Steam: The Hunt (Pt. 2)

Ohhhh, what a terrific hunt! There's still time, so be sure to get out there and steam through. The gifts are pretty universally high quality, the hints are well done, the group is fun, helpful and polite. There were only a few locations where I got frustrated and had to leave (and come back), the organization was quite good with defunct participants clearly designated. The hunt still has more than a week to go - get your steam on.

I've been slack on the pictures, but I did fall in love with this hunt item to the point that I had to put an entire outfit together around it and track down the perfect location to set it off... definitely a most excellent steampunk hat from The Hatter is Mad. Enjoy!
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(Skin by Dutch Touch, Hair by Bizarre, Eyes by Poetic Colors)

Photo taken at Dave Rumsey Maps

Steam: The Hunt (September 1-30)

I've decided to start back blogging slowly and with a bit of a theme to keep me on track. I emerged from a work bubble to discover that gridwide hunts seem to have mushroomed to the point that one could hunt nearly continuously and never buy anything. That said, I enjoy hunts for the chance to see new places and designers whom I might otherwise not come across - which is why I selected the Steam Hunt with it's Steampunk theme.

I've decided to post (at least) once a week a look built of hunt items with a style card and hunt information, starting tomorrow. I have completed picking up the hunt items (and will be giving the hunt an overall rating), but have designated a surprising number of these as "keepers" so there should be quite a bit of material with which to work. I make no promises to show all (or even close to all) the hunt items, I will not give hints to item locations and I will not break any hunt rules. I will be including SLURLs in the style cards, but won't indicate where in the hunt the creator falls.

To start off, the basic information:

Name: Steam: The Hunt

Theme: Steampunk

Hunt Group: STEAM Hunt Punks

Website/Blog: http://steamhunt.blogspot.com/

Starting Location: Czari`s Attic

Number of Participants: 105

Rules:

STEAM: Steampunk Travelers' Event, Adventure & Megahunt

This is the first ever Steampunk Grid-Wide hunt! There has never been a Steampunk-themed hunt before, so this will be very exciting and fun. STEAM will take place during the month of September, 1st-30th. The gifts will remain available for the entire month... if you can find them!
There will be many Steampunk-themed gifts to find hidden all over the grid in participating shops. You'll be offered a variety of gifts as you search for the hidden items. Only high-quality designers have been invited to participate, and their exclusive items will be available only for the duration of the hunt.
As with most hunts, you will be given a starting location. That location will give you the LM to the next, and so on.
Please drop by this shop closer to the hunt, click on the GEAR, and receive the starting location!
We ask you these favours:
Please do not contact shop owners directly. All enquiries should come to Perryn Peterson or Kashya Bellic in the form of notecards as I/M are frequently capped. There will be a website and blog as well.
Please respect everyone participating: designers, shop owners, other hunters.

Please keep your prims as low as possible whilst hunting; do not wear a lot of primmy items, scripts and laggy items like meters and HUDs. These items will slow things down for everyone.
If you open packages on anyone's sim, have the courtesy to delete said package or pick up your items before you leave.
Enjoy and bring lots of friends with you!
THANK YOU FOR PARTICIPATING IN STEAM: THE HUNT!

Holiday Spirits!

Ahhhh... yesterday was a glorious day for my holiday spirit - Bax released the absolutely incredible ankle boots in red patent, Moxie Polanos released both Candy Cane and Holiday Bliss and I finally got over to EarthStones to pick up my Snowflake collection. Combined with my favorite Air reading glasses, I'm kicking off my Yuletide today with two terrific holiday looks (and a wonderful excuse to buy those red patent leather boots...).
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Starting at the top with the Snowflake pearl jewelry, the asymmetrical earrings (no two alike, you know...) sets off any winter ensemble. The entire Snow Flurry Pearl Snowflake collection consists of earrings (L$249), necklace (L$299) and bracelet (L$299) - breathtakingly detailed in small pearls to contribute to the feeling of each piece being unique. The bracelet is absolutely elegant over a velvet or satin evening glove with that special holiday dress, the necklace has the perfect lines for strapless or scoop necked gowns. The Rosetta glasses in Crystal White by Air set off the delicate primwork in the jewelry to perfection for you studious gals...
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So, off to find the perfect dress? Try Moxie Polano's holiday collection - I bought both Holiday Bliss, a sexy Ms. Claus look, and the Candy Cane Victorian influenced holiday gown. Holiday Bliss (L$250) is a richly textured jacket and booty short combination with fur collar and cuffs for all your sexy holiday moments and is the outfit I was waiting for - though I do wish a fur trimmed skating skirt had been part of the package. The Candy Cane gown (L$400) is the best holiday formal I've seen so far, but I'm on a Victorian Christmas binge. The red and white corset with lace up back and amazing detail on the prim skirt guarantees there is more than enough to keep you the center of attention at any holiday festivities.

Finally, the purchase you know you want to make but are trying to justify - Bax Boots just released the newest entry in the must have ankle boot line - Red Patent Leather Ankle Boots. Droooool - I admit that I elbowed my way in to throw down my L$700 without hesitation. With options for three colors of red, fur or lace tops, color change for all parts, these are *the ultimate* in versatile footwear. I own the black patent, black suede, brown suede and red patent and practically live in these boots - a true investment in a classic.

Start your holiday off right at the MP Haute Style Main Store, EarthStones Main Store, Air Main Store and Bax Boots Main Store.

Credits:

Top Left:

Hair - TossMeAround (Wine) by BishWear
Gown - Candy Cane Gown by MP Haute Style
Jewelry - Snowflake Collection by EarthStones
Glasses - Rosetta Crystal White by Air

Center Right:

Hair - TossMeAround (Wine) by BishWear
Gown - Candy Cane Gown by MP Haute Style
Jewelry - Snowflake Collection by EarthStones
Glasses - Rosetta Crystal White by Air

Bottom Left:

Hair - TossMeAround (Wine) by BishWear
Gown - Holiday Bliss by MP Haute Style
Jewelry - Snowflake Collection by EarthStones
Glasses - Rosetta Crystal White by Air

Boots - Red Patent Ankle Boots by Bax Boots

EarthStones - Halo of the Dark Sun

RL yeesh... but enough about that. Other than the holidays, I've got smooth sailing into the new year, so I've been busy sorting and sifting through huge piles of clothes and shoes and tattoos and, yes, even more lingerie. I'll be blogging a few scraps of leather and bits of lace from Nymphetamine, then headed to the I's with Insolence and Intimizzio...but I'd like to start with a breathtaking design from a staple of my wardrobe - EarthStones.

For my "Yup, I'm back" post, I'm featuring a gorgeous little piece that Abraxxa Anatine over at EarthStones did first as a custom piece and has now released to the lucky public. In both men's and women's styles, Halo of the Dark Sun is a delight in blood red and black stones, dramatic enough to stand alone as the focal point of an outfit, stylized enough to blend with the noir side of your wardrobe. At L$500, this is a spectacular piece of artwork, with symbolic filigree orbited and centered with runed spheres.

Pick up the Halo of the Dark Sun (but don't stop there) at the EarthStones Main Store at EarthBound.

Credits:

Hair - TossMeAround (Black) by Bishwear

Eyes - Transparency Shine Eyes (Forest Green) by Glanz

Glasses - Danielle Black Glasses by Insolence

Earrings - Desmodus (Black Steel/Red Jasper) by EarthStones

Piercing - Bali Lip Ring (Labradorite/Silver) by EarthStones

Necklace - Halo of the Dark Sun by EarthStones

Sweater - Full Sculpted Knit Jacket (Black) by CE Cubic Effect

Goth1c0 for Crimson Shadow

In a moment of weakness, my All Hallow's spirit overcame my slim Linden wallet and I found myself drooling at Crimson Shadow. Ahhhh... to just have unlimited Lindens what fun I would have. Instead, I proceeded to shop. And then stopped dead in my tracks when I saw the absolutely fantastic ensemble by Goth1c0. I didn't even hem and haw, just hit buy and prayed. Minutes later I was cycling through all the possibilities of this multifaceted outfit.

Only available in black and red, the play of textures and fabrics is absolute perfection. The movement of the long skirt is graceful and flowing, the short skirt is flirty and sexy. And without either skirt? Corseted lingerie at it's best with garters and stockings. Black patent leather ankle boots or sky high stilettos - every combination in this set begs for the edgiest footwear in the bottom of your closet. Add a bit of graceful gothic jewelry and you are ready for anything.
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The set consists of top (jacket), glitch pants (pants), gloves, stockings and prim skirts. The sheer lace and blood red satin ballgown will take you to the most formal clubs in SL and have people ask you about your outfit, while the short and flirty skirt is perfect for a night of clubbing - really three full outfits for the L$1000 price tag. I've practically lived in this since I bought it, so I think well worth it and it has gift friendly perms - No Copy, No Mod, Transfer (Prim Skirts - Mod).
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Two landmarks this week, first to Crimson Shadow and second to the Goth1c0 Main Store.
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Credits:
Dress - Goth1c0 for Crimson Shadow
Hair - Toss Me Around (Black) by Bishwear
Jewelry - Lampir Cross (Bright Silver/Carnelian) by EarthStones

Carnal - Lingerie Special, Pt. 2

Continuing through the lingerie alphabet, Carnal stands out not only for their gorgeous in-world intimates but for the fact that they have a First Life presence as well as a Second Life presence. From basic foundation sets to more elaborate ensembles, Carnal provides a broad range of colors, fabrics and styles. I had the pleasure of running into Gabriel LeShelle while gathering the details for this article and took his purchasing recommendation on the first featured set - the gorgeous lace bordered teddy, Moscou.
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Available in 6 colors including Mint, Lilac, Red, White, Black and Pink, the set uses the undershirt and underpant layers as well as adding optional gold prim details in the form of a triple chain crossing the midriff. Each set sells for L$300 and Carnal has joined forces with other designers to create shoes and jewelry designed specifically to accessorize the set.
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One of the things I love about the stores and designers who are entirely focused on lingerie creation is the ability to find beautiful basic sets. Creators who mainly design outerwear tend to release lingerie that is more elaborate for special occasion or integrated tightly with a full ensemble. Carnal has a selection of elegant foundation sets that go easily under ballgowns or sweaters and I bought the Lace Bra Set for just this reason. Let's face it, a gal just doesn't need a 34570979 item folder with 387 adjustable prim pieces for a quick shopping trip or to go profile hopping.
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The Lace Bra Set is available in White, Black, Pink, Green, Grey, Red and a fabulous Sheer for L$250 per color or in the Fat Pack of all seven for L$1400. Again, the pieces are only available as the bra on the undershirt layer and panty on the underpant layer, which is my only real criticism of the Carnal sets in that it limits options with respect to tattoos and some outerwear. That said, you can't beat it for simplicity. Permissions aren't as gift friendly as other lines (though some sets are available in Mod/Trans in the gift area and Gabriel will create and deliver Mod/Trans by request), but the Copy, Mod, No Transfer means if you prefer creating outfits, your underlayers are covered. ;)
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Bring a touch of First Life to your Second Life at the Carnal Main Store at Carnal Plaza.

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Credits:

Lingerie - Moscou (White) and Lace Bra Set (Sheer) by Carnal

Jewelry - Floating Circles Set (Gold/Diamonds) by EarthStones (top)

Belly Ring (Yin Yang) by EarthStones (middle)

Desmodus Set (Black Steel/Red Jasper) by EarthStones (bottom)

Hair - Forest Child (Black) by Songfeather Designs (top)

BON75 by booN (middle & bottom)

Angel Dessous - Lingerie Special, Pt. 1

I noticed my lingerie "to blog" folder was overflowing just as even more new release announcements came in, so I figured it was time to catch up and the best way to do that is to salute the designers of some of my favorite "mostly unseen in public" clothing in Second Life. I love and adore lingerie - stockings, heels, corsets, bras, thongs, strings and every other spectacular foundation in SL. So, starting with Angel Dessous, I'll be looking at a sampling of sexy (both new and classic) from a series of designers who think the underthings are the thing. Word of warning - while the photos are PG, this *is* lingerie, so if you are expecting neck to ankle coverage, skip this series.


The first of three outfits from Angel Dessous is the Amber new release which comes in three colors, the traditional red and black as well as a leopard patterned set called cat. There are three different top layers, all with 3/4 sleeves but varying in length and detail. The undershirt layer is a short bra, the shirt layer is a midriff corset and the jacket layer extends the corset to the hips and adds garters and snaps for the included stockings. Coordinating panties, upper arm bracelets and short prim skirt are included to finish a very flexible outfit with several different looks for L$390 per color.

Suzy is also a multi-faceted lingerie set but does not have quite the layer versatility with both the revealing half bra and the more traditional full bra being on the undershirt layer while the tiny string panty is only on the underpant layer and the garters only on the pant layer. There are two included stockings, one specifically designed for the garters, the other designed to be worn without. Suzy comes in four combinations at L$320 per color in black/creme, red, green and white/black.

The final outfit is a personal favorite - Jennifer comes in both soft patterned and delicate lace versions with a classic bra on the undershirt layer and a corset on the shirt, providing three different looks from the demure to the fully exposed. Stockings are included, but this is not a garter set, so they settle at thigh high below the traditional bikini style panties (underpant layer). The lace version comes in black and white, while the colors of the traditional set are gras (green), heaven (blue), hell (wine) and flower (black and white) at L$290 per color. All lingerie is no copy, no mod, transfer to make for easy gift giving, though the limited layers can cause problems for tattoo fans.
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Find lingerie for any intimate occasion at the Angel Dessous Main Store.

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Credits:

Lingerie - Suzy, Amber & Jennifer sets by Angel Dessous

Jewelry - Floating Circles (Gold) by EarthStones

Hair (top & middle) - Toss Me Around (Auburn & True Red) by Bishwear

Hair (bottom) - BON75 (Black) by booN