TAKE A WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

I suppose it's easier to be adventurous with print in Fantasyland. In real life, I doubt you will see me in a mix of animal print and lace. But maybe I should try it sometime? With antler pauldrons and a crown too, of course.



I really love this luminous new skin from Essences. "Alex" comes in a variety of skintones and cosmetics options in a sweet little gacha machine over at Kustom9. I need to show more, there are some really lovely makeups! Go check it out!



Finishing up with part of Atelier Visconti's newest furnishings available at the Liaison Collaborative. The set includes a chair and a coffee-table too, with texture-change HUDs to help you select from six colors each for the pillows and upholstery. I suggest that you go try out the poses to see if they work well for you. The furniture includes singles and couples poses.

Crown: ieQED "cache.crown.stag.copper" (gacha)
Pauldrons: ieQED "stag pauldrons"
Shirt: Teefy "Sadie" (at Collabor88)
Skirt: Baiastice "Lian Longuette Skirt" (old find at the Dressing Room)
         (perhaps available at the Mainstore now?)
Shoes: Miel "Gladiator Cage"
Hair: Wasabi Pills "Madeleine"
Skin: Essences "Alex" (gacha at Kustom9)
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Hands and Feet: by SLink
Fingernails Applier: by Frogstar
Sofa and Carpet: Atelier Visconti "Helena" (at the Liaison Collaborative)
Poses: by Estetica and Flowey

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

TWILIGHT IN AUTUMN

It's shameful how many lovely things sit in my closet unused, so I am wearing some old favorites along with the new bits.

The Aoharu turtleneck is not new but the simple narrow neck is perfect for layering under other collars and scarves. The Ingenue belt a gem. And the jewels by Alchemy Immortalis. Carefully crafted classics, that still compare beautifully with current art.

And the new: I love the graduated color on the Riddle skirt, and the sporty Mon Tissu hat. But the irresistable piece here is the skin. The new "Visitor" skins from Curio are amazing. There are several makeups that vary from almost-normal to unmistakably alien, including a set with otherworldly eyes and extra lipsticks. The face is unusually smooth and hairless, with small faintly pursed lips. (I added some eyebrows taken from an unwitting human donor.) I was severely tempted to give in and buy the megamultipak with like a zillion skintones, makeups and eyes, but ... :) darned budget.

Hat: Mon Tissu “Feather Wrapped Fedora” (texture change hatband)
Scarf: Miel “Fringe Scarf – leafy”
Shirt: Aoharu “TurtleNeckKnit_Nude”
Skirt: Riddle “Dip Dyed Mesh Maxi” (mesh)
Belt: Ingenue “Traveler”
Brooch: Alchemy Immortalis “Ami amet deli pencet” (texture change)
Bracelet: Alchemy Immortalis “Ami amet deli pencet” (texture change)
Earrings: Alchemy Immortalis “Sephira Seed Cabochon” (texture change)
Shoes: G Field “Sophie” (texture change piping and buckles)
Hair: YS&YS “Premiere Chignon” (included with some skins)
Hairbase: booN “gathered lower hairbase”
Skin: Curio “:GP: Acorn [Dark] The Visitor – Probe 2”
Lipstick: “:GP: The Visitor – Lips 3”
Eyebrows: Curio “:GP: Airhead – Dark Brows” (borrowed from another skin set)
Eyes: Poetic Colors “Fairy Eyes – Wolf Dark” (including eye lights)
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

HUNTING SEASON

I stopped running about to take a little walk.

This spot has the sweetest little path with a covered bridge. It was calling my name.

I turned off my computer yesterday and went looking for colored leaves. These are brighter orange, but I saw the real leaves with dog and daughter.

Most of this outfit I picked up at Collabor88. I think I bought half the store before I noticed the little candy hunt that was going on. Find twelve candies that contain six colors of culottes and six bustiers too. Did I ever say I love long culottes with boots? This plum-colored pant is just my thing.

Jacket: The Sea Hole “Corseted Tweed Jacket” (Collabor88)
Bodysuit: The Secret Store “Cable Knit Bodysuit”
Culottes: The Sea Hole “Odette Culottes – Plum” (Collabor88 Candy Hunt)
Boots: Miel “Puddle Boots”
Jewelry: Gems and Kisses “Yummy Candy”
Hair: Exile “Maylee”
Skin: Curio “Fall TD Exclusive” (this makeup no longer available)
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent. eyelashes – pure”
Poses: by Dare, Diesel Works, and ImpEle
Location: Atomic Island

Love,
Serene

RUSSET

I know I know, I'm not often blonde *smiles* ... but I like how the hair goes with the little bowtie in front.

The dress is all mesh, all one piece except for the bowtie. I tried it on with several child and adult shapes, and lots of bendy poses. I am impressed with the flexibility of mesh: how it bends, how it adjusts to different sizes of avatars. It's not perfect, but still I'm impressed. (Let me put on my gypsy fortuneteller turban now ...) I look forward to the future, and all the creative ways that designers will combine mesh garments with sculpted attachments in their art.

This is so beautiful. It's not perfect. But it's damn good. Please try on and take a good look at Demo models; test them with lots of poses to see whether the mesh bends in a way that pleases you. This dress has a couple of oddities; for example the ruffle on the skirt is textured on the outside, but not on the inside. I don't spend a lot of time pervcamming around underneath my own skirt, so I didn't mind too much, LOL

Frock: Violent Seduction "Persephone"
Stockings: Miel "Jane Plaid Sock Dark"
Shoes: Tesla "High Oxfords"
Hair: Lamb "Isolation"
Skin: Curio ":GP: Moonbeam Frex [Dark] Sweetheart"
Eyes: Fashism "Sunrise"
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

ARE WE THERE YET?

Are we at Spring yet? I am going nuts from cold weather and being cooped up. I am finally hating all the blah blah blah colorless weather so I slammed together some prints and textures and bright colors, and went on the grid looking for something visually exciting.

I am still stuck with sweaters and knits for another month, but no more grey for a while. Not for me !!

Sweater: Ducknipple “Olive”
Leggings: MIU “leggings009 (star navy*green)” (gacha)
Glasses: Miel “Bella Peepers”
Belt: fri.day “Wide Waist.Belt (Teal)”
Boots: FIR & MNA “Wellies SH” (last Seasons Hunt)
Skin: Curio “:GP: Petal [Dark] Sweetheart-Rose 1”
Hair: Dernier Cri “Taylor”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Eyebrows: Curio “:GP: Sweetheart Brows-Black”
Alpha: Imabee “System eyelashes – begone!”
Poses: by Dismorph and Glitterati
Location: Lunamaruna

Love,
Serene

THE MECHANIC

I held on to this Miel dress for a while, because I wasn't sure how I wanted to use it. Finally the other day, I received a group gift from Deco, which included these grungy goggles by Gutterblood Spoonhammer. (Love em! They remind me of Dad's welding goggles.) Before Mr. Spoonhammer started selling wares upstairs at Deco, I used to visit his shop at ROT dev (gone dammit). The rough goggles inspired me to grunge up the Miel dress. I toughened her look combining the booN topknot with a buzzcut hairbase, and the gauged and pierced ears. The gauges are actually timepieces. I love that kind of details!

In case you still had any doubts whether this chick is someone you want to mess with, she is sporting a garter with a rusty old pistol tucked in.

Dress: Miel “Raider Dress” (group gift in several lovely colors)
Undershirt: Pieces from the Pink Outfitters “Rocket Girl Jacket” (VERY modified collar)
Leggings: Ducknipple “Zwaffel 03: Majo (black)”
Goggles: Decompose “Roughneck Goggles – red” (from Deco group gift)
Garter: LouLou & Co. “Garter Pistolero”
Arm warmers: DeLa “Arm warmers Black” (old gift) … I tinted the metal studs
Leg warmers: DeLa “Leg warmers Black” (old gift)
Shoes: Gos “Docs 8 Hole” (with optional old finish)
Hairpiece: booN “MKT012” (love love love!)
Tattoo with Hairbase: Aitui “Biomech Web w/Hair Base” (old gift)
Skin: dekade “Claire”
Ears: Mynerva “Chrono-plug II Elven Ears”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Poses: by Long Awkward Pose
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene

SOFTLY

The last couple of weeks, I've been sick. It got me thinking. Along parallel tracks of thought:

a. I need warmer clothes;
b. it was stupid of me to take my daughter trick or treating in the rain, even with that big ol' golf umbrella;
c. It was fantastic going trick or treating in the rain; even if I got sick it was not to be missed.

So here I am in the cuddliest softest oufit I could get together. Just looking at the knitty sweaters and corduroy is making me smile.

Okay okay, so only in Second Life can I tuck cords inside my socks :) don't be a critic.

Cardigan: Ducknipple “Cardigan – Pink”
Sweater: Ducknipple “Le Sweatere - Pink”
Pants: Doppleganger “Cuffed Cords – Brown” (includes rolled cuffs not shown)
Scarf: Miel “Lia Scarf – flor” (texture change)
Glasses: Miel “Genius Peepers” (texture change)
Socks: Miel “Jane Socks – Plaid Dark – brown brumble” (texture change cuffs)
Boots: Miel “Far Boots – Plaid” (texture change)
Hair: Maitreya “Natalie – Crayon”
Skin: Mynerva “Fudge Plain Jane v2 w/eyeliner”
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Eyelashes: Glow Studio “Innocent.eyelashes – pure”
Teeth: Glam Affair “Tattoo makeup TDR 13 – 2”
Poses: by Dismorph and Gesticulate
Photostudio: by N30

Love,
Serene

SPOOKY part 2 : What Scares Men

In that dream, I am standing in front of the playground wall where we always played dodge ball, when I notice I am holding a couple of very colorful purses.

Then I feel that draft that clues me that I am standing there in my jock strap. If I stand real still maybe no one will see me.

The Starlust Panty Raid while great fun is usually a huntfest for girls underwear but there are a couple of things out for the guys. The rcbg jockstrap is prime. I found some colorful boy-style pants put out by Pig Shop too. Oh yeah and today is the LAST DAY to run around the Starlust looking for clams at the Panty Raid, so if you want it hustle over there.

Hail to the Chief!!

Headgear: rcbg “chief head-dress”
Undies: rcbg “jock strap” (Starlust Panty Raid) (regular and with sock-stuffing!)
Purses: Duh! “Crocodile Bag” (Starlust Panty Raid)
and Miel “Glitter Bag” (texture change on touch)
Skin: Atomic Bambi “Benicio Beta”
Hair: Shag “Rocket Man” (Project Themeory)

Inotto

TROLLBRIDGE AT SUNSET

Sunset is the wrong time of day to cross a Trollbridge. It's the time of day that trolls and other Wild things come out to eat.

I realize I don't LOOK dangerous. That's part of the plan.

(This is not a gratuitous butt shot. I wanted you to see the specially made belt with the tail guard. As well as the cute little birdie and ... okay it was still a gratuitous butt shot. ... These pants are knee length breeches with lovely bottom cuffs that I will have to show you in another post.)

(And the new Steampunk-styled Minotaur Legs from Cats of a Feather. Please click on it to go look at the larger pic and see the lovely detail. What you can't see in any still shot is how the animated steam pumps through the glowing tubes, or how a little steam escapes here and there from the works. These legs also come in cyber Chrome so if you buy, make sure you are selecting the ones you like best. And try on a demo first.)

Be careful. If you look into the eyes of something Wild, you will never be the same. And ... I am quite hungry.

(These Poetic color eyes are available in regular or blackened eyewhites. I couldn't help but buy both. The packs include regular eyes, eyes with gold rings around the pupils, and eye lights that give a reflective surface which reflects back at you even in the dark.)

Helmet: Hat Mechanic “Gruff”
Cyber Legs: Cats of a Feather “Steam Minotaur Hooves” Platinum and Leather
Eyes: Poetic Color “Fairy Tale Witch Dark” with Gold Ring and Eye Lights
Skin: Curio “:GP: Bean [Dark] Elf-Snug 2”
Tail: Rez Fantazy “Capran Black Avatar Tail”
Scarf: Argrace “Long Stole Shirring”
Pleated Collar: Silentsparrow “rustnoir pleated collar” (limited edition unavailable)
Shirt: Miel “Cali Top w Hood Down”
Pants and Belt: Tokushi Threads “Steam Swallow Pants”
Gloves: Tokushi Avatars “Le’Strap Gloves”
Poses: by Lost Angel Poses and Diesel Works
Location: Osterberg

Love,
Serene

TRILOGY MIDTOWN SUBWAY

Waiting for my honey at the turnstile ... it's raining outside or I'd rather walk.

Here he comes ...

If we hurry we don't have to miss the next train.

Jacket: Aoharu “Short Riders Jacket”
Shirt: Fox in the Snow “Glass Apple Tree Tee”
Leggings: Thimbles “Lucy is a Big Girl”
Glasses: Miel “Bella Peepers”
Shoes: House of Curios “Sneaker Wedges” (texture change)
Hair: Cake “Dakota”
Skin: L.Fauna “Lapine Tan 2” (50L Friday)
Eyes: Poetic Color “Night Rain”
Poses: Long Awkward Pose
Location: Trilogy Rainytown

Love,
Serene

p.s. Trilogy Rainytown's new "Woodcutter's Daughter" installation is cute for a little photography as well as good shopping. I bought the t-shirt at the Fox in the Snow shoppe because it intrigued me in a fairytale kind of way. The front of the T shows an apple hanging on a tree but the back shows the branches holding a broken mirror in a Snow White and Evil Queen kinda way. An odd fashion choice for an urban girl? I don't care. Even in the city we hope for happy endings. :)

THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT 4/4: best laid plans

Well you know what they say about the best laid plans. I had Halloween laid out: On Friday October 30, finish up the halloween decorating, carve pumpkin with my daughter, last touches to costumes. In the evening, I would attend the Illusions Ball in costume, then swing by the Loco Pocos Trick or Treating and a couple of haunted houses after she went to sleep. I saved them for the end of the month because for me, it's more fun that way. On Halloween it would be all RL cause, well, I do have a Life.

Here's what really happened: on Thursday my Dad dropped by in the afternoon, and we had fun with my daughter a while. This put a pinch in my shopping plans, but I figured I could make it up later. Walmart is open 24 hours. He stayed till about 7:30 and got up to go home before dark. He doesn't see very well in the dark for driving. A minute later he came back with a bloody hanky at his face. He's been having bad nosebleeds that won't stop, and had a couple visits to the Emergency Room already that week. It was getting dark and I figured he shouldn't drive with one hand pinching his nose with the other, so I took him to the hospital. Carrying sleeping toddler, bag of baby essentials, coats etc., we wait there for forty-five minutes to see the doctor. By then the gushing blood miraculously stopped, so I took him home. The next day he had early surgery, and I picked him up afterward because he couldn't drive home after the anesthesia. Took him back to my house to keep an eye on him for a couple of hours but he looked OK, so I ran around trying to do Halloween decorations. Forget about carving a jack-o-lantern or pumpkin pies. I made Dad and daughter lunch instead. Run through the day and evening like a madwoman, no time for the Illusions Ball.

On Halloween Sara and I had so much fun getting ready and in the afternoon she went trick-or-treating with her Daddy while I stayed home to terrorize all the kids in the neighborhood in my witch costume. Finally late at night, after they came home she slipped into a sugar coma, and my husband was vegetating in front of the television. I turned on the computer and tried to salvage a few of my Second Life plans. I had two hours, so I ran over to Loco Pocos and Bloodmoon Manor.

Well, I had planned to wear the Loco Pocos Skeleton Avatar and the Orange KatatOnik Dollie Dress. It was late and I was the only one there.

I really did like this haunted house. This one was, well, the grossest. The Art Maze Haunted House was great fun too: it had puzzles and pieces you had to find, and some very nice treat bags all over the house to find too. I intended to show you some of their prizes too but, you know what they say about plans ... :)

This was the one place in the house that made me jump. There were all kinds of gross abbatoir sights, bloodspatter etc. that doesn't rattle me, but this guy startled me as he suddenly popped out of the wall. Sweet.

Oh, yeah I was wearing (still):
Skin: The Plastik (from their Halloween Gift)
Hair: Calico Ingmann Creations "Luna"
Jacket: DeLa “Short Jacket Bette”
Corset/Shorts: from Cupcakes "Brocade Dress Halloween" (i think 75L?)
Pants: Adam and Eve "Catwalk Leather Pants" (0n underwear layer)
Skirt: Silentsparrow "Gutter Glitter"
Socks: Miel "Lo Refurbished Socks" (100L at the Dock)
Shoes: Ducknipple "Harry"

Love,
Serene

THE HALLOWEEN SPIRIT 1/4

People talk about the spirit of giving that shines at Christmas but I think in Second Life its the Halloween Spirit. Don't get me wrong, there is plenty of spirit going around in December, but there is just something special in the air the last couple of weeks of October. I have to say to all the marvelous designers THANK YOU !! I love all the spookies and pumpkins and bats and candy and everything black and orange and purple and red ... YUM! I wanted to show you a few ...

Miel Lo Refurbished Socks (100L at the Dock location) .. also there is a group gift dress which matches pretty well. But I gotta love on these ripped up patched up socks.

Ducknipple "Harry" Sneakers (Pumpkin Print Hunt prize) *nommy*

Love,
Serene