Into the Woods

It's the final week of Mystic Realms and if you have not been there you really must.  I am not an RP'er but I like to switch up my look and the shopping there was absolutely fantastic.  Even G Field is there and it is always nice to see new works from Cerebus Noel.  I am a long time fan of the meticulous effort put into items.  I still have hundreds of pairs of the sculpt shoes because they have simply held up to the test of time, while others have been tossed and forgotten. G Field's Elwyn outfit is a single piece, though it looks like separates.  It comes in 5 standard sizes and in 4 colors. If you can't decide which to buy, get the fatpack because it's a really good value.  I've become more aware of Isabeau Baragula's work for Kalopsia, especially her range of skill.  She has several items at Mystic Realms including the stone arch, well, and tree bench shown here. However, if you visit The Men's Dept. right now you will see houses she has made to resemble metal shipping crates that are just as incredible.

Also brand new is Wasabi Pills Ariel hair which she has created for Fallen God's Anniversary. Among other event there is a small market with some of "the Gods'" favorite creators. It's a precious mid-length  rigged style with a bit of a lift and a braid across the top.  It is available in all of MissAllSunday's textures and includes hair bases.  Me likey :).

Credits:
Dress: G Field: Elwyn Outfit - Forest: available at Mystic Realms
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Ariel - Cinnamon: available at The Sun Market
Stockings: Cannibelle: Plain Ribbed Tights - Coffee
Skin: Glam Affair: Katelyn - Europa 03 - still one of my favorites
Eyes: IKON: Destiny Eyes - Clarity
Arch, Well, Tree Bench: Kalopsia: available at Mystic Realms
Pose: Axix: Ladycrow: available at Mystic Realms - awesome pose set!
Trees: Studio Skye: Enchanted Woods v2
Grasses: Happy Mood: Wire Grass - light green
               Lumiere: Dried Grass Ground Cover

Princess & her Castle

The Mystic Realms Faire opens on October 10th, and I must say, there is a lot of FABULOUS stuff there!  I found a lot of new stores (new to me, anyway) that I'll definitely have to add to my "stalk" list. One of the stores I came across is called Kalopsia. They have some fabulous fantasy type items (with built in poses!), one of which is the coolest castle I've ever seen!

It's actually made to be more of a small decorative item, but I just had to blow it up to life size cuz well ....it's the coolest castle I've ever seen! (did I say that already?) While you're grabbing the awesomesauce castle, you can find these stone arches, the bench, the well, and the flying leaves. All at VERY reasonable prices!
While on my journey, I found this beautiful flowered head wreath from Evie's Closet, which comes with a matching choker. There are several colors to choose from, but I chose the red one for my photo. The lovely dress I'm wearing is from The Library, called the "White Queen". It is available in several colors, and it includes optional sleeves, and a halter with a collar. Calico has the perfect elven princess hairstyle available, called "Marian". It's styled with woven braids in the back, which come with a color change hud.

I must say, from what I've seen so far, the creators have really outdone themselves with this fair, and I can't wait to go back for more goodies! If you'd like to get a jump start before opening day, you can check out their shopping guide. See you there! ^.^

Credits:
Skin: Essences - Lorde01 *lumiere* blonde
Dress: ~The Library~ White Queen Dress-White - Mystic Realms Faire Oct 10th
Hair: *Calico* Marian - Light Blondes - Mystic Realms Faire Oct 10th
Wreath & Necklace: Evie's Closet - Arianwen Wreath - Red - Mystic Realms Faire Oct 10th
Eyes: Ikon Eyes - Lucid - Oxidation Lighter
Eyeshadow: [mock]Gallifrey Green eShadow [eye only]
Lipstick: *L* Dusty Matte - Strawberry (no longer available)

Rezzed Items:
Arches, Castle, Flying Leaves, Bench, Well:  - Mystic Realms Faire Oct 10th
Kalopsia - Stone Arch
Kalospia - Stone Bench
Kalospia - Well Town
Kalopsia - Flying leaves (green)
Kalopsia - Princess Castle
Step Stone Path: Sway's [stony] step stones - Mystic Realms Faire Oct 10th
Trees: Four Season Oak Tree from Studio Skye
Shrubs & Grasses: Happy Mood & alirium

Pose: Clutter for Builders

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

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