BUNDLING UP AT HOME

I just moved into this new home on a snowy hilltop and I. ADORE. IT. This new wood-and-stone beauty by Trompe Loeil is all beauty and practicality. These days you can find small properties with higher prim counts, so I love that my new home has three levels to take advantage of the vertical space, but still feels comfortably roomy.


I'm not close to finished decorating, but just starting to make myself at home with sweet treats and holiday decorations, a mix of old and new. Hmm. Now where did I put that big rug?

Love,
Serene

A CLEAR DAY IN NEW ENGLAND

So I had some lovely garments in fall colors tucked away for after the Halloween orange-and-black fest. The TokiDoki oversized sweater has a nice soft knit and I love NuDoLu's owl jewelry gacha. Underneath I have some comfy new chocolate corduroys I picked up at Boom.



I ran across Mr. Boss at the Fishing Dock and he helped me with some of the finer points of drowning worms. He actually looks a lot like Mr. Friedman, who I worked for when I was nineteen years old. I'm glad he's having a nice retirement.



Noble New England is abundant in Fall charm, pumpkins, places to eat and drink, a playground, comfy places to sit and relax, I even spotted a horse riding ring ... I had a lovely time. Don't miss!

Sweater: TokiDoki "Juliana Sweater"
Corduroy Pants: Boom "Manchesters"
Ring and Bangle: NuDoLu "Hibou" (gacha)
Turtleneck Collar: Drift "Chic Collar" (mesh)
Shirt: Atomic "Frilled Shirt" (vintage system layer)
Hair: Exile "Like Lovers Do"
Skin: Essences "Amaterasu"
Lipstick: Dead Apples "Balm Stains Fall Colors"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Hands: by SLink
Nails: by Adore and Abhor
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Juxtapose
Location: Noble New England

Love,
Serene

OBSCURO

I love a simple outfit with one outrageous accessory. While I would call Ms. Kungler's shirt simple, its drapery is so sophisticated! I paired it with a set of leather (suede?) pants that were once a store gift over at TokiDoki. I'm glad to finally show these, but sometimes you want to wait for the right outfit. I love the combination of plum and brown.



So here is the one outrageous accessory: a beautiful new headpiece from Finesmith. It also comes in a whole spectrum of brighter colors for spring and summer, but this one called to me.



Headpiece: Finesmith "Time Trap Bronze" (new)
Blouse: Kunglers "TDRF#009 - Blouse Plum" (other colors now in store)
Slacks: TokiDoki "Anniversary Leather Trousers (unavailable in this color)
Shoes: G Field "Square Toe Shoes" (vintage)
Hair: Exile "Bad Reputation"(new)
Skin: Essences "Wednesday II"
Eyes: Ikon "Ardent"
Lashes: LeLutka "Photoshoot II"
Poses: by Del May

Love,
Serene

FELIZ NAVIDAD

Are you ready? I'm almost ready. Shopping for my family all squared away, I'm in my pajamas and getting in the mood for tomorrow. I hope you and hours will have a fabulous Christmas!



I'll see you out and about in the New Year. I won't be blogging until after we eat the Rosca de Reyes on January 6. I'm taking a little vacation to play with my kiddo!



Cardigan: Ison “Kimono Sleeve Cardigan”
Borrowed Tank Top: Vitamen “Ribbed Cotton Tank”
Bottoms: Bounce “Vintage Dandi Fleur Rose”
Hair: booN “WMO003”
Skin: Curio “:GP: Bean [Light] Elf-Snug 1”
Eyes: Ikon “Horizon Eyes”
Lashes: Glow Studio “Innocent. eyelashes – pure”
Footsies: Your Skin and Your Shape “BareFeet” (texture change HUD)

House: Trompe L’Oeil “Frostbite Cottage” (Collabor88)
Snowflake: Trompe L’Oeil “Advent Calendar Snowflake” (the Arcade)
Lantern: Trompe L’Oeil “Advent Calendar Lantern” (the Arcade)
Cake: Tres Blah “Pastry Mania Chocolate” (the Arcade)
Treats: Artilleri “Kim Cake Stand with Noms”
Tree: Botanical “Green Holiday Fir Small”
Side Table: TokiDoki “Wooden Vintage Table”
Rocking Chair: Tatty Soup “Reindeer Rocker”
Sofas: Lisp “Valentine Sofa and Footstool”
Rug: Kosh “I Can’t Think Straight”
Books: Herbalys “Book Set 2”
Ornament Boxes: Nach “Bauble Shadow Box” (old)

Love,
Serene

HALF HITCH MARINA

Believe it or not, it was very easy to fit this new hairdo under my Captain's Hat. And no hat-head when I took it off later, either. I love it!



I love the shape of this shirt because it is loose and comfy in this hot hot weather. But it isn't too baggy to see that I am a woman. I still have a waist.



Okay just one more pretty shot of the Marina ... I love water!



Hat: Kari "Aye Aye Cap"
Tanktop: Bilo "Boyfriend Tank" (mesh)
Shorts: TokiDoki "Artisan Shorts" (mesh)
Jewelry: Earthstones "Tumbled Stones" (previous Collabor88 event)
Shoes: Ingenue "Organique Flats"
Hair: Lamb "Wild at Heart" (mesh)(at Hair Fair)
Skin: Illusory "Love_Cocoa - Shindig" (previous TDR)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Facelight: Nlight FREE 2.0 (free on SL Marketplace)
Poses: by Animazoo, Diesel Works and Frooti
Location: Half Hitch

Love,
Serene

ENCOURAGEMENT

I love arty people. The brave and motivated people who create something the best they can. They risk rejection by setting up shop one day, and hoping someone will like their work. I guess that includes builders, designers and bloggers.



Not all of us are equally talented, it's true, but there's nothing I like better than watching someone gradually learn skills. Imagine me sitting on the bleachers, cheering them on and waving a pair of pompoms madly. That is why I don't like the idea of "exclusive" fashion feeds. (That, and I'm not on any yet :D) That is why I don't mind designers who manage to make something original out of clothing templates or full-perm mesh kits. That is why I love to see creative reworks of open-use skin templates like Eloh Eliot's.

Conversely, I can't stand lazy people who rip real creatives off just to get a few bucks. Go buy some full-perm templates and make your own, will you please?



I have more respect for the marginal creators who slowly work their way up to some skills, so I decided to feature a couple of them today. For a while now I have been receiving and dutifully opening review copies from Alli and Ali Hair and from Graffitiwear. Now I'll be honest, most of the products popping out of these boxes are not my style and also not up to the skill level that I would like, but I decided to review these. Please take what I say as constructive, because I don't bother to critique people that I feel have no talent.

Graffitiwear is a shop that mostly makes clothes of a low-rent urban design, let's say from a neighborhood that is rapidly becoming a red-light district. The clothing is template-based (not necessarily a bad thing), brightly colored but mostly lacking in original details or shading. I still open some of their review boxes to keep an eye on any style or skill changes and was surprised to see this southwest-style turqouise necklace pop out of the box. (Not the round beads, those are from Aura.) Not bad right? A nice accessory that goes well with this summer's popular bright colors. Good job.

Alli and Ali is an example of a Hair brand that is trying hard but needs some work. Most of their hair uses very "old-school" construction using a base of sculpted prims covered with a ring of identical repeating flexiprims. The flexis on the long hairs poke into your shoulders. The textures are very high-contrast and uncomfortably shiny-looking. And annoyingly, the hairs all come set to full-bright. (But it is modifiable so feel free to turn that off.) ... On the positive side, I am beginning to see hairs that are less shiny, more creative in construction, and showing signs of growth. I tried on this hair and said, "Hmm." (Imagine the pleasantly surprised tone.) I turned off the full-bright and scowled at the long bits that were cutting into my shoulders. The hair is editable so I shortened the wisps in front and then sat back to look at the results. "This one is actually kind of cute." There are still a few repeating flexiprims, but do-able. Don't you think?

Hair: Alli and Ali "Dakota" (slightly modified)
Necklace: Graffitiwear "Native American Pendant" (earrings available)
Skin: Curio ":GP: Bean Frex [Light] Elf-Snug 1"
Vest: TokiDoki "Sango" (group gift)
Shirt: Whippet and Buck "Cole Boatneck"
Pants: Tableau Vivant "Shindig Pants" (fitted for men)
Necklace: Aura "Beaded Boho" (mesh)
Shoes: Surf Couture "Shoelace Sandals" (unavailable I think)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: Hebenon Vial "Dramatique" (unavailable)
Facelight: Nlight Free 2.0 (free on SL Marketplace)
Poses: by Marukin

Love,
Serene

ITS ABOUT THE SHOES

I started with these shoes. Sometimes you find something fabulous and after you buy it, you sit on your bed at home with the box in your lap and think, What on Earth am I going to wear with this? So I went through my closet looking for an outfit that goes with the shoes.

The color pallette of the shoes is fairly flamboyant, but it's easy as pie to adjust the colors on my jewelry. I picked some green because the green on the shoes is really making me smile today.

The rest of the clothes are in warm tones similar to the Orange, Red and Pink of the shoe. I love the new pants, but a word about the sizing: as I tried on successively larger sizes of the pants, I got a larger and larger bum, but the size of the pant legs did not grow much at all. As you can see in the picture, I had to adjust my legs to be very thin. I suggest that you take a good look at this when you try them on at the store to be sure you like the fit.

Shoes: Baiastice "Santigold" (mesh)
Purse: Mon Tissu "Envelope Clutch"
Earrings: Je Suis "Africain Earhoops" (texture change)
Bracelets: Erratic "Twisted" (textture change)
Jacket: The Sea Hole "Corseted Tweed Jacket"
Pants: Toki-Doki "Rolled Chinos" (mesh)
Hair: Exile "Dina"
Skin:  Curio ":GP: Bean [Dark] Sweetheart-Rose 2"
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: Glow Studio "Innocent. eyelashes - pure"

Love,
Serene

CHINOISERIE

Since the seventeenth century, Chinoiserie in art and architecture has reflected the influence of oriental textiles and ornament. From there it went to fashion ... and never really left. And I'm so glad! The fabrics in this tote and slacks make me happy. I picked the blue shirt because it reminds me of Wedgwood blue, and makes this skin look like porcelain.

I added some cosmetics that I think are a little remeniscent of Geisha makeups. Just a little bit.

Altogether I think a modern casual redo of a classic idea. Most pieces shown available at the Culture Shock charity fundraiser. :D

Top: TokiDoki "Spring Top" (mesh)
Pants: Miamai "Mahvi Vintage Red" (mesh)(Culture Shock benefit item)
Purse: Miamai "Traveler Bag Sakura" (at Culture Shock)(includes poses)
Ring: La Gyo "Cube Ring" (Culture Shock benefit item)(texture change)
Shoes: Your Skin and Your Shape "Brera" (at Culture Shock)
Hair: Exile "Violetta" (at The Dressing Room)
Skin: Kooqla "Ojen"
Eye Cosmetic: la Petite Morte "Diffused Makeup" (Culture Shock Benefit item)
Lipstick: Redbird "Pinup Lips" (Culture Shock benefit item)
Eyes: Ikon "Horizon"
Lashes: Glow Studio "Innocent. eyelashes - pure"
Poses: by Miamai (incl. with purse) and Long Awkward Pose

Love,
Serene

ALAS!

Alas! Earwax. However, the Ohmai Emporium's jellybeans are so inexpensive that you may try another flavour almost for free. This little Ravenclaw student is fully dressed and showing her school spirit, having purchased a pet specially dyed in her house colours.

Or you can wash away the taste with some really excellent chocolate.

Outer Swearer: TokiDoki “Fall Cardigan (ravenclaw)” (group gift)
Sweater Vest: Boom “House of the Eagle Vest”
Shirt: Schadenfreude “White Oxford Shirt”
Tie: Schadenfreude “You-Know-Who Tie” (w/texture change HUD)
Skirt: Mon Tissu “Oxford Pencil Skirt” (mesh)
Arm Warmers: Boom “Arm Warmers – House of the Eagle”
Socks: Boom “House of the Eagle wool knee socks”
Scarf/Hair: Wasabi Pills “Brrree Mesh Hair” (mesh w/texture change scarf)
Pet: Ohmai Emporium “Pygmy Puff (the Eagle)” (gift set of four colors)
Necklace: Merlin’s Beard “Time Turner”
Wand: Schadenfreude “Tendrils Wand”
Jellybean: Ohmai Emporium “Every Flavored Bean (Earwax)
Chocolate: “Chocolate Frog” (unavailable the Gacha vendor vanished!)
Shoes: Duh! “Mary Janes”
Skin: Curio “:GP: Acorn Frex [Light] The Visitor-Probe 1”
Eyebrows: Curio “:GP: The Visitor-Dark Brows”
Eyes: Fashism “Sunrise”
Location: The Alley Shoppes at Accio

... In the interest of brevity, I restrained myself from also showing close pictures of the lovely Schadenfreude Tendrils wand and the gorgeous broomstick I purchased at Merlin's Beard. I would have shown the broom but my hands and mouth were already full of goodies :)

Love,
Serene

HAVE YOU SEEN MY QUILL?

Not all of the students at Hogwarts are good looking. Not all of us are Quidditch players. Some of us are shy. Some of us have second-hand togs. Some of us don't have a date for the Yule Ball.

Ravenclaw students are often the "nerds" of the wizard world. Smart or not, a lot of us don't really come into our own until after we have left school.

Have you seen my quill?

This is one bandwagon on which I am pleased to jump. There are plenty of Pottermaniacs hidden in closets around the metaverse, and with the rest of them I am looking forward to finding out if the rumour is true ... will there finally be a beautifully well-constructed Hogwarts in Second Life? I can't wait!! *swoons*

Sweater: Digital Girl Design “Ravenclaw Sweater”
Shirt: Schadenfreude “White Oxford”
Tie: Schadenfreude “You-Know-Who Necktie”
Skirt: TokiDoki “Le Frills Skirt” (tinted)
Shoes/Socks: Fashionably Dead “Tap Shoes”
Feather: Passion Moments “Feather”
Wand: Wicked Workshop “Gentleman’s Wand”
House Badge: Grackles Outfitters “Hogwarts House Patch” (free, texture change)
Glasses: Intrigue “Looney Specks”
Bag: Edelweiss “School Bag” (includes six poses)
Hair: Lelutka “Knotted Hair” (with hairbase)
Skin: Mother Goose’s “Yvonne Freckle” (dollarbie)

Love,
Serene