Full Steam Ahead!

I fell in love with the spectacular Katinka Clockworks Gown from The Laughing Academy the first time I saw it.  Like virtually everything in the SL Steampunk arena, the details are simply amazing from top to bottom, the colors are rich and there is a lovely little keyhole in the back to complement the bodice gears on the front.  Paired with the equally amazing Vapor Vanity heels from Grim Bros (with working gears), this outfit was begging for a trip to the Caledon Victorian Steampunk sims and, in this case, The Primgraph Press where you can peruse the books or lounge on the chaises and scheme (the pose names are more than enough reason to drop in here). (Credits after the cut)

Location: The Primgraph Press, Caledon Glengarry

Save the Earth - Bit By Bit

Cisco Systems is one of the large technology firms represented in Second Life with demos, virtual classrooms, technology feeds and information.  The Sustainability Center focuses on green computing, offices and data centers and has interactive demos, tours, videos and notecards galore outlining all the ways technology can support green initiatives.  It also seemed an ideal setting for the fabulous "business with a punch" Ilenya dress from the Glam Affair Element Collection and the equally amazing Chandraki necklace and earrings from EarthStones.

Location: Cisco Systems Sustainability Center

Top Photo:

Hair:  Cake Dakota (Black)

Skin: Dutch Touch Jolie (Olive - Dark)

Eyes:  Poetic Eyes Bright (Fairy Dale)

Jewelry: Earthstones Chandraki (Silver/Onyx)
Outfit: Glam Affair Element Ilenya

Bottom Photo:
Outfit: Glam Affair Element Ilenya
Shoes: Stiletto Moody Bare Ava (Black)
Poses: AnnaH (now Storin)

Featured SLURLs:
Glam Affair Mainstore
Cake Mainstore
EarthStones Mainstore

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

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...).
.
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...
.
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