Shady Fox (on the left) told me that Noramyr was super-tired after all of the building she had been doing to create it...
And I got Lunar to bunneh down and come with me to the ArtWalk! OK, I love that artist's belt he has on...
If you have never met her it's a shame, as her personality could best be described as "ebullient." I love her perky bubbliness. After a great chat about creating and how she has been prepping for a baked goods themed show, she gifted me with an exclusive pair of shoes--the super-cute "Antidepressant Heels." Look at the little yummies all over it!
Thank you Cutea! They are so much fun!
I checked the options and there was not a way for me to easily do the color match way of tinting one's feet that I prefer, so I had to toggle dark, light and RGB +/- buttons. To get anything close to my skin color took the following clicks: 24 dark, 8 red+, and 1 blue + and even then it wasn't quite right as my skin has this lovely luminous realistic look that contrasted with the flat look of the feet...
And I'm not even going to talk about the fact that the shoes were no mod with no EZ sizing or way to adjust those cool black bands. Arrrrrrgh...I had to toss them back into my inventory as they're unusable to me. Well, I really did try. Damn! OK, my fashion moment is over, back to exploring and such.
Here is the painting that inspired it--"The Gallery of the HMS Calcutta"...
With library curator Siri Woodget's help, I put together an exhibit about one of Worth's patrons, Boston socialite Isabella Stewart Gardner, who was independent and bold and did things her way...
Here I am in the reproduction dress I created that uses a texture from the actual fabric. There will be a contest and a lucky winner will get to walk away with this dress tomorrow...
And yes, I did a tiny version! I don't know if most folks know that I have a history degree and was a graphic designer for years. I've found that really helps with the pieces I make and I always feel like I am still learning how to do something new. I love what I do. The exhibit runs until March 1, but I hope to see you all there tomorrow!
In the mists of twilight, I arrive – naught but a glowing silver cloud – undefined, unshaped, and unreal. I must become something or someone – must apply a face with which to deal with this world.
I must first select a gender to wear, or it must select me. Though most tend to select the gender they wear in the actual world (TAW), it is a choice – or sometimes an expression within us that refuses that choice. I choose my normal form, female – soft – needing to be held – needing to touch – needing to love – wanting to dance – nurturing the plants in her gardens.
Shall my skin be white, supple, soft – crying out for a hand to caress it – or shall it be dark, defined, hardened and strong? Shall my skin be coarse and dry, or shall I anoint myself with oil, calling attention to the curve of my breast as it sparkles in the sun?
And in what shall I drape myself? Shall I adorn myself with jewels and fine robes, place upon my head the crown of the Queene, or shall I hide behind tattered rags, expressing the smallness within me – the simplicity that wants to hide, but choosing a torn and patched dress does not? Shall I wear a dress that swirls when I walk, like dandelion seeds dancing in the arms of a zephyr, or like leaves whipped by an autumn wind to twist and turn in the corners – making haste to fly to the ground? Perhaps I should wear only leaves – let myself become the wind around which they turn – the desire at the heart of their dance toward death and decay – or maybe flowers – scented splashes of color begging the senses of those around to partake of me, to touch and to dance with me in the open air.
But no – I cannot be the Queen for she is beautiful and respected and I do not feel beautiful. Neither can I wear rags, even though it is in them that my self in TAW feels the most comfortable, for people tell me I am expressing too much of the darkness within me – that I should be seeking light and joy…. but I cannot dress in leaves or flowers either, for to be desired would be wrong too. I must hide this body, for it is filled with shame and does not wish to be looked upon – want desperately not to be desired or sought after.
I try on jeans and a sweater – but that drags me much to close to the actual world I have come here to escape… though it feels good to walk without shoes even as the snow begins to fly around me in the actual world. I must find something from the past or from the depths of fantasy to become – must run farther from the self that struggles through the actual world.
My mind begins to shred as the options fall. I stand naked on the shore of an ocean, my skin changes to blue scales, my eyes ignite with a yellow flame – my legs dissolve and are replaced with a tail as I become a mermaid and hurl myself into the waves – but still I feel wrong – still too human. With a scream I leap from the water and my body crashes on the rocks, flesh torn away, tail ripped to bits along with my heart as I am suddenly set free. I become wings and light – that which was a body is crushed and twisted by an AO – then thrust beneath the ground to be ignored by myself and those who pass – only a silver sparkle with filigree wings remains to be seen by the world .
No clothing at all – I am completely naked – without a dress, without skin – without shape or even gender… even the wings fade leaving only a glow of light. I am nearly back to what I was when I arrived, still undefined. Not to be seen, but also with nothing to hide. I am amorphous and free, though chained by my AO. Finally I feel like "me" and can go out to face others in this virtual world.
But then a friend tells me I really need to get out from under my rock. I blink my eyes, stunned a bit at the bluntness of her words, but then realize that she is right. I return to a mostly human form, clothed in a simple peasant dress. My bare foot tentatively touches the dance floor atop a mountain and pulls my body with it. I begin to turn, and my dress swirls in the wind, reminding me of wings. I sprout wings - gossamer tendrils of fairy flight - and I feel myself lighten. The dress feels too heavy with the wings, so I shift to a lighter and shorter dress. Still swirling in the breeze, but more free and light. The music clothes my heart, and I feel lighter still... I doff the dress and dance clad in nothing but flowers and wings, and the some in me makes me soar.This is much better than hiding under a rock ... dancing naked, not a hidden nakedness, but exposed to the sky and the trees and the wind and the world - clothed in the skin of my definition - clothed in the ideal that I know myself to be. I AM beautiful - inside - I just had to wear the right skin, the right flowers, the right wings - and the right thoughts in my heart.
No – Clothing has no deep psychological impact on me or my actual life – none whatsoever…
Lunar is wonderful to me and I thought I'd repay that kindness by making a surprise for him. He had been talking about wanting elven armor. I've never made any before, but armed with RL references of Chinese, Russian, Japanese armor and medieval platemail, I decided to make a go at it. He, like I, was pretty amazed at how it turned out. It is named "Lunar Yugao" after Yoshitoshi's "100 Aspects of the Moon" woodblock engraving inspired by the Tale of Genji. A part of the engraving is embossed on the metal. I think it is one of the most beautiful things I have made in SL so far...
The following day I went to the Beachwear & Lingerie Expo at Vanity Universe. I came inworld to an IM from Codie simply saying 'LMLMLMLMLM me!" If you love beautiful lingerie like I do, go ASAP! I really loved Carnal and Insolence. I ran into a bunch of my fellow Plurkers running around buying up stuff like crazy. I "might" post a pic in one if you ask nicely ;-)
All I can say is that Hair Fair is coming up soon too. I am going to lose my mind...
I went from that to more sophisticated pieces in Photoshop with my own textures I created like this one...
And this!
My li'l sis Baube wants to create. Specifically, she wants to learn about building and fashion design. You wouldn't think the two are related, but once you start getting into making prim pieces like flexi skirts or sculpted sleeves/cuffs, yes! I build just as much as a designer as I do as a structure builder! Anyone who has seen or worn one of my Victorian bustle dresses can attest to that fact!
Chip Midnight's clothing templates:
I love a dress that flows well when I dance...
Lapointe & Bastchild were the headline designers, but there were also pieces from Lapin Paris, Fuschia Begonia, and Terry Lightfoot...
Afterwards, Dia spun goth tunes as we all danced...
Gryffin had joined us to quietly work on stuff too and went afk. He came back to this scenario and I think his glee was pretty...joyous. Oh man, you can't even see Dia's face for the damn foot shine! Speaking of feet...when will someone make better looking AV feet already? You can't be the hotness with jacked up feet!
Here is a video:
I realized I didn't announce my shop here in elinsl...
