Times Change - Rez Day 2010

Wow, I've had a blast - hard to believe it's been three years.  I've seen tons of terrific builds, met great people, taken lots of classes, discovered amazing creations everywhere.  And the changes - the clothes and hair and skin have changed so much, so many new things have been introduced and the techniques and skills of the designers have advanced by leaps and bounds.  Anyway, for my rez day this year, I decided to go back and grab one of my early blog photos and put it together with a similar headshot from today.  I wish I'd have done a headshot every year (but I think I will from here on out).

Now:

Then (early 2008):

Happy Holidays, Everyone!  :)

Contest Entry - Couture Avenue 2011 (November)

OK, so I completely adore the Miamai Black Label Collection and was *thrilled* when they opened a shop on Couture Avenue (making them eligible as contest choices).  It was a complete pleasure putting a look together for this month and tons of fun doing the face and head shots.  I used items from several of the collection outfits and combined them with the Baiastice Anna Lou pants for a nouveau couture look with an Asian twist.

Couture Avenue 2011

Credits:
Eyes: Ibanez Eyes Horizon (Eire)
Hair: booN ANT213 hair (Black)
Skin: Dutch Touch JiP (Cream - PiP CL1 HB)
Face Tattoo: Lovely Mi Make-up Madame X [Eyes Only]
Jacket: Miamai [BlackLabel] Ansiotropic Jacket
Shoes: Miamai [BlackLabel] MothQueer Shoes
Nails: Miamai [BlackLabel] Myda
Pants: Baiastice Anna lou (Black)
Collar: Violator My Fetish (Platinum Black)
Poses by DeePosed

Couture AVENUE 2011:

Couture AVENUE, an exclusive shopping district, represents the finest style, creativity and sophistication hosting top fashion brands LeLutka, CheerNo, Chantkare, AZUL, Baiastice, Nicky Ree, Stylissimo and Miamai.

Couture AVENUE is looking for fashionista extraordinaires that are able to embody the spirit of these brands and combine top-notch looks and styling to be the face for Couture AVENUE in 2011.  Do you have what it takes?

The 'Couture AVENUE LOOK 2011' search is open to both men and women, offering one top male and female winner an invitation to AVENUE MODELS, an exclusive AVENUE MAGAZINE cover and to be the face of Couture AVENUE ads and promotions.

Each month a finalist will be chosen and receive :
- an exclusive interview and shoot in AVENUE Magazine
- $3,000L shopping spree at Couture AVENUE
- a discount voucher of 2,000L for a course at AVENUE Models Academy.

All monthly finalists will be entered into the finals where one male and one female winner will be selected to be the face for Couture AVENUE Look 2011. Each winner will receive :
- A one year contract to be the face for Couture AVENUE ads, events and promotions
- A cover on AVENUE Magazine
- An invitiation to join AVENUE Models

RULES OF ENTRY
------------------
1. Join the AVENUE Magazine Readers group to stay up to date on the contest events and updates.
2. Place the Couture AVENUE location in your picks with the following LM & texture.
3. Purchase two or more items from the Couture AVENUE shops and place the transaction history at the bottom of the application notecard. Transactions will be verified, those incomplete or inaccurate will forfeit their submission.
4. Style your look and SHOOT. Each look has to be sourced from at least two different designers' stores at Couture AVENUE. You may employ any photographer of your choice but importance will be given to showcasing your look and styling.
5. You will have to present TWO photos of your styling: one head shot and one full body shot (size: 1024 X 1024 pixels). Make sure they are labelled CALook2011(month)_(your name)_(headshot/bodyshot). Example : CALook2011September_Sweetest Sands_headshot
6. Complete the application in this notecard, rename and submit it to the Couture AVENUE Look 2011 Mailbox.  Applications will be accepted until 5th of each month, starting on September 5th, 2010, and ending on August 5th, 2011. Late submissions will be included to participate in the next round of the following month.
7. Each month, there will be a monthly runway showcase where a selection of semi-finalists will vie for a finalist position. Each semi-finalist will do a simple runway walk parading their styled Couture AVENUE look. One semi-finalist will be selected by a panel of judges to be a finalist.  In the final showcase, 12 finalists will compete to be elected as "Couture AVENUE Face 2011" - one male and one female winner.  The schedule for the monthly showcases will be :

2010
Round 1 - September 12th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 2 - October 17th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 3- November 14th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 4- December 12th, Sunday at 11am slt

2011
Round 5- January 16th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 6-February 13th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 7-March 13th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 8-April 17th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 9-May 15th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 10-June 12th, Sunday at 11am slt
Round 11-July 17th, Sunday at 11am
Round 12-August 14th, Sunday at 11am

Finals: September 4th, Sunday at 11am

8. Each entrant is allowed to submit only one entry and if you fail to be selected any month, you may choose to submit in another month with a new styled look.
9. All entrants must be able to commit to monthly showcase dates that apply to them as well as the grand final. Failing to turn up for your month's showcase and finals date will disqualify your entry with no exception.  In the finals, finalists will compete in a final round of styling and showcase it on the runway.
10. Entries are open to everyone including models and members of AVENUE groups with the exception of staff and management from AVENUE and Couture AVENUE Designers teams.

For more information, kindly contact :
Sweetest Sands
Couture AVENUE Manager
sweetest@avenuesl.com

Paradise Worth Painting

Brackish has to be one of the most beautiful sims I've seen - you portal in to a small attractive shops area where you are greeted by a series of teleport lanterns to various spots on the sim.  Be sure to set aside enough time to walk through each one and to take some pictures.  Indeed I was so inspired I dug through my closet until I found the amazing Montemartre belt from Manna (my pictures are with v.1, but it has been released in an equally detailed v.2), the "perfect for painting" H7 Shirt from Cubic Effect and my new Medala jewelry from Faceted.  A pair of jeans, a pair of boots and I was ready to adventure among the lizards, flamingos, and elephants inhabiting the gardens.

Location: =Ja Nye(t)=, Brackish

 

Credits:
Shirt: Cubic Effect H7 Shirt (Ivy Green)
Hair: BishWear TossMeAround (Raven)
Skin: Dutch Touch MaAn (Cocoa - Copper)
Jewelry: Faceted Medala Set (Silver/Jade)
Belt: Manna Montmartre (V.1)
Jeans: Naima Sexy Ripped Jeans
Boots: Redgrave Girls' Bikers Reloaded (Caramel)
Poses: DeePosed

Featured SLURLs:
Cubic Effect Mainstore
Faceted Mainstore
Manna Mainstore

The Swimsuit Issue '10

A friend sent me a landmark out of the blue to a place called The Lazy Tuna.  Naturally, with a name like that, I had to take a look and once I got there I knew I had to either pull out the swimsuits or miss a great opportunity.  The Lazy Tuna is a club with a very laid back Keys feel from the bonfire to the parrots to the surf crashing over the rocks - everything says sit back, have a cold one (or an umbrella drink) and relax.  So, pop over to Miamai, Chaospire or Luck Inc, pick up a suit, grab a beer and head on over to fish, dance or just hang out. (More pictures, credits and SLURLs after the cut.)

Location:  The Lazy Tuna, Tawhaki

Hair: Truth Isle (Blood)

Swimsuit: Miamai Uka Bikini (Red)

Skin: Dutch Touch MaAn (Cocoa - Copper)

Poses: DeePosed (Centerfold Collection)

Contest Entry - -CLICK- Photography Contest

I was roaming around buying poses last week and, in the process, stumbled across -CLICK- Props & Sets and was overwhelmed by the coolness of the idea of full sets, poses and props, conveniently packaged in a self rezzer.  You can use either a control panel or a HUD to rez and switch between sets and then access the included poses (from some of my favorite pose creators - see pose SLURLs in the right bar) or use your own to click away to your heart's content.  Multiple avatars can access the poses in many of the sets and many have additional included props.  Since "The Ritz" elevator set was perfect for Azul's gorgeous Malena evening gown and EarthStones Zahra Limited Edition release, I decided to go ahead and toss my (admittedly amateur) hat in the ring and submit a few pictures.
First picture is one of the ones I submitted, additional photos, credits, SLURLs and contest rules after the cut.

Location:  -CLICK- Props & Sets, DReaMiNG OuTLouD

It's All Wright!

Tamil Isle is a beautiful sim with waterfalls, wedding chapel, residential areas and a plethora of hidden delights scattered about the island.  When I saw the bright flowered fields and the stained glass windows in the fabulous recreation of Taliesin East, I was immediately reminded of the bright and ever so hot Beaute Volcanique dress by Modern Gypsy.  When you arrive, follow the signs to the Guest House or just start walking - there will be plenty to amaze and amuse along the way.  From the sign at the house (which can be purchased):

The real Taliesin East was the summer home of Frank Lloyd Wright. Begun in 1911 Wright built Taliesin as a way to explore his ideas on organic architecture, the harmony betwen human habiltation and the natural world using local limestone and sand from the nearby Wisconsin River.

Credits, more pictures and SLURLs after the cut.

Location:  Taliesin East Guest House, Tamil Isle

C-Beams Glitter

Science Innovation Company is a Blade Runner themed sim - perfect for your cybertech wardrobe and, in this case, the perfect setting for my newest latex cybersuit from Graves. Replicants and humans alike can enjoy the noir atmosphere of the Philip K. Dick and Ridley Scott inspired Los Angeles streets of the distant (or perhaps not so distant) future.

Location: Science Innovation Company (SIC)

Top Photo:

Outfit: Graves Escape (Steel)

Hair: Bishwear TossMeAround (Raven)

Shoes: Stiletto Moody Bare Lucille (Black)

Skin: Dutch Touch Jolie (Olive - Dark)

Nails: Love Soul Colors (Black)

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!
.

(Skin by Dutch Touch, Hair by Bizarre, Eyes by Poetic Colors)

Photo taken at Dave Rumsey Maps