Sunday, December 23, 2012

2012 Color Challenge: Week 51 - Madder Lake Deep

Water Lily

Lake pigments are pigments which aren't naturally thick enough to make into paint, and so they have to be combined with something - a thickener - before being turned into some sort of paint using a medium. It has an ancient history - used across Asia and down into Egypt for a variety of tasks, including clothing dye and coloring ceramics, but it wasn't until the 1800s that a thickener combination was found which enabled it to be used as paint. In the late 1800s the first artificial red was created, based off of the chemical makeup of madder, and even that faint remnant of madder vanished when light resistant reds were synthesized in the 1950s. I went with a slightly orange red for my tinting, as I found nothing in my inventory to match, and actually swiped ideas shamelessly from other bloggers this week - Luna herself inspired the necklace, though I tinted mine, and vyoletta guyot pointed me toward the awesome dress to match. I ended up looking into Madder Lake Deep's history for some idea of what to say; it's my first day of vacation, and I'm feeling kind of brainless and stressed (a difficult combination!).

Lovers in Shadow

I ended up taking pictures at The Tower, but I'm deeply conflicted about it - and the vast majority of my pictures made use of the environment of the tower without particularly focusing on most of the figures within it. It's a powerful, moving, difficult to parse display. Naked women, their bodies warped, twisted, altered, or natural fill it; with some it's more obvious the inspiration for the women's frozen actions, but others seem to exist in mute testimony of entire realms unspoken. I really need to give the whole display more time - and there's only a short amount of time before December ends and takes these figures with it.

Crawling the Walls

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyeshadow: Mock, Phoenician
Eyelashes: Flugeln Brise, 04-A
Eyelashes 2: SLink, MeshEyelashes
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Blush: Schadenfreude, White Blushing Heart
Lipstick: Mock, Lucir LipColor Sunset
Lipmark: Schadenfreude, Langwidere Dark Red
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Joy2 (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Dress: CandyMetal, Atrium Goth Dress
Jewelry: Zaara, Kaya Coral (tinted)
Stockings: G Field, Button Socks
Boots: G Field, Fur Cuff Boots "Sasha"

Poses: Glitterati

Location: The Tower
Light Settings: Rouge 4
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Saturday, December 22, 2012

How NOT to Sell Things in Second Life

So I was minding my own business, hanging out in a store after buying a few things and sorting through my notecards, when I saw yelling in my local chat.

[21:00] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): BOM DIA EU TENHO BORBOLETA DE CORPO QUE VOA NO CORPO VERDE E PRETA / 30 LINDENS
[21:00] ReginaLove Core: GOOD DAY I HAVE THE BODY OF BUTTERFLY FLYING IN GREEN AND BLACK BODY / 30 LINDENS
[21:01] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): COMBINA COM FADA PRETA
[21:01] ReginaLove Core: COMBINES WITH BLACK FAIRY

Cattails

I was entirely prepared to ignore her, since it was just local chat and spam happens, but then she IMed me and, well... I got a little creative, so how can I resist now?

[21:01] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): GOOD DAY I HAVE THE BODY OF BUTTERFLY FLYING IN GREEN AND BLACK BODY / 30 LINDENS
[21:01] Deoridhe Quandry: Don't spam me.
[21:02] Deoridhe Quandry: It's rude.
[21:02] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): COMBINES WITH BLACK FAIRY
[21:02] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): ^
[21:02] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): ?
[21:03] Deoridhe Quandry: Spam is rude. It demonstrates you are an assholic moron. ^.^
[21:03] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): EXCUSE
[21:03] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): SORRY
[21:04] Deoridhe Quandry: I hope you get banned. ^.^
[21:04] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): SPAM IS NOT, SO I WANT TO SELL YOU FOR THE BUTTERFLY
[21:05] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): THANKS FOR ATTENTION
[21:05] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): =)
[21:05] Deoridhe Quandry: You are trying to sell me something I think is fucking shit, and yelling in open chat. That is spam. You are a spammer. Spammers are assholic morons. Your are an assholic moron. QED.
[21:05] Deoridhe Quandry: I hope you get banned.
[21:06] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): AND YOU AND WITHOUT AND THICK AND IDIOT Education.
RESPECT ME
[21:07] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): RESPECT ME
[21:07] Deoridhe Quandry: I don't respect asshole moron spammers who IM me to sell me shit.
[21:07] Deoridhe Quandry: Stop being a spammer, act like a valid and respectable human being, and we can talk.
[21:08] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): RESPECT ME, BECAUSE I DO NOT offended you
DO NOT insult me ​​YOUR THICK
[21:08] Deoridhe Quandry: Your IMing me to spam me. You're spamming open chat. That's offensive, rude, and assholic.  I'd rather be slime mold than a spammer. Slime mold is better than spammers.
[21:09] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): NOT offended you, SO RESPECT ME
[21:09] Deoridhe Quandry: You offended me before you IMed me unsolicited.
[21:10] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): I PEDI EXCUSE FOR YOU AND YOU offended me
[21:10] Deoridhe Quandry: You're a pedophile? Wow, spamming just the start, then, for you.
[21:10] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): You're a pedophile
[21:11] Deoridhe Quandry: Haa haa, so are you incapable of insults that you don't copy from me?
[21:11] Deoridhe Quandry: Intelligence is only skin deep sometimes, I suppose.
[21:11] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): OUT OF NEAR ME, YOU AND A child molester
[21:12] Deoridhe Quandry: Haa haa, dude, you really suck at this.
[21:12] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): OUT OF NEAR ME, YOU AND A child molester
[21:12] Deoridhe Quandry: Like, your insults are actually worse than your pathetic spam.
[21:12] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): Like, your insults are actually worse than your pathetic spam.
[21:12] Deoridhe Quandry: Not to mention your poor grasp of written English. I presume you're a secondary speaker, but really - classes are available online.
[21:13] Deoridhe Quandry: Yeah, you really can't come up with an original insult. It's incredibly funny!
[21:13] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): Haa haa, so are you incapable of insults That you do not copy from me?
[21:13] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): Yeah, you really can't come up with an original insult. It's incredibly funny!
[21:13] Deoridhe Quandry: Cutting and pasting now, I see. Mmmmm, truly my respect for you.... shrinks.
[21:13] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): Cutting and pasting now, I see. Mmmmm, truly my respect for you.... shrinks.
[21:24] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): YOU BOUGHT YOUR AVATAR UGLY MONSTER IN THE GARBAGE? HELPING YOUR AVATAR AND HORRIBLE AND RIDICULOUS LIKE YOU ILL EDUCATED AND THICK. YOU LEFT ME WITH WILL INDICATE TO YOU CAN VOMITAR. EU AVATARS BEST AND GOOD QUALITY CHARITY FOR YOU, WHY DO YOU HAVE A BAD TASTE. CAREFULLY.
[21:24] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): ESTA MUTADA
[21:24] Deoridhe Quandry: Man, please, keep going. You're just going to make the blog post more fun!
[21:25] 尺e Łove  (reginalove.core): THIS fined
[21:25] Deoridhe Quandry: Yes, you do appear to be refined from the excrement of stoats. That must be a hard life.

And then the store owner IMed me and had her banned. My wish came true!

Am I a bad person if I admit I really enjoyed that? I considered doing more entertaining insults, but it wasn't like she could actually understand English.

Did You See a Saucer?

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Mask: Cipher, Blind Veil (Part of Punk Lolita Outfit)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Rue, Painted Lip Service
Hair: Secrets Hair, Pouty, Blond (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Dress: Dilly Dolls, Kitty Dress Green (promotional item, Together for Sway Event)
Stockings: Kastle Rock Couture, Fishnets (Part of Burlesque Mini)
Shoes: Dilly Dolls, Kitty Stompers Green (promotional item, Together for Sway Event)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Area 51
Light Settings: Places Crucible

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Friday, December 21, 2012

How NOT to Chat in Second Life - Spam and Fury

Hanging Thin

I don't think you can go into Second Life public much these days and not run across a running commentary on the physical characteristics and effects of pregnancy on the body. The talking pregnant belly is incredibly common, and incredibly spammy. As you can see from excerpts of a chat below, it talks every four to five minutes in a fairly large burst of text, and with way too much information! When I'm shopping or sales, or looking around a new sim, the last thing I want to be thinking about is fetal genitalia!Or the state of the angles of esophagus of some random person I don't know!

[00:23] POOTERBILT Mommy's HUD 4.08 is in the third month (12-15 weeks) of development.
[00:29] POOTERBILT Mommy's HUD 4.08 knows that you can now notice your belly getting bigger and hopes you are not mad at me for it.
[00:35] POOTERBILT Mommy's HUD 4.08 notices I can see my sex parts. I wonder if you guys know what sex I am yet.
[00:41] POOTERBILT Mommy's HUD 4.08 wants you to get an ultrasound because you can see that I am looking more like a little baby now.
[00:49] POOTERBILT Mommy's HUD 4.08 can tell you are uncomfortable with all of this heartburn you feel from me growing and taking up so much room.

Twins Rising

Another recent development is a proximity alarm which goes off every time someone runs into the person. In a crowded sim this can be a significant amount of contact, though I have to admit the one time I ran across it I ended up bumping into her on purpose because it made me giggle - like a giant toy. The amount of text it takes up, though, is no laughing matter; even accidentally, someone can seriously scroll the chat in a crowded venue. All it takes is a bunch of avatars and narrow hallways, like those limited time events that keep popping up all over, and a single, unnecessary sentence becomes some serious scroll.

[22:29]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 1].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[22:29]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 1].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[22:30]  Real Jr:  [Resident 1] kisses tasty's belly and says "I love you lil baby".
[22:30]  Real Jr: Please be careful Deoridhe Quandry.  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[22:31]  Real Jr: /me has a pretty regular sleeping pattern now, please don't disrupt me now.
[22:37]  Real Jr: /me whimpers, my skin is see through, this is kinda neat.
[23:04]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 2].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:04]  Real Jr: Please be careful Deoridhe Quandry.  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:04]  Real Jr: Please be careful Deoridhe Quandry.  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:05]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 3].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:05]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 3].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:05]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 3].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:05]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 3].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:06]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 3].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.
[23:06]  Real Jr: Please be careful [Resident 3].  My mommy is pregnant, and if you bump too hard you can hurt me or my mommy קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ.

Excaliber

A recent overheard conversation gave me a little insight into the thinking behid this scripty, spammy mess of an attachment, and I thought I'd share (as well as inviting some commiseration on the annoyance of Roleplaying Via Spam).

[00:30] קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ: and my friend was like u should get a belly talker cause people going to think u just fat
[00:30] קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ: lol!
[00:31] קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ: i said omg....
[00:31] קяЄgg0ℓĨⓈĨĄⓈ: never thought of that @_@ lol

Yes, ladies and gentlemen - better a spammer, than a fatty.

Cast in Gold

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Elymode, A Little Drama
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick 1: Mock, Vitrail Lip Glass - Black Licorice
Lipstick 2: Mock, Micare LipGlimmer - London Glitter
Lipstick 3: Mock, Dark Mallow Lip Creme
Hair: Secrets Hair, Anita - Dark (promotional item)
Headwings: Aux, Fly Free - RARE Pegasus (Gatcha Prize)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Gloves: Second Wave Apparel, Dress Gloves - white
Scarf: Boom, Tinsley Cashmere Bow Scarf
Dress: Blue Blood, Carmina - Black
Shoes: katatonik, Wingtip Mary janes

Poses: Glitterati

Location: The Garden
Light Settings: Bryn Oh's BOX MetaLES

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday, December 17, 2012

Blush on Ice

Grand Finish

I'm a bit of an odd duck in some ways; national tragedies rarely make me feel more connected to others, or more patriotic, or even particularly fond of humans in general. I suppose with a day to day life that is so full of the suffering of others, the suffering of a few more is simply another day at work; I endure it, I cry, I let it whisper through my heart, and then I let it go - retaining the few bits of usefulness i can like a well-made net catches the largest fish. Lately I've been wondering if there's something wrong with me, but I think it's just the hazards of the job - I feel as strongly, but several years in I simply don't attach to my clients the way I used to; I have strong responses, but I can let them rise and fall and then get back to the business of living. There are times I envy the telescopic simplicity I see in various television shows, but I know those are manufactured and not a reality I live in or have any chance of sharing; my life remains complicated, multi-layered, edged with watchfullness, smiles, and tears.

Poised

This fantastic outifit began at the feet, with Dilly Dolls' recent skate releases in a wide variety of colors, each with different heel shades. This is the light violet with white, but it came with black and wood as well for ease of matching to a variety of skating outfits. I went for a professional skaters look above; the dress from Earth & Sky Designs is a templete mesh, but the texturing on it is sweet (it comes both transparent and non, and both textured and non; I'm wearing the transparent textured version) and the price is more than reasonable. I splurged on the fullpack and they gave me a versatile and fun dress in a wide variety of colors. I thought it really suited as a fluttery skating outfit. The gloves from Boom are a very new release which I adore, though I wish the hands were just a smidge more curled, like at rest. That's such a piddly complaint, I know, but otherwise they're divine! I pulled out an old 50 Linden Friday recolor of a Wasabi Pills hair - I love the blond with pink tips so much - and crowned it with another new release, this time from Wishbox. She made a ton more rose accessories, and I ended up buying the entire line of rose crowns. The final touch was an adorable cameo set from Eclectica, hanging just high enough to be seen above the neck and shoulder line. I picked it up ages ago, but it withstands the test of time.

Sudden Stop

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Cheeks and Nose: Izzie's, Redness Tattoo
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Izzie's, Frosty Lips 1
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Cookie Mesh Hair
Flowers: Wishbox, Rose Crown - Pink Tips
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Gloves: Boom, Dame Elbow Gloves
Jewelry: Eclectica, Rococco Coral
Dress: Earth & Sky Design, Sandy Mesh Ruffle Dress
Shoes: Dilly Dolls, Ballo Ice Skates (promotional item)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Fellini Couture
Light Settings: TOR, NIGHT Brighter
Water Settings: TOR, Ice Like

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Sunday, December 16, 2012

2012 Color Challenge: Week 50 - Gold

Tea Time

Gold is always a tricky thing to reproduce without the actual metal (and the ability to make things actually glimmer), but I don't think I did half bad.It is perhaps a little yellow for gold, but it was hard to find golds that weren't on the yellow side but still had a yellow hue - a lot were much more brown and dark. The dress is an awesome lucky chair prize from Indigo Oddities - the set she has up now are different, but equally awesome. I particularly like the snowflake detailing in the skirt, especially since they matched the awesome new shoes from katat0nik with snowflakes all over the socks! The ribbon along the top of the socks is totally cute, too, and if you look up close there are tiny white hearts all along the top ruffle. Seriously squeetastic! I matched it with this hugely puffy hair from Wasabi Pills; it has a slightly retro feel which I thought matched the outfit very well. The ribbon around the head is color changing with a HUD, and while it cuts into my ears a little, judicious angling manages that well.

Keeping Warm

The accessories were all pulled from a search for gold. Firstly, I finally got to use the awesome hair ornaments from Bliss Couture. I picked them up on a whim, but haven't found a look they worked with, so I was glad this one came along. I like how they poof up and weave into the existing ribbon on the Wasabi Pills hair. When I saw the bento box from Falln Angel Creations, I new immediately I had to include it. In addition to being totally cute and matching my hair ornaments, they also drop the cutest snacks all around when I have rezzing rights - snacks which anyone around can buy if they want! Finally, I added a cute jewelry set from Dark Mouse, a sort of mixed together style in the lighter shades of the dress. The cosmetics are hard to see due to the lighting, but I wanted a golden lip and so I layered a yellow gloss from Mock over a darker matte from Damned, and I think the effect was pretty spectacular. Finally, for the lighting shade I kept the red-yellow-blue tints from earlier pictures, and I think the hints of blue here and there keep the yellow from becoming too overpowering or cloying! Let me know what you think, though.

Free Swinging Treats

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Glow, Crazy eye shadow
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick 1: Damned, Alice Lipstick Yellow
Lipstick 2: Mock, Lucir Lipcolor Narcissus
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Inchigo Mesh Hair - Golden (promotional item)
Flowers: Bliss Couture, Korin Hat - Gold
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Bracelet: Kyccie's Creations, Hopeful Flower Gold
Jewelry: Dark Mouse, Found Things Gold
Dress: Indigo Oddities, Nefarious Noel Gold
Bag: Falln Angel Creations, Bento Box Golden (rezzes buyable food)
Shoes: katat0nik, Snowflake T-strap Wedges

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Tiramisu Cafe
Light Settings: TOR, FOGGY Southern Delite
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Immersiva's Gone to the Bunnies

Dusted Barren

I was really struck today by a simple truth: We are what we do over and over again. Habit and focus are such a major part of not only determining what we do, but also what we will do. The creative person, believing she is creative, creates and will create. The sad person, believing she is sad, is sad and will be sad. The wise person, believing she is wise, seeks wisdom and acts in answer to it. What we believe we can do is also shaped by the responses around us. The creative person, believing she is creative, creates and is insulted for it - and her belief that she can create falters. The sad person, believing she is sad, speaks about it to another and begins to believe she is not alone, and her grief thins. The wise person, believing she is wise, acts and gets an unforeseen result, and her faith in her judgement is undermined by experience. Habit is only part of it; the results we get - both reactions from others and what we perceive ourselves - also alters what we do over and over again. The problem is, this process is value neutral; we can attempt good things and get undermining reactions, attempt bad things and get reinforcing reactions.

Unsteady

I was struck by another truth as well: We seek what makes us comfortable. Comfortable is not necessarily positive or negative, it is simply used to. Used to begins at the whims of those around us; until we're in our teens, we are largely powerless to change the world around us in any meaningful way. What this means is that what we are comfortable with becomes overladen by the comfort of others and their wishes, wants, and fears. If they are comfortable with pain and abuse, so shall we be. If they are comfortable with beauty and pleasure, so shall we be. If they are comfortable with emptiness and distraction, so shall we be. We often recreate what is familiar even when it actively harms us; we can learn from others but it takes time, attention, and effort - and the responses are not always enjoyable. Something unbalanced can be rebalanced, though, even if it sets us temporarily spinning; we become what we do, and we do what we become, so comfort will grow with time. What is our prison, our cage of repetition, can also be transformed into a key to let us out.

Secret Keeper

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: cheLLe, Tropical
Eyeliner: Eternal Darkness, Harlequin Tears
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Adore & Abhor, Silent Star - Baroque Licorice
Mouth Key: Sanu, Pip's Quest Key
Back Key: Dilly Dolls, Interactive Jeweled Heart
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Joy (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Jewelry: Primalot, Copious
Dress: Dilly Dolls, Emilie
Boots: Dilly Dolls, Oxy Boots (promotional item)

Poses: Magnifique

Location: Immersiva
Light Settings: Paulina, Dark Blue

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday, December 10, 2012

Ginko

Golden Ginko

I watch a lot of anime, and have for many years now. I'm not quite a Nipponphile, but I have a great deal of appreciation for Japanese aesthetics and style; the characteristics of simplicity, purity, and nature are those sorts of universal things that can lead to beauty. Ginko leaves always make me think of Mushishi, one of my favorite anime/manga series, and a flower I made once out of ginko leaves in the fall.

Matsushima, the name of this dress/shirt from R2 Fashion (available at Collabor88), is a region in Japan that was very hard hit from the March 11 Earthquake and Tsunami, Matsushima is a collection of rocky islands covered with pines that were identified as a natural and national treasure in Japan. The Matsuo Bashō Haiku about it is particularly funny to me, since it is such an elegant way of indicating speechlessness with a twinkle hidden inside.

Matsushima ah!
A-ah, Matsushima, ah!
Matsushima, ah!

Each of the Matsushima dresses is styled off of a different flower, which to my untutored eye greatly resemble kimono fabric textures. This one is kiku-zakura, a type of pinkish-white chrysanthemum, rendered in a variety of shades of pink and gold. I love how starkly they stand out against the solid black of the background, making for an extremely dramatic look. I left a very red lip, a combination of L. Fauna and Mock, to match the drama, but kept under the dress simple, pulling out an old pair of pants from The Black Canary, which has been closed for a long while now.

Wading

The other two main pieces of this look are also from Collabor88, which is actually how I came to the combination; shallow reasoning, but fun! The hair is a combination hair from D!va, with the updo part unrigged and the ponytail rigged mesh, combining the best of both worlds - it can be modified to fit a variety of heads, but the pony tail will remain hanging over the shoulder as one moves. It's not immediately obvious in these poses, but if you look closely you'll see how my head is moving while the ponytail remains tethered while still appearing natural. Finally, these amazing boots are from Schadenfreude; I ended up being unable to buy the fatpack at Collabor88, but the creator very kindly allowed me to purchase them directly from her. At the fatpack level, different sections can be recolored to mix and match in amazing ways - leading to these two-tone spats and bright gold buttons. I especially love the texturing and shape around the knees and ankles, where the fabric bunches a bit very naturally; it's that extra bit of verisimilitude which is the mark of a superior creation. The final touch came at the last minute, when a friend and I briefly crossed paths and he passed me a bunch of wands from Curio Obscura, available at the Arcade Gatcha Event. I haven't gotten there yet, but now that I see these awesome wands I'm hoping there's space for me soon!

Hospitality

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: L. Fauna, Red 1
Lipgloss: Mock, Mizu Venetian Red
Hair: D!va, Asami (December Collabor88)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Wand: Curio Obscura, Scepter of Hearts (December Arcade Gatcha Prize)
Shirt: r2, A/D/E Dress "Matsushima" (December Collabor88)
Pants: The Black Canary, He Lurks in Darkness
Boots: Schadenfreude, Winter's Bite Leith Boots (December Collabor88)

Poses: Adorkable Poses (Advent Gift)

Location: Japan Project Garden
Light Settings: Abracadabra2
Water Settings: SNAKE!!

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Saturday, December 8, 2012

Advent Gifts

Frost and Snow

The Advent season is a time of cheer in Second Life, particularly in the hands of generous creators! I have mixed feelings about Advent simply because I'm a forgetful fae and having to do something every day is pretty much designed to trip me up! So far I'm doing pretty well, though; almost everything I'm wearing is an Advent prize I've gotten over the past eight days, though all muddled up and needless to say not available anymore. The dress is from Falln Angel Creations, and is one of the many free things available at the store; there's an advent tree along with additional lucky prizes under the tree nearby and a free gift every time you enter the store as well! The glasses and horns are fun gifts from 22769, one of the more confusingly named stores, but definitely a generous creator. I'm particularly fond of the horns, with their flickering candles giving off light. The cosmetics on my eyes are from Elymode, and there are also outfits in the offing - a picture above the Advent prizes shows ranges of prizes to tempt you. The amazing hair with red and green highlights are from Alice Project, and she's releasing a new hair a day with the special coloring, which is really fun! Finally, the necklace and ring are from Ginza, and I really have loved a lot of the other jewelry releases already, so I'm looking forward to blessings in the days to come.

Pine Trees

SL Blogger Support has a sweet list of Advent Prizes, some of which don't start until the twelve days before Christmas. I don't know o anyone who is actually together enough to show off all of the prizes every day, but personally I identify the stores I really like the products of and then swing around them every day! Other stores I've been going to include Adorkable Poses, Swayland, Hopscotch, and Dark Moon Creations - all of them have really awesome prizes. I meant to use some of the poses, but I utterly forgot until after the pictures were taken (remember what I said about forgetful?). I'm having fun hunting out wintery sims and posing in inappropriate clothing all over them, though! A lot of places have decorated, though I always wonder if it's completely weird for people on the southern half of the planet, where it's summer right now.

Come In For Candy

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Glasses: 22769, X-Mas Glasses - fir green (Advent Prize)
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Holiday Liner and Shadow - gold (Advent Prize)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: L. Fauna, Red 1
Lipgloss: Mock, Mizu Venetian Red
Hair: Alice Project, Hyori Christmas (Advent Prize)
Horns: 22769, X-Mas Aries Horns (Advent Prize)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Necklace: Ginza, Dove necklace (Advent Prize)
Ring: Ginza, Bird ring (Advent Prize)
Dress: Falln Angel Creations, Amrita Gown (Advent Prize)
Shoes: G Field, Slingback Shoes

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Incendia Outdoors
Light Settings: Paulina, Fairy Dark Blue
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Thursday, December 6, 2012

2012 Color Challenge: Week 49 - Cotton Candy

Snow Candy

I love cotton candy - the food, not the color.The candy in my hand, I think a Gatcha prize from Saturnine Dreams, and my awesome Skinthesis wings were both rather closer to the theme than I had originally planned, but I ended up really liking them and I couldn't resist being literal! I actually started with this Gothica dress, which I've had in my inventory for a very long time and haven't had a chance to use before now. It was a perfect color for cotton candy, light and sweet but bright and playful. The flower theme was harder to carry over, though - the necklace is included but no bracelets or hair ornaments - so I ended up supplementing the pink daisies with lilies. The one in my hair is from G Field and is a staple of my inventory. The shoes were the most difficult of all, though; I ended up returning to an old staple from Deviant Designs, these adorable sandals with the lily detailing on the side. They are pre-mesh, but still incredibly well made. Finally, I ended up using a cute pig tail hairstyle from Wasabi Pills, but instead of using her jellyfish color (which was way too bright) I took one of her light white shades and tinted it to match the darkest part of the daisies. I also swapped out my usual relaxed SLink hand for the "bag" hand which looks like it's holding something, so that the stem of my cotton candy didn't fall on the ground while I was gallivanting around. I had impulsively bought the fatpack of her hands, but I'm really glad I have the versatility of them all, even if I usually just use casual! I paired a couple of eyeshadows - one a simple blush on the lid from Mock (adding a matching lip) and the other more theatrical and vivid, a heart from Schadenfreude to round out my look, and I think I look rather snazzy!

On a Bridge

The biggest challenge of the whole shoot, really, was the location and the lighting. I didn't want to overpower the outfit with a really dark location, but I did want to echo the pink of the outfit in the sky and hopefully on the land a little. I used a variety of lights, this time focusing them on one side of the body using grays and pinks. The gray was to take off some of the edge of the pinks - make it a little less obvious that the light was tinted, and to even out the light across the face and try to minimize the awkward and unattractive mesh shadows around the nose and lips. To get a shadow along the nose without catching the slightly off triangles at the sides of the nostrils is a challenge in Second Life due to the flawed mesh o its base avatars; that being said, I will take the customization of the basic mesh avatar over any mesh avatar any time of the day. I really wish Second Life would expand the options for mesh, maybe allowing a way of combining their adjustment system with fresh, better mesh bases. I'm beginning to think we may get there sometime - Second Life is slowly seeming to become more responsive, and so I maintain hope for a meeting point between individualization and style.

Furred Friends

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow 1: Mock, Carnivale Cotton Candy
Eyeshadow 2: Schadenfreude, Cotton Candy
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Mock, Glasside Lip - Carissima
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Megumi
Hairflower: G Field, Hibiscus Hair Clip
Wings: Skinthesis, Cotton Candy Wings
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Food: Saturnine Dreams, Home Spun Cotton Candy
Dress: Gothica, Clove Pink
Shoes: Deviant Designs, Beach Baby

Poses: aDORKable Poses

Location: Izzie's Mainstore
Light Settings: TOR, FOGGY Catastrophe
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Wednesday, December 5, 2012

Crimson Forgiveness

Vases

One of the themes of The Garden is forgiveness - in fact there's an entire cave I stumbled across on my first time around the sim named forgiveness and filled with masks of many types. There are a few items I've always loved and collected - and one of them is masks. In fact, I have an entire "mask wall" as I call it, covered with masks I've bought, masks I've been given, and masks I've made. The prize and pride o that wall is a mask I made based on a casting of my face - something I'll admit I've wanted to do since but not put the time into it. For many, many years, I went every summers beginning to the Friends Conference on Religion and Psychology, starting when I was seventeen. That is a bit young to express interest in Jungian psychology, but my interest was actually much older, sparked by Joseph Campbell and expanded through the years at the Conference. In the mask year, one thing which struck me in the past and still stands out to me is how different my approach to my mask was to the others who made theirs at the same time.

Mine was certainly the darkest and most dramatic - in order to get a black as dark as I wanted, I used the underside of a scarlet and black fabric; paint simply didn't create the smooth richness I wanted for the surface o the mask. Diagonally across the face is a thick band of bangles, and running out from under that is a long veil of iridescent green and black fabric. The mask is topped by feathers, two black and one peacock, and in the middle of the forehead is a gold circle which reflects the light like a mirror. I can't put into words what the mask means to me, how strongly I relate to it's elegant drama, but the fact that it was unique in our group in both darkness and drama remains vivid in my minds eye. It wasn't until I looked at the others' masks, a day in, that I realized how divergent our approaches were, and how much my mask seemed like play while there's were serious, inward-turning reflection. In hindsight, though, I wonder if what I had instead was just different from them - if my drama is levels deep rather than the surface level we often assume drama to be.

Dark Drama

Forgiveness is full of masks: dramatic ones, feline ones, grumpy ones, partial ones, pale ones and dark ones. Center point is a woman holding a bowl, and on the bowl is a book full of words that, well... don't entirely seem to fit, though I read them through carefully. Its all left me thinking about forgiveness and how it plays a role in the game there, though. As a prize for each game successfully played, you can forgive each o the figures of their sin - whatever those sins might be. Oddly, although I adore forgiving their sins, I'm neither a fan of forgiveness, or sins; the former I think is over-emphasized and used to make people feel guilty for protecting themselves from others with more social influence, and the latter I think are used to judge others while giving the self a pass. I like the idea of removing punishments, though - not giving, removing.

A lot of my job is with people with mental illnesses - people who struggle with things most of us take for granted, like recognizing a coherent shared reality, or managing basic tasks individually. Often, their difficulties have led to punishments; not ones meted out from on high, but ones born of ignorance, confusion, or self-hatred. The part of my job I love best is when I can discover one of these punishments feeding on the soul of one of my clients and kill it, or help my client to kill it; there is such joy in a moment of success, in watching a growing ability to navigate in the world both ablely and without evoking suffering in others. The first time one of my clients was able to communicate to me that he was getting tired and needed more help using words instead of beginning to accuse me of delusional things was a day I smiled for several hours straight.

On the other hand, sometimes I have to enforce boundaries and consequences. For example, I have one individual who I will not drive to the store unless that individual has bathed and put on clean clothing, and this often results in me being called a "fucking bitch"; my consequences, as it were. Another I often have to push myself in, convincing this person to do things in my presence which are difficult, even frightening, in the hopes of fending off the consequence of homelessness. I don't know if any of these more difficult situations will ever resolve to my satisfaction; sometimes it seems hopeless and I feel both helpless and evil. I'm not always sure I make the right choices, or even if there are right choices to make depending on the situation. I suppose that is the struggle for myself, a struggle which seems deeper than any forgiveness can ever reach; I have to live with what I do, it is true, but so do those whom I serve.

Cats Eyes

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Coal & Green
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick 1: L. Fauna, Neutral Red
Lipstick 2: Mock, Mizu LipGloss - Russian Red
Hair: Analog Dog, Ging
Coronet: Wishbox, Red Rose Crown
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Jewelry: Earthstones, Bullseye Set - Gold/Emerald
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Dress: Evergreen, Velvet One-Piece Red
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Skully Pumps

Poses: aDORKable Poses

Location: The Garden
Light Settings: Places, Beach Cay
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday, December 3, 2012

LEA 6: Core Sim Grant - Monthly Series

w h o   s t o l e   t h e   s k y by theda tammas

Date: June 2016 - May 2016

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA6/132/73/21

Related Links: 
  • Announcement by LEA


Curated by Secret Rage



Past Events:

TBD by Rem (Litho)

Date: April 2016 - May 2016

  
TBD by Kazuhiro Aridian

Date: April 2016 - May 2016

Related Links: 



Retrospective by Barry Richez

Date: March 2016
Related Links: 

Stranger Things are Happening by Krystali Rabeni
Date: January 2016
Related Links: 

When Life Gives you Apples...Run by Rebeca Bashly
Date: March 2015
Related Links: 


Speculum by Giovanna Cerise
Date: February 2015
Related Links: 

Lives of the Monster Dogs by Vilvi Rae
Date: January 2015
Related Links:

2Lei No Violence by 2Lei Resident and Lorys Lane
Date: November 2014
Related Links:

Follow Your Soul by Eliza Cabbasoun
Dates: September - October 2014
Related Links:

'Spirit Within' by Lagu Indigo and Stardove Spirit
Dates: August 2014
Related Links: 

State of Mind II by Miso Susanowa
Dates: July 2014
Related Links:

A Maze in Grace by Krystali Rabeni's
Dates: June 2014
Related Links:

Cyber Orthodox by Igor Ballyhoo
Dates: May 2014
Related Links: 

Americana Retread by michaelromani and beawildered
Dates: April 2014
Related Links:


CINEMA! Take II by Mary Wickentower
Dates: March 2014
Related Links:
  • Review by University of Western Australia

California Giant Redwood Forest by Sea Mizin
Dates: February 2014
Related Links: 
  • Review by Kara Trapdoor
  • Review by University of Western Australia

Fractal Cathedral by Gem Priez
Dates: January 2014
Related Links: 


Fisicofollia by Giovanna Cerise
Dates: December 2013
Related Links: 
  • Review by the University of Western Australia
  • Review by Ziki Questi
  • Review by Living in the Modemworld
  • Review by Virtual Outworlding

The Machine by Lilia Artis and Moeuhane Sandalwood
Dates: November 2013
Related Links:

Colour Key by Rebeca Bashly
Dates: October, 2013
Related Links:

SEPT 2013: Secret Rage, 'Connected by Commonalities'
Dates: September 2013
Related Links:


AUG 2013: SerenVide, 'Hope Springs'
Dates: August 2013
Related Links:


JULY 2013: Nino Vichan, 'Musical Tonalities & Colour'
Dates: July 2013
Related Links:


JUNE 2013: Kalanglarik 'Tomorrow'
Dates: June 2013
Related Links:


MAY 2013: Katy Isodo, 'Mentality'
Dates: May 2013
Related Links:


APRIL 2013: Krystali Rabeni, 'Virtually Real'
Dates: April 2013
Related Links:


MARCH 2013: Fuschia Nightfire, 'Fuschia's Fantasy Fairyland'
Dates: March 2013
Related Links:


FEB 2013: Nexuno Thespian ''Dr Moreau: Seaworld'
Dates: .
Related Links: .


JAN 2013: Barry Richez, 'Dreams in Space'
Dates: January 2013
Related Links:


The Tower: Created by Rebeca Bashly, it was a quickly put up build (it opened December 2) and is symbolic of  restrictive areas, of closed minds, of self limitations and the like with a fabled, fairytale air.
Dates: December 2012
Related Links: 

NOV 2012: London Junkers, 'Project Guernica'
Dates: November 2012
Related Links:

OCT 2012: Solkide Auer, 'Architectonic Build'
Dates: October 2012
Related Links:


SEPT 2012: Mary Wickentower, 'Cinema!'
Dates: September 2012
Related Links:


AUG 2012: Cajska Carlsson 'Whispers in Code'
Dates: August 2012
Related Links:


JULY 2012: Lolito Larkham, 'Walter's Dream'
Dates: July 2012
Related Links:


JUNE 2012: David Denton (DB Bailey: SL), 'In A Tizzy'
Dates: June 2012
Related Links:


MAY 2012: Fae Varriale, 'Mirror Worlds'
Dates: May 2012
Related Links:


APR 2012: Athena Bedrosian, 'Mulligatawny Light -- A Journey'
Dates: April 2012
Related Links:


MAR 2012: Kicca Igaly and Nessuno Myoo, 'The Labyrinth of Absurdity'
Dates: March 2012
Related Links:


FEB 2012: Romy Nayar & Ux Hax, 'An Interactive History of Life'
Dates: February 2012
Related Links:


JAN 2012: Artistide Despres, 'Where I found my Ivory Tower Surrounded by a Huxleyan World, Which Turned out to be an Orwellian World'
Dates: January 2012
Related Links:


DEC 2011: Haveit Neox's 'Second Libations'
Dates: December 2011
Related Links:


NOV 2011: Tyrehl Byk's "Catharsis" & quadrapop Lane's 'Retrospective'
Dates: November 2011
Related Links:


OCT 2011: Rebeca Bashly's 'Inferno', inspired by Dante Aligieri's Divine Comedy, Inferno
Dates: October 2011
Related Links:

LEA 5: Art Sandbox

Two hour auto-return on your ART! Join the LEA Art Sandbox group for scripts and events announcements.

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA5/122/129/24


LEA 4: Core Sim Grant

Spilling JueL Tones: Created by Suzen JueL Resistance

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA4/68/187/23

Dates: February 2017

Related Links:
  • Announcement by LEA


Past Events:

Farm to Table - Sustaining Mind, Spirit, & Body: Created by The Steele Family

In our world of modern living, where we rush from thing to thing, pay little attention to what we watch, read or consume, the farm to table project has become more and more vital. Being well isn't just about a mindstate - its a lifestyle.

Dates: August 2016

Related Links:
  • Announcement by LEA


St Isabella Island, USA: Created by Indea Vaher
Dates: August 2015


SEASONS OF LIFE: Created by Johannes1977
Dates: August 2015


Giant Snail Fan Art: Created by The Giant Snails of Second Life
Dates: February 2015 to
Related Links:







LEA 3: Welcome Sim

The Linden Endowment for the Arts (LEA) was established to help create a center of arts activity in Second Life. It is a collaborative venture between Linden Lab and the arts community.

More info: http://www.lea-sl.org

Location: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/LEA3/31/80/21

Currently this holds a giant map of the sims and teleports to different sims along with information.

Sunday, December 2, 2012

Contrasting Art Hunt

Contrasting Hunt ItemDetails on this hunt are a little sketchy, but you're looking for a scultped red moon at various art galleries. I couldn't find a blog, nor are there hints anywhere I could find, but it's a very short hunt and so a bit of an aparitif if you are of the hunting bent but don't have a lot of time (or desperately need something you can actually complete!). I found nine different stops with one stop (confusingly) giving a landmark to the next two.

This hunt began November 25, 2012 and ends December 25, 2012, so you have plenty of time.

Contrasting 1-6

1) The Cube Art Gallery - rotating, texture moving sculpture
3) Soulmate Studio - V in Lilypads by Dax Saffron (no copy/trans)
4) Melbeau Art Gallery - Red Poppy (no copy/trans)
5) 2SPS Gallery - Turtles&Sun
6) WU Gallery - Cubist Guitar (sculpture)

Contrasting 7-10

7) Gem's Art Gallery - Gem Preiz - Fractal Treasures (no copy/trans)
8) The ArtZone Gallery - Chakryn Forest II by Alyx Aerallo
9) The House of QXI Erotic Art - Who's Been Naughty (no copy/trans)
10) Panorama Gallery - Alien Sky (full)

2012 Color Challenge: Week 48 - Tangelo

Nested in the Rocks

I'm late for Tangelo, very late, but in my defense it has been a Hel of a week! It seems like once a year there's always a week where I feel a dollar late and a dime short in any possible, and that was this week. I squeaked in under some doors, but this one I ended up crashing through and ending up on a heap of tangerine on the floor, cursing the lack of tangelo in my inventory. I only found it in my hair from Analog Dog - and I'll be honest, I had no idea it was there. I searched, as always, for a word (this time the tang beginning, as I assumed I would have no tangelo) and found mostly hairs, and mostly tangerine. I had some tangerine shoes, but there was not a tangerine dress or outfit in my entire inventory! It blew me away, I had no idea I had such gaps in what I've grown of thinking of as a pit of everything on the grid.

Rose River

This picture set also feels very off-balanced, off season, of in every way, We're out of harvest season now, a long way from holidays of pumpkins, but the brightness of Rabbit Kiss' orange seemed to fit the over-the-top orange that was characterized by tangelo. I ended up muting it quite a bit in the background, though, so I'm not sure the over-the-topness really carries across; there's a failure there, I feel. I lighted this one a bit unusually, though, using two colors. On one side of me, the facelight tint is a rich red color. On the other side, it is yellow. If you look closely at the highlights and shadows on my face, in particular, you can see the combined effect - but it's relatively subtle. One of the reasons I love using in world lighting instead of adding lighting after the fact is because you can play with color with it; I need to remember to do bisected colors more often!

Dramatic Bridge Dancer

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow 1: Elymode, Solstice Moon
Eyeshadow 2: Virtual Insanity, Spring - Tangerine
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Mock, Lucir Lipcolor Tangerine
Hair: Analog God, ffwd - tangelo
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Dress: Rabbit Kiss, 2012 Halloween Lolita
Shoes: Eclectica, Garden Party - tangerine

Poses: !bang

Location: *Tatty Soup*
Light Settings: Places, Beach Cay
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Saturday, December 1, 2012

This is Not what you Think it Is

Modern

It is always amazing to be able to insinuate oneself into other peoples' visions - something which is most easily done in a virtual world where that art can be expanded bigger than an avatar. Gracie Kendal's Ce n'est pas une peinture at Linden Endowment for the Arts Sim 15 is an example of this with more brilliance than most - she literally transported her offline art into digital format and then bent and curved it, making it move all over an entire sim. You can fly through it, but I have to admit I found that distinctly overwhelming; Kendal's offline art is brightly colored and modern in style, and experiencing it all mixing and mingling in three dimensions was too much for me to try to capture in two - though I highly recommend you go for a flight. I found it much manageable where art meets water - or rather where art meets its own reflection.

I loved the combination of the clarity of these reflections, my own form, and my reflection was a lot of fun - I think it hints at the three dimensions without making them overwhelming.Adding in light sources from windlight and you could gain some amazing effects - like the spotlight above which I found by accident then struggled to immortalize in a picture. The blown out effect of any light source is something I find particularly pleasing, and to be able to bring it into Second Life always gives me little shivers of joy. Now and then I was also able to find ways to take advantage of the effect when the objects hit their own reflections - they were layered forward and back in three dimensions, so like a kaleidoscope where the objects hit the mirror at different places for different effects, the art simply seems to burst off of the screen.

Spotlight

I had originally thought to put myself together in shades of black, something simple and severe to stand out from the riotous shades, but then I couldn't get into the sim! Fearing the worst, I ended up contacting the illustrious artist and it turned out there had been a technical snafu; by then I had put back on my blush outfit from the recent Single Frame Story. Surprisingly, I really liked the effect against the colors - the slightly more neutral blush shades sometimes seem to fade into the background, other times to stand out distinctly, and with one windlight I tried I actually almost vanished into a peach and blush dream world.

The outfit is made up of combinations of many items, based on the Rosal corset and boots which I have absolutely fallen in love with. They are tintable and have several textures besides, making them hugely adaptable. The shirt is a very old purchase from G Field which I paired with a recent purchase from G Field in the form of her mesh shorts. I topped it off with a braid from elikatira which I fell in love with ages ago but only put on now. I crowned that with a gorgeous new group gift from World's End Garden to celebrate the newest remake of that amazing sim, a lovely band of flowers or around the brow. All in all, although it was a difficult look to accomplish, I was enormously pleased with the result!

Reflections Balanced

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Elymode, Solstice - Moon
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Mock, Bella Vetro Gloss - Guardsman Red
Hair: elikatira, Wherever - Blonde 10
Coronet: Worlds End Garden, Le jardin de la fille hair wreath (group gift)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Jewelry: League, Pearls & Lace
Shirt: G Field, Floral Halter Top - peach
Corset: Rosal, Unmei Mesh Corset
Shorts: G Field, Frill Shorts - salmon
Boots: Rosal, Unmei Thigh Platform Boots

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Ce n'est pas une peinture
Light Settings: Various
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Friday, November 30, 2012

Complementary Knight

Leap

I love knowing what goes on beyond things, behind things, where no one sees. I love the details in the tapestries of our lives, just to know - I rarely feel inclined to pass on what I discover, I just like to discover it. I love the stories of people, the little details which make up a coherent perspective. I spend hours watching Inside the Actor's Studio and listening to director commentaries, and when I return to the movies and television shows in question they are richer and have more depth because of my knowledge about all of the weave behind the polished surface of the screen.

Earlier on the radio, I listened to someone wax lyrical on how we could never know the self, that we schlep ourselves around mistaking our shoes and clothes and jobs for who we are. Earlier, another person decried irony, claimed it withered the soul and denied connection, claimed sincerity and integrity was fading and only found in the "suffering" class who don't have the time or energy for humor. There is a profound disconnect between me and them, and the shape of it is odd but it weighs on my mind. I love the things I own, to some extent, both for their intrinsic value as beautiful, functional objects and often also for what they represent, be that an idea, a relationship, or even a means to pleasure, however I don't see myself in them except so far as what I value reflected in where I put my money. I adore irony and owuld be grieved to lose it from my reading; two of my favorite authors are Jane Austen and Oscar Wilde, both known for their deep, moving, and penetrating irony which reveals far more than it conceals.

Ominous Glow

My favorite Austen is Pride and Prejudice, the first I read, but my second favorite is the far less mentioned Northanger Abbey, which was a satire both of the sorts of horror romances which were popular at the time and of cultural tropes of femininity, maturation, and courtship. One of my favorite lines comes at the end, when the drama has all been explained and when the lovers are finally united: "I leave it to be settled, by whomsoever it may concern, whether the tendency of this work be altogether to recommend parental tyranny, or reward filial disobedience." This is characteristic of Austen's sweeping ironic statements and the delicate way she crafted even relatively shallow works like Northanger Abbey - there are always deeper considerations to the ethics and morality underpinning her own work, which is part of the satire itself. It could easily be argued that the pause before Catherine and Mr. Tilney (by far my favorite Austen groom) are finally wed was valuable in slowing their headstrong fling into marriage based on only a couple months' acquaintanceship even though the cause was pure calculation on the part of his father, but it is also not to be denied that the final happiness requires Tilney to defy his father without reservation; both things are true within this story, but usually not to be encouraged in wider society, and hence the irony of the book.

My favorite Wilde is An Ideal Husband, largely for the character of Lord Goring and his ironic courtship of Mabel Chiltern (which I always felt should be played more archly and less poutily than the 1999 movie). Here is an example of two layers of irony - Goring does use ironic statements within the play in order to keep both his father and Mabel at a distance, in a manner which reflects the style of detachment and cleverness which was expected during that era. It is an arch and trivial play about an arch and trivial man where the moments of sincerity are all the stronger because their setting is so sly and reserved. The entire focus is on appearance as opposed to substance, even while the proclaimed substantive pair have the clay feet which drive the action - while Goring is central to the action, his own story is sidelined for that of the friends he admires and wants to help. My favorite lines and the ones I think sum up the serious implications of this charmingly trivial play are spoken by Mabel, my second favorite character: "An ideal husband! Oh, I don't think I should like that. It sounds like something in the next world... He can be what he chooses."

Rib Shot

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De la Soul, Aestali - Cream Rose
Eyes: De La Soul, RooMee Eyes - Rainbow
Eyelashes: SLink, Eyelashes
Eyeshadow: Boom, Eye Paint - watermelon
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Lipstick: Schadefreude, Sealed With a Kiss
Hair: Alice Project, Demonia
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Outfit: Curious Kitties, Tragic Springtime (The Perfect Fit Gift)

Poses: eXpression

Location: Split Screen: Danse Macabre (through December)
Light Settings: Places
Water Settings: Mirror Water

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday, November 26, 2012

Madpea Hunt: Property of the Princess

FInal Gate

A sorcerer, dark in spirit and craft, happened upon the Princess Enid in the forest one day. So besotted was he by her beauty and compassion he sought to keep her by his side always. To this end, one night while she slept, he crept into her bed chamber and plucked 15 hairs from her head. With each strand he pulled, he captured one of Enid's memories of her life before she met him. When Enid awoke, she found herself in a beautiful garden. She had no memory that this was not her home and when she saw the sorcerer, she had no memory that he had stolen her away in the night.

Every morning he comes to visit Enid and every evening he leaves, after spending the day basking in the glow of her kindness and love. Each evening when he leaves, he carefully replaces the lock on the garden gate. An enchanted lock he has fashioned from the strands of hair he plucked from Enid's head. A lock that has braided her lost memories together and makes it impossible for her to ever remember who she is or who might be missing her. As long as she never finds her lost memories, Enid will stay in the secret garden, locked away from her kingdom. Unable to free them from the frost that has settled over the land in her absence.

Help Princess Enid to find her memories! (MadPea Information)

This hunt object is very tiny - almost like a gleaming of light with an aura than anything easier to find, so you really need to pay attention to the clues to find them! The MadPea facebook is also helpfully giving pictures of different places where the memory is found, which I found really helped. I also recommend taking it slowly, reading the clues in their entirity, and stopping when you start fantasizing about violence. ;)

MadPea Hunt: Fallen Gods PrizeMadPea Hunt: Fallen Gods Prize
MadPea Hunt: Fallen Gods PrizeMadPea Hunt: Fallen Gods PrizeMadPea Hunt: Fallen Gods Prize
Tattoo - Frozen Yin Yang - and three eyes

1) Fallen Gods - There isn't a fireplace, but there is other things from the clue and they're key!
.: I loved my uncle. He was Father´s younger brother, very handsome, and never treated me like a child or told me I couldn´t do things because I was a princess. Mother called him the Black Sheep. I´m not sure why, maybe it was his black hair which he always so patiently let me braid. We would sit in front of the fire and I would braid his hair and he would tell me fantastic tales about his voyages across the sea.

.: Once he brought me back a special gift. Something I had never seen before. It was a box that played music. After I examined it, he took it from my hands and sat it on a table next to us. He opened it and the most beautiful haunting melody drifted through the room. The fire was dancing in the hearth casting shadows across the room as he bowed to me and offered his hand.

.: "M´lady," he said, his voice soft but strong, "may I dare hope you could honor this poor rogue with a dance?" I giggled, but immediately recaptured my reserve and replied with equal seriousness, "My dashing Captain, you have traveled far through many perilous adventures. It would be my greatest pleasure to dance with you."

.: And slipping my hand into his he swirled me around the room, our shadows dancing with the flames against the wall in a much exaggerated fury of movement that no ballroom had ever seen. When the music finally stopped we collapsed on the floor in a pile of laughter. Search for the memory @ Selidor

MadPea Hunt: The Looking Glass Prize
Wearable, flying Pennyfarthing (not resizable)

2) The Looking Glass - Your destination is far, but the clue tells you what to look for.
.: My knees crumbled out from underneath me and I fell in a heap rolling down the hill. At the bottom I came up with a nose full of toadstool. Turning over on my back I took a deep breath and mentally checked to make sure I was alright. No burning pains. That was good. I saw the sun flickering through the leaves over my head and took a deep breath catching the fresh scent of forest floor. Mother was not going to be happy. She hated that I insisted on going outside the palace gates and running through the forest.

.: "A proper princess never runs," Mother said. Getting up I shook my head banishing the thought of Mother´s disapproval from my mind. I was late. James would be here any moment and he had sent me ahead to make sure everything was ready. I patted my pocket and froze! Oh no, I had lost it. James was going to kill me. I got down and started searching through the leaves to find the bottle, it must have fallen out when I rolled down the hill. Finding it a few feet from where I had landed I was relieved to see it hadn't broken.

.: I placed the bottle on the stone table and dusted off the extra leaves my fall had thrown up. Everything looked perfect. The wine from the fairies was the final touch. I so hoped Emily would say yes, it would be wonderful to have a sister. James could be such a toad some times but if he married Emily then maybe all those years of his teasing would have been worth it. As I heard footsteps approaching over the bridge I slipped behind the trees and crossed my fingers. James hadn't actually told me not to eavesdrop so I didn't figure it was wrong to stay. Search for the memory @ Horizon Dream

MadPea Hunt: Trident Prize
Three Frozen Mistletoe Arches

3) Trident -This one made me almost quit. With two people trying to give me extra hints, I still couldn't find it because there is barely anything of the hint in its final resting places, and about a half dozen places it could be given the hint. Look at the facebook picture, forget the blocks of ice even though they're mentioned, stick to the outdoors, and ask for help even if people yell at you that its a hunt and the given hints should be enough. 

.: The autumn of my 13th year I was very ill. I lay in bed with a fever for days completely unaware of where I was or that time was passing. As my fever continued to rage I had the strangest dreams of a land of ice and snow, where white bears talked and the Queen lived in a palace made of crystal with penguin guards. Blue pixies worked all day cutting out snowflakes and stuffing them in silken sacks that Frost giants would pick up every evening to scatter across the land so every morning, fresh snow would meet the light of the rising sun and twinkle like a million diamonds.

.: When my fever finally broke and I came back from my dreams, it was with some small regret for I had never seen snow in real life and I was sad to leave my beautiful white kingdom; however, the first thing I saw out my window were trees covered with snow. I thought I was still dreaming until I saw Mother was there by my bed smiling and I knew I was awake.

.: Seeing the quizzical look on my face she leaned down and pressed a kiss to my now cool forehead and explained it was not real snow, but a covering of chipped ice left over from the huge blocks Father´s knights had hauled down from the mountains to help keep me and the many other children who had taken ill keep cool in our fevered states. I nodded and slipped back into sleep. I had snow trees and Mother and I was happy in my dreams. Search for the memory @ Nordmaar

MadPea Hunt: Vengeful Threads PrizeMadPea Hunt: Vengeful Threads Prize
Bikini and Corset-dress; Men's Outfit (not shown)

4) Vengeful Threads - This is another "look for the thing in the hint and it's pretty easy."
.: I learned to swim in the fish pond in the palace gardens. I wasn't actually intending to learn to swim when it happened. James as always was the exceedingly helpful older brother. It was one of the rare times that James and I were alone with no tutors or servants or friends in tow. Mother had sent us out to gather some flowers for an arrangement she was making and as usual we got sidetracked and instead were wading in the lily pads trying to catch a frog. We could hear what sounded like a whole chorus of frogs but couldn't actually see a single one.

.: We had kicked off our shoes and were wading in the tall grass trying to get a better view on our prey when James saw a log floating out just beyond the reeds. He told me to wait and he would swim out to it because sometimes frogs liked to sun themselves on old logs. I wanted to see too but couldn't swim so just jumped back and forth along the shore as James went out to the log and looked. He got it and pushed it back into shore. No frogs but he said that if I wanted he would take me out for a ride. I should have been suspicious. I climbed onto the log, one leg on either side dangling down into the water.

.: The day was hot and the flies were buzzing lazily through the lily pads as we pushed through the vegetation and out into the open water of the pond. I laid back on the log closing my eyes and enjoying the coolness of the water against my skin. Suddenly I felt a weight on my chest and opening my eyes was face to face with the biggest grandfather frog I had ever seen!

.: I screamed and rolled one way. The frog leaped the opposite way and suddenly I was in the water, unsure which way was up kicking and flailing until my head broke the surface of the water and I grasped at the log. And heard James laughing. Search for the memory @ Vengeful Threads

MadPea Hunt: Whatz PrizeMadPea Hunt: Whatz Prize
NPCs, Two Talking One Silent

5) Whatz - The item is at landing point level and in the named store.
.: Deep in the forest there were a set of stone ruins we liked to explore. We made it our castle and would stage elaborate battles to protect the court from advancing barbarians. We spent a lot of time clearing away leaves and brush until we had exposed a space almost as large as the palace banquet room.

.: Sometimes instead of battles, which the boys preferred, we would pretend to have great feasts with jugglers and dancing dogs, finding fun in imitating the acts of the adults with all their pomp and protocol. Our castle even had a stone faced old ruler who watched over our play and to whom we pledged our allegiance. Anyone divulging the location of our secret kingdom would be forever banished, luckily that punishment never had to be enforced. Find the memory @ Thentis

MadPea Hunt: Quixote's Dream PrizeMadPea Hunt: Quixote's Dream Prize
Twice-As-Big Avatar and Outfit (Male and Female included)
Comes with cosmetics HUD, skin tinter, etc...

6) Quixote's Dream - The Facebook Picture isn't accurate, but it's there so don't lose hope!
.: There is no better place for overhearing gossip then a comfy seat underneath the stairs. I had my own favorite spot for finding out what was going on when no one wanted me to know. Leaning back against one of the columns I would slide down it, pressing my back into the cool marble. Out of sight I would listen as people came and went down the corridor or up and down the stairs.

.: It´s how I found out that the man who used to visit Portant was no longer welcome in the palace. I heard Uncle tell Father he had seen Valko in a tavern in one of the cities by the sea. Not knowing who Uncle was he had talked freely of using dark magics to gain a certain petal that he desired. I didn't know why that was so upsetting but Father become very agitated as they walked out of hearing range. Find the memory @ Muskeg

MadPea Hunt: Sucreries De Fairy Prize
Frozen Garden and Gazebo

7) Les Sucreries de Fairy - A lot easier than expected; close to landing point.
.: We were allowed free reign of the palace and the grounds even into the town and reluctantly the forest against Mother´s wishes, but the one place Father forbade us to go was into the caves. He told us that they were a labyrinth where we could easily get lost and roam for days. Of course this just made the caves that much more intriguing and a place to be defiantly explored. I knew a secret for exploring safely and since I wasn't suppose to be in the caves, it was the perfect place to escape to without fear of being found.

.: I would tie the end of a ball of string to a rock just outside the cave and then unroll it as I followed one cave into another. It worked perfectly until my string broke without me realizing it. I was lost in the cave for 10 hours before they found me. Father´s best bloodhound tracked me down. I was never so happy to see Burton as that moment. Father was close behind and swooped my up in a bear hug. He wasn't even mad just so happy I was safe. I think it was the only time Mother wasn't mad at me either, well at least not immediately. Find the memory @ Sunfield

MadPea Hunt: An Lema Prize
Water Temple (very large)

8) Am Lema - In the store, near the landing point (and you can't get to the third staircase anyway).
.: I was so excited when I was old enough to go to my first ball. As I made my entrance down the grand staircase, a smile flickered across my lips for all the times I had defied Mother and stayed up well past when she thought I was in bed watching the dancers swirl and turn across the ballroom floor like flower petals caught on the wind. Tonight I would be one of those petals, and I would float so high it would make me dizzy.

.: Lost in a daydream I stumbled at the bottom of the stairs and almost fell. The night would have ended before it began if not for my gallant rescue by Thomas, who caught me in his arms and then held me there all evening long. Find the memory @ Alqualonde the Swanhaven

MadPea Hunt: Roawenwood Prize
Harp, with Poses

9) Roawenwood - Near the landing point, despite the size of the store.
.: Mother and Father had very different views on how to raise their children. Mother emphasized all the royal duties and always wanted us on our best behavior, but Father believed that the most important thing was to be comfortable with the people we might someday be asked to lead. As such, he encouraged James and I to run and play with the other children. We could go anywhere and you would often find us hanging from trees in the forest or galloping through the middle of the town on the way to make believe battles to save the kingdom.

.: Sometimes we would climb to the very top of the palace and take turns daring each other to walk the roof ridge between one tower and the next. Father also loved knowing James and I were productive members of the palace community. One of my favorite activities was helping with the harvest. It was long days of hard work out under the sun but I didn´t mind. Getting hot and sweaty just enhanced the pleasure of our afternoon swims. And no food tasted better then that served at the end of the day when we knew that we had helped gather it.

.: At the end of the harvest there would always be a huge celebration for everyone with tables laden full of food and beverages. The first wine I ever had was at one of the harvest celebrations and knowing I had helped collect the grapes for it made the taste even sweeter. Find the memory @ Five Blades

MadPea Hunt: Whimsy Prize
Ice Hat

10) Whimsy - Look for the store
.: Cook said lavender helps to make you sleep so she sent us out to the field to fill our baskets with lavender flowers for her to dry to use for tea on nights Father couldn't sleep. I loved this chore because the lavender was always so fragrant when we cut it. The aroma lingering in the air and sink down onto us as we lay down in the field with the sun warming our faces.

.: Laying enveloped in warmth and scent I always felt like a feather carried aloft on the wind, floating toward the clouds drifting through the sky. I believe Cook was right about the effects of lavender. I always had the sweetest dreams laying in that field. Find the memory @ Agriopis

MadPea Hunt: Dragon Magick Warez Prize
MadPea Hunt: Dragon Magick Warez PrizeMadPea Hunt: Dragon Magick Warez Prize
Two Level Tower

11) Dragon Magick Wares - Look for the store
.: I had tutors for dancing and needlepoint from Mother and for Latin and archery from Father but my favorite class was with Portant, a tutor Granny arranged to school us in different mystical practices. She said science was all well and good, but it never hurt to know how to turn lead to gold, the art of reading tea leaves, or how to commune with the spirit world. I never did learn how to turn lead to gold and my tea leaves often talked about my effect on the weather, which made no sense, but still I loved my weekly visits to Portant´s chambers in the northeast tower.

.: His rooms here full of books and exotic ingredients for his potions like eels´ teeth and goblin spit. I had seen Portant talk with Uncle many times after Uncle returned from a long sea voyage. They would exchange little bags of which I would only image what the contents were. There was another man who visited Portant as well. His name was Valko and apparently they had apprenticed together when they were younger. Once I overheard them arguing, Valko said that Portant was teaching parlor games to children when he could be manipulating the destiny of a kingdom. I never saw him after that. Find the memory @ New Kadath

MadPea Hunt: Forest Feast Prize
Floating Island with Large and Petite Swings

12) forest feast - Extremely far from the landing point; there are maps with teleport points which can help give you a direction (think fairies) so you don't end up in the cafe, the music building, and underwater like me.

.: I raced down the stairs from Portant´s chambers. I finally had it! I couldn't wait for tonight. Impatiently I waited through dinner until I could slip away and set up outside in the garden. It was a full moon tonight. Perfect for attracting fairies. I had found the fairy ring three nights before and that was when I absolutely knew I had to have the blue fire.

.: I had begged Portant for days to show me how to do it and today he had. I knew the full moon would bring the fairies out to dance. I also knew that with the blue fire burning they would be so mesmerized that maybe I would be able to get close enough to see them. I was determined as I waited for the moon to rise and start the blue flame fire in the center of the fairy ring. Granny was right. Alchemy was a great thing to learn! Find the memory @ feast

MadPea Hunt: Boudoir Prize
Frosted Antlers

13) Boudoir - Don't spend time looking for attics or chests.
.: It was a rainy day so James and I decided to explore the attic. We were going to a section over the east wing of the house that I had never been to before. James said he had something to show me and that I would never believe it unless I saw it. I of course was intrigued but skeptical because James was not always completely honest. However I was bored and tired of practicing my needlepoint which was what Mother thought rainy afternoons were made for, so we set out on an adventure.

.: Climbing the steps to the attic, James was unusually quiet. I wondered what he could have found that made him so thoughtful. Finally he started to talk. He said he had overhead Uncle talking to Portant about Aunt Marina. Something about a potion to stop dreams. James got curious. Why should Uncle want to stop his wife from dreaming. He started to actively investigate our Aunt. Uncle had brought her back on one of his voyages. Mother was appalled that they were married but Father had been happy that his brother might settle down.

.: I remembered all this and I liked Aunt Marina very well. She was kind and very beautiful but sometimes she seemed sad and I would find her staring at nothing with a far off look in her eye. James said he found out that Uncle had hidden something belonging to Marina in the attic, so he started looking for it. By this time we were standing in the middle of a large collections of trunks. James walked over to one of the largest and pulled a skeleton key out of his pocket. Opening the trunk he pointed. I peered in and stared.

.: At first I didn't know what I was looking at, it looked like a fish, but only the tail part. I looked at James and he slowly started to nod his head. Gravely he said, "Aunt Marina is a mermaid. This is her tail. As long as Uncle keeps it hidden she can´t go home." I looked at the tail again, reaching out to touch it. And that´s when James dropped the lid and started to laugh. He is such an idiot. Find the memory @ Boudoir

MadPea Hunt: Star Kindler Prize
Mask (Multiple Sizes)

14) Star Kindler Designs - Trees are the keys.
.: Growing up in the commotion of the palace was sometimes overwhelming. All I wanted was a quiet place to escape and read or draw without Mother, tutors, servants, James or even my friends watching me and correcting every in unladylike thing I did or said. As often seemed to be the case, my rescue came from nature. I was walking near the back wall of the palace gardens when a nut fell on my head. I looked up half expecting to see James somewhere throwing things at me only to find that it wasn't my brother but a very insistent squirrel. The squirrel was running back and forth along the top of the wall and then down the wall where it disappeared behind an overgrowth of ivy.

.: As I watched the squirrel reappeared at the top of the wall form the other side only to repeat the whole procedure again and then a third time. Walking over to the wall I pulled the ivy away and found a crack in the wall, quite large enough for me to slip through. I was ecstatic! Here was a way to slip out of the palace grounds without anyone finding out. Mother would think I was safely in the gardens and I could be miles away.

.: I slipped through the crack and on the other side was the most inviting tree. I had a huge trunk with a indent at the base that was perfectly positioned for sitting back against. And low branches that allowed for climbing and cradling. I was so happy with my tree that I never did slip out and run miles away. Whenever I needed peace I would just sit cradled in the boughs of my grandfather tree looking over the wall into the garden but still feeling a million miles away from all the responsibilities of being a princess. Find the memory @ Caledon Brigadoon

MadPea Hunt: MOSP Prize
MadPea Hunt: MOSP PrizeMadPea Hunt: MOSP Prize
Garden Pieces and House

15) Machinima Open Studio Project - You get a HUD at the landing point, and it comes in handy; don't worry about kittens, though.

 .: There was a gypsy caravan that at least once a year would take up residence on the palace grounds for a few days as they travelled across the kingdom. The life of a gypsy seemed very adventureous to me. Sleeping under the stars and seeing the four corners of the kingdom. It was always a curiosity when the caravan sent up camp and all the palace children would take to spying on the gypsies from the top towers where we had the best view. Though it was fine to spy from afar, we never actually ventured into the camp until the day James dared me to. I laughed and told him I´d do more then just skulk around the borders of the camp. I would march right in and visit one of their wagons.

.: He scoffed and walked away. I had no idea how I was going to accomplish this boast however I believed something would present itself. Later as I was going to find my Father I saw a young girl sitting outside the Throne Room playing with a kitten. I didn't recognize her but when she saw me she beckoned me over and smiled at me holding out her kitten for me to pet. As we talked I found out that she was the daughter of the Gypsy King who had come to talk to my father.

.: When her father appeared, she asked me if I wanted a kitten. Thus I entered into the Gypsy camp at the side of their king. Oh how I hoped James could see me from the palace tower. Isabella showed me her very own wagon and gave me a tiny white kitten with the bluest eyes I had ever seen. As we talked about all she had seen in her travels, the kittens curled up together and napped on her pillow. Find the memory @ LEA20