Shopping in Second Life

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)

The silver thorn, the bloody rose lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

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1 The silver thorn of bloody rose lies crused and broken on the virgin snow sm

Starry, starry night
Portraits hung in empty halls
Frameless head on nameless walls
With eyes that watch the world and can’t forget
Like the strangers that you’ve met
The ragged men in the ragged clothes
The silver thorn of bloody rose
Lie crushed and broken on the virgin snow

Now I think I know what you tried to say to me
How you suffered for your sanity
How you tried to set them free
They would not listen, they’re not listening still
Perhaps they never will…

~ “Vincent” by Don McLean

While he is best known for the iconic hit, “American Pie,” my favourite Don McLean song has always been “Vincent.” His ode to Vincent van Gogh is haunting and beautiful, sad and filled with regret. But it is also a song of forgiveness; an understanding of how this genius grappled with his demons and ultimately overcame his struggle. The fact that the world was deprived of his brilliance is pardoned, knowing that this master finally knew peace.

This post didn’t begin being about this song or this artist. It started with the dress, a group gift from Salt & Pepper for her one year anniversary as a designer. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do with a latex dress, so I zeroed in on the colour. I knew the starkness of a snowy background would create drama; the props came as an afterthought (although anything from [ keke ] pops to the foreground when I think of adding something pretty to a scene). It was only after I “planted” the bush that the lyrics to the song came to mind.

I haven’t listened to this song in years. But creating this photo, the lyrics came back to me as clearly as the beauty of van Gogh’s masterpiece.

Starry, starry night
Flaming flowers that brightly blaze
Swirling clouds in violet haze
Reflect in Vincent’s eyes of china blue
Colors changing hue, morning fields of amber grain
Weathered faces lined in pain,
Are soothed beneath the artist’s loving hand

Sleep well, Vincent, underneath the starry night.

Pretty stuff I’m showiong off:

*Dress: Salt & Pepper S&P Dress Annie maitreya exp by xxSaltandPepperxx (group gift at the main store)
*Shoes: fri.day fri. – Macey.Platforms (Cherry) – Maitreya by Darling Monday (available at Uber through February 23rd)
Hair/pose: *ARGRACE* Akane – Cherry by rika Oyen
Eyelids: Slink Mesh eyelids (alpha) (photo prop) by Siddean Munro
Ears: [MANDALA]SIMPLE_EARS_HUTUU by kikunosuke Eel
Body, hands and feet: Maitreya Mesh Body – Lara by Onyx LeShelle
*Skin: [PXL] Creations Shara Winter NAT Makeup 03 REB C2 by Hart Larsson
Tattoo: [White~Widow] Legend – Henna – RARE by Julie Hastings (gacha prize at The Epiphany January 2016)

*Book: [ keke ] book of magic by Kean Kelly (available at Shiny Shabby through February 10th)
*Bush: [ keke ] winter flowers – shrub 1 by Kean Kelly (available at The Seasons Story through January 31st)
*Petals: [ keke ] winter flower ground by Kean Kelly (available at The Seasons Story through January 31st)

Photo taken with LUMIPro 2016 by Stefan Buscaylet

A Winter Scene

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1 A Winter Scene sm

Frigid winter days are usually best spent cuddled up inside with a crackling fire, a snuggly blanket and good book. But once you look outside and see the sun sparkling off of the frozen pond, snow just begging to be turned into a snowman or snowballs and the promise of hot cocoa when your fingertips have turned blue inside your mittens, the comforts of home become a place to return to after a bit of fun in the crisp winter air.

Wayward Winter is open from January 18th through the 31st. There you can find just about everything you need to create your own winter scene.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

From Wayward Winter January 18-31, 2016:
*Cabin: {what next} Snowy Alpine Cabin by Winter Thorn
*Hot Cocoa Stand: Soy. Hot Cocoa Stand by Soyoy
*Hot Cocoa Sign: Soy. Cocoa stand Signboard by Soyoy
*Sled Bench: Sway’s [Sled] Bench by Sway Dench
*Snowball Pile: ! Lost Junction! [LJ] Snowball Pile A by Tala Laval
*Hearts: Tool Shed – Scattered Hearts – 2 – Light by Fallacy DeCuir

Other items:
Skating pond: {what next} Winter Iced Over Pond (Mesh) by FrankLee Anatra
Bench: {what next} Bramley Bench (Pine Winter) by Winter Thorn
Chariot: !six o’clock! cuddle chariot – White by Pepite Roxan
Snowman: DRD snowman – gift for arcade by Jaimy Hancroft
Crane: +Half-Deer+ Crane the Lightbringer – Silver by Halogen Magic
Ermine: +Half-Deer+ Winter Whimsy – Snowy Ermine by Halogen Magic
Snow piles: +Half-Deer+ Snow Tracks – Patch (Heavy) by Halogen Magic
Fox: The Secret Store – Winter Foxes – Playful / White by Maylee Oh (gacha prize)
Doves: {anc} NO LIMITS // flock of flying doves. [ham-pink] and NO LIMITS // flock of doves [choco-brown] by aki69 (gacha prizes)
Skis: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Entryway – Antique Skis by danielestro (gacha prize at Kustom9 January, 2016)
Ski poles: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Entryway – Ski Poles by danielestro (gacha prize at Kustom9 January, 2016)
Box of candles: [ zerkalo ] Vintage Entryway – Crate with Candles by danielestro (gacha prize at Kustom9 January, 2016)
Large tree: Hayabusa Design Willow Tree M15-1 v2-1 T10G by Mitsuko Kytori (subscriber gift)
Trees: Studio Skye Enchanted Woods v2 by Alex Bader
Grass: HPMD* Winter Grass 2013 – b by Sasaya Kayo