Tag Archives: Wicca Merlin

“Insufficient facts always invite danger.” – Mister Spock

by

“Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds. To seek out new life and new civilizations. To boldly go where no one has gone before”

[Captain Jean-Luc Picard, Star Treck: The Next Generation]

I was a Star Treck addicted since I saw the first episodes on TV back when I was a kid. I always was a little dreamer and the idea of having worlds out of reach, that no one yet had explored and either Captain Kirk or Captain Jean-Luc Picard just took us on their journeys to do exactly that, was just amazing. How often we sat, with the family or with friends, together in front of the TV and watched with excitement, what they would find and if it would be good or bad. For my age it first was Captain Jean-Luc Picard. I was about 10 years old when the first season came out on TV and when my mom realized I do love the whole story, she introduced me to the “older Star Treck” episodes with Captain Kirk and Mister Spock. Even if Jean-Luc will be my all time favorite, I did enjoy the older ones too, especially Mister Spock. The idea of having a life with no emotions, can be attractive if you are a very emotional kid and run into problems all the time*snickers*

That addiction to unknown space and fantasy stories did never go away… it did even grow over the time. Nowadays I still love Star Treck but as well all kind of post apocalyptic movies like Resident Evil, Mad Max, Book of Eli and many more. Fantasy or Sci-Fi as well is a genre that I do love a lot. The idea of machines that get some kind of personality like I Robot, A.I. Artificial Intelligence, Minority Report or Ex Machina as well are an amazing yet dangerous idea… if artificial intelligences decide, that humans are the major problem in the the end – I would not wanna be part of that. What was an interesting movie as well and maybe a future vision of Second Life, was Surrogates. A world, where people never leave home again and just operate machines to do their jobs. When I saw the movie first, I thought it would be a cool idea, but the more I was thinking about that it was a scaring vision to me. I do have a love for such fictions and I am sure a few were part of what inspired me for todays post.

When I saw the “Space 2099” gacha set from Salt & Pepper, I instantly felt the 60s/70s, retro mood of the old Start Trek series. Then I saw, that Ex Machina made a matching scenery to exactly that gacha, there was no way that I would not blog that amazing collaboration. 2 of my favorite designers, collaborating on a sci-fi inspired set – priceless!

The gacha set from Salt & Pepper contains a body, shoes with long leg parts, sleeves and 2 different interactive tools that cooperate with the clothing AND with the matching props and skyebox from Ex Machina!!! While you can have 5 different colors for the clothing you get 3 options of guns. each gun shoots a different color (slime, hexagon glitter, holo swirls), while you can remove all the splashes with the scanner, which as well is part of the gacha. Sadly I found no other person, as I first had the idea of having a pixel fight with someone and colored slime splashes all over, but then I came on a different idea anyways. Maybe I will do some fun with that interactive gacha in the future ;). The VIP prize, a visor with a color HUD to match the clothing colors. The matching gacha from Ex Machina, as well called “Space 2099”, contains various props, a modular tunnel system and a skybox as rare.

For todays post I used the 2 gachas, but as well some other matching designs from Ex Machina. Hatris Panacek recently released some amazing sci-fi items that just were perfect to furnish the skybox. I first made one level with the modular tunnel system and all the gacha props. When I rezzed the skybox, I immediately had the idea of having a laboratory inside of it as a second level of my interstellar home *grins*. Who does not dream of a separated work/life balance *winks*

When I was done and satisfied with the look (I will credit all parts properly in the end of this post) I again came back on my initial idea of foreign spaces and forms of life. That brought up the neat idea with the little dragon , that just was born in my laboratory. First it looked super cute and then it did demonstrate it’s power and I had to run :p

I do love to tell little stories with my pictures and with that amount of items I wanted to showcase, it had to be a few more pictures than usual, but they all went so well together that I did not want to part them for a post.

Again I used the Axis HUD from LeLutka to animate my face. I know there is various face expressions out there at the moment, but I still think, that LeLutka had the most genius idea with that animation HUD. I already did talk about my first steps and tries wit the Axis HUD (HERE), but I seriously cannot stop to tell how amazing that HUD is. you can make expressions completely personalized and to exact purpose you need it. Sometimes I even modify existing expressions (certainly I mostly use the awesome, pre-made expressions from LeLutka as well), if I just want a little tweak and like the general attitude of the expression. If you not yet tried it, you really should. There is as well a demo HUD available where you can test the way how it works at the LeLutka main store.First I wanted to include a gyazo of my LeLutka HUD in action, with all the worked bones, but  with all my excitement about taking pictures… I again forgot to do that. I will try to remember that for the net time, when I have it excessively in use 😉

Clothing

Body: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Space 2099 Body” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Sleeves: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Space 2099 Sleeves” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Shoes: Salt & Pepper (S&P) – “Space 2099 Boots” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Accessories

Face Implant: Wicca’s Originals – “Edge Implant” – NEW @ Driftwood August 2019

Leg Lights: Normandy – “Leg Implants” (Maitreya)

Nails: [CX] – “Shredder Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Heart: NeurolaB Inc. – “Heart Reactor MK-6”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: lock&tuft – “Stranded (woman fit1)”

Lashes: alaskametro<3 – “Slay” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: NOX. – “Incomplete Lip” (Omega Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Head: LeLutka – “Aida 3.3”

Skin: ~Jeanette’s Joint~ – “Android 2.0 Skin and Tattoo” (Omega Applier)

Eyes: CURELESS[+] – “Spookshow Eyes / Dialated”

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Nepthune V2”

Facetattoo: the crone – “flesh shell” (LeLutka & Maitreya Applier)

Metal Tattoo: *YS&YS* – Pris Tone ELF” (LeLutka & Omega Applier)

Poses, Props & Tools

Poses: Poseidon

Set 1 (pictures 2 & 3):

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 SkyRoom” (Gacha, Rare) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “THX Sci Fi Botanical Lab”

Ex Machina – “THX Sci Fi set” (Console, Cannister, Crate)

Ex Machina – “THX Sci Fi set 2” (Vertical Console, Suspension Pod)

Ex Machina – “Advanced Teleporter Pod v1.5”

lassitude & ennui – “Dragon whelp – mystic” (Gacha, Rare)

Set 2 (pictures 1, 4 & 5)

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Corridor Ending A” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Corridor Ending B” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Corridor” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Intersection” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Crate 1-3 Black & Teal” (Gacha, Commons) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Power Washer – Black & Teal” (Gacha, Commons) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Sign 1-3 Black” (Gacha, Commons) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 Info Center – Teal” (Gacha, Common) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Space 2099 teleporter” (Gacha, VIP prize) – NEW @ Epiphany July 2019

Ex Machina – “Planetary Holographic Scanner”

Tool: LeLutka – “Axis HUD Face 1.1”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

 

Wicca’s Originals @ ROMP // August 2019

by

Wicca’s Wardrobe @ ROMP // August 11th-25h

Come meet Renee at this round of ROMP. She is a sexy new gacha we have created just for you. Renee offers 2 rares and 18 commons. Rare #1 is a thigh high boot and garter belt. The boot is accented with studs and rings and a deadly heel, perfect to dominate in. The boot and garter combination come with a HUD that offers you 6 leather and metal options. Rare #2 is a studded bra that also comes with the metal and leather HUD offering 6 colors choices. Commons 1-6 are a provocative, high waisted painty, with cutouts in all the right places. Commons 7-12 are collars adorned with a ring. Both come with a HUD that offers you 6 metals choices. Commons 13-18 are titillating thigh-high stocking (which as well can be worn with the garter belt), that come with a HUD offering 6 leather and metal color choices. As you can see, Renee has a lot to offer. Come check her out and take her home. Made for Maitreya’s Lara.

Taxi: ROMP

 

Imagine…

by

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

Demons in my Mind…

by

TUNES

Tell you all the things that are tearing me apart
Tell you every little thing thats been bleeding out my heart
Nothing that I say can make you change your mind so doesnt matter
What I do it doesnt matter where I start
Yeah ive been feeling down
No ones been around
My mind is foggy
I can’t tell you what is left or right
No matter what i say you always find a fucking way to twirl it
Demons in my mind they never listen

[plxntkid]

The nice part of having holidays is you have more time to fool around with things you always wanted to learn before. For me that is watching a lot of new tutorials for Photoshop and trying if I can use what I learned in my own ways on my pictures. Even if it takes a lot longer to try new skills and techniques, it is a lot of fun, too.

Today I wanted to do something editorial and I wanted to involve the incredible amazing designs of Zibska. When I put on the “Ruina” collar and makeup, I instantly knew, that I do not want too much things in the background that would distract from the design itself. The collar has 2 orbits with  with fishies and hooks which I am not wearing for my todays picture as it added too much cuteness for my idea*giggles* While I was standing in my black spot and fooling around with lights I realized how cool the “Ruina” collar does reflect the lights and I just rezzed one, pulled it super huge trying t see what it would look like… like you can see on the pictures, I loved the idea :p I even stretched it a little more, rezzed another one, shoved them around and finally played with the color HUD. That again proves, that Zib Scaggs is truly an artist, you even can use her creations totally out of purpose and still they add an artful touch to your picture 😉 For a matching expression to that powerful picture, I again used my Axis HUD from LeLutka. I already wrote about that (HERE), but I just cannot tell it often enough, that it does open a complete new world for me for pictures with some kind of mood or emotions 😉

Clothing

Pants: Decoy – “Apple Shorts” (Maitreya)

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

Accessories

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

Claws: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Obsess Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Shoulderpiece: Zibska – “Ruina” – NEW @ Driftwood August 2019 – NEW @ Driftwood August 2019

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

Lower Armparts: [CX] – “Lance Bracers Femme – Black” (Maitreya)

Mask: L’Emporio – “Cat Skull – 03 Lather Covered”

Arm Straps: L’Emporio – “Harness Arm” (Maitreya)

Pasties: .ARISE. – “Spiked Pasties / Black_Silver” (Maitreya)

Chains: -SECRETS- – “Danita Nipple Chain – Silver” (Maitreya)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: KoKoLoResS – “Oakes”

Makeup: Zibska – “Ruina” (LeLutka Applier) – NEW @ Driftwood August 2019

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

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

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

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon

Background Structures: Zibska – “Ruina” – NEW @ Driftwood August 2019 (rezzed and resized)

Model  & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

“Sometimes glass glitters more than diamonds, because it has more to prove.” – Terry Pratchett

by

“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]

As I threatened before… here is another steampunk post *winks*

Today it was the super cool “Steam Commander” gacha from Luas, that caught my attention – yes, I know it is around a while, but sometimes things need time to grow until they are ready to post. Do you know that feeling? If you see something and you want it no matter what, even if you have no idea yet what you will do with it? I am sure you do and for me that happens very often, even if I put a duty on myself to not shop things I won’t use anymore. With some designs I simply cannot resist, especially if it is something I do love in general. Steampunk I DO love :p

 

I didn’t use the full gacha set as I am more a boots girl than a pumps girl and so I added one of my favorite steampunk boots from Eudora3D called “Yana”. Since steampunk is kinda a fantasy genre I thought I can add some elf ears from my Eclipse Art Studio, as it gave the whole look a cute touch. I am anyways a friend of mix and match things to give them my own twist :p

More and more I try to built the sets for my pictures on my own, as I can showcase or credit things more precise and properly. But sometimes I just want to go to interesting Second Life places and show my respect for those who built those amazing places for everyone to visit.

Today It was again New Babbage, more precise the Canal District of New Babbage. Did you ever visit New Babbage? If you love steampunk and not yet did – you totally should take time for a little journey.  Even if you are not too much into steampunk, but love the 19th century, this vast Victorian steampunk area is full of airships, clockwork devices, submersibles, and other amazing technology. It’s an ideal place to explore life as it was in the 19th century. New Babbage is part of a sim collective of 12 sims with so many amazing places, that it took me way more than a week to explore and every time I go there, I still find something new – either because I did oversee it before, or they already changed some things again 🙂 If I go there, I really have to try hard to focus on my pictures and not just wander around and just look.

Even if building sets is a lot of fun and I still learn how to arrange things, so that they nit just look like a hot mess, I would not want to miss those journeys that again remind me of the beauty of Second Life.

Clothing

Top: Luas – “Steam Commander Corset Brown & Beige” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common)

Skirt: Luas – “Steam Commander Skirt Brown & Beige” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common)

Shoes: Eudora3D – “Yana Boots” (Maitreya)

Accessories

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

Arm/Gloves: Luas – “Steam Commander Bionic Arm” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Goggles: Luas – “Steam Commander Oculus Gold” (Gacha, Common)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: Exile – “Cassie”

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

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

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “May 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Skin: *Navzar* – “Ashley – Light Tone” (LeLutka & Maitreya Applier)

Eyes: Izzie’s – “Winter Mesh Eyes”

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Nepthune V2”

Tattoo: [White~Widow] – “Deepwater”

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon

Guns: Luas – “Steam Commander Left Gun Gold” & “Steam Commander Right Gun Gold” (Gacha, Common)

Location

The Canal District of New Babbage

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

The artful Alchemy of Wicca Merlin – VERSUS Magazine Spring/Summer 2019

by

I had the great honor of being the cover and the cover story of the actual VERSUS Magazine. I do work with VERSUS as a model, stylist and photographer since the very first issue, the more I felt honored and happy about being asked if I would like to be on the cover!

I remember very well, how speechless and overwhelmed I was when Shena told me, that she planned me, my photography/blogging and our store for her next cover story – I nearly was fainting!

I was sent some wonderful questions for the interview by Sita Writer, in my opinion one of the most talented writers I met in SL (actually I do have  2 favorites only *grins*). Anyways, I was super happy when I saw, that Sita did not only pull the usual mainstream questions and it really was fun to answer them. If you want to see the full article you can find it HERE or you can pull an inworld Magazine at the entrance hall of our Mainstore!

And as if that would not have been enough already… Shena surprised me again and left me speechless! When I turned in my pictures for the Mother Nature theme I was assigned this issue, Shena went totally crazy about one picture and wanted to take that as the cover for the magazine… MY picture as cover for a magazine!?! that never happened before, I never was allowed to do a picture for a magazine cover!?!

I really have to say thank you for a wonderful article, as well as such a great honor, to Shena, Sita and the VERSUS Magazine staff for that incredible opportunity and experience! VERSUS always felt like home and family to me and that, even made that bond tighter than ever before.

Why I am posting this today, away from that I am so proud and honored, is that I got asked so often in IMs about the style I was wearing for the cover and so I will put my style credits below this post.

THANK YOU VERSUS FAMILY!!!

VERSUS Magazine Spring/Summer 2019 https://issuu.com/versus.sl.magazine/docs/versus_magazine_spring_summer_2019

Clothing

Dress: Legal Insanity – “Camila Dress” (Maitreya)

Cloack: Astralia – “Danaus Spring cloak” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Accessories

Headpiece: Astralia – “Danaus Spring Crown (orange)” (Gacha, Common)

Flower (mouth): Astralia – “Danaus Spring Flower (orange)” (Gacha, Common)

Bracelets: Gemini – “Sis Bracelets” (Maitreya)

Rings: *elise* – “Diana” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: [e] – “Juniper”

Makeup 1: Zibska – “Ventura Eyemakeup” (LeLutka Applier)

Makeup 2: Zibska – “Tamia Eyemakeup” (LeLutka Applier)

Lipstick: Zibska – “Flore” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Lashes: alaskametro<3 – “Slay” (LeLutka Applier)

Poses & Props

Pose: Foxcity – “Long Grass” (VIP Gift 6-17, Bento)

Wand: Astralia – “Danaus Spring Scepter” (gGacha, Special Prize)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

 

Wicca’s Originals @ Driftwood // August 2019

by

Wicca’s Originals @ Driftwood (5th August – 5th September)

The Edge Implant. Some say it is a synaptic accelerator, increasing the brain’s own ability to process information. Some say it is able to provide the wearer with augmented reality, through induction points near key optical nerves. Still others claim that it is being used to control the behavior and condition the thoughts of slaves. One thing everyone agrees on is that it looks amazing, and is a must-have for any cyberpunk style! The Edge Implant comes with a HUD that offers you 13 colors to choose from. It is unisex and modifiable so you can size it to fit your head no matter if it is mesh or system.

Taxi: Driftwood

From little Seeds great Flowers grow…

by

“She limped, unaided around the house, like a bird with its wing broken. Tame, because it couldn’t fly away. All her time was taken up with managing herself, working out new ways to do things. Being a different person in the world.”
[ Joan London, The Golden Age ]

I guess I never had  more opposite posts back to back  than the last and today’s… maybe thats because my life at the moment is a little bit upside down and huge changes are about to come. I do have mixed feelings about it, as I did not really plan those, but sometimes you just get forced to make changes and you have to adapt the situation and make the best out of it for yourself.

But then, like I wrote yesterday… I always wanted the freedom to do what ever I want on my personal blog and so I hope you all don’t mind a black/silver against white/gold contrast 😉

It was always something I thought a lot about. When I started modeling, we were taught, that we should find our personal style. Back then it was like either you are a casual person, a formal one, am avant garde one or one of those kind of styles that we all know. I never felt ‘home’ in one style genre only and so I started to call my personal style weird or crazy to at least have category if I was asked about. I do not know where all that comes from, but it is not only happening in Second Life. In real life I am a musician, but as well a teacher and I do give private lessons for instruments and songwriting and I do work for a record studio playing the bass sometimes, too. I never had the desire to have a nine-to-five job, more than that I even was scared about the thought to have to do the same every day in a certain time frame. Certainly it would be easier and you could plan your free-time better, but I guess I would miss something just having one job.

It isn’t the first time that a chapter of the book of my life closes (sometimes I had to close them my self, too) and so I know if one closes another one will open. Just the time until that happens is sometimes a bit scary, as you never know what it will be. Usually those kind of “in-between” times only happen if you didn’t close the chapter yourself. Mostly they do happen, if you didn’t plan any changes and all of a sudden for no reason others decide to screw you over with lies and gossips that aren’t even true. First I tried to fight against that, but if you have 4 people gained up against you they can pretty much tell everything and being their own witnesses for their lies. First it dragged me down a lot and I was trying to find a way how I still could prove the truth, but the longer it did happen, the more I came to the point that it would be senseless. So I had to change my tactics and just make my peace with it and find new ways for myself. It would have been an unnecessary waste of power and time to keep on fighting in the end.

So I am looking forward to what will come. Things have come up to my mind already and now just need to grow and being developed more. That already feels much better than the time of uncertainty, where you have no clue what you are going to. Maybe that’s why I found parts of my creativity back, too and have fun taking pictures again even if they are a little bit weird *winks*

For now I will be on holidays and try to get some rest from all the past half a year crap. I know things will move on, as they always have and every time it happened, there was something new for  me that I really enjoyed. Even if that sounds old and lame sometimes and in the middle of frustrating and depressing times you neither want to hear or see it – Life has so much to give and there always will be ways to find new perspectives. Recently I found a quote, first I read it was from Sigmund Freud, but when I looked it up, there wasn’t any prove for that and no one really knows where it came from, but it does fit so perfectly for now and I like it a lot. I even thought, if I should put it on a sign and place it at my desktop somewhere, so I can look at it if I get bad feelings about the whole situation again. Maybe it makes a great closing sentence for today’s post *grins*

“Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by assholes.”

Clothing

Dress: CURELESS[+] – “Pygmalion’s Bride / M / Galatea Bridal Gown” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Gloves: CURELESS[+] – “Pygmalion’s Bride / M / Galatea Gloves” (Maitreya, Gacha, Rare)

Accessories

Collar: .Charm. – “Skai Collar” (Store closed)

Piercing: [CX] – “Bitten 2017”

Hair & Makeup

Hair: no.match – “No.Arrest”

Eyeshadow 1: Nanika – “Gold Eyeshadow” (LeLutka Applier)

Eyeshadow 2: Zibska – “Lennie” (LeLutka Applier)

Face Art: Nanika – “Serena Gold” (Omega Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Simone 3.3”

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1”

Legs: CURELESS[+] – “Pygmalion’s Bride / M / Galatea Legs / MARBLE” (Maitreya, Gacha, Common)

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Thauron Ears”

Eyes: .ARISE. – “Blind Eyes / Gold”

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

Tattoo: Nanika – “Gold Sequins Mesh Body Applier” (Maitreya Applier)

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon

Set:

E.V.E Studio – “WHISPER Petals {Gold}”  (Gacha, Rare)

E.V.E Studio – “Apple Flower M01”

E.V.E Studio – “Apple Flower M02”

E.V.E Studio – “Golden Apple”

E.V.E Studio – “Flowers of the Golden Apple”

E.V.E Studio – “Petals Path A {Gold}”

E.V.E Studio – “Petals Path B {Gold}”

E.V.E Studio – “Dancing Petals Dystopia in Bronze/Gold”

Air – “Road sign type A stand_gold_CM”

Air – “Road sign type C_gold_CM”

Air – “Road sign type D_gold_CM”

Air – “Road sign type E_gold_CM”

Air – “Lost Bravery stand(gold)_CM”

Air – “Lost Brain stand(gold)_CM”

DISORDERLY. – “Enchanted Extras / Beast’s Library Papers”

Raindale – “Elnaril floor candle holder (light gold)”

{anc} – “mannequin. MermaidPrincess(Adult)” (Gacha, Rare)

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

The Dark Nun – My Journey of Blogging

by

It is still sunny and hot outside but I already desire the dark months again… maybe exactly because of that. I hate hot weather and I never was a huge friend of the sun.

Recently I watched the movie “The Nun” again. I do love mystic, horror movies a lot and the 2 Conjuring movies with the spin-offs of Anabelle and The Nun are just a must if you love that kind of genre 😉

So I guess The Nun was my inspiration for this when I saw the “Lost Saints ” gacha from ANTINATURAL[+] the first time. Like usual it took me a while before I found all my components and parts for my pictures, but I got used to that. I have a huge respect for those who get something at the release day and instantly have a cool idea what they could do with it for their pictures. I am not talking about the usual blogger pictures that are just showcasing the outfits (nothing wrong with them), but about those who make pictures that kinda tell stories or being made in an artistic way.

I remember times when I just blogged for blogging purposes like reviews, showcasing items, putting a simple stylecard and doing promotion for designers. Like I said before there is nothing wrong with that, but after 10 years of blogging I had to find something different for me as blogging started to feel like a duty only and the fun started to vanish. I started originally with one picture and a style card and never had more than one or two sentences to it. Back then it was cool as I could kinda pump out up to 7 posts per day. Back then we didn’t have any kind of windlight, shadows or meshes, so it was way more easy to shoot pictures and post process them lightly. Usually the only thing I did was to put me in front of a colored background, have more than one view of myself or closeups in the picture and in the end I added a shadow to give it at least some depth (EXAMPLE). Back then I felt really cool with doing that, as it did it’s purpose to showcase designers work as best as I could. Those damn shadows and the desire to have myself more than once on my pictures or have some closeups were the reason why I started to learn Photoshop back then *giggles*

Over the time I tried various things to develop my picture skills and to find new ways how I could showcase designers work properly. I tried simple backgrounds, busy ones and I tried the green-screening and having completely different backgrounds that did not came from Second Life. The last one I did not try for too long as it did not look right for me and I really wanted to keep my pictures taken in SL. I never had the desire to merge SL snapshots into RL pictures or backgrounds and so I gave up on that trend relatively quick. While I started with square pictures (512×512) I figured out fast, that other rations can look way more interesting and attractive. After experimenting quite a while with sizes and formats, I found out that I do love 4:3 (3:4 as well) ratio the most.

Back in 2009, blogging wasn’t as popular as it is today and as a model we were told we should do pictures of have a blog to showcase our styling skills away from the runway shows and vendor shots where the designers kinda put their own visions on us. It was a way to interpret clothing different than the designer initially did, but still it was a way to promote the designs and show that they could have different ways of styles and could attract different groups of people. I had the most fun to fool around with gowns, away from being just beautiful and pretty *grins*

First I was told if I keep on doing such things, like wearing gowns with shaved hair and piercings,  pull simple casual outfits to something wicked and dark with accessories and the location/set I was using, mix and match different outfits together or even use accessories away from their original purpose, I would damage my reputation and no one ever would give me things to blog anymore. I was new into the business back then and a little scared that those who already worked in the fashion industry would be right. So I calmed down again and went on with mainstream pictures again. Then something really funny happened. Designers, fellow models and some other people IMed me asking me why I would go back to those “boring” styles again. That was a wakeup call for me. Even if my ideas were unconventional and different, there were some people who enjoyed that as much as I do. I screwed the thought and the anxiety about my weird ideas and went back to what I really enjoyed. But I always made sure to not distort designers work with too weird poses and later on, when we got windlight, shadows and lights, to not change the color of an outfit or have things too dark so you could not anymore see them. I wanted to have more than one picture, so that I could tell a little story with them. To the same time it would give me the possibility to again focus on details in different pictures. I made the decision to put more pictures on my blog post and have one reference picture (mostly the one I loved the most) displayed on Flickr.  That all kept my pictures weird for my styles but in general relatively simple, as they looked flat without any emotion and depth. For quite a while that was ok for me and I enjoyed, that I could live my craziness of styles and got new sponsors now and then (EXAMPLE).

Again I came across a point where I had the desire to change something as I wanted to have more emotions and feelings in my pictures. When we got windlight, shadows and lights, I found out that you can create cool, dramatic shots with a strong light and shadow combination and a powerful windlight. But there was the other side of the coin… with deep shadows some details started to vanish and first I had the feeling I  should not do that as it does hide designers work too much. The more I tried, the less I could resist to all those new features and I that seriously put me on the horns of a dilemma. I wanted to do more artistic pictures that have more content than just the clothing that I was wearing, but how I could do that if I loose details to the dark. When bento came to Second Life it was even worse, as pose creators started to make more crazy poses and with my 4:3 ratio pictures I didn’t want to use standing poses only anymore where I had more background than avatar on the picture. I had so many awesome sponsors (if I now look back, it were too many) and I wanted to satisfy them all. I wasn’t able to have a combination of blog pictures and personal pictures done, as I had so many deadlines and outfits that I had to blog. There was a point where everything became too much and blogging or making pictures became a burden and nearly all the fun had vanished. I had to make a decision – either I go on like usual and loose all my interest in blogging, Second Life and everything I loved, or I have to change something drastically and revamp my blog.

It wasn’t an easy decision as I had the feeling I do have to let my sponsors go, when I cannot satisfy them anymore. I left a few and as well explained to them why I had to. A handful of my sponsors really surprised me, when they told me they would still like to keep me and see where my journey would go to – I never ever expected that!

I took a few weeks off and started to reconsider my blog and pictures. During that time I watched a lot of Photoshop tutorials and learned a lot of new techniques about photo editing. When I came back I was full of energy and started to play with lights, projectors and shadows and experimented with all the new things I learned in Photoshop. It was a complete new freedom and feeling and I found all the fun back, that I missed so much. I am a very self-critical person and so even if the fun was back I felt there was missing something, as many times the pictures looked ok but not “cool”. That was when Silly told me about VISONAIRE. First I thought, why I should take a course if I can have all the tutorials and information on the Internet as well? But the more I thought about the more I did remember, how much I loved attending classes and workshops in my life. So I signed up and I have to tell you, I do not regret any second! (If you want to know more about my VISIONAIRE experience you can look HERE) It was a completely different experience and it did teach me a lot about things that I never thought of and just did because I felt it looks nice. What was again a huge surprise, with my new way of pictures (I did not dare to apply as a blogger at too many places anymore) I got requested as a blogger or even got flickr mails where designers or blogger managers invited me to join their blogger team. That certainly was the most awesome thing that could happen – I do what I enjoy and others do enjoy my new way of blogging too!

I am sure, there will be times, when the desire of changes will come up again, but for now I really do enjoy blogging and taking pictures again 🙂

Clothing

Outfit: ANTINATURAL[+] – “Lost Saints / Unsainted Nun / Mini” (Gacha, Rare)

Veil: ANTINATURAL[+] – “Lost Saints / Unsainted Nun / Veil” (Gacha, Rare)

Shoes: ANTINATURAL[+] – “Lost Saints / Leather Boots” (Gacha, Rare)

Accessories

Wrist Armor: ANTINATURAL[+] – “Lost Saints / Gold Gauntlets” (Gacha, Rare)

Tounge Piercings: LeLutka – “BDYART-TBRBL” (Bento)

Headpiece: ANTINATURAL[+] – “Lost Saints / Sacred Silence / Gold” (Gacha, Common)

Horns: ANTINATURAL[+] – “Lost Saints / Gilded Horns / Gold” (Gacha, Common)

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

Nails: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Obsess Claws” (Maitreya, Bento)

Hair & Makeup

Hair: Entwined – “Jana”

Eyemakeup: CURELESS[+] – “Undereye Lines & Eyeliner” (Omega Applier)

Forehead: CURELESS[+] – “Onibi Markings” (Omega Applier)

Wounds: .{PSYCHO:Byts}. – “Badass Fighter” (Omega Applier)

Lips: LeLutka – “Beast Applier” (LeLutka Applier)

Body & Tattoo

Head: LeLutka – “Korina 3.3” (Bento)

Teeth: LeLutka – “Beast Teeth 1.1” (Bento)

Body: Maitreya – “Lara 4.1” (Bento)

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

Eyes: ANATOMY – “Reflect Eyes – Albino”

Ears: .:E.A.Studio:. – “Gormory Ears”

Poses & Props

Poses: Poseidon – “Evil Nurse”, “Puppeteer”, “Hil Nurse” & “Morgue”

Background: SEMPITERNAL – “[The Forbidden Room]”

Table & Dishes: DRD – “Black Widow Tea Table”

Model & Photographer

Wicca Merlin

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

by

“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