Single Frame Stories-Four Prompts

So, I'm still doing Single Frame Stories.  This is a weekly challenge which you can read about it here.  Basically, there is a new prompt each week that will hopefully inspire you to create a fabulous single frame story.  There is an optional 150 character limit.  Most of the images are from SL but feel free to use any form of expression- drawing, painting, rl photos etc.

I really enjoyed the challenges when they first started back in August but then I felt my inspiration slipping away after the sixth prompt.  I wasn't really happy with several of them.  The ideas were probably good but the execution seemed off to me.  I've only included the stories that I like here.  And btw, I'm on flickr.  Add me.  I'm interesting in seeing your images too.

Challenge 4:  Positive
"At least I have fabulous shoes." 

This was inspired by a flash fiction piece I wrote (and that I'm now submitting to various contests) about a homeless woman who always manages to look at the positives in her life.  In the image above, I showed a young girl who is homeless or obviously down and out.  However, she has one thing in her life she loves and that makes her happy:  her shoes.

Challenge 5:  Little did he/she know
"Little did Vincent know that his paintings
would sell for millions 100 years later."

This is my favorite story that I've done.  When I found out the prompt for this particular week, the above images immediately came to mind.  Van Gogh is someone I admire. He had a pretty sad life and was never appreciated during his lifetime.  I think that if her were alive today he would be shocked to see how much he is admired and respected.  

Challenge 6:  On Top
"It can get Lonely at the Top."

Sometimes fame, money, public adoration is not all it's cracked up to be.  It can indeed get lonely at the top.  

Challenge 8:  Objectification
"A nip here.  A tuck there.
I think I'll just get the full body reconstruction.
Photo taken the day after surgery." 

I did a couple objectifications pics and I didn't really care for any of them.  This one was my take on how women (some women) in our society feel the pressure to always look good, look young, and look thin.  A few of those women go to extremes with plastic surgery.  The pic above is of a woman who decides to get her whole body redone.  It's extreme but we live in extreme times blablabla.

I'll be posting my other four prompts in the next couple days.  Have a happy Sunday!

Positive
bodysuit:  Willow (closed)
shoes:  Ison, Miraya Open toe Bootie
hair:  Wasabi Pills, Zoey
skin:  Izzie's, Estella Asylum
homeless box:  Dirty Boxes

Little did Vincent know
pants:  [JP]:dsg, Typhoon
sweater:  (CM):  Timothy Sweater
hat/hair:  *Argrace*, Straw Fedora/Crosby
sunflowers:  *KoW* Flower Garden Shop
painting stuff:  The Occult Shop
van gogh painting:  Bright Corporation

On Top
I have no idea what I'm wearing in this pic.  I think the hair is from Exile though.  I don't know the location either.

Objectification
bandages:  Wunderlich's Historical Garb (I got this on marketplace but couldn't find it again)
hair:  Clawtooth, Wave Goodbye

One Last Holiday Post

I decided to do one more holiday post before I pack up all the trees, ornaments, presents, snowmen etc.  I hope everyone had a great Christmas or whatever you celebrate this time of year.  I had a pretty good day-the highlight being that I met 3 infant goats.  They were adorable and it is true what they say, that goats really do frolic.  My friend said they are going to make cheese out of them-the goat milk I mean.  I asked her if she was going to do the milking and she rolled her eyes and pointed to her husband.  I figured because she can't stand to break her nails or have one hair out of place-I can only tolerate her for a couple hours at a time and I'm sure the goats will grow to hate her (I'm so nice!). Anyways, I digress...I thought it would be appropriate to rez the goat from Neon Frog.  

I have a feeling of dread because my computer has been acting up.  SL has never run well on my mac but tonight especially...I couldn't get any good lighting which is why most of these pics seem dark and grey looking (which is nothing new with my sl photo skills). Please save me windlight settings!  And please don't die on me macbook pro!

Yay!  We've almost made it through the holidays!  I plan to hit all the sales tomorrow.  Are you?  I hope I get some great deals.

dress:  *GF*, Group Gift!

hair:  Exile, Sway my Way@Together for Sway

boots:  Schadenfreude, Pitch Leith Boots @Collabor88

pose:  HopScotch, Attitude

tree:  [LeLutka], Very Merry Tree-Group Gift!

chair:  MudHoney, Meredith 

Bah Humbug:  tea soup, Group Gift!

painting:  Remembering Narnia by Chiana Oh @Gallery Gift Shop

vouboo dolls:  Schadenfreude @theArcade

various gift boxes:  Trompe Loeil and Lisp

goat!:  Neon Frog

Closing Doors

'Tis the season for some of my fave shops closing.  *sad face*.

When I first came here ("here" meaning sl), I tried very hard to make my av look a little ethnic, a little exotic, a little islander.  Being a noob, I didn't know that you could actually purchase skins but some very nice people directed me to places where I could get freebies.  I tried a few but I was looking for something else so I did a search for ethnic skin and Skin Within came up.  My first purchased skin ever was Maya, Ayesha Bisiani's polynesian beauty and the second skin she ever created (Ayesha created it back in 2007 which in sl is like decades ago).

My second Ayesha skin was Ahawi (pictured above), Native American influenced, and to this day is still my favorite even though I don't wear it very often.  Over time, I eventually bought all of Ayesha's skins.  Every so often, Ayesha would pop up in a group message with a new item but those notices have become fewer and fewer the last couple of years. I kind of knew that her store would inevitably close even before I read her blog message in November-rl can do that to you.  So Ayesha-I wish you all the best and when I leave sl (which i will eventually), one of the things I'll remember most are your beautiful creations.

Several home and garden shops have closed their inworld stores recently including one of my favorite prefab places, Nordari.  Second Spaces closed a couple months ago but you can still get all of Elle's decor stuff (and poses) at the marketplace.

And just a few days ago, I saw this posted on Gala's blog.  Wth!  I truly hope it's just a hiatus and she will be back soon because 50% (well, maybe 40% but I use a lot of her stuff) of what I decorate my houses with is from Art Dummy (the other 50% is probably from lisp).

Finally another great skin shop that is closing its doors and what inspired this post, is Dutch Touch.  You have until December 31st to purchase from the inworld store.  Dutch Touch is the skin I wear most often in blog posts and doing whatever I do inworld.

skins:  Skin Within, Ahawi (not sure of availability)
hair:  Clawtooth. Take your Time @Collabor88
top:  Sn@tch, Morgan mesh Flannel shirt

skin:  Dutch Touch, eSmEE-inworld store open until December 31st
sleepware:  Cracked Mirror, Footsie pajamas@the Arcade
hair:  Clawtooth, Elise@the arcade

house:  Nordari, Rain in east Europe (not sure of availability)
bed, side table, rug and wall hanging:  Boho set, Second Spaces
armchair:  Art Dummy, for Winter conversations, Pink @the Arcade
cabinet:  Art Dummy, once Cabinet

poses:  Adorkable and @Zodiac, Brat and Clever
place (in top two pics):  North Pole Village and Santa's Workshop

Grid Talk-Do you tell rl about sl?

Scuse the mess.  I'm getting ready for the holidays.  It's been awhile since I've done a grid talk, exactly two years in fact.  I think this post is more on topic and not quite as stupid as my first grid talk (if you read it, you'll know what I mean).  Grid Talk is just a name I thought of to discuss topics, thoughts or issues in sl.

A couple days ago I discovered that I had lost my ATM card so I spent an hour looking for it, tearing up the house in the process.  I eventually gave up and went to the bank to get a replacement (I realized later that I probably could have done this online or by phone).  So before the teller ordered a replacement, she confirmed with me my last couple of ATM transactions, one of them being $25.00 for Second Life (and yeah, I probably shouldn't be using my bank atm card for online purchases).  I was embarrassed and immediately looked behind me to see if there was anyone in line that I knew that had overheard.  Of course, the teller probably didn't have any idea what Second Life was nor did the people in line (they probably didn't overhear either).

So all this got me thinking about sl, rl and how so few of my rl friends and family know that I "play" (to clarify-I'm using "play" but I but don't think sl is just a game) or use Second Life.  Oh, I've tried to explain it to a few people:  "see you have this avatar and you give them a fictitious name and you can be old or young, animal or human, and you can buy hair, lots of hair, and you can rent land, you can build and design stuff, and hear live music, you can make friends, go to pretty places and blog about all of it!"  Well, actually, I never get past the part about creating the avatar because their eyes glaze over and I end up feeling ashamed.  I remember one conversation specifically with a very close friend who is kind of geeky/nerdy (not that sl is nerdy but whatever).  After I told him about sl his immediate reaction was "ewww-that place" and he then started talking about all the sex stuff that sl is famous for (he had never been inworld).  I didn't feel like explaining that not everyone on sl is a perv or inworld for the sex aspect.

So now, I pretty much don't share sl with anyone in rl.  I guess I'm still a little ashamed even though I limit myself to early morning hours inworld (however, I'm on sometimes during the day).    And I'm not saying that being on sl for more hours or less hours during the day is good or bad.  For me, I can't be inworld that much because I have too many rl obligations.  I've never been an online gaming type of person or online anything (besides facebook).  I came on sl for a very specific reason (if you're interested why-go here).  Sometimes, I come very close to sharing this blog with some rl friends but I always decide against it.  Maybe someday I will.

Do you share sl with your rl?  Does anyone know you "play" sl?  does anyone know you blog or create/build/earn money or role play or whatever you do inworld?  If you do share with rl, what are common reactions?  If you don't share, why not?  Have any of your rl friends created an account and are now inworld because of you?

*and speaking of blogs, I started (and attempting) a fashion/style blog Grid Palette.  We'll see how it goes.  I'm not on any feeds yet because I don't have enough posts.  It's just a way for me to practice my sl photography.

leggings:  *TuttiFrutti*, Cold Mountain
sweater:  Kauna @FaMESHed, Winter Jumpers
hair:  Alice Project, Steph 2, Streaked Blonde-Where in sl is the Concert Hunt2
skin:  Glam Affair, Lilith-Jamaica
makeup:  Zibska, Arley eyeshadow
chair:  Lisp, Snapshot Chair

Prefabulous-Scarlet Creative Retreat

I have several prefabs by Charlotte Bartlett that I've been meaning to blog but you know how it is, too many things to blog and never enough time.  However, the Retreat prefab currently available at the Unhinged event, seemed like the perfect small space to decorate.  I really miss doing my Prefabulous posts.

I originally wanted to style the Retreat with an Asian feel inspired by Sway's (Yuka) set at the Around the World event but it ended up being a more hodgepodge of styles.  

And woohoo!  I can finally use shadows after not being able to for over a year.  I don't know how it happened or what I did but I think it might have something to do with the latest Firestorm update.

I absolutely adore the letter cabinet from itutu (above) and the anna cabinet from Lisp (below).  My other faves are the cubby holes from Knick Knack Paddy Whack (in the work space and bedroom area-not new).

Speaking of Sway's...Sway Dench has something personal going on in her life and you can read about it here.  Together for Sway is a fundraising event starting on December 15.  Please spread the word.

%Percent Furniture & Lighting 

telephone

incense bowl

Arira

book pile

collection case

Art Dummy

to sleep bed

Bahia Tiki

rustic coffee table

Coloane Fountain

chinese boxes (in bedroom)

zen spa candle

Boathouse

poof butterfly squish

(itutu)

letter cabinet

planter pot thyme

petit dahlia can /white

Knick Knack Paddy Whack-kkpw

cubby hole

LeBloom

potted bamboo

Lisp

amelie pots in blue, pink and yellow

portable tv on a trunk

anna cabinet A (in bedroom)-New

pile of books and mug

vintage pot plant

margot cup with rose

The Loft

chandelier, lier crimson

flee market finds (in bedroom)

Scarlet Creative
retreat prefab @Unhinged through December 15-New

For Lyla Desk

Sway's

(Yuka) Set Around the World through November 29-New

Tatty Soup

all rugs

hungry bird screen

UrbanizeD

lounge chair (not available anymore-I think)

deco art "sparkle"

mini garden "zennn"

{what next}

charlotte Woodburning Stove-New

Y's House

display cube

Various Art

Japanese Cherry Blossom @Marketplace

Chiana Oh, Lotus Blossom Night @The Gallery Gift Shop-New

The Wavefinder by Atomos @The Tart Gallery

Collabor88 Blogger Contest

For some reason I didn't know about this contest until yesterday.  Contests make me nervous especially these blogger challenges mainly because I know I don't have a chance in hell of winning.  I'm not purposely being a pessimist but with so many extremely talented bloggers out there, well, the competition is tough!  But since Collabor88 is one of my fave sl events, I decided to enter. And besides, contests are good to enter just for the practice and to keep you on your toes.

The challenge is to use 8 items from any of the Collabor88 cycles.  I did that.  For slurls, I put the store's main location unless the items are from this month's Collabor88.  Only one image is allowed for the contest.

skin:  [Ill] Illusory, Love-Caramel, Shindig-Collabor88, June

hair:  LaViere, Katie in Browns @Collabor88, October
poses:  Marukin, Cinnabar-Collabor88, July and Flambe @Collobar88, October
dress:  -tb-, Daydream Babydoll in Mint-Collabor88, May
shoes:  Ingenue, Jive Wedge in Citrius-Collabor88, June
earrings:  Noodles, Plastic Star Earrings in Peach @Collabor88
bracelet:  Noodles, Plastic Heart Bangle in Green @Collabor88
tree seat:  Lisp, Tree Seat Petunia-Collabor88, March

other items:
tree:  *alirium*, Sakura A Pink

Cinema-Apple Fall

Apple Fall has recreated Sophie's workroom from Howl's Moving Castle for Cinema! What could be better?!

For those of you have never experienced the pure awesomeness of Hayao Miyazaki's movies, you really are missing out.  I first heard of Miyazaki after seeing Kiki's Delivery Service which is my favorite.  Howl's Moving Castle is my second favorite.  If you're expecting a Disney film, than you might be disappointed.  The stories are very different but some of the lessons are similar.  The animation is gorgeous.

For Apple Fall's workroom, you get a near duplicate of Sophie's workspace where she made hats.  Howl (the wizard) also recreated her workroom in his castle (the moving one).  Well, you will just have to see the movie to know what I'm talking about!  There's an optional accessories package for the workroom.  Lots of fun stuff.  You can see all of it at Apple Fall's location in the Fantasy/Musical section at Cinema.

The dress I'm wearing is from Dilly Dolls also at Cinema in the Horror section.

All decor is from Apple Fall unless noted below
sophie's workroom and decor:  Apple Fall @Cinema-Fantasy/Musical
dress:  Dilly Dolls, This is Halloween-ish @Cinema-Horror
hair:  Laviere, Miki @Collabor88
shoes:  Ingenue, Cindy @Collabor88
pose:  Marukin, Flambe @Collabor88

Other Decor Items:
stool/chair:  Art Dummy, Rusty Silver Drafting Chair
plant and stool:  Tatty Soup, Milking Stool Snake Plant
chair:  Cheeky Pea, Elanor
poufs:  Tatty Soup, The Quiet Corner

Tickets Please!

"Everything I learned I learned from the movies." -Audrey Hepburn

When I heard that the people behind the Hottie Cooterati Experience were planning an event based on movie genres and celebrating the movie going experience, I definitely wanted to blog the event.  I'm sure I'm not alone when I say that one one way I escape the stress and exhaustion of day to day living is to go the movies.  There's something exciting about sitting in a theatre for two hours and being totally engaged in what is up on that big screen.  And yes, popcorn, diet coke and chocolate are an excellent addition!

The Cinema build is incredible.  When you land there, it really does seem like one of those massive multiplex theaters you see in New York City or San Francisco (or wherever you happen to live).  I especially love the snack bar (figures, right?) and the carpet-the carpet looks just like the carpet you see in the theaters.

Enough talk!  Hopscotch has several adorable pose sets in the SciFi section.  I love the whimsy of Beam Me Up.  I'm not a huge SciFi fan but I can watch Alien and Aliens over and over again.

More to come...lots more!  Cinema opens TODAY (not sure on the time) and will run through October 27th. This is really a great shopping experience and event.  Don't miss it!

dress:  Eclectic Apparel, sciFi dress in Pink @Cinema SciFi
hair:  Mina, Ursula @Cinema Action/Adventure
pose:  Hopscotch, Beam me Up @Cinema SciFi
boots:  Schadenfreude, Carnaby in sea

Single Frame Stories-Three Prompts

I've been participating in a new challenge Single Frame Stories.  Every Saturday a new word or phrase is given and the challenge is to create a single frame story based on that prompt.  You can submit one image with up to 140 optional characters.  It's been fun for me and well, challenging.  When I see the prompt on Saturday, several ideas immediately come to me all of which I disgard at the end.  Those first ideas always lean toward the serious but on Friday, which is when I post my stories, I end up with something more whimsical or not too serious.

Week one:  Last Words "I can't believe that Ass killed me off in the first part of the book. I'll take Dostoevsky any day."

My first idea for Last Words was to take an image based on a conversation I had with a friend a couple of months ago.  The conversation was our last because we had a falling out.  However, that was too serious for me and I didn't want to relive the event over and over again.  So I thought of a character in one of my favorite books which will remain nameless (both the character and the book) because the image above is sort of a spoiler.

Week 2:  Illumination

I loved this prompt and all the stories that the other participants posted.  Illumination was inspired by the Fortune Teller Table by Mystique.  I thought the image was better without text.

Week 3:  Grave Mistake "I should have picked Door #1."

This prompt was hard for me.  I thought of the obvious image of a grave but didn't want to go that way, however, some other people did interesting images of graves.  I then thought of a fork in the road type of story but I couldn't get it done in time (I usually work on these on Friday morning.  They are due on Friday.  I always wait until the last minute which is when my creatively usually kicks in).  {what next} has an awesome hot air balloon available now at collabor88 which inspired this image.  Grave Mistake made me think of decisions and choices which are very hard for me to make.  I struggle with decisions, so much so that I avoid the decision altogether.  And at the other extreme, sometimes I make choices quickly without thinking things through.  I was talking to someone about this recently and she told me that I shouldn't look at every choice or decision I make as the wrong one, rather I should look at how I handle the decision.  If it's the wrong decision, then own it, fix it and move on.

Next week's prompt (due Friday) is:  Positive.  Join the Single Frame Stories Flickr group and please add me on flickr too.  I would love to see you pics!

Stuff to Buy!
Last Words
outfit:  Adoness, Odessa @Vintage Fair
boots:  Bettie's Vintage, Victorian Ankle Boot
hair:  Wasabi Pills, Gloria @Vintage Fair
pose:  Wet Cat, Drama Queen
place:  New Babbage

Illumination
dress:  Chantkare, Baroque Tunic @Collabor88
hair:  Frou Frou, Foxpouf
skin:  Glam Affair, Roza-BaroQ @Collabor88
fortune teller table:  Mystique

Grave Mistake
dress:  Drift, Mesh Retro Poof @Vintage Fair
boots:  [monso], My Western Boots @Vintage Fair
hot air balloon:  {what next}, Grand Day Out Hot Air Balloon @Collabor88

turn Up the Radio!

"it was time that i open my eyes

i'm leaving the past behind

nothing's ever what it seems

including this time and these crazy dreams"

"gotta shake up the system and break all the rules

gotta turn up the radio until the speakers blow"

decor
living room:  Sway's@Vintage Fair, [Sixty] Living Room -New
radios:  {what next}, Festival Radio

textures
wall:  Virtual Textures, Venetian Plaster
floor:  InSight Designs, Checkered Tiles

fashion
dress:  Cracked Mirror@Vintage Fair,  Vintage Gogo-New
hair:  Truth, Milly
skin:  dutch touch, megan
boots:  Schadenfreude@Vintage Fair, Carnaby Boots-New
tights:  Izzies, Patterned Tights
poses:  Fly Lily!, Sale through September 18!!!

*lyrics by mdna

vintage Fair-Retro Skybox!

I am really loving the Vintage Fair this year and it's great to see several home and garden creators participating.  I first heard of %Percent Furniture and Lighting and Plato Novo at the Home and Garden Expo.  She has a cool retro skybox available at the Vintage Fair. In addition, she has created some mason jars including a freebie available at her main store location.  Get it here!

skybox and mason jars:  %Percent Furniture and Lighting@Vintage Fair-New

couch:  {vespertine}@Vintage Fair, willamette sofa-New
cabinet, record player, and retro chairs (outside on porch):  Cleo Design@Vintage Fair-New
tile table yellow and painted table:  Tatty Soup
chairs:  Lisp, HodgePodge
bed:  Lisp, HodgePodge in Brown
chair with magazines:  %Percent Furniture and Lighting, theKarlChair
tray:  {verspertine}@Vintage Fair, Suzanne Tray-New

dress:  E&O@Vintage Fair, Tapestry-New
hair:  Elikatira, Balance
skin:  Skin Within, Zarya Bella

alice Blue

dress:  Has Been, Vintage Slip Dress-New-Retirement SALE through August 5!

boots:  J's, Studded Long Boots-New (i love these boots. i might just wear them in every post!)

stockings:  *Sheer*, Stockings 28:Torn Opaque Black

skin:  dutch touch, puK

hair:  :esk-imo, Ramona-New 

eyes:  Poetic Colors, glacier bay

pose:  Olive Juice, Stay Sassy

textures:  InSight Designs (iD), Checkered Tiles and Rustic