52 Colours: Madder Lake Deep

The name of the colour piqued my interest so I did some poking around the net to find out that madder is a plant whose roots have been used to produce red dye for millennia and lake in this context does not refer to water, but is derived from lac. We’re speaking of the bright, strong red in the old masterworks. If it weren’t December, I might have gone to that direction, but since it is I admit I took the easy route and interpreted it as ‘santa red’. Shame on me. The hair by D!va, skin by Izzie’s and the house by Trompe Loeil can all be found in the current Collabor88. A lot of the decor is my old favourites of the season, but the noms and champagne by Poche in the foreground are available in RMK Gothic Frost Fair. The Ashraya dress by Geometry was just the right red and with all the gold it turned the whole look into a decoration, just need to find a big enough tree. I liked how the skin looks both fresh and blushed, either straight out of snow or perhaps after a tad too much mulled wine. I added a makeover by M.O.C.K. Cosmetics to take the skin even more to a holiday-at-home direction and crowned it with the As Darkness Falls necklace by House of Rain.

Scene: House: Trompe Loeil – Frostbite Cottage White | Tree: Sanu – Just Another Christmas Tree | Couch: LISP – Santa Candy Sofa Red | Stocking: LISP – Stocking Robin Red | Penguin: D-LAB – Sit-Penguin-B&W | Rug & Pillows: ~Libertine~ Green brocade rug & Red cushions | Noms & Champagne: Poche – xmas minicake, champagne, latte, stollen

Body: Skin: Izzie’s – Geanna Frostbite Skin fair DB | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Rumour Has It Makeover | Hair: D!va – Asami Onyx

Outfit: Dress: Geometry – Ashraya Red* | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Red Eve | Stockings: Blacklace – Black Sheer Stockings | Necklace: House of Rain – As Darkness Falls Ruby/Gold* | Bracelet & Ring: Mandala – Milky Way Hawthorn 

Pose: BENT! - ONE. Simply Febrile Insomnia

Gothmas by Gaslight

I’ve always loved that word, Gothmas, ever since I heard Bronxie use it the first time. Gothmas by Gaslight has existed as an event for a few years now, although this year it has changed from a hunt to a gacha festival. Less camming, more addictive playing! The Anais gown by Volstead is perfect for those who like their holidays strong red while still gliding about in style. It also goes fantastically together with the Horror Holiday necklace by House of Rain, like the two were meant to be worn together. I added some blood red lipstick from Pin Me Down’s gacha and stiletto-slid all around the area, admiring the ice sculptures and carousel. Speaking of the necklace, it truly is one of my new favourite things ever. Enough for me to drop all the clothes and start taking pictures the moment I got my grabby hands on it. I cannot wait to see all the separate combinations and colours possible. Or the accompanying pieces in earrings, bracelets and rings…

You can find more information about Gothmas by Gaslight here and your wintry sleigh ride to the event is here.

Scene: Gothmas by Gaslight

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Sky Everett – Kiera Black | Lipstick (in first picture): Pin Me Down – The countesses’s kiss Blood*

Outfit: Dress: Volstead – Anais Red* | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve Red | Necklace: House of Rain – Horror Holiday*

Pose: Exposeur – Spinning 2 (advent calendar)

52 Colours: Barley Corn

With a name like that, I had to find some fields for Miss Barley Corn to wander through. Quite far from any actual farmer, she’s more of a high class girl visiting summer mansion and play-pretending farm things. With cookies. Probably tiny star shaped sammiches and strawberries, too.

It’s all about the hat, as usual. This sun hat by G Field has been my favourite for a long time and you can probably find it in several blog posts in various colours. Long live colour change scripts!

The innocent radiance is a combination of Glam Affair skin and makeup by M.O.C.K. Cosmetics with another of my old favourites: summer wheat eyes by Poetic Colors.

The Bon Bon dress by Sn@tch formed the whole spirit of playful sophistication and conveniently matched the colour sample. The Steph hairstyle by Alice Project combines sweetness with relaxation, not a care in the world and all the time to flitter about smiling.

Body: Skin: Glam Affair – Giselle Light Kajira | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Wheat | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – SuperSweet Shadow One Ai Shui & Clear Lipgloss | Hair: Alice Project: Steph* 

Outfit: Dress: Sn@tch – Bon Bon Peach | Hat: G Field – Straw Floppy Hat Rose Garden | Ring: December – Rose Ring | Cookie jar: Magic Nook – Cookie Jar Red | Butterfly: Baffle! – Flutterby on nose

Poses: LAP – TC Timid Girl PR4 | N/A | LAP – Fantasy-Puppet PR4

Dahlia

Film Noir spells femme fatale to me. Drama back in the day when it was still a good thing, sophistication and seduction in the same packet, determination, intelligence and attitude. They were in control, knew what they wanted and knew how to play the game to get it. The Black Dahlia dress [ SAKIDE ] made for Cinema is all of those things.

Femme fatales require drama in their looks, there’s no subtleties between black and white, it’s all edge. The Willow hair by Alice Project works for this perfectly. It’s an editorial hair for creating the effect of wind blowing your hair to the side and it comes in both higher and lower versions (for more or less wind) and mirrors so you can decide which side do you want your hair to move in. Obviously editorial hairs really work only for pictures, but yegads we need more of them. So brilliant.

The makeup is by Adore & Abhor and it’s available in Cinema. It’s called Payback and it felt extremely fitting for Dahlia, as did the Queen’s Gambit necklace by lassitude & ennui. The necklace was probably intended for more fantasy looks, but in here it creates an obvious mystery to be solved. Where did she get it? Why do people want it? What’s its secret?

Dahlia’s outfit comes with two versions, this is the longer gown. Both are partial mesh, meaning that the top and pants are system layers and the skirt mesh, which means one size fits all. I love these hybrid mesh creations since I don’t have to cut off parts of Sonya’s body to fit in them.

The dress, makeup, hair and necklace can all be found in Cinema, which lasts the whole of October. [ SAKIDE ] is in Film Noir, lassitude & ennui in Fantasy/Musical and *Alice Project* and Adore & Abhor both in Action/Adventure.

Scene: Shady Falls Sim (1920′s roleplay sim, be polite when visiting)

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: IKON – Sunrise Eyes Light Arabian Blue L | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: Adore & Abhor – Payback Lips & Eyes* | Hair: *Alice Project* – Willow High & Lower*

Outfit: Dress: [ SAKIDE ] - Black Dahlia Dress* | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve Black | Stockings: Black Lace – Black Sheer Stockings | Gloves: Sn@tch – Leather Gloves Black | Ring: Mandala – Milky Nails White | Necklace: lassitude & ennui – The Queen’s Gambit*

Poses: aDORKable Poses – Confident Leo 1 | !bang – Stand 135 | D.Luxx – Secrets 03

Petites Like Shinies, Too

Who wouldn’t? In this case I’m referring to the Crystal Hunt in the recently opened Petite Kingdom. I was tempted to take pictures in the sim because it’s gorgeous, but the lure of playing with the prizes and other shinies won. The crystal that seems so big in this picture is the hunt object. They glow blue and every participating shop has a hint, so it’s really not that difficult. More a fun way to explore the sim than a torture method.

The hunt will clothe and accessorize your petite rather well and provides plenty of furniture, but you do have to have a petite first. If you don’t, the first floating castle has plenty of them for sale. This particular petite is obviously a teenager princess, lounging on the alcove by {Mole End}, wearing G Field’s outfit and Wasabi Pills’ Noriko hair. All three are from the hunt, but the extra jewelry she plays with is not. Those are normal avatar sized shinies by ::: Krystal :::.

Roawenwood had plenty of fun petite furniture in the hunt and this little flower parasol by *Epic* was to squee for. The leaf-and-branches outfit is by Fallen Gods Inc., perfect for tiny dryads. The small skunk by D-Lab is from The Arcade’s gacha event, he just plopped on the chair and refused to move. Would you try to remove a skunk, no matter how cute? Yeah, me neither.

I could not resist. I’m sure you’re all surprised. Anyways! The petite kimono by Naminoke and the hair by Wasabi Pills are from the hunt. The Tee*fy camera that floats because magic — duh — and the ASO! alphabet bracelets spelling bunny are also from The Arcade. Happy Mood bunnies are just their squeetastic selves. Non-specified parts of the scenery are Ely’s awesome landscaping.

Even if you’re not interested in the hunt, Petite Kingdom is well worth the visit for breathtaking views. Go explore and have fun!

Picture 1: Petite Avatar: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petites Elf Pale Natural* | Eyes: al vulo! – Petite2 HeadB Eye rose | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Noriko Petite Crystal Pink | Dress, Wings & Hair Ornament: G Field – Fairy Dress Stella B | Alcove: {Mole End} – Garden of Light Alcove (Petites) | Jewelry: ::: Krystal ::: – Sabina Necklace Silver & Sheltered Heart Earring Platinum*

Picture 2: Petite Avatar: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petites Elf Pale Natural* | Eyes: al vulo! – Petite2 HeadB Eye rose | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Monique Petite Seafoam | Outfit: Fallen Gods Inc. – Fleurs Petite Female | Parasol: *Epic* – -P- Cartoon It! Strange Daisy [Raining] Parasol -Yellow- | Furniture: Roawenwood – Rinky Dink Chunky Rocker & Woodland Stove Set | Skunk: D-LAB – Skunk-head-brown | Pose: LAP – TC-Timid Girl PR4 (+ parasol hand position)

Picture 3: Petite Avatar: Fallen Gods Inc. – Petites Elf Pale Natural* | Eyes: al vulo! – Petite2 HeadB Eye rose | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Noriko Petite Crystal Pink | Outfit: Naminoke – Botan Hagire | Camera: Tee*fy Vintage Brownie Camera Neck  Black | Bracelets: ASO! – AlphabetBrace | Bunnies: Happy Mood - HPMD* StandingRabbit & HPMD* SleepyRabbit white | Pose: LAP – TCM-Oldskool Glam PR4

 

 

 

Promenade Blues

It’s actually my favourite colour, even when I use black most of the time. Proper indigo or cobalt blue, none of those vague pastel things. Here showing off Promenade-dress by Geometry Clothing, available in Vintage Fair. The adorable flowers on top and waist are separate attachments, so you can choose if you want both, none at all or just one.

The Shirley-hair with optional bangs and an extremely fifties ponytail by *Alice Project* and the soft-toned Leena-skin by Bilo are also both in the fair. I had to add some makeup to change pink lips to red (you know me and pink), but they formed such a vintagey poster effect together that I couldn’t resist and went to Artilleri for the pictures.

I got the Aster-jewelry by {me.} while I was shopping at the fair to complete the look and then wandered to the beach in search of a matching life guard. Alas, no such luck. Guess one needs a swim suit to lure them out, maybe next time!

You can find *Alice Project* and {me. } in Classic, Bilo in Retro and Geometry Clothing in CHIC.

Body: Skin: Bilo – Leena* | Hair: *Alice Project* – Shirley Infinity* | Hairbase: Exile – Black | Makeup: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Ginger Chocolate Makeover | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 Luscious | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Aurora 

Outfit: Dress: Geometry Clothing – Promenade Blue* | Jewelry: {me.} – Aster Earrings & Bracelets | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve Blue

Poses: LAP – TC-Timid Girl PR4 | Art Body Store – My Cute Wings 08

 

 

From Harlem to Montmartre

By walking. In heels. Don’t try this in real life! The pictures are taken during a short trip from Virtual Harlem to Virtual Montmartre, both of which are gorgeous sims.

This Wiggle-dress by ~Sassy!~ was amongst my very first must-have-purchases from the Vintage Fair. There’s a great variety of eras and styles in there, but in all honesty this is what I always end up getting. Pencil skirts from the era and styling when classy and sexy still went hand in hand. These are system layer clothes with mesh part replacing old prim parts, perfect for those who struggle with standard sizes. I wish more designers realized that there is actual demand for these at the moment.

Lynn-hair by *Alice Project* was perfect for the lady in red with its sharp bangs and luscious curls. There will be hairflips galore, the attitude is a necessary part of the styling. As are the poses, both by D.Luxx from Vintage Fair.

Vintage Fair covers three sims that are probably rather full still. When you get in, you can find *Alice Project* in Classic and Sassy! and D.Luxx in Retro.

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Poison Ivy | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Lips: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Morado Otoro Makeover | Liner: Pin Me Down – Liner 6 | Hair: *Alice Project* – Lynn Infinity*

Outfit: Dress: Sassy! – Wiggle Dress Wine | Jewelry: Concrete Flowers – Cherry Set | Gloves: The Secret Store – Fine Gloves White | Stockings: Blacklace – Black Sheer Stockings | Hat: LaGyo – Splatter Roses Fascinator Red | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve Red

Poses: D.Luxx Poses – The Vintage – Sugar Smacks 05 & Tootsie Roll 09

 

 

Odile

Odile is a new mesh release from Geometry Clothing and she’s clearly more of a gothic summer girl or a classy lady than a casual sandal-stomper. The gorgeous lace texture that looks like there’d really be two fabrics on top of each other really impressed me.

After I added Immaculada by Bliensen + MaiTai to it, I knew that I had to find something gothic while still staying summery, so back to World’s End Garden I went. The hair turned the whole look into almost classic Spanish. The updo with the decorations is available in Hair Fair.

The hairpins happened to match this blood thorn set by *Amaranthus*, so I used it to complete the look. Delicate, detailed, polished and classy. The raven approves.

There might be a hint of narcissism in the old-fashioned glamour, but considering that the mirror image peering back from the pond looks like that, who could blame her?

Credits – Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: IKON – Utopia Eyes Dark Red | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Makeup: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Ginger Chocolate Makeover | Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai – Immaculada Night (Hair Fair) 

Credits – Outfit: Dress:Geometry Clothing – Odile Wine* | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve Black | Jewelry: *Amaranthus* – Blood Thorn Zirconium/Blood Set*

Credits – Poses: aDORKable Poses – Love Gun Stand 2 / Glitterati – Zodiac 3 / aDORKable Poses – Dramatic Leo 4

 

 

Gifts in the Gallery’s Garden

The Gallery Gift Shop is one of the genuinely intriguing events on the grid. There’s changing collections for your shopping pleasure, of course, but visiting it is always an experience. It truly is like going into an art gallery, except in our virtual world art does not have to stay on the walls.

There’s a hunt going on there at the moment, but what really caught my eye was this exhibition pantsuit by 22769 ~ Casual Couture. It isn’t even their latest release for the gallery, but it called to me. It spoke of the perfect mix of futuristic and retro, it conjured up a gallery owner walking the premises and I was immediately sold.

I also absolutely had to have the princess prim lashes by [#7]. Curliques and blue gems? Yes, please. I added PMD liner (these really are my favourites) and M.O.C.K. lipstick to nudge the look even more toward strong monochrome.

The Satsuma-hair is a new release by Rosy Mood, available in Hair Fair. It’s short and sleek, just the way I like them. Well, when I’m not liking them big and scandalously extravagant. Could go either way!

I’m warmly recommending giving the gallery a peek, even if you wouldn’t  be in shopping or hunting mood. It looks absolutely gorgeous and does good for your pixel spirits.

Credits – Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Hair: Rosy Mood – Satsuma (HF) | Prim lashes: [ #7 ]  Princess Lashes tint prim/sculpted jewel (TGGS) | Liner: Pin Me Down – Liner 6 | Lips: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Opal Lipcolor Dusty Grey | Poses: 1) Glitterati – Drink 4 / 3) aDORKable Poses – 8 of 25

Credits – Outfit: Pantsuit: 22769 ~ Casual Couture – Exhibition Pantsuit (TGGS) | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve Blue | Jewelry: R.A. Crystal – Himawari Silver Blue 

 

 

 

You’re No Good~

I refer of course to the song and to fairy tale villains in general, like Maleficent. Mal would like to ask in return when did being good ever get anyone anything except poisoned apples, lost slippers, curses galore and cookie cutter princes, hmm?

Sorceresses have to work hard for their power, they can’t frolic about on meadows with talking animals or bake pies, there’s magic to learn, minions to control, plans to make, worlds to conquer! Unfortunately the fairy tales set them up to fail, suffering from the worst case of idiocy in the Evil Overlord List ever.

It’s sad, really. They work so hard, fall for such obvious mistakes and then the airhead songstresses frolic into the only form of happiness possibly suitable for women: marriage to a wealthy man. On behalf of all the determined make-your-own-happiness wicked women ever: shame on the storytellers!

It’s not like they wouldn’t know how to let their hair down every once in a while and I’m sure various handsome males dragged into the prison could be dragged out occasionally, too. Perhaps even kicked out the door later into freedom if they behave!

Besides, who needs men when you can have dragons?

The pictures are a mix of awesome things from Fairy Tales event and also show off the latest release by lassitude & ennui: the gorgeous Nyrha sandals with mesh feet. The bracelet in the lower pictures is from Finesmith‘s rebranding sale: a lot of things for just 100L! The eyes with just enough of supernatural are one of the current gifts in the new IKON VIP group. There’s also a lot of old things from my fantasy folders, which are sort of like a bottomless pit of awesome. No guarantees of everything being still available!

Fairy Tales 2012: Skin: Glam Affair - Mia Fairy Tales 2012 01 A | Hair (lower pictures): Exile - Lost in Wonderland:Raven | Outfit: SAKIDE – Malefic

Scene: Stone Misery – Witch Temple | Throne: Nedria Cyr Designs – Necrotica Throne (limited item) | Couch: ~Libertine~ Marquis Set Couch III Valentine Ed. | Dragon: Bare@Rose – Mother Dragon Ride

Working Sorceress: Hair: Tekeli-li – Ashtoreth (black) |  Blue glow: Designs of Darkness – Water Hands | Staff: Nedria Cyr Designs – Staff of the Spider Queen v1.0 | Eyes: IKON – Horizon Eyes v2 Pale Glass XL | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Lips: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Opal Lipcolor Mocha | Collar: Rasetsukoku – Unseelie Collar | Necklace: Amorous – Triptych Bluesilver | Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve (black)  | Poses: Astalianda – Shinies 1 / throne

Relaxed Mal:  | Shoes: lassitude & ennui – Nyrha Sandals black rigged mesh* | Body suit: COCO – Sheer Body Suit | Lips: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Clear Lipgloss | Bracelet: Finesmith – Yeriak inspiration | Eyes: IKON – Horizon Eyes v2 Pale Glass XL | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Poses: Olive Juice – Oh, these old things? / aDORKable Poses – Love Gun II GroundSit2