Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to go slow…

TUNES

There are faces, there are smiles,
So many teeth, too many arms and legs
And eyes and flashing buttons all around me
I’m a-watching, I’m a-breathing, I’m a-pushing, I’m a wishing
That these walls would not be talking quite so loudly
I have burnt down once before I’ve pulled myself up from the floor
And I am looking for a reason to stay standing
But sometimes it’s just too much or not enough or something else
It’s so much bigger than my head, it’s too demanding

I have met so many people, we’ve exchanged so many words
We’ve said it all and we’ve said nothing but it’s changed us
I have know a lot of men, some were lovers, some were friends
But all together were they merely passing strangers?
They’ll control you with their
Silence, they’ll control you with their words
And you’ll control them with your body’s coded signals
In the wild, entangled gardens of our insecurities
We lose our heads into eachother’s hidden pitfalls

Sometimes the fastest way to get there is to go slow
And sometimes if you wanna hold on you got to let go

I’m gonna close my eyes
And count to ten
I’m gonna close my eyes
And when I open them again
Everything will make sense to me then

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-ten…

[Tina Dico]

Clothing

Dress: [CX] – “Vicious Vaccine – Dress ( Black )” (Maitreya, Gacha,

Stockings: .:Avanti:. – “Ripped Nylons – v4” (BoM)

Shoes: Wicca’s Originals – “Chandni Booties” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Kinky Event // May 2020

Accessories

Glasses (including Eye & Blood): Madame Noir – “Broken Glasses Woman Dark Version” – NEW @ OUTRE

Rings & Nails: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Infernal Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Collar: [CX] – “Hell’s Harbinger (Black Out+Silver)” (Maitreya)

Necklace 1: [CX] – “Enochian Succuba – Choker ( Black )” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common)

Necklace 2: Noodles – “Duo Byzantine Collar : Silver” (store closed)

Cuffs: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Bondage Deluxe Set” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: [KoKoLoReS] – “Oakes”

Face Shading: Nefekalum Tattoos – “Cheek and Nose Contour” (BoM)

Brows: ~Songbird~ – “Pencil Thin Brows” (store closed, BoM)

Lipstick: CAZIMI – “Trending HD Lips (LeLutka) Set 01 Classics” (LeLutka Evo. HD Applier)

Head, Body & Tattoos

Head: LeLutka – “Lake 1.2”

Ears: [CX] – “Withered Berzerker Ears”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 5.1”

Tattoo: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo Dark Devious” (BoM)

Poses & Props

Poses: Foxcity

Wall: Architect. – “Javi Wall Panel (new moon)”

Seat: ::WetCat&LittleFox – “Vertiline” Erotic Ottoman”

Lights:  uK – “Metal Stiks w/Lights L.E. Silver”

Closet 1: Fapple – “Closet Cage” (tinted)

Closet 2: Fapple – “Closet Closed” (tinted)

Cat 1: CODEX – “THE KINKY CATS n.13 R Black” (Gacha, Rare)

Cat 2: CODEX – “THE KINKY CATS n.4 Black” (Gacha, Common)

Cat 3: CODEX – “THE KINKY CATS n.8 Black” (Gacha, Common)

Cat 4: CODEX – “THE KINKY CATS n.10 Black” (Gacha, Common)

Cat 5: CODEX – “THE KINKY CATS n.12 Black” (Gacha, Common)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Imagine…

TUNES

You, you may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you will join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man

Imagine all the people
Living life in peace

[John Lennon]

Clothing

Top: neve – “Milla” (Maitreya)

Pants: Blueberry – “Pride Shorts” (Maitreya, SL16B Gift)

Shoes: [Gos] – “Emelie Sandals” (Maitreya) – NEW @ UBER // August 2019

Accessories

Legwraps: Storybook – “Savage – Brown” (Maitreya)

Necklace 1: Eudora3D – “Eithne Necklace Gold Materials”

Necklace 2: MG – “Leather Alexa Choker – Design 3”

Rings: Meva – “Bento Maitreya Rings Gold” (Maitreya, Bento)

Glasses: EarthStones – “The Yesterday”

Headpiece: DRD – “Vagabond – Flower Crown”

Bangles (l): DRD – “Chunky Bangles – Flower”

Bracelet (r): [ kunst ] – “Conrad Bracelet”

Piercing:  [ kunst ] – “Piercing #10” (Gacha, Common)

Septumn: [ kunst ] – “Anuket Septum Ring”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No.Weird” – NEW @ COSMOPOLITAN // August 12th, 2019

Makeup: Zibska – “Noir Pack 06” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Ears: CODEX – “Marley Ears”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo: ((Mister Razzor)) – “Dante” (Omega Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Foxcity

Set:

DRD – “The Stranded Pack Rat”

DRD – “Vagabond – Guitar” (Groupgift

DRD – “Post Apoc Camp Sitting Crates 1”

DRD – “GG – Catcher – One” (Groupgift

22769 ~ [bauwerk] – “Beertray Sidetable Green” (table made transparent to use ashtray and cigarettes)

Location

…:::Bartertown:::…

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

“Visionaries and dreamers have always been dusted with a little oddity.”

“The key to success is to risk thinking unconventional thoughts. Convention is the enemy of progress.”

[Trevor Baylis]

Today probably is the last chance to visit this incredible, awesome sim if you not yet did! Cica Ghost did it again… she amazed me with one of her installations and over exploring her newest built, I again forgot to take pictures and when she said it will only last a few more days, I really had to make something!

I really think that our RL affects our SL, especially in the creative department. I was kinda paralyzed the past few weeks. I never ever had experienced mobbing at one of my working places before and now, being over 40 I have to learn about that. I still have no clue what the motivation for those people can be, but to me it is just a senseless power game for no reason. Probably just because they can and they are bored in their own little life. A mixture of disappointment, anxiety and anger did really throw me out of place because of that and I had a hard time to be creative while all this bullshit was going on. Now that I do have holidays and started to sort myself again, some creativity seems to come back even if it is weird. Yesterday I already had those weird thoughts about that poor little octopus and today I had the strange vision about taking my goldfish out for a walk. Certain the “Dogwood by Cica Ghost” did parts of that too as I loved the idea, IF iI should take out goldfishes for a walk it does have to be in a super dry and dusted environment to make it even more surreal :p

Both of my quotes, the title and the one below the first picture are from Trevor Baylis. I recently discovered him and I do have to admit, many of his quotes hit right into my soul. He was an English inventor best known for the wind-up radio (LINK). With thinking a lot about myself and the world in general the past weeks, I read a lot of biographies and just let my mind flow over the world wide web finding some really interesting people that I never had heard of before. Reading some of their statements about certain things, really changed my personal visions and thoughts a little. Most of them were not actual celebrities but older ones or some that lived in past centuries, but still their visions do apply to the present tense. I feel weird saying it did help me but some of their thoughts really made me think about myself again and I was able to step out of that weird mood that RL and my work situation had put me in.

Clothing

Dress & Headpiece: Fellini Couture – “Yuko” (Maitreya)

Panty: Scandalize – “Nicole” (Maitreya)

Jacket: [Azuchi] – “Amber Jacket Black” (Maitreya)

Shoes: EQUAL – “Nixie Platforms” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Leg Bands: Gemini – “Sis Leg Bangles” (Maitreya)

Collar: CODEX – “Perception” (Maitreya)

Glasses: HAYSURIZA – “Eyewear Lawyer”

Rings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Thunderstrike” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nails: FORMANAILS – “Wedding” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: .shi – “Kuwn”

Makeup: Look At Me – “Submissibe Eyeshadows” (Omega Applier)

Lipstick: Izzie’s – “Spring Colors Lipgloss” (LeLutka Applier)

Hairbase: Mina Hair – “”Myla” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Akasuna”

Tattoo (Leg): Redfish – “Masa” (Maitreya Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon

Fish Props: *[BB] – “The Friendly Fish Companion Set 04” (Gacha)

Location

Dogwood by Cica Ghost

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

“I am not here to fit in your World – I am here to make my own!”

“It is a law of nature we overlook, that intellectual versatility is the compensation for change, danger, and trouble. An animal perfectly in harmony with its environment is a perfect mechanism. Nature never appeals to intelligence until habit and instinct are useless. There is no intelligence where there is no change and no need of change. Only those animals partake of intelligence that have a huge variety of needs and dangers.”

[H.G. Wells, The Time Machine]

Steampunk always had something that pulled me closer… I do not know what exactly it is, but maybe it has to do with today’s title. It always had something active to me… something that develops forward never staying still somehow. Maybe that is part of the attraction it has to me 🙂 The Victorian epoch, was a time of inventions, so no wonder that the steampunk era was put into that time frame somehow. But what exactly is steampunk? Lets see what Wikipedia has to say 😉

“Steampunk is a sub-genre of science fiction or science fantasy that incorporates technology and aesthetic designs inspired by 19th-century industrial steam-powered machinery. Although its literary origins are sometimes associated with the cyberpunk genre, steampunk works are often set in an alternative history of the 19th century British Victorian era or the American “Wild West”, in a future during which steam power has maintained mainstream usage, or in a fantasy world that similarly employs steam power. However, steampunk and neo-Victorian are different in that the neo-Victorian movement does not extrapolate on technology while technology is a key aspect of steampunk.

Steampunk most recognizably features anachronistic technologies or retro-futuristic inventions as people in the 19th century might have envisioned them, and is likewise rooted in the era’s perspective on fashion, culture, architectural style, and art. Such technologies may include fictional machines like those found in the works of H. G. Wells and Jules Verne, or of the modern authors Philip Pullman, Scott Westerfeld, Stephen Hunt, and China Miéville. Other examples of steampunk contain alternative-history-style presentations of such technology as steam cannons, lighter-than-air airships, analogue computers, or such digital mechanical computers as Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine.

Steampunk may also incorporate additional elements from the genres of fantasy, horror, historical fiction, alternate history, or other branches of speculative fiction, making it often a hybrid genre. The first known appearance of the term steampunk was in 1987, though it now retroactively refers to many works of fiction created as far back as the 1950s or 1960s.

Steampunk also refers to any of the artistic styles, clothing fashions, or subcultures that have developed from the aesthetics of steampunk fiction, Victorian-era fiction, art nouveau design, and films from the mid-20th century. Various modern utilitarian objects have been modded by individual artisans into a pseudo-Victorian mechanical “steampunk” style, and a number of visual and musical artists have been described as steampunk.” [Wikipedia]

So steampunk is nothing that really existed back then, but was invented by the desire of the thoughts what time back then could have been with its future thoughts… yeah sounds crazy, but it does make sense if you get deeper into it 😉

Maybe it is as well the colors that are assigned to that kind of styles. I love the combination of muted, dark colors and the gold and copper metals. It just falls together so well most of the time and you always get a lightly elegant touch even if you do not wear a long gown :p Maybe it is the feeling of strength, that all the gear and leather gives most of the outfits and the huge buildings, vehicles and structures you can find if you look up steampunk in SL or google about steampunk in RL.

Whatever it is, steampunk does have a huge fascination for me and I do enjoy those styles and looks a lot, so that won’t be the last time I am styling up like a Victorian steampunk or a dieselpunk ‘Conqueror’ to discover new and unexplored space and maybe get more information about the mystery of the time machines 😉

Clothing

Dress: Wicca’s Originals – “Cecilia”

Sleeves: Wicca’s Originals – “Amity Arms” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Shoes & Socks: Eudora3D – “Yana Boots” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Mask: [ContraptioN] – “Maskineri II Eye *???*”

Necklace: Codex – “Vintage Time”

Rings: Meva – “Victorian Bento Rings” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nails: Formanails – “Cris Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Wings: Luas – “Steam Commander Bento Wings Beige” (Maitreya, Bento, Gacha, Common)

Hair & Makeup

Makeup: alaskametro<3 – “Molten Eyeshadow” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Hair: no.match – “No.Ring” NEW @ Salon 52

Body & Tattoo

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Piper 3.3”

Skin: *YS&YS* – “Petal Tone 02 Skin Applier” (LeLutka/Maitreya Applier)

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Nepthune”

Shape: .{ wren’s nest } – “Piper Shape for LeLutka Piper Bento Head”

Poses & Props

Poses: Foxcity

Set:

DRD – “Steampunk Airship – Ground”

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Antique Gramophone” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Drum Table” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Pipes Lamp” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Armchair” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Bike Figurine” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Cart Table” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Glass Of Red Wine” (Gacha, Common)

22769 – “Steampunk Salon – Wine Bottle” (Gacha, Common)

::Static:: – “Vintage Lighting – 15 Bulb Lamp” (Gacha, Common)

::Static:: – “Vintage Lighting – 11 Desk Light” (Gacha, Common)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

From Russia with Love… maybe not Russia, but with Love ;)

Yesterday we had the first real snow over here, which was on the ground longer than just a few minutes before it did melt again. But it did not survive the night ;(

But while it was snowing big flakes yesterday, I was in such a winter mood, I could not resist to grab the awesome “FRWL” gacha set from Salt & Pepper and play with it a little. What caught my attention was one of the rares. FRWL means From Russia with Love and the set was built for the actual round of Epiphany. What caught my attention, was the way how the coat falls and the incredible texture of the fur. I rarely saw a coat falling so realistic and even moving awesome with all kind of poses. But the texture did really blow me away. Usually if you see fur in Second Life, it is a lot of alpha and some blurry textures to get the feeling of fur and that often gives you a headache with pictures as you have all kind of alpha glitches all over with your background and hair, if you not just use a plain wall.

The cool hair certainly was made by no.match 😉 I never made a secret out of the fact, that I am a no.match addicted for hair :p This time it is the release for the actual round of the Tres Chic event. With the curly hair, it gave the whole look a not as strict and classy look and I could use some sexy boots with over-knee socks from Eudora 3d to complete the look.

I was thinking a lot about a background for this look. First I was thinking about an airport scenery, but I could not find any with snow around. Then I tried some kind of shopping mall, but that just did not look right at all. In the end Í decided to look for a sweet winter location, which I found with Luanes Winter World. When I joined the goup wich was for free, I even could rez my pose stand and some extra snow here and there 😉 Certainly there is a way, where you can still put stuff around you even if you can’t rez – you simply can attach everything to your body and when you found your pose you can edit it and move it all in place. But just rezzing it is way more easy! When I was done I just explored the sim a little more and found a lot of other corners, which would be great for pictures, so I am sure that was not my last visit there…

Outfit

Coat: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “FRWL Coat RARE” (Maitreya, Gacha)

Dress: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “FRWL Dress Black” (Maitreya, Gacha)

Gloves: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “FRWL Gloves Black” (Maitreya, Gacha)

Shoes: Eudora 3D – “Yana Boots” (Maitreya)

Tights: Izzie’s – “Sheer Tights Basics” (Maitreya Applier)

Accessories

Bag: *{Junbug}* – “Cute Coin Purse Worn” (Gacha)

Glasses: [Steinwerk] – “Aviator Custom”

Necklace: CODEX – “Vintage Time”

Septum: [ kunst ] – “Anuket Septum Ring”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No.Body” – NEW @ Tres Chic

Lipstick: alaskametro<3 – “London” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Poses & Props

Foxcity & Luanes World

Location

Luanes Winter World

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Fly with the Dragons

After a rough week again I am able to do a blog post. It is funny how bad you desire some SL blogging when RL becomes stressy and rough, while you sometimes desire RL back when blogging is too overloading 😉

I saw those dragons from E.V.E for a while and did not dare to get them, as I wasn’t sure if I can make it on time. But today I finally got the chance 🙂

The “Scatha” dragons come with a huge HUD to chnage colors and even the opacity of the head and the tail. Their eyes first did drive me nuts – they kept moving no matter what I was doing – until I found out, they follow my avatar!

While I was thinking for a cool set I remembered the “Sunny Spells”, as well made by E.V.E Studio. The made such a great background that I decided I do not need more 😉

I want to drag your attention to my hands for a little bit. I do know FORMANAILS for a long time, but did you ever hear of it? Ivi Bings is one of the best skilled artists when it comes to nail art and hand accessories. Today I combined 2 of her amazing designs – the “Simple Rings” and the “Chris Claws”. They go along perfectly and with the HUD you can customize each part to what ever you need. If you search for something special, something different and out of the box for your hands, go take a look at FORMANAILS. She recently changed her store and you now go shopping in a huge shopping bag 😉

The hair as well is something new, made ny no.match for the MOM event. The “No.Suffer” hairstyle is am amazing unisex, short hairstyle. I love the hair textures of the no.match hair a lot and with the update from her A version to her B version, they became even more realistic. With my short hair addiction, the “No.Suffer” just was a must have for me 😉

Tomorrow I will be back with some more Halloween looks – I enjoy the dark and scary season way too much I guess 😉

Outfit & Accessories

Top, Skirt & Panties: Casadel – “Jasmine” (Maitreya)

Shoes: UTOPIA@Design – “Noemi” – (Maitreya) –  NEW @ UBER

Gloves: CODEX – “Medea” (Maitreya, Bento)

Scarf: Bauhaus Movement – “Apoc Kitty Scarf” (Hunt Gift) – NEW @ Ironwood Hills

Garter: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Rebirth (Rosary Garter)” – NEW @ Kinky

Rings: FORMANAILS – “Rings Simple” (Maitreya, Bento)

Nails: FORMANAILS – “Chris Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No.Suffer” – NEW @ MOM

Face & right Eye: VYC – “Hunter” (LeLutka Applier)

Makeup: Zibska – “Nerio” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: Izzie’s – “Black Lipstick” (LeLutka Applier, Gift)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Ears: ^^Swallow^^ – “Darkness Ears”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo: [White~Widow] – “Headgame” (Maitreya Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon

Dragons: E.V.E Studio – “Scatha Dragon” – NEW @ We♥RP

Lights: E.V.E Studio – “Sunny Spells M03-IRIS” – NEW @ TLC

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Who are you behind the screen?

Are you a guy or a girl behind the screen?

That is a question, I heard so many times in my SL life. In the beginning – over 10 years ago – I had a different RL partner, who played a girl in SL and so he did not want me to voice or skype. He was afraid, that he would be ‘discovered’ as a guy, if ambiance noise or background phone calls were going on and that others would not RP or talk to him anymore if they would know. I respected his wish during our relationship and only typed. I never even thought about that being an issue for anyone, since I never requested myself being a female*lmao*, but when it happened the first time, I remember I really felt hurt somehow. I can not even say why, but it hit me right out of nothing when I got told “If you are not voicing you are a guy that tries to hide”

That was years ago and after I broke up with my partner, I did voice and prove more than once with it, that I am a real female.

But for about 2 years, it really kept getting more and more annoying and the more I was told if I don’t voice I must be a guy that I became stubborn as well and in the beginning I did not even wanna voice just because of all that. I did not want to let them dictate me and what I need to do. When I finally started to voice with some people that I always felt close and who never accused me to be a guy in RL It really was fun.

When I started modeling, I again stumbled over that fact. In some competitions they asked for voice checks, some designers where requesting voice verifications and at some modeling schools you had to prove, that you are a girl when you play a girl avatar. That really made me think… Why it would be so important, to know if a girl avatar really is a girl in RL? I mean we are not talking about relationships or cheating on other people who fell in love on wrong informations. There were some girls who told me in privacy that they would be guys and they would be afraid to say it, because they thought then they would not be allowed to model anymore as girls. And the ‘Why’ in my heads became bigger and bigger. What would make the difference on a SL model, designer or any other kind of roleplay if you don’t take it to RL, if that person is male or female or gay, lesbian or hetero? Does it matter for styling abilities? Does it matter for walking the runway?

Isn’t Second Life a place where you can be what you want? Isn’t Second Life a place where you can live your dreams? Isn’t Second Life a place where you can release a side of you that you can’t show in RL? Maybe there is a reason why a person does not voice even if they are the gender in RL, which they are playing in SL? Maybe someone cannot voice because they are not able to talk in RL, because they are deaf or mute?

The more I got into that, the more I hear things and read bad posts about people that were ‘discovered’ by others. Those people who did that always felt right about, that they revealed something ‘important’ and had to tell the whole world?!?! Who gave them the right to do that? Who gave them the right to hurt others with their stories? Who are they, that they think they need to be the Second Life police for that?

Again I am not talking about SL relationships that were meant to go RL and one got badly tricked, but I always said I do not care about what gender people are behind the screen as long as no one gets hurt. I know a few super, mega top models in SL that do a great job and be admired by many people and they are not the gender, which they are playing in SL. Who cares? They do an amazing job, otherwise they would not have made it so far. It is just sad, that they had to ask friends to do their ‘voice verifications’ for them, to be allowed to do what they like and enjoy.

I hope one day – in a world where transgenders in real life more and more get accepted and as well get popular and famous – people in Second Life can be as tolerant as they became RL.

I wish – in a world where creativity is a gift and all are aiming to be more creative – that all who only stand up to think about how they can hurt, slander and defame other people get a life and find joy and satisfaction in being productive instead of being constructive.

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter don’t mind.”
[Bernard M. Baruch]

Outfit & Accessories

Lingerie: Enfant Terrible – “Bombshell” (Maitreya)

Stockings: BigBeautifulDoll – “Stockings Lady Nude Sheer” (Maitreya Applier)

Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai – “It’s aways Teatime” (Maitreya) – NEW @ Enchantment

Wings: Enfant Terrible – “Unisex Wings Heartshape”

Gloves: CODEX – “Aranel” (Bento, Maitreya)

Blindfold & Collar: Bliensen + MaiTai – “La Perla” – NEW @ ROMP

Ring & Armlets: .alme. – “Maple Leaves Ring” (armlets edited)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: Mithral – “Agave”

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Face: Izzie’s – “Pores & Blemishes” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props

Bed & Poses: Dictatorshop – “Contempo Bed” (menu driven) – NEW @ ROMP

Background: DRD – “Shadow Mansion – Light” (Bedroom, Shadow Box Bonus)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

What a strange world we live in…

What a strange world we live in…

[Alice in Wonderland]

Red Queen – My Vision of a Modern Queen of Hearts

I always adored the novel Alice in Wonderland and the actual round of Enchantment had exactly that as a theme for their event. So the story was stuck in my mind again and when I saw the new “Lexa Latex Dress” from A&Y Cybernetics in that stunning, strong red (there is 5 colors in total to choose from) I got the idea to try for a modern, fashionable & lightly kinky Queen of Hearts 😉

Latex is always tricky in SL, but Anabel Crystal, owner and designer of A&Y did an amazing job with it. What I love the most is that the HUD allows you to texture the dress, the straps and the metals separate.

I do not know why but if I wear a short dress, I always have the feeling I want something on my arms and legs, especially the legs if I do wear no high boots. This time I chose gloves from Codex, as they had a perfect latex possibility in their HUD and for the knees I went with some cool leg garters from Tabou. The shoes, which matched the style so perfect, are made by UTOPIA@Design. The “Cinzia” heels. Made of zippers that are wrapped around your feet and with a super sexy, high heel and platform sole they are simply a must have for every fashionistas wardrobe!

Often I was asked if I do sometimes use particles for my pictures. Particles are not always easy to snap, depending on how they are made and how string your graphic card is. Sometimes they just create weird colored ‘shadows’ and then it is easier to make those effects in Photoshop.

But not with the particles and effects form Cole’s Corner. ColeMarie Soleil has a great way to make her particles and effects, so that you can use them for pictures most of the time and they still show clear and crisp. For the actual round of the Enchantment, she made the amazing “Queen of Hearts Aura” and the “Queen of Hearts Halo”. Both colored in red, the Aura even spreads the typical signs you find on the cards like the hearts, diamonds, clubs and spades. Since a simple photo usually doe snot show particles properly I tried this time to make a short gif, so you can get an idea of the sweet effect 🙂

A cool style needs a great makeup too that matches the look and even gives the perfect finish to it. I know I said that already and not only once but I LOVE the makeup and lipsticks from Zibska for such strong and intense styles. It always adds even more dramatic vibes to the whole look. When I went to the Zibska main store to see what new releases she has, my view fell on the group gifts again and I saw one that I not yet had… how could that happen O.O

The “Themis” head piece did fit so nicely to the look and again lifted it o a higher level for me and together with the “Arie” eyeshadow and lipstick it just looked complete to me. Complete for my modern, fashionable Queen of Hearts – My Red Queen 🙂

Outfit & Accessories

Dress: A&Y Cybernetics – “Lexa Latex Dress” (Maitreya) – NEW @ XXX Event

Gloves: CODEX – “Medea Bento Gloves” (Maitreya)

Legs: Tabou – “Diana Leg Garters” (Maitreya)

Shoes: **UTOPIA@Design** – “Cinzia” (Maitreya)

Headpiece: Zibska – “Themis” (Group Gift)

Nails: Slackgirl – “Catarina” (Maitreya)

Particles: **CC** – “Queen of Hearts Aura” & “Queen of Hearts Halo” –  NEW @ Enchantment

Hair & Makeup

Hair: [KoKoLoReS] Hair – “Oakes” (color modified)

Makeup: Zibska – “Arie Makeup” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Arie Lips” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Tattoo: Redfish – “Gift Paro” (Maitreya Applier, Hunt Gift Ironwoodhills/Paranoia Event)

Poses & Props

Poses:

HelaMiyo

Props:

Chair: [Since1975] – “Scorpion Throne” – NEW @ ROMP

Lights: Selfmade

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Wiccattitude with HelaMiyo!

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

When I saw HelaMiyo has a “Wiccattitude” pose set.. certainly I had to play with it and make some pictures 😉

If you like the more edgy and unusual poses  and as well love the option of a mirrored version of your pose… then you should take a closer look at HelaMiyo. I got one of my first picture pose set from HelaMiyo and since back then Miyoko Magic never disappointed with new and exciting pose sets!

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

It is always exciting and as well a huge honor if you have products named after you in Second Life, and when Miyoko Magic – owner and designer of HelaMiyo – even mentioned she thought about me when she was trying to find a name for her new pose set, I was completely blown away and certainly had to make a post about it 😉

Like I mentioned before, mostly we all use poses for each and every picture we do. We kinda see poses as matter of course and rarely think about all the work and effort each single pose needs to become real for SL. I often catch myself, to just use poses and not looking at the brand it was made from or even the name which sometimes as well says something about a pose set, for example a special purpose. That is why I made it as a task for myself for 2018 to have more pose centered posts or pose studies, to just do justice to all the amazing pose creators in Second Life, who make all our amazing pictures possible.

The “Wiccattitude” set is a very energetic one, which can be used in many different ways. You can even turn around the poses and use them laying or even 180° vertical twisted with many different angles to shoot from. Yes, I have to admit I love not just shooting but playing with poses as well, even if they are completely working out different as intended sometimes 😉

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

If you do a shooting focused on poses, the question of the clothing and accessories is not always easy as you want the most flexibility for all kind of movements. I love to use skin tight clothing and look for even those posts the most. This time I started with the boots. The stunning “Syberia” boots from UTOPIA@DESIGN. I have a love for overknee boots, but for many looks you can’t wear them especially if long mesh pants are involved. 99% the pants stick through the boots except if you wear applier pants.

Speaking of appliers, the awesome “Cozy Tights” I am wearing are from .:Avanti:. and I love the details she puts on her fabrics and designs as well as her awesome ideas for appliers.

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

The amazing outfit was made by Salt & Pepper. Originally the “Teisha” was released on We ♥ RP in December but I am sure you can find it in the main store now. I chose to go with the silver/black option for the outfit, that even includes the cool headpiece, that I used instead of wearing hair. On the HUD for the outfit you will find black and white for the shirt color and 5 different metals (black, silver, rose-gold, light gold and gold) for the body suit and the hair part. The outfit as well contains boots with those 5 color, which I did not wear for todays post.

Happy New Year 2018!

Pose: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

Details

Outfit & Accessories:

Outfit (incl. Headpiece): Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Teisha” (Maitreya)

Shoes: UTOPIA@DESIGN – “Syberia” (Maitreya)

Tights: .:Avanti:. – “Cozy Tights” (Maitreya Applier)

Nails: >glyph< – “Apex” (Maitreya, Bento)

Necklace: Codex – “Charlotte”

Hair & Makeup:

Makeup: Zibska – “Araceli” & “Noir Pack 06” (Maitreya & Omega Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Araceli” (Maitreya Applier)

Body & Tattos:

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Poses & Props:

Poses: HelaMiyo – “Wiccattitude” set

Props: ChiC Buildings [Cb] – “SEA Jugs” & DRD – “Gold retreat wall art -reaching – “

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin

Dark, Moody and Powerful – Halloween!

I did my first monthly subscription!

I never really thought about all those subscription boxes before but when DRD announced they will have a monthly subscription box, I could not resist… I had to have it. Even if I already got my second box this month, I still wanted to do a dark, moody post with the items of the first one in September 😉

What I really do love about that box is, that you get one dark and one light version of all parts in the box. All the items from the September box I used for the decoration of today’s scenery – certainly the dark parts 😉

Talking about DRD, when I was doing the Ironwood Hills hunt I saw many of those items, used as decoration on the sim! Speaking about the Ironwood Hills hunt… that was one of the best hunts I lately did. It is not a usual hunt where you just run around ike crazy and try to find certain items.. way not. It was a very well made one, which was entertaining and exciting the same time. I anyways love the Ironwood Hills sim and did many pictures there for blog posts and magazines, but with that hunt it gets even more interesting and you will find corners that you did not realize before!

When you land you have to click th one sign at the barn where you get your hunt HUD along with a flash light. I highly recommend to use the windlight settings of the sim to have the full experience and for that the flash light is very useful and adds to the whole fun 🙂

The HUD itself already is an amazing idea. You get the impression of a cell phone where you constantly be in touch with the person that is asking you to do something. I do not want to tell yo too much of the story as it would take away all the surprise and you would not enjoy it as much. You have to find a person and the one who asks you to, provides you constantly hints and ideas where you could look for your next step. I really enjoyed that whole story behind that hunt. You have several steps to go and only one was a bit harder to find but all the others where not baby easy but doable if you really read the storyline and hints. When you complete all the tasks you will be able to TP via the home sign on your cellphone HUD to the little market where all the amazing sponsors have set out little gifts for you. It was over 20 amazing gifts from SL’s best designers.

Since I found out lately about inworld games in SL and tried several ones like Madpea or even the ones I found at the Linden Labs Portal location for games, the Ironwood Hills hunt was the one I enjoyed most. I was highly disappointed from the Madpea one, after it was hyped so much when the game “Seven” came out, that I lost some motivation to do such things again. But the Ironwood Hills hunt gave it back to me 🙂 The Ironwood Hills hunt is free to play, with amazing NPC characters that interact with you, so well scripted and you even get 24 amazing high quality gifts in the end!!!

I highly recommend the Ironwood Hills hunt to you if you love spooky, creepy, story based and exciting things 😉 The hunt is on from October 1st until November 5th 2017.

Taxi: Ironwood Hills

Now I would like to drag your view closer on my outfit for today’s post. The incredible “Blood Lust” gacha from Salt & Pepper. Originally the gacha was released for the Arcade event but you now can find it at he Salt & Pepper main store. The whole set contains 3 rares (collar, corset & garters, boots) and 20 commons (sleeves & skirts).

Anyways if rares or commons you always get a clean and a bloody version for each color. While the rares come with full color HUDs too, the commons are all on one color with their 2 versions, that I just explained.

Could you imagine a better outfit that the “Blood Lust” for Halloween? Sexy and dark immortal fantasies 😉 I am totally in love and enjoying the dark season a lot 🙂

Details

Clothing & Accessories:

Outfit, Shoes & Collar: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Blood Lust” (Maitreya, Gacha)

Necklace: Codex – “Charlotte”

Nails: Slackgirl – “Ring Queen Nails” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup:

Hair: Entwined – “Elaine”

Makeup: YS&YS – “Immortal Skin Applier” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo:

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.0”

Teeth & Lipstick: LeLutka – “Beast Teeth” (LeLutka Head Enhancement)

Skin: YS&YS – “Immortal” (LeLutka & Maitreya Applier)

Props & Poses:

Props: DRD – “Shadow Box #1” (September 2017/Dark)

Poses: Foxcity

Model & Photographer:

Wicca Merlin