Going Back To caLLie!

I can remember quite clearly the first time I discovered caLLie cLine, the store. I remember being struck by how pretty and girly and fresh the store looked. How welcoming, and I remember thinking this is a sorority girls dream store. It's kind of my impression of the woman that is Callie Cline. She likes to have fun, and party, and she fits in wherever she goes. She makes everyone feel welcome, and she is generous and fun. Today, bloggers from all over the grid are saying thank-you to Callie, thanks for organizing a week of celebrating what we do, thanks for being your fabulous self, and thanks for making everyone around you smile. This outfit is just one of my caLLie favorites, the incredibly fun wiLd cat dress in purpLe, and one of Callie's system layer fat beLts in bLood red. I want to thank Callie, simply for being the wonderful woman she is.



The fun accessories I chose to pair with this look are my always handy Decollage, Bubblegum Pearls, tinted to match the belt. I also pulled on a couple of great and girly bracelets from ::MEZZO::. The sweet Cosmetics Chain Bracelet has some adorably detailed cosmetic bottles dangling from a chain, the set comes with gold, silver, or black metal versions. The Dots Bangle 2Set from ::MEZZO:: is another cute detailed bracelet, it comes in two different coloured versions. The boots are a perfect match, Melanie Zhao's "XINFUL" Boots in Ox Blood Leather from ZHAO Shoes.



The hair is my new favorite from TRUTH Hair, the Linda wig is as close to the shape and texture of my actual hair style as I have found in-world. A combination of sculpted prims and alpha textured whisps, simply amazing. I want to mention my choice of eyes particularly, the Miriel Hazel Eyes. I was saddened to see Miriel's announcement that she plans to close her shop and give up her island in the near future. I urge you to go see her beautiful island and shop for some of her absolutely exceptional creations before they disappear, as too many of our iconic designers seem to be doing lately. Skin is from -AnaLu-, lashes are from MMS (now LeLutka).

Shopping Details:
Dress - caLLie cLine, wiLd cat - purpLe
Belt - caLLie cLine, fat beLt - bLood red
Boots - ~*ZHAO*~, "XINFUL" Boots (Ox Blood Leather)
Necklace - Decollage, Bubblegum Pearls Necklace
Bracelet - ::MEZZO::, Cosmetics Chain Bracelet (Left)
Bracelet - ::MEZZO::, Dots Bangle 2Set (Right)
Hair - TRUTH, TRUTH Hair, Linda, Black & Whites (Night)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows* NAT 09 .purplish.
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)
Lashes - MMS (now LeLutka), Thora Lashes

Tiptoe Through The Tulips

This time of year is a favorite, second only to Autumn. Spring brings sunshine, but cool breezes and longer evening before it gets dark. I feel like I can get more done, whether I can or not, it is a nice feeling. I love watching tulips push up through the earth in my mother's amazing gardens. I used to order bulbs and deliver them to her in unmarked paper bags, so that their colourful flowers would be a surprise. Although many are eaten by squirrels, rabbits, and as of late, groundhogs, that run around my parents backyard, the ones that survive the winter make for a magical burst of fresh colour. Sometimes, a fresh spring day calls for an equally fresh coloured dress. This adorable Polka Love dress by Betty Doyle of Ingenue is just such a frock. I really love the crisp turned up shoulder detail, and the skirt is a whirl of perfectly textured panels. It reminds me of the lovely tulips currently making their show-stopping display.



I went light on the accessories, taking into account the details on the shoulder and the hair accessory. Starting with a lovely basic pearl strand with an interesting front clasp detail, the Vixie White Pearl Necklace by *KessKreations* is really spectacular as a basic pearl strand. Kesseret Steeplechase always gives me the quality I look for in her work, it is flawless. I found the perfect match for the dress in the colour variations of the Stiletto Moody Pinup Patent Pump. I really love the shape of this shoe, and the colour change version is so very versatile. An adorable Ari Handbag from {Cherry} in a great graphic print means that you can pair it up with so many more outfits. The fresh white accents make it perfect for spring.



This lovely Portia hair from Philotic Energy is a really lovely and fresh up-do, and the floral accent is perfection. The red Hibiscus flower is perfectly sculpted. This style is perfect for a formal or summer fresh look. Another lovely fresh faced skin from -AnaLu-'s *InRainbows* line of modified skins, I am almost wearing them exclusively lately, I think it is mostly the shape of the lips that has my heart. MMS (now LeLutka) Thora Lashes and Big Hazel Eyes are from Miriel.

Shopping Details:
Dress - Ingenue, Polka Love (Melon)
Shoes - Stiletto Moody, Pinup (Patent Color Set)
Bag - {Cherry}, The Ari Handbag (Candy Florals, Snowball)
Necklace - *KessKreations*, Vixie White Pearl Necklace
Hair - PE, Portia (Charcoal)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows* NAT 13 .brownish.
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)
Lashes - MMS now LeLutka, Thora Lashes

Kind & Generous

I wanted to take a moment to express my deepest gratitude to Callie Cline for spear-heading the "Blogger Appreciation Week" of the past week. I also wanted to thank those who helped to organize the events, and gift distribution within the Fashion Bloggers group, you know who you are and you are all angels.



The designers that sent gifts, or even expressed their gratitude to those of us who blog with their kind words, your creativity is what drives my passion, and that's why I say, "I would be naked without you". This includes the often uncredited pose and animation designers as well, for you are just as vital. Fashion is one of my many loves in-world, and blogging is always something I have done primarily for my own amusement. It is my pleasure to display your creations and discuss the details that I appreciate in your work. So once again, thank you for giving me the access to materials that make my hobby possible. I love to shop, and I love to share, and blogging is a way for me to do both, capture my evolving style, and the evolving face of fashion in Second Life.

To my fellow bloggers, I also have thanks. You make me want to be a better, more consistent, and more professional blogger. Together, we are a community, perhaps codependent and dysfunctional at times, but we are like a family in that way. We all do it our own way, and have our own stamp that makes our work unique, yet we share a common love when you strip away all the rest of the politics and drama. So thank you for making what I do part of something bigger and more sustaining.

~ Ketsy

Adam's Ribs

Adam and Eve, it's the most interesting of biblical stories, and even though I am no biblical scholar, I have always been fascinated by the story of how woman came to be. It seems particularly hard to accept, as a feminist of sorts, that women are the product of a piece of "Adam's Rib". As an Obstetrics nurse, I was always deeply offended by some religions explanation that the suffering of women in childbirth was as a result of Eve's actions, taking the forbidden fruit, and therefore damming us all to pain unlike any other. I am not a religious person, more spiritual, but it seems like something that a patriarchal religion would use to keep women in their place, constant reminder of the folly of the first woman. We think of ribs and bones and skulls as gothic and macabre, but they are the very frame on which we carry ourselves, and they have meaning too. The Schadenfreude Black Ultraviolet Skelebeater tank was a freebie I picked up at the very first opening of the Starlust Motel, over a year ago now, and wearing it makes me feel strong and fierce. Paired with a great {Gisaci} Black Leather Brindisi Slack, it is a simple and sleek look.



A great belt from Maitreya adds a little more metal to my look, so to speak. The Old Leather Belt in Black is really nicely shaped, and fits my curves perfectly. I pulled on a pair of stacked Jelly Bracelets in Black from [Od], and a great Black Triple Layer Necklace from what is now Luc Jewelry, with colour change scripted crystals. A little brow stud from ITF makes me feel a little more edgy, something also achieved with the fabulous Oldskool Tattoo from TRUTH INK. The boots are the bases of the ever sexy Black Dune Boots from Maitreya. The great chunky Bellissima Black Bag from Bare Rose is a real winner, looking sturdy and ready to carry all my worldly goods.



I love this sleek, long and relaxed Faye wig from Maitreya, it is really well made, the texture is extraordinary, and the flexi movements fluid and realistic. Another delicious skin from -AnaLu-'s *InRainbows* line of mods, this is the .girlypink. version. These skins look great with the Thora Lashes from MMS (now LeLutka), eyes are from Miriel.

Whether you are religious or not, or even a would be biblical scholar, I say it's time we celebrate the story of The Fall in the Garden of Eden. Eve was one gutsy babe, and think of how boring life would be if we were all still wandering around the garden, unclothed... *gasp*, without fashion!

Shopping Details:
Top - Schadenfreude, Black Ultraviolet Skelebeater, Men's [Previous Starlust Gift]
Pants - Armidi, {Gisaci} Brindisi Slacks (Black)
Belt - Maitreya, Leather Belt, Old *Black*
Boots - Maitreya, Dune Boots (Black) [Bases Only]
Bag - :::B@R:::, Bellissima 09 Black (L Hand)
Necklace - -EARTHTONES- now (luc) Jewelry, Triple Layer Necklace Black/Multi
Bracelets - [Od] Pbp, Jelly Bracelets, Black [No Location Found]
Piercing - ITF, Dual Ball Brow Piercing [No Location Found]
Tattoo - TRUTH Ink, Oldskool Tattoo (Full)
Hair - Maitreya, Faye (Pitch)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows* NAT11 .girlypink.
Lashes - MMS now LeLutka, Thora Lashes
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)

My Way Out

Sometimes, you just want to get away. Things get confusing, you lose sight of who and what you are about and what really matters. I have been feeling this way a lot lately. Things I thought would last forever have slipped away, things I thought mattered don't seem to be as important, and I am looking for meaning in my life again. While I may not be able to take a physical break from my reality, I can certainly take the time away from my regular routine and let my mind run away a bit, trying to find the answers to the questions that I suddenly have. This look is back to basics, the sort of thing I would be wearing around the city. This look says comfort and warmth, and is something I would wear when looking for a place to hide and nurse my wounds. This sweater is my favorite part, I think Pushbutton's new *Sprawl* brand is brilliant, and The Almanac Sweater in Cardinal looks like a well loved, well worn favorite. I layered it over one of the /artilleri/ Zee Tank Tops, and paired that with a great Black denim Jean from (Kari & TW).



With cuffs on the sweater, there was no need for bracelets, but I did find a nicely matched Bohemian inspired necklace from Bonita's Jewelry that really worked well with this look. The colours were perfect, and I find that there are lots of hidden treasures at Bonita Popinjay's Jewelry, you just have to have the fortitude to find them among her huge inventory of items in her shops. I am wearing my favorite brow piercing from ITF, and also a sentimental ring from Caroline's Jewelry. One of my favorite handbag's is this Jaden bag from Cachet (now LeLutka), I own it in two colour variations, it is that fabulous. I am wearing the boot bases from a brilliant pair of (Shiny Things) Old Lace-up Boots, they are prim shoes I have had for almost two years, and they make me feel very grounded.



Truth Hawks makes some of the sweetest wigs on the grid, and on my last visit I was over the moon to find my two favorite shades, black and white in the same colour pack once again. This sweet TRUTH double pig-tail style with hat is called Babyhoney, and it is perfection down to the stitching on the cap. The skin is another of Ana Lutetia's mods, the lovely -AnaLu- *InRainbows* series, and I feel very at home in these skins, the complexion is lovely and the brows are natural and soft, the coloured eye make-up is perfect with the soft full lips. Lashes are from MMS, now LeLutka, and eyes are from Miriel.

I am looking for my way, even if that means My Way Out.

Shopping Details:
Sweater - *Sprawl*, The Almanac (Cardinal)
Tank - /artilleri/, Zee Tank Tops!, Shirt Layer (Orange)
Jeans - (Kari & TW), New School Jeans (Black)
Bag - Cachet now LeLutka, Jaden Bag (Red)
Boots - (Shiny Things), Old Lace-up Boots - Reddish
Necklace - Bonita's, Beaded Bohemian Necklace w/ Links
Ring - Caroline's, Gimcrack Diamond Solitaire Ring
Brow - ITF, Brow Dual Ball Piercing [No Location Found]
Hair/Hat - TRUTH, Babyhoney (Smokey)
Skin - -AnaLu-, *InRainbows* NAT 07 .blue.
Lashes - MMS now LeLutka, Thora Lashes [No Current Location]
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)

Good Mother

Though she really doesn't understand my online interests or the way I live my life, I can honestly say that I have a Good Mother, not just good, great. She has always been there for me, been genuinely proud of my accomplishments, and believes that I have something to offer the world. She is generous, she is a beautiful grandparent to my nieces and nephew, and she makes me want to be a better person. This look really wouldn't be one my mother would understand, but I love bright colours and quirky details, so I decided to blog it today, because being who I am is part of the gifts my mother gave me growing up. When Canimal Zephyr sent me the adorable Circus Treats dress, I was thrilled, they are striped fun, with two bright colours in combination. I chose the orange and yellow version for this look, pairing it with a pair of simple Yellow opaque tights from ~~Ivalde~~.



With a tiny mini-dress, there is lots of room to accessorize, and I started with these amazing Death Dolly Goth Mary Jane Pumps from Unique Needs. I carried the studded black leather look to a simple arm band from WRONG on one wrist, while piling on some stacked Orange bangles from *PERSONA* on the right wrist. The fabulous Butterfly Necklace from *i-Candy* is everything fresh and Spring and hopeful, a sweet touch on an otherwise dramatic goth princess look. Simple Stud Earrings from Sian Birke are great as a wardrobe staple, since the stones are color change. Though I rarely wear them, I love tattoos, and these faded half sleeves from AITUI Tattoo are really fabulous looking.



This adorable wig is from /artilleri/, and Antonia Marat makes some of my favorite hair, the Dayna is simply sweet with a touch of edge, just the way I like it. When I go for an edgier look, the skins I choose are always my Canimal Essence Skins, this one is perfect for this look, and perfectly named "Sunshine". The Canimal Essence Flamenco Trash Lashes, here in Red, are the perfect compliment to the skin. My eyes are, as always, favorites from Miriel.

Happy Mother's Day to those of you celebrating today. You are the world to your children, and you are the heart and soul of society. The song on my mind today is a favorite, Good Mother by Jann Arden, a fellow Canadian.

Shopping Details:
Dress - Canimal, Circus Treats (Orange/Yellow) [Review Copy]
Tights - ~~Ivalde~~, Tights Collection, Yellow
Shoes - Unique Needs, *UN!* Death Dolly Goth Mary Jane Pumps
Necklace - *i-Candy* now KaWaii Jelly, Butterfly Necklace (Orange)
Bangles - *PERSONA*, Bangles Pack - Oranges (Right)
Earrings - Sian Birke Jewelry, Stud Earrings
Wrist Band - WRONG, Spike Band (Black, Left)
Tattoos - AITUI Tattoo, Shooting Stars (Colored) *Half Sleeves Faded*
Hair - /artilleri/, Dayna V2 *Blacks*
Skin - Canimal, Essence (Grace)... of Sunshine
Lashes - Canimal, Essence... Lashes (Flamenco Trash - Red)
Eyes - Miriel, Hazel Eyes (Big)