V Is For Villa

1 fri poses Villa_008

I am doing something today that I very rarely do – I am posting raw shots (other than cropping/resizing). Why? Well, for once when I opened the photos in Photoshop to process them I realised I liked them as they were. I think this is a lesson to me; I can sometimes rely on Windlight, great poses and a location to speak for themselves.

The location is the Cortona Villas from Trompe Loeil, available at the April round of Collabor88. While this is not someplace I would normally call home, I can see myself using often for photos.

The build is materials enabled, so in certain lighting there is a lot of shine on the walls – too much for stone, in my opinion. I spent a lot of time trying to find the balance between definition and shininess. I seem to recall that there is a way in Firestorm Phototools to adjust the amount of detail given off by materials; I am going to have to find the tutorial that covered this so I can use this tool properly.

1 fri poses Villa_011

Another reason I was able to use raw shots was because of the poses from fri.day by Darling Monday, available at Pose Fair 2014. Both the Monday and Careless pose sets are well-constructed and natural, so the joints are smooth with no need to correct jagged elbows or knobby wrists. Darling is one of those designers who has recently hit my radar as a posemaker and I can see her becoming a fast favourite.

1 fri poses Villa_026

And what villa would be complete without a balcony? This one has turrets and balconies and rooms big enough to hold court. I may end up becoming a princess after all if I keep hanging out in this villa 😉

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Dress: Cog & Fleur – C&F Satin Doll Gown – Opal by Abathyr (available at Genre April 2014)
Necklace: Cae :: Guinevere (C88) :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Earrings: Cae :: Guinevere (C88) :: Earrings by Caelan Hancroft
Shoes: ::HH:: Hucci Vinnitsa Sandal – Blush for Slink High Feet by Eboni Khan (available at Collabor88 April 2014)
Hair: *ARGRACE* MIZUKI – True Red by rika Oyen
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT PetalPink MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
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
Rose: Inizio Longstem Red Rose modifyable by Mistress Midnight (map would not load)

Build: Trompe Loeil – The Cortona Villas V1.1 (with greenery) by Cory Edo (available at Collabor88 April 2014)

*Pose in photo 1 fri.day – fri. – monday.pose 1 by Darling Monday (available at Pose Fair 2014)
*Pose in photo 2 fri.day – fri. – monday.pose 5 by Darling Monday (available at Pose Fair 2014)
*Pose in photo 3 fri.day – fri. – careless.pose 1 by Darling Monday (available at Pose Fair 2014)

Photos taken using the LumiPro HUD

U Is For Ulysses Is Undecided

1 U is for Ulysses

Poor little Ulysses can’t make up his mind. Does he go for the tree or the fire hydrant? It’s tough being a dog with all of these decisions!

The little fella in my photo is “My Doggy,” a pose prop by Biabi Meili of EmmePose, available at Pose Fair 2014. I was wandering around Pose Fair, chatting to my buddy, Wendz, when I spotted him and SQUEEEEE’d all over her message box. At one point in our discussion about him she asked, “What are we going to name him?” I suggested Xavier for the letter X, since we are both doing the Inventory Alphabet Challenge. Then she went and named him Red. So instead of waiting another four days to let the little guy out, I named him Ulysses and here he is.

I will admit that I had a little trouble adjusting the poses using this prop, but with the proper camera angle, it still works out. He’s just too adorable not to photograph. In fact, he is so cute I have him sitting outside my showroom to welcome everyone who stops by.

Just don’t make the poor little puppy have to make any tough choices 😉

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Top: Apple May Designs Alice Tank (S) – Antique by Apple May
Jeans: Maitreya Boyfriend Jeans Slim + Belt – Original by Onyx LeShelle
Boots: Maitreya Gold * Tan * Laud Boots Slink-High by Onyx LeShelle
Hair: *Dura* JAPAN FAIR Limited hair A-3 by chiaki Xue (colour modified)
Necklace: Cae :: Promise :: Necklace by Caelan Hancroft
Earrings & Ring: Cae:: Promise :: Earrings & Ring by Caelan Hancroft
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT PetalPink MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson
Nail polish: Flair – Fingernails Applier Slink A/E – Set 101 by Sasy Scarborough
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Trees and flowers from *Happy Mood* by Sasaya Kayo
Fire hydrant: Urban Style Fire hydrant (RED) by sergibuilder

*Ulysses (prop/pose): EmmePose My doggy by Biabi Meili (available at Pose Fair 2014)

Location: Pics by Peep Showroom

T Is For Torch Song

1 T is for Torch Song 01b

It’s quarter to three
There ain’t no one in the place except you and me
So set ’em up, Joe
I’ve got a little story you ought to know

~ Lyrics from “One For My Baby” by Johnny Mercer & Harold Arlen

A smokey bar, a melancholy piano and a beauty singing of lamented love. The perfect recipe for a torch song.

I’m not into fantasy or role play so I don’t usually visit Genre, but when I saw the theme this round was “Big Bands” I had to go. And I am happy I did.

This torch that I’ve found
Must be drowned or it soon might explode
So make it one for my baby
One more for the road
A long, long road

~ From “One For My Baby”

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

Dress Kastle Rock Couture : :KR: Marlena Gown – Nude by Spooky Mistwallow (available at Genre April 2014)
Necklace/earrings: ::: Krystal ::: Behira – Jewelry Set – Gold by Krystal Jenkins (available at Genre April 2014)
Hairpiece: Volstead . Peacock Headband . Gold/Black by Dolce Blackflag
Hair: Analog Dog AD – norma – dark reds by Queue Marlowe
Lips: Senzafine .:SF:. “Moonglow” Lip Color: Vintage Reds – Candy Apple by Synjari Myriam (available at Genre April 2014)
Nail appliers: Senzafine .:SF:. “Moonglow” Full Color: Vintage Reds by Synjari Myriam (available at Genre April 2014)
Skin: [PXL] Creations [PXL] JADE NAT PetalPink MEB C2 by Hart Larsson
Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual by Siddean Munro
Hand appliers:[PXL] Creations – [ PXL ] Slink Hand Appliers NAT by Hart Larsson
Eyes: Amacci Gaze Eyes – Ocean Blue by Carina Larsen
Lashes: Mon Cheri *MC* “Falsies” Eyelash by Freya Oliveri

Mic stand/pose: .mien. {vocals} by Connie Stratten (available at Genre April 2014)
Piano: ..::A.O.W::.. MESH Piano by worldwide Wonder
Tan vases: The Beachstore Patio Set Vases by Paula001 Goldschein
Black vase: PILOT – Larkin Set – Vase by Kaz Nayar
Build: Barnesworth Anubis [ba] south beach penthouse skybox by Barnesworth Anubis

Photo taken using the LumiPro HUD