Don’t be Lost and Found when you’re just 20Twenty!

October 22, 2015 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Isn’t it nice when you find something fabulous in-world and something equally fabulous that goes with it absolutely perfectly? Ok, I know I’m prattling on, but you see I’ve got JUST the things for you right here, right now! First up, feast your face on this gorgeous chair and table set from the always astonishing Ria Bazar, which is available at the latest round of ‘Lost and Found’.

It’s called ‘Paris’ and features an armchair filled to bursting with textures and poses along with a matching console and props including books, a print and picture light, flowers and both a full bottle of wine and one that’s been spilled, which is both rather novel and incredibly upsetting. I hate spilling wine. To match it I’ve discovered a rather glorious ottoman from MUDHONEY which really complements the BAZAR ‘Paris’ set.

This ‘Fran’ ottoman is available in both pattern and plain varieties from a new event launching this month called 20TWENTY . Don’t you agree that both the chair and ottoman are so fabulously textured they could have been made for one another? (Ria Bazar AND Ravyn Hynes in ONE blog post, that’s two of the best designers in-world right there gang. YIPPEEE!)

But, why stop there? To Halloween things up a bit I took the next shot with a side table also featured in 20TWENTY; this long-legged side piece is from the ‘Witches Diner Set’ by UNCERTAIN SMILE. I changed the textures on both the chair and ottoman, and also added a ‘Skully Wall Candle’ from DYSFUNCTIONALITY (who also feature in this months inaugural round of 20TWENTY) with the result making for a slightly spooked-up yet still classy place to rest your weary toes after a night of serious trickin’ and treatin’!

Lost and Found runs until November 1st and you can catch it HERE. It’s extensively covered on the forever awesome SERAPHIM SL blog, and so is 20TWENTY too.

Kitty In The Kitchy!

April 25, 2015July 13, 2015 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I wanted to take a step away from blogging about skins (I’ve written so much about skins recently that I have developed a twitch), but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to tell you about. As I mooched around my skybox thinking of a blog post to write, it suddenly struck me; let me share some details about my virtual home. I love reading LOVE TO DECORATE so why not share my Kitty-space with my readers?

I’m going to share posts with you about my Skybox over the forthcoming few days. I’ll tell you how it’s decorated and hopefully show you why I love it so. I’ve lived many different places, but I always keep this skybox as my super-secret ‘Kitty Lair’. I’ve owned it for a number of years now and the place where it’s ‘moored’ is cheap for rent and out of the way up high in the clouds so that I am nice and secluded and never bothered by neighbours. I’ve lived on the ground until recently too, but I always come back to my skybox because it feels like home. The way this space is decorated and displayed is probably the most authentic representation of my real-life self within the virtual world that is my second home. I absolutely adore it.

The build itself is a BARNESWORTH ANUBIS creation, called ‘NYC Apartment Skybox’. It costs a cheap-as-chips L$400 ion the marketplace, and has a lovely low land-impact of just 30. It’s incredibly roomy and open-plan which makes for lots of fun when decorating. I have loads of skyboxes in my inventory but this one suits me perfectly, and I always come back to it. My only wish would be for perhaps an extra couple of rooms (or even a second level) but that’s not something that I am in desperate need of, just a dream that I file under ‘Nice-to-have’. Like all Barnesworth’s builds, it’s beautifully textured and the details are absolutely perfect. Oh, and because it’s a New York City apartment the view out of the windows is of the great city itself a place I will visit one day, but for now my skybox will have to suffice.

As you walk in the first thing you see is a large space with a kitchen clearly visible. Which is funny because the big tiled space is actually designated as a bathroom BUT for me it screamed out for a glorious kitchen and some suitably fancy decoration, which is just what I added. I have TWO favourite kitchens in Second Life. They are the BAZAR ‘Toronto Kitchen’ because of the modular options and ability to adapt it to many different designs, and this TROMPE LOEIL ‘Retro’ number. I’ve never had any issues fitting and adapting this to suit my needs. It’s absolutely perfect with a 1950’s feel and the animations that are incorporated make for some great photo opportunities.

Obviously, my thing is cats both in RL and SL. That’s no different in my skybox either, and as soon as you enter you’re surrounded by cats of every shape and size; some decorative, others who live with me. The kitchen space is no different, in fact, I used the TROMPE LOEIL kitchen cabinets to house my precious SCHADENFREUDE Chibi Cats collection. There are also four FASHIONABLY DEAD cats mooching around in the space, but that’s because I keep my HALF DEER litter tray and food bowls here too.
The window above my kitchen cabinets lets in much-needed light to illuminate the area but is also the ideal spot to grow a few culinary herbs too! This is where my ORGANICA’Hanging Bamboo Herb Planter’ really comes into its own. At night, the kitchen is illuminated by my ‘Addison’ chandeliers in Red by MUDHONEY. I love the shape and simplicity of these, and rather than just having one I decided to be super decadent and have four in my kitchen. Their colour brings the fiery red elements of the kitchen together perfectly and blends beautifully with my ‘Gerzzo’ chairs and table from THE LOFT which extend the retro vibe.

I decorate my kitchen according to the season; sometimes I have pots of warming soup boiling on the stove, or enormous pizzas bursting out of the box ready to be devoured. I use gacha prizes to decorate and bring the kitchen to life, and I’m rocking a pile of dirty dishes from HODGEPODGE next to my sink. My favourite Vice Jars from COMMONER have pride of place next to a brilliant animated BITTER VANILLA cutting board, which has a number of fruits, vegetables and breads available for selection. You’ll also spy a few items from NYLON PINKNEY (‘Sleepy Cat Pot’ in Red and CopyCat Art ‘Feed Me’ poster) along with a fabulous Industrial Baker’s Rack from SECOND SPACES that I’ve added a few pieces to. I have a great ‘Kitchen Element Sign’ in Red from CASITA opposite the most important part of the kitchen; the place where I make my frequent cups of tea and indulge in my favourite snack of hot, buttered toast. I love my ‘Gerzzo’ kettle (another THE LOFT creation) and my TARTESSOS ARTS animated toaster which pops the toast out in a violent manner similar to the till in ‘Open All Hours’ (British comedy, utterly brilliant). My favourite thing in this corner has to be my LARK ‘Teafor2’ embroidery though; it’s just so perfectly done and looks so sweet in the corner.

I serve my tea from a BEACH STREET Tardis tea-pot into NOODLES Doctor Who style mugs, gazing over at my wall art. It’s ‘Love Will Tear Us Apart’ from IONIC, a very old acquisition which I retextured to fit in with the theme of my kitchen, and it just works perfectly.

Last but not least my virtual day is accompanied by a soundtrack of tunes belting out from my SOY Vintage Boom Box, stowed away in the corner out of harm’s way ( I got fed up of the cats jumping up and knocking it flying!) So there you have it, my virtual kitchen. It’s the centre of my home and I absolutely love it, so if you’ll excuse me I have a pile of dirty dishes to wash, kitties to feed and brews to be made. Fancy a cuppa?

Why not share the details of your Second Life home or specific rooms that you love? I’ll feature the rest of my home over the forthcoming days..stay tuned!

Kitty FINALLY Blogs..THE HOME SHOW 2013!!

July 21, 2013 by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

So, The Home Show. OK, I’m late to the blogging party for this one, profuse apologies galore, BUT better late than never!

You have until the end of the month to enjoy this event, eleven days to be precise, and enjoy it you will. Take ample Lindens, because as you stroll around the beautiful Culprit designed sim-build you are sure to find many items to tempt you to part with your lovely virtual cash.

By now there are plenty of posts listing the wares from each vendor, so I won’t do a rundown in that sense. What I will do is share my favourites with you, why I like them, and why I think you’ll like them too.

First up, ORGANICA. I’ve long thought that I didn’t have enough hanging plants in my virtual home, BUT they can be a bit primmy and some of the more ‘old-skool’ designs that are to be found for sale on the grid can look pretty naff. Organica provides however, with a rather wonderful array of hanging and potted plants especially created for the Home Show. I especially liked the ‘Hanging Ivy Planters’ and the ‘Hanging Bamboo Herb Planter’.

The Bamboo Herb Planter has found a place in my home in front of my writing desk,as you can see above, and it looks great against the window. It also offers up a little privacy against the neighbourhood too. Incidentally, the plants that it features are rosemary and sage and it has just 1 LI, which is very tidy indeed. (I imagine in real life it would smell amazing too!)

ZINNIAS is always a huge favourite of mine, purely because of the zinging colours and patterns that Zinnia Karu deploys so effortlessly into her designs. Her work mixes Mexican and South American styling with modern shapes and patterns to great effect. If you’re looking for something extraordinary, check out the Quetzalcoatl wall shelf, which will really brighten up a dingy corner , it features a pot-plant and maracas, everything perfect in detail and aspect. I am totally love with the chilli pepper tree so much that yes, it’s in my virtual home. The fabulous ‘Sol’ Patio Sofa looks just as good indoors as it does out, and check out the Neo-Urban fire bowl. I’m also using this at home to brighten up some decking and chairs and it makes for a beautiful evening outdoor ambiance.

The ‘Sydney’ sofa at MUDHONEY is beautifully constructed and textured and is exactly the kind of sofa I would love to sink into in real life. It just looks so bloody comfy, and is textured beautifully. The animations are excellent as always too, and there are singles and couples poses to enjoy. The Addison Chandelier complements it perfectly and is a brilliant modern take on the traditional Chandelier shape. I loved it so much I found a home for it in my kitchen (trust me, it really works!)

MICHIGAN’S SHACK has every gamer’s fantasy catered to with a fabulous retro gaming sofa, arcade cab, table and wall art. (This is the kind of furniture I’m sure my beloved would love in real life. In fact, he has 24 arcade machines already so I sort of wish he had those in Second Life and this furniture in his real one instead!)

My winner though has to be BAZAR. Yes, I know it seems like this blog has become the unofficial Bazar fan-club, but in all seriousness the work created by Ria Bazar Mavendorf is just astounding to me, and that is why I keep featuring it. That’s all there is to it, I’m a fan and her work really excites me. Ria has some new releases to be found at the home show which really are astonishing, I couldn’t love them more if I tried!

The ‘Toronto’ sets feature natural wooden furniture coupled with modern prints and accessories to create a contemporary look for the home. Each piece is lovingly crafted and menus for texture change options (light, dark or natural wooden finishes) and animations are utilised to the full. Zinnias_002 At the Home Show 2013 you’ll see the Toronto bedroom, Study and Arts and Crafts room displays are waiting for you to wander around and experience them to the full. All of the items are beautifully presented, and on the walls you’ll see a listing of the land impact for each item. Rest assured that every single piece is bloody wonderful and unique in its own way. For example, the Arts and Crafts room features a drawing table, pots of paint, a designer’s mannequin and canvases primed and ready for you to create upon. If you need some ideas you’ll find prints from Leonardo Da Vinci and other resource materials on the shelving unit ready to inspire you.

When you’ve finished your crafting for the day it’s time to retire to your Toronto bedroom. This is stylish and functional with quirky elements like the bedside cabinet which features suitcases incorporated into the design, so clever and really effective! The bed features a four poster frame and a colourful choice of bedding options. There’s a clothing rail and vanity table to complete, with decorative pieces like artworks, vases and a stylish mirror.

If you can’t sleep then time to hop off to the study for some late-night blogging. The Toronto Study features all the essential elements that you need, and more besides. Desk, shelving and seating all tied in with the Toronto theme and embellished with great extras such as a working clock, plants, cabinets and PC. All of these gorgeous sets work beautifully together of course, because they all adhere to the same theme, but elements of each one can be used anywhere in your home to great success.

It’s at this point in the proceedings that I’d like to point you in the direction of my FLICKR account, where I have a set featuring some of the home show items that I’ve mentioned, and more besides. You’ll see work from Bazar, Mudhoney, Trompe L’oil, Zinnias and more besides, and I hope you enjoy taking a look at my virtual abode. I love it, it makes me really happy I must say!

Finally, I’ve said many, many times before on these pages what really gives your virtual home that realistic touch are the knick-knacks, so keep your eyes peeled because you’ll find an epic selection dotted around The Home Show. I really adore the DIGS ‘Ferryside Driftwood Décor ‘wall hanging and the matching tray décor too. There are some fab gacha prizes to be won at NOBLE, and look out for the seashell bottles, lamps and other assorted oceanic goodies which are ideal for jazzing up the bathroom at home. CULPRIT screams colour, and has some dazzling drawer units, shelves and photo frames that would be suited to a colourful, kawaii style home, or even a virtual toddler’s playroom.

There is a lot to see and enjoy at the event and it’s not too busy now because of some other events that you may have heard of are currently attracting a lot of attention in-world. (Like Food Fair for example, that’s another Culprit build too. Oh, and let’s not forget Hair Fair and Shoe fair and ALL THE F*CKING FAIRS!! Ahem!)

If you’d like to know more, take a gander at the official blog which features lots of information about the event, including maps. I’ll see you there, I’ll probably be asleep on the Mudhoney sofa again..hmm, so comfy!

Time To Visit The Mens Dept.

March 6, 2013March 6, 2013 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

The Mens Dept is as good an opportunity as any to get Jez to go shopping. Getting laddo to update his look is always a challenge, which is why events like The Mens Dept. make it a whole lot easier, and tons of fun for both of us too.

It’s a funky mix of fresh fashion, skin, hair and adornments as well as decorative pieces and homewares, with all items costing between L$75-L$150. It’s a great way to get your hands on some quality pieces and acquaint yourself with designers old and new.

The fashion is really substantial. All the items have been carefully selected and are beautifully presented in this tidy, well-lit location, and there are contributions from an eclectic mix of creators, from established brands like CHEERNO to lesser well known contributors, such as SHEEP DOOR (who Jez fell in love with an TP’d straight to their store after the event!)

Jez was especially enamoured by the BLEAK ‘Wisdom’ Shirts, as you can see by the picture above. These are mesh and can be purchased in a number of options, but Jez wanted something bright so opted for the Aztec design. It fits like a dream and looks great, so was well worth L$135. The glasses from KUMAKI, with their fantastic range of textures, were also a must have at just L$150.

Another favourite in the collection is the Assymetric Shirt from 22769. This is also a mesh creation, and the style is obviously inspired by Japanese costume. Jez loves all things Japanese, so this was a must have and it fits extremely well. It’s a simple design enhanced by coloured trim on the edging, and looks perfect when worn with jeans and casual loafers. The outfit is enhanced even further by the leather bracelets, also from 22769. These are nice and chunky and are available in a variety of leather choices with different metal adornments. I really like bracelets and cuffs in Second Life, especially when taking pictures, because they hide those nasty lumps and bumps on an avatar’s hands nicely. The shirt costs an extremely reasonable L$90, and the bracelets are just L$80 per pair. You’ll also spy a fabulous suit, great Cargo pants and a very cheeky lounge-wear set from HAVOK.

As well as quality fashion you’ll also find stylish home items from a number of designers including MUDHONEY . Rayvn Hynes has created the fabulous ‘Ryan’ Club Chair for the event. It looks really comfy and features 8 sitting poses. You’ll also receive a magazine rack and a fantastic candle set for your L$150. If you don’t think candles are especially masculine then you need to check these out, they’re billiard balls and look brilliant!

When cruising the homewares make sure you check out the beautiful Animal prints from VESPERTINE and the glorious ‘It’s a mens world’dresser from KUSSHON which features a number of manly items like mini-TV, beer and a girly mag. There are also tattoos from VESTIGIUM, beautiful eyes from INSUFFERABLE DASTARD and a selection of fantastic piercings from PEKKA. Even if you’re not a chap this event is well worth a peek.

Jez’s favourite item from the event is of course the ‘Playing Games’ console from CHEEKY PEA. The boy is a total geek so was delighted to find this prop item. It looks very much like a console from his teenage years, so was a must purchase for our home and looks great next to our Ernst TV, also from Cheeky Pea. It’s a tad pricey at L$125, but it’s a beautifully created piece and really adds to our living space.

Check out all the items at The Mens Dept by clicking here to see the fantastic post by Braydon Thirdborn on Seraphim SL covering all the goodies, and click here to visit the event.