It's in the details

Trompe Loeil's Attic Skybox for Collabor88 is full of architectural details that lend so much character to the build. The skybox has 3 large rooms, all with fireplaces (and includes both candle and log arrangements) and is ridiculously priced for this month at Collaborate. Also included is a separate surround with dusky skies and lit trees (which I forgot to use) as well as two versions of the skybox: a stand alone and one inside of the surround. Cory is also selling the wingback chairs shown on the left side of my photo, which comes with a white and natural wood finish (and with/without a pillow). The chairs are tastefully texture change with 18 animations as well as props.

In with some old favorites I have tossed in some fabulous items from several events: The Liaison Collaborative, The Theme Park and Mystical Realms, which is closing soon and a must see.  I also was attracted to quite a few items to be found in the Terror-iffic Hunt, which has some adorable items for only $L 5 each.  Details below!

Credits:
Skybox: Trompe Loeil: Attic Skybox: available @ Collabor88
Photo 1 (left to right):
Pumpkin: Dust Bunny: Pumpkin Cats: find it for the Terror-iffic Hunt
Bench: Alouette: Rainy Day Bench
Table: Frogstar: Corny Candy Table:  find it for the Terror-iffic Hunt
Wingbacks: Trompe Loeil: Wingback Chairs: available at Collabor88
Desk/Chair: Circa: "Traveller's Discovery" Table Trio / Highchair - Redwood: a beautifully detailed set that deserves it's own post: currently available at Mystic Realms
Raven Hanging: Frogstar - texture change
Stool: Fetch: Lya Stool: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Orange Candles: Atooly: Cluttered Candles - also includes a black set: find it for the Terror-iffic Hunt
Kaleidoscope - Hocus Pocus Shelf: available @ The Theme Park
Photo 2 (left to right) new items:
Coffin Bookcase: Alouette: available @ The Theme Park
Treat Bucket: Schadenfreude: Treat Bucket, 2014: Free - I have collected these every year since I rezzed and am completely obsessed with them every year.
Bench: Culprit: Friend's Bench Crackle
Table: Post: Haarlem Deco Coffee Table (group)
Bookcase: Traveller's Discovery Tall Shelf: currently available at Mystic Realms
Rocking Chair: MudHoney: Owen Rocking Chair - cherry (available in a multitude of finishes. When you sit it automatically starts rocking and includes 13 animations: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative

Cuprit: Villa Sirocco + Tons of Stuff!

Hi everyone!  I knew that my posts were going to get skimpy while I worked on preparations for the SL Home & Garden Expo but I never knew how much time it actually takes (sometimes 16 hrs/day).  I have a whole new level of respect for the folks that do this regularly and while I was exhausted by opening day, I also knew that I was hooked.  I loved the challenge and am looking forward to the next adrenaline high!

SL's Home & Garden Expo 7 opened this week and has 9 sims devoted to some of the best new products on the grid.  The Expo is one of several mega-events operated by Relay For Life of Second Life, which donates funds for cancer research.   I've long been a fan of eku Zhong's work for Culprit. In addition to be a Gold Sponsor at this year's Expo, Culprit has released a fabulous house, the Villa Sirocco, which is a lovely mix of Moorish and Spanish architecture.  The home features a large U-shaped room on the main floor.  There is enough division between the rooms so that they can include a kitchen or a main bedroom; there are really no restrictions.  All rooms open directly into an inner courtyard that features a reflecting pool.  

The stairway is on the exterior of the house, adding to the openness of the interior and also another spot to decorate :).

This is actually just a small corner on the lower level.  Because the house has so much area it can handle heavy furniture looks.  The ceiling is lower on the main floor but the upper level has soaring ceilings.

This photo of the study area is tan from the courtyard.  The room entries are truly fantastic.

Eku has made a few new extras for the house, like the sconces shown above and the lanterns on the stairway that really add a sweet touch to the house.

The upper rooms feature tall beamed ceilings and large windows to let in natural light. These are also very large rooms and can easily be multipurpose.

The two upper rooms are separated by a darling open patio.

/Hangs head in shame for leaving out the toilet!  I had a lot of fun making the other upper room into a bathroom, Trompe Loeil has a lovely set at FaMESHed this month so thanks to Cory Edo for all her hard work on it!

Almost all of the items I've shown in the rooms are available right now at several of the current rounds of several fantastic events.  They include the Home & Garden Expo, The Liaison Collaborative, The Men's Dept., Collabor88, FaMESHEd and The Arcade, all mesh and with amazingly low impact so that you can fill up this grand house and still have room for a garden.

Credits: There are a ton of new items in the post and the SLURL to each event is in the paragraph above so as to keep the credits as clean as I possibly can make them.

Exterior:
Home: Culprit: Villa Sirocco - LI 90: New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo  (url is direct tp to the exhibit)
Trees: Studio Skye: left: Four Season Oak Tree: 100% donation to RFL;  right: Ancient Olive Tree: 100% donation to RFL   Both trees exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo  (url is direct tp to the exhibit).
Walkway: +Half-Deer+ : Lighted Pathway - Planks - Tex. Change
Pagoda: KIDD: Japan Lantern -Single Lamp
Lantern: Thistle - Lantern with Arm & Glow
Lounge: Sway's:  [Dreamer] Garden Lounger . lavender (from I<3 Ulaa event)
Cart: Roawenwood: Fantastical Cider Cart

Courtyard:
Bench: POST: Nisswa Pine Bench (blanket)
Cat: Fashionably Dead:  Cat - 07 Sitting Down: currently available to win at The Arcade

Stairway:
Lanterns: Culprit - Moorish Lanterns: New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Cat: Fashionably Dead: Cat - 10 Scared: currently available to win at The Arcade

Living Room: (left to rightish)
Lantern: Barnesworth Anubis: moroccan filigree pendant lantern
Birdcage: +Half-Deer+ : The Mad Scientist's Birdcage - New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Sofa: Stockholm&Lima: The Spellbound Settee: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Chair: [Fetch]:  Vega Chair -  New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Rug: Max Marine - ancient!
Table: Trompe Loeil - Octopus Table Marble - Black: currently available to win at The Arcade
Cigars (on table): Zigana: cigars: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Leather Pouffe: Zigana:  leather pouffe . chestnut: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Lillies: Dutchie: lilies
Big Lamp: Soy. Floor lamp [Gourd tree]
Lounge: Culprit: Sleek Lounger Brown Leather: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Radiator: ARIA: Parma short radiator: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.

Sconce Photo:
Sconces: Culprit: Wall Candle:  New Release: currently available exclusively at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Table: POST: Latour Antique Telephone Stand
Dispenser: POST: Neuchatel Absinthe Fountain

Study:
Desk and Computer: [Fetch] Vega Desk / Vega Computer & Snacks: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Lounge: Culprit: Sleek Lounger Black Leather: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Chair: Consignment:  Travelers Desk - Chair (gacha item)
Wall Display: 22769 ~ [bauwerk] Wall Display: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Rug: junk.: bartlet rug. one.
Coffee Table: EliBaily: Nar Coffee Table_Black: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Plant: EliBaily: Potted Nep Plant: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Ceiling Light: ARIA: Parma pendant  light: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.

Bedroom: (left to right)
Drafting Table: Aria: Parma drafting table, includes stool & cactus - both PG/A available: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Wall Light: Pixel Mode - Manchester - Wall Light: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Trompe Loeil - Monserrat Chair With Blanket: New Release: currently available at Collabor88
Bedside Lamp: EliBaily: Pipe Lamp_Black: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Horsie: 7 Emporium: Giddy Up (rare): currently available to win at The Arcade
Bed: Pixel Mode: Manchester Bed - PG/A: New Release: currently available at The Liaison Collaborative
Cats: Fashionably Dead:  Cat - 19 Cuddling Pair (rare): currently available to win at The Arcade
Table: Thistle: abc Animal coffee table: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Sofa: EliBaily: Chester Leather Sofa brown PG/A: New Release: currently available at The Men's Dept.
Rug: LISP - Lolo Rug Green-Beige

Upper Patio:
Fountain: Kaerri: Expo Planter Fountain: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo
Lamps: Shabby Tabby : Chalky Lights: New Release: Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo (part of the Chalky Dining Set)

Bathroom:
Lounge: Prime 1:1: StyleWise No.3 By PRIME
Table: Trompe Loeil - Octopus Table Copper: currently available to win at The Arcade
Lilies: POST: Haarlem Deco Vase with Calla Lilies

Tub, Shower Curtain, Towels, Hamper and Vanity: Trompe Loeil - Classic Bathroom pieces PG/A: New Release: currently available at FaMESHED: these items are absolutely full of features and superbly done

Sink: Dutchie:  toilet sink with towel: 100% donation to RFL. Exclusively available at The 7th Annual Home & Garden Expo

Rug: Cheeky Pea: Fish! Rug

Cabinet: Dutchie: distressed cupboard empty

The4.21.2014: Under the Tuscan Sun

It's been awhile since I've done a decor post, which is a shame since it's a favorite activity of mine. Always a challenge to get started but once I start mixing I have to be careful and edit. The setting for this post is Trompe Loeil's new Cortona Villas which you can pick up at Collabor88 through the rest of the month. I will talk about it more in a sec because it's so good it's sick.  Trompe also is a monthly participant at FaMESHed and has the most remarkable, over-the-top furnishings in her Whimsy collection this month.  The Alyce Bench is a favorite of mine and you can select many different texture types (velvet, leather, etc) and a myriad of colors as well as chose between adult and general poses.  I also tucked in the Candle Fireplace to replace the fireplace included in the Cortona because I loved the glow of the candlelight.  The other items in the room are mostly from the April collection at The Men's Dept. and The Chapter 4.  I spent a fortune on the gacha at Chapter 4 trying to win the adorable Elephant Cart only to discover how amazing all the items are in the set.

 An overall look at the Cortona Villas shows just what an amazing build Cory did for Collabor88 this month.  It sells for L$ 388 and my god, I remember when something as gorgeous as this would have cost thousands and thousands of Lindens.  Get it now at Collab if at all possible. The rooms surround a central courtyard that contains many little living spaces as well. There are all kinds of secret rooms and the doors open upon touch.  The build includes planters and numerous water features as well as a striking pergola at it's entrance. I did add the main fountain which is from Cory's March collection at FaMESHed (the furniture from which is PERFECT for this build). 

Credits:

Build: Trompe Loeil: Cortona Villas: available at April's Collabor88 round

Big Fountain: Trome Loeil: Valiano Fountain Stone Dirty: from March's FaMESHed round 

Sofa: Trompe Loeil: Alyce Bench Velvet Yellow: available at April's FaMESHed round

Fireplace: Trompe Loeil: Candle Fireplace Tile With Drape (drape is texture change): available at April's FaMESHed round

Audrey Chair: Abiss Design: Concerto Chair: available at the April The Men's Dept.

Leather Chair: Hideki: from Set 2 (rare): gacha at April The Chapter 4

Elephant Cart: Hideki: gacha at April The Chapter 4

Bust: Dinmael Bust (Coal/Gold): available at April The Men's Dept.

Mirror: Abiss Design: Deco Mirror: available at April The Men's Dept.

Record Player: Hideki: gacha at April The Chapter 4

Table: Convair: Noguchi Table: soon available on The Marketplace

Rug: Zaara: Ikat Dhurri Rug: gacha from March The Arcade

Asst Decor: Post, Bazar

Wish You a Manly Christmas

So, we are celebrating Christmas at my brother's house this year. My brother, Dean, is a big imposing Harley guy with the heart of a marshmallow. Generally there would be a motorcycle in the middle of the living room, but he has a new house so I'm sharing a mental image of what I hope it looks like.  Sometimes men need cozy, too.

Credits:
From The Men's Dept.:
Aria: Hiver sideboard cabinet: Touch options include texture change (color and stencil) and shadow effect
22769 ~ [bauwerk]:  Barrel Chair Green: available in green, red and blue. Includes 10 adjustable poses (animated and static)
From The Arcade: 
Trompe Loeil: Advent Calendar 2013: The tree calender itself is free to all.  Plays are only 25 L for a variety of adorable items.  The items I have rezzed include (left to right): Tree Candleholder, Branch Wreath, Dashing Through The Snow Chalkboard, Recycled Wood Photo Frame, Snowflake Pillow Bunch with animations (Seats 2, eight couples animations). Just rez the keys near the advent tree and the corresponding door opens and delivers the actual item.  The items are exquisite and it's kind of fun to see the door pop open with a mini replica of each item.
From FaMESHed:
Trompe Loeil: Holiday 2013 Hearth: available in 3 wood finishes and touch on/off fire; Holiday Couch: PG and Adult versions with 9 touch controlled color/pattern sofa fabric options and 8 pillow fabric options. About a zillion animated poses; 2013 Holiday Tree: available in 6 colors; each set includes 6 versions; perfect inside or outdoors.
Misc:
Barnesworth Anubis: fancy pet feeder - KittyCats advent 2013: gift 1 of 25 lovely free gifts.  If you miss a day you can come back and get!  The KittyCat folks do such a lovely job with this event.
EmmePose: little grey kitty: attachable mesh prop from Meow pose reopening gift: TY TY
POST: Retro Coffee Table
Apple Fall: Chinese Takeout: old group gift
Sari-Sari: Weihnachtsteller: part of 4 Walls Hunt: 20L
Silent Sparrow: Rudolph Penant: free gift in store with the unmistakable artwork of hyasynth Tiramisu
Lisp: Assorted Gift Boxes: Transferable, but I could not bear to part with them!

Geeks'n'Nerds: I Qualify

So, I've had fun thinking about what qualifies me as a geek or nerd.  I'm generally not one to overshare but I got to thinking about my obsession with gas pumps in SL.  If I see one, it must be mine.  In RL I'm not a car aficionado but there is just something about them that pleases me here.  Quite a few of my friends have asked me...like..."Eden, why do you have a gas pump in your house?" and I have no explanation they could understand.  It's just one of those things.

The Geeks'n'Nerds Fair is simply, fun.  It's lighthearted and makes me laugh at our human condition.  Plus the offerings are A++.  These are a few of my favorite finds!

Credits:
From Geeks'n'Nerds:
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Maya: LOVE!
Shirtdress: Ison: Embossed Sweater: awesomely comes with a hud that allows you to change the texture of the blouse underneath!
Poses: Sari-Sari: I <3 Books: very clever and a darling set
From Shoetopia:
Boom: Fair Isle Wool Mukluks: Gacha Machine!
From My Attic:
Skin: Idiosyncrasy: Natasha II: It's Cold Outside!: Dood, Awesome skin that comes with every applier known to man for less than 100 L.  Love it, Ash <3
Others:
Turkey: *UI*: Wearable White Turkey: he talks but you can shut him up which makes his company much more agreeable.  My new bff.  Free in The Jerky Turkey Hunt: TY to Virtual Vagabond for the tip!!!
Gas Pumps: from the collection (left to right)
FMA: GAS POMP max: store now gone :(
Organica: Broken Gas Pump
BERDAV Marine: PRIMOIL Fuel Pump DIESEL: Free! TY again to Virtual Vagabond for satiating my fetish.
ILO: Gas Heater: from a gacha!
Vignette: 1920's Gas Pump: everything here is free!
POST: Rural Gas Tank

Serious Moonlight

If you say run, I'll run with you

If you say hide, we'll hide

Because my love for you

Would break my heart in two

I was yearning to create a quiet, romantic scene ever since I saw Trompe Loeil's Skarstind Patio, that is included as part of this massive cottage pack which is at Collabor88 right now for a ridiculously low price.  It includes the world, so no debate on this buy.  I've decorated it with a collection of items from Collabor88, The Men's Department, We <3 Role-Play and a few old favorites.  Details and locations in Credits.  PS. I miss you, honey.

Credits:

Patio: Trompe Loeil: Skarstind Patio: currently available @ Collabor88 as part of the Skarstind Modular Cottage Pack

Chair (front left): Trompe Loeil: Industrial Lounger: currently available @ Collabor88 in a pack of 15 colours

Chest (left): Culprit: Old Chest Crackle: currently available at The Men's Department

Candle: Funky Junk

Lillies: POST

Chair: (rear left): .encore. President's Chair: currently available at The Men's Department

Bust: Culprit: Dragon with the Girl Tattoo: currently available at The Men's Department

Backpack: Zenith: Rammus Leather Backpack Open: currently available at The Men's Department

Speakers: floorplan.: drive-in speakers: currently available at The Men's Department

Screen: POST: Prouve Dressing Screen

Daybed: 11th Hour: Noir Daybed - Adult: currently available at The Men's Department

Tea Set: Two Cats One Cup: Tilting Tea Server - Pumpkin: available at We <3 Role-Play

Lighting: Trompe Loeil: Industrial Chandelier Tall: currently available @ Collabor88

Rug: *MMG: Mesh Rug [A-#2]: I think it was free or super cheap!

I should be out raking, really.

Qopi says I talk to much in my posts so brevity is the word for the day. Lot's of gorgeous new releases from designers I love!

Credits:
Drift: Cold Shoulder Dress: new release (so cozy and versatile)
Ison: Lace-Up Gladiator Sandals for Slink Med Feet: new release @ Collabor88 (badass)
Stockings: Izzies: Thigh High Knit Socks (incl. Slink applier)
Necklace: Bliensen + MaiTai: Time Loop Necklace: new release
Hair: Elikatira: Brenna: new release (YAY)
Skin: Izzies: Lucie - Pumpkin Pie: new release @ TDR Fusion
House: Trompe Loeil: Autumn Cottage: new release @ Collabor88 (cutest house ever!)
Garage: POST: Hurley Rural Garage: new release (was for The Neighborhood last week - if Post has something new I will be there!)
Walkway: Barnesworth Anubis: Flagstone Pavers
Mailbox: +sanctuaire+: Siouxie Mailbox
Pumpkin / Cornstalks: Deco
Wheelbarrow: Hayana

Greetings from Charlevoix

I live in Michigan, which gets a really bad rap because our economy, which has been over-reliant on the auto industry, has really suffered.  However, I grew up on the west side of the state, i.e. not Detroit, less than a mile from Lake Michigan.  It is idyllic most of the year though the weather can be harsh.  There are so many great decor items and some can be had for a song.  The Nest has 18 items to be found as well as a few new dollarbies from floorplan.  All you need to add is imagination.

Credits:
From The Nest's Halloween Hunt:
Piano: +sanctuaire+ : Reclaimed Piano Bookcase - Gypsy
Hand Chair: [ Organica ]: Caress Hand Chair (red) - one of 3 colors
Cabinet: [Noble]: Harvest Time Cabinet
Chair: Cleo Design: Mystery Chair
Owl: Thistle: Owl Ceramic Biggie (cm)
Lanterns: Sway's: Paper Lantern [lampion] candy corn / string
Bowl: (on top of piano): Cleo Design: Halloween Candy Apples
Crate of Pumpkins: 11th Hour: Pumpkin Storage Crate

Other: 
Wine Bottles: floorplan: pumpklin bottles and ghost bottles - 1 L each
Plate: floorplan: nevermore plate - 1 L each
Shed: POST: Toimi Pole Shed
Star Light: POST: Ely Roadside Star
Wagon: artilleri : Old wagon (with pumpkins)
Tall bucket of Apples: artilleri
Spigot / small bucket of apples: POST: Old Spigot with Apple Bucket
Hay Bales: Botanical: Rectangle Hay Bale
Crates: 7: Lab Crates
Pumpkin Planter: 11th Hour: @ The Fantasy Gacha Carnival
Sign: 7: Portable Marquee @ The Men's Department
Bench: POST: Nisswa Pine Bench
Table: Lark: Dessert Table
Tins: vespertine: cookie tin/butter cookies
Apple Juice: vespertine- apple juice basket
Birch Trees: Deco
Conifers: Tree House Designs

The Men's Department: Talk Nerdeh to Me

The October round of The Men's Department (TMD) opens Saturday!  The event will be even bigger beginning this month with 40 participating designers, all who use original content. Most of the decor and some of the things I am wearing are new items for The Men's Department.  My cute bloomers aren't from TMD (bummer, right) but another cute item I got at The Fantasy Gacha Carnival.  They are from Yasum and the bracers and the bloomer itself are separate items available in all sizes so you can get the right fit for your avatar.  The Jade hair from Wasabi Pills includes a hud to change the headband color and is available at this month's FaMESHed round.  It's a really fun mid-length style.

I absolutely fell in love with Sorgo's Steam glasses which are available in Wood/Earth/Black (gold) colors at The Men's Department.  The glasses include both sunglass and regular lenses.  Also, if you find you cannot get enough of them, there are a white pair available at the main store in LIMITED quantities so I will include a link to the store as well in credits.  Ispachi item for TMD are the brilliant Attero Headphones and Music Player.  The set includes 3 versions: Head, Neck and Hand attachments as well as a fully integrated HUD that controls the color, size, and shine control.  The Headphones come in 15 base colors and 8 metal textures, as does the Music Player, which also has 8 LED options.  Sweet.  Deco has some badass Duck boots at TMD.  They come in 3 different colors and include both small and large sizes.

There are also some fantastic decor items at October's TMD.  Culprit's Leather Wingback chair is lush with it's aged leather effect so that it looks like it's been a well loved reading chair.  It includes animations for both genders (and no, this is not a lady animation).  Eleventh Hour's Hinge Shelf is a great set of shelves held on each end by ladder scaffolding for a nice industrial effect for any decor. The large photo space can be edited to hold your own photos but I kinda like the photo of River Stromfield.  Cheeky Pea's Driftwood Silhouettes just make me LOL, with iconic cutouts of Bigfoot, Nessy, a shark and a platypus, perfect for all the big, tough burlymen of SL.  Floorplan's funny Mustache Marquee let's you chose between 9 different color choices, some with various levels of aged effect for a nice vintage feel.  I can't wait to see what else is there when it opens Saturday, October 5.

Credits:
The Men's Dept:
Glasses: Sorgo: Steam Glasses - black gold
Headphones: Ispachi: Attero Vintage Futuristic Headphones
Boots: Deco: Legends: Duck Boots - Dirt
Floor Shelving: Eleventh Hour: Hinge Shelf
Cut-Outs: Cheeky Pea: Driftwood Silhouettes
Mustache: Floorplan: Mustache Marquee
The Fantasy Gacha Carnival:
Bloomers: Yasum: Babes Romper - #1
Planter: Eleventh Hour: Pumpkin Planter
FaMESHed:
Wasabi Pills: Jade Hair - Golden
Other:
Skin: LAQ: Ebba - Fair
Large Bookshelf: Lark -  Imaginarium Librarium - Sage (Sept Arcade)
Side Table and Misc Library Decor: Post
Hanging Bulbs: 7
Lamp: Artilleri - Tampa Table Lamp
Ladder: we're CLOSED: old Ladder dark (Group Gift!)

Fly Girl

Oh joy and happiness!  Plurabelle Laszlo of Bliensen + MaiTai has hit it out of the ballpark with her adorable releases for A Clockwork Spiral, a steampunk themed event that ends today! Run and get these things! The event is a charity event for the National Kidney Foundation. Designers offer select items with a percentage going for the charity. The items may be sold at the designer's mainstore and Marketplace at their discretion. The hair and shoes I am wearing are both from Bliensen + MaiTai.  The adorable, must-have shoes are made for Slink's medium feet and come in many colors. The brown's are a 50% donation to the charity.

The clothes and jewelry I am wearing are from the My Attic event that just started it's Flowers in My Attic round. This round runs until September 30 and every item is only $L 95.  There are some incredible selections this round and I pretty much bought it out.  Ironically, besides the cute ring from Epoque nothing I am wearing in these shots has flowers!  I loved Emery's Safari Shirt and Striped Skirt. They are both impeccably made and the shirt comes in both a tucked in and longer version.  I really appreciate those kinds of features and play a big influence in my purchasing decisions.  The peplum from Tee*fy is an older Collabor88 item and I've used it over and over again with several looks.  My Kaelyn skin is from Izzie's and was for last month's Collabor88.  Izzie Button included Slink skin applier's with the skin and I was all over that like a fly on stink!  I shop a lot and I've learned to be smart about it...because I hate tinting for all the various windlights.

Credits:
Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai: Diesel Hair - Aeronaut Carmel, bases included - available the rest of the day at A Clockwork Spiral and then at the mainstore
Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai: Avaitrice: Shoes for Slink Med. feet - Brown are 50% donation to National Kidney Association - available the rest of the day at A Clockwork Spiral and then at the mainstore
Skin: Izzie's: Kaelyn 20's skin - Fire Lips
Shirt: Emery: Safari Shirt - Norbert Black: available at My Attic through September 30
Skirt: Emery: Striped Skirt - Ludwig Cake: available at My Attic through September 30
Peplum: Tee*fy:  Thick Peplum Belt Add-on - Black
Ring: Epoque: Metal Petal Ring: Gold / Obsidion: available at My Attic through September 30
Airplane: Lindy Premium Airplane: SL Premium member gift (yes, it flies)
Shed and Ely Roadside Star: POST
Trees: Deco

Color Challenge: Patina

Happy Monday!  Some people are absolute speed freaks with these color challenges.  When I looked this morning there were already almost 80 responses of completed posts!  I feel like a total slowpoke even though each week I do it earlier.  I refuse to do it sooner; it's become part of my Monday ritual once my son is finally off to school and I have some time to myself.  I love the color of patina; we have a gorgeous old basilica near my home that has a copper dome and it has aged to such a lovely patina.

The upside of having a gargantuan inventory is that so far I have had plenty of items for this challenge.  It was hard to sort out the all the 'greeny' and 'bluey' things but some of my household items actually helped blend the colors for this picture.

My only new item is a must have for all of you doing the color challenge. Mocksoup Graves of MOCK Cosmetics sent her group a "color block" gift that has several of the next few weeks colors in it!  The group is not free but Mock has to be one of the most insanely generous women I know here and she is damn good at her craft.

I've not been online much lately but I have been slowly culling my inventory.  Jacqui and I are keeping track of our progress on the sidebar of the blog.  Hopefully, I can make some good progress this week and feel like I deserve to blog more.

Credits:
Jacket: DeLa: Shearling Jacket "Rosa" -  Crystalblue
Skirt Outfit: Schadenfreude: Seafoam Funster Top and Skirt
Shoes: Pixel Mode: Fae Wedges - Teal
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Kimmy Hair - Ethereal
Skin: LAQ: Ebba
Eyes: Mlo: Crystal Eyes: store is closed
Makeup: MOCK: Patina Luna Eyeshadow: Group gift
Decor: All but right print from Post: Fin de siecle set and Picasso print
  North West: Clip Hanger Poster - Programma
Pose: Di's Opera

The Vintage Fair Goes Domestic

I seldom share personal information in SL, but I'm going to break my rule for a minute.  My husband owned a vintage clothing store as well as selling high-end midcentury modern furniture and one of the things that has always thrilled me in SL is well designed furniture and architecture.  It lights my brain up and I can practically feel it smiling, a feeling I also get when I see beautiful clothing and shoes.  I know SL is supposed to be a "social" platform but most often what turns me on are the amazing creations I see.  With that in mind, I wanted to show you some of the spectacular non-wearable items that you can find at The Vintage Fair.  This is a long post, so grab some coffee and get ready.

Let's start with What Next.  Apologies for failing to align the photos but I was dead tired by the time I got to these shots.  I  think the new Vintage TV Camera is one of the most clever new items I've seen in a really long time.  The camera is scripted with 2 operating animations; one for larger and one for smaller avatars.  The entire piece is only 11 prims and is copyable.

The Sophia Chair Set reminds me of mid-century Danish teak furniture.  The sets are available in 4 fabric options: Fawn, Grey, Mocha and Violet and have both a solid and printed pillow.  There are 12 animations (some female, some male).  Touch the pillow to review props of mugs and books that work with some of animations.  I really admire Winter Thorn of What Next for the special touches she includes in her wares.

My lovey, Jacqui, purchased The Pasadena from Funky Junk first.  I hemmed and hawed and eventually broke down.  You can purchase this marvelous California ranch in either a version with or without the garage.  The garage can actually hold a vehicle or you can hide bodies there.  I like the elongated look of the garage version though I also love how the patio on the no-garage version is so open.  I really love the upswept roof of the house which brings just the right Googie touch.  The house has fantastically garish wallpaper reminiscent of the 50's and 60's and has all kinds of cute add on's like built in shelves, an operating fireplace, porch lights, mailbox, etc.  There is a demo at Vintage Fair that you can access from the Funky Junk store there.  If you are still having problems navigating the sims you might want to look at Ulla Coronet's, Funky Junk goddess, flickr pages for more images.

Van Auster of Post is one of my favorite prim crafters in SL.  Van has elevated the use of sculpts and textures to a level that I can only dream of reaching.  Much of his work harkens Art Deco and Mid-Century Modern but the 2 exclusive sets he has made available for Vintage Flair have a color palette that  reminds me of the Arts & Crafts Movement , which emphasized craftsmanship over mass production related to the Industrial Revolution of that era. Both the Endion Station Loft set as well as the Gogebic Parlor Set can be purchased as sets or as individual pieces.  The sets offer a significant savings on fantastic pieces.  The floor pillows on the Endion set offer 2 animations as well as reading books.  The globe comes in both a scripted and unscripted version.  The scripted globe has 2 light settings, warm and cool in a gentle glow.

The Gogebic Parlor set has awesome props for a medical setting.  The salvaged medical cabinet has 3 soft lighting settings.  Jacqui and I both went "oooo" at the colors.  I completely forgot to take a photo of the amazing gaslights that are available. They come in 2 sizes and are composed of bendable brass tubing.  They also have menu scripted lighting and particals.  The Gogebic Pottery set (shown inside the cabinet) is has the rustic, handcrafted look of Arts & Crafts pottery such as Roseville, Rookwood, VanBriggle and Pewabic to name just a few.

Lisp is offering the Lolo Retro set which would find a perfect place in the Pasadena House by Funky Junk.  The Mid-Century era gave us some of our most notable designs by Charles and Ray Eames, Arne Jacobsen, Heywood-Wakefield, and George Nelson amongst hundreds of others.  It had a major presence in mainstream, middle class homes.

Popping back to the 1930's, Hanaya has several offerings for Vintage Fair.  It is so evident that Moriko Inshan, Hanaya's creator worked really hard on these items! Nana's china cabinet is modeled after her own grandmother's china cabinet and is stuffed full of fancy china and silver as well as vintage family photos.  The TV room set includes chairs with animations, a television (I modified the image on the screen), a side and TV table, and touches like an ivy plant, coasters and photograph.  If I have not bored you to tears yet this work is reminiscent of reproduction furniture of the time with themes of Chippendale, Duncan Phyfe, Sheraton, etc.

Hanaya also offers this adorable New York Bus Stop as a freebie to guests of fair.  It can sit more than one avatar and has 2 different animations.  It is subtly decorated for the holidays and I adore the little pidgeon friend that accompanies it.

I found some great items at Scrub.  Many of them were accessories but they also offer this lovely Gramofhone (sp.)  This cutie plays several different tunes from the 1930's.  Oh and the turntable moves! Big fun!

For more colorful pieces be sure to check out Zigana.  They offer bright tables, happy prayer flags and garlands, music boxes and all kinds of things that will add a nice spot of color.

Ok.. I'm tired.  Especially since my ex-wife, Whisper Despres, insisted we hold a bake sale after I shot and edited all those photos.  All while she hops around like a rabbit. Cool Beans, which I see is closing December 3rd and I've always loved to see at Fashionably Late, has this adorable, cute and whimsical Bake Sale Stand.  It sits 2 people and has really funny animations, like head on table, waiting, etc.  It's just too fun.

Credits:  These shops are scattered all around Vintage Fair.  For a map and complete list of slurls visit this page on the Chic Management blog.  The slurls on the store names are to the main stores.  You will not find these items here until possibly after the fair, though some are noted to be exclusives.