SL Disney Bound – Week Fifteen: Boo

For the Disneybound challenge this week, Boo from Monsters Inc, I ended up dressing it up quite a bit so I don't look very much like a young child frightened of the monsters under her bed, but it is nighttime when they'd be most likely to show up. I'm beginning to experiment more with shadows, and I am really, really loving the effect. This time I ended up taking pictures at my home so that I could play around with windows and moonlight, and ended up being very glad I could rez something to stand on - it's hard to place oneself into a narrow band of light. The effect is incredible, though - lights glean, shadows bend naturally over cloth and skin, the images almost seem to glow from within. I'm completely blown away with how transformed the images I can take in Second Life are by this - how much more natural they seem all with a single change we usually don't even think about.

To mimic Boo's hairstyle, I pulled up this amazing old hairstyle from Wasabi Pills with pug tails and enormous bows. It's an old favorite and really demonstrates the quality of her work over time. In place of a loose, oversized pink shirt, I pulled on this dress I got at Second Life's Tenth Birthday, a gorgeous ruched, beribboned confection from Ala Folie with an amazing red ribbon pattern over the fabric. I was astonished at how it lit up under the moonlight, as well - looking almost like it was made of satin. In place of the tights Boo wears, I tinted a pair of pants from Poised to tuck under my dress and into my cute little socks from G Field, like her socks. My one wish is I had sock tinters for my SLink feet so that I could have a nicer shape for them - the default Second Life foot is so ugly in so many ways. The final touch - not part of Boo's look but an addition for the far more evening-dress meets stay at home chic were these pearls from Eclectica - a really gorgeous and simple set that ties the whole look together.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Trish
Eyes: De La Soul, Mesh Eye Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Eclectica, Pearm Mixables
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Princess Nails
Dress: Ala Folie, Brigitte rose (free at SL10B)
Pants: Poised, Dreams Pants (tinted)
Socks: G Field, Layerable Ruffle Socks

Pose: Adorkable Poses

Location: My Home
Light Settings: TOR, NIGHT That Spells Moon 4
Water Settings: TOR, Eyeballin'

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Blog the Beat # 4: Girls Just Wanna Have Fun

Girls Just Wanna Have Fun by Cindy Lauper

 I come home in the morning light
My mother says when you gonna live your life right
Oh mother dear we’re not the fortunate ones
And girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

The phone rings in the middle of the night
My father yells what you gonna do with your life
Oh daddy dear you know you’re still number one
But girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have

That’s all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls – they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun

Some boys take a beautiful girl
And hide her away from the rest of the world
I want to be the one to walk in the sun
Oh girls they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have

That’s all they really want
Some fun
When the working day is done
Girls – they want to have fun
Oh girls just want to have fun,
They want to have fun,
They want to have fun…

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Alice Project, Calamity
Eyes: De La Soul, Mesh Eye Rainbow
Cosmetics: MiaSnow, Blurr 4
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Primalot, Springhassprung
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Princess Nails
Dress: Hucci, Irece Dress
Feet: SLink, Mesh Feet

Pose: Glitterati, Ballet 6

Location: Fantasy Island
Light Settings: Phototools - Lo Gun Light
Water Settings: TOR, Eyeballin'

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday Meme: Proportional Challenge

About six or seven months ago I altered my avatar to be more proportional, which changed a few things slightly. In general, the idea behind Deoridhe's shape is a classic hourglass with my height and face - which means my shoulders are often wider than the average Second Life woman, and my hips are (relatively) more narrow. I also tend toward a tiny, tight, rear end - which is also very unusual and has effected what rigged mesh clothing I can wear. She also has, and continues to have, a belly, which is also highly unusual (often clothing will have the shading of a belly, but will not have the shape of it). I really like trying to make proportional avatars, something rendered more difficult by how the Second Life basic mesh is itself non-proportional - arms are too short, legs are too long, hands and feet are odd (I'm using SLink mesh hands and feet here).

Strawberry's Monday Meme this week is about our measurements - the series of numbers than make us ourselves. I think these numbers also reveal a basic aesthetic (at least on a stable main), where body shape, length, and curves reveal what we find attractive and how that is pressed into the shared, virtual reality of Second Life.

Proportions Challenge Questions:

1. Do you try and keep your avatar’s body proportionate and similar to the “average” proportions pictured in Strawberry's blogpost?
   Yes, it feels much more natural to me. The exceptions are all on my head - my head is larger than average, and my eyes are larger than average.


2. What do you dislike the most about the SL avatar mesh?
   I really dislike how you can't easily be proportional. I wish alternative meshes would be made available so that you could modify, for example, the petite avatar, or a giant one. I like being different sizes, but it's hard to loose my face and body proportions.


3. Does it bother you when you see other avatars that are not proportionate at all?
   Not really, though sometimes when the arms are very short and the legs are very long it gives me the giggles. I'm trying to be more open minded, though.


4. Even though this is a virtual world and people can be anything they want to be, do you feel when they are in human form, they should try to keep their proportions close to average?
   I think Second Life should make it easier - and it's entirely possible they might be. I've been struck, lately, by some of the very quiet changes they're making. I'd love more proportional variety, too - it seems so much like people tend to tall and thin, and I'd love to see more easy variety.

Under the Sea Expo: The Lost Pearls of Hanalei Hunt

Alina’s little sister Mishell thinks she’s been spending too much time in the Mermaid Palace and not enough time swimming in the sea where they live. To lure her out of the palace, she’s taken Alina’s favorite pearl necklace and hidden the pearls in some of her favorite underwater spots! Alina is busy preparing for a dance and she needs that necklace. Will you help her get it back?

The Hunt begins at the beginning; click it and you'll get a hint to the first store to find a pearl in. Each pearl gives you a hint to the next stop along the route, and you have to go in order - no skipping around! Each pearl also gives you the prize form the store, which means by the time you're finished, you'll have an amazing assortment of gifts and prizes. Each pearl also comes with a note from Mishell, explaining what she's doing and why - the first note is different, but the rest are the same.

Some stores have the pearl right out in the open, and others have tucked it behind things within their little stores, but it's never outside of their stores - so don't despair! As for finding the stores - which was my bugbear for the first half of the hunt - the directories all over list every store, and if you touch the store logo you get a teleport to the store itself.

You've been spending too much time staring into your mirror, sister, but I'm going to help you love our sea again!

The Lost Pearls of Hanalei: How did these KITTYCATS get under the water? I though cats didn't like to swim, but I guess I was wrong!

Yay! You found another pearl! The next pearl will be even harder to find because I want to you enjoy the sea!

Find exotic plants for your sea garden at FANTASY FLORA.

There are some beautiful fins at TARNISHED! Just watch out for the sea witch!

I saw some beautiful furniture for the palace at LIVING THE FANTASEA!

If you're looking for a unique new look, try HOUSE OF RAIN and BEAUTIFUL FREAK. They have some great mer makeups and more!

Something mystical is under the sea at BANDS OF CYPHER. Where did these creatures come from?

Horses aren't usually something you find in the sea, but the horses at AMARETTO BREEDABLES have adapted to the area and this is one of my favorite places to visit. (Very difficult to find, but it is there, I promise.)

The ocean is teeming with sea life over near OCEANIA BREEDABLES. While you're there, why not swim with the sharks?

Find your fins at MER-CHANDISE COVE!

There are amazing gardens and schools of fish at MEADOWWORKS! You should visit them!

Not everyone under the sea is a mermaid! NDIVER is where humans that love the sea come - since they need special equipment to breathe down here.

A ship sunk long ago over BOUDOIR, and ever since then you can find the most eerily beautiful fashions and hair there. I hid a pearl there because I think you'll love their style!

If you're looking for some beautiful plants for the palace, try AQUATICS! They have pretty decor!

If you are looking for something amazing and fantastical to wear to the dance, try THE MUSES!

If you want to try your hand at mermaid crafts, UNREPENTANT has some nice materials!

No-Copy, Eaten by Second Life - the title said it was a 20 M Orca, so it sounds cool.

If you'd like to study the creatures that live here - and in oceans far away - check out THE CETELOGICAL MUSEUM. It's amazing!

The sea gardens have gotten a lot more vibrant lately since BOTANICAL joined the ocean fun! You should see their sea grasses - they're perfect for running your fin through!

If your fin could use an update, try LUNASEA!

There are beautiful fins at ZOHEE'S MERMAID DESIGNS.

Do you remember the Seahorse Fountain near EVIE'S CLOSET?

The fashions at :{MV}: are more modern than a lot of our stuff, and they really are stunning! (Also difficult to find, but it is there I promise.)

Find some curiousities at CURIO OBSCURA. Their tentacles are really friendly!

Explore more of the mer world with TWO MOON PARADISE.

Some mystical plants of the deep sea are at CERRIDWEN'S CAULDRON. They're beautiful, but watch out for those clams - they can be tempermental!

For a great new mer look, try FIOR DI PERLE!

You found the LAST PEARL! CONGRATS!

This place is beautiful. Arina really should look around here sometime.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Secrets Hair, Pouty
Hat: Unrepentant, Release the Krane Top Hat (Under the Sea Expo)
Eyes: De La Soul, Mesh Eye Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Monarch Nails
Mermaid: Curio Obscura, Steampunk Mermaid - Rusty (Under the Sea Expo)

Pose: Curio Obscura, Mermaid AO

Location: Under the Sea Expo
Light Settings: Places Las Legunas
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Under the Sea Expo: Day in the Sun

The Under the Sea Expo continues, and I took this chance to show off an awesome wetsuit (all texture) and the cutest swimming kitty cat. The Wetsuit, from Totally Tintable Tops, is really well textured, from the curves of rubber over the hips, the contrasting colors across the suit, and the fun sole on the suit which shows textured feet. I particularly like how the torso is a duller, less glossy surface, while the hips and legs are really shiny - the mixing of texture is really fun, and keeps it from being too flat. I did wish there were appliers for my SLink hands and feet, so the shapes could be better under the rubber, and a collar edge would have been nice to finish off the suit, but overall I really like this, and it's definitely in my inventory to stay. The swimming kitty cat is an adorable gift from KittyCatS and really represents the breedable company well while also being of high value for non-breeders and people without land. It has a bubbler, so as it moves it breaths out, and it floats around me in a ring. I thought it was totally adorable, and now I'm seriously considering breaking out some more of my vast inventory of fish from Seven Seas fishing to show off to everyone. The poses are all from !bang, and so is the surfboard - it was an old freebie and it totally came in handy. I am not a beach bunny kind of girl, but the fact I could find these boards and enjoy the included poses was a reminder of why my inventory remains so vast; I never know what I will need in the future!

This is my first photoshoot with shadows, and I am already hooked. I can see why it would be difficult to walk around with these settings, but I am really struck by how awesome they made my pictures look. Remember, I never do any photoshopping, so these images are raw out of Second Life, and the effects are jaw-droppingly gorgeous, in my (not so) humble opinion. I'm really looking forward to playing further with them in a studio setting as well, where I can control the light sources explicitly and try out some of the effects I've seen other people try out. What I really liked was how I could have the shadows of objects and the shadows of my figure overlap, just like they do offline; it adds a verisimilitude which is difficult to deny. The two downsides I've discovered so far is that it significantly adds to my lag - not too surprising - and there was an odd effect with my mesh attachments when they became blocky and distorted. For the latter, a manually cleared cache cleaned the problem right up, but for the former my only choice is to turn the shadows off.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Veronica
Eyes: De La Soul, Mesh Eye Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Sunburn: Fallen Gods, Winter Flush
Lips: Izzie's, Dry Lips 3
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Wetsuit: Totally Tintable Tops, WetSuits (Under the Sea Expo)
Pet: KittyCatS, Summer Splash (Under the Sea Expo)

Poses: !bang

Location: Isle of Amras Roleplay
Light Settings: Places Las Legunas
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Under the Sea Expo: Sea Witch

The Under the Sea Expo has begun, which you probably know if you've been watching the feeds, and it is glorious. The one thing I missed during the Fantasy Faire was an undersea sim - even the watery ones were well above ground - and this expo is feeding that need in spades. There is also an awesome storyline hunt which I'll be covering more in depth soon, I promise. Many of my favorite stores are here, and even more stores I don't know but which blew me away from the beginning; even if you aren't usually a mer, this is an event not to be missed.

I made my big splash with this incredible mermaid set from Tarnished, one of several being sold at the Expo. It is prim, working around the mesh of the legs to form a single tail, and with an enormous fantail at the end. It moves beautifully, especially with the little hip fins, though there is the usual difficulties with working with alpha. I wonder sometimes if Second Life will ever address those - they can be truly troublesome. It comes with fingernails for the system hand, bright red talons suitable for ripping out the throats of even the most difficult sailor. In order to make myself suitable for the public gaze, I added this amazing top from The Muses' release for this Expo - you'll see more of it in the future, I promise. The long sleeves also come from The Muses; they are called gloves, but i can easily pair them with my usual SLink hands and they look simply stunning. The scale pattern along the arm (applied with a glove layer) fits so well with the Tarnished tail that it seems like they were made for each other.

To complete my transformation from mild mannered Faerie to vicious and alluring Siren, I leaned heavily on tattoos and cosmetics. I wanted to maintain the illusion that I could actually be under water, so everything but the tail and my hair was skin tight, and so I marked up my face and torso with some of the more theatrical releases from Nuuna, who is sublime for unusual and striking cosmetics. The lips are from my solid-color go to store, Adore & Abhor, a perfect dark red with a delicate curve. Finally, to fill out my shoulders and torso, I pulled out a tattoo released ages ago from Silentsparrow, which is a layered pattern of curls across the entire length of my body, though the leg ones are well covered by my scales. It actually has a color tintable layer, which I made a rich crimson to match the rest of my look. Finally, Wasabi Pills graciously offered up one of her hairs in Flaming Cherry to finish off the effect - a Siren bathed in blood was born.

As those of you who have been mer know, they offer a specific challenge when it comes to Animation Overiders and Poses because the legs have to remain together in order for the tail effect to be maintained (mesh tails sometimes have more leeway, but even they can be distorted by parted leg animations). For my AO, I dug deep into my inventory and pulled out a really fun one from Falln Angel Creations, which comes with each of his mermaids - he also has a more extensive AO for sale at his store. For static poses I did a quick run around the Marketplace, and while I ended up mostly using poses from Chisa Creation, Hopscotch has some lovely other ones made to go with a mesh tail, and some of the water poses from Glitterati (closing soon) worked beautifully as well.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Hawk2
Eyes: Nomine, Stained Eyes
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Face Tattoo: Nuuna, Warp
Lipstick: Adore & Abhor, Shreveport Lips
Chest Tattoo: Nuuna, Meta Red 70%
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Bikini: The Muses, Siren Red (Under the Sea Expo)
Torso Tattoo: Silentsparrow, Tenebrae Tendrils
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Orc Inc, Goth Nails
Mermaid: Tarnished, Fire Coral Mermaid (Under the Sea Expo)

Pose: Various

Location: Under the Sea Expo
Light Settings: TOR, Sunrise - Ultimate
Water Settings: NB, Turbud Reflections

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Twisted Color Challenge: Week 25: Royal Maple

I went a lot more muted than the given Royal Maple for this weeks twisted color challenge, but I ended up really liking what I pulled together, and had a lot of fun exploring the Kingdom of Jordan to take some muted, rosy pictures. I don't feel particularly muted, which is one thing that makes these pictures so funny; they are so not a reflection of how I'm feeling lately, and yet I find them very soothing, like a warm bath or sunlight on a windy day. The inspiration for this muted serenity was this really fun dress from Lassitude and Ennui which I never thought I would like - and I am so glad I was wrong about that. It combines a lighter shade of the brown on the top, in a sort of sweet cream, with the blue on the bottom, in an icy soft winter sky blue. I ended up matching the creamy brown color to my hair, from Wasabi Pills - a perennial favorite with an adorable braid. The braid is rigged mesh, but the flyaway bits around the face aren't, which means they move separately.The final bit of cream comes from these amazing wrapped heels from SLink, which go with her medium height feet. I love the threaded design; I remember another shoe tied with ribbon from years ago which I wish now I'd picked up, and this shoe is reminiscent of them, though more edgy. There is at least one other store now making shoes for this foot, and I really hope the affiliate program which has gone so well with her nails will be picked up for her feet, since I love open toes shoes so very much.

Since the skirt of the dress is so much longer, I limited the blue and kept it mostly around my head. First there is the eyeshadow, from Elymode, which actually is a blue/brown combination to go with the overall theme. I used a very pale lip from Mock in order to mute down the natural pink of my skin's lips; much as I love the setup from De La Soul, in this case it seemed too bright. Then I added this incredible new release from Eclectica for the Genre event. It's an Art Deco inspired set, and I really love the clean, simple lines which echo some shoes she made ages ago. I'm probably going to try to pull together an entire twenties style outfit sometime soon, and these are the perfect inspiration for it. Finally my nails, both hands and feet, are tinted with one of Adore & Abhor's amazing nail sets; I considered briefly using contrasting colors, but I ended up liking this icy blue as a subtle reminder of the dual colors making up this twisted challenge.

I've been reworking my social media in the past couple of days, finally giving in and making a Google+ (G+) account. It's silly really, especially since everyone knows me as Deoridhe so I don't expect anyone to know who Deirdre is, but with Google's forced combination of blogger, YouTube, and GMail, where on the latter two I was constantly getting spammed with G+ sign ups such that I accidentally signed up twice, I figured I'd give them what they want and hopefully they'd leave me alone. Bully logic, but in many ways internet corporations are the biggest bullies, and we play in their playgrounds. So far, I'm not sending out any notices on G+ as there seems to be no way to well... just put it out there; all communications seem to be directed, and that feels too much like spam for me - ironic, since I effectively spam my blog on Plurk. I also signed up to Tumblr, mostly so I could reblog things I liked and stop bookmarking them all. I'm planning to use it as a more off-the-cuff saving center for things which grab my attention, rather than a blog per se, but I plan to announce my posts on there assuming it isn't too much of a pain.

None of these are connected to my main email account; in fact I've been taking steps to divorce as much as I can from that account, so that I have things nicely compartmentalized and organized. It's harder than you would think; I tend to use dedicated web browsers for certain facets of my identity because none of the companies I interact with on the internet are at all interested in allowing for easy compartmentalization, despite the danger of having financial information, legal information, and what videos I like to watch all cross-indexed, especially since they're at vastly different scales of sensitive and private. I don't particularly care who knows Labyrinth is my favorite movie, but I'll be damned if my income is on the internet somewhere. I think the profound lack of respect for the reality that we all have differing levels of information we're comfortable with people having, and that compartmentalizing is actually a healthy and good thing to do, is part of my annoyance with how the internet is currently trying to work, so please - even on G+ where it can't be front and center - call me Deoridhe. That's who I am.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Lori
Eyes: Nomine, Stained Eyes
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Brown & Sky
Eyelashes: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Lipstick: Mock, Opal Lpcolor Chalky
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Silver Wheel, Candy Slices
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Shimmer Fades
Jewelry: Eclectica, Rhapsody (in Blue)
Dress: Lassitude & Ennui Patience
Feet: SLink, Medium Feet
Shoes: SLink, Lulu

Pose: Adorkable

Location: Kingdom of Jordan
Light Settings: Nacon's Dawn
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Blog the Beat #3: Don’t Stop Believing

This one took me forever. Between trying to find an outfit, trying to find a place, trying to find some focus, and trying to find and idea that wasn't completely reductive, I was stuck for so long. I'm glad I finally figured something else, but now I'm a couple songs behind on Blog the Beat, but I'm sure I'll catch up quickly. It's really fun to try to capture an idea, a feeling, originally embodied in song. This one is one of failed dreams, stale smells, and the thousand petty compromises we make in order to stay alive in a world who is far too often completely indifferent to us.

“Don’t Stop Believing” – Journey

Just a small town girl
Livin’ in a lonely world
She took the midnight train
Goin’ anywhere
Just a city boy
Born and raised in South Detroit
He took the midnight train
Goin’ anywhere

A singer in a smokey room
A smell of wine and cheap perfume
For a smile they can share the night
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlights, people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’, somewhere in the night

Workin’ hard to get my fill
Everybody wants a thrill
Payin’ anything to roll the dice
Just one more time
Some will win
Some will lose
Some were born to sing the blues
Oh, the movie never ends
It goes on and on and on and on

Strangers waiting
Up and down the boulevard
Their shadows searching
In the night
Streetlights, people
Livin’ just to find emotion
Hidin’, somewhere in the night

[Instrumental Interlude]

Don’t stop believin’
Hold on to the feelin’
Streetlights, people
Don’t stop believin’
Hold on
Streetlights, people

( Other Blog the Beat Pictures. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Giselle
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyeshadow 1: Mock, Pink (iced)
Eyeshadow 2: cheLLe, Mix and Match blue
Eyelashes: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Eclectica, Gathered Hearts Jewellery
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Orc Inc, Glitterslash
Top: Evie's Closet, Melusine
Corset: Deviance, Eros Jungle Corset (group gift)
Skirt: Mon Tissu, Oxford Pencil Skirt
Stockings: KCs No. 2 Black Lace
Boots: Lassitude & Ennui, Flutter Boots

Pose: Glitterati

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

SL Disney Bound – Week Fourteen: Vanellope Von Schweetz

I'm breaking one of my own rules, but it's for a good cause, so I hope you'll forgive me. First of all, the outfit for Vanellope Von Schweetz was really a struggle - not only was I not familiar with the source material, but the style was so clear and so not what I wear; I am not a casual dressed in Second Life. Granted, I'm not all ball gowns all the time, but my style definitely skews Gothic Lolita with frills and bits, so the hoodie in particular just caused me no end of trouble - but more on that in a bit. The rule break has to do with these amazing shoes. I seriously tend to try to sit on things until they're released so people can hopefully find them. This isn't the case for some limited edition things that I wear in the course of making an outfit, but if something is going to be for sale, I try to not photograph it until it is for sale.

And then I saw these shoes.

The whole outfit was done, with a different set of shoes even, when I got these from Violent Seduction. They will - I promise - be for sale soon. I love them. I love them like a loving thing who loves. I particularly love that the heel is recolorable in various kinds of stripes and solids, so you can match them to an outfit, and the star is also recolorable to a variety of metals. I am a huge fan of customizability, but more than that I adore the shape of them, the curve down to the star, and the fact I'm literally walking on stars. They are unrigged mesh, and I ended up making them just a little bigger and they fit perfectly.

So I'm sorry. They should be on sale soon. Please don't hate me!  

(I just checked, they're on sale. That whole rant was useless. Why do I not check things first? I'm leaving it because I think it's funny; enjoy.)

The rest of my outfit is a study in compromises and inventory hunting. The hair was another late addition, from D!va and for sale at Collobor88, and I found it when I was trying to find a hoodie that I swore got made but I couldn't find except for some concept pictures, which took up the better part of an evening; I tell you, I bled for this look and it's nothing like her. I was sold when I saw the adorable red bow, though, and into my inventory (and onto my head) it went. I literally don't know where the candy came from - it's from Evie's Closet, but I have no memory of getting it even though I adore it and am now craving old fashioned lollipops. The hoodie was actually a prize from Forsaken for one of the Twisted Hunts, and there is nothing like it for sale in the store, and I think that is a crime - it is awesome, and I love the pattern, and why was it not modify-ok so I could tint it? Picture me pouting - this is a pouting faerie right here.What's moving me is an amazing new set of poses from Studio Sidhe for Genre, for the Art Deco theme, which I really adore. I'm all elegant and side-eyeing, sauntering all over Second Life's second birthday event.

The sole nod to Vanellope's teal hoodie is this shirt, stolen from a gorgeous dress from G Field which you have absolutely no hint of in the current outfit. She looks like a young to teenage girl, though, so it was very important to me - in addition to needing the teal - that I portrayed her fully dressed, even with otherwise somewhat scandalous accessories. Scandalous would be the miniskirt from Sn@tch, which is so outside of my comfort zone that I'm roughly in Poughkeepsie now, but the ruffly was perfect for the look and half a day in I was getting kind of desperate, and it's a really cute skirt, there's just much less of it than I'm used to. The stockings are another piece from a bigger set, from katat0nik, and were one of the few dual-legged stocking styles I could find; she actually has another dual legged style which is stripes on one side and hearts on the other, and I was desperately hoping for it in teal (when I saw it in pink on flickr) but no luck. See? Pouting faerie. I am not kidding when I say I went back at least a year through flickr looking for all kinds of things and finding none of it for sale - this was a nightmare.

Also very funny in hindsight.

Other funny things in this picture set? My wandering eyes because I couldn't use my facial animation HUD. I have not forgotten how annoying all that is, oh no I haven't.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: D!va, "Lili" (Collobor88)
Candy: Magic Candy Stash
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyelashes: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Silver Wheel, Candy Slices
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Nine Inch Nails, Colorful
Hoodie: Forsaken, Delirium Smoked Hoodie (Twisted Hunt Gift)
Shirt: G Field, Classic Dress "Clea"
Skirt: Sn@tch, Ruffled Mini Skirt
Stockings: katat0nik, Lunar Dragon
Shoes: Violent Seduction, Tacky

Poses: Studio Sidhe

Location: SL10B: Turtle Stage
Light Settings: TOR, MIDDAY Coral Reef
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday Meme: Weird Questions

Strawberry gives us another easy meme, with a bunch of fun (and invasive, and funly invasive) questions to answer. I have to admit, I like these memes a lot because I can post whatever pictures I have handy, and answer the questions, and flail wildly, and get lots of people looking at, well, this post at least. I am simultaneously amused and disturbed by how with this blog, more than any other I've done, I desire feedback and acclaim, to hear people say I make good things, and to get comments. Who would think such a little thing would become so crucially important to me.

1. Which was the last sim you visited? (Other than your home) Dark Midday Designs. I was following various Flickr-hints to try to find stockings with different things on each leg. Speaking of - creators, stockings with different things on each leg? Please?


2. Does your avatar look like the real you? Yes and no. She looks like I might look thinner, though the fingers and toes are too long. The rest of her proportions I based off of me, including my eyes which are these weird things where the bottom is almost flat and the top is a half moon. My eyebrows are harder to put in place, same with my nose (the shape is right, but I have a dimple on it), and my dimples - all of them require the cooperation of skin or tattoo, and I haven't been able to replicate it.


3. Do you wear underwear/panties underneath your clothing when out and about on the grid? Yes, when otherwise I would show. When I have an invisalayer covering, I don't.


4. If you won a million linden dollars, what would be the first thing you buy inworld? Land. I'd love to have a sim to play with, to decorate and make into something beautiful.


5. Have you ever bought something in SL and then realized afterwards that you had already owned it from before? Absolutely. katat0nik freebies and cheapies were a particular bane. Now I tend to search my inventory when I buy anything other that new releases.


6. Have you ever done anything in Second Life that would be considered illegal in real life? Nope, I don't think so, unless you count roleplay - I have a violent, demonic alt.


7. If you could go out on a date with any other avatar, who would it be? A date-date, or just to get to know them? I'm not so sure about who, though... I don't really think about strangers that way outside of joking references of celebrities I think seem interesting or neat. I have a few people who I envy for their circle of friends, because they seem really fun and supportive, but that doesn't seem like the same thing.


8. Who, in your opinion, was the greatest avatar to ever slive? Man... you don't ask easy questions.For me personally, it's Rowan Scarborough, who brought me to Second Life, but I think in terms of Second Life that AM Radio had some of the biggest splash in terms of what we could do with mood and art in Second Life, and Bryn Oh is bringing some of the most complex and interesting builds in Second Life right now. We almost won't have fashion blogging as we know it without Salome Strangelove, either, which given what I do is influenced by her - however distantly - is significant. One of the things about Second Life, though, is that it is so broad and far-reaching that it's difficult for a single figure to stand out or make much of a splash. Someone else will look at this list and not recognize a single name, while others will be shocked I leave out people who are closer to me in relevance.


9. What is the most embarrassing thing you’ve ever done inworld? I got a baby unicorn... for free. Those who know what I'm talking about, know why it's embarrassing. Though I should say, I made an alt do it - the aforementioned demonic one. 


10. If your avatar had a mind of its own, what do you think it would say to you? So.... where's that fairytale castle in Underhill I deserve?

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Giselle
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyeshadow 1: Mock, Pink (iced)
Eyeshadow 2: cheLLe, Mix and Match blue
Eyelashes: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Eclectica, Gathered Hearts Jewellery
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Orc Inc, Glitterslash
Top: Evie's Closet, Melusine
Corset: Deviance, Eros Jungle Corset (group gift)
Skirt: Mon Tissu, Oxford Pencil Skirt
Stockings: KCs No. 2 Black Lace
Boots: Lassitude & Ennui, Flutter Boots

Poses: Glitterati

Location: The Last Stop
Light Settings: Raymond's Sunrise
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Twisted Color Challenge: Week 24 - Gleefully Fresh

She walks in beauty, like the night

Of cloudless climes and starry skies,

And all that's best of dark and bright

Meets in her aspect and her eyes;

Thus mellow'd to that tender light

Which Heaven to gaudy day denies.

For Gleefully Fresh, I ended up being inspired by a recent release from Violent Seduction - these awesome sailor tops with matching bloomers - and some of the prizes from the Arcade Event. It's a much more skin-showing than my usual, and I ended up making some modifications to my shape to match it - largely in the hips department, as my base shape is an hourglass and not a pear - but I think it looks really fun and almost sassy. It moves well; the bow is rigged to the torso, so when you have a bending pose, it bends with you, which can look really cool... or really strange. Hee hee. It is finished along most of the edges, along the inside of the collar and the inside of the shorts, which makes taking pictures in it a snap. I echoed the yellow of Gleefully Fresh also in my shoes, tintable wedges from katat0nik which meant I could match both colors perfectly. The shoes, heel and bands, and bow are all tintable separately through a very ingenious HUD which also offers texture changes. I'm also wearing a locket from katat0nik's Arcade gatcha machine; I ended up getting every single common (abotu half of them at yard sales) and htis is a particularly cute teal one which brought in the second color in Gleefully Fresh rather nicely. 

One shade the more, one ray the less,

Had half impair'd the nameless grace

Which waves in every raven tress

Or softly lightens o'er her face,

Where thoughts serenely sweet express

How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

My other main source of teal (besides my gorgeous wings from Fancy Fairy which I rarely take off) are items from two separate Gatchas at the Arcade Event, but both releases from Half-Deer. The Unicorn Ears and Horn (modifiable so you can match them to your own head) are much more popular than these really cute tails (which come separately and as a matched set - I thought the set was cute), so they're easier to find at the various yard sales across the grid, but I ended up really liking the tails a lot, and may end up outfitting an alt with them full time. I have a lot of alts, and they all have themes, and one of them is a unicorn - though at the moment she's a full blown, very old fashioned furry unicorn. Giving her a more human alternative could be really fun. Once I was decked out as a shy girl unicorn, I ended up finding this rather ghastly and Gothic sim with all kinds of bodies... and I was instantly inspired by the thought of a poor unicorn finding herself in a castle after a viscous massacre, trying desperately to find survivors and finding nothing. I am a sad, sad unicorn.

And on that cheek and o'er that brow 

So soft, so calm, yet eloquent, 

The smiles that win, the tints that glow, 

But tell of days in goodness spent,— 

A mind at peace with all below, 

A heart whose love is innocent.

                                        ~Lord Byron

 

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Creamer
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Haley
Unicorn Bits: Half-Deer, Sweet Dreams Unicorn (Arcade Event)
Flowers: Sugar, Sunny Blossom Sprout
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow
Eyeshadow 1: Mock, Gold (iced)
Eyeshadow 2: cheLLe, Mix and Match blue
Eyelashes: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: katat0nik, Pocket Watch (Arcade Event)
Hands: SLink, Enhanced Mesh Hands
Nails: Adore & Abhor, Fluttershy (promotional)
Top: Violent Seduction, Yellow Sailor Top
Belly Ring: Earthstones, Chakra
Bottoms: Violent Seduction, Unripe Bloomers
Tail: Half-Deer, Blossom Tail (Arcade Event)
Shoes: katat0nik, Aya Wedge

Poses: Glitterati

Location: SiniStyle Design - Main Store
Light Settings: TOR, SUNSET Blue Inspiration (moded)
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only