An Incredible Friend AND... - Featuring !Lyrical B!zarre and [Mirror's Enigma]

It's become a special adventure to blog for different designers. When I began blogging, I didn't know a soul. I had a good mentor in Eve Express, a good job and a lot of determination. I begged to blog different designers, so that I could get experience.

I knew what I wanted, where I wanted to go and how I wanted to get there, but that was just the first step. I didn't really know how long it would take to get there, or where there was. That's the ironic thing. Sometimes we all set goals but we're not quite sure when it happens. At least I do.

In this crazy process of sincerely seeking out the opportunity to blog for a whole array of people, I met a whole array of incredible designers. The more I did what I loved, the more people I met and in time, those people became more than business contacts.

One of those people goes by Lyrical Bizzare and she creates some fantastic 'templates' for designers to use. This gown shows some of her latest work, as she's taught herself to create her own mesh. It's a fantastic use of mesh and shiny and glow and elegance. It's a little like Lyrical. Bright and wonderful.

I'm blessed to know the very talented designers, and to work with them and show their skills. I'm also grateful for those who have followed me. As you read this, I'm wishing you a special holiday, wherever you are, whatever your faith. Blessed New Year and everything else.

Live! Laugh! Love!

Featuring !Lyrical B!zarre Poinsettia Jewelry

Featuring !Lyrical B!zarre Poised Gown

Featuring [Mirror's Enigma] Kami Dread Eyeshadow

1. EMO-tions: Harley

2. MADesigns: Eyes Attention Painless

3. Quintessencia: 17 Nails WF

4. [Mirror's Enigma]: Kami Peach Skintone

5. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Seduction Gloss

6. [LAP] Poses

Baby It's Cold Outside Featuring [ME],EMO-tions, {{BSD}}, Evolve, also Featuring =MODA=, [7891.], Bokeh, {me.} from J&A Expo

This morning when I woke, the A/C was blowing a comfortably cool air into my home. It was sticky and humid yesterday so I was glad for the more pleasant atmosphere, quite literally. This evening, I have a fire in the fireplace and there's a small chance of freezing rain or sleet. Yes, in South Carolina!

I think we often assert that our temperament also might be measured in hot and cold. Depending on the person and the setting, I've had conversations that began with one extreme and end in another, leaving me about as befuddled as I feel with the A/C one minute and a fire the next.

Maybe it's just a scientific 'thing' and it's meant to be this way. it's almost as predictable as the weather too. My sweetheart told me a story this evening of a fella who had a good number of people under his command, and in front of all of them, he had a melt down, literally throwing a fit.

It was a more surprising story because the fella who did this was one I'd only ever heard stories of him being level headed, calm and cool and collected. He even took a day of leave, that the rest of the group called 'MAD leave', sick leave because you're angry... but he came back, rested and calm once more.

Maybe it takes all kinds, the even keel, the hot under the collar, the days that feel cool and those that don't, to help us keep our world balanced. In the days of horses and carriages, there was a saying, "Hold on to your hats, it's going to be a rough ride." I hope you hold on to yours!

Live! Laugh! Love!

Featuring =MODA= All In One Marilyn from J&A Expo

Featuring [7891.] Foxy Necklace from J&A Expo

Featuring Bokeh O.D Bangles Metallic Set from J&A Expo

Featuring {me.} Atria Ring from J&A Expo

Featuring Evolve Holiday Jewel

Featuring [Mirror's Enigma] Freya Peach Skintone from SYSP December

Featuring Christmas Ball (gift 4Seasons/Kyxe Skins & Shapes)

Featuring {{BSD Design Studio}} Winter Fair Angel

Featuring EMO-tions Skip A Beat 1

1. Quintessencia Nail WF II Model Square I

2. MADesigns:

- Eyelashes - Lush Lash

- Eyes Confidence - Subtle Ocean

Moody Blues -- Featuring Romance Couture, FINESMITH, {{BSD}}, Kyxe and Bliss

Though the gown Meroacain from Romance Couture looks bluesy, there's a sweet beauty to it to me. Sometimes grey skies, soft misty rain and cooler temperatures make the world feel peaceful. When I put on the gown, I had that same sense. Most of the things I choose are brightly colored, to encourage a positive energy. I often tell friends in quiet conversation, that we have to have one side of life to appreciate the other.

To me, there's something beautiful in everything, even the grey and rainy days. I think that life's like that also, and in the most troublesome moments, things that make you feel blue and lonely end up having a silver lining if you can maintain balance and patience long enough to find it. Once I discover the silver lining, it makes it easier to appreciate the change. Everything doesn't have to be bright and colorful to be wonderful and lovely.

The gown made me feel a sense of peace. I think that's why certain colors are painted in hospital rooms and classrooms. But this gown is also elegant with a gentle appeal that could not exist in hospital rooms or classrooms! When I accessorize different looks I do for the blog, I think of ways to enhance the main feature. In this case, there are diamonds and a silver lining. I've often thought of tears as nature's way of painting diamonds on our faces.

{{BSD Design Studio}} has these diamond shoes Glam Futuristic Supermodel Diamond at the Dream's Way fundraiser. It's a virtual pixelated bit of treasure, the diamond itself, but also a bit of treasure of the heart, as the beauty of the donation and the generous nature of the creator to contribute the funds earned from the shoes refract the light of the soul and touch many. Another amazing glimmer comes from Fashion Limited this month, FINESMITH's Louise set.

Life may bring moody blues, but we get more from them than we might realize. There are always going to be glimmers of hope and beauty if we pause to find them. Live! Laugh! Love!

Featuring FINESMITH from Fashion Limited Louise Necklace, Earring and Eye Gem

Featuring {{BSD Design Studio}} from Dream's Way Fundraiser Glam Futuristic Supermodel Diamond

-- http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Saint%20Tropez/194/127/22

Featuring Romance Couture - }RC{ - Marocain Steel Vendor

Featuring Kyxe Vixen Eyeshadow Ocean

Featuring Bliss Sonne Hair

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Gaeline: Mysteria

3. Face Paint: Black Liner

4. Quintessencia: WF II Model Square I

5. Kyxe Skins & Shapes: Orchid Skintone

6. Kyxe Skins & Shapes Glamour Lips Ombre Ocean

7. Manifeste Poses

Looking For A Piece Of the Past -- Featuring Zanze, [Mirror's Enigma], N-Core, .::Shellac::., Lyr!cal B!zarre

This evening, I spent over an hour searching for my wedding tape. VHS. Yes. Old School. I tried to remember the name of a song, and then tried to remember who sang it, and I don't know either answer. I don't tend to collect memorabilia. I just don't. But I do wish I knew where the tape was.

It all began simply enough, one of those silly conversations that popped up last night and continued on to this evening. "What song is OUR song?" my sweetheart asked me. See, I make up little songs to sing to the Yorkies I call my bad children. I used to make up little songs for my sons when they were young.

It's certainly not by lack of connection or special things we've done in our lives. I know that we've got a lifetime of memories already, and celebrate our 24th anniversary in May. I just never had to entertain or calm my sweetheart. I created those little songs for the children and the other children out of need.

My memory may be more like memory foam, with loads of air holes where thoughts used to be, and the location of that video tape may remain hidden for a few more months or years. I don't have a little song that represents my connection to the most special man in my life.

I'm blessed. He is a piece of my past, but he's also a piece of my present and I know that as long as we both shall live, he will be a piece of my future. If the time arose where I felt a need to entertain him, or calm him with a song, I'm sure I'd come up with something.

Featuring Zanze Helen Gown Black

Featuring N-Core Venus Black

Featuring [Mirror's Enigma]: Peach Skintone and F2W Shape

Featuring .::Shellac::. Put On Your Face Mum

Featuring Lyrical Bizarre Autumnal Jewelry Set

1. IKON: Ascension Eyes Coffee

2. Hairoin: Philandra Uriel

3. Quintessencia: Nail WF Square I

4. Di's Opera Poses

5. Miamai Poses

Now Open - Featuring Items from TBCF [free bird], AIDORU, Legal Insanity, [Mirror's Enigma]

I try to blog about 5 items a week. Please bare with me as I pepper you with blog posts.

Featuring TBCF Items

-[free bird] TBCF Boho Jacket

-AIDORU 70's Vintage Earrings

-Legal Insanity Rowan Long Boho Skirt

-[Mirror's Enigma] Ashley Brown Skintone

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Hairoin: 10 Hour Hair

3. Gaeline: Starlia

4. N@N@: Bag Butterfly Tattoo

5. Quintessencia: Square Nails

6. Manifeste Poses

I pulled a lot of items from their boxes, and still have more to unpack. That way I can mix and match some of the items.

Featuring TBCF Items

-[free bird] TBCF Boho Jacket

-AIDORU 70's Vintage Earrings

-Legal Insanity Rowan Long Boho Skirt

-[Mirror's Enigma] Ashley Brown Skintone

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Hairoin: 10 Hour Hair

3. Gaeline: Starlia

4. N@N@: Bag Butterfly Tattoo

5. Quintessencia: Square Nails

6. Manifeste Poses

This array of items includes new items from [free bird] - the jacket, AIDORU - the earrings, Legal Insanity - the skirt, [Mirror's Enigma] - the skin.

Featuring TBCF Items

-[free bird] TBCF Boho Jacket

-AIDORU 70's Vintage Earrings

-Legal Insanity Rowan Long Boho Skirt

-[Mirror's Enigma] Ashley Brown Skintone

1. IKON: Sunrise Eyes Steel Blue Pale

2. Hairoin: 10 Hour Hair

3. Gaeline: Starlia

4. N@N@: Bag Butterfly Tattoo

5. Quintessencia: Square Nails

6. Manifeste Poses

The details on the jacket and earrings really stand out even on the tiny prims needed to make earrings.

All the Small Things

It's the little things in life that make the difference. Our brains map details like the pixels are a map of color our Second Life paints. You have to zoom in very very close to see each shade and even then our brains cannot really process 16 billion bits of data so we think we see red and blue and yellow.

Featured Demise of Flight Ombre Minidress
Featured EMO-tions Endless Love Jewelry
Featured Mirror's Enigma Azuka Milk Skintone from Kawaii Fair
1. Custom Shape
2. EMO-tions: Lala
3. Poetic Eyes: Autumn Colors - Storm
4. Sexy Mama Valentine Manicure
5. R2: Azuli Silver
6. This Image Essentials Prop is a combination of items purchased from various merchants as well as items created by [Kay Weston].

Some would say the games we play online, including Second Life, are just trifles, things to entertain, things that aren't really important but I have to disagree. I may not be able to see 16 billion color distinctions but I know that if they weren't there, my world would be far more dull. I also know that my Second Life is like those billions of undetectable nuances in color, and all of the experiences I have here do make an impact.

Featured Mirror's Enigma Azuka Kawaii Outfit Black
1. Custom Shape
2. Poetic Eyes: Autumn Colors - Storm
3. [elika]: Caramel
4. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Divina
5. Face Paint: Gem Eyes Bronze and Lip Gloss Shiny Pink
6. Mirror's Enigma: Asuka Milk Skintone
7. Candy Nail: Rainbow
8. Dotted Bangles - unknown origin
9. N-Core: Chic
10. Vista Animation AO Poses

I love the work I do in Second Life. I love the communication between creative people who make such a fantasy world possible and let me peer into their imagination. I might not see or understand the small things, but I know they matter. I appreciate the people who invest time into this shared world in any way that enriches all of us. The designers here, represented in these photographs run the gamut from very very old names - [elika] used to be ETD, and the very new, like Mirror's Enigma, sharing skins and outfits and other things. I adore the long history of Elikapeka, and I also have found a real admiration for someone who may be newer to the world of hair, EMO-tions.  The red lace romper from ~Shadow Moon~ reminded me of Little Red Riding Hood. And Mirror's Enigma skins offer something new and fresh each time I try them. Creativity like that makes my life richer! 

Featured ~Silken Moon~ Rose Lace Red Romper with Hood and Thigh High Boots
Featured Demise of Flight Poses - Delicate Poses
1. Custom Shape
2. Poetic Eyes: Autumn Colors - Storm
3. Gaeline Mesh Lashes: Divina
4. Face Paint: Gem Eyes and Lip Gloss
5. Quintessencia: Nails 17
6. Chop Zuey: Paparazzi

Not every item from every designer comes out 'perfect' but if they passionately want to get better and better at their craft, what they make in 2013 will be better than anything they made in 2005. I blog and wear a dynamic array of items from designers with time in world that's longer than my own 8 years, designers who have a flare for the dramatic, designers who are new and eager to learn and need support, and so many others. When you take time to read my blog, you're always going to see a smattering of effort and beauty from designers at all skill levels and experience level. I appreciate it when others give me a chance and I think if I didn't pay it forward and work with others who also want a chance, I would be the one who was disappointed in me. 

The Music of the Night

I have utterly romanticized the fantasy of Vampires. I know I'm not the only one, either. Vampires are everywhere in our current fascination and vividly evident because Hollywood spends so much time and money exploiting this interest.

Between True Blood and Twilight and the multiple other similar plot lines from books and scripts, the sexy and sophisticated vampire leaves a mark on our earth, and if we are so lucky, a mark upon our neck as well.

Second Life lets us delve deeper into our own fantasy regarding vampires. Fangs and 'fangbangers', as they're called in True Blood, run rampant. I didn't have to look far for a vampire to catch up with me in this dark forest for a photo op.

Other mythical creatures have their place in Second Life as well, and dragons have been around in some form or another since I joined in March 2005. They've gotten more detailed, more complicated and more unique in the past 8 years.

Fear of these creatures have been a part of stories passed down orally from generation to generation, a healthy fear that teaches each new age to walk warily and know that evil might lurk around any corner or down any dark street.

Whether or not you believe in the actual stories or not, of vampires and dragons catching us poor humans off guard, it matters not. If the creatures only represent the lurking darkness in the world and warn us to be alert, then these stories continue to serve the same purpose they had when they began.

Sometimes, I turn the lens back on myself and wonder if the scariest creature exists inside me. My humanity makes me dark and dangerous at times, to others, to myself, and if all of those fantasy creatures teach us a caution, perhaps the caution also works to remind us to push past our weakness, our angers and jealousies to battle the fiercest creature. Self.


Featured [[Massoom]] MIA Gown
Featured Vanity Hair Opium
Featured Mirror's Enigma Victoria Skintone
Featured Face Paint: Sinister 2
Featured Face Paint Gems: Spring Gems 3
1. Custom Shape
2. Poetic Eyes: Quicksilver
3. Quintessencia Nails
4. Glam Affair: Jadis
5. Chop Zuey: Cheri Amour Bracelet
6. Taken on site at Image Essentials, "This Image Essentials Prop is a combination of items purchased from various merchants as well as items created by [Kay Weston]."

Featured Mirror's Enigma Iona Gold
1. Custom Shape
2. Poetic Eyes: Hot Mocca
3. EMO-tions: Cosmic
4. Gaeline: Mesh Lashes Fantasia
5. Face Paint Gems: Spring Gems 2
6. Face Paint: Gem Eyes Purple
7. Face Paint: Leonore Pink
8. Mirror's Enigma: Leigh Native Skintone
9. UZURI: Bibi cuff
10. Chop Zuey: Ma Songe Belly Ring
11. Collier Coeur Infini Or
12. Taken on site at Image Essentials, "This Image Essentials Prop is a combination of items purchased from various merchants as well as items created by [Kay Weston]."