Vintage girl.

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vintage2

I have always enjoyed the glow of nostalgia which can be found from old objects. From an early age I would marvel at things my grandparents held safe in a simple glass-fronted cabinet. None were worth much in terms of money, but were steeped in sentimental value for them.

When my grandfather died, I was able to take some things to remember him by. I am possibly odd, because I chose gardening and woodwork tools. They were the things he spent most time using, and had taught me not only to use them, but how he used to care for them afterwards. I have to admit to not being as good at cleaning and oiling all of them after use, but I still use them. I have recently been doing a lot of work in my garden, and it’s always his spade, fork and rake that I use. They have lasted perfectly and still remain sharp. It’s hard to work using them, and not feel that he’s somehow watching over my endeavours.

It’s very much caused me to be sentimental in my musings and when I saw this dress from Lybra, I started at first wearing it in black… totally sexy! It’s that combination of a silky-satin fabric with generous lace addition, but with an asymmetric hemline for added cheekiness. I then checked the other colours, and when I tried this peach colour it changed in feeling to something of vintage glamour… an added aspect of lovliness!
Credits:

Dress: LYBRA ( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Twilight%20Woods/182/166/25 ) ; Courtney, available at Uber ( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Uber/135/128/27 )

Hair: TRAM ( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Minnaloushe/180/33/20G1113 )

Taken at: Mesmeric Cove: ( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Silver%20Lining/51/146/32 )

Nostalgia

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ccoffee2

 

There’s no excuse for stagnating in SL. I know, it’s a state too easily slipped into, but there’s no reason to stay there.

Some of you know that I like to help artists show their work in SL. It’s no secret that the creativity found there, and inspired by that world, is something which has long-since kept me there. Recently though, I had to close my Frisson gallery, which was on the one hand a real wrench, but on the other lifted a pressure.

My life has been something of a line of challenges this year. Some have been really tough, but on the whole each one has brought something to be learned, and I am pleased to say I have managed to step up to meet each one.

It impacts SL for me though. It’s not left me as much time, and I have needed SL to go back to being a place of personal calm.

For a little while there I felt… odd? It’s tooooo easy for me to slip into being a hermit, but truth is, I enjoy nattering to people. It occurred to me that most of the time I keep in touch with those I am close to via the IM window, rather than face-to-face. It got me thinking back to how my SL used to be waaaaaay way back in the mists of time.

I think I had been in SL about a month, when I found a place, called GQ Start, which helped newcomers to SL settle in. There was a store of free stuff, and you could learn to build and script there, and learn to navigate your way. I remember there were even lessons on how to emote. Bwahaha.

Within 3 months of being in SL, I was helping out there. The thing which people enjoyed most about GQ, was that there was a campfire in the middle of it with seats. All the teachers, and helpers lived all over the world, so at any time there was usually someone to be found there ‘chilling’.

It was a good way of meeting a varied bunch of people, from all over the world, and I really loved the natter. GQ is still there, but empty now. People stopped wanting to teach, and I think one of the owners has left now, but now and then I still hear from people who found us there, and who miss that chatter.

It was the nostalgia of these past but not-forgotten times which triggered the idea for my new, and small project. I managed to find a small, but very interesting piece of mainland which was up for rent. It’s a lovely challenge as it’s part hillside leading up to the SL railway. It was a good, and interesting challenge to see how to use the land, but I have ended up with a flat area alongside the tracks, which protrudes with amazing views (if you set your draw distance high enough) out across mainland.

I have set up a coffee shop at the top, where you can watch for trains, and there are two lower terraces which have let me place some of my RL artwork alongside the beautiful SL images which made up the “Celebrate Together” exhibition at Frisson, just before it closed.

So there is a wide selection of cakes in the shop, (all of the calorie free!) as well as drinks dispensers. Outside are tables set for you to meet up with friends at. I have also added some games on the tables, to provide amusement, and conversation starters. Please visit, enjoy… and use it as a place to spend time with friends.

 

 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sinica/119/88/80

 

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Spring

devawestland2 Comments

Spring

 

This winter has seemed to me the freezing of all things, of contact. For many reasons I felt cut off from many, just as small villages become isolated in the depths of weather extremes.

As I said, there were many reasons, each one seeming insurmountable on its own, so when collected together all I could do was look inside myself and withdraw to try and survive.

It has often been said that no man, or woman is an island, and this is so very true. We do not exist alone, and where it may seem easier to become a hermit… to reduce the contact of others and their impact on our lives, it is not the best way to be. For me to remain set apart from others is completely the wrong thing for my spirit, and for my emotional energy.

Spring will arrive.

A complete nature fan like me revels in each small sign of its potential coming. The tiniest glimpse of the smallest green shoot cannot fail to make me smile, a signal that there is yet hope. This year in the UK spring rushed in a little earlier than usual. Birds were sure it was the time to find a mate and set up home, regardless of the risk of being caught in potential flurries of snow in the coming days.

I am by nature a worrier. I have spent a life of trying to visualise potential outcomes and plan accordingly for them. I store the harsh lessons of my past alongside each and every untruth other people have told me about their false perspectives of me.

Unlike the optimistic birds, ecstatic at an early spring here in the UK, I cast my eyes down, worried about what damage we were doing to the world and the impact on the climate.

In time Spring does arrive.

This year my personal spring arrived with warm conversation and words telling me I was seen for who I really am and admired for it. Those closest to me reached out to share smiles and laughter. Like a guiding hand love navigated me through the snowdrifts of my self-imposed winter.

Bit by bit I was able to see the small sprouts of green hope and was able to feel the warmth of the wakening sun. Soon more signs of promise and colour crept in and added to my lightness of heart. It was time to throw that debilitating caution to the icy winds behind and step smiling into the flower-scented breeze of optimistic springtime.

 

 
Credits:

Pose: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Brookhurst%20Cove/169/198/25 Gingerfish ; Bloom… with basket of flowers, and flowers included.

Head: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Eventide%20Far%20East/177/116/33 LOGO ; Ariel.

Hair: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Magika/127/128/22 Magika ; Keira

Dress: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lula/132/188/25 Tres Blah ; Aviva

Headpiece: *LODE* ; Tulips & Cherries Wreath [purple mist]

Scene:

8f8 Black Kite (136,102,21)
16_8f8 – New Beginnings – Bunny & Chickens LI: 4

Artisan Fantasy Artisan Fantasy (212,130,2002)
*AF* Paperwhites Tall Pot Lg LI: 2
*AF* Paperwhites Round Pot Lg LI: 3

Granola Daydreams (89,154,30)
Granola. Willow Teapot Planter. Mustard. LI: 3

hive Honeycomb (71,213,31)
hive // heart you sign LI: 1

Jian Jian (244,238,23)
JIAN Dove :: Placer (rez me!) LI: 4

Merak Bijouter Isle (224,145,30)
[Merak] – Bloom of Spring – rezz LI: 6

[.:TLC:.] Dreamy Land (196,128,25)
REZ ME_TLC Feathered Squatters – Blackbird Set LI: 8
TLC Chicken Gacha 13 Common LI: 2

Pack Pack
PACK / Spring Tulips – COLOR – Group of 3 LI: 1
PACK / Spring Tulips – COLOR – Group of 7 LI: 1
PACK / Spring Tulips – COLOR – Single LI: 1

I got this!

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I got this!.jpg

I have been deep in thought…. yet again… and as any of you who read this blog regularly will know, that can tend to lead to times of verbose rambling. I am trying to do less of that this year. I am trying to be somehow quieter, in the quest to seek… less. That may sound strange. I am not going to make myself smaller, or water myself down, but I am learning to share less with those who don’t need to know as much about me.

I feel there’s a deep strength in each of us, I know there is in me. That stronger, spirited side deserves nurturing, and I no longer believe that widely sharing of my inner thoughts and feelings does that. There are things in my life which I can solve for myself, even if in only choosing to look beyond obstacles. I have my tiny group of true friends who bolster my mood with shared fits of giggles, and inappropriate humour. I am blessed to be able to bask in close love and friendship.

What more could I ever ask for? I got this! 🙂

 

 

Credits:

Boots: Gos Tamara; available now at Fameshed

Pose: Gingerfish; Gloss, available now at TLC

Background: Foxcity Starstuck Booth

Hair: Runaway, Joy

jacket: Tetra, Off the shoulder leather jacket

Trousers: Blueberry, Aria stylized pants

Wings: Lassitude & Ennui Seraphim wings, black dipped, rare gacha.

Simple Things

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Simplethings2.jpg

It interests me that the run up to Christmas seems to be all about getting more and more of everything. We are constantly bombarded with adverts and less then subtle messages about which perfume is the greatest on the shelves, even which colour-scheme our decorations should be to ensure that our homes perfectly reflect warmth and Christmas.

I think that as I aged I became more immune to such messages. I am happy with what I have, in terms of ‘things’. When I seek to buy gifts for people, it’s never to give them the very latest item, which will have a short novelty shelf-life. I prefer to try and choose items which fit that person’s character or way of life: something to make their days better and easier; a present to make them smile, an item which shows how much I was thinking of them when I chose it.

But here I am rambling again… (some things never change!)

This all seems in such contrast to my thinking when it comes to New Year.

For the year which is to come, I wish all of my loved ones, and any of you reading this a year which is much much less.

Many of you have survived a year of such heart-break and even some I know have lived each day with debilitating illness, and the prolonged crushing exhaustion of caring for and watching the downward health-spiral of a loved one, only to have to deal with the final devastation of their death. To those Dear Ones I wish a 2019 which is free from all of that.

I know that my wish for 2019 will be to have far less. I shall aim to revel in as many of the simple pleasures, and fully enjoy the moments of quiet calm. I choose to walk the simpler path, happy in the company of those who walk that way with me.

Here’s to a year of less stress, less upset and far fewer frowns.

I wish you all a new year which will be blessed with good friendships, hearty laughter, good health and 365 days of peace.

Lots of love! ♥