Let Me Look Into My Crystal Ball - Wertina from Winter Market, Analog Dog, Chop Zuey and Lindy

What does the new year bring for each of us? Sometimes I wish I had a crystal ball. When my sons were young and they would ask me some question to which I had no way of knowing because it was either simply information I didn't know or associated with time we hadn't had yet, I would answer, "Let me look into my crystal ball." They grew to laugh at this retort and now they make similar comments if I ask them about time off from work or other details for holidays, in much the same manner I used the phrase in their youth.

Since I don't have one of those balls, but I do have a sixth sense about some things, I feel really positive going into 2015. I think I will have a grand-child, hopefully a grand-daughter, on the way before 2015 ends. No they haven't announced it yet, and its one of those ideas where they both say oh no, we're not ready for that yet (and they're not!!) but I still believe it will be happily on its way before the year 2015 comes to a close. I also believe it's going to be my healthiest year yet since 2004 when my world fell apart at the seams. I have some say in this, obviously, by eating well, doing things that are good for the body and so forth, but also I think other things are affecting me for the better and they're going to keep doing so.

In Second Life, I'm going to get more involved in the business behind the business of modeling. I've always enjoyed the fact that modeling in SL and probably off line too, there are a thousand jobs that must be done for every single 'face' that's out on the runway showing the clothes. I've only begun to explore and have embraced the chance to invest time and talent in several ways and will continue to find ways in 2015. I had thought at one point that I would move away from blogging, and I may yet do so one day but not yet. It's not time yet. I enjoy the connection I have with designers all over the grid and I'm not ready to yield that.

I have a new gown on from Wertina, an item made for the Winter Market Event. I think I'll be sharing Analog Dog hair until sometime next year after the killer sale they had this week! Lindy had an array of patent leather heels with the pointed toe sandal look. And it will certainly be a while to share with you all the beauty of Chop Zuey from the generosity of Belle Roussel.

* Wertina Evening Gown Navy from Winter Market Event
* Chop Zuey The Promised Morrow Set from Christmas' Generous Gifts
* Lindy Birget Black Patent Leather
* Analog Dog Mash

- .::LUNA::. Penumbra A/W 14 Nails
- Maxi Gossamer Party Swallow Wings Lashes
- Muse Poses and Di's Opera Poses

Standard Items:
-- October's 4Seasons Chocolate Cosmos Skin Tone Laila Face
-- SLink Hands and Feet
-- KMADD Mesh Eyes

Celebrating New Gifts and Talents -- Featuring Baboom Couture (Including New Items from WEIB Sale Room), Also Featuring October's 4Seasons 55L Thursday Debut

It's back to business as usual at my house after a 5 day weekend that culminated with Veteran's Day. I'm not sure what the lettering is exactly of the new family day status, but local bases have the privilege at the top I imagine, perhaps the CO/XO, to decide on a certain number of family days for those who are stationed stateside. It helps balance the many extra hours that are served while deployed, traveling, at schools, etc. and gives the family special time to share as a result. Often the Friday after Thanksgiving is declared one of these days. Other holidays that come randomly through the year might tack on an extra day or half day, and this year, since Veteran's Day was on a Tuesday, they were able to extend the weekend by an extra day by giving Monday off too. Usually, I'm about ready to growl by the time Mr. goes back to work, but this weekend was really great. I was sorry to see him go. Now we settle into the weird pace of the holidays, all the things that need attention, long distance family, and all that jazz. I feel better in November than I have in years. Today I do. So today I will embrace the day with all that I am and share a bit of all that I am with you, my extended family and friends whom I love with gentleness and passion.

I received a note from Kyra Camel, the designer at Baboom! that announced her first mesh creations were ready for sale at Baboom! and would I consider blogging a few items for her. I rejoice in the success of new things learned, how they influence the designer, their store, and our fashion world in turn. I told her I would cheer loudly and tell the world how I shared her joy and excitement for this big new hurdle to be jumped successfully and now I look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. There are a selection of tops and skirts with different patterns. I chose one of the skirts, Original Mesh Flower Skirt Brown, to show off her newly learned talent. I pulled one of Snowpaws tops in to complete the basic outfit because I had to leave the back exposed. I've shown you one view of the special edition Giselle that comes out tomorrow for 55L Thursday, but you hadn't seen the back of this sensual skin, and thus you did not know that a henna tattoo was part of the skin. My shoes come also from Baboom Couture, Dolores for High SLink feet are at the WEIB special sale room this month and they accessorize the new mesh items at Baboom! very well.

It's a great way to begin the day, feeling alive, alert, and able to enjoy the very simple things and celebrate the complicated things. I TRIED to teach myself blender. I taught myself HTML and a few other computer tricks, can create actual house floor plans with CAD, and a church bulletin with software I cannot remember. When I'm curious about new things that come along, and mesh has been around a while now, I attack it with gusto, and don't believe that I might not be able to figure it out. I always start on the premise that I will learn it, given time. I just haven't learned mesh yet, and I admire those who have! I'd love to take a class on it, like at the local community college, but I won't hold my breath. When I have a 'feeling better' week or two, I have this inner voice telling me to take on the world. Me and my Despicable Me Minions could do it, take over the world, but today I think I'll just play with great designs, style, photograph and enjoy you and me and this world. I paused to read Mr. Frolic Juan Delgado's latest news regarding his new book and that too excited me. Even if you don't have a clue who he is, he's writing a book about his experience in Second Life fashion and modeling and all he's accomplished in the past years, as memoirs. I'm not sure how many virtual world memoirs have been published, or how many I would find interesting if they've been done before, but this is a man who's changed the world, and someone I respect. I'll keep you posted, and let you know the book's name and it's publisher, where to find it etc. as soon as he announces it.

Featuring October's 4Seasons 55L Thursday Special Edition Giselle in Cinnamon - New Skin Tone

Featuring Baboom! NEW Original Mesh Skirt Flower Brown Long 003

Featuring Baboom! Dolores SLink High Black from WEIB Special Sale Room

1. [AMARELO MANGA] Necklace Aurora [Onix]

2. Tres Beau Belled Earrings

3. Snowpaws Adele Halter Black

4. SLink Female Feet High

-- Elegant 1 Hands

5. Maxi Gossamer Wild Full Thick Lashes

6. Analog Dog Joan

7. Muse Poses

8. KMADD/Moda Mesh Eyes

New Tech, New Rules - October's 4Seasons Joined 55L Thursdays: An INCREDIBLE Deal - Bombshie from Designer Showcase and New WTB

This morning I read an article on the camera drones that are under 500 USD, so inexpensive that the average joe could afford one and it seems many many average college age joes and joettes have bought one and operate them everywhere from the beaches to the center of their home team football field for Opening Day games. In the last few years, new technology appears on the market so quickly that the regulators related to the new technology have to run to keep up with what's created, try to make rules associated to that tech make sense, and yet keep the freedom of commerce and fun in the original product so people are happy. If the young people or old people or in between people own and operate these drones on their own private property, the risk for danger factor remains relatively personal, and if a crash occurs, a failure of the tech in the drone, it's usually to the detriment of the private operator. However, when the same tech is deployed over a stadium filled to the max with 106,000 people waiting for kick off (and this is happening over seas with loads of football matches as well), the risk for danger factor exponentially escalates and the rules to limit or control the tech have not been clearly defined so there's a massive loop hole right now and I can only imagine that this will continue to be the case in the years to come with tech coming at us as fast as light and faster.

Yesterday, a friend of mine came to me with a couple of screen shots she'd taken while traversing Second Life, searching for information on a newly released bit of tech for the mesh products we're all trying to sort out for ourselves. In her travels, she found a place that specialized in littles aka children/girls who have a very specific role in Second Life according to the TOS. They're allowed, but only in certain areas, never in areas related to sexuality and the acts considered sexual in nature. Yet she found a whole new slew of items created to add breast and hip attachments to the child avatars. It's another example of how tech is ahead of the rules and ahead of the people who are out there trying to analyze content creation in such a way that they encourage creativity and do not stifle the interest creators have in the virtual world, but also keep the rules set in place by the TOS. As far as I remember, the TOS went through a major overhaul in 2007/2008 because of several lawsuits, and part of that litigation included regulation of the child avatar, where it was permitted, how it was permitted to be used and to interact in the Second Life community. Having accessories that attach to child avatars to in essence give little girls breasts and hips steps very close to a line that seems contradictory at first glance. When I saw her notes and images, I could see how she perceived that accentuating the sexuality of a child/girl might be a contradiction of elements related to that change in rules of the TOS and the use of child avatars. But at the moment, professionally analyzing just the content creator, the tech, they're in the same type of loop hole. They're not telling someone to break the rules. They're not showing specific imagery of the girls with said enhanced female bits. They're not making this person or that buy their items.

Both the drone creator and the mesh enhancements HUD touch the edges of what's already been litigated. The result makes for complicated discussion, investigation of intention, exploration of fact, analysis of previous litigation, and a fair and just application of new rules for new tech. Meanwhile, consumers like me who payed for a ticket for family members to be able to attend Georgia Bulldogs next game must be aware that there are risks associated to said drones, and if that family member sees one flying nearby, their attention must be averted from the game long enough to assess their own personal safety in lieu of someone else policing it with decision to remove it. Just because I think or said family member believes that it shouldn't be there, at the moment, they are flying over stadiums. They are already there. It would be foolish to ignore them. It could be frustrating to some, and in fact deadly to a rare few. There's a case of a person who operated a drone in a city park who killed himself inadvertently using one of these camera drones legally and within the parameters of that park, and still he faced dire consequences. I don't know what will happen with the items from Second Life that collect all of our mesh pieces and make application easier, and if people will use those new bits of tech to push the child avatar rules. I know when I end up somewhere where I feel uncomfortable, I watch carefully for risks and dangers, look to my own inner voice for decisions, and act accordingly until the regulators have time to do what they do.

I put together this outfit today as I was thinking about this topic. As I did, I was so excited to make sure you knew that October's 4Seasons joined the 55L Thursday group and will begin having 55L items regularly. This new 55L special edition skin will be out this weekend, beginning November 13 running through the weekend to November 16. At 55L - what a deal!! I'm also sharing pieces from Bombshie, Dominga Gold Belted Skirt from Designer Showcase and WTB's Renee Scot Burntrose Top.

Featuring October's 4Seasons FIRST 55L Thursday Item Special Skin

Featuring Bombshie Dominga Gold Belted Skirt from Designer Showcase

Featuring WTB Renee Scot Burntrose Top

1. Truth Gogo

2. MG Swallow Wings

3. SLink Elegant 1 Hands

-- Female Feet High

4. KMADD/Moda Mesh Eyes

5. Le Primitif Leather Cage Sandals

6. Chop Zuey Chromatica

7. Muse Poses

The Joy Of the Chop Zuey Girl Contest -- Featuring Chop Zuey, *Whimsical Imaginarium* from The Instruments, and AZUL

I ended up with a plethora of pictures I put together for the Chop Zuey contest and instead of just sharing the final draft, I thought I'd show the selection, and my point of view. The Sailing To Byzantium fascinator that Chop Zuey released recently really caught my attention because it was gorgeous and because of what it represented, a way to disappear into dreams, to find our utopia, a world unbroken, young and beautiful.

I looked up Byzantium art and prints that were famous in that time period and how current designers in 2014 are using prints like those for clothing. A great example is the print that's on the new Gold Finch gown from *Whimsical Imaginarium*. Besides being one of the best yellow anything I've ever ever seen in Second Life, because Second Life can be so hard on yellows for some reason, this gown also had a soft feminine touch, made me feel young and echoed the colors and unique passions of the Byzantine era. The Sea Mist Set came out sometime around the Sailing To Byzantium fascinator and the colors worked so perfectly against the backdrop I set.

Before I took that pair of photos, I shot a segment of photos that were op'd into one picture, and had so much fun playing with the elements of size and purpose. I took the fascinator, and dropped it into a pool of water at the edge of October's 4Seasons, and zoomed in to it, so that it was in a world of its own, and then I went to work with the elements of the Sailing To Byzantium boat, the garnet, the sapphire, the diamonds, and I looked for gowns that were elegant on their own but in this case, also had one of those tones as the primary color, settling on this garnet gown by Azul. I also found a set of jewelry from Chop Zuey that was as brilliant as the gown so the jewelry could remain the primary focus of the photo, and windblown hair from EMO-tions. The photo of me in the boat was a result of that compilation. Then I thought one step further, of a girl, a regular girl like me, who might dabble in dreams, and put the actually sailing version of myself on the wall behind me as I stepped out to work on whatever the world had in store for me next, even as I dreamed of my utopian trip.

I have no idea how the photo I submitted will be reviewed and that's one thing that I've really come to terms with in this model evolution. I pour my heart into what I do. I love every moment of it. I hope I do justice to every designer, from Chop Zuey for whom the contest focused, to the talented ladies who created the gowns that were key to each of the photos.

The project, the evolution of it, the research behind it, it all meant something to me and then I get to share it with you. If it does well in the contest, that's great. If it's one of many stories, and not selected, I understand that too because we are all artists looking at our world through our own eyes and we're each figuring out our story to tell as we go along.

Featuring Chop Zuey Sailing To Byzantium Fascinator

Featuring Chop Zuey Sea Mist Set

Also featuring *Whimsical Imaginarium* Goldfinch

Also featuring October's 4Seasons Papavar Skin Tone Angelina

1. Truth Lunara

2. Maxi Gossamer Swallow Wings Lashes

3. SLink Elegant 1 Hands

4. KMADD/Moda Mesh Eyes

Wrapping Up the Charity Event DEbRA - Featuring !Lyrical B!zarre Templates, ~ghee, Sabra Style, DE Boutique, October's 4Seasons and Dulce Secrets

I was sure I was done with Halloween but with this terrific hat from Kylie Sabra at Sabra Style sharing her version of a Good Witch Galinda's hat, I had to don it for my photos last night. I've really just had a blast with all of your fun little things, all that you've created from cyborg eyes to creepy spiders to good witch's hats. Fun!

I have the second to the last item on today that I want to share from the week long DEbRA event. This dress from Lyrical B!zarre Templates supports the ongoing research and needs of the The Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Associate of America. You can read more about it and donate directly to the cause if you visit debra.org and hopefully you will drop by the event in world before it closes its doors tonight.

DE Boutique has new shoes, a selection of them including the pair seen here. I love the name of them simply because the name is long and complicated, Kirazissimo. It sounds like a friend's pet name, like Kira and bellissimo smushed together for the fun of it. For whatever reason, it doesn't change the fact that they're heels designed with a closed toe, simple and chic in several colors.

Dulce Secrets created a set of mesh eyes recently for one of the events and when I entered the word 'purple' into my trusty dusty help me make some order out of my inventory search button, I found them! So this is a rare time you see me not wearing the eyes that are traditionally in just about every style I create.

~ghee has some cramazing smash hot new tights they created for the recent AW14 fashion release and I've found so many uses for them. I got all 12 colors so I could mix and match and one was a deep purple suited excellently to add warmth to my look. Sexy. Practical. Super chic. Life is good.

Featuring !Lyrical B!zarre Templates Flight Contributed to the DEbRA Event for Charity

Featuring DE Boutique Kirazissimo Heels Essentials Pack from Designer Showcase November

Featuring October's 4Seasons Lily Brown Brows + Makeup 1

Featuring Sabra Style Calinda the Good Witch Hat

Featuring ~ghee AW14 Cassis Tights

Featuring Dulce Secrets Tempest Purple Eyes

1. Muse Poses

2. Face Paint Deadly Purple

3. [Nikita Fride] Ludic Drama Lashes

4. Calico Phoebe

5. SLink Elegant 1 Hands

-- SLink Female Feet

6. FINESMITH Mika

Bright, Beautiful -- Featuring Chop Zuey, Loovus Dzevavor, and ~ghee

In my excitement to share news from Chop Zuey and Ms. Belle Roussel, I sent out a note here on Thursday and then felt so badly because it was supposed to wait til today. I learn as I grow and I'm so grateful for Belle, the staff and friends who were all there as I panicked, and then tugged the notes down before they'd leaked too many secrets.

Now I can show you with a glowing admiration for this new collection, a set that includes two dress packs with 6 color options on each HUD, all of the colors working together to go with the unbelievably creative hat, belt and bow accessories, and a jewelry set that has earrings, a necklace and bracelet that all catch the light in perfection, glittering with a gleam so professional and so eye catching.

I paired my dress and jewelry with new leggings from Loovus Dzevavor, part of an outfit that was set out for this month's Instruments event and Couture boots from ~ghee.

I hope you got to see one of the two fashion shows this week that celebrated the new arrivals and you'll hurry over to these designers to see these items and so much more new for autumn/winter.

Featuring Chop Zuey Monday's Child Dress 

(Set 1 White, Navy, Magenta, Golden, Black and Berry)

(Set 2 Creamsicle, Popsicle, Apple, Chrome, Lime, Aqua)

Featuring Chop Zuey Monday's Child Jewelry Set

Featuring Loovus Dzevavor Uptown Leggings Cognac from The Instruments

Featuring ~ghee Fall14 Couture Boots SLink High Feet

1. SLink Female Feet High

-- Elegant 1 Hands

2. OB4S: Milk Angelina

3. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

4. Avante Poses

5. Muse Poses

Bright White or Dark Night -- Featuring *Whimsical Imaginarium* and NOYA

Bright and white or dark as night, that's what dreams are made of... Whimsical Imaginarium offers that and so much more.

This week, the new White Swan gown came to The Couturier's Docks.

Terror Couture released to The Instruments. Both of these offer fun options for this time of year, and with Terror Couture, you can save the little horror pieces and still wear the rest of the ensemble for other events and look oh so sexy with that waspish waist.

I paired Noya's new White Pearls set with the white gown and added other brightly white bits and pieces to complete the overall effect. With the Terror Couture array of items, few accessories were needed to make this look complete.

Whether light or dark, I enjoy the opportunity to play and the exquisite quality of *Whimsical Imaginarium* by Bodza E Tucker aka Bodza Mubble. Thank you!

Featuring *Whimsical Imaginarium* White Swan from The Couturier's Docks

Featuring NOYA White Pearls Set

1. Chop Zuey Octopussy White Bracelet

2. -{ZOZ}- Dark Spring Silver Nail Appliers

3. SLink Elegant 1 Hands

-- Female Feet High

4. KMADD/Moda Mesh Eyes

5. Lybra Foreen Hair

6. blackLiquid Feline Glitter

7. Avante Poses

8. Glitterati Poses

9. OB4S Walnut Angelina

Featuring *Whimsical Imaginarium* Terror Couture from The Instruments

1. Chop Zuey Halloween

2. Indyra Originals Garbo Collar

3. E C R U Corrup Stilettos Frost

4. SLink Elegant 1 Hands

-- Feet Female High

5. OB4S: Angelina Evil

6. KMADD/Moda Mesh Eyes

7. Gaeline: Starlia

8. EMO-tions Lilith

9. Muse Poses

A New Bright Day - Featuring CASTIEL from The Instruments and New From Chop Zuey

It's another bright and early good morning. My day begins with the little cardinal on my front porch singing to his mate, or mates? I don't know enough about the birds and the bees, obviously! But the sun's just breaking over the horizon and everything here is pink and grey. It's that time of day where hope is greatest and anticipation highest as I look forward to what the day has in store. Amidst all the big events in progress, I also want to make sure to share the monthly events like The Instruments.

Each month, a new theme reaches the designers who participate in this event, and each month they create items that suit the theme and then put them out for you at a discount from what you might pay otherwise. The structured gown I have on today is from CASTIEL. I haven't had a chance to play barbie very often with this designer so I enjoyed the chance to style it.

Additionally, I have new Moon Crystals from Chop Zuey. There are a number of options for this set that includes three lengths of earrings, from the small set you see in the photo, a mid-length set, and a long set for those who like the really big earring look. The necklace also comes in three choices, so depending on how low you want the crystals to go and rest against your chest, you can pick the one that suits you best!

Featuring CASTIEL from The Instruments

Featuring Chop Zuey Moon Crystals Earrings and Necklace

1. EMO-tions Rene 

2. Gaeline: Mysteria

3. KMADD/Moda: Mesh Eyes

4. OB4S: Mocha

5. SLink: Elegant 1

6. Muse Poses