50 Shades of Eden and one of them is pissed :)

Angry because I have spent the last several days in SL attempting to get this shot and either my new graphics card is a fail or the cable provider is a lamo and not giving me a good connection. Either way, my son finally relented and let me use his laptop.  What a difference a good computer makes!
I would take the comp back but he might die. Cable doods are coming later this week and if that does not fix it it means no decent comp for me for the duration! Grr

The items I am showing in this scene are some fabulous items from events that are ending soon.  Run to FaMESHed and check out Trompe Loeil's Paxton Living Room Set.  The primary items include an overstuffed sofa and chairs and one of the coolest coffee tables I have seen in SL, not shown but looks like a large tree slice {ie. Sequoia).  Also available are the paintings and lighting shown above. Season's Story, which I think runs a few more days is as lovely as always and I fell hard for Eula's new Wilma hair.  I'm not a huge big hair fan and this hair is similar to my RL hair.  The delicious slip dress is from Ison's collection at Collabor88.  I love Harry Ison like a fat kid loves cake because he makes soime of the best understated, sophisticated clothes on the grid. I am obsessed with his work. Finally, Cannibelle is busy again after a summer slow down and has some adorable stocking sets at the Kawaii vs. Creepy Gacha Fair.  She has 4 styles out and I opted for one of the kawaii's for this post. I have become a huge fan of her stockings!

Credits:
Building: Trompe Loeil: Attic Skybox: currently available at Collabor88
Furnishings and Decor: Trompe Loeil: from the Paxton Living Room Set: currently available @ FaMESHed
Hair: Eula: Wilma: currently available at The Season's Story
Skin: Glam Affair: Aria - Artic 01 G
Makeup: Buzz - Nynx Shadow - Salem: currently available at The Cosmetic Fair
Earrings: Mandala: Oddesey - Zeus - silver
Dress: ISON: Silk Slip Dress - purple: currently available at Collabor88
Cuffs: Pomposity: Handcuff Bracelet
Stockings: Cannibelle: Heart Seam Tights - purple: available at the Kawaii vs. Creepy Gacha Fair
Boots: Purple Moon: Croco Boots (for Slink High Feet)

Sometimes it gets to be too much

Like most folks that I know in SL I tend to get too busy to the point where I can't keep up or get so overwhelmed with IM's and tasks that SL ceases to be fun.  SL, at least if you are a fashionista, has become so fast paced.  I cannot keep up anymore with events, which like it or not, is SL's current business model...and I like events, and even, work on some.  It has introduced me to so many designers I would have never known.  Almost every thing I am wearing or am standing on or next to is from a recent event and include some items that I will continue to wear or use over and over again.

I love to death Baiastice's new Tori dress which is available right now at The Liaison Collaborative. It is the definitive sexy slip dress and great care has been taken on the placement of lace and texture shading to show off a woman's curves, even a no-mesh-body, tiny avatar like me.  Some of you may remember the slip dress that Digit Darkes made about a billion years ago in SL.  I used to wear that thing to death and this will be an often used favorite in my ghastly inventory.  I decided to go with Soonsiki's newer Rat hair, which has that gamine look I adore and does not cover up this pretty dress. The Peyton shoes from Baby Monkey are a newer release and are available with a multi-texture hud for a very reasonable price.

Credits
Build: Trompe Loeil: Attic Skybox for October Collabor88 (love the texture treatment on the windows!)
Tables: Circa: Traveler's Desk for Mystic Realms (closing soon!)
Hair: Soonsiki: Rat
Skin: Glam Affair: Aria - Arctic 01 G
Dress: Baiastice: Tori - Bittersweet for The Liaison Collaborative - October
Jewelry: Mandala: Billionaire Watch Set & Sagarmatha Necklace -Silver
Shoes: Baby Monkey: Peyton for Slink High Feet
Poses: oOo Studio: both from new sets that were introduced for the recent FLF: Avenger & Henrietta

Hair Fair 2014: !Ohmai

There is something about Anya Ohmai: she is magical. Her sister, Suetabulous, has the same trait and there is something about both of them that can touch the sweet spot in my often bitter SL heart.  I don't mean the term in the occult sense but this way:

mag·i·cal (majikəl) - beautiful or delightful in such a way as to seem removed from everyday life. Synonyms: extraordinary, remarkable, exceptional, outstanding, incredible, phenomenal, unbelievable, amazing, astonishing, astounding, stunning, staggering, marvelous, magnificent, wonderful, sensational, breathtaking, miraculous.

That Anya has remarkable talent is obvious. But she has something beyond that. She creates objects that are innocent, sweet, funny and cute in a way that never panders.  Her 5 new hairstyles she has introduced at Hair Fair 2014 has taken her work to a whole new level.  She has gone a bit cuckoo :)

Birds are a predominant theme for all of !Ohmai's new releases.  Each one includes 2 versions: normal (but still freaking adorable) and another with at least one "tweeter companion" and is available in 6 color HUDs. The HUD also allows you to interchange between 14 colors for your "pet".  If the hair has a hat or band you can also change the colors of those with the HUD

I don't know what I was thinking sticking myself directly in front of Cory Edo's precious Rivershire Waterwheel cottage (probably how little sleep I've been getting), but I hope you will forgive my momentary lapse of perspective.  I've paired the hair with equally precious newer releases from around the grid.  If all this sweetness had calories I would break my office chair.

In order to help you in being fully prepared to immerse yourself in hair, the official Hair Fair 2014 blog has an updated post on how to easily navigate the event.  Previous posts on the blog include a list of stores by sim, a link to the inworld demo group and information about their charity partner, Wigs for Kids.

Thank you again, Anya, for making such lovely things!  They even make me smile :)

Credits:

Photo 1

Hair: !Ohmai: Sopha: new release at Hair Fair 2014

Dress: M.birdie: Mari - Leaves - probably one of the most adorable dresses I've seen lately.  I used to LOVE one-pieces back in the day and so happy to see some again in mesh!

Photo 2

Hair: !Ohmai: Callia ("no friends" version): new release at Hair Fair 2014

Shirt: NuDoLu: Blouse romantique - Blanc maya : available at The Seasons Story

Skirt: NuDoLu: Jupe mignone ForgetMeNot : available at The Seasons Story

Photo 3:

Hair: !Ohmai: Newreem : new release at Hair Fair 2014

Shirt: M.birdie: _so_cool_T_Duck

Shorts: ::{u.f.o}:: Simple Cotton Shorts - red (June Collabor88)

Shoes: Milk Motion: Double Strapped Sandals - Pink Leather - available at The Men's Dept.

Photo 4:

Hair: !Ohmai: Sue (with nest): new release at Hair Fair 2014

Shirt: Apple May Designs:  BlueBell Top - Vintage

Skirt: Tee*fy: Marley Skirt - Spring (June Collabor88)

Photo 5:

Hair: !Ohmai: Eli: new release at Hair Fair 2014

Dress: ::{u.f.o}:: Say Something - denim check : available at The Seasons Story

Necklace: Mandala: Sagarmatha - Gold

In All Photos:

Skin: Glam Affair: Cassia - Arctic 06 (various brow versions) + Arctic appliers

Eyes: IKON: Sunrise Eyes - bleached blue

Hands/Feet: Slink

Poses: flowey: from the Raw Nostalgia set

House: Trompe Loeil: Rivershire Waterwheel: currently available at Collabo88

Pygmy Goats: Half-Deer:  Itty-Bitty Pygmy Goats (rez versions): Gacha @ The Season's Story

Tree Groupings: Studio Skye: Enchanted Woods v2 - 3 (trees)

Birch Tree: Deco

Grass: (iTuTu): Flowers&Plants-little white balls - ancient (may no longer be available)

Mailbox: Happy Mood

3.5.14: The Men's Dept. and other newnesses!

The March 2014 round of The Men's Dept. opened today. One of my favorite events, though I am not a male in SL or RL, but I have a penchant for clean lines and menswear so watching this collection come together every month is one of my joys.  Mikel Monk, the talented organizer (don't tell him I said that) of TMD, has been at this now for 2 years and he has really brought together a wonderful set of designers.

I have a few fetishes in SL.  Three of them are chairs, lighting and stuff that looks like store fixtures.  I was able to indulge them all at TMD this month with Theosophy's new Denim Trois Chairs that are available in 3 colors (I am so happy to see you back around, Trace), Oyasumi's workchair with it's awesome industrial lines (other pieces also available) and Mudhoney's Benson Chair (part of a larger set that also includes the rug and mirrors shown), which also has a clean design reminiscent of van der Rohe's Barcelona chair. BBQQ is offering the very handsome Clothing Rack V6, which has most excellent worn wood and metal textures.  Last but not least, my sweet buddy, Andel Rhiadra, of ADD Andel, makes her TMD debut with very versitile Retro Hanging Lamp, which she made all by her little marvelous self, painstakingly deciding on textures that she thought would have a masculine edge.  There is love in this stuff, I tell you.

My clothing is also pure dood but I managed to feminize it with gold touches of prettiness from Hucci and Mandala.  I have stalked Ison's clothing since forever and and am overjoyed they are participating in TMD.  Ison is offering the Leather Biker Vest (that includes the shirts, yay). It comes in many colors but my RL brother is Mr. Harley so it's de rigueur that I wear black.  Not so bad's James pants are a dream. I'm not usally a sagger but I totally dig these narrow hipped pants.  You will have to remove your phatazz to properly enjoy them. Even the Song Sublime eyes are available at TMD (I am wearing the Cold tone). Finishing off the look is Truth's new Perla hair and Glam Affair's sumptuous Aria skin, which is currently yours to win at The Arcade.  It includes a ton of appliers too, so I am all over it! Kat Valeska, blogging queen and darn great pose maker, has updated some of her poses which you can now find at her new inworld store.  Kat knows blogging and I appreciate the care she gives to stance in her poses.  No wonky hiding parts!

Credits:
Practically everything shown can be found at the new March 2014 round of The Men's Dept. except the following items:
Hair: Truth: Perla - new release!
Skin: Glam Affair: Aria: I am wearing Combination 02 including Slink hand and feet appliers: available at The Arcade
Shoes: Hucci: Payson Sandal - Gold. These were a limited edition for the Feb 21Shoes event (2 for 1 plus exclusive colors!!) but true to Hucci there are several other fab offerings. Made for Slink High Feet
Hands and Feets: Slink
Jewelry: Mandala: Chunkeeey Bracelet and Kamayara Dogtag Necklace: These were valentine's specials, I am not sure if they are still instore.
Poses: an lar poses

Hair Fair: Miamai + the French Connection

If there is one thing that Monica Outlander of Miamai is the master of it's glamour.  Be it classic, avante garde, or romantic, she makes it look effortless.  She has released 5 new mesh hair pieces for Hair Fair 2012 and they are stunning. They are all unrigged and modifiable. I honestly could not pick a favorite. Hair Fair wraps up this weekend and the 2 weeks of it have flown by.  Soon the hair will be in the stores but there is an important reason to still visit and that is that Hair Fair is a charity fundraiser, with a percentage of sales going to Wigs for Kids.  If you are inclined to purchase, do so now and help out a child in need.

Before I start carrying on about these gorgeous styles I wanted to mention the gown.  HelenSue Helendale of DEW Designs shared her newest release with me, the French Connection gown, and it's just super stunning. The main dress is mesh and comes in standard sizes and she has added to flexi attachments for ruffles on the back.  You can remove these attachments if you prefer a simple, drop dead slim gown and the integrity of the dress remains intact. It was the perfect backdrop for Monica's hair pieces.

I got to say first off that I love Miamai's hair bases.  They come in several versions and Monica has picked the right one for each style.  I appreciate this level of extra attention to detail.  Giselle utilizes a hair base with a strong central part.  The hair piece sits high on the head with with an updo with a sturdy braid wrapping the front.  It has an extra texture layer to provide depth as well as a few loose tendrils.

 Yanne plays it tighter with sleek french braids running at contrasting levels on both sides of the head and ending in a tight bun at the back of the head.  It utilizes the same hairbase as Giselle (Style C).

Lika is classically gorgeous.  It uses a hairbase that is pulled straight back and has a large bun as well as braids that run the length of the skull and wraps around the back of the bun.  No whispies on this one.  It's perfect in it's formality.

Ixie is probably the most casual of the hair pieces.  It uses a partless hairbase (Style B) and is in the style of hair that has been swept back into a pony-tail and then made into an updo with a set of barrettes.  It also has a gentle flexie layer to make it less severe.

Kirge utilizes a hairbase (Style A) with that is side parted then combed tight to the head.  It features a two level bun and strong side tendrils.  The hairbase really makes the look for me and I think would be fun not only with glam but strong urban looks.

Now go get 'em at the Miamai booth at Hair Fair 2012. There is also an special gift updo available at the fair, that probably won't be available after the fair (hint hint).

Credits:
Hair: Maimai: All hairbases and updos are new mesh releases available at Hair Fair 2012
Gown: DEW: French Connection - Black
Skin: Filthy: July Group Gift - Cream
Lipcolor: Pink Fuel: Elly - Glam Lipstick/Smoked Plum
Jewelry:  photo 2: LaGyo:  Spring in Gold
               photo 3: Caroline's: Kennedy Pink Pearls
               photo 1 & 4: Zaara: Anuska Pearl Drop Earrings - Night
               photo 5: [HANDverk]: Wassily Black
               photo 6: Mandala: Kagetora
All Poses: Miamai

Culture Shock: Orion / Di's Opera / Mango Mango

First off, my apologies for the blogging gap, but several RL obligations have kept me from doing much on SL this week besides checking messages and sorting out a few things.  Right now there are so many events going on, many being fundraisers for awesome charities, that it is difficult to decide where to go first.  Both Skin Fair and Culture Shock will be ending on May 22nd so if you've not made it to either, now is a great time to go.

Orion Gant of Orion does great things with sculpts in his clothing and I've picked up many pieces over time.  He has 3 items where a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders as well as a new dress that is one of my favorites.

Summer Flowers comes in four colors with a dramatic sculpted skirt and floral trim on top.  The sculpts are modify and copy so you can adjust it to fit your personal shape.  Sileny Noel, of Mango Mango, has the lovely Vintage Sweetie skin available at Culture Shock and it was perfect for the clean retro look I was going for with Orion's clothes.  It is available in five skin tones.

Sileny has included many options in each skin pack.  I love her freckles but it also includes a non-freckled version as well as cleavage and various brow options.  She also made a full body freckle tattoo layer that I just love and you can pick up at Culture Shock.

I've way too many leggings (and skin and hair and shoes and dresses and poses and houses, etc.) and I've been starting to thin them out but the Zebra leggings from Orion are becoming fast favorites for me.  I really like the shading on them with adds to their realism.  The sculpted bottoms include both a copy/mod version and a resize scripted pair so that you can fuss with them to get them just right.  I've been completely gonzo for Di's Opera's Old Luggage set, also at Culture Shock.  There are three different bags as well as special poses (one shown above) included in the set.   It my latest fix for pixelated retro items.

One of my friends calls this my Bo-Peep dress but I've also been called Florence Henderson and Bea Arthur and I adore the Arienette 2 Dress. The Custard version above is exclusive to Culture Shock and I love it because I could play this dress so many different ways.  It could easily get myself up like campy Bo-Peep or grunge it up with heavy boots and messy hair, but I'm not going for Look of the Day here. I want you to see the hard work Orion put into the sculpts on this dress. Again, its modifiable for your fitting needs.

I need to get back to Culture Shock and get another good luck before all the wonderful exclusive items are gone after May 22.  For a map and complete list of store locations visit here.

Credits: (Culture Shock slurls should direct you to each store)
Photo 1:
Dress: Orion: Summer Flower - Rose: available at Culture Shock
Bracelets: Mandala: Milky Way Bangles
Hair: fri.day: Tatum
Skin: Mango Mango: Vintage Sweetie - Pale: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Photo 2:
Leggings: Orion: Zebra Leggings (also available in blue): available exclusively at Culture Shock
Shirt: GField: Ruffle Tops: Turquoise: available at Culture Shock: this one was free!
Bag/Pose: Di's Opera: Old Luggage: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Shoes: Theosophy: Caerau Ribbon Pumps
Necklace: Bliensen & MaiTai: Beware of Wolves: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Hair: Truth: Trinity
Photo 3
Dress: Orion: Arienette 2: Custard: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Bag: Di's Opera: Old Luggage: available exclusively at Culture Shock
Necklace: Artilleri: Chunky Bead Necklace (I've had this piece forever so Im not sure its still available)
Hair: Clawtooth: Woman of the Year