Photograph of a Photographer

I LOVE TAKING PICTURES... I love blogging too...
I've tried many things while I've been in SL, and still partake in a few of them but for me Blogging and Photography is where my heart is. I KNOW I'm not the best at either of these things, and there are many people out there who may look at my attempts and laugh, but I try my best - even though my computer seems to have a vendetta against me and won't work the way I want it to - and each of my pictures and posts is full of love and enjoyment, something that I hope shines through, no matter the subject. 

I love finding new places and poses and outfits that come together to make something pretty, and today is one awesome combination of these things - I just wish my graphics card would let me play with shadows! 
This picture was taken as Rudh was posing to take a picture of the Steam Train at Storybrooke's new Winter look. It's so unbelievably gorgeous and like something straight out of Narnia that I couldn't resist taking a picture of her while she was taking pictures - thanks to the pose I bought in the sale at Reve Obscura called Shutterbug. 
Her outfit is a newish release from Petite Mort at this year's Sad November. The Top and Jeans are available in a collection of different colours, and the Tied Plaid Shirt comes with a hud for easy colour change, but as per usual it makes this awesome Autumnal outfit from Petite Mort so versatile. It's great mix'n'match pieces that this store is very good at, and they work as a full outfit or worn separately too!!
This is what I really look like, maybe less glamorous than this, when I am taking pictures of Rudh LOL... There's a lot to come and some real fantasy pouring out of my crazy mind, I cannot wait to share with you!!! 

What is she wearing;
Hair: Truth - Makena (Group Gift) 
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2 
Sweater: Petite Mort - Cropped T-Neck in Moss (Available until December 2nd at Sad November) 
Tied Sweater: Petite Mort - Tied Plaid Shirt (Available until December 2nd at Sad November)
Pants: Petite Mort - Highwaist Skinny's in Stonewash (Available until December 2nd at Sad November) 
Boots: Alyce - Ugg Boots 
Pose: Reve Obscura - Shutterbug BENTO Pose 

A Sad Day in November

November 11th is a day of Remembrance in the UK, and it's a day that has always been important to me. Ever since I was little I've been surrounded by stories of memory, tales of heroism and selflessness and I've never been able to shake these thoughts from my mind, especially on a day like today. On the Eleventh Hour, of the Eleventh Day, of the Eleventh Month each year, the UK remembers those that gave their lives fighting for the country, marked on the day that was the end of WWI, with the display of Poppies. Poppies are the flower of choice since they were what now grows over the sight of some of the most horrific front lines battle zones of the war. 
Growing up, and in my early career, I spent a lot of time with war veterans and heard some horrible, saddening and sometimes hopefully silly stories, that on days like today I like to look back on... Wearing a Poppy with Pride... 

It's a sad and humbling feeling, yet it's a sense of prosperity that the remembrance of these heroes that the uniting of the nation brings. 
The feeling of sadness though, as I guess I need to talk about shopping stuff here at some point, is brought to light due to some of the items that I am wearing today coming from the event that is Sad November - which opens later on today!! 
Although not clear, I have an amazing eye make-up called Gloomy on from Nightmare, which will be available at Sad November in just a few hours! I'm also wearing a nail release, which are also called Gloomy, from Nightmare too! Since the make- is not as clear as it deserve to be I have attached the original ad for the make- up by it's creator Asylum Miggins and strongly encourage you to go and check it out!! It's gorgeous and is definitely my new favourite eye make-up! 

What is she wearing; 
Hat & Hair: Doe - Ruby in VI Gingers (Available until November 30th at The Gacha Garden) 
Flower: TOPAZIA - Poppy Hat in Red 
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2 
Eyes: Izzie's - Lua Teary Eyes RARE 
Eye Make-Up: Nightmare - Gloomy Eyeshadow (Available until December 2nd at Sad November) 
Tears: Izzie's - Little Tears & LOGO Alex Tears Appliers 
Nails: Nightmare - Gloomy Nails (Available until December 2nd at Sad November) 
Top: miss chelsea - Judi Top in Green Plaid 
Pose: Signature Pose - Give Me Space 

Picnics in the Park

Friday is here, and that means that tomorrow is the weekend!!! Although I still work on the weekends - there is no rest of the wicked - I still find it the best time to just kick back and relax. I need it bad at the moment, a chance to relax and not think about anything - though I may allow myself a little shopping trip as I need to get presents for my parents for the Dutch holiday of Sinterklaas!
If it's sunny I may even take a walk through the local park with my dog... Never know could stop and have a picnic like Rudh did at It all starts with a smile!

I love this sim, it's a pretty location that changes with the season and for the Autumn season it's divine... I wish colours were this vibrant in RL all the time... It's the perfect place to stop, while wrapped up warm and snug, for a picnic... 
Talking of being wrapped up I have to spend a couple of minutes just telling you about my two new and favourite Autumn closet must-haves... The sweater that I am wearing is one of these - it's a Dead Dollz Reagan Sweater in Khaki, although they come in other colours too, and it's SO warm and snug looking, and I LOVE the floppy over the hands sleeves. It looks awesome when paired with my gorgeous new [sYs] scarf that comes in a whole range of different colours and is available at this month's Chapter Four too... 
Just one more thing deserving honourable mention... It's not something that I would ever normally even think about wearing but it looked so perfect with this outfit. In RL I am crazy about bags, I have them in all different shapes, sizes, colours and styles - just ask HellBone - but I never normally bother with them too much in SL... Yet these Leaf Bags from PSYCHO.Byts are so cute, how can you not fall in love with them if you have a bag fetish! 
I hope that there is some hot soup in that flask I'd really like some hot soup right now!!!

What is she wearing;
Hair: Besom - Glam Kitten in Reds 
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2 
Scarf: [sYs] - COZY scarf in Leaf (Available until November 21st at The Chapter Four) 
Top: Dead Dollz - Reagan Sweater in Khaki (Available until November 30th at The Liason Collaborative) 
Bag: PSYCHO.Byts - Leaf Bag (Available until November 26th at Sad November) 
Pants: Blueberry - Tali Fall Pants in Leather Black
Pose: Image Essentials - Trendz 4 

November 11th: Remembering Them...

It's November 11th... Today for the British it's a Remembrance Day. A day of peace, respect and thought in which people all over the country stop for a moment or two and think back on all of the people that have lost their lives to protect our little island nation. 
Remembered on November 11th at 11.11AM, the exact time that WWI was declared over in 1918, I always take a moment or two to stop and to think and although I'm not religious, offer a silent thank you to those people. Other places in the world do this on different days - the Dutch for example have remembrance day on May 4th to mark the close of WWII - but right now, I sit back and wonder what those men and women who have lost their lives fighting for Britain throughout history would make of Ol'Blighty now... 

Traditionally in the UK, Remembrance Day is marked with Poppies, as they were the blood red flowers which bloom over the battle fields in France, and I did just buy some lovely poppies in SL which would have been perfect to memorialise things, but then I found this pose prop from Come Soon - called Lady Autumn - and the white roses just seemed like poignant hints at peace... The world could do with a little more peace nowadays, don't you think?! 
As always with Come Soon Poses, the pose comes with a full scene and just the option to use the pose alone - here I was a little naughty and used the chair and roses along with the pose - but by having the tank and the sandbags - available from H&C Wheels by the way - I brought the memorial to life a little!
Let's make today, and all the days following, a day of peace! I know that it's a lot to ask but isn't it about the time world was allowed that?

What is she wearing;
Hair: Magika - Friday in 02 
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2 
Necklace: DECO - Shells of War Necklace 
Outfit: katat0nik - Button Up Romper in Army 1 
Boots: N-Core - Rogue in Black (Available until November 27th at FaMESHed) 
Pose: Come Soon - Lady Autumn (Available until November 26th at Sad November) 
Tank: H&C Wheels - Tanked 
Sandbags: H&C - Sandbags 

Snuggling up on Cold Days

I LOVE this time of year... It's a bit bloody cold but hey I freaking love that! I've never been a fan of the hot weather and always find myself jumping for joy a little when the cold seasons start. 
I love being able to snuggle down, wrap up warm and cuddle a cup of tea. Nothing makes me happier than curling up with a cuppa when it's quiet and I'm under a blanket with a few candles and the fairy lights that I use in my living room twinkling away. 
I think though, recently I found my new favourite sofa to do just that on... I just wish I had one in RL lol... It's never a Sad November when you can have a sofa like this!!! 

My "Sad November" Sofa is actually my new happy place... A cosy Sweater Couch - from the great mind behind a very versatile store, Violetility, which if you haven't been to yet I will tell you now is a rising star in the shopping world! - that just calls for you to snuggle up with a cup of tea and in my case some knitting! I have a knitting pattern from tres blah that I am trying out, and my tea always tastes better in my IMBUE brand mug LOL, but that's just crazy talk! 
Anyone want to curl up with me?! Bring me a cuppa tea??

What is she wearing;
Hair: TRUTH - Deja in Reds (November Group Gift)
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Top: tres blah - Olsen Sweatshirt in Hallow 
Jeans: KITJA - Tessa Jeans in Navy 
Sofa: Violetility - Sweater Couch (Available until November 26th at Sad November) 
Mug: IMBUE - My Mug in Is it tea you're looking for? 
Knitting: tres blah - Cozy Winter in Knit Fix RARE 
Desk: [Deadwool] - Secretaire RARE
Stool: [nefarious.inventions] - Turn.And.Cough in Stool
Box: (fashionably dead) - Herb Box
Irons: The Loft - Vintage Laundry in Antique Iron Collection
Frame: Cute Poison - DIY Frame in Brown
Sign: {Against the Wall} - Enchantment Chalkboard in Goodbye

The Winds on the Trace

Officially it's Autumn but this morning there are definite touches of the coming winter in the air this morning. As I waited at the bus stop for the bus into Amsterdam, I could see my breath in the air and the sparkle of the frosted windows of the parked cars nearby. I was glad to get a warm seat on the bus this morning!
Luckily Autumn in Secondlife is beautiful but a LOT less cold! I'm not a lover of the summer - it's far too hot and I don't handle heat well - but Autumn  and Winter really make me smile, Autumn especially. In Secondlife you can wear short shorts all year and still get into the Autumn mood, there are so many gorgeous places to explore, so how can you not... One of my favourite places, happens to be the Fall Trace - but for today at least I'm not wearing short shorts LOL...

The wind blows through the reeds at the Fall Trace Wetlands and the setting is just stunning. I loved spending a good hour or so wandering around the footpaths and taking in the scenery.
Whilst there I couldn't help taking a few minutes to snap a picture of the super pretty new Nora Dress and Cable Knit Scarf that you can get from Petite Mort at Sad November. Only problem was the wind, it was so difficult to get  shot without my hair in my face - hehe I love this new hair from Argrace - but I think that the result is kinda magical anyway!!
Check out Fall Trace, and remember to stick to the pathways, unless you fancy a swim in the cold Autumn water!

What is she wearing;
Hair: Argrace - KOHAKU in Reds
Skin: Glam Affair - Seya in Europa 2
Scarf: Petite Mort - Cable Knit Scarf (Available until November 26th at Sad November)
Dress: Petite Mort - Nora Dress in Olive (Available until November 26th at Sad November)
Boots: REIGN - Anaiya Boots (Current Group Gift)
Pose: Image Essentials - Swag 6

New Chairs from NEWCHURCH

Recently one of my sisters in the MC, lil Fyre, was talking to me about a store she'd started working for... A fairly new on the SL scene furniture store called NEWCHURCH. It was a store I'd never heard of, but she said she'd been given the task of promoting the store... 
Thank you to Victor - NEWCHURCH's owner - for allowing me the honour of being able to blog one of his creations. I have to admit that the furniture style is not really to my taste - it's all fairly realistic looking and I am a freak for the whimsical - BUT it is very well made, the textures are brilliant and I think that NEWCHURCH could be a rising star in the furniture world of SL... 

The store isn't huge but all of the pieces are fairly cute, and I can imagine that they would work well in any "realistic" style home... When I checked out the store, I chose a piece that I loved both for the texture and the shape, although it might have been more suited to a tropical beach that my weed filled smoky room! It's like a polar opposite of my look and accessories today, and I love that I can be so bi-polar in one photo hehe... 
I accessorised the shot with some of my Monies Smuggling Bears from Bokeh and a few joints from BUENO... Don't touch my joints, I've got a gun and I'm not afraid to use it! The gun comes with my new wig from [taketomi]... 
So lesson of the day, check out NEWCHURCH and keep your hands off my weed LOL... 

What is she wearing;
Hair & Gun: [taketomi] - Delia in Reds 
Skin: Glam Affair - Lauren in America 07 
Cigarette: [NikotiN] - Classic Cigarette 
Necklace: random.Matter - Banshee Choker in Silver 
Tattoo: Identity - Inner Goddess 
Top: SAKIDE - Warm Colours Sweater (Part of an Outfit) (Available until November 21st at Sad November)
Jeans: SPIRIT - Emma High Jeans in Medium Blue 
Chair: NEWCHURCH - Mission Prarie Chair in Bekasi 
Smokes: BUENO - Joint Box 
Bears: Bokeh - Monies Smuggling Bear 

Who's afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?

I had to go with that song as a post title, because the other song that features something from this look I created has driven me nuts so much when it was first released that anyone who sings it around me on our home sim will be shown how to fly... Getting it stuck in my own head just by writing a blog post title would be silly... Something I am likely to do to myself but VERY silly!
I even made myself look less like a fox and more like a wolf, whilst I merely accessorised with foxes... YAY go me!!!

The foxes were in fact the reason for the post... So I am going to focus my attention on them and less on the Big Bad Wolf Rudh!
The little pet that I am carrying around in my arms, is my new friend Cirque... Named because I bought him on my recent trip to Cirque De Seraphim from the Psycho.Byts booth. I tell you I'm none too creative in my old age LOL... He is just so irresistably cute it was too hard to resist, and my biggest problem was trying to work out which of the 5 colours I wanted... In the end I plumbed for something natural fox looking!
The other foxy element of this outfit is something I am sure you cannot miss... The MishMish Zoey dresses are available from The Kawaii Project, and come in a selection of colours... I loved this aqua green tone, which is totally unusual as a colour choice for me, but it just made those adorable little foxy faces look even cuter hehe...
Anyway, just once because I cannot help myself... "WHAT DOES A FOX SAY?"

What is she wearing;
Ears & Tail: aisling - Lubin in Cute Dark (Past Event Release)
Hair: Spellbound - Bramble  (Available now at Sad November)
Skin: Glam Affair - Lauren in America 07 (Available now at Collabor88)
Face Wounds: (Under the Eyes) Utopiah - Excessive Pain Makeup
Piercing: Cute Poison - Starlust Piercings
Dress: MishMish - Zoey Dress (Available now at The Kawaii Project)
Pet: {PSYCHO:Byts} - Fox in Orange (Available now at Cirque de Seraphim)
Pose: Signature Pose - Chey 2

Bye Old Me, Hello New Me!

Some people, in SL, I know change their skin like a chameleon, wearing many different ones depending on how they feel - I do very occasionally when blogging something or being dead - but for me, finding a new "everyday wear" skin is important. 
I don't mind admitting that I am VERY fussy and will wear the same skin, as my basic skin, for long periods of time! So when I do seek to find a new one, and eventually find one that I am happy in, it is a bit of a big deal for me! It makes me feel like it's a fresh start, a new beginning and some might say a step forward, perhaps? 

I guess that's why my photo has somewhat of a pensive nature to it?! What I will tell you is that, a few moments of contemplation whilst taking this photo - hiding from the MC - and giving myself a chance to breathe really do help in the humdrum of a SL day!
My new skin is from Glam Affair. I like the way they look on my body and I love how soft and fresh faced this one looks too... I love the fact too though that a skin can be worn by anyone and look different. I bought this skin from the latest round of Collabor88 and was a little worried that I'd look cloned along with everyone else that tried the skin out... I didn't need to worry too much hehe... I looked different to all of the ladies trying demos!
My second "OH MY GOD" thing in this photo has to be the seat! I LOVE this seat!!! I don't normally get over the top excited about furniture, but this Cocktailbird Nest Chair from {anc} - which you can win yourself at The Fantasy Gacha Carnival by the way - is just gorgeous! Stuffed with some cute poses and really pretty to look at, I am definitely using this in the garden and will be sitting there more often from now on hehe...
The rest of my outfit will be clearer if I show a comparison between my skins though so... 

The left is the OLD me, the right the NEW me... Bye Bye old Me, Hello New Me! 
The way I dress won't change though, and aside from the Gator Vest that I have to wear fairly regularly this outfit really screams RUDH! 
THe long curls and soft beanie of the Bramble hair from Spellbound, have been fairly predominant as a hair choice for me lately, and the shirt is an old favourite from R3volt - not that you can see it under my vest mind you! The EMPORIUM shorts were an "I cannot resist those" kinda item, I bought them at a past round of Fi*Friday for 55L and as well as that, the Obscure Vampire Necklace was snapped up at the same time too hehe... 

What is she wearing;
Hair: Spellbound - Bramble V2 (Available now at Sad November) 
Skin: Glam Affair - Lauren in America 07 (Available now at Collabor88)
Face Wounds: (Under the Eyes) Utopiah - Excessive Pain Makeup 
Piercing: Cute Poison - Starlust Piercings 
Necklace: Obscure - Vampire Necklace in Silver (Past Fi*Friday Item) 
Top: R3volt - Teagan Top 
Shorts: EMPORIUM - Cut Denim Shorts (Past Fi*Friday Item) 
Knee Wound: Suicidal Unborn - Bloody Knees 
Leg Wound: Hysteria - In Painful Stitches (No Longer Available!)
Boots: REIGN - Fiona Boots in Black (Worn with SLINK Mid Feet) (Past Event Release) 
Seat: {anc} - Cocktailbird Nestchair in Blue (Available now at the Fantasy Gacha Carnival)

In the Trees

In the swamp, beneath the trees someone lives there "peacefully"... She's a spirit of the woods, a carer of animals and the protector of all things... 
Recently though this forest spirit has been left fighting for her freedom by a big mean and very nasty ogre that lives on the other side of the mountains! 
This poor little spirit spends the vast majority of her days roaming amongst the trees, barely leaving her home for less than a few minutes at the time as invariably one of her reptilian charges needs her help, She spends her time dressing to feel like those humans she sees in the blog magazines she reads, and playing with the many toys that she holds dear, while the crazy ogre crafts her ancient looking wares and dances with her illegal minion bots...  
This poor little spirit needs to get out, her and the transportation crafter need to break free from the evil that is this ogre... She will surely drive them to insanity if they do not get free... 

The story is about 90% true, OK so I'm not a spirit, but we are having trouble with our land owning neighbours and HellBone and I are now in the process of looking for a new place to live - not just for us but for the entire MC too... Anyone know of a cheap full sim available?
I had this look ready for a while and then the story kinda feel into my lap after having trouble for a few days with our landlord... But I wanted to create a look that was fairly autumnal and fairly fantasy without the full on fairy effect hehe...
I wore a cute sack dress, complete with mud, that had picked up at a fantasy event - not sure which though sorry - from a store called Murdock !nc. I accessorised it with a necklace that came as part of the Misae outfits from Una, and gave it that Autumn feeling with some Tabou Irresistible Fallen Leaves Antlers and a Persefona Falling Leaves Wreath! I also scooped up a little friend to pose with me... The newest MishMish release is little foxes! SUCH ADORABLE LITTLE FOXES! They are available in three colours from Collabor88, and trust me when I say you will want them all hehe... 
There is just one thing that this woodland spirit needs to show you... I was walking with my foxy friend, and spotted the most beautiful gift from the trees... After washing the mud from my feet, I stepped into the most amazing pair of shoes, that will no doubt keep my feet mud free! The AZOURY Sauvage Heels with their super high brown trunk base will keep me Happy - not Sad - this November hehe! Yes that was a hint by the way, they are from Sad November hehe... 

Will our spirit heroine make it out of the clutches of the evil ogre alive? Keep watching to find out...

What is she wearing;
Main Photo:
Antlers & Body Leaves: Tabou Irresistible - Fallen Leaves (Past Event Release) 
Leaves: Persefona - Falling Leaves Wreath in Mix 3 (Past Event Release) 
Hair: Clawtooth - Cherry Bomb in Red eye flight 
Skin: Glam Affair - Candy Skin in America 09 (Past Arcade Item)
Face Wounds: (Under the Eyes) Utopiah - Excessive Pain Makeup 
Necklace: Una - Misae in Brown (Part of an outfit) (Past Event Release) 
Dress & Mud: Murdock !nc - Sack (Past Event Release)
Fox: MishMish - Little Fox in Red (Available Now at Collabor88)
Pose: Image Essentials - Graceful Elegance 14 
Shoe Photo:
Skin: Glam Affair - Candy Skin in America 09 (Past Arcade Item)
Boots: AZOURY - Sauvage Heels in Trunk Brown (Worn with SLINK Mid Feet) (Available Now at Sad November) 
Pose: Image Essentials - Flapper 2 

Remember them...

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

(Laurence Binyon's poem, "For the Fallen")

Today in the UK is Rememberance Day... Every country in the world seems to remember the fallen on a different day, but for Brits - and members of the Commonwealth - the hostilities of WWI stopped on November 11th 1918. So at the 11th hour, of the 11th day, of the 11th month, the time when the hostilities actually ceased, we stop, we contemplate and maybe not all of us, but I have always whispered a little thank you...
These days, November 11th, has become the national day of rememberance not only for WWI but for any armed conflict and loss of life...
The poppies I have adorned myself with have always been associated with the rememberance events... Poppies bloomed across some of the worst battlefields in WWI, and thus sparked associations with spilt blood during the war due to their brilliant red colour. Since 1921, people have worn artifical poppies in the run up to Rememberance Day, with charities making and selling them to raise money for current or veterans charities in the UK...
I'm not going to talk about what I am wearing - though I listed it below if you are interested - but I will say that if you can, even if you aren't British, at 11am UK time today (GMT), stop for a moment or two, have a few moments contemplation and say a thank you that have chosen to risk their lives protecting our own....
I want to finish up by quoting a man who may well have been one of England's greatest Prime Ministers - Winston Churchill - who said "Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few". He was referring to the fighter pilots of WWII but of course this could be a good representation of so many human conflicts, no matter where in the world you are... They fought for us, we should at least show some thanks and respect to them... It's the least we can do!

What is she wearing;
Hair Flower: TOPAZIA - Poppy Hat in Red
Hair: SpellBound - Bramble (Available now at Sad November)
Skin: Glam Affair - Candy Skin in America 09 (Past Arcade Item)
Eyelids: SLINK - Slink Mesh eyelids
Face Wounds: (Under the Eyes) Utopiah - Excessive Pain Makeup
Tears: KOSH - To Much Stress in Drama
Piercing: Cute Poison - Starlust Piercings
Dress: DRBC - Opium Lolita Dress (Past Hunt Prize)
Poppy: Chabada - Poppy Heart, he loves me
Pose: Image Essentials - Flapper 1