It’s Raining Shoes

“I was bathing! What in the name of Verne is this… rain of shoes? You! Squirrel with goggles! What is going on and who can I complain to?”

“No, see, Miss, there was an unfortunate mistake of an accident kind, completely accidental and the ship that was transporting these shoes sort of kind of maybe possibly blew up. Nothing to worry about, I think the crew got away safely, I just got lost in the winds.”

“You can’t have shoes falling on people when they are relaxing! I am writing a few choice words to the Air Trade Companies right this minute and-“

“Nonononono, see, um, all the shoes? The officials think they are destroyed. Unless you tell them, of course. All destroyed. No one will care if you happen to take them home. Best designer shoes on the market. Stay silent and you can have all the shoes!”

“All the shoes? Seriously?”

“Aaaaaaaaall the shoes.”

Shoetopia is open and it is indeed metaphorically raining shoes. These pictures feature some of the shoes by lassitude & ennui, Alice Project, KoiKoi, Bliensen + MaiTai and BOOM. The tippy-toe high feet are the latest foot model by Slink, also released at Shoetopia and available for shoe-makers to begin making really high heels with and for. The middle pose by double take is also in a gacha in Shoetopia. You can start the shopping here. 

The story bit of easily amused entertainment continues the tale of why the airship blew up and how it is waited for in vain. The reason for gratuitous nudity is because apparently it’s obligatory to blog shoes naked now, yesyes. And I was trying to make Ely drunk.

Shoes: KoiKoi – Fruti-Bootie Strawberry | Bliensen + MaiTai – Industrial Revolution Brown | BOOM – Locale Heels red | lassitude & ennui – Emily Steampunk Shoes teal/silver, brown gold, Bound sandals red* | Alice Project – Miranda Pumps Back Bow Teal, Jessica Pump Gold Purple, Miranda Pumps Front Bow Blue & Green*

Squirrel: !Ohmai – Steampunk Squirrel Gray

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Hair: Exile – Run To You Naturals | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink – Avatar Enhancement Hands Elegant1 | Feet: Slink – AvEnhance Feet High

Poses: HopScotch – Short Tempered 5 | double take – thoughtful | Astalianda – Cat Fight 8

Colours on Menu

Tasty, tasty colours. In a world where the colours are nourishment food is consumed through sight: the brighter the colours, the sweeter the experience. The Big Bad Bun definitely thinks so! Only the brightest, happiest meals for him!

This particular restaurant has delivery butterflies as waiters to maximize the tastes. The rainbow-dressed woman is not a part of the staff, she’s a minion. The very best colour-hunter the Big Bad Bun employs.

No pale pastels would survive her jewel tones and if she encounters anything especially dull, she might just have to dig up the neon gun.

Rainbows and eyecandy can be serious business.

The building and the plants by Chic Buildings, the delivery butterfly by Studio Sidhe (really a hang glider) and the piercing by .:ellabella:. are from Taste the Rainbow Hunt. The colourful cocktail is the item you have to find in the hunt. The deliciously happy Gingy ice creams by !Ohmai are from Atelier Kreslo’s Festival. The peacocks by *MishMish* can be purchased in the current round of Collabor88. The dress by Adoness is a hunt gift in Colors of Summer Hunt and the hairdo by Adoness is from the new round of the Thrift Shop. The faux elf ears by Kahli Designs can be found in the current round of We Love Role-play and the neck corset by *Perception* is from Acid Lily.

Scene: House and Plants: Chic Buildings – Rainbow Cottage & Planters | Peacocks: *MishMish* – Blue Peacock The Razzle | Butterfly: Studio Sidhe – Franklin C. Flutterbye Rainbow Hang Glider | Ice Creams: !Ohmai – Atelier Kreslo Festival Gingy’s Neapolitan & Strawberry | Big Bad Bun: D-LAB – Rabbit-B-sit | Cocktail: Taste the Rainbow Hunt item

Body: Skin: .ploom. – Lea Vanilla DB Libra | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Breeze | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Lipstick: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Sarah Jane’s Bloody Lipcolor | Hairdo & Hair Base: Adoness – Myrina pitchblack/scarlet & shaved butterfly black shades* 

Outfit: Dress: Adoness – Colors of Summer Dress* | Neck Corset: *Perception* – Neck Corset Green Silk* | Piercing: .:ellabella:. Ballad of Stars Rainbow | Ear Decorations: Kahli Designs – Faux Elf Ears Silver* | Tights: *Sheer* Zebra | Boots: lassitude & ennui – Phoebe lace-up boots red/dark wood*

Poses: N/A | !bang – Carefree 2 | Exposeur – Call the Shots 2M

Fancy Fox

Or vixen, in this case. All about pearls and lace and ribbons and fancy things, adorable and innocent like… well, a fox. All the stories and myths are vile propaganda!

A friend of bunnies and fluffy critters, practically vegetarian. Just a piece of sushi sometimes, surely. Perhaps an ear-nibble. A friendly one.

Times change, forests diminish, humans gain absolutely unfair advantages… what is a cunning creature to do? Live amongst the hunters, of course. Human disguise is not that big a deal for a fox, after all.

Today is Bandana Day and the last day of the Hair Fair. You can read more about it here, but it’s already a tradition to remove your hair and wear a bandana for the day. There’s a bandana booth on each of the Hair Fair sims, for example here. I couldn’t decide between my two favourites (Ohmai and Aisling), so I’m wearing both of them. Because there’s no vulpine law to stop me! The dress by Dead Dollz, the bunny plushie by Ohmai and the nails applier by Orc Inc are available in the Love Donna Flora event. The skin by Essences is from the current round of Collabor88.

Body: Skin: Essences – CHO skin Light Rose 02 Brunette | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Breeze Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Liner: Beautiful Freak – Jackal Eyes Orange* | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Casual | Nails: Orc Inc – Pastel Shimmer*

Outfit: Dress: Dead Dollz – Chocolat | Bracelets: Mandala – Pearl Rain Season 2 Cream | Bandanas: Ohmai – Hair Fair 2013 Bandana by Anya Ohmai & . a i s l i n g . – Bandana Day Fox | Bunny Plushie: Ohmai – LDF Hope Bunny Plushie

Even Papercranes Dream of Flying

Stuck in a mobile, twirling slowly around the same routine every moment of their lives from the creation to destruction: same motion, same string tying them in place with no escape, with no ability to escape.

Yet they feel the call of the sky, long for freedom so much they could taste it if they had mouths, know what it would feel like to spread their wings and fly. Know and dream.

For if they were not meant to fly, why would they have wings?

The dress by SAKIDE, the papercranes by Vespertine and the nail appliers by Orc Inc are all from Love Donna Flora event. The hair and roses by Ohmai can be purchased in her booth at Hair Fair. The necklace by HANDverk is available in the current round of Zodiac.

Scene: Forest (mostly): Studio Skye – Enchanted Forest | Papercranes: Vespertine – Papercrane Mobile Baroque & Mix Static

Body: Skin: Essences – Noodles Light Rose 02 Brunette | Hair & Roses: !Ohmai – Kun & Rosie Posies | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Cosmic Dream | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Casual | Nails: Orc Inc – Pastel Shimmer

Outfit: Dress: [SAKIDE] – Lace Bonbon Dress* | Necklace: [HANDverk] – Lion Tail Necklace Bright* | Ring: Mandala – Motsumame Ring Red/Gold

Poses & Held Cranes: Vespertine – Papercrane Wearable Props

Alice’s Angels

Good things often come in threes. Wishes from a lamp. Guesses for a name. Deities. Quest tasks. Even good stories or well working jokes are divided in three: beginning, middle, the end. Two to create a pattern, third as a punchline. Rhetoric speakers don’t list two or four things, it’s always first, second and third. It appeals better to the human mind like that.

What about Charmed and the Power of Three? Obviously bringing older beliefs and preferences to the present media. What about Charlie’s Angels? That’s a classic trio we all know as well. It’s a simple concept, really. A brunette, a redhead and a blonde. All given personalities we associate with the said hair  colours.

The blonde is always the pretty but ditzy one, isn’t she? Redheads get to be fiery sexy with temper. Black or brown haired one has the brains. I wonder how long it will take before such stereotypes are formed about non-natural colours. After all, a lot of people who are blonde, redhead or black-haired are not so naturally. It has nothing to do with personality, only the associated concept. What are people with blue hair like? Green? What about purple? (Except awesome.)

Hair colour is one of the defining features that we categorize and accept in our heads. We divide people based on their hair colour, often adding plenty of associations with the tone, which is ridiculous considering the woman in the pictures could be the same one with wigs, after all!

All the new hairstyles by Alice Project are available in Hair Fair, hop right into her booth here. Erika, the short bob, is a fair gift to the visitors so go grab it while you try the demos of the whole five new releases! As for colours, I’m sure you all know that the hairdo is pure white when you buy it and then you get to dye it with the HUD to what and how you wish. There’s more HUDs for sale if the included one isn’t enough for you. If you use only a few colour combinations ever, you might want to consider the Create Your Own versions which include a HUD of -all- the colours and textures Alice has, but allows only five different copies of the hairstyle made. The Infinity versions allow re-dyes for ever and ever, but include only a mini-pack of colours to begin with.

The Noodles skin by Essences is available in the current round of The Dressing Room Fusion and it was so adorable that I had to use it with all three colours.

Body: Skin: Essences – Noodles light rose brunette | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Summer Breeze | Aurora | Frozen Silver | Hairstyle: Alice Project – Veronica | Wendy | Erika*

Outfit: Necklace: [HAND]verk – Strand necklace carnelian&gold | opal&gold | ivory&silver*

The Hatter Otters

“Your hats or one of your lives, purple humanoid!” The dreaded gang of hat-stealing otters known as The Hatter Otters was on the move and yet another hat gallery was to be emptied just to satisfy their need for fancy headware.

The hat gallerist kept all her lives by simply retreating and letting the otters get their paws on all the fancy things on display. Thank the stars for the otter insurance.

It’s a hard life, being a hat gallerist in a universe where hat-related crime runs rampant in wiggly otter paws, but somebody has to serve the greater aesthetic cause and bring the pretty out for all to see!

…some days are more surreal than others and all the better for it.

Scene: Gallery, frames & poses: BENT! – Escher Prop (not available anymore) | Framed Hats: Zibska – Zelle in Black, SpringSprangSprung, Loon Zeyphr B, Ayla Hat in Mare* | Otters: Ohmai! – Sea Otter Pets Silver & Onyx Pelts (not available currently) | Otter Accessories: Zibska – Raisa Hat & Raisa Necklace*

Body: Skin: The Plastik – Astrali Skin Asaia* | Eyes: IKON – Ascension Eyes Sahara | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Wasabi Pills – Veronica Licorice | Eye Makeup: Zibska – Cannand Purple*

Outfit: Dress, hat, earrings: Zibska – Kailani Berries*

Poses: Part of the gallery prop.

Zodiac: Cancer

Cancer woman is one of the water signs: emotional, imaginative and creative. She is also the most shy of the three, named fittingly because of her tendency to shield herself under a hard shell, keeping the soft, romantic side well hidden and protected.

Cancerians are home-builders, creating their own spaces, sanctuaries, worlds inside the four walls, not unlike they do with their personalities. They are easily sentimental and keep mementos from their childhood, of all the meaningful events, filling their homes with items so linked with their emotions that they are barely just items anymore.

Although they often like to dress in layers in a near extra-shell manner, when comfortable and dressed up, the Cancerian woman portrays classic feminine style with natural ease of simply knowing what looks good together. Getting her out of the house for anyone to see this is a completely different matter, though!

Cancerians are ruled by the moon and their emotions flow and ebb like the tides. Sometimes they might be too much to handle even for themselves and learning to control and balance the highs and lows is one of their biggest challenges. Once they do, they can fully enjoy their life of creativity in the safety of the home that is an innate part of their personality and being.

The skin by Essences, hair by .ploom., crab plushie by Adore&Abhor and the mirror by The Loft are all available in the current round of Zodiac. The dress is from Maitreya’s sale that continues draining pixel wallets until July 17th. A word of warning on the bed and the two other plushies: they’re from the last round of The Arcade, so no guarantees on their availability anymore. Just fit too nicely not to use.

Scene: House: Kukuvaya – Whitaker Studio | Mirror: The Loft – Wrought Iron Mirror | Bed: Alouette – Tropical Getaway Bed | Plushie crab: Adore&Abhor – Cancer Crabbie Thyme | Other plushies: Intrigue Co. – Plushie Pals Sammy the Sabertooth & Petunia the Pterodactyl

Body: Skin: Essences – Cancer Light Rose Brunette | Hair: .ploom. – Zumah Indecisive | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Spring Meadow | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Elegant1

Outfit: Dress: Maitreya – Mignon Evening Seashell | Jewelry: [HANDverk] – Burst Set ivory/gold*

Poses: Musa – Gown Pose 013 | Part of the bed. | Musa – Fantasy Pose 047

Zodiac: Gemini

Gemini — the Twins — is one of the duality signs for a good reason. Like the other such signs, it often feels like there’s two people at the price of one. Best (or worst, depending on your point of view) part is that both of them are smart, witty, communicative air signs, whose need to know and find out will keep them talking to accommodate their sharp intellect.

Gemini mind is always on the move and requires challenges. It might get distracted by another challenge before completely finishing the first task, though. Focus, especially when it requires monotonous, patient tasks is not Gemini’s strong suit. She wants to find out new things, investigate, talk about them, ask questions, let her mind dance around the refreshing influences.

Although also one of the mutable signs, Gemini tends to find balance between seeing both sides of the coin and compromising and finding a way not to give in too much. She’s great at understanding problems, situations and people: at least intellectually, when not too much emotions are involved. Like all air signs, she flitters away from the darker, deeper seas, preferring the lightness of air.

Gemini might often feel like a modern version of Jekyll and Hyde, with their proper and extremely wild sides wrapped in one person. The unpredictability shows in their looks where they prefer one thing one day, another the next, like their wardrobe was put together by several people. In a way it is, for The Twins do love to shop.

The skin by Essences and the Gemini necklace by *Perception* can be found in the current round of Zodiac. The dress by Valentina E. and the bracelets by Maxi Gossamer are available in FaMESHed and the purse by [HAND]verk and the furniture by Apple Fall can be won in The Arcade.

Scene: Furniture: Apple Fall – Tiffany Dining Table & Chair, Lustful Lilacs, Toast & Butter, 1st Day of Christmas Coffee Cup

Body: Skin: Essences – Gemini 02 Light Rose Brunette | Eyes: IKON – Lucid Eyes Optimism | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Exile – Bad Reputation Natural Fusion 2 | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Elegant | Feet: Slink – Mesh Feet (Av Enhance) Medium | Nails: Orc Inc – Glitter Pack*

Outfit: Dress: Valentina E. – Angie Dress Seabreeze | Shoes: Belgravia – Paradise Sandals Sky Blue | Bracelets: Maxi Gossamer – Tarantella Gypsy Large | Necklace: *Perception* – Gemini Necklace Gold | Purse: [HAND]verk – Mermaid’s Purse Clam Teal* 

Poses & Phone: aDORKable Poses – Call Me 5 | 7 | 1

Astrid and the Anglerfish

It sounds almost like a story, titled like that. It could easily be one, too. If you manage to have a pet anglerfish, especially one that magically survives out of water, there’s bound to be a story behind the sharp teeth.

There’s something absolutely enchanting in stories, pictures and views that present to us normality with just one thing out of place. Just one surreal detail breaking the surface, pulling us into a story, into a different setting, thought pattern, mindscape.

Somehow the reality surrounding the one strange thing makes the thing even stranger. If you find a piece of magic in what should be an ordinary day, it stands out against all the dull normalcy even brighter. Makes us look at everything more carefully, more in detail. Makes us think. Makes us see.

Perhaps makes us even realize that if you learn how to look, there is magic in our ordinary lives. You just have to remember to attune to it to be able to see it.

The setting, the dress and the anglerfish are all available in the World Goth Fair. The surrounding temple from *~by Nacht and the anglerfish by Oceania Breedables are available in Port Seraphine and the ottoman by ~Libertine~, red furniture set by Senzafine, the dress by Pale Empress and the eyeliner by Pin Me Down can be found in Cursed.

Scene: Surroundings: *~by Nacht – The Temple WGF exclusive* | Red Furniture Set: Senzafine – Evendim Seating Set in Crimson* | Ottoman: ~Libertine~ Goth Marquis Ottoman v.1.1* | Plushie: Oceania Breedables –  WGF “Love the Dark” Anglerfish Collectible Plushie*

Body: Skin: League – Sia Fair Bloom | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Frozen Silver Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hair: Lamb. – Bang Bang Ink | Makeup: M.O.C.K. Cosmetics – Strawberry Jam on Ice Makeover (eyeshadow/lipcolor) | Liner: Pin Me Down – The liners 6* | Hands: Slink – Mesh Hands (av) Casual

Outfit: Dresss (top&skirt): Pale Empress – Astrid red* | Stockings: LoveLace – Cameo Black* | Boots: lassitude & ennui – Selene black/red* | Bracelets: House of Rain – Horror Holiday ruby/jet/silver*

Poses: Studio Sidhe – The Siddean Foot Fetish 7&8 | middle picture’s pose a part of the ottoman

Zodiac: Taurus

Steady, reliable, practical and patient, that’s the bull of the Zodiac. Often called stubborn, they simply know their goals and work toward them one step at a time with a calm, pragmatic mindset. Once the goal is reached, Taurus will reap the benefits and enjoy them, for it is also the most materialistic of the signs.

Taureans know how to make money and they also know how to enjoy it. They work hard for the rewards and then spend in quality and comfort. These are the lovers of good wine and cuisine, soothing surroundings, fine furnishings and luxury. Considering how sensual this sign ruled by Venus is, one could also say that these are the lovers, period.

Although Taureans generally value harmony in their lives and are stable, calm people, if you do manage to anger one you can prepare yourself for getting your fair share of the horns. Being an earth sign the pragmatism tends to ground them fast enough, though, and the bull returns to its peacefully persistent path toward her goals.

Stubborn, sensual, loyal, patient, romantic, pragmatic and even easily indulgent, Taureans work hard in their lives and then invest both in material wealth and personal harmony at home and in their relationships.

The Patience-dress by lassitude & ennui, Aphrodite hairstyle by Alice Project and Taurus skin by Essences are all available in the current round of Zodiac. The Janna Statement Necklace by Glam Affair is available in FaMESHed.

Scene: Garden of Dreams – Dining Room* | ~Libertine~ Delicacy Tray: fruit and wine, Rubens Leucippus Goblet, Cushions red*

Body: Skin: Essences – Taurus 02 brunette | Eyes: Poetic Colors – Classic Summer Breeze Bright | Lashes: Redgrave – 39 – Luscious | Hairstyle: Alice Project – Aphrodite*

Outfit: Dress: lassitude & ennui – Patience brown* | Necklace: Glam Affair – Janna Statement Necklace Gold/Orange | Spoon: Illusory – Dessert Bunny Chocolate Mint

Poses: N/A | Olive Juice – Oh, these old things? | PoseMonster – Stand 34