Hello darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

[- Paul Simon, Sound of Silence -]

Usually I am not a big fan of covers of old amazing and strong songs, but I again found an exception of that. “Sound of Silence” originally written by Paul Simon, performed by Simon & Garfunkel.

When I heard the cover version of Disturbed, I was blown away.

Disturbed’s interpretation gives the song a dark, epic quality that further highlights the themes of isolation, alienation and societal apathy. The lyrics of “The Sound of Silence” reflect the loneliness and lack of communication that is pervasive in modern societies. Lines such as “Hello darkness, my old friend, I’ve come to talk with you again” highlight the deeply felt isolation and lack of real communication between people. These words for me, perfectly reflect the feeling that despite constant interaction and communication through modern technology, there is often a lack of real connection and understanding. “The Sound of Silence” as performed by Disturbed is more than just a cover – it’s a reinterpretation that emphasizes the song’s timeless relevance in my view. In an era where social media and digital communication dominate, the message of isolation and lack of real human contact remains more relevant than ever. Disturbed has managed to redo the song in a way that appeals to a new generation while retaining the essence of the original.

Really worth to give it a chance against it’s original 😉

Clothing

Top: Wicca’s Originals – “Melia Top” (Maitreya LaraX)

Accessories

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No_Distortion”
FaceArt: Rubedo – “dotty 03” (LeL.EvoX, BoM) – NEW@We♥RP // September 2024

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “Avalon 3.1″

Skin Face: leLAPEAU – “Riley Skin – GA Ivory (No Brows)” (LeL.EvoX BoM)

Tattoo Face: BodyArts – “Faceband Wicca” (LeL.EvoX BoM, custom made – take a look at the “Vere Flores” or one of her various amazing facebands)

Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “LaraX 1.0”

Tattoo Body: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo Blossom” (LeL.EvoX BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose (incl. Skull): [piXit] – “Dead X / Dead_P1_F7” (Bento)

Backdrop: Paparazzi – “BACKDROP – Pipes Underground 1″

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Sometimes, Girls just wanna have Fun ;)

September 13, 2024 by Wicca Merlin

Tunes

My mother says, “When you gonna live your life right”

[- Cyndi Lauper, Girls just wanna have fun -]

Slowly I find my way more into the new “PBR Thing”. I have to admit it isn’t really easy if you are used to ther things for over 10 years – still I find a lot of errors and “bad habits” that system has – but I can see a basic idea kinda the more I try and error myself. Since we cannot role the time back anyway, what else you can do that try to adapt to new things *giggles*

Today I am doing something I was afraid of a long time. I am showcasing a skin as center for my post. Usually I am scared to use skins for blogging, as I do feel not right by showcasing skins with all my face mods (scars, freckles, veins, etc.). In the past I was criticized a lot for doing so – yes, I can understand why, but the more my avatar developed, the more I wanted to modify my face for a more unique look – and that kinda was the reason why I stopped showcasing skins. But lately I really started to like that incredible amazing skins from leLAPEAU. They have amazing details! The highlights and shadows are amazingly careful set and they do give the face a wonderful natural, not overdone glow even on low settings. The area around the eyes are wonderful and the lips do fit even on thinner lips like mine are. She as well does provide neckshaders/faders so you can be sure to not have that “line” where the face and body skin meet each other.

I do blog for LeLUTKA for a while now and I saw all those amazing skins and like I said, I never dared to use them. I took all my courage and contacted Aradia Dielli – creator of the awesome leLAPEAU skins – and asked her, how she would feel if I do use her skins still having all my face mods going on. I totally was surprised about her reaction and it and I was relieved as I never expected it like that. She was totally open to use her skins even with face mods going on and told me she does like it if bloggers can express them selves and be creative even with her skins. After that it did not even take me 3 minutes and I picked one of the skins I was eyeing for a while now and started experimenting. I changed a few accessories to not overload my face too much, since I wanted the skin in the focus, but I really do like the result… what do you think?

Clothing

Top: Wicca’s Originals – “Modesty Top” (Maitreya LaraX)

Accessories

Piercings & Tattoo (Forehead): BodyArts – “Signum” (unrigged)
Earrings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “UZUMAKI” (LeLUTKA EvoX female/human)
Nose: SFU – “Barbed Nose Chain”
Collar: *PerveTTe* – “Choker [My Sweet Love] [Black]” (unrigged)
Necklace: Wicca’s Originals – “Orchid Necklace” (Maitreya LaraX)
Nails: FORMANAILS – “Silvana” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No_Transformation ( size 1 )”
Eyeshadow: [REVERIE] – “Solara Eyeshadow” (LeL-EvoX Bom)
Face Veins: Hexed – “Eyes/Cheek Veins” (LeL-EvoX Bom)
Lipstick: LeLUTKA – taken from the Noel Head HUD)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “Noel Head 4.0”

Skin Face: leLAPEAU – Nicole Skin – GA Ivory (No Brows)”

Tattoo Face: BodyArts – “Faceband Wicca” (LeL.EvoX BoM, custom made – take a look at the “Vere Flores” or one of her various amazing facebands)

Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “LaraX 1.0”

Tattoo Body: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo Flowersoff” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: STUN – “Haerin 3” (Bento)
Backdrop: Paparazzi – “BACKDROP – Scrawled Hall 2”
Animals: *PKC* – “Face Butterflies”

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

I’m learning to fly

September 12, 2024 by Wicca Merlin

Tunes

Well, some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I’ve started out for God knows where
I guess I’ll know when I get there

I’m learning to fly but I ain’t got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing

[- Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers -]

Clothing

Collar: AsteroidBox – “Caelum Collar” (Maitreya)
Sleeves: *Tentacio* – “Lady nok blouse” (Maitreya LaraX) – NEW @ Warehouse Sale // August 2024

Accessories

Piercings & Tattoo (Forehead): BodyArts – “Signum” (unrigged)
Earrings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “UZUMAKI” (LeLUTKA EvoX female/human)
Piercing (Nose): Wicca’s Originals – “Jadeon Piercing” + “Tegan Piercing Set” (unrigged)
Hands: V/. VoluptasVirtualis – “Erol” – NEW @ Warehouse Sale // August 2024

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No Nova”
Eyemakeup: Hexed – “Morgana Eyeshadow – Green” (LeL.EvoX BoM)
Lipstick: [theSkinnery] – “PoisonedLips” (LeL.EvoX Bom)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “Noel Head 4.0”

Tattoo Face: BodyArts – “Faceband Wicca” (LeL.EvoX BoM, custom made – take a look at the “Vere Flores” or one of her various amazing facebands)

Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “LaraX 1.0”

Tattoo Body: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo Flowersoff” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: STUN – “Claudia 3” (Bento)
Backdrop: Paparazzi – “BACKDROP – Pipes Underground 3”

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

And So It Went

August 22, 2024 by Wicca Merlin

Tunes

And so it went
The children lost their minds
Beggin’ for forgiveness
Was such a waste of time
And the bullets start to fly
And the bough’s about to break
When you hear them cry
It’s too much for me to take

[- Pretty Reckless -]

Lately I was thinking a lot about blogging in general. I do blog since 2008. In the very beginning it started with style-cards on Flickr only and a little later I got my first website on wordpress. That did last for years before I experienced some troupe and I decided to get my own webspace and pay for it. As soon as I had my own space, I felt I could do more than just put style-cards and I started to write descriptions and reviews of what I was wearing. After a while I felt brave enough to write about other topics too, which did fit to my pictures and my emotions when I was doing them. Back then it was not considered “blogging” when you just put a picture and a style-card. I am not saying it was bad, it just was considered different. If you wanted to blog for a brand, you had to write something about the items. Either what features it has, what color options or HUDs you get or what sizes it was coming for. Over the time more and more people started blogging and the photo style-card thing started to be ok for more and more designers. The range you had with social media and all that social networking counted more and more over the written word – I can see that reason and do understand it very well, do not get me wrong.

I tried it too – doing pictures with style-card and links to the stores – as it was way less time and work as if you sit down and write something too. As well I started to realize, that it might be boring if you write about something people can see anyway on the picture and have to go and try demos on their own.

I totally can understand if people blog for a lot of brands that they do not have the time, the motivation or the creativity to write novels to each picture all the time, but I have to admit I like reading blogs still, as you get the feeling of knowing others even if you do not talk to them constantly or how they work to create their pictures or styling. Certainly I can see that you might not want to do that every time for every picture – I am guilty of that too if my RL is so busy that it does kill time and creativity. But in the end I try always to have some tunes, quotes or lyrics to every picture that underline my intention, feelings, emotions, reasons about the picture.

Lately Flickr was sold various times and many experienced trouble for their pictures and artwork. That makes me sad, as I personally think Flickr was a great source for me the past 10 years to post on, as well as to discover things. I do not know how to say, but I like if I have everything in one place and do not have to click through various social media links and apps to find stuff I look for or use for inspiration.

I have no idea where all this will go, but I again learned you have to be flexible and adapt. I still will use my Flickr, but I as well started to post my links to Facebook, X(ex-Twitter), Plurk and primfeed. I am not against everything that is new, but as well I am not someone that jumps on every new boat, leaving the old one immediately *winks* – I am too old for that I guess and I am not a huge fan of that 100% / 24/7 social media horror *giggles* I do use all that social network stuff only for SL and not at all for RL. I had it back then with the band when I was sctivly playing in active touring rockbands – bad experiences – and stopped that completely since then.

I guess I told enough for todayy and do not want to steal your time any longer 😉 – LMs and links to all stores as always below.

Have a great weekend and enjoy “all of your lives”!

Clothing

Top: .{PSYCHO:Byts}. – “Lisbeth Top” (Maitreya LaraX)
Arms: .{PSYCHO:Byts}. – “Avril Arm Warmers” (Maitreya LaraX)
Pants: AVEC TOY – “The Angelique Shorts) (Maitreya)
Stockings: .:Avanti:. – “Ripped Nylons v12” (BoM)
Shoes: .{PSYCHO:Byts}. – “Avril Leg Warmers” (Maitreya)

Accessories

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No Connection”
Eyemakeup: Hexed – “Blacky Eyeshadow – Green” (LeL.EvoX BoM)
Lipstick: BodyArts – “Ameline – Lips (green_black)” (LeL. EvoX BoM)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “Avalon Head 3.1”

Tattoo Face: BodyArts – “Faceband Wicca” (LeL.EvoX BoM, custom made – take a look at the “Vere Flores” or one of her various amazing facebands)

Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “LaraX 1.0”

Tattoo Body: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo Flowersoff” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose (incl. guitar): Animosity – “F-195-1” (Bento)
Backdrop: Paparazzi – “BACKDROP – Ramp Room 1”

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

I need you to see who I am

April 28, 2024 by Wicca Merlin

Tunes

Dead inside!
Revere a million prayers
And draw me into your holiness
But there’s nothing there
Light only shines from those who share
Unleash a million drones
Confine me then erase me babe
Do you have no soul?
It’s like it died long ago

Your lips feel warm to the touch
You can bring me back to life
On the outside you’re ablaze and alive
But you’re dead inside!

[- Muse -]

Clothing

Top: AsteroidBox – “Leona Tanktop” (Maitreya Petite)

Accessories

Piercings & Tattoo (Forehead): BodyArts – “Signum” (unrigged)
Earrings: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Earring Mads all linked” (LeLUTKA EvoX female/human)
Ear Lobes: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Inazuma Plug” (LeLUTKA EvoX female/human)
Piercing (Nose): Wicca’s Originals – “Jadeon Piercing” + “Tegan Piercing Set” (unrigged)
Piercing Lips 1: LittleFish – “EziliV2” (Lel. EvoX, Avalon)
Piercing Lips 2: LittleFish – “Blair” (Lel. EvoX, Avalon)
Piercing Lips 3: LittleFish – “Jazmina” (Lel. EvoX, Avalon)
Chest: [Cubic Cherry] – “Cupid Mark” (unrigged, BOM)
Fore Arms: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Ursula Gloves” (Maitreya LaraX) – NEW @ Kinky // March 2024
Nails (incl. Finger Tattoo): .:E.A.Studio:. – “Karma Nails” (Maitreya LaraX)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: KMH – “Hair U106 Unrigged F”
Side Lock: adoness – “”Side locks : right : blue & green”
Eyeshadow 1: BodyArts – “Winter EyeMakeUp” (LeL.EvoX BoM)
Eyeshadow 2: BodyArts – “Vesu Eyesjadow blue” (LeL.EvoX BoM)
Lipstick: BodyArts – “Ameline – Lips (grey/OldRose)” (LeL.EvoX BoM)

Head, Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLUTKA – “EvoX Avalon 3.1”

Tattoo Head/Neck: BodyArts – “Veteris Mask blue/natural” (LeL.EvoX, Materials)

Teeth: [CX] – “Strigoi’s Fangs – Silver Type.1 ( Size E / Wider )”
Body: Maitreya – “LaraX Petite 1.1”

Tattoo Body: .:Vegas:. – “Tattoo Bloom ( Medium )” (BoM)

Poses, Props & Tools

Pose: selfmade

Model, Stylist & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

Wicca’s Originals @ UBER // March 2024

April 2, 2024 by Wicca Merlin

Wicca’s Originals @ UBER // March 25th – April 22nd

Item: Elvira Corset & Skirt

Sizes: Maitreya LaraX, Maitreya(Lara+Pertite), Legacy(Classic+Perky), Reborn // mod-copy-no trans

HUD: 10 Colors & Metals

LM: Uber // March/April 2024

I’am let you speak if you just let me breathe…

February 25, 2024 by Wicca Merlin

TUNES

I’ve tasted blood and it is sweet
I’ve had the rug pulled beneath my feet
I’ve trusted lies and trusted men
Broke down and put myself back together again
Stared in the mirror and punched it to shatters
Collected the pieces and picked out a dagger
I’ve pinched my skin in between my two fingers
And wished I could cut some parts off with some scissors

“Come on, little lady, give us a smile”
No, I ain’t got nothin’ to smile about
I got no one to smile for, I waited a while for
A moment to say I don’t owe you a goddamn thing

I, I keep a record of the wreckage of my life
I gotta recognize the weapon in my mind
They talk shit, but I love it every time
And I realize

I’m no sweet dream, but I’m a hell of a night
That I’m no sweet dream, but I’m a hell of a night

[- Halsey – Nightmare -]

Today I finally was able to try and learn something new I wanted to do for along time. I am playing with lights now for quite a while, but I sometimes missed a little bit of “dramatic” vibes to some more extreme lightning. So I looked into creating rim lights a bit more since yesterday. It is really exciting and as well unbelievable what you can do with Photoshop – I experience that again and again when I do look into something new I want to do, when I am post processing my pictures. I always try not completely changing my pictures as I do want to showcase the real products. So what I mostly do is playing with shadows, light, lightning and shadows most of the time and do some touch ups on edgy that are wonky. I know some use the new AI programs to work their pictures, but for me that is not what I want to have. I am a SL resident and I still want to showcase what SL has to offer – and it is a lot with all the things you have inworld already.

I snapped the original picture with the neon green lights already so I just did enhance the lights and added them on spots where the inworld lights didn’t appear right.

I used some of the new releases I found at The Warehouse Sale and Kinky.

What I would like to mention since you cannot see it on the picture, the mohawk called “No Prison” from no.match you can wear with or without the spikes. For the amazing “Xatyn Ring Band” accessory you have a show/hide menu where you can hide several parts independently for every finger. Certainly both designs come with color huds to customize it to your liking.