Harvest Ball Bust!

I was SO looking forward to attending the Annual Harvest Festival in Avilion this weekend but alas, it wasn't meant to be.  :(

One of the many things to do in Avilion!

As it was, I knew I would be hard pressed to attend any of the events.  I managed to catch a raft race and was tempted to join in but had to leave early and never got to see the end.  There was a closing ceremony and a ball that I was really looking forward to, so much so that I finally made a decision at Caverna Obscura and bought the "Savannah" butterfly gown.  It was sure to be a hit!  *giggles*

I was under the impression that it began at 6:30pm SLT so I arrived fashionable late at approximately 7pm.  I went to the ballroom and immediately met a new friend who came a little too close to stepping on my brand new gown!  It's delicate wings would have crumpled under his heavy boots but underneath all that armour was a gentleman as he apologized profusely and made up for it with a dance.

My new friend made up for his misstep with grace on the dance floor.

As we were twirling across the ballroom floor, I was admiring the attire of those around me and it was then that I realized how few of them there were!  I told my friend that I was hoping to attend the Harvest Festival Ball and wasn't sure that we were in the right place.  I checked my calendar and sure enough (I think?), we were in the wrong place.

He had to leave shortly so I ran ahead and tried to find the right location.  I stumbled across a sign which said that ball was happening until 7:30pm....I looked at my pocket watch and my heart sank - 7:31pm.

All dressed up with nowhere to go!  ("Savannah" gown, Caverna Obscura)

I was so disappointed!  I thought the ball would be a good chance to mingle with a group of people I have wanted to get to know.  I have watched them from a distance (even met a few, thanks for my friend DD!) and it would be nice to join in on some of the fun.  Not only that but I was really looking forward to wearing my new gown in front of more than a mirror.  Too bad!

I'll have to wait until the next event I guess.  Avilion seems to be a very active community and I'm sure there is something in store very soon.

Oh I also have to comment on the beautiful autumn changes to the scenery at Avilion and across the grid.  I love it!  The leaves are turning magnificent colors and they're falling into pretty little piles all over the place!

The Hot Air Balloon Tour.  In all it's Autumn Glory!

I love autumn!

Blessed be,

Moirae

Demo Dollar Disgust

Demos for a dollar.  Seriously?  In my opinion this is taking advantage of those of us with a little money in our pockets.  It feels as if the assumption is...."You're spending $500L on hair...you won't mind $1L to try the demo first".

Not impressed.

All of these Demo Dollars certainly add up - for the consumer and certainly for the vendor.  If someone can justify this to me, I'd love to understand the reasoning behind this crazy scheme.

I can tell you this much - if I am going to spend > $500L on hair, I want to try on as many styles as I can before I make my decision.  In doing that, I may even end up purchasing two!  But when I have to spend my hard earned Lindens on a Demo well.....that really burns my faerie butt and I'll probably go elsewhere.  At first I didn't mind but - where does it end? 

I am boycotting Dollar Demos. 

Blessings as always!  ;)

Moirae

Re-Skin-Vented.

I did it.  It took the span of two days (I'm ashamed to admit the exact amount of time) but my makeover is finally complete!

There were so many choices, from so many vendors, that making a final decision was a pretty daunting task.  Quite honestly I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that I could have spent the rest of my days shopping for a new look!  I had to pull the plug - and quick!



The New Me!  With my hair down, swimming in Elven Forest. 

Thanks to a little research, I began my quest armed with a list of 5 vendors whom I'd heard sold skins that weren't too overdone.  Most of the popular skins were completely unrealistic and I didn't not want to look fake, nor did I want to look the same as everyone else.  I'm sure there are other great places to buy skins and I now know that I'll keep my eye out and when I find that "perfect" look I won't pass it up but until then, I started with these three:

1.  Redgrave   http://slurl.com/secondlife/REDGRAVE%20Womens%20Fashion/189/199/22

2.  Rockberry  http://slurl.com/secondlife/SandyBeach%20West/51/213/22

3.  LAQ Bodyshop  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Laqroki/179/65/29

I am by no means an expert on this topic - exactly the opposite!  I just wanted to look pretty without spending all of my time or money.  It was amazing how many people are asking complete strangers for money in these stores - apparently it's against the rules and people would shout out a warning whenever a "beggar" was in action.  I just can't imagine doing that to someone!  It happened to me once at "Cake" too.  Do people actually fall for this and give their money away?  In my past life, on my first day of existence, a complete stranger gave me $1,000L and I had no idea at the time what a generous gesture it was.  I wondered for a moment if I should "pay it back", so to speak, but I just didn't like the begging-style.  Tacky!   

 

Doing the Vampire thing.  Not exactly what I was looking for.  :)



It's all a blur to me now but I remember that I was pleasantly surprised at Redgrave.  I'd heard they've been around for a long time so I assumed they had more out-dated looks (and a few of them were, certainly those with lower price tags...) but a few of them were really cute!  But something just wasn't right.  They didn't fit my eyeballs (again with the damn eyeballs!) and I wasn't looking for something I had to alter. 

My next trip was to Rockberry and I really loved these skins!  I thought the faces were really pretty and had a very soft look.  I love the freckles and the soft make-up but in my opinion the body definition was lacking.  For my personal preferences anyways.

Last but not least - LAQ Bodyshop. 

 

This is where I ended up making a purchase but it was only after I narrowed it down from about 30 demos.  The selection was great!  I really don't know if the prices are in line but I paid $1,990L for 10 looks.  They had everything from completely natural, freckle faced girls to the super-smokey, sultry faces of the "ladies of the night".  It was great!  I tried on so many things.  They also have this really fun "hot oil" you can purchase which I'm sure comes in handy for some x-rated activities but I thought it would be cool to use after swimming or when at the beach.  Just a little something "extra" that swayed me to LAQ.  Once I saw the hair base/hair attachment thingies for glow skins - I was sold.

Even though I didn't purchase anything in the hair department (please come out with more red headed options!!!!!) I was blown away by the effects.  You wear these funny looking little head base pieces and the hair you attach is photo-realistic and moves so naturally!  I have learned that I am EXTREMELY picky when it comes to hair (so far I have only purchased from Cake) so this was a great find!  I need to make sure I've joined any Laqroki update groups so I can keep posted for any new releases - definitely something to look forward to!

Hair at Laqroki.  The only red option - hopefully not for long!

I am utterly exhausted by this expedition so I'm off to bed - only one more week in until I have to move out of my little faerie home!  My next mission will be to find a new place, hopefully some of those places I saw when I was previously looking are now available.  If I'm going to spend the next few days house-hunting at least I am going to look damn good doing it!  ;)

Blessings,

Moirae

Skin-decisive...

Does this make up make my boobs look big?  ;)  One of the more "intense" demos I tried.

I have decided that purchasing beautiful skin is probably the hardest and most expensive decision I will have to make!

How does one decide?  There are SO many options to choose from and once you've narrowed it down to a few that you really like, you've got the challenge of choosing between (in my case anyways) a handful of looks that are almost exactly the same!  I'd like to buy them all but then it doesn't make much sense to have 10 looks that are almost exactly the same.  And at $1,500L a pop (to start) this is not the kind of collection I want to start!  Though it is tempting.....

My photo album is exploding with explicit pictures of myself at the moment.

I hope to have made a decision soon so look forward to a post with my new look and a few pics of the "trial & error" phase (hilarious and sometimes scary).

Wish me luck!

Moirae

These Eyes...

I was wandering through aisles and aisles of eyeballs to the point where I started to resemble the strung-out peepers peering back at me when I suddenly had an epiphany.

One of my dearest (and only!) friends happens to be a super talented designer who, among other things, has a selection of beeeeautiful, VEIN FREE, eyeballs in her store.  And they are all a steal at only $50L each!!!

Let's have a staring contest!  I love my new glare.  ("Emerald Paradise" eyes at Dreamscaped Designs)

Her name is Dreamscaped Dagger and she is a beautiful, friendly and talented (did I say that already?) Fae of the Mist in Avilion.  I think she spends a lot of her time designing her clothing (etc) line and landscaping her property.  She has invited me to her home and it is a great example of her artistic visions....she has a beautiful horse (I forget his name, sorry D!) there and I hope to have one of my own some day so we can go riding!

She has a store called "Dreamscaped Designs"  and it can be found at the Woodland Market in Avilion.  D tells me she has a new design she is in the process of displaying in the store as I write - I can't wait to see it!  She has four gorgeous sets of eyes to choose from and several classy outfits with pricetags that are just as devine!   Here is the Surl:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Avilion%20Mist/44/219/9  You have to find the Avilion Woodland Market...."Dreamscaped Designs".  Not the main market, the one under the trees with the little pond.  Keep your eye on the prize people!  Don't get distracted - find her store and help support one of SL's up and coming designers!

Stalking out my friend's store while she's not there!  "Dreamscaped Designs" in Avilion.

Ms.Dagger has been so kind to me from the very start, sending me links on clothing design (which have convinced me that I do not have the capacity nor the patience to learn!  Never say never though....), showing me around the grid...("the grid"....that's SL lingo....I'm gettin' the hang of things!)  and even introducing me to a friend or two.  From the moment I met her we would say almost the exact same thing at the same time - like peas in a pod! 

I haven't made many friends in SL yet as I've been going on lots of solo expeditions and working on my inventory but I feel very lucky to have met Dreamscaped and I hope to consider her my friend for a long time to come.  :) 

Here's looking at you, kid!

Moirae 

PS....I have a picture of D and I in my SL photoalbum but can't seem to save it to my computer.  Anyone know how?

The Eyes Have It. (And by "it" I mean creepy veins.)

I'm shopping for eyes in the marketplace as I write this and I'm noticing a disturbing trend...

I realize that a lot of people stay up all hours of the night playing in SL but do our avatar's need to suffer the consequences too?  Why does their appear to be such a high demand for the blood-shot, tired looking eyes of an insomniac?  Are there that many avatars looking for the stoner look??? 

They look really creepy, if you ask me.  Some come in versions with more veins, less veins, etc.

Ewww!!!

I hate eyeballs.

I just want to find some pretty green ones and move on with it!

May your eyes always be bright!

Moirae

Faerie Stylish.

One of the things I enjoy most is.....*drumroll*......shopping!!!!  Surprise, surprise.  :)

And there's no shortage of it.  When I was brand new I spent a great amount of time wobbling aimlessly through the freebie aisles trying to find something that suited my tastes.  Not always an easy task!  Over time I have found some GREAT freebies (ask me about them!) but it certainly is treasure hunt.  One that never ends! 

Decisions, decisions!  Thinkin' 'bout what to buy. ("Dream Thief" outfit by Caverna Obscura.)

I eventually got my hands on some coins to purchase goodies with and boy what a thrill it was to venture beyond the crowded, noisy freebie stores!  Quite quickly I came across a designer who's creations really caught my eye.  Every time I saw something I liked, her name was attached!  (I have since discovered that she is the designer of my dreams and that nothing else I've found has compared.  This is both a blessing and a curse!  *giggles*) 

There is a lot more to this outfit. Long skirt, flowy sleeves, collar. ("Anariel' outfit by Caverna Obscura)

Thankfully she has a great selection (and two lucky boards offering the best prizes around!) so I should be ok for a while. It's hard to hold back! Especially since she sells "megapacks". *dreamy sigh* Since fluttering in her frocks I have been complimented on my outfits so many times that I just can't put off writing about it any longer!

When you visit Caverna Obsurca Main Shoppe,  you start at the base of a tree with teleports directly to what you're looking for.  If this is your first time, forget about teleporting!  You've gotta take a stroll.  A charming little island is entirely dedicated to the store so take your time and resist buying anything before you've seen it all - trust me!  This includes the lucky boards. 

Sitting in the treetops, waiting for my lucky letter. Made a great friend here too! ("Arlecchina" outfit by Caverna Obscura)

Get lots of compliments on this one.  ("Ambrosia" outfit by Caverna Obscura)

Elvina  Ewing is the (amazing!) designer and she has provided us with the chance to win some of her nicest designs.  Not just booties and wings my friends, I'm talking about entire outfits!  I am wearing one as I write this and am not exaggerating at all when I say that I'm complimented on it by almost every person I see.  That goes for my other 5 Caverna outfits as well. 

As I said earlier, I'm having a hard time finding anything that I love quite as much as Elvina's designs.  If she ever reads this I hope she doesn't mind my gushing.  I am constantly telling people about her designs and giving LM's to the store.  I'm going to try to put my first SLurl (?) on this page.  She has a website as well.

Put on some new hair for this one!  ("Spring Birch Dryad" outfit by Caverna Obscura)

Posin' at the bottom of the tree ("Gift Fairie" outfit by Caverna Obscura)

Currently I am trying to decide which of the Butterfly Gowns I would like to make my own.  They are all so nice!  This is the extent of my problems these days - it's a tough life!

Happy Shopping lovelies - see you at the tree! 

Blessings,

Moirae

My Suprisingly Spiritual Path...

Despite my faerie tendancies to sing, dance, play and eat sweets all day long, I have found myself called to a deeper experience.  I'm not sure how it first came about but somehow I ended up at the Kannonji Zen Retreat, a beautiful and meaningful place for all who enjoy it.  I do have to say that the music choice there seemed a little curious however I think the experience is best sans tunes.  The sound of natures is the perfect enhancement.  The visitor center has a database of various talks from buddhist teachers which you can listen to while sitting in the lounge chairs on the back deck - the view is remarkable!  The rest of the grounds can be discovered by foot or by hot air balloon or canoe tour!  I have yet to paddle around but I could not resist the hot air balloon ride - here is a pic!

Hot Air Balloon Tour at Kannonji ia a must.  Nice house!

Just looking back through my pictures has reminded me of what a special place Kannonji has quickly become for me.  I have attended several silent meditations at the Zendo and the energy there left me feeling lighter and yet more grounded.  Amazing!  The other night was my first group discussion lead by Soto Zen Priest Cynthia Kear, aka "Cynergy Swords" and though we had to cut it short (hope you had a good long weekend Cynergy!) we found ourselves in a great conversation about staying upright in uncertainty.   Cynergy's insight on the subject was wise and listening to her speak came easily.  Her recommendation to "update your fear inventory" really made me think and will hopefully open up some new possibilities for me.  There was precious import from others at the discussion as well, I'm really looking forward to my next experience there.

Silent Meditation with Thunderfoot Lorefield

 

And just when I thought it couldn't get any better, or that the visitors of Kannonji were a friendly, yet serious bunch - I was invited to a live concert in the forest!  From the comfort ouf our pillows fireside, a nice group of us took in the tunes and I know I was absolutely blown away! 

Thunderfoot (Lorefield, from silent meditation) opened the night with an great acoustic performance that included everything from the Sesame Street opening tune to the Stones....(I think?  Might have been Zepplin, I can't remember....but you get the point!) 

When strum Diesel took to the stage on his piano - wow!!! My head was bobbing, my favorite pointed faerie shoes were tappin'.....a great show! I hope to catch them both again very soon and you should too! Another great example of the talent that is so abundant in SL.

strum Diesel showing us how it's done at Kannonji

Since stumbing across Kannonji and down the Buddhist path, I have found a number of tranquil Buddhist lands with practice spaces and libraries and resources galore.  A wise buddhist once told me, "When the student is ready, the teacher will come."  I think I am ready!  This is but one of the many things I was hoping to learn about.  I hope I have enough room in this pea brain of mine to retain everything!

Namaste,

Moirae