Going Medieval

Moving Winterfell Harbor across the bay means my nearest neighbor is Max Graf, owner and designer extraordinaire of Rustica.  Being next door means I can hang out - literally.  Has everyone followed the hidden tunnels in the Rustica castle to end up hanging out over the mountain rocks below?  I know I loved this when I was a young Victorian librarian back in the day.

 

Max has been working on these awesome doublet shirts in mesh.  After hours of working on perfect mesh shirts - he finished the doublets! He dropped me a copy of the chain maille shirt since I needed the protection in case of being attacked by pirates.  More likely, knowing me and my terraforming abilities, I was probably going to be buried under boulders.

 

The chain maille version is well worn with dirt and rusty spots.  There are 3 versions of the armor bracers (those things that look like long shirt cuffs) I grabbed the leather ones since I could haul the wheelbarrows of dirt around easier than in iron or steel bracers.  The doublets for ladies and guys under the bitch and bastard labels are available this month at the We Love Role-Play shopping event.

Now I had an excuse - like I needed a reason to shop, I went to my new favorite monthly shopping place - We Love Role-Play.  The doublets are there in one of the market pavilions. More mesh goodies are everywhere for the medieval ladies, knights, elven, mermaid folks.  It's grand to have a one-stop place to see what is being designed for the role-play groups and those like myself who just like to dress up in another century.  Honestly, many of those long gowns and short tunics will look just fine for contemporary fashions.

I picked up the Muses new Penghel Armor sets at We Love Role-Play in brown and bone.  Realized I needed a more gray set, so took off for the Muses main store. Check out the other variations available on their blog  Of course, just in case of invaders, I couldn't resist arming myself.  Now I have a Primus Granium bow with arrows.  Now if I can figure out the firing system...hmmm...there are now a bunch of blue arrows buried in the sands of the Harbor.  Maybe I'll just stick to my cannons since it looks like Max is arming his WIP ships.

~ Outfit

Doublet - bitch @ We Love Role-Play - Chaine Maille Sleeved Doublet and Armor braces - leather
Pants and Boots - the Muses - Penghel Armor - Grey
Hair - Slink - Constance sorrel
Skin - Izzie Irene natural
Hands - Slink - Casual
Weapon - Primus Grumium Bow- available at We Love Role-Play
Sim - Rustica

Winterfell Harbor Gloaming

Winterfell Harbor Stone Guardian

Winterfell Harbor at sunset was calm and quiet in the darkening skies.  Waves were stirred by the winds in overhead.  It had been a odd week.  Rumbles under the harbor's seas had brought old stone ruins pushed up from the sea floor -  debris of storms long past.  Instead of the usual kelp and seaweed floating past, you could peek down and see a blue glow coming from plants no human eye had ever seen.  When I snagged one with a fishing line, it sparkled in the sunlight.  What was going on? Doors were opening and slamming on their own at night.  Even this morning, I tried to step thru the library door and was blocked from moving.  I reached out and touched....felt like a cold stone wall but nothing was there.  Down in the wine cellar, prized bottles had tumbled to the floor...so much for that Christmas wine!  Candles flickered without a window open.  I was blaming it on Lord Tiger and Tigger Cat.  Lord Tiger was the reason for my sunset stroll, he had disappeared from the Great Hall.  Tigger had curled up on his little couch as if hiding from the world - even with his head tucked under a cushion.  No cat meowed under a bush.  No bird chirped sleepily from a branch.  Tonight was peaceful, except for the missing kitty.  As my evening habit, I stopped to check on the stone guardians of my home - giving their stone towers a quiet pat of gratitude for their diligence.

Fog? Blue mists? Rolling over the manor?

Turning to wander the paths back to the manor, the wind changed directions. The first wisps of fog rose above the manor but it was strange.  Were these the blue mists that cover Winterfell?

Dark Clouds Gathering

I hurried for cover on the manor's porch as the clouds gathered. Rain slashed across the Harbor. Wind blasted the summer daisies in the garden.  I rushed to the conservatory to check the back gardens. 

Waters were rushing to the streams. The old stone bridge was still standing in the downpour. Waterfalls pouring on all sides of the manor contrasted with the thunder and lightening booms.

 

Last thing I saw before the storm blasted my view into darkness was the solitary heron out by the pond. I grabbed Tigger in my arms and huddled by library fireplace.  

The winds continued for what seemed forever.  I could hear the manor being buffeted again and again by the storm.  Trees limbs crashed into the windows.  Let's don't even think about the dining table which I could see thru the doorway!  At the height of the noise, I thought of the old abbey which had stood for centuries on this island.  It's chapel stood on the precipice near the house.  The abbey house itself had disappeared leaving stories of ancient priests in the chapel, ladies guarding the Harbor while their lords were gone, and the children who always left stories of little fairies in the trees and beautiful ladies who talked to them down on the fishing rocks.  As the current Lady of the Harbor, I knew my great-grandfather had torn down the abbey ruins and built the manor.  Now I wondered if I would be the last Anderton to live here on the Harbor.

 

Suddenly it was quiet.  As Tigger stirred in my arms, I realized I could see sunlight - grey with clouds but still the setting sun.  The manor was destroyed with only the library chimney and fireplace still standing.  Everything was wiped clean. I stepped hesitantly out onto what was now a rocky landing high above the sea waters. Tigger meowed and I heard an answering kitty.  That rogue kitty, Lord Tiger popped up from under a rock.  I gathered the two cats in my arms.  Seeing a cottage roof still standing across the bridge, I picked my way across the rocks and slid down the muddy hill for a dry place to spend the night.  Who knew what I would find in the morning?  What was the laughter coming from the ancient oak tree?  I was too tired to investigate. Sunday would be a better day.

Fairy Follies

While flying around shopping, I fell right into the petites magical place.  I've never been one to change into a tiny bunny rabbit though once I was a tiny kangaroo with my friend Audz. Anyway, these petite mesh avatars are just the most darling avatars.  There are several petite avatars on the market.  This little darling is from Fallen Gods - Petite Royale.  It comes with 3 body tones, basic makeup hud, 3 sets of eyes, hand options, and more.  Petite Royale also comes with 3 outfits to suit a petite royal.  Fallen Gods also offers full sets of makeup on a hud specifically for their petites. Who knew a fairy could be such a fashionista?

Your own AO's will work with the petites.  However, I did add the KH AO - Dreaming Butterfly to add a flutter to my flying.  I did try out the KH AO for mermaids already in my closet - it added a bit of whimsey to my flutters.

My snow kitty is trying to decide to chase me or toss butterflies at me.  It was funny to have them follow me around the manor.  Love my Eden outfit from Evie's Closet.  She has downsized several of her gowns for the petites.  Notice the lovely Folly pinkness of my skirt and shoes!  Wasabi Pills Amandine in chocolate just for petites completed my fairy time folly.

~Credits
Petite Avatar - Fallen Gods Petite Royale
Gown - Evie's Closet - Eden - Pink
Hair - Wasabi Pills - Amandine - Chocolate
AO - KH Fairy AO: Dreaming Butterfly

Shades of Patina

 

























Patina colors ancient metals bronze and copper with a deep blue green shading.  This gown from Evie's Closet is shaded with blues and greens accented with fairy flower lights. Aventine is a gown that is suitable for a ball gown or dancing around a fairy ring. The collar attaches with a tiny silver chain while the fairy flower lights sway as you move.

~Credits
Gown - Evie's Closet - Aventine - Blue/Green
Jewelry - lassitude & ennui Ophelia Roses earrings
Shoes - lassitude & ennui Selene mesh boots
Hair - Truth - Evelyn - Chocolate
Skin - LAQ - Vilda - Peach
Poses - Alchemy Immortalis - Waterhouse Romantic Classicism Poses

Mists of Gray

Cold winds are blowing around the Harbor today.  Mists of gray swirling around from the sea color this gown from The White Armory. Colors of iron gray satin are layered with embroidered gold thread.  The corset bodice is accented with silver buttons and striped satin. Gray sleeves accented with floating white puffs of gauze finish off this gown.  Pulling a lassitude & ennui jewelry set Ophelia Roses and Pearls from the jewel box finished off this look for the 4th week of Color Challenge: Iron

 

 Looking out over the Harbor, encased in winter frost, makes one long for summer roses and lost loves.

~Credits
Gown - The White Armory - Stormy Sea
Jewelry - lassitude & ennui Ophelia Roses and pearls necklace & earrings
Shoes - lassitude & ennui Selene mesh boots
Hair - Truth - Evelyn - Cocoa
Skin - LAQ - Thea - Fair
Poses - Olive Juice Blooms of Flowers and Coquette

Delicious and Dark

Adam n Eve's sachi Vixen dropped these lovelies on me over the weekend. So delicious and dark are the eyes on these four Natalie collections that you can't help but think of candelit bistros, sipping a glass of merlot while listening to blues.

 First, Natalie Baby Blue with just a touch deep blue eye shadow and the most lovely shade of pink lipstick.  Of the four, this is most light in makeup coloring.  Blue eyes would just shine with the blues and smokey eyeliner.

Natalie Burlesque - oh heavens! Classic red lips and nail polish combined with those silvery smokey eyes - pull out your silk stockings, ladies.

 Nataline Magenta give you deep colors bordering on purples.  Loved this one paired up with dark hair and deep dark ballgowns.

Last by not least, Natalie Vine is a deep smokey green eyeshadow with deep rose lipstick.  I added the optional light freckles which are included with all the collections.  Natalie Vine just calls for ginger hair - though I wore it also as a brunette.  You'll also find complete changes of eyebrow hair colors, hair bases, manicure and pedicures in tattoo and layer variations.

~Credits
Skin - Adam n Eve Natalie - Baby Blue, Burlesque, Magenta, and Vine
Hair - Truth Helena Espresso for Baby Blue and Burlesque - Truth Evelyn Raven for Magenta - Truth Padma Chestnut for Vine

Champagne 'n Shadows

 

Shall I give it a go? 52 Weeks of Color Challenge starts this week.  Besides the usual time constraints, etc., I'm going to try doing this with vintage, Victorian, medieval whatever fits historically outfits.  Hopefully, I'll be digging into my closet trunks to see what I already own that will suit the color of the week. Of course, I'll be shopping - heavens - me, not shop?! 

The color of the week is champagne which always reminds me of classic fashion.  What better gown to wear than one of Nicky Ree's classic gowns - Lady Aurora.  This lovely creation comes with multiple variations of ballgowns from simple to full grand trains. Designing Nicky Ree's shop has always been one of my favorite shops. With this gown, the lace decorating the skirts and trains is so detailed and looks so expensive that if you were to shop in real life, there would be a major credit card damage being incurred to cover the costs. Most people only go to Nicky's for bridal gowns but you have to remember she has many different departments - not just formalwear.

Pulled a favorite necklace from the jewelry casket - Ami amet deli pencet French Brooch Necklace by Alchemy Immortalis.  It has changeable gems and metals which makes it a "must have" necklace.  Just checked on the necklace in the marketplace - go click now! It's on sale for 99L.  

Now, let's see if I can keep those shadows on the SL viewer!

~Credits

Gown: Designing Nicky Ree - Lady Aurora - Champagne

Skin: LAQ - Susan -Fair

Hair:  Truth - Francesca- pecan

Manicure: Adam n Eve Astrelle Blushed

Jewelry: Ami amet deli pencet French Brooch Necklace by Alchemy Immortalis

Shoes: GF Ribbon Sling Back Shoes

Poses by Striking Poses

Pose Anywhere Hud

Auld Acquaintance

Ages ago, my first ballgowns came from Shenlei Flasheart's Prim & Proper collection.  I happened into a late night shopping frenzy by a crazed group of ladies who later I learned were ladies from a place called Caledon. I watched & learned as gowns literally flew around the shop and hats snatched in mid-air.  The gowns sparkled with sequins and lavished with lace hit a chord in that newbie shopper's heart.

Funny thing, just this past week or so, I commented in plurk on how I couldn't wait until a designer offered a mesh ballgown.  The idea of being able to waltz without glitch pants or skirts breaking around my knees seemed like a logical progression in mesh designs. Tonight I noticed a notecard from Carriage Trade announcing new tack for horses and new gowns from the Debutante line. I was about to toss the notice when I scanned the word "mesh".  Hold everything! A mesh ballgown! 

Auld Acquaintance pours over your shape in a long glide downward.  It comes in 3 sizes to fit most shapes.  I usually wear a medium but for this gown, the small fit just fine, thank you very much.  Shenlei, who happened to be at her Welcome Center, mentioned that the ruffle did help with the fit at the top, which it does quite nicely. You have to see this dress move - no more glitch pants!  I picked up the graphite color but there is a complete slate of colors for your selection. 

Just so you can see, this is the real me tucked inside the mesh of the gown.  All my curves with a front knee bent plus swinging my hips sideways and the gown just glides on down.  I did not tweak even a pixel of my shape, so here I am curvy bum and all.  The funny thing is you don't need shoes because your feet are covered by the gown!

If you haven't been over to Carriage Trade, you should make the trip. The sims are lovely to wander around and  the horses are available as rideables and as full avatars.  A mesh horse designed as a rideable is being released this week.  Shenlei Flasheart again shows us all how to take Second Life designs to the next level.  Thank you for your creativity and dedication!

~Credits

Gown: Debutante - Auld Acquaintance - Graphite by Shenlei Flasheart - Carriage Trade

Skin: LAQ - Vilda - Peach

Hair:  EMO-tions - Fabienne

Manicure: Adam n Eve Astrelle Blushed

Jewelry: EarthStones Gothique Set - Silver & Onyx

Poses by Lost Angel and Olive Juice

Pose Anywhere Hud

Boo!

Halloween Pumpkin Face

 Boo! Halloween - time for things that go bump in the night! I'm not much for super icky bloody zombies dancing around Winterfell Harbor. When I go ghost hunting, I like to blend into the background...or hide in the pumpkin patch!  sachi Vixen has delivered Halloween Horror make-up just for the cute ghosts and ghouls!

Halloween Scare Face

Halloween Skull Face

Adam n Eve Group Gift - Ghostly

 The Horror faces go perfectly with the Adam n Eve Group Gift - a ghostly version of the new Ariadne. The lips and eyes have a natural look that I love.

Ariadne - Natural Maple

After trying on the ghostly Ariadne, I made a quick shopping trip to try on the new Ariadne at sachi's shop.  Of course, I had to add another shopping bag! Four versions are waiting for you.  I loved the Natural so I came home with the whole fatpack.  Much to my delight, I now had hairbases in all colors, manicures, pedicures, and bewbs!

With all these faces for the Halloween season, I went deep into my closet to find a favorite Halloween dress - Wretched Dollies Wicked Pumpkin outfit.  Star Fairymeadow designed a pumpkin striped skirt overlaid with black on charcoal print and tulle. Touches of lace on the bodice are accented with ruffled sleeves, and bow ties to add a bit of dash.  Striped socks complete the look. If you see little pumpkin colored lights, I found little pumpkin particles to follow my footsteps. This gown is from Star's 2008 collection so check your WD folders.  I'm not sure if she still has this one in her shop.  I added WD's newest Granny Boots which you just have to go grab a pair.  The textures are beautiful with the look of well-worn comfy boots.

Back to ghost hunting in Winterfell Harbor and Wretched Hollow....Shhhhh!

~Credits
Wretched Dollies Wicked Pumpkin (2008 design - look in your WD folders!)
Wretched Dollies Granny Boots
Truth - Julia Streaked - Silver
Adam n Eve Ariadne Halloween Group Gift
Adam n Eve Horror Makeups for Halloween: Pumpkin, Scare, & Skull
Adam n Eve Ariadne Natural

Classic Barerose

BareRose - Antonia & Hatpins Floraleigh with Cameo Set

BareRose Tokyo still draws hundreds of Second Life shoppers with their huge variety of designs.  A shop guaranteed to have you shopping - looking up, down, and all over the place. Decisions...decisions!

BareRose Antoinia - Blue

A new Victorian gown release called Antonia was showcased in BareRose's "new" area.  Antonia comes in a package with shades of blue and a deep burgundy rose red.  The jacquard fabric is showcased with a black overlay on lace bodice. The bustle is a layered delight of the colored print, white, and then black accented with tiny bows. Layers detail the slim profile skirt with satin ruffles descending to the hem. Cameo ribbon, gloves, and matching shoes add to set.

I had to add to the set with Hatpins cameo earrings and ring from a past Sixty Linden Weekend sale special  Since it was a hot summer day, I love the straw hat styled with roses in blues - Floraleigh - again from Hatpins. 

Below is Antonia styled in the shades of reds and burgundies.  Topping my hair is the original chapeaux that comes with the sets.  I must say this gown just sways down the sidewalk!

Barerose - Antonia - Red

 From the back view, you can see the detail of the fabric patterns.  Love how that black insert makes my waist look like I cinched up my corset 3 inches!

BareRose - Antoina - Red

Of course, now I have to go back to BareRose to add to my closet.  Wouldn't you know? The designers have added another Antonia set.  This one in Pink and Black which you can see online at the BareRose Tokyo shopping catalog.

Wearing:
Gowns: BareRose - Antonia
Earrings & Ring - Hatpins - Cameo Set
Hat:  Hatpins Floraleigh - Blues
Hair - Truth - Padma

Plurk Pretties

While catching up on my plurks this evening, I was tempted by some of my plurk buddies posts about new pretties.  Even though I shouldn't have, I dashed inworld...just to look, right? Wretched Dollies designer Star Fairymeadow has joined the Silent Lion Troupe of special offerings for only 75L.  This little number is called Cerulean Floral Dress with a cool blue floral print corset and skirt ruffle with the black skirt then a layer of net petticoat flirting underneath that.  The corset is accented with black lace and a touch of silver white. After seeing Kat Alderson's designs for her Cad & Tart jewelry, I knew it would pick up the silver on Star's dress.  Another quick dash across the grid  for silver choker touched with a light blue, two sets of earrings, two bracelets, and a matching headband (which I forgot to wear).  Kat named this collection the Princess Stephanie and it is 25% off right now.  I admired Kat wearing one of the new styles from Truth this week so added another "do" to my closet shelves. Truth should just open a permanent link on plurk so we can shop and plurk at the same time.  Will wonders never cease? Tuli dropped an announcement about her new Audrey release.  What could I do? Grab my group tag and head over to Journey of course. Primped in the mirror while admiring Audrey in tone 4 which is one of two VIP Group gifts.  Now I have managed to shop, blog, and plurk all at the same time!
~Credits
Gown - Wretched Dollies - Cerulean Floral Dress
Jewelry - Cad & Tart - Princess Stephanie

Hair - Truth - Midori

Skin -Tuli - Audrey tone 4 - VIP Group Gift

Casting Spells...

 

Tucked away in the darkness of the manor, there is a private place for study and writing.  Special bottles and potions are locked away for safekeeping in the stone walls deep underground.  Medieval fog swirls around Winterfell Harbor which calls for a gown reminiscent of that long ago time. 

 

 Miss sachi Vixen has a new gown suitable for keeping watch from the castle towers for your prince to come home.  Adam n Eve Clothes' Rosalynd is sewn from brocade with antique gold netting forming a corset twinkling with jewels. 

  

The gown arrives with three skirt variations, the slim skirt shown, grande ballroom skirt, and a flirty short skirt.  All the skirts are trimmed with a drape of gold tulle with bows on the hips. The dusky purple suited the harbor's mist & clouds but the gown comes in six colors.  

Tuli's Jade with the new makeup by Elysium just gave an edge to this medieval lady.  Antheia matched with Jade in tone 2 picked out the colors of the purple with the accents of blue from Hatpins Branwyn wreath in Sky Rose and Snow Lily.  The low cut gown is accented with The Black Widow Amber Prayer Bead Necklace by Alchemy Immortalis.  A black widow spider trapped in amber hangs from prayer chain beads, belladonna seeds, and silver claws.  

 

Time to close the hidden door to the secret chamber and lock away the ancient journals. If you wander that way, beware the sapphire blue potion bottle since a spell will release the black widow's children!

~ Credits

Gowns - Adam n Eve - Rosalynd

Hair - Truth - Eva

Skin -Tuli - Jade Tone 2 with Antheia makeup
Wreath - Hatpins - Branwyn Sky Rose & Snow Lily
Shoes - *G Fields- Ribbon Slingback Shoes Silver
Necklace - Alchemy Immortalis - The Black Widow Amber Prayer Bead Necklace 
(Check xstreet for a special summer sale price on the necklace!)
Props - Shade Fantasy Outfitters - Alchemy Lab (animated)

Gold & Dark Chocolate

My friend, Star Fairymeadow - designer of Wretched Dollies - has always designed the kinds of outfits that I can change from gothic to historical to funky.  I'm sure sometimes she thinks I've lost it when I show up in a Dollies dress with uber spiked heels with my prim toes polished in funky colors. I'm so honored her latest dress is named Eleanor after myself.  Bless her, she managed to combine all the goodies I love in one outfit that I can mix and match to my heart's content.

 

Eleanor in Gold just suits my Steampunk side.  Gold brocade for the corset and ruffling the skirt combined with the warm gold dusted brown of the full skirt, corset ruffle, shrug sleeveless jacket, and cameo collar option is just great for wandering the garden or dancing the night away.  Add the delicate lace of the modesty shirt just because who can resist lace.  With Star's attention to detail, one can also wear the lingerie version with the lace and corset and ruffles.  It looks fantastic as a top to any pants you have in your closet. Did I mention there are darling cameo earrings included?

Options include two hat styles. A straw sunhat edged in white topped with peach roses and cream ribbon can be found in this classic black.  Bless Star - she also included 4 shades of hair just perfect to tuck under the hair. Love the look of hair that is tumbling out of what could be a "pinned up the back" hairdo. I always have trouble moving hair around to fit under hats like this and now I have "hat hair"!

Don't miss these shoes! Darling round toes with a chunky curved heel.  These are the Gold Dust Bow Pumps version.  Give Eleanor in Gold to yourself - besides who can resist gold covered dark chocolate goodness!

~Credits

Gown - Wretched Dollies - Eleanor in Gold

Hat - Wretched Dollies - Eleanor Hat

Shoes - Wretched Dollies - Gold Dust Bow Pumps

Skin - LAQ - Phoebe Peach Glow

 

Pink is Pretty

Since SL is borked, I rummaged in my photo folders.  Totally forgot that I had a "pink" moment a couple of weeks ago.  While on my weekly shopping dash to Hatpins, I just swooned over the dark rose pink of the Lady Nellie.  All shiny ribbons, jewels and a touch of gold netting in the back made it just perfect.  What to wear with this tophat which doesn't fit my usual steampunk copper and bronze colors?  Catching up on reading blogs, I had missed ~silent sparrow~ special offer of a (Geist) Batty Suit on xstreet so with a click I had a new outfit.

The uni-sex suit was toned in white velvet and brocade.  On a whim, I very carefully made copies of the outfit.  Tinting the suit was entertaining though I'm sure Hya would have died at some of the colors I clicked on! Finally, a muted dusty rose complimented the Lady Nellie hat. Pink is pretty!

~Credits
Hat - Hatpins - Lady Nelllie
Suit - ~silent sparrow! - (Geist) Batty Suit
Boots - BAX Coen Designs - BAX Ankle Boots in Black Patent
Hair - Truth  - Grazia - Thank you, Jenica for the social networking research!
Skin - Tuli