Taking a break until Fall

I just wanted to let you all know I'm alive, Real Life has just thrown me for a loop and knocked the wind out of me. So have a few events in Second Life.

I plan to be back at some point to continue this blog, probably in the Fall, because I enjoy it very much, but right now I feel I need to concentrate on "being there" for my daughter while she continues her cancer treatment.

Thank you all so much for your support -- this has been a fun project, even when I've struggled with a sharp learning curve as far as SL etiquette goes. I hope to see you all soon!

Historical Heroines says goodbye

I've been remiss in not reviewing Historical Heroines, which specializes in 18th, 19th and early 2oth century hairstyles, and now I've just received the sad news that the shop will be closing as of Thursday, July 15.

"Due to a combination of RL factors and my computer hiccuping every time I access SL, I haven't been around in months," said Duchess Cornelia Rothschild of Teslace in a letter to her customers this week. "I've decided that this isn't fair to my customers/landlord, and thus I am closing up shop and selling my parcel."

Her Grace has discounted all color packs to 45L, and fatpacks to 100L at the Historical Heroines main shop in Caledon II.

These are just some of my favorites of her work: Miss Baudelaire, in "cobblestone" (below left); Miss Westenra, in chestnut brown (note: Westenra is an earlier style already discounted to 150L with full color options included), and Miss Josephine, also in cobblestone.


"I thank all for your support over the years," Her Grace said. "My shop has always been a fun little hobby for me - nothing serious - and every time I've seen another creator's vendor with my hair used on the model, or heard someone recommend my store, I've been flattered and humbled. It's been a wonderful experience."

While you are there be sure to pick up the freebie hairstyles Miss Felt and Miss Marie, as well as the freebie "Miss Rothschild's HUDKerchief," a HUD which provides you a dainty lace kerchief to dab at your eyes, hold in your hand, or wave a hello or goodbye to someone.


There are few hair shops in SL that specifically cater to the historical RP community, and those of us in that community will certainly miss the Duchess' creativity and the wonderful resource Historical Heroines has been.


Category: Closing sale
Prices: 45L-150L
Designer: Cornelia Rothschild, Historical Heroines
SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20II/34/49/26

Independence Day group gift at Diamonx Studios

This is the week to go shopping for that special Independence Day party gown, and Raudf Fox at Diamonx Studios is the first out of the gate with this special edition, Patriotic, of her new gown Stripe Time.

If you aren't a group member, simply click on the group joiner sign at the entrance of the shop. Once an active member, you can click again and browse through the last ten group messages sent (Stripe Time - Patriotic is message #2 in the list, and should deliver the gown to you when you select "Read This" in the menu).

Enjoy!


Category: Group Gift
Price: 0L (must be group member)
Designer: Raudf Fox, Diamonx Studios
SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fushida/243/195/121

Take a Walk to the Darker Side

Yes, that's me! I know, not terribly Victorian, but once in a while I like to take a walk on the Goth side. Trying to be a proper Victorian all the time can become tiresome.

Here I am modeling Darker Side's Flourish dollarbie gift set, which includes this lovely violet gown, hair, shoes, skin and shape. Sadly I had the worst time taking a photo of this skirt -- you'll simply have to go to the shop and see it for yourself. I should add that the dress and feather hairpiece are perfect acceptable to wear to a Victorian ball with an elegant Victorian updo!

Darker Side's primary focus is hair and skin, which only retails for 50L! Between those prices, the great group gifts, dollarbies, a 10L bag of 20 discontinued hair fat packs, and the Lucky Board, you're libel to walk out with a whole new persona!

Categories: Dollarbies, Group Gifts, Lucky Boards, Midnight Mania
Designer: Darkandiel Bury, Darker Side
SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Green%20Mist/22/212/600

Trixie's tea party gown at Duchess Designs

Trixie, by Duchess Designs, is an amazing freebie I stumbled upon recently. Hat, scripted fan and shoes are even included! I confess I lengthened the black underskirt for my more modest Victorian purposes, but the original version is about mid-calf length and would fit well at an Edwardian tea party.

Duchess Designs' gowns have a strong Rococo influence, with large, lush skirting and flowing sleeves, but many of them are easily adapted to the Victorian Romantic era which shares in common those attributes. There are also figure hugging Grecian inspired gowns, dresses for little girls and a Midnight Mania board!

Dresses retail on average for 500L, so Trixie is really a grand deal.

Category: Freebie
Price: 0L
Designer: Shimmer Benusconi, Duchess Designs
SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Neverdol/155/243/511

Freebies & Dollarbies @ Antique Artistry

The landing HUB at Antique Artistry Antiques is just the beginning of a wonderful adventure through Fatima Ur's Victorian Home & Garden Center.

Merchants on Fatima's other sims are invited to set out freebie and dollarbie items for new visitors, and there is a wide selection of clothing, jewelry, shoes, furnishings, landscaping items and other goodies to discover.

Among the gifts I picked up: Miss Ur's own gown design, Sweet Victoria (left), ZE Design's Red Orchid ball gown (center), and from Figleaves, Martha, in green (right), perfect for the young Victorian lady.

I also took home a pearl necklace from Bonita's Jewelry and a red rose earring and ring set from AIR.


Outlet: Antique Artistry Antiques HUB
Prices: 0L-1L
SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Antique%20Artistry%20Antiques/98/136/27

Victorian clothing sale at Rag Dollz

Gotta love Rag Dollz -- Emedea Mortensen is a prolific designer with a great head for marketing.

This week she's put out a selection of Victorian dresses, a gent's suit or two, and boots, all 50% off retail.

Above, I'm wearing Afternoon Tea in burgundy (left, 99L), Miss Beakersmith (99L) and Daphne McAllen (133L).

Below, I'm modeling Rawlings Park ( 133L), Sophie Longbottom (133L) and Medburn Square (0L).

Yes, you read right, Medburn Square is a freebie this week!


Category: Half-off sale
Designer: Emedea Morgenstern, Rag Dollz
SURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Videos/211/96/22