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Pretty Stuff I’m Showing Off

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1 Once Upon A Winter's Night A sm

Yesterday marked my third year of blogging. It amazes me how some days it feels as if I have been blogging for 30 years and others it feels as if I have been blogging for 30 minutes. Like a lot of things, blogging has gone in cycles for me. I will go into a frenzy and post daily for a while, then I might drop off for a week…on a couple of occasions, longer than that. When blogging begins to seem like a chore, I am more likely to take a break until something inspires me to dust off the camera and shoot another photo. Or 12.

I am fortunate to be an official blogger for several creators and events. I take this responsibility seriously; I do my best to blog everything that I am given. The only times I don’t is when either time or inspiration (or both) prevent me from presenting the items to my very best. No, I am not the most gifted photographer in Second Life. Nor am I the most verbose author in the blogging realm. But I am honest and always try to blog with integrity.

I learned the hard way to blog only things that I would buy myself. That is how I started; simply photographing and writing about things I had purchased and loved. I don’t apply to blog for designers or events that aren’t regulars on my shopping list and I have turned down a lot of offers from designers, simply because their style didn’t fit my own. If you read the credits at the end of my posts, you will see that I head them with “Pretty stuff I’m showing off.” That isn’t just a tag line; it is more or less my philosophy of blogging. If it’s pretty and I like it, I want to show it off for the designer who has chosen to share his or her talent with us.

I was asked just a few days ago what my blogging specialty was. It really was a question that stumped me. I rambled on about fashion, H&G and even location shots, but never really did answer the question. After thinking about it for a few days I have come to the realisation that my specialty is simply, “Pretty things I’m showing off.”

Thank you to all of the designers who have given me the gift of your talent, the readers who have been here since nearly the beginning (Cao, Wendz, Rwah, Alexa, Cheri) and those who have stopped by frequently without leaving a comment. I’d love if you did; comments to me are the beginnings of conversations, and conversations lead to friendships.

I’ll leave my ramblings off for now, and let you get to the good stuff. You know…

The pretty stuff I’m showing off:

*Sweater: {amiable}Over-sized Knit Cardigan Gacha by nodoko Vella (available at Wayward Winter through January 31, 2016)
Leggings: Flair – Tempter Leggings – Maitreya Applier Pack 3 by Sasy Scarborough
*Boots: Salt & Pepper S&P boot Mara by xxSaltandPepperxx (available at Wayward Winter through January 31, 2016)
*Hair: [^.^Ayashi^.^] Nessie hair-Fatpack by Ikira Frimon (available at Wayward Winter through January 31, 2016)
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] DeadMan – Henna by Julie Hastings
Eyes: IKON Sovereign Eyes – Tropical by Ikon Innovia

*Moon, lantern & pose: Le Poppycock Le PC *Upon a Winter’s Night* Elysian Light (Moon) by Olivia Lalonde (available at Wayward Winter through January 31, 2016)
Photo taken with LUMIPro 2016 by Stefan Buscaylet

Location: Furillen

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

Secrets, Dreams, Memories, Hope.

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1 A Very keke Corner sm

When I was an adolescent, my aunt nicknamed me “Grace.” Not because of my poise and elegance; it was what she called “an ironic nickname.” While I hadn’t been an overly clumsy child, something seemed to be triggered in puberty, turning me into the kid who walked into doors, slipped on the ice and slid underneath the school bus and fell up stairs. While I dreamed of being a gymnast, I was lucky to get out of my teens with only a few sprains and no broken bones.

Unfortunately, I didn’t grow out of my awkwardness as I reached my twenties. I was dubbed by an ex as “the only person who could fall down on dry concrete.” I began taking more care, paying more attention and eventually my spills and crashes began to lessen. I’m no ballerina, but I can now traverse a parking lot without tripping over the marking lines.

The moniker bestowed upon me by my aunt may seem a bit cruel. However, she used the nickname lovingly; she was, in fact, my favourite aunt. She discouraged me from doing too many cartwheels and instead, fed my love of books. She was a teacher with a wicked sense of humour and a passion for learning. She taught me that the best way to overcome a shortcoming was to face it head on and accept it, then turn it to my advantage. My lack of grace – and willingness to laugh at it – allowed me to accept who I was and focus on the things at which I excelled. I was an honour student, a leading lady in school and community plays, and the person who would always be the first to laugh. I embraced who I really was, replacing my hopes and dreams of becoming the next Nadia Comaneci with just becoming the best person I could be.

The tin box side table from [ keke ] that is the centrepiece of my photo was the catalyst for this little story. You are probably aware I am the biggest [ keke ] fan on the grid, but this newest release ranks right up with my favourites. It is, like all things Kean Kelly creates, delicate, detailed and lovingly crafted. From the subtle shading of the textures to her choice of font for the words, it is everything I love. Most of all, when a virtual object can prompt visceral memories, the creator has done her job.

You can find this little box of perfection at the [ keke ] mainstore. You will only need to provide the secrets, dreams, memories and hope.

Pretty stuff I’m showing off:

From [ keke ] by Kean Kelly

*[ keke ] tin box side table – bright (new release at Main Store)
[ keke ] glitter frames
[ keke ] water mister – floral
[ keke ] spring candle tin – brass 1
[ keke ] spring candle tin – floral 1
*[ keke ] skull keys
*[ keke ] winter flowers – small branch (available at The Seasons Story Winter – January 2016)
*[ keke ] winter flowers – large branch (available at The Seasons Story Winter – January 2016)
*[ keke ] winter flower ring (available at The Seasons Story Winter – January 2016)
*[ keke ] winter flower ground (available at The Seasons Story Winter – January 2016)
*[ keke ] tea lights – big random
*[ keke ] shimmer stars in a dish
*[ keke ] hogweed in vase
*[ keke ] winter metal box dusk
[ keke ] milk jug flowers – white
[ keke ] star cluster
[ keke ] twinkle pendel dark – mini
*[ keke ] shimmer dust

Build: Scarlet Creative Anya House by Scarlett Bartlett (available at Collabor88 January 2016)