CLOCKWORK LOVE

If you haven't gone yet, the Clockwork Spiral fundraiser is running through October 1st, so you still have a few more days to combine you love of charitable giving with your passion for everything steam/diesel/goth/punk/Victorian or whatever combination of those bits gets you all tingly. I love fusions and creative anachronism, so this kind of thing makes me happy. I also love that it benefits the National Kidney Foundation. Win-win!



Sometimes I get frustrated with my self-imposed guideline: I try not to use more than three pictures in a post to keep it short and sweet. Sometimes that means jettisoning the medium sized views or portraiture, so I can show details like these coggity eyes. Didn't you didn't realize I am one of the automata?



And I have to say, these boots look tough enough to survive whatever comes next, whether its a dirigible disaster or the rising of the undead next month. (October is coming, after all.) Are you ready?

Hat: Deco "Officer's Cap"
Jacket and Belt: Senzafine "Echelon" (at Clockwork Spiral)
Cravat: To-a-T "Ravenswood Regency Cravat" (vintage)
Pants: Silentsparrow "Severin Suit Pants" (part of outfit)
Boots: House of Rain "Decadencia Boots" (at Clockwork Spiral)
Ponytail: booN "DRJ224"
Hairbase: booN "gathered mid hairbase black"
Skin: Essences "The Greek Goddess"
Eyes: Chop Shop "Gear Creature 1" (at Clockwork Spiral)
Lashes: by LeLutka
Hands: by SLink
Poses: by Frooti and Juxtapose

Love,
Serene

WASTELANDS WILLOW

Another spanking new roleplay outfit from FATEplay has me excited to pop over to the Wastelands but I don't have time yet! I'll get there but I wanted to photograph it for you first. I added a skanky old hat a la Clint Eastwood.



I'll leave you to guess whether I am the "Good" or the "Bad". (No one could be the Ugly in this "Greek Goddess" skin, a new release over at Essences.) Either way, it's a fair bet there is a pistol hidden on my person somewhere.



Shirt/Coat/Pants/Belt: FATEplay "Willow" (new)
Necklace: Enfant Terrible "Midsomer Dream" (gacha)
Hat: Deco "Gunslinger Hat"
Shoes: Deco "Trail Boot"
Hairbase: Aitui "Etched Hair Base - Waves"
Skin: Essences "The Greek Goddess" (new)
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Pose: by Picture This

Love,
Serene

JOINING THE DREAM ARMY

The Captain's Coat isn't a very practical item of dress but that's probably why I like it so much. Most officers don't have ten spare minutes every morning to dedicate to lacing up. :D  ... I hope you don't mind that I tinted the inner shirt a Plum color, it used to be gray with royal blue piping. Still available a little longer over at the Victorian edition of Genre.



And these lovely suede boots! They come either plain or with the fabulous metallic tooling on the cuffs. Perfect for space pirates, or high elves in middle-earth. You'll be seeing me in these again I promise.



Jacket: 14-FL-OZ "Captain's Coat" (at Genre)
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui "Paramour Boots" (new)
Hat: Deco "Officer's Cap"
Gloves: Tonktastic "Biker Gloves" (vintage)
Collar: Violent Seduction "Lenore" (vintage)
Pants: Sakide "Hippie Velvet Pants" (vintage vintage)
Weaponry: Seraphim Systems "The Countess"
Hair: Truth "Mina"
Skin: Essences "Lorde" (at the Dressing Room)
Lipstick:  Essences "VF lips 07" (vintage, literally, from the 2012 Vintage Fair LOL)
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: Label Motion "TDR Mix" (at the Dressing Room)

Love,
Serene

OCTOBER!

I hope you appreciate the restraint it took for me to hold the Halloweeny posts until October. I love it!



For instance, there is this makeup tattoo from Mock cosmetics, a group gift that as of yesterday was still available in their group history ... are you looking for your Halloween costume yet?



O Isn't the lace on these shoes just Delicious? XD

Dress: Sassy! "Nicole"
Shoes: Lassitude and Ennui "Alisha Lace Booties" (@ the Boutique)
Necklace: GField "Spider Choker" (vintage group gift)
Wings: Illusions "Demon Wings"
Hair: Deco "Hiveish"
Hairbase: by booN
Makeup: Mock "Tainted Love Zombie Makeover" (group gift in notices)
Skin: Essences "Amaterasu"
Eyes: Dead Apples "Anime - Glutton" (gacha)
Hands and Feet: by SLink
Poses: by Adorkable

Love,
Serene

RETURN TO INNSMOUTH

Well I figured if I was going to blog clothing with tentacles, I had to set up camera in Innsmouth. I haven't visited there for a while, and I'm happy to say that this happy little tourist spot has improved its ambiance since my last overnighter! Here's my first shot with a friendly native New Englander, we just met but it seems like we've been friends forever!



I couldn't resist an extra shot of their quaint old-timey seaport ...



I've been collecting these tentacle bits from Silentsparrow and Schadenfreude for a while, the collaborative vest and stockings have recently appeared at Fifty Linden Fridays. I thought this gorgeous Deco hair went with my antennae just perfectly. Really! Just don't miss the Deco booth at Hair Fair. I wanted to buy it all, but settled for a fatpack of this coif. (This odd angle I photographed just to show the hair from the side.)



Had to add a little nose-sushi. Actually this Nose Ring is a group gift from Epic, which color changes, but in green it looks like a little bit of something evil is escaping my sinuses. Eww.



Shirt: Schadenfreude "White Oxford Shirt"
Vest: Schadenfreude "Green Tentacle Deep V Vest" (past 50L Friday)
Tie: Schadenfreude "Octopus Electrocute Tie"
Culottes: The Sea Hole "Odette Culottes" (vintage)
Stockings: Silentsparrow "Tentacle Socks" (past 50L Friday)
Shoes: Violent Seduction "Tacky Shoes"
Nose Ring: Epic "Succubus Snake" (VIP group gift)
Tentacles: Silentsparrow "Grassies Head Tentacles" (vintage)
Hair: Deco "Hiveish (mold)" (now available at Hair Fair)
Skin: Essences "Cho" (browless version)(sorry the dramatic lighting hides it)
Lipgloss: Croire "Mischief Night Gloss Slime" (vintage)
Eyes: Rue "Grimalkin Firefly"
Poses: (I forgot to write these down oopsie)
Location: Innsmouth

Love,
Serene

WOMEN IN THE MILITARY

This month in the United States, women serving in the military have finally been offered the option to sign up for combat service. Its seems a dubious privilege, but I am glad that women now have the right to choose their own path in service, rather than having it dictated to them. But I suspect like most other decisions in the Capitol, the devil will be in the details. We'll see.



I realize that what I am wearing is not standard uniform for any army that ever existed, but it has the flavor. Most of the outfit was made by Gutterblood Spoonhammer over at Deco. These pieces are designed to be undemanding of sim resources, since they are good for roleplay. Many roleplay sims are laggy with scripted weapons and combat meter HUDs, so low script clothes are fab. I did put underneath some new cargo capris that were a recent release at Miel. These work well because they are the right length to wear with the boots. You can also wear them in camo.



Hat/Hair: Deco "Hers Fatigue Cap" (texture change several colors)
Jacket/Vest: Deco "Peacemaker Duster"
Pants: Miel "Cargo Pants Army" (texture change to solid or camo)
Gloves: Deco "Pilot Gloves"
Boots: Deco "Mud Boots"
Skin: Essences "Wednesday Dark" ( @The Dressing Room Fusion)
(caveat: I noticed a little seam on the left leg texture, but hey, it's only L$70!)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Del May and Marukin

Love,
Serene

SOMETIMES IT'S JUST A TRAIN

It is fun to notice the symbolism of your dreams, but sometimes a train is just a train. Now your nightmares, on the other hand, have a lot to teach.



It usually starts gently, and goes wrong from there. It's easy enough to climb aboard a rusty old train, just out of curiosity.



A lot of nightmares and horror movies are rooted in our fear that we are becoming mechanized, becoming cogs in some machine and later realizing that the machine serves some evil purpose. At first it seems just brilliant, we get caught up in all our own cleverness, and then it all goes off the rails. (Ever see "The Tommyknockers" based on Stephen King?)



The train goes faster and faster but I need to run and run to keep up or I will fall off ... (I know that seems wrong but dreams have their own rules)



I couldn't run fast enough and my heart is pounding insanely as I tumble back into the waiting wheat.

We are terrified of being mechanized, but I am convinced that in the future, people will be far more terrified of Nature. I think our grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be far too comfortable with the idea of interfacing with machines. Is resistance futile?

Jacket: Valentina E. "Bloused Sleeve Jacket" (new at Fameshed)
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui "Lazy Boots" (new at L'Accessoires)
Corset: NV "Tan Verne Mesh Corset" (new-ish)
Glasses: Deco "Mesh Atomic Sunglasses" (texture change lenses)
Earrings: Bliensen and Maitai "Industrial Revolution"
Ring: Earthstones "Kameron Ring"
Watch: DCCXXIII "W19 Watch" (inavailable)
Hat: To A T "Gents Steampunk Regency Top Hat" (unavailable)
Undershirt: Boudoir "Lace Bodice"
Pants: Pink Outfitters "The Editor Pant"
Socks: Schadenfreude "Leith Spat Socks" (tinted)(comes with boots)
Violin: Bang "Strolling Violin" Pose Prop (with built in pose)
Hair: Exile "Stay the Night"
Skin: Curio ":GP: Acorn [Dark] Party Girl - Bubbly 2"
Poses: by Bang, Frooti and HelaMiyo
Location: The Far Away by AM Radio

Love,
Serene

IN A BETTER MOOD

Even Catwoman is occasionally in a better mood, for example at Christmas. Grouchy and cynical most of the year, she over-compensates a little in December. (Okay, a lot.) Today she is ready to install a truly gargantuan outdoor lights display. It is so large, she must use a Grappling Hook to hang the decorations.



That's no problem because she recently purchased Deco's fully functional Grappling Hook and the accompanying heavy duty gloves, suitable for both climbing and rappelling.



LOL this post began as me trying to figure out what to wear with Mina's cat mask and hair, which is one of the fundraising items at the Together for Sway benefit. The accompanying texture-change HUD changes the Mask to five colors, and the hair to a half dozen candied colors. If you prefer normal haircolors, they are available but not also as part of the fundraiser.

Mask/Hair: Mina "Kat" (special edition for Together for Sway)
Shirt: mijn.t "Pepe is My Cat Boodysuit" (oooOoOold fave!)
Pants: The Abyss "Chaos Leather Pants"
Grappling Hook and Gloves: Deco "Grappling Belt and Gloves"(scripted)
Boots: Schadenfreude "Leith Boots" (mesh)(@Collabor88)(customizing HUD)
Ornament Mouthies: A. D. D. Andel "Mouth Ornaments" (Together for Sway)
Earrings: Schadenfreude "Jingle Bell Earrings" (oooOoOldie)
Skin: Glam Affair "Amberly Europa Frostbite" (@Collabor88)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Eyeshadow: Kooqla "Chameleon"
Poses: by Epiphany

Love,
Serene

CHRISTMAS GLAM

One unconventional outfit in traditional Christmas colors. I picked up the dress and jewels at the Christmas Expo. Honestly this may be the only outfit I show you from the event, because although there is plenty of fashion, the Expo is overflowing with other things I found more Exciting!! I will be showing you more this week! *Squee*!



This party dress from LIV-Glam is fabulous because it comes with a HUD that lets you change to NINETEEN different textures and also tint to fine-tune the color. Need I say more? You will definitely see it again soon. Today I picked a red texture to be seasonal. I layered it over a turtleneck and leggings because let's face it, baby it's cold outside!



You can read all about it at:  http://slchristmasexpo.wordpress.com/ .

Dress: LIV-Glam "Vintage Chic" (mesh)(texture change)(Christmas Expo)
Turtleneck: Aoharu "TurtleNeck Knit"
Leggings: Teefy "Lacey Black 2"
Boots: Lapointe and Bastchild "Elise"
Necklace/Earrings: Sax Shepherd Designs "Nebula Merry" (Christmas Expo)
Necklace: Sax Shepherd Designs "60s Celluloid Lipstick" (Christmas Expo)
Bracelets: Sax Shepherd Designs "Mesh Bangles Gold/Candy" (Christmas Expo)
Glasses: Deco "Swank Glasses"
Hair: Exile "Violetta"
Skin: PXL "Faith Old Hollywood" (VIP group gift!)
Poses: by Marukin

Love,
Serene

RETRO CHILD

Thinking back and enjoying the retro chic. I found this Schadenfreude dress at Collabor88 and I bopped over to the Artilleri sim to take pics with the retro houses. Takes me waaaay back.



When I purchased this dress I was planning to put together a sophisticated look with a patent purse and high heels, but then I noticed that in addition to the usual standard mesh sizes, the package included a childrens' sized dress, less curvaceous and a little longer than the womens' sizes. The childrens' size is the one I am wearing because I like the idea. :D There are also a couple of experimental versions that deform to your shape if you are using a particular test viewer, ... I haven't tried those yet. That will be nice for the non- 'standard' avatar shapes. I'm thinking of you, Khitten Kurka.



Dress: Schadenfreude "Downing Color Field Dress" (mesh)(Collabor88)
Shoes: Grasp "Summer Slippers" (group gift)
Doll: katatOnik "Heart Milk Doll" (gacha)
Hair: Deco "Mesh Hers Pigtails" (last 50L Friday)
Skin: Beetlebones "Karina" (old Collabor88)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Poses: by Animazoo and Lazy Places (unavailable)
Location: Artilleri

Love,
Serene

SWANK

The HANDverk shop at Culture Shock has brought a collection of Bahaus furnishings and jewels that will tempt all those of you that love modern styled decor. My favorites here are the Wassily Chair, inspired by a Marcel Breuer design, and the lovely silver tea service (a gift!). These and the beautiful chrome and glass table and torchiere lamp are just catnip.

Yes, the chair is inspired by one of those expensive designs that you mostly see in a sleek corporate suite, or maybe Architectural Digest. But what really interests me about the chair is the Animation. The seat of the chair is angled, not flat, and the designer used the opportunity to include intriguing poses that take advantage of the seat angle. I'm showing a couple of my favorites, but there are seven male, seven female, and five couples poses.

Chair: HANDverk "Wassily" (mesh)(at Culture Shock)
Tea Service: HANDverk "MT49 Set" (mesh)(gift at Culture Shock)
Shirt: Molichino "Issy Blouse" (mesh)(at Culture Shock)
Slacks: Onyx Wear "Mish Neon Aqua" (mesh)(Culture Shock benefit item)
Shoes: Your Skin and Your Shape "Brera" (at Culture Shock)
Ring: La Gyo "Cube Ring" (texture change)(Culture Shock benefit item)
Glasses: Deco "Swank Glasses"
Hair: Lamb "Witch"
Skin: Kooqla "Ojen"

Love,
Serene

PRESS POSER

I put on a reasonably low-prim and low-mesh outfit before popping over to visit Pose Fair, Starting with this eye-candy hat from Deco. From there I had to dress classy and vintage.

And a few of the animations I found? These three are from Flowey, Olive Juice and Long Awkward Pose.

... And these two from Frooti and Label Motion. Pose Fair is loaded with loads of chocolatey animation goodness, photography poses, active animations, dancing, pose props and photography sets of all sorts. A must see!

Hat: Deco "Press Fedora"
Jacket: Mon Tissu "Rockaby Blazer"
Shirt: Whippet and Buck "Diane Crochet-Collar Top"
Pants: Rebel Extravaganza "Wool Leggings"
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui "Wanderlust"
Hairbase: booN "Gathered Lower Hairbase"
Hair: YS&YS "Big Chignon Black"
Skin: Kooqla "Ojen"
Eyes: Ikon "Sunrise"
Lashes: Glow Studio "Innocent. eyelashes - pure"

Love,
Serene

THE ZOMBIES RETREAT

The Zombie Army will retreat after tonight! You have only a few more hours for the Zombie Popcorn Hunt. If you can't visit everyone, you can look at snaps of all the Hunt Prizes over at Seraphim, and chase your favorites first until time runs out!

Sweater: Insanya "Street Army Camo" (not a hunt gift sorry)
Pacemaker: Contraption "Heart's Pace" (Zombie Popcorn Hunt)
Helmet: Deco "Skull Bowl" (Zombie Popcorn Hunt)
Skin: Insanya "Zombie Popcorn Hunt Skin" (Zombie Popcorn Hunt)
Eyes: Repulse "Rotten v3" (Zombie Popcorn Hunt)

Love,
Serene

SEASON'S FAREWELL

Job well done (again!) for the all the shops and organizers of the Seasons Hunt, which has been one of the few must-do hunts in Second Life. I loved so much discovering a few new shops, squealing while I opened the boxes ... and knowing beforehand that none of the prizes would be junk. *happy sigh*

Last week I had this year's first real cold snap, so I wanted to try putting together one of those mega-layered-supa-primmy outfits that some (other) bloggers do so well. I tried combining three tops but the prims didn't work, so I took off the Teefy shirt. I stretched the heck out of the scarf to fit it around my hair. And oh yes, a slider diet to keep my bum from sticking out of my clothes.

Dressing warmly can be a lot of work. But so worth it.

Sweater: Pivaaca “Cable Knitting Vest” (Seasons Hunt)
Sweater Dress: Addict “Lucille Sweater Dress/Moss” (Seasons Hunt)
Leggings: Magic Nook “Indian Summer Leggings” (Seasons Hunt)
Hat/Hair: fri.day “Apple – Natural Ginger” (multicolor pack)(Seasons Hunt)
Scarf: Naith Smit “[NSD] Seasons Scarf” (Seasons Hunt)(very modified)
Purse: Epoque “Illusion Clutch – Afrique” (Seasons Hunt)
Boots: Deco “Madison Boots” (Seasons Hunt)(mesh)(tinted)
Skin: Tres Blah “(Pale) C88 Dewy Skin – Red Brows” (Collabor88)
Eyeliner: La Malvada Mujer “B.N. [black segment]”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

MORNING WALK

Messing about with shadows and depth of field for the first time. (Jumping up and down like a three-year-old) I wanted to photograph some landscape which makes for little bitty pictures, but if you click them you'll see the larger pics on Flickr.

I wore a dark undershirt under the sweater to help you see the detail of the crochet work. When I'm wearing several garments the same color I like to put in lots of texture. (The old art teacher used to say "unity in variety". The color has unity and the texture throws in some variety.) Today I'm letting the landscape have all the flashy color.

I really needed a walk in these trees.

There's nothing like those early fall days, with crisp cold morning air and sunshine at the same time!

I was jonesing for fall last night, and this morning at my house it was snowing a little. I should be careful what I wish for!

Shrug: mon tissu "Loire Knit Shrug"
Sweater: Ivalde "Radella"
Skirt: Jane "pencil.skirt.eliza.tan" (mesh)
Boots: Deco "Madison Boots" (mesh)
Hair: booN "YNO421"
Hairbases: by Exile and booN
Skin: Curio "Sweetheart"
Eyes: Fashism "Sunrise"
Poses: by Diesel Works and Long Awkward Pose
Location: Straylight

Love,
Serene

p.s. Yes I did modify my shape quite a lot to fit this outfit. the mesh skirt and boots were made for thinner legs though they leave some nice tush. And the sculpted shrug is made for someone with rather smaller chest than my usual. :) Mwah!

THE WANNABE VAMPYRE HUNTER

I'm gonna bag me a monster tonight.

I've been hangin' out in the cemetery all afternoon. But its getting close now.

With a fresh grave ready, there ought to be something bad stirring around.

But I sure hate the last half hour of waiting.

Just for laughs, today I am modeling a bare chested rockstar-wannabe vamp hunter. I laugh now, but I remember when I was a kid I was scared of things like vampires from watching the movies. But the monster hunters looked pretty stupid to me. Why didn't they just leave some donated IV bloodbags for the vampires? Why didn't they weld on steel collars that keep the vampire from biting their necks? Why did the women in these movies always trip over something when they were running away? Why do all the victims have to be so darn stupid all the time?!?

This outfit is mostly courtesy of the Make Him Over Hunt which is running through August 20. For more information, including a Teleport List and pictures of some of the Hunt Prizes, you may visit their website or join their inworld group. At the starting point you can also pick up a hint list.

Outfit: N1Co "VIC armor" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Boots: Deco "Mud Boots" (not a hunt prize)
Glasses: Air "Stella" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Hairbase: JOMO "etched hair 08a" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Skin: Prodigal "Ale_MHOH6_special_bald" (MHOH6 Hunt Prize)
Dagger: Harbinger and Stormie "Dagger of Faith" (with combat HUD, not a hunt prize)
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Location: Transylvania

Love,
Serene