So I managed to fish out my Wacom this past week or so, and have been playing with it a little. It really takes getting used to using it, but if you are a shortcut user in Photoshop, it is a lot easier to manage. When drawing hair on an image, setting up your two colours (foreground and background) is a must do, then use X to toggle back and forth while you are drawing, that gives you a lot more ease of flow. Other great must use Photoshop shortcuts that I would not be able to function without using are as follows.

Shortcuts in Photoshop (ones I use the most often)

To duplicate a layer

Ctrl J

Zoom in – Ctrl + 

Zoom out – Ctrl – 

To make brushes larger or smaller whether an actual brush or any of your brush styles for smudging, dodge and burn etc  (just holding it down will zoom in or out on size)

Smaller – [ 

Larger – ]

Remove last move

Ctrl Z 

Toggle between foreground and background colours

X 

Default foreground and background colours

D

Clone Stamp Tool

S

Magic Wand Tool

W

These are just some that I use the most in everyday use…there are so many more, and definitely steps that will save you so much time, and become second nature to you.

A lot of the time I am mending hair, I love mending things, fixing broken limbs, replacing components etc. Today though I opted for being a bit more imaginative with the use of my hair brushes. The way my hand was situated, I just liked the idea of having it seem as though I was running strands of hair through my fingers, and I hope that translated as meant to.

Today I am wearing my Maitreya body Lara. We are spoiled for choice these days, between my Slink Physique and my Maitreya Lara, I am ready for all that can be thrown at me clothing wise. It also came into play because with the new skins for Chapter 4 that Glam Affair did, it is an easy selection on the hud that comes with to match to your Glam Affair skins. I also did some NEW Maitreya nail sets yesterday, so you can check those out HERE. Sophie is a lovely skin, and it has a lot of options in the two tones that it is available in for the event. I am wearing Jamaica. I really like the subtleness of this rich red that is in the lipstick, it is not blood red, nor tomatoe, it just sits beautifully classy in between.

Yesterday I wore an Exile hair that is an item for Enchantment, and today I am actually wearing the prize you can select once you complete your stamp card. The hair comes with a teacup fascinator attachment, so you need to make sure to get that filled in time, or you will miss out, as the items as prizes are exclusives. Combining older and newer items in the form of my clothing, was easy with Gizza and Le Primitif, I loved this blouse bustier combination on sight, and these pants are wonderful as well.

The shoes I picked up on a trip to Dirty Princess with Whimsy. Now while shoes are made for Slink feet, I am really hesitant to shop there for the most part, because there are no demos for anything. Which I do not really understand that, because it is not a normal thing for shoes or wearables of that mesh nature to not have demos…so purchase with caution. I would steer clear of any boots etc, if like me wearing a body, as without a demo, you are not going to know if the legs line up at all – unless stated with information about the particular body…all the boots in the store were prior to Physique though, so a no go for me. I am a Pisces though, so fishbone accessories when done well are my weakness, so I took the gamble.

 

 

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 oOo Studio

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Sophie (Jamaica) – Glam Affair @ Chapter 4

Slink & Maitreya Appliers – Glam Affair

Lara Body, Hands – Maitreya

High Feet – Slink

Maitreya Nail Appliers : set 7 – Flair

Hair:

Tea Time – Exile (Enchantment Stamp Prize Exclusive)

Clothes:

Bustier Blouse – Le Primitif

Suede Josie Pants – Gizza

Shoes :

Fishbone shoes (Slink High Feet) – Dirty Princess

Accessories :

Anuttra Ring – Mandala

I adore new boots, and these are the latest from Deco…if you like hardcore booting, these are going to be at the top of your list. They have crossbones on the sides, and there are 6 options of colour combinations in them. I was on my way out the door with the girls, but had to just jump on my stand with these great items.

Exile is part of this round of Enchantment, so in his store you can buy this gorgeous hair and get your stamp card stamped, which means you can also get the other exclusive style once you collect all your stamps. The style also has a bow attachment, but for this look I went without.

The sweater is from Zenith and though I am a bit cranky that the dress they recently had at Uber had no breasts in the model, this sweater I could not resist. I am a bit confused how when items are standard sizing they don’t actually include the shape of the body, how it is still standard sizing, but artistic license I guess, but I am sad that I did miss out on that dress it was amazing.

Fishy Strawberry has created these wicked glasses. There are sunglass or reading glasses options and a ton of texture options to choose between, which makes them must haves!

 

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 oOo Studio

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 230 – Flair

Hair:

Librarian Chic – Exile (part of Enchantment event in Exile store)

Clothes:

Yuanyang Sleeve Sweater – Zenith @ Uber

Autumn Ribbed Leggings (appliers) – Sn@tch

Shoes :

Bitter Boots (Muerto) – Deco

Accessories :

Anuttra Rings – Mandala

If you are a watcher of stores like I am, you will definitely be impressed by the works of Ivey Deschanel of Sn@tch. I like many I am sure, chuckle each time a notice arrives with some kind of way to use Sn@tch in a well known quote, title or musical reference. But it is always with awe that I see how much she manages to create in a week or two. The use of textures, the flawless execution of her detailing, and also her ability to take mesh that may be used by others and put her own unique stamp on it, is very cool. One day a friend and I marvelled at how she turned a mesh sweater into a cardigan (closed) with just texture detailing, it was beautiful work.

I went over recently and hit up her appliers section, it is really well layed out her store…I bought mostly everything in sight that worked with the Slink body, and with the help of the gorgeous cardigan from Fishy Strawberry, I had a look that is just stylish and comfortable, and so easy to put together. You of course get many colours with your Sn@tch items, so combinations can be a great lot of fun, and the cardigans gem buttons are texture change also.

I have on my Jazz boots from Maitreya, that with a few alpha options and sizing correctly were able to fit over my body well, and I just adore these boots, the wedge heel, the open back…Maitreya has always since day one delighted us in all footwear, but for me it has always been their boots that just knock me over.

Wasabi pills has created this lovely hair I have on today. I like the simplicity of the style, it is very girly, and very all day every day hair…which for many is something they can really embrace. I do wish I personally had more options in colours for Wasabi Pills hair, as a lot of the textures don’t often work for me, but I do always fine something in the mix that I can play around with. I am thinking of going back to lighter browns, blondes again this year, the black was always a safety zone habit when stores didn’t have textures I was fond of, and then it just sticks for a while and I forget I like more variety – it is why naturals packs are awesome.

 

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 !Bang

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS @ My Attic 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 230 – Flair

Hair:

Holly – Wasabi Pills

Clothes:

Ribbed Sweater (Physique appliers option) Ribbed leggings (Physique Appliers option) – Sn@tch

Bejewelled Cardigan – Fishy Strawberry

Shoes :

Jazz Boots – Maitreya 

Accessories :

Omochi Bracelet, Anuttra Ring – Mandala

I fell in love with this skirt instantly. Not only the very cool leggings built in – with its own hud and option to make them invisible – but the hipster fit of it and just the great mesh work on the whole look. I was kind of at a loss to know what to wear with it, and then I found this great shirt by Spirit that I just had to have, the leather, the slashed look of it and the wool knit contrast of the whole thing. Slipping into platform slides with the same slashed charm had my whole look pulled together.

Going with an older hair theme this week it seems, I have on this great style by Red Mint. I always love her hairstyles, they always have that tousled “couldn’t really care” look about them, that just comes together to look fabulous. I am still rocking out my YS&YS Frida skin appliers from My Attic, I am excited as to when the full version of this skin will come out, but make the most of it being only 95L at My Attic while you can, it’s a MUST HAVE!

 

 Trend 3

My Attic @ The Deck

 

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 !Bang

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS @ My Attic 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 95 – Flair

Hair:

Hair 13 – Red Mint

Clothes:

Denim Skirt –  Amerie 

Terty Ripped Top – Spirit @ Trend3

Shoes :

Validation (Slink Mid Feet add ons) – Livalle 

 

For some of us, gone are the days of Formal Events in Second Life…but I do enjoy seeing so many lovely ladies in their finery tping in and out of sims, grabbing that last minute clutch purse, or the perfect updo to finish a look. In the olden days, we used to wear the gowns we bought, there was always an occasion about to happen, or just have happened that we all coo’d and aaaahhh’d over for weeks leading up to and days afterwards. There was once even a huge event on my own sim at The Deck, I heard it was a wonderful affair, unfortunately my internet went down and I missed my own Suprise Party.

So formal wear for me these days is more of a collectable piece, something that I know I will cherish the beauty of, but may never wear off the posestand. This incredible peplum gown skirt (it comes without as well, which is brilliant) is one of those pieces that on sight I hoped would fit my body, and was so overjoyed that it did. Then lo and behold just a few booths up at Trend 3 was this knockout blouse, that I knew instantly would make the perfect accompaniment to the skirt, and perfection it fit too.

The richness of both fabrics makes them statements in themselves, so some demure pearls on the wrists and lobes is all that is needed…also bringing out some older hair in the form of Moon by Maitreya that I have missed wearing. These styles were epic, and still hold up today, I would love to see them redone in mesh but if I say that out loud Onyx will put gum in my hair and that will be the end of that…so shhhhhhh.

 Trend 3

My Attic @ The Deck

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 !Bang

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS @ My Attic 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 31 – Flair

Hair:

Moon – Maitreya

Clothes:

Rizzo Tucked Blouse –  Lethal @ Trend3

Adesser  Skirt – Peqe @ Trend3

Shoes :

Belize – Essenz 

Accessories :

Timeless Pearl Collection – Yummy

Whimsy, SySy, Ashia and I went shopping all over town today. We hit up many events and the stand out one of the day was Trend3 which we got the details of from SeraphimSL. I picked up this stunning dress called Sydney, which is available in 6 colours, so there was a bit of “BACK OFF IT’s MINE!” that went down. We generally all buy the same items, but we do call dibs on colours etc. The style is just gorgeous, and the colour superb. The splits up each leg, the tied up front make it a really stand out dress.

I wanted to make it a lovely day dress, so pairing it with the glorious sandals from Maitreya, and a nice bag I also picked up at the event made my look complete. Well not exactly, it was a no brainer on which hairstyle for this look, Blake by Lelutka 110% fit the bill. So make sure you visit the event, it is a U-Shape so don’t get to one end like Whimsy and stand around waiting for more…she muttered about closure and all that crazyness, so we just walked the complete event back the other way so that she got a full square.

 Trend 3

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 Amacci

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

 

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS @ My Attic 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 2 – Flair

Hair:

Blake – LeLutka 

Clothes:

Sydney Dress – Pepe @ Trend3

Shoes :

Athenia Sandals (Slink Flat Feet option) – Maitreya

Accessories :

Retro Bag – Garbaggio  @ Trend3

 

 

Some days are just Coral kinds of days, and this was one of those days.

 

My Attic @ The Deck

N21

 Collabor88

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 4.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 Amacci

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS @ My Attic 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 83 – Flair

Hair:

Unicorn Lady – Clawtooth @ Collabor88

Clothes:

Snake Pencil Skirt – Gato @ My Attic

Willow Scalloped Shirt – Tee*fy @ N21

Shoes :

Chicago Boots – Essenz

Accessories :

Marina Woven Bag – Indy & Co.

Ladybug Ring – Yummy

Have you met Frida ? She is the newest YS & YS Skin, and My Attic is blessed to have it as a teaser release this round. If you are a fan of YS & YS as we are at The Deck, then you will be familiar with their stunning faces, the beautiful bodies, and the wonderful assortments of make ups. The other upside to this is that this release also includes Visage appliers for those of you that – like me – wear the Slink Visage head. This teaser package comes with no hairbase, red, black and blonde hairbases. Brows in brown, black, red and blonde, and three lipstick options, two of which are so strinking in their deep lucious red tones. The nude is also exeptional, and it is the slight curl to the upper lip, and minute beauty marks that just make it a MUST HAVE! especially at the 95L price. Three tones are available, and if you already have your body/hands/feet appliers from previous releases you are set – and even if not, those are incredibly priced at the mainstore.

I saw Bubbi the dress by Kaithleens and fell smack in love with it. It is so adorable, in that Parisian schoolgirl way. We wear uniforms down here too, but ours tend to be in either plaid, tartan or just outright table cloth check pattern. By the end of school, you usually end up never wanting to wear blue again – yes that too, most of our school uniforms are blue, occasionally there is a maroon or a brown and yellow thing going on, but mostly its Blue, and Blue and Grey for the boys. I decided that if I was going to be in that kind of look, then true to form I would have to work out a way to wag, and so grabbing a low flying cloud by Flowey and off I go…no school today for Sasy. While it is not really school girly, and peter pan collars are so on trend these days, I still cannot help mixing those looks in my head, so socks and heels by Reign that are at N21 right now, were the perfect accompaniement to the look, and this amazing hair called Siri by Ploom that we are also lucky to have at My Attic.

So if you don’t take flight yourself today, drop by and grab yourself EVERYTHING!

 

My Attic @ The Deck

N21

 

 

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

 Flowey

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

Frida – YS & YS @ My Attic 

Avatar Enhanced Mesh Hands & Mid Feet, Visage Head , Physique Body – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : YS & YS

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 48 – Flair

Hair:

Siri – Ploom @ My Attic

Clothes:

Bubbi Dress – Kaithleens @ My Attic

Shoes :

Fett Plats (Slink Mid Feet )- Reign @ N21 

 

 

The men get to be sexy this round of My Attic too. With ‘Temptation’ as the theme, ‘do you think I’m sexy baby’ well do you ? I had so much giggle time putting this picture together, and probably had more fun than I do as a woman. But then dressing up is always a fun time at The Deck. Wonton/Faun made these great mens mesh boxer shorts, you get a double pack and I just had to show them off somehow. Lucky for me, when visiting TMD in the past, I picked up this wonderful skin by Kooqla…as a blogger deals like that can not be passed up, because you never know when you are going to need to Man UP! or play a tamborine, or fly a kite. They are just things you need to grab when the grabbing is good.

Lounging on the Temptation Lounge that Whimsy and I created for the event, with 9 poses all included and 3 colours of the lounge, it was just the perfect way to show it, and the boxers off. Not that my boxers are off, they are definitely on. Kavar is also a great giggle, if you don’t know him then you will know his hair. Exile always does fantastice womens hair, but it is also the male hair that just stands out and says NOTICE ME. I knew that I would have no trouble finding the perfect Romance Novelesque hair from Exile, so with that, my boxers, my skin, and my perfect hands and feet from Slink – Appliers are available at Kooqla too – I was ready to take my stage.

I even found a website for inspiration for my cover, honestly one guy has done 7000 covers, I wonder if that is more or less than Fabio, and I wonder if he sells the book ? I mean would you read the book because the same hunk was on the cover, because he becomes your favourite ‘leading Man’ I guess it makes sense…we watch movies because of actors we like, so why not Romance Novels too.

This look also rocks, because it gave me the chance to rock out the ‘male’ version of my Billionaire watch from Mandala, see keeping the guy versions, or in some cases the girls versions of things is a smart move in Second Life, you never know when that flexi skirted nurses uniform you got from a ‘lucky chair’ once (that’s what you say) will come in handy.

 

My Attic @ The Deck 

Equipment Used:

VR Studio 3.0 and HUD and Library for location shoots–VR Foundry Mainstore,VR Foundry @ The Deck

Props, Furniture, Build :

Location –

Poses by:

Temptation Lounge Prop & Poses – W.Winx & Flair @ My Attic

Eyes:

Ellis – LeLutka

Lashes:

Natural Curl Sculpted Lashes – LeLutka

Skin Worn:

The Knight of the Rose – Kooqla

Avatar Enhanced Mesh MALE Hands & Feet – SLink

Avatar Enhanced Skin Appliers : Kooqla

Avatar Enhanced Nail Appliers : set 189 Mens – Flair

Hair:

Nothing Else Matters – Exile 

Clothes:

Essential Jersey Boxers – Wonton/Faun @ My Attic

Accessories :

Billionaire watch – Mandala