A request went out on the Ch'Know friends group for bloggers to gather for a picture. I responded and it turned out to be my long time friend Rose Farina working on her community challenge of a nice tribute to the blogger community.
I agree with what she said. I have learned much of what I know in SL by reading blogs. My would like to add my thanks to those who spend their time taking the photos and writing posts, and especially the ones that go to the effort of preparing tutorials.
Of course I took pictures too. With a switch to a new extremely landscaped monitor, I am having problems framing pictures in world --- it seems to shift the photo much lower than I aim (not just the recent forced crop LL added). I only had one usable picture. Rose hadn't taken her position yet, and it doesn't show Ali.
Me, Crap, Rylan, Emerald, Kanomi, Isabeau, Gabby, Tym and Holli
(click for a larger view)
Here's an example of bloggers affecting my SL: Tym and I are wearing the sneakers that she listed as one of her "5 Things You Can't Live Without in SL" in response to another challenge. Reading the post led to meeting Tym, Ali and Cen and becoming a Ch'Know group member. Yay! My SL would be much quieter without them in it. Cas boos the idea.
Sophia came up with a simple but popular idea for a blogger challenge -- show yourself as you looked when you started SL and how you look now! Fun!
I rezzed as a human in Feb 2007, and I am still human part of the time. I am also fae (fairy), so just because it's different than most of the bloggers, I decided to show my start as a fae. It was hmm.....late spring 2008. I didn't have a wardrobe or a skin, so it was almost like being a newbie.
Even so I was very pleased with my look. The dress and wings are from my freind Rose Farina's shop RPC/Rose Petal Creations. Here is my first post Fae? Who Me?
I was thrilled with the skin - a sim opening gift from Tulli, you can just barely see pale stars over my eyebrows. The Maiden hair is from Bewitched (now Hairy Situations).
Fast forward to today. I usually wear long gowns, this one is from my favorite shop for role play, Caverna Obscura. It also has a short skirt option. My wings are almost always from Fancy Fairy; Violaine Villota is very talented. 
The skin is Bella II from Pulse. and Hair is Helen from Calico Creations and the wonderful rose wreath is from MandyMandy McMillan.
I am thinking of changing to Cupcakes new Embrace skin, but I do want to keep Casandra the fae queen a little otherworldly, rather than like a beautiful human. Sidhe traditionally have unusual eyes, but I keep my own (one-of-a-kind Christmas gift from ex-bf).
Hover pose by fellow Ch'Knower Sai Pennell - ImpEle (was Imperial Elegance).
Photos were taken at the medieval role play kingdom of Erebos.
BBBC Topic - Describe what your perfect Second Life day would be like.
My perfect day in SL?.....I thought about that while I exercised tonight after work. What would it be like? Would it be nothing but dancing, dancing, dancing? no, too much of a good thing can be boring too!
I was human for a year and a half before I donned wings for the first time. My perfect day would be a balance of the two, and time with good friends.
It would be a Sunday with Fae Fest, a kingdom wide dance in Aglarond choreographed by, and sponsored by fae (my friend Emy and myself). Everything would go smoothly for the event. Emy and the DJ's are always pros, but last time the stream went down when LL moved the sim to a different computer! None of that you hear? Everyone would have a splendid time. I wouldn't be buried under IM's during the event and it wouldn't take me an hour to wrap up afterward.
Fun role play later in the afternoon.
I was invited to participate today in my role as the Banrion na Fae (Queen of the Fae). The race of Wild Elves have been abducting and attempting to abduct someone. The last reported incident was two weeks ago and the main concern has shifted to an evil being trying to take over the kingdom. Here is the notice I posted after the role play (remember space for notices is only so big)
Wild Elves serve Fae Queen tip to gods
I am proven over trusting this day. I was approached by wild elves met before & felt no harm in. A being transformed into a dragon close to us & we hid together, went down a cliff to boats, & journeyed to Drakonis.
After lulling me with fish & fine drink, they led me further to a stone circle. The male restrained me, the female cut off the tip of my wing! They had the audacity to try and sooth me & doctor my wounds! I was released.
Through my anguish my impression was they were appeasing their gods.
Just one tiny shopping excursion to instantly (haha) find the perfect little something to complete an outfit. Actually I usually blog and notice shop. I either spot something in a blog (I don't read the fashion feed) or see something in one of the few notices I read. I have way more clothing than I need. What I really need to concentrate on is a new skin that looks like me. The only one I've found is the one I bought when I joined - a limited edition from Celestial Studios.
Lively chatter on the Ch'Know friends group scattered throughout the day and evening.
That evening dancing with the Funky Feats. This is my "time to relax" clue. Not that I always do. I sometimes write blog posts, my weekly report on the fae, and notices while dancing. The only time I'm guaranteed to not be attempting to multi-task is when I am couple dancing.
And later a dreamy wrap-up to the day as I do just that! Hop on a dance ball with one of my four favorite men in SL.
Absolute perfection? A day that includes time with the people that matter the most to me in this world.
Okay, yes I enjoy dancing. I either sit around, or dance on the chim Meara gave me (thx Meara!) while doing other stuff.
I started blogging on LiveJournal about five years ago. It is a partial record of my doings in the Society for Creative Anachronism (the SCA), with a few posts concerning work. I still have the LJ account, although rarely update it. My hours have changed at work, I no longer can attend either the barony's month business meetings or their activities nights. I am self-motivating for a few years and after that I peter out. Enough frustrations (research results, money, material availability) will also affect how often I start a new project. I miss the meetings and make it to few events (department manger job description includes working Saturdays); and in part I compensate for that lost of social outlet with SL.
In Second Life I opened an account with blogger just for the AV pic that goes up next to comments!
I really started blogging in June 2008. It's now 130 posts later and I'm still put something up here occasionally. I always have posts waiting in the wings so to speak. I don't have enough time to get them all up. I joined the SL Bloggers group this week on Noel's recommendation - does that make me an official blogger??
I really enjoyed the reading the entries for the bloggers challenge last year. I started right after that, when Creag put a link in one of his posts to my blog and it only had three posts.
Has blogging enriched my SL? I'm not really sure. I know other bloggers efforts have though. I stumbled across a response to Ali's "5 Things I Couldn't Live Without". That one post set my life in SL on a new path!
Ali's blog has definitely had the most influence on my SL. She is directly responsible for my becoming a card-carrying role-playing fae which brought me in touch with one of my best friends - Creag. Dyami's post nudged me to my first Hump Day party and Cen invited me to join the Ch'Know friends group. I've rolled with laughter over posts from Ali, Tym and other Ch'Know friends. Tym and Jerremy's generosity to newbies through Starting Point housing has put me in touch with other people and brought me another friend, Xavia. I have shed tears over posts by these amazing people, laughed with their silliness, felt for their heartache.
SL has enriched my life because of the people I would have never known without it. My hat's off to each and every one of you!
Ali and Sophia came up with a fun new blogger challenge! Time Travelers. Go to a place or era that you would like to visit, take pics to post and embed a YouTube video.
I used to teach Art History, and fell in love with the stark, clean lines of architecture in Greece and Rome. I also really like the red-figure and black-figure vases. I've read a fair amount of the histories, a couple of Greek tragedies and watched several programs.
Cassandra, the daughter of the Trojan King Priam, is famous for foreseeing the fall of Troy. Somehow I ended up role playing a fae, rather than a citizen of the ancient world. And if you are a long time reader, you may have read the post - it's all Ali's fault! *Cas hugs and thanks Ali*
The first two pictures are from Greece.
The texture on the columns is excellent.
I feel puny.
The last two pics are from Sparta. The artwork on the vase isn't correct, but the shape is good and it is attractive.
And of course where there are citizens with needs, there are merchants. Here is the marketplace at Sparta. I like that the paved road with the stone shops, degrades into a graveled road with merchants under canopies.
Sorry, I don't know how to embed a video, so here is the link to the original trailer for "Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Forum"
What's in My Bag?? This challenge started at Shopping Cart Disco and has been picked up by some of the bloggers.
I carry three different sized purses/totes depending on what I'm working on. I usually spend my lunch hour sitting in the employee break room doing hand work - embroidery or beading, sometimes hand sewing re-enactment garments. If it's a little project, it will fit in this black leather Nine West bag I was given. If I have nothing going on, I read and carry either this bag for a hardback or a really little suede bag that must be 20-30 years old and still had tags on it when mom gave it to me last year! If I am working on a bulky project, I carry one of three larger totes made by Timeless Treasures and given to me by a fabric rep.
The contents are pretty consistent:
- mirror
- comb (use a brush at home)
- sunglasses case
- travel sized rolaids (don't use much)
- travel sized excedrin
- keys
- two house keys for friend's homes (I cat sit when they are away)
- four dimes
- pen, permanent marker
- lipstick (I prefer gloss, but it was a good color)
- wallet (2 gas cards, ID, 2 check cards, New York & Co card, sometimes a couple of general credit cards, list of fav authors for when when the library doesn't have the book I went for)
- 2 deposit slips for household and personal accounts
- candy sleeve? that brown accordion folded paper that holds a piece of boxed candy (shouldn't eat it...)
The lip balm (Neutrogena <--- good) and cell phone are missing.
Oh, and that's Eclipse, the third book in the Twilight series. First vampire books I've read. I've seen the classic movies and saw Bram Stoker's Dracula performed.
Ana Lutetia suggested the Dress Me Up challenge from Achariya Rezak of a long skirt from MG Fashion with a cute jacket from Dutch Touch. First I took a look at what I already have from MG Fashion - pants, a swimsuit, even a beret, but no skirts! My shopping trip reminded me of a jacket and at least one cute top I had intended to purchase.
The burnt orange shade lent itself well to the leaf motif and with my embroidery background, I'm drawn to applique. Dutch Touch has scads of tops to chose from. The belt has green in it, making me think even my mother, who is very matchy, matchy, would condone my choices. Yes, choices! A jacket ............
and then a cute top with a shrug. I don't have the tiniest waist; it's very slimming. The gap between the top and the skirt is too narrow to look like it is on purpose, so it is filled in with matching underpants.
Okay, time to start accessorizing. And here kudos to the Peace on Earth hunt, not because anything came from there (I've done a small fraction of it) but because hitting some of the shops caused me to notice that Eolande designed jewelry specifically for three of the hairstyles I wear. Yay! To wit - the hair pins have color change options and persimmon matches the skirt beautifully.
The back view of the top gives a tantalizing glimpse of the spine for a gentleman who might like to run his finger down it.
I switched hairstyles to show off the Dragonfly earrings. All accessories are seen more easily by clicking on the pictures.
Location for the shoot was the Avenues at Sunset Park. The colors make a lovely backdrop for the autumnal tones of my clothing choices.
The skirt even dances well! I went to Blue Fusion to sit on the pier and finish this post. I was surprised to run into Hevy and Dawni doing synched couples dances. Hevy invited me to join them and since he was the only male friend on just then, he even recruited a partner for me! My thanks to Restless for being so agreeable.
I'm quite happy with the results and have a new outfit to show for it. Thanks Ana!
Credits:
Skirt - MG Fashion - Winter Flower Skirt, Orange
Jacket - Dutch Touch - Leather Jacket Short, Green
Top - LaLa T-shirt Tank, Buff
Top - Dutch Touch - London Green top w shrug
Bracelet - A la Folie - Quincaille Fine (gauche)
Earrings - Earthtones - Dragonfly Earrings, Fire
Eolande - Hair Pins for Marisela
Hair - ETD - Marisela II - Caramel *tinted*
Hair - Calla - Ash - Golden Red
Boots - Insolence - Natasha Boots, Charcoal
RL Story Time Boys and Girls ---
I think my mother is unusual. An example: When my friends got bicycles, mom tried to talk me into a scooter - like the 13 year old neighbor boy had! I wanted to fit in and insisted on the bicycle. My brother and I rode our bikes together growing up.
Although dad wasn't a farmer, I grew up on a farm. Transportation was paramount. A family of four = four vehicles. The Christmas I was seventeen, car keys with my name were hanging on the tree. I started Drivers Ed a week later.
The first vehicle I bought for myself was a Firebird; the second was a small Honda motorcycle. I applied for a job. The application for the national chain had a silly question "How will you get to work?" Answer? motorcycle. As soon as the manager read that far, he pointed it out to the assistant manager and said they'd have to hire me - they both had cycles! I am a wimp, and would never touch a larger bike; I was convinced I wouldn't be able to stand it up again if it overbalanced.
I was working there when I met my husband. He came equipped with a cycle; but could never understand why I wouldn't ride on the back. Okay, I tried it once or twice. BOOORRRING
I could never be considered a Biker Chick though. Very atypical. My sister-in-law (husband's side of the family) was a biker chick. The night he met her, her future husband kidnapped her from a bar, put her onto the back of his Harley and rode off with her into the sunset for the weekend! She thought it was romantic!
I no longer own one, but I still have the permit. :D
When Cen suggested "Dress Me Up" as a Biker Chick, I never even thought about a personal connection! I thought about how to interpret the theme and came up with three scenarios!
1) Clubbing - Out for the night - leather pants, satin top, solid gold earrings, snazzy shoes and freshly colored hair.
2) Lookin' Good - jeans w studs, white lacy top, leather jacket, jewelry & boots with buckled straps and heels you can't ride in.
3) Hanging out at the shop - every biker I've met wears logo t-shirts, so....here's the king of all bikes. Typical for me, if I don't have something to do, I'll find something to sit on even if it's the floor or the ground.
With a pack rat mentality that half way prepares me for themed events and an inventory of 19,000, I was able to play dress up with my only purchase being the tattoo! This is one I would chose in RL if I had a tat!
Thanks Cen, this was a bit of a challenge, but loads of fun!
Credits:
1) Aitui Tattoo, invasion pants-Panache, dream girl bodice of dress-Alchemy(Christmas 07);konase shoes- R2;City Gurl Strawberry-GuRL 6
2) Ambrosia in Blood - House of Heart, Bubble Earrings - Miriel, "Silver Rockstar Jeans" - G.L.A.M., Empire Open Jacket, suede boots - SF Design, caraco - Attitudes
3) Signature jeans - Callie Cline, Bubble earrings - Miriel, Nadia in carmel - ETD,sorry no info on the t-shirt
I'm going to offer to let you dress me up. Yes, I'm late. Especially at this busy, busy holiday time, I'm not the least bit sure I'll have any takers, but it looks like fun. Here is the link to Achariya's blog with the challenge guidelines. The potential damage to my budget kept me from volunteering earlier, so please hold potential purchases to no more than 250 lindens.
I play both as a human and a fae, so if you would like wings included, please say so.
This stunning lingerie set with the wonderful satin texture is from Chic boutique. Sadly it is no longer available. However, there are other offerings to tempt you. The pose is from Imperial Elegance
Me, Crap, Rylan, Emerald, Kanomi, Isabeau, Gabby, Tym and Holli
