ROSY

The other day I picked up this little dress at a new-to-me store called The Sinners Collective Crossroads. It balances the season-appropriate darker colors with some flowers to remind me that spring will come back. Eventually. I wore it layered over a black turtleneck because its so bloody cold. :D



At Shoetopia G Field had these flowered deck shoes sitting out as a gift! More serendipity. But I have to say my legs are still too cold! And in real life here I sit in my coat shivering. Maybe some soup ...



Dress: The Sinners Collective Crossroads "Cute as a Button"
Shoes: GField "Deck Shoes - flower" (gift at Shoetopia)
Shirt: Aoharu "TurtleNeckKnit" (vintage)
Turtleneck Collar: Drift "Chic Collar"
Stockings: Izzie's "Cat Tights"
Earrings: Hatpins "What Wrought"
Hair: Lamb "Ambrosia"
Hairbase: by Truth
Skin: Essences "Olyvia FLF" (similar skins available)
Eyeshadow/Liner: by Essences
Lipgloss: Sugar Heart "Lip Shine" (gift)
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: by LeLutka
Hands: by SLink

Love,
Serene

SHE WORE LEMON

This lemon yellow made me feel good today! Another cute bright print dress, bright yellow nail polish, and a sweet little ring. I need to remember to choose happiness. That sounds simple enough doesn't it? But simple isn't the same as easy.



Enjoy the simple things. Today we ran around and picked up new ballet slippers for my daughter, and we all had soup and salad together.



Dress: LIV-Glam "Feel So Close" (w/ texture-change HUD)
Ring: Milk Motion (at the Chapter Four Gacha)
Shoes: G Field "Alex"
Earrings: Hatpins "What Wrought"
Hair: D!va "Giz" (at the Arcade Gacha)
Skin: Essences "Cho"
Hands: by SLink
Nail Polish HUD: by Adore and Abhor
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Poses: by Frooti and Lost Angel Poses

Love,
Serene

BLUE SPOT

LeeZu's little ruffled jacket does a nice job dressing up this boho gown for an evening out, don't you think? I love the flexibility.  ... And the dress. Simple bandeau top, fun gathered and blousy skirt. But what made me smile was the texture-change HUD. Change the dress to twenty different textures with one little click. Some Paisley and tie-dyed like this one, some lacy, some color blocked, some geometic and sequinned. One dress, many looks.



And Hatpins is offering these sweet little jewels. Some of them are unabashedly vintage, others fit very well with what's modern. I'm still fascinated by these tiny prims, and by people who can make these beautiful little things without getting permanently crossed eyes. :D



Jacket: LeeZu "Yriin" (Vintage Fair)
Gown: Liv Glam "Marchesa Maxi Gown" (Vintage Fair)
Earrings: Hatpins "What Wrought" (Vintage Fair)
Hair: Wasabi Pills "Veronica" (Vintage Fair)
Skin: Essences "Indy" (Vintage Fair)
Lipstick: Essences "Indy Lipstick 15" (Vintage Fair)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: Glow Studio "Innocent. eyelashes - pure"
Poses: by Marukin and Stakey

Love,
Serene

OH MY YES.

I came back with my boutonniere as I promised. It and the matching tophat are garnished with lovely copper springs, cogs, dipped roses, and bits from an old clock. And an extra surprise! Not only does the clock function, but it chimes on the hour ... Perfect.

The delightful NachtMusik suit is darker and more conservative than most of the others in their shop. But you know I like the dark. I paired it with an antique but spotless cravat from To-a-T. (Had little choice because the neckcloth that came with the suit was sized for men.)

This Walking Stick I acquired on a previous Steam Hunt, and I am sure it will continue to serve me for years to come.

And oh my yes, there are new boots. Until now I have always eschewed above-the-knee-boots for the obvious flaws in their craftsmanship, but no more. Ms. Ennui has sewn these lovelies that flex at the knees perfectly, and have delicious emboss'd leather details that I cannot resist. I thank you!

(Please click on the photos to see larger detailed photos)

Suit: NachtMusik “Steamy Velvet Damask” Jacket, Corset and Leggings (Steam Hunt)
Cravat: To-a-T “Ravenswood Regency Cravat” (unavailable)
Boots: Lassitude and Ennui “Overknee Boots” (mesh viewer required)
Hat and Boutonniere: Hatpins “Spare Parts Top Hat and Boutonniere” (Steam Hunt)
Walking Stick: Oddments “VS Steam 4 Walking Stick”(unavailable)
Earrings: PixelDolls “Earrings – Bathory” (mesh viewer required)(gift)
Hair: Truth “Zaria”
Skin: Curio “:GP: Ecru-Doily” (unavailable)
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Poses: by Animazoo and Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

STEAMTECH BOT

Copper clad bits adorn the leather hatband on Ms. Reghan Straaf's offering for the Steam Hunt. I always so look forward to her chapeaux.

She included a boutonniere to match the hat, but I thought it obscured the fashionable cut of my buttoned canvas vest. (I shall try it on the lapel of the Nachtmusik Suit. Perhaps Tomorrow?)

The outfit is pieced together from the Ladies' and Men's prizes at Orquidea. The Gown was well crafted, but showed a bit too much underside cleavage for my personal taste. I had fun resizing the dramatic collar and shoulderpads, and tinting the boots to make them more compatible with the clothes ... More tomorrow!

Hat: Hatpins "Steam Spare Parts Top Hat" (with functioning clock)(Steam Hunt Prize)
Gown: Orchidea "Steampunk Vest" and "Steampunk Dress" (Steam Hunt Prize)
Boots: Aftershok "Steam Boots" (also includes Digi-boots)(Steam Hunt Prize)
Skin: ND/MD "Galaxia Skin Darkstar"
Eyes: Frick "Clockwork Eyes" (unavailable)

Love,
Serene

STEAMPUNK

While the charity events have been running, I put some other things on hold. I thought I'd start with some highlights from the Steam Hunt. I just can't pass this one by for its ambiance and originality. This season's hunt was fantastic, as usual. If you haven't visited yet, you really should pencil it into your calendar. It runs through March 30th and is great fun.

First I wanted to show off the Grim Bros. "steam hunt goggles". The package includes both rose and green lenses, but if you would like other colors I believe more shades are available in the store. This picture can't really do them justice, as some of the cogs and parts are animated. Lovely.

The BlakOpal "Tramontane Tophat" is embellished with a large brass compass at front, and the coggy bronze and teal hatband looks like it was made to go with this jacket.

At Hatpins, Reghan Straaf's "R.G.B. Steamer" is scripted to emit red, green or blue steam, using a handy little HUD control system, and includes the matching monocle. Or perhaps it is a technical loupe? You'll have to ask a steampunk scientist.

The "Gents Steampunk Regency Top Hat" from To-a-T might be better sized for a lady, but the craftsmanship is top notch. Mine was not resizable but perhaps that was a system glitch.

And the "Visions of Flight" by the Mad Hattery ... what can I say? It's outrageous but completely in theme. There is a pulsing stream of blue energy that runs around the front of the hat, which is much more striking in person than it can be in this still photograph.

... And so much more. If you love vintage victorian, steampunk, or creative anachronism I can't really recommend this hunt too much. If you are new in Second Life, the journey will also introduce you to many of the finer sims and shops in the genre.

There is an inworld group for the Steam Hunt if you would like help, and you may also visit the official Hunt page at steamthehunt.blogspot.com/, which even has photos of many of the hunt prizes. Have fun!

also worn:
Jacket: silentsparrow "Toxine Suit"
Hair: UncleWeb Studio "Rigel-hair"
Skin: Ricochet "Tristan Dark"
Eyes: MADesigns "EYES_LIGHT – copper"

Love,
Serene

GASEOUS DIHYDROGEN MONOXIDE

I don't have time to go on hunts anymore, but I make a few exceptions.

My new home is beautifully crafted by Parajen Designs for the Steam Hunt.
I don't really need this much space, which makes it feel like a luxury.

So there I stood, trying to decide what to put where.

Good thing I'm wearing my Cogitator.

This desk came with more accessories, but I shunted some
of them aside to make room for some lab equipment.

And I brought the mech arm to make it easy
to hang lights and put stuff on the top shelves.

Hat: Hatpins “Steamy Victorian Cogitator” (Steam Hunt)
Magnifying Glasses: Amaranthus “Lacy Rust Steampunk Spectacles” (Steam Hunt)
Pin: Beloved “Keyhole Cravat Pin” (repurposed as a brooch)(Steam Hunt)
Armband Toolbelt: Mire “Pathfinder Utility Arm Belt” (Steam Hunt)
Mechanical Arm: Sculptify “Female Arm Extender” (male version included)(Steam Hunt)
Waistcoat: BlakOpal “Steampunk Waistcoat” (ladies corset also included) (Steam Hunt)
Pants: Silentsparrow “(copper) Severin Suit Pants” (from the newest group gift)
Skin: Mynerva “OMG That’s Adorable”
Hair: Bryce “Traveler Whitewash Alloy” (gift at Hair Fair)
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Home: Parajen “Steam House” (you MUST have this!)(Steam Hunt)
Desk: The Epic Toy Factory "Rich Burled Desk Set” (more pieces not shown)(Steam Hunt)
Glassware/Lab Equipment: Hudson’s Illuminations “Lab Set” (Steam Hunt)
Poses: Animazoo and Long Awkward Pose

So many things to see! I can’t show it all, but you really should also have the Belle Belle Aether Headphones. The Spunkish Tophat from Camellia’s. Sometime you will need a boat just like the one from Cogoo, and a Steam Carriage like the one at Twisted Metal SteamWorks, and a Cepahlapod Vehicle from Lucy Rusts’ Boondoggle, and The Jetpack from Sparkworks, and the Davinci Ornithopter from NS6, and E. Bergamesco’s Hot Air Balloon ... The fabulous big clock from the Julia Collection and the fabulous little clock from Stainless Steam ... Scientific Equipment! Oh the scientific equipment! Kusshon’s Steampunk Workshop! The MURbot! The depictions of the solar system by the Golden Oriole and Ky’s Kreationz, the beakers and microscope and magnifying glass stand … just go! Go!

Love,
Serene

p.s. You may also visit the Steam Hunt Flickr Group to see more.

GETTING ALL STEAMY

The first annual Steampunk / Cyberpunk Festival is underway and will continue through August 28th at the Pavo Isle Sim. I was a little surprised by how small the Cyberpunk side is but I suppose it's a new event and it should improve next year. I couldn't resist another period gown from the Laughing Academy. I am only wearing the top half here but I want to point out the detail on the bodice. The front has a window showing you my inner robotic workings. And I am wearing some Fall-Front trou's that I nicked out of my husband's closet.

You can see the lovely keyhole detail on the back of the bodice, in case those inner workings need maintenance. And the tattoo is an unlikely but interesting combination of gears and poetry.

And these shoes! The copper heels! little copper cog ornaments ... even the eyelets for the shoelaces are cogs.

Now this is why I "borrowed" some trousers instead of wearing the skirt. The Horseless Gown is simply a fabulous drive, the gown portions are color-change. To use it, rez it on the ground, then sit on it. When it appears the door is open so you can see the luxurious upholstery inside. When you sit the animation shows you climb inside and the door closes. Lovely.

Shirt: Laughing Academy “Katinka Clockwork Bodice” (part of gown)
Pants: XCentricity “19thC. Fall-Front Trousers, Walnut Pins”
Shoes: Laughing Academy “Industrial Strength Steampunk Court Shoe”
Hat: Hatpins “Steamy Victorian Ladies Top Hat”
Earrings: Bliensen+Maitai “IndustrialRevolution”
Tattoo: Silentsparrow “toxine dress tattoo” (part of outfit)
Hair: Sky Everett Designs “Kiera”
Skin: Your Skin & Your Shape “Emma Milk – 02 – SmokeyRose”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Vehicle: Curio Obscura “Horseless Gown”
Poses: Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene