Author: PeepSideshow Darkward

Winter Wandering

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1 KIttyCatS Winterland_048

Despite the fact that it’s getting warmer here by the day, I have to admit that the recent round of Collabor88 has put me in the winter spirit (don’t hate me, Wendz!) I’m sure it will disappear by the time we hit our first 38C (100F) day. We’ve gotten close, but this morning it is a comfy 22C (71.6F), so I’m relishing the spring-like weather and taking advantage to channel my inner snow bunny.

I bundled up in this outfit I put together with finds from both the current round of Collabor88 and the depths of my inventory. Amazingly, I wore this outfit for two days, since I didn’t like the photos I took on my first outing. Fortunately, on my second attempt I had just received a notecard from Fruit Islands, letting us know that there are now three winter sims open to the public. I wandered over the KittyCatS Winterland sim to explore, and I had a lovely time!

If you are a KittyCatS fan, or even if you’re not, this is sim is a treat. Winding along the top of the mountain is a walkway that is lined with little cottages, dressed up by KittyCatS owners for the holidays. You can vote for your favourites, or simply enjoy the festive decorations. I snapped a couple of shots, but I’m not posting them – they didn’t turn out well and I don’t want to give a false impression of just how detailed and adorable they are! Just do yourself a favour if you have a bit of time to spend exploring these delightful scenes. And don’t miss out on the KittyCatS Advent Calendar – it always has some lovely gifts from some fabulous designers. Not only is it available to everyone, you can grab any of the previous gifts you might have missed (one to a customer).

There is more to this sim – below the walkway is a magical winterland. I plan to do another post, highlighting the scenery, but for now, it’s about the outfit. After two separate shoots, by golly, I’m going to show it off!

1 KIttyCatS Winterland_045

With help from Tee*fy, – Tres Blah – and (fashionably dead) from Collabor88, I put together what I must say is my favourite winter outfit…so far. The season is just beginning, so that proviso is a necessity 😉 I have faith in the talent of Second Life’s designers that they will wow me again before the last snowflake melts!

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Jacket: -Tres Blah- -tb- Oversized Coat (S) – Mauve by Julliette Westerburg (Available at Collabor88 December)
Top: fri.day – fri. – Basic.Turtleneck (Red) by Darling Monday
Skirt: Tee*fy Edela Buttoned Skirt Chocolate by Azure Electricteeth (Available at Collabor88 December)
Leggings: ISON – leather leggings (rose) by Harry Hyx
Boots: Maitreya Stagioni Boots * Chestnut by Onyx LeShelle
Scarf: (fashionably dead) – (fd) Cozy Scarf – Cream by Toast Bard (Available at Collabor88 December)
Hair: “”D!va”” Hair “Sayaka3” (Type A)(Garnet) by Marisa Kira
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Peach Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Poses: aDORKable Poses: SidePony Set by Adorkable Peapod (NLA)

I Met A New Friend

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1 The Trace_020

Believe it or not, I hadn’t visited The Trace, one of the more popular photography destinations in Second Life, until this week. I have seen some breathtaking photos from this location and to be honest, I am normally a bit intimidated taking photos in locations that have been so beautifully photographed. The tree tunnel is iconic; I ventured down that lane, but I didn’t even attempt to capture it. Many better photographers than me have immortalised it already. You can find some of them on the Explore Second Life Flickr group page, but there are many more scattered all over the net.

So when I do visit one of these places, I attempt to find and shoot in the less-photographed areas. Yes, because I am a bit shy about having my work compared to others’, but also because there are often scenes that haven’t been captured – at least, not that I have seen as often.

There are many of these at The Trace. But I was captivated by this gentleman, oh, so dapper in his red scarf, curiously trying to discover the secret of the blinking lights…and the feathered-friends who visited. The creatures in this sim are delightful and I was pleased they allowed me to be in such close proximity without darting or flying away.

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While this glorious stag is exploring the bird feeder, his mate is more curious about what lies inside this winter cottage. Perhaps there is a salt lick stored inside or maybe she is just doing some reconnaissance for Christmas Eve. You need to look closely to see her; I was careful to shoot from a distance, afraid I might scare her away. I would not want to be responsible for ruining a child’s Christmas morning because she didn’t have time to scope out the location of the Christmas tree for Santa to deposit his goodies 😉

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Skirt: Tee*fy Edela Buttoned Skirt Navy by Azure Electricteeth (Available at Collabor88 December)
Top: JANE – needful things.romper.br champagne by Janie Marlowe
Jacket: (fd) Leather Jacket – Brown by Toast Bard (Available at Collabor88 December)
Tights: INDI – Tights from INDI Designs Misha by Jamie Holmer (old Hunt gift)
Boots: erratic / selene – mesh ankle boots / tan – gold by Erratic Rain
Hair/hat: ~Tableau Vivant~ Noel Hair – Fall by M4ri1yn Magic (Available at Collabor88 December)
Necklace: Cae :: Knotted :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Peach Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
Nail appliers: KOSH – Slink Applier CANDY CANE FINGERNAILS by Lynaja Bade (The Arcade gacha prize)
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: aDORKable Poses: Ella 2 by Adorkable Peapod (NLA)

What An Adventure!

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1 North Pole or Bust_001

I “SQUEEEEEEEEE’D!!” when I received this adorable pose set from Eternal Dreams Poses advent calendar and knew I had to find the perfect location to try it out. I had seen several photos of the North Pole Sleigh Ride Adventure on the Explore Second Life Flickr Group page and knew that it was the obvious choice.

This sim is a total delight. When you arrive, you are offered a ride on a horse-drawn sleigh (more on that later). But I slid down the hill to the railway station to snap this photo awaiting the Polar Express.

As you would expect, this is a family-friendly sim and there were a lot of people there, skating on the ice rink, exploring the bounteous Christmas and winter scenes and posing for photos. There was a family close to the train doing just that when I attached my pose props and plopped down (the suitcases hold the pose and the sign is separate; there is no reason you couldn’t make a different sign to hold with this pose, unless you are as hopeless at building as I am). I was immediately met with cries of, “Oh, look at Peep! Isn’t she cuteeeeeeee?” And while I tried to ignore them as I blushed and adjusted my camera angle and lighting, I couldn’t help but get caught up in their infectious delight. In fact, I ended up posing for photos for one of the girls 🙂

I admit I didn’t take as many photos as I normally would since I was feeling self-conscious, so I trudged back up the hill to hop on the sleigh to check out the rest of the sim (it is a no-fly zone). When I arrived, I noticed a man dressed all in black hanging around the sleigh. I waited a few moments to see if he was planning on taking a ride, and when he continued to loiter I hopped on for my excursion. I hadn’t traveled more than ten metres, though, when suddenly I had a passenger! The Man In Black had joined me, uninvited o.O I laughed and said hello and he greeted me in return, then didn’t speak again.

After we had driven down the hill, past the polar bears playing and through the tunnel I began feeling a bit uncomfortable. I don’t believe this interloper held any threat, but my Mama told me not to get into sleighs with strangers…so I bid my adieu and jumped off the sled with a quick “This is my stop – enjoy your ride!” and teleported home.

I wondered about his appearance at my side; I’m sure most of us in Second Life have been the subject of unwanted attention at one time or another. In the end I just decided he was a city-slicker who had never learned to drive a sleigh. I hope he was able to finish the ride – the horse seemed to know where he was going and didn’t appear to be ready to bolt 😉

As promised, here is a close up of another shade from the .::Vivid::. Slink Nails Appliers 4 pack available from today at Stuff In Stock. It reminds me of caffè latte – without the foam.

1 Vivid Slink Nails Appliers 4

Pretty stuff I’m wearing:

Jacket: ::{u.f.o}::buckle mustangtang – cream by Charming Meiler (Available at Collabor88 December)
Top: JANE – needful things.romper.br coffee by Janie Marlowe
Jeans: ::{u.f.o}::knit wammer skinny – navy by Charming Meiler (Available at Collabor88 December)
Boots: {Sleepy Eddy} Engineer Boots (Natural) by Metro Moonwall (The Aracde December Gacha prize)
Hair: Clawtooth: Snuggle Party – Red eye flight by Bubbles Clawtooth (Available at Collabor88 December)
Skin: [PXL] Creations – [PXL] JADE SK Peach Lips MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers SK by Hart Larsson
*Nail appliers: VIVID [Slink Nails Appliers] Polish Pack 4 by Honey Bernandes (available from Tuesday at Stuff In Stock)
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Pose: Eternal Dreams Poses – *ED* North Pole or Bust ! by Fata Boa (Eternal Dreams Poses Advent Gift 2013 – 150L group joining fee)