Fly to peace

My best friend and I came to SL when he got sick and couldn't leave the house. It was to give him a chance to be able to interact with people and dance and run and all of that. He had a lot of fun in SL, and it comforted me to see it. After he passed away, I slept for a couple months, and then remembered the promise I had made to him - to not give up. To make myself smile again... laugh again. Edith was born from this promise.

I'd adored Donna Flora clothing from my 'normal' avatar, and the styles fit this old diva so well. I worried, when I first started the dame, if I would offend creators. Edith is rather satirical... a sort of anti-fashionista. I worried creators would see this outlandish avatar with an 'unseemly' shape cowing around in their clothing and be annoyed, thinking I was making fun of their work. One day I took a chance and introduced myself to Squinternet and asked her opinion: would she be offended to see her wonderful creations on a less than modelesque avatar? She popped right down to see me and told me she loved it. That's when our friendship started. She was my earliest cheerleader in what I did with this little old lady, and her reassurance gave me the confidence to keep doing it.

Soon she was sending me things she was working on, just to see what it would look like on Edith. She loved creating, and loved talking about what she was doing. Sometimes, when certain components wouldn't work with Edith's curves, Squinternet would even remake them to fit her. In turn, I sent her 'post cards' of Edith doing silly things in her clothing. If you look over my stuff you will see a large percentage of things Edith wears is Donna Flora. Several of my dame stories were inspired from Squinternet's clothing alone. Like the time I put on her Marchessa outfit and immediately thought: all I need now is a gun or two and I'm a super diva spy! Edith has made me laugh so much, thanks in no small part to Squinternet's support and creativity, and thus my promise to my friend was fulfilled.

I've struggled with what to say about Squinternet's journey. Everything I've attempted to say just seems inadequate. It hits close to home for me, too, as I am going through something similar right now. The Dame takes a lot of energy, and that is something in short supply these days. Squinternet has been in my thoughts so much though - her strength lending a boost when mine falters. How can I sit down when Giulia charged ahead? Even now, with the sad news of her passing, I find myself at a loss for words, and the ones I write here aren't enough.

This wonderful lady was one of the most gracious people I met in SecondLife. I feel very lucky to have known her, even a little. I know that I am far from alone in my warm thoughts and memories of her, and in my sadness of her passing. I'm a speck on a beach full of sand, just one of so many she touched and who love her. She matters in this world - both virtual and real - and thus she will always be here.



Crane Pose: Vespertine
Everything else: Donna Flora

Sing Me A Tune

Oh, Merry Minstrel, sing me a tune, 

tell me all of my one true love's boon.

Will he be handsome, gentle and sweet?

With riches and honor, a man of great feat?

Listen, Fair Maiden, and I'll tell you true,

Your true love is here now, right inside you.

Earn your own riches and always be kind,

look nowhere but in you to e'r be defined.

~~~~~~~~~~

This great outfit Wilmur wears is currently selling at a discounted price at the We <3 Roleplay event. The nice rich gray color is exclusive to this event. It's so very well made, and is complete with boots and an optional cloak. Surely made from cured wild boar skin, it is sturdy enough to hold up against all adventurer worries - from bear to brigand! Wilmur is also wearing Tee*fy's Elizabeth hair, now out at Collabor88's birthday event! It's supposed to be for girls, but Wilmur wears it well as a man from long ago. Wilmur can MAN-UP anything!

The instrument Wilmur is playing is called an Archlute, and I picked it up at Mikki Mile's Modern and Medieval Musical Instruments. I wanted something bard-like, and saw these instruments on Marketplace. It said there were demos in-world, and so I went to check them out. It is an amazing shop, and SO much fun. I spent at least an hour or so just trying all of the instruments. Mikki Mile has everything from fiddles to guitars, harps, lutes, bugles, bagpipes, and so many different types of guitars - both old and new. He even has a couple hurdy gurdies there! 

If you like music, consider stopping by just to try the demos! The demo system lets you really try the instrument out - you can hear all the tunes and sample the great animations that are built inside the instruments. There are even expansion sets for most instruments, allowing you to very easily add songs to your repertoire. I bought quite a few instruments - I just couldn't help myself! Do not be surprised to find Wilmur having a one man bagpipe parade somewhere on the grid soon!

On Wilmur:

Hair: Tee*fy (Azure Electricteeth) - Elizabeth - Collabor88

Outfit: Fateplay (Damien Fate) - Feredir - Mountain - We <3 Roleplay

Archlute: Mikki Mile's Modern and Medieval Musical Instruments 

On Madiene:

Dress: Elvenbreath (Selina Forder) - Racalla - We <3 Roleplay (You can't see it from this picture but trust me - it's gorgeous!)

Hair: Elikatira (Elikapeka Tiramisu) - Abbey

Picnic set: Aisling (Druunah Esharham) - Picnic Time

Tree: god (Kayle Matzerath) - Old Tress

Birds: HPMD (Sasaya Kayo)

All you need

The color-board for this special birthday round of Collabor88 is Razzle Dazzle, and the theme is the 20s/Gatsby Era. There's not much for men (as usual) but if you're willing to move up a few decades - or back a few centuries - the Elizabeth hair from Tee*fy fits the bill!

Again showing off my great What Next bike - this time the Oxford model! Perfect for scholarly pursuits!

Wearing:
Hair: Teefy - Elizabeth - now@C88!
Outfit: Savile Row - Cologne - Olive
Glasses: Wrigglesworth - Sinclair
Inhaler: RC Cluster
Ring: Paper Couture - Arrowhead Ring
Shoes: Mr. Poet - Brogue Derby

Bike: What Next - Oxford Bike (new, wearable, and wonderful!)

Location: Tableau

Off for a ride!

What Next has these wonderful wearable bikes available! They come in many different colors in several different styles. I love them! I actually adore riding bikes in SL - when I can find nice pathways. It is hard to find places where rez is on these days, so having a wearable option is just my cup of Long Island Iced Tea! Little Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr. loves his basket seat, too!

Do you like to bike? Where are some nice trails you have found? I am always on the lookout for new places to go off for a ride!

~~~~~

Location: What Next
Bike: What Next - Sonoma - Soft Pink

Dress/Shoes/Glasses: Donna Flora
Hair: Bliss Couture
Hat: Split Pea

The bike is a pelvis attachment, so I attached my dog to my pelvis as well and moved him into position, modding the basket so he would fit!

Flight to Adventure!

It seemed like a normal day. The sun was shining, the birds were chirping, and the wine was breathing. Wilmur was enjoying his picnic lunch when all of a sudden he heard a voice. It was soft, but urgent.

"Hey you, with the goblet! I beg you, please give me some of that!" Wilmur looked around, but saw no one. He took another sip and he heard the voice again. "I'm so thirsty! Won't you please give me some?"

Hearing strange voices does run in the family.

Wilmur looked around again quickly, starting to become alarmed when he saw no one. He raised his wine glass again to his lips with a shaky hand, and sputtered when some of the drink dribbled from his lips to the rich carpet below.

"Oh, thank you! Thank you!"

The seat below him seemed to shudder and shift, and suddenly he felt himself rising off the ground!

"Hold on tightly now," the voice shrilled happily. "We don't want you to take a tumble!"

Hold on to your hats!

Up, up, up they rose! Higher and higher.

"Where would you like to go first, Master?"

"Are you sure you should be driving? You did just have some wine." Wilmur looked worried.

"Ah, it's ok. I only had a sip. I'm well below limit!"

"Ok then.... the choice is yours, Magic Carpet! Let's stretch your legs and see where we end up!"

Poor old Elder Tree wishes he could go, too.

So, with a whoosh and a wee, Wilmur waved goodbye to Elder Tree and he and his Magic carpet set off on a wonderful adventure that took them to the edges of all known realms and beyond.

~~~~~~~~~~

This great magic carpet from Boogers is available as a rare prize at the Woodland Gacha going on right now! This event is geared towards the kid community, but there are plenty of cute things children of all sizes and ages can enjoy.

~~~~~~~~~~

Magic Carpet: Magic carpet (Rare) - BoOgErS (Zen Zarco)

Picnic set: 'Picnic time' - aisling (Druunah Esharham)
Elder Tree: 'old tree' - god (Kayle Matzerah)
Elder Tree's Bird friends: Happy Mood  (Sasaya Kayo)
Striped rug: 'acorn rug' - Lisp (Pandora Popstar)

On Wilmur:
Skin: Max - Wrigglesworth's
Glasses: Poppy's glasses - Wrigglesworth's (Rosaline Wrigglesworth)
Outfit: Chicago brown - Saville Row (CJ Carnot)
Hair: Shifty hair and beard (bark) - Deco (Gutterblood Spoonhammer)
Shoes: Derby Shoes - Mr. Poet (Hiwinyu Fazuku)
Inhaler: EZ Breeve Inhaler - RC Cluster (Redd Columbia)

Hair So Fair

Blah blah Hair Fair blah blah. You know the drill. Everyone's talking about it, everyone's doing it. You should, too!

Wilmur, Master of Abaci
Deco's Shifty Hair and Beard - Hair Fair 2013

Sometimes you just have to let your hair down and go au naturale!
Curio Obscura's Godiva - Hair Fair 2013

As you're going crazy throwing money at Hair fair, make sure to stop by the Wigs for Kids bandana shops (I believe there are duplicate shops on every sim) and pick up these creative coverings! Below is a mere taste of what's available. There are some really beautiful and unique creations this year!

Top row: Hopscotch, The Bitten Prim, Aisling
Middle row: TuttiFrutti, Lelutka, Ohmai!
Bottom row: Hopscotch, JustMagnetic/Balkanic2.0, W.Winx

All are only 50L and the proceeds go to Wigs for Kids! In some of the bandana folders are nice notes from the creators about why they chose to participate, the idea behind the design, or other personal messages! It's a neat way for both hair and non-hair creators to show support for this worthy cause!

The last day of Hair Fair is the day set aside to wear your bandanas to show solidarity for those who have lost hair due to treatment. Be sure to stock up before then!

Wilmur's Day at the Beach

Wilmur helps with life-guarding duties.

Time for a game of frisbee!

Oh no! Wilmur's frisbee irritated some sea gulls!

Wilmur disturbs a sand castle, and its inhabitants quickly come to its defense!

While out for a swim, Wilmur has a scare!

He knows what that fin means! He remembers from watching a really scary movie
just last night with his Auntie Edith and Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr.!

Turns out, it was just a new friend introducing himself! Whew!

As the day wanes, Wilmur and his pal look for sunset waves.

A bonfire, marshmallows, and good company make the perfect ending to a memorable day at the beach.

~~~~~~~~~~

On Wilmur: Asto Remy Swimming Trunks 70s 9 - flow (Brady McKeenan)
On Benjam: Fatewear trunks - Spitz - Ocean - (Damien Fate)

Poses:
1 - Life Guard Chair - Olive Juice & Kari (Isabella Baroque & Menno Ophelia)
2 - HISfrisbee - Hispose (Sixx Yangtz)
3 - Seagull Attack - Uncertain Smile (Isabelli Anatine)
4 - Crab Grab - Uncertain Smile (Isabelli Anatine)
5 - HISdolphin - Hispose (Sixx Yangtz)
6 - Movie Horror Night - Yulicie (Zoya Neaph) (current@Perfect Wardrobe)
7 - HISdolphin - Hispose (Sixx Yangtz)
8 - Shaka Brah Surfboards - Tabloid and Ma Vie (Dahlia Joubert & Mavi Beck) & Hide and Seek - Olive Juice (Isabella Baroque)
9 - Marshmallow Fight - flowey (Flutter Memel) (current@C88 - July)

Thanks to Katharine McGinnis for playing the role of Sammy Davis, Jr. Jr. in her Intrigue Co. Cow Pajamas. Let's hope SDJrJr doesn't find out about the cow bit. He'll never get over it.

Also much thanks to Kendal Sapphire and Eve Daines for letting me use the beach on their sim, Elle Island, to take pictures. Elle Island is probably the most gorgeous sim I have ever visited. It is closed this week while the owners are at camp, but definitely visit it after it reopens next week!

CHALLENGE: Tell Someone You Appreciate Them!

I was sorting my vast, endless inventory when I came across some Balaclava stuff. Now, I love me some Balaclava, and have for years. It made me smile to see it all. So much of what Balaclava's creator Uriah makes is just pure fun. It's not something created just to make a buck. It is obvious there is a lot of thought that goes into the items and how to make them all amazing.

Take the ukuleles out now at Summerfest, for example. It's not just a ukulele you hold or hang on the wall. You can play it alone... and *with other people*. There's a HUD. It plays multiple songs. Uriah even provided a cute gift box for those who want to give it as a present. And it's not expensive at all.

His marching instruments for Arcade last round were so much fun - alone and with a group, and his trickster boxes at the current Arcade are just as amazing. I have an old outfit he made for an event - Mr. Crow for Designer's United, all the way back in 2009 - that was so gorgeous.. and still is. I would **kill** to have that outfit on Wilmur, but sadly it was before his time. There was another outfit Balaclava made back in 2010 for the Narcissus event, the Narcissus on High Street short suit, that remains one of my favorite outfits ever. It is so well made, it still beats a lot of mesh things put out now. Remember the 1011 event? He made the coolest jackets for that event, and while almost every other designer there had exorbitant prices, his were reasonable.

Let's also not forget his lovely old superhero underwear. Wilmur has melted many hearts with those for years. He almost never takes them off.

BAM indeed!

As I'm going through all this in my inventory, I realize how much fun Uriah has given me in my SL, and he has no idea. So I start thinking about all the other people who have made my SL fun - Donna Flora, who has always been so gracious in helping me dress Edith’s unique shape; to Nylon and Poly, who have always been wonderful and supportive of Edith/Wilmur beyond just the brilliance of those avatars’ skins, shapes, and clothing. To Katharine McGinnis of Intrigue, Allegory Malaprop of Schadenfreude, and dazai voom of d-lab whose minds are just one big glob of whimsy. To Corksoaker Gloom, Neva Crystal, and Amelie Knelstrom, who make some of the prettiest pictures on Flickr. To Carthalis Rossini, Attero Diavolo, and Alles Klarr/Kynne Llewellyn who remind me that blogs don't have to be just static models with vapid expressions - that they can be works of art themselves. Scottius Polke, Gracie Kendal, Ziki Questi, Rowan Derryth, and PJ Trenton... and countless other artists and creators. They have no idea how much they have made my SL better... but they are about to.

So, that's where this comes from. It's just something I ask you to consider doing. My own challenge, I guess. Blog it, notecard it, whatever. You won't be able to get everyone - I sure won't be able to. But I will send some now, and try to get in the habit of doing it more often: letting people know that what they do isn't just ending up lost in the interwebs, but that they are actually touching someone... that they and what they do matter.

MemeMeeeemememe meeeme me

I never do memes. I might hear of them and have a good idea, but then I never get around to it. It's not that I'm lazy, darlings, I'm just... so very busy with all the brunches with socialites, teas with royalty, pedicures with starlets... you get the idea.

The movie poster meme, though, popped its little head up and I immediately chortled with glee. I had about 5 or 6 ideas, and of course, got only one done. Ah well, at least I got something accomplished! I hope it makes you giggle!

The Dream

With an important deadline looming, I worked all day at my typewriter. Sadly, despite all the hours of brainstorming, all I'd managed was the first word. Still, I was so pooped I dozed off right where I was!

Suddenly, there he was. Those eyes! That smile! That chest hair!  Right before me, a vision to behold: my dream date!

He had prepared a lovely picnic lunch for us to enjoy, but everyone knows: swim first - eat later!

Just as we were about to dig into the fruit, bread, and cheese, a hideous monster jumped out! "Gimmee that Brie!" it snarled. I was so frightened! My brave dream man whipped out his big gun and took care of that Brie brigand!

"My hero!" I gasped and he turned. He puckered up and leaned towards me. He raised his hand and offered me a friendship bracelet. I reached to take it when....

My blasted alarm clock shattered the illusion and I found myself back in my bed with nothing but the deadline to greet me. I sighed and got up, the memory of my dream man fading slowly from my mind. If only it could be real!

That's when I saw it! There, on my wrist. No.... could it be??? Was it really all a dream?!

~~~~~

Thanks to Andel Rhiadra for being such a patient, lovely model! 

Featuring items from The Arcade gacha event!

Bedroom 1:

ADD Andel - Bowling league - Bowling Balls

Apple Fall - Breakfast at Tiffanies - books

Aria - Oolong Teacup Planters - flowers

Art Dummy - wake me. - bed

DIGS - Skyline Relief Blocks - London

Floorplan - antique typewriter - floral

Pilot - Landmarks - Eifel Tower

Scarlet Creative - Getaway - poetry books boxed

Shakeup! - Fabric Flower Ring - Tie Dye (on wall)

Standby - World Tour - amps, ukulele, keytar

Trompe Loeil - Billiards Dresser

Vespertine - Fabric Birds - Birdcage, owl

Date Picnic:

Elate - A Posh Picnic set

Miamai - Critters Society - floaty

Second Spaces - Game Night - Backgammon

Sway - Swim Ring - Love

Bedroom 2:

Art Dummy - wake me. - white clock

Aso - Alphabet Marine Bag

Commoner - Rocking Horse

Gizza - Summer Basket - Aquarium

Handverk - Mermaid's Purses - narwhal

PixelMode - Bean Bag Chair

Remarkable Oblivion - Snapbacks - Royalty

Second Spaces - Game Night - Block Stack

Silent Sparrow - Corgi

Zigana - Super Bot - lamp – Gizmo

On Andel:

BOOM - Friendship Bracelet - lilac

Paper Doll - Ruffly Kini

Pink Fuel - Harley

Teefy - Boho - dress

Wasabi Pills - Lory

On Wilmur:

Adorkable - Lilac Bloom

LWL - Cuffs and Collars - Black Tie

MishMish - Squirt Guns - Orca

Brie Brigand:

RachelBreaker - Sweet Soft Fursona

Pixies in a Fix

"Why did you follow me?
My brain is a pea!"

"This is not the picnic I planned - 

to end up lost in a strange land!"

"I'm hungry! I thirst!
My feet hurt the worst!"

"Quit whining, my dear!

Who knows what will hear!"

"Look, there! Don't you see?
Behind that big tree!"

"Go ahead, take a sip.

Just a little, just a nip!"

"Oh horror! Oh wow!
We're in for it now!"

"Run, run, run like the wind!

Did you see the teeth in that huge, gnarly grin?"

No one knows how the pixies got away.

They'll have their picnic another day.

~~~~~

Featured:  

Balaclava@Arcade - Tricksters and Their Magical Treasures - #9- Briar Carly and #10- March Freckle. These very tiny mesh avatars come complete with an AO!

Intrigue Co.@Arcade - Prehistoric Plushie Pals - Pizza the Pleiosaurus, Ernie the Eohippos, Moe the Mammoth, Petunia the Pterodactyl, Sammy the Sabertooth, Sara the Triceratops, Thunder the T-Rex, and the Props! These are also holdable attachments. 

Both of these great collections are exclusive to this month's Arcade - so make sure to collect them all before the end of the month!

Assorted foliage for my jungle - Ferns from Botanical and planter foliage from Trompe Loeil!

Oasis

The d-lab stuff at Arcade this go around is simply divine. So is this wearable pool from flowey, also at Arcade.

~~~~~

Aparatus - d-lab - cyborg parts@Arcade

Pool - flowey - aloha summer@Arcade

Non-Arcade: 

Skin/Glasses/Socks/Sassiness - Wrigglesworth, shirt - Intrigue, shoes - Deco, undies - Balaclava (no, you can't see them, but they are awesome, take my word for it!

Location: Tableau

The Cat's Out of the Bag!

As icon Clairee Belcher said so graciously, "The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize."

One important accessory that is often forgotten is no further than the tip of your nose: glasses! Functional as well as fashionable, glasses allow us to look our best, as well as help us... well... look!

I love glasses. I have so many that it is hard to pick through them to find the pair I need. I might find the perfect color frames, but the lenses are all wrong! Sometimes it takes me longer to find the right glasses as it does to find what jewelry to use, and you can just imagine how much jewelry I have. Not anymore, darlings! I think I might have finally found the holy grail of glasses!

These are the Cat Glasses offered by Conspiracy Theory for The Arcade gacha event. They come in all sorts of wonderful colors and patterns. They are very well made and are quite detailed, and at only 25L a try they are one of the greatest bargains of the entire event. The rare surprise in Conspiracy Theory's gacha is a marvelous HUD that lets you customize the Cat Glasses! I am wearing the White Cat Glasses, so with the HUD, I can customize all the finer details, while the color of the frames stay intact.

The HUD comes in three parts: One to customize the studs decorating the points of the glasses, one to customize the color and darkness of the lens, and one to customize the color of the side arms. 

Here is a demonstration of the first and third parts of the HUD together. The left picture shows the stud colors available, and the right side shows the colors available for the arms of the glasses.

  

As you can see, there are quite a few colors you can choose from to make your glasses look exactly the way you want. Below, I have shown first the default, then changed the studs and sides to red, and then again changed them to a nice soft blue!

The middle part of the HUD controls both the color and the darkness of the lenses. The rainbow gradient allows you to make your lenses any color you want - from delicate pink to bright red, from forest green to sky blue!

At the top of the rainbow gradient is a black strip. This is where you can customize how dark you want your shades. All the way to the left and they are clear. All the way to the right, and they are dark for sunny days, or for special spy missions when discretion is key!

As I finish my ensemble, I have decided to customize my Cat Glasses for a nice, soft blue lens, with blue studs and blue sides. The rare HUD from Conspiracy Theory@The Arcade will help me match my glasses perfectly, every time I go out! 

Good luck getting your Cat Glasses, and the rare Cat Glasses HUD. They are worth every linden!

~~~~~

Glasses - Conspiracy Theory@Arcade (customized with rare HUD prize)

Vanity Table and makeup items - Tres Blah@Arcade

Dress Form - Schadenfreude@The Arcade

Chair - Apple Fall@The Arcade

Lilac Bouquet - Adorkable@The Arcade

Ensemble: Hair - Bliss Couture, Dress - Icing, Rings - Paper Couture, Earrings/Necklace/Stole - Donna Flora, Dress - Icing, Hair Pin - Dark Mouse

Where a new member of the (doll)household is not happy.

After spending a lovely day at The Arcade, I came home to introduce my wee residents of my dollhouse to their newest member! Grumpy Cat! He wasn't pleased but I figured, give him some time.

When I woke up this morning there was quite a disturbance!

Some of Grumpy Cats's Emote pals showed up and started picketing for his release! How frightening!

Thankfully, the police showed up and the angry throng dispersed. I'm going to have to keep my eye on Grumpy Cat, methinks.

                                                                                ~~~~~

The Arcade gacha event has arrived once again, darlings! The wee Emoting animals above are all from Tableau Vivant. The signs they hold are scripted to allow you to add your own personal message! The whimsical piggy police is Anya Ohmai's contribution! The souvenir the monkey is perched on is one of Pilot's offerings. There's a whole collection of famous landmarks!

The dollhouse and vouboos are old Arcade items: The dollhouse and furnishings are from Pilot, March 2013 Arcade and the vouboos are from Schadenfreude's December 2012 Arcade. The vouboo gacha is up at Schadenfreude's shop, but the dollhouse and its trappings are only obtainable through private trades at this point.

Everything at this Arcade looks so whimsical and fun - I hope everyone gets what they hope for!

June 2013 Arcade Feature #1
Tableau Vivant - shown are: Giraffe, Fox, Monkey, Bear, Panda (rare), and Cat (rare)
!Ohmai Teacup Piglet - Pork Patrol