Weary Gardener

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Mary, Mary, quite contrary,
How does your garden grow?
With silver bells, and cockle shells,
And pretty maids all in a row.
~ Nursery Rhyme

Not being a very good gardener, about all I know is that it makes me tired. And why get dirt underneath my nails when I can create a lovely garden space with all of these gorgeous things?

Let’s start with my gardening dress – a loose shift that is casual enough for gardening, yet pretty enough for something more. It is from Belle Epoque and is available at The Liaison Collaborative until April 30, 2016. Warning: if you’re going to do “real” gardening in it, you might want to get some knee pads!

With all of the springy events right now, you can’t go wrong in filling a garden space. The planters on the table in the background are from {what next} at this month’s round of Collabor88. There are three, and go perfectly with the bench, which you’ll see in the next photo.

I couldn’t resist using the [ keke ] petals and lotus basin again. These are the kind of things that are guaranteed to get a squeeeee! out of me every time. And there are a plethora of pretties from [ zerkalo ], [ kunst ] and *LODE* from the current round of Shiny Shabby. Keep looking through the credits for more amazing stuff!

All of the crates in the photo include a pose (including the one I am using), so they are perfect for decor and photography. They are part of the gacha from Le Poppycock, also available at The Liaison Collaborative.

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Now that the hard work is done, I can sit back and relax, and enjoy the fruits of my labour. Well, the labour of the fabulous designers whose works are the inspiration for this post.

I guess there’s no excuse for being weary, after all.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Dress: Belle Epoque BE { Kaley } Beige by Janire Coba (available at The Liaison Collaborative until April 30, 2016)
Necklace: (Kunglers) Ida necklace – Copper by AvaGardner Kungler (available at ON9 through April 28, 2016)
Shoes: [Atomic] Footwear // Dark Horse – Sand (Maitreya) by Ivy Graves (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
Hair: “”D!va”” Hair “Amanda” (Red amber) by Marisa Kira (recoloured)
*Skin & Maitreya Applier: Elysium – Candice skin (red brow) – creme freckles by Aleida Rhode (available at Skin Fair 2016, Sim 1 through March 27, 2016)
*Lips: ::JOLI:: Giselle Lipgloss #4 by Aisling Caiben (available at Skin Fair 2016, Sim 2 through March 27, 2016)
*Eyeliner: ::JOLI:: Basic BOLD Eyeliner by Aisling Caiben (available at Skin Fair 2016, Sim 2 through March 27, 2016)
Body, feet and hands: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle
*Eyes: Mayfly – Luminous – Mesh Eye (Ghost Persian Blue, w3) by Arkesh Baral

*Crate/pose (photo 1): Le Poppycock *Sweet Reverie* Long Afternoon by Olivia LaLonde (available at The Liaison Collaborative until April 30, 2016)
*Additional crates: Le Poppycock *Sweet Reverie* Dyed Carnations, *Sweet Reverie* In Increments, *Sweet Reverie* Intuitions and *Sweet Reverie* Poetic Thinking (each includes a pose) by Olivia Lalonde (available at The Liaison Collaborative until April 30, 2016)
Sofa: Soy. Velvet Lounge Chair w/ tex change by Soyoy (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
Plaque: [ kunst ] – Dandelion pallete art II (Shiny Shabby Gift) by Kunst Himmel
Table: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Tea Party – Table Light by DanielEstro (gacha prize at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)
Bag: ionic – Tote Bag [ stripes ] by Iakua Arriaga (gacha prize at The Chapter Four through April 21, 2016)
*Basin/flowers: [ keke ] sacred lotus in zinc basin – white by Kean Kelly
*Petals: [ keke ] sacred lotus petals ground – white and pink by Kean Kelly
Box: Knick Knacks ::KKs:: une journee a la ferme – farmbox by Yeiyaiel (gacha prize at The Chapter Four through April 21, 2016)
Lantern: [ zerkalo ] Spring Gifts – Lamp Light – RARE by DanielEstro (gacha prize at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)
Phone: .random.Matter. – Rotary Phone – Snow by Nikohl Hax (available at The Chapter Four through April 21, 2016)
*Planters: {what next} Marlow Planter 1, Planter 2 & Planter 3 by Winter Thorn (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
Hydrangeas: Ariskea[Isabelle] Hydrangea Vase [Rosy] by Diaxm (available at FaMESHed through April 27, 2016)
Watering can light: tarte. watering can light (steel) by alixxbella (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
Tricycle: FLECHA Tricicle blue by Flecha Warwillow (available at The Chapter Four through April 21, 2016)
Potted plant: Soy. Potted Pothos [Ssize] by Soyoy (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
Chair: Apt B // Vie en Rose – Chair by FadeArcade (gacha prize at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)
Dress form: ionic – Vintage dress mannequin # silver (gacha prize at The Chapter Four through April 21, 2016)
Artwork: :HAIKEI: I’m Old Fashioned GACHA / {2} by qo0op (gacha prize at Kustom9 through April 10, 2016)
Rug: Apt B // Vie en Rose – Rug by FadeArcade (gacha prize at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)
Pitcher: *LODE* Decor – Birch Vase [rust] by Chirzaka Vlodovic (available at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)
Tulips: *LODE* Decor – Parrot Tulips [white] by Chirzaka Vlodovic (available at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)
Books: Knick Knacks ::KKs:: journee a la ferme – flower books by Yeiyaiel (gacha prize at The Chapter Four through April 21, 2016)
Build: {vespertine} lorraine greenhouse / worn white by Amelie Knelstrom (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
*Bench/pose (photo 2 – edited): {what next} Marlow Bench by Winter Thorn (available at Collabor88 April 2016)
Lacy garland: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Tea Party – Lace Garland Horizontal by DanielEstro (gacha prize at Shiny Shabby through April 15, 2016)

On The Inside, Looking Out

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“- I see the real world, Nancy. But it doesn’t seem real to me.
– How does it seem?
– It seems like an illusion that nobody notices.”
― Stevie Mikayne, Jellicle Girl

Just one of those days.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Dress: (Kunglers) TDRF 040 – Silver dress by AvaGardner Kungler (available at The Dressing Room Fusion May 2014)
Bag: Swallow safari Clutch White and silver by luciayes Magic (available at The Dressing Room Fusion May 2014)
Earrings: Pure Poison – PP – Triandre Silver Earrings by Shaleene Kenin (Group Gift)
Hair: “”D!va”” Hair “Ana” (Type A)(Garnet) by Marisa Kira
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT Terre MEB C2 (FR) by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson

Build: (Milk Motion) flat in Montmartre – all white by Marie Lauridsen

Pose: oOo Studio Poses fever_six by Oleanka Chesnokov

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD

Best. Hair. EVAH!!!!

1 Argrace Haruka

If you read the credits of my posts or have visited my SLurls To Favourite Places page, you have seen me mention *ARGRACE*. While I may have been aware of this store before, it really hit my radar at Hair Fair last year. This has become my very favourite hair store in Second Life and rika Oyen, the designer, has pretty much guaranteed that anything she releases becomes an insta-buy for me. Haruka was no different.

When I took a look at the photo in the note card from the *ARGRACE* group when I logged on today, I zoomed straight to the store. I didn’t even bother trying on a demo – I just paid my $L250 and dashed home (I also bought the other new release, but I’ll save that for another day).

Now, I know there have been other windblown styles before – I even have a couple – but either the colour wasn’t quite right for me or I got a severe halo effect around the edges of the hair. True Red by *ARGRACE* is my current favourite red and there was virtually no halo effect with this hair. And I would wear this hair out – not just for a photo shoot. She has caught the movement perfectly – I only wish my real hair blew around this beautifully in the wind!

When I got home and put Haruka on, the next question was, “What do I wear???” Fortunately, The Dressing Room Fusion has a new round and I thought this dress from Kunglers would be perfect. I slipped on my 21 Shoe Hucci slingbacks, and I was set. I ran to the dock, struck a pose and off I went.

For this photo shoot, I used Torley’s sunsets. I won’t bore you with how many shots I took (it was over 40 lol) but this one just grabbed me when I looked at my raw shots. The lighting is so dramatic and it set off the fiery red of my hair well.

I am including a cropped version of this photo so you can see the hair close up. I did play with the hair a bit in processing, but mainly to enhance the highlights from the Windlight setting. I probably didn’t need to do it, but hey…I did anyway 😀

1 Argrace Haruka Crop

It has been a while since I have been so excited about a single purchase in Second Life. But who wouldn’t be excited by the Best. Hair. EVAH!!!!

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Dress: (Kunglers) TDRF #036 – strapless dress – Floral by AvaGarnder Kungler (available at The Dressing Room Fusion March 2014)
Shoes: ::HH:: Hucci Uvol Sling Back – 21 Shoe by Eboni Khan (colour no longer available)
Earrings: Cae :: Promise :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft
Hair: *ARGRACE* HARUKA – True Red by rika Oyen (NEW)
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT PetalPink MEB C2 (FR) by Hart Larsson (available at The Skin Fair 2014)
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) High by Siddean Munro
Hand & Feet appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand & Feet Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Dock: Cheeky Pea :CP: Bae Dock w/Blanket by Isla Gealach

Pose: oOo Studio Poses – oOo brevity_three by Olaenka Chesnokov

Photo taken with the LumiPro HUD