2 months.
[11:19] Designer: I don't know you. Sorry.
[11:19] Second Life: Friendship offer declined.
[11:20] I Eat Paste: can i say something
[11:20] Designer: sure
[11:20] I Eat Paste: did you make [set of skins]
[11:20] Designer: yes I did
[11:21] I Eat Paste: well i dont have no money well i am new at the game i know it is a lot to ask but can i have it for free but i will try to pay you back
[11:21] Designer: No.
[11:21] I Eat Paste: ok...
[11:22] I Eat Paste: bich
[11:22] Designer: O_O excuse me?

At this point there is silence, no response and I am not about to push it so, I go back to working.

As I am cammed in on my vendors, suddenly my camera shifts. That GUY.. is up in my workshop, banging up against me! W..t...f....

[12:03] Designer: Excuse me, just what are you doing up here? This is my workshop and private residence.
[12:03] I Eat Paste: hey i want that avatar

Still, he is running around my workshop and banging into me, along with clicking the vendor system I am working on!

[12:03] Designer: You know what. I said no. You are BEYOND rude, annoying, and pushy. You have 30 seconds to get off my island and quit bugging me before I ban you from my sim AND from using any of my vendors.
[12:04] I Eat Paste: fuk you bitch give me the avi
[12:04] Designer: Goodbye asshat.
[12:04] I Eat Paste: i want the [skin] thing

BANNED! Ejected! MUTED!

Don't be like I Eat Paste - don't be an asshat on Second Life!

 

Credits: Skin: De La Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Bronze
Eyeshadow: Adam n Eve, Corsage
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Eyelashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 05
Blush: Mock, Dark Tan
Lipstick: Mock., Brazen Bronze Lip Stain
Ears: Illusion, Mystic Ear
Hair: Honey Hair, Bowtie Bella - Antique Bronze
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Necklace: Earthstones, Mahika Set - Autumn
Dress: Celestial Studio, Nena Dress - Bronze
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: G Field, Knot Wedge Sandal - bronze

Pose: Glitterati, 250 2

Location: Wonder Lost
Light Settings: Foggy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Another End

Whenever I'm no sure where to go for pictures, I swing back over and over again to World's End Garden. It's always changing, and always different, and the way things are put together are at once both mysterious and beautiful. I could probably do a week of pictures there and still come up with original work between the combination of small perspectives and windlight settings. In this case, my water settings overrode the usual flow of waves in and out, turning it into a negative reflection.

It got me thinking about how different people seem to approach photography in Second Life - something inspired by conversation between myself and Poppy when we took pictures together. He tends to switch through windlights, taking pictures at a distance and switching in area lights, as well as using a pose stand to pose himself.

I tend to select a single windlight for the ease of credits (I'm a little maniacal about credits) then see how I interact differently with the world - which often means depending on the way I'm facing, the lighting can change rather dramatically! I don't use pose stands usually, though, since I'm usually taking pictures in places where I can't build; one of those interesting side notes to taking pictures in the Second Life wild. My wearable lighting is another one of my little quirks, though I don't always use it - World's End, like a lot of places - has a lot of alpha plants which makes editing my lighting as I go a bit of a challenge.

The outfit, by the way, is an adorable one from Dilly Dolls - I love the drawing on the chest, and I'm particularly fond of the included armwarmers. It seemed like a fun and flirty outfit, rather something more serious and straight-laced like a lot of my Lolita clothing can be. The SLink boots are actually mesh - I caved and bought mesh thigh high boots because OMG gorgeous - so for fully half of Second Life I look like I'm walking around without feet. Yay!

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Kei - Cream
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Bold Coal and Red
Lipstick: L Fauna, Red 2
Jewelry: Axiom, Anthropic Principle Necklace - Ruby
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Trish Hair - Flaming Cherry
Wings: TERHO, Elda - Red
Dress: Dilly Dolls, Striped Puca Dress - Red
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: SLink, Tall Leather Thigh Boots (Mesh) - Black

Poses: Glitterati

Location: World's End Garden
Light Settings: TOR, SCIFI - Conciergist
Water Settings: TOR, Negative Ultraspace

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

I Can Haz Promoshunz: Demon

I have a glorious set of pictures this time, with some really fun combination of promotional items! One nice thing about promotional items is that I'm often confronted by things I wouldn't normally wear - and trying to turn it into a cohesive, attractive look can really push me. In this case, a top that isn't quite my style, and a dress that I like but probably wouldn't have thought to use this way, are combined into a fluid whole. The top is from De La Soul and is a Limited Edition version of a new top she's coming out with - called The Seeker and this is the Tomoyuki version. It comes with a HUD to change the textures of the obi and the catches; the obi changes to a variety of shades, most of them dark, and the catches change through a variety of colors, including gold, green, and the red shown here.

The "skirt" part is actually part of a dress from Paris Metro - a store which does gorgeous fancy gowns, often quite daring and sexy. In addition to the central skirt, it also included a variety of leg-attached pieces for the skirt, which is a touch I always like. I didn't keep the central red skirt, because it layered strangely with the alpha in the textured skirt, but I love how the prims are canted and swirl in interesting ways as you move and pose. The mouth-jewelry is from Acide!, and I have become a necklace-in-your-mouth convert. I had to do a little fitting of the jewels around the cheeks, but since it's a modable necklace it took only a minute or two to do. I love the effect of the stones hanging out like that; a charming and funny idea, and a great way to add a necklace to a nigh-necked outfit!

The skin is a gorgeous fae-style design from mythic that comes with and without sparkles (I'm wearing with, of course - who do you think I am?). The gray is a lot of fun, and I really enjoy the bright colors of the other versions of the skin included. They'll be a small army of pastel, sparkled fae set loose upon the grid! There are matching eyes, too, but I couldn't find a red pair that worked with the rest of my planning, so I ended up using Flare eyes from De La Soul (not promotional).

The hair from Me. is a lot of fun, and very floofy, which I enjoyed! I don't normally wear big, fluffy hair, but I thought the style suited this quasi-Japanese/sexy dress shift. The bangs are nice and heavy, but they are partly alpha so your eyelashes with fight with them (hence no eyelashes in these pictures!). There isn't any movement on this hair, though, so keep that in mind if you love movement in your hair. The poses are another bit of fun! I used a mix of promotional poses from EverGlow (which really gives good pose!) and Apple Spice, which I'm still getting to know as a pose-maker. EveryGlow tends to do solid, smooth pose set with a mix of different levels of pose, from sitting to standing. Apple Spice's big strength seems to be sexy, canted poses which go well with the single slit of my skirt (but less well with the fitted obi).

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: mythic, Maeve ~ Fire ~ Ash (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Flare
Lipstick: la petite morte, Red Stripe Lips
Jewelry: Acide!, Dead Pearly Kiss V.2 (promotional item)
Hair: Me., Kara - everything (promotional item)
Wings: Favole, Cawthorne Vermillion
Top: De La Soul, The Seeker - Tomo (promotional item)
Gloves: Eclectica, "Swoon" crimson
Skirt: Paris Metro, Carnation Salsa Gown - ruby (promotional item)
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: Nadia, Okobo Red

Pose: Apple Spice and EverGlow (promotional items)

Location: Annon, The Gate
Light Settings: TOR, Suppression Band
Water Settings: TOR, Linear Puddles

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only

Color Challenge: Week Forty-six - Brick Red

It took me a little while to find an outfit for this color challenge, especially coming fast on the heels of firebrick. I ended up with an entire costume put together which I ended up remaking when I remembered a pair of G Field shoes I hadn't been able to fit into my firebrick outfit - though I have to admit I ended up more chocolatey than brickey! In the right light, though, it matches up to the boots, and I think the final effect is quite glorious. I adore this "open" boot style - with the cuff and shoe visible beneath. I'm hoping she'll come out with some more shoes, though her most recent empire waistline dress is completely luring me into spending more than I should!

The dress and hair ornament is from Ruru Pino, and is completely gorgeous and charming. I love the chocolate roses, and the framework of the skirt is amazing. I love the quality of Ero-Lolita, where the hoop skirt is visible with the ruffles tucked in underneath. The key is included, and I love how it looks just like molded chocolate! My only wish, and it is a small detail, is that the neck ruffle had a solider center - something molded-looking like the key; I think a simple collar of some sort would have really finished it beautifully.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, Roomee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeliner: Adam n Eve, Hepsut
Lipstick: Skinthesis, Liquid Heat Expensive
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Autumn - brown/gold
Eyelashes: Flugeln Brise, Eyelash 05
Ears: Illusion, Mystic Ear
Hair: Raspberry Aristocrat, Red Fireweed
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Ruru Tear, Chocolat au Rhum
Ring 1: Alchemy Immortalis, Nestling Finger
Ring 2: Earthstones, Eternal Blossom Ring - Bouquet
Shoes: G Field, Open Boots "Vilda" - brick

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Chocolate Serenity
Light Settings: TOR, DUSK Apts

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping only