dust bunny

The Ghost of Valentine’s Days Past

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1 The Ghost of Valentine's Days Past sm

I have never been a big believer in Valentine’s Day. It is a commercialised holiday, designed to guilt people into becoming consumers in the name of love. When I was married, I always told my husband to forego the flowers on February 14th and wait until the 15th, when he could get twice as many for half the cost. Or better yet, spring them on me on March 3rd…or July 9th…or September 23rd; just whenever he felt like buying me flowers for no reason. Now that I carry the Single status, I can consider VD just another day. And I like that.

But that doesn’t mean that over the years I haven’t received a Valentine or two: the flowers, jewelry, chocolates in boxes that are pretty enough to keep, even a love letter or two. Those little mementos of times when a significant other defied my request and presented me with a single rose, a necklace, a box of chocolates, a note with a few heart-felt words scribbled in his best penmanship.

Those things are all gone now. But the memory of them conjures up the Ghost of Valentine’s Days Past to haunt me for a few days each February. The gifts from those relationships, either fleeting or sustained, are a reminder that I have been loved.

It is a haunting always welcomed, then forgotten very quickly as the days pass by.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Dress: United Colors UC_Sonia_dress_all in 1_Maitreya by Unitedcoloursteam (available at The Liaison Collaborative February 7-28, 2016)
Shoes: Essenz – Maine (Cream) Maitreya by Senzati0n Domenitzo
*Hair: “”D!va”” Hair “Jasmine” by Marisa Kira (available at The Liaison Collaborative February 7-28, 2016)
Body, hands and feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle
Tattoo: [White~Widow] Legend – Henna – RARE by Julie Hastings (gacha prize)
*Skin: [PXL] Creations Shara Winter NAT Makeup 03 REB C2 by Hart Larsson
*Eyes: Mayfly – Luminous – Mesh Eye (Ghost Persian Blue, w3) by Arkesh Baral
Eyelashes: * Mon Cheri * *MC* “Falsies” by Freya Oliveri

Rug: dust bunny . ruffle rug by xlnoel (gacha prize)
Hanging plant: dust bunny . hanging flower pot . blue by xlnoel (gacha prize)
Room divider: junk. picture doors. by Tab Tatham (gacha prize)
Plant stand: junk. plant stand. by Tab Tatham
Table: [ zerkalo ] Fall in Love – Table – Light by danielestro (gacha prize)
Birdcage: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Birdcage by danielestro (gacha prize)
Gift box: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Gift Box White by daniel estro (gacha prize)
Box of candles: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Entryway – Crate with Candles by danielestro (gacha prize)
Book: [ zerkalo ] Cozy Corner – Book by daniel estro
Wash stand: [ zerkalo ] Fall in Love – Washstand – Light by danielestro (gacha prize)
Vase of branches: BelleEquipe Design Store {BE} Lighted Branches by Pokute Burt
Build: junk. attic skybox. RARE by Tab Tatham (gacha prize)

Pose: BodyLanguage SLC SS POSE Back Shot!! BackShot04L by manmoth Nishi

The Comfort of a Cozy Room

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1 The comfort of a cozy room sm

Everyone needs one – a room where you can display your favourite things, work on projects, curl up with a good book or just relax and enjoy the solitude. It may be a sewing room, a library or a playroom – it doesn’t matter, really, as long as it reflects what makes you happy.

What makes me happy is lots of pretty things. The beauty of Second Life is that I can create this type of space as many times as I would like in any fashion that suits my whimsy. Today, it is kind of an arts and crafts room. Who knows? Tomorrow it may be a padded cell 😉

A lot of the things in this room are from {what next}, including the bookcase and tables, which are available today for Fifty Linden Friday. Just head over to the main store to pick up yours. You’ll be well on the way to creating the comfort of a cozy room.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Build: {what next} Winter’s Cottage (with snow/lights) by Winter Thorn (gacha prize)
*Bookshelf: {what next} Amelie Bookcase with decor by Winter Thorn (available for Fifty Linden Friday February 5, 2016)
*Console table: {what next} Amelie Console Table by Winter Thorn (available for Fifty Linden Friday February 5, 2016)
*Balloons: [ keke ] heart balloon – valentine blush and heart balloon – 3 silver by Kean Kelly (available at Cosmopolitan through February 14, 2016)
Jewelry box: dust bunny . jewelry box by xlnoel (gacha prize)
Heart box: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Box wCandies White by danielestro (gacha prize)
*Storage boxes: {what next} M Storage Box -Metaliics 3 by Winter Thorn (available at Collabor88 through February 6, 2016)
Arts & Crafts: 8f8 – 16. Our Secret Hideout – Arts ‘n’ Crafts by iBi (gacha prize)
Basket with blanket: dust bunny . pom pom blanket by xlnoel (gacha prize)
Heart wall hanging: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Heart Frame – SOI by danielestro (Seed of Inspiration prize at The Gacha Garden February 2016)
Butterflies: {anc} picnic / swallow tailed butterfly incarose by aki69 (gacha prize at The Chapter Four February 2016)
Box of roses: Apple Fall Roses Box (Pink) by Warehousefifteendesigns
Dress form: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Large Mannequin – RARE by danielestro (gacha prize at The Gacha Garden February 2016)
Frame: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Entryway – Old Window Key-holder by danielestro (gacha prize)
Basket table: dust bunny . basket table by xlnoel
Birdcage: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Birdcage (TGG)
Chair: {what next} Bramley Rocking Chair (pine) – Plain by Winter Thorn
Heart pillow: [ zerkalo ] True Love – Pillow by danielestro (gacha prize at The Gacha Garden February 2016)
Shoes: Apple Fall Leather Moccasins by warehousefifeendesigns
Basket: {what next} Orlaith Basket by FrankLee Anatra
Kitten: JIAN :: A Very Kitten Christmas – Brown Tabby Kitten by jiansl (gacha prize)
*Side table: {what next} Amelie Side Table by Winter Thorn (available for Fifty Linden Friday February 5, 2016)
*Cups and tray: {what next} Holiday Eggnog Latte by Winter Thorn
*Stove: {what next} Hanne Woodburning Stove (Almond) – Light Fireplace by Winter Thorn
*Kettle: {what next} Hanne Kettle (Off-White) by Winter Thorn
Wall shelf: *ionic* Planter Shelf by Iakua Arriaga (gacha prize at The Chapter Four February 2016)
Open book: 8f8 – 14. Our Secret Hideout – Little Sketchbook by iBi (gacha prize)
Wood: Apple Fall Birch Logs w/ Belt by warehousefifteendesigns (gacha prize)
Bag: Apple Fall Canvas Tote by warehousefifteendesigns
Rug: Meche Cozy Cottage Rug 2 by Eeilee (gacha prize at Shiny Shabby through February 10, 2016)

You’ve Been Gone Forever

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1 You were gone forever sm

Most of the time I am doing a photograph for my blog, I shoot in a created space. By that I mean a set I have put together on my platform specifically for the photo. It is usually just a single room I have decorated in a house I have rezzed specifically for the purpose or in the box I have hanging beneath the platform and colour-change to suit the mood. While I sometimes use the clearing in the woods at the back of my land, I seldom photograph inside my Second Life residence.

This isn’t because I am shy about showing off the interior of my home. Rather, it is because I am usually using brand new items (interspersed with some older favourites) for my blog photos. Even though I may love each little treasure I show, my home is more stable. Many of the objects I use are ancient in Second Life terms – a month in SL being the equivalent of a dog’s year – and we all know that newness equates to relevance in the SL blogging world. As an official blogger for several events and designers, my job is to showcase their latest releases. But that doesn’t mean that I can’t surround myself with pretty things that I have held dear for a period of time.

Nothing in this photo really falls into that “old” category, yet it doesn’t meet the “hot off the presses” criteria, either. They are just things that I like and chose to make a (relatively) permanent part of my Second Life. They may be replaced at some stage, but for now, they form one of my favourite spaces in my home. The recessed windows in this house from Scarlet Creative just cry out for little vignettes to be created. Several of the puppies from Fawny frolic outdoors, but this little fella stays inside…waiting patiently for my return.

He may spend time curled up in the rocking chair or gnawing on the pom poms of the blanket in his basket, but whatever he does, he will always be watching for me to come home. Whether I’ve been away for a few minutes or overnight, his reaction is always the same – greeting me as if I’ve been gone forever.

He knows; he counted.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Puppy: Fawny – My little puppy – 9 by akirakiyoi (gacha prize)
Chair: Scarlet Creative – The Arcade Dec 15 Campbell Chair MT by Charlotte Bartlett (gacha prize)
Basket: dust bunny . pom pom blanket by xlnoel (gacha prize)
Build: Scarlet Creative Country Keep by Charlotte Bartlett
Tree: HPMD* Garden Tree05 – white 2A + 2B by Sasaya Kayo