And such a lovely time we will have...

Dining al fresco is all the rage in Second Life right now.  Content creators are debuting furniture, homes and décor with a Mediterranean, Tuscan or Provence style.

Although I have acquired a number of décor pieces to create a scene in the traditional Mediterranean style, I have taken a slightly different approach to al fresco dining.  

At one of the earlier Arcade Gacha events, Handverk sold a Tea Party set inspired by Alice in Wonderland.  I was lucky to get one of each piece, but never had an opportunity to build a set around the quirky pieces.  Until now....

Credits:

Handverk - Alice and Wonderland table, place setting and chairs.  (table modded)

Swarming Writer - snails
::BB:: - Wizarding Frogs
Zigana - Home Made Flamingo
Almost Wonderland - Alice in Wonderland Disappearing Cat, Wonderland Circus Chair, Demented Spades Card
Lark - Autumn Cake Pops
LeeZu - Twiggy Bowl
Shai - Apples
What Next - Eggie - Peenk, Little Miss
Casa de Bebe - Pewter Candlestick
Sanctuaire - Placesetting (Garden Party)
MudHoney - Priya Rock Placemat
8f8 - Poppy Hearts
iTuTu - Petit Vine Leaf - 3
FLECHA - Sculpted Honey
Teawood - Bowl of Kiwis, Cherries - breezy plate
Apple Fall - Cherry Voulevants, Treats Platter RARE
=Z= - Kiosk Birdcages
Cheeky Pea/Pilot - Backyard Cinema Lights
Ohmai - Steampunk Chestnut Squirrel
Picnic - Rabbit Heads
HPMD - Little Birds
Atelier Visconti - A.V. Noir Floor Clock
TESH - Antique French Candelabra (85 Prims)
Floorplan - Apple Crates
Vespertine - Apple Crate

Our Tea Party - Aphrodite Summer Brunch

When I was small, I would collect all my dolls and my stuffies, then we would have the most elaborate tea parties.

I miss those simple days and simple conversations with my private friends.

Credits:

Aphrodite - "Summer Joy" Brunch Garden Set with Tea New!* (includes yellow and red flower pots)

Cheeky Pea - Port Isaac Pier

Seven - Little Red Wagon

d-lab - Panda01

d-lab - Giraffe

Zenith - Year of the Horse stuffed animal

Boogers - Eugene Bear

The Secret Store - My Lil Fawn

Half Deer - Pandy Stool

Eanya Dalek - Jack in the Box

TA - Virtuoso Stan Candelabra

Primavision - Portland Rug Copper

Shabby Tabby - Garden Teapot and Tea Cup

BA - Villa Siena

Everyone loves a beautiful Mediterranean villa.  Sunlight glinting off of calming pools and rich terracotta tiles.

As soon as I saw the Villa Siena, I snapped it up.  I'm building my private SIM around it and so far so good.

I hope you enjoy!

Credits:

[ba] - Villa Siena (walls tinted)
Primavision - Azemoths Rug - Beige - Shappy6, Arts & Crafts Mantle Mirror
A.V. - Vincent Sofa
AF - Pillow (Tree), Fleur Sideboard (Mahogany), LTD Studded Cushion, LTD Bow Tie Cushion (1955)
The Loft - Wooden Chandelier, Claryon Lamp Black, Villa Casolare Round - Colonial Walnut, Porthole Mirror
G.K. - Fruitwood Urn with Pedestal
Antiques Rhode Show - Mirror_Royal Silver 1.2
Ikebana - Simple Orchid - Red
!Ohmai - 100 Years of Waiting (hourglasses)
Forest Floor - Potted Topiary - Style 9
Trompe Loeil - Oceania Bench Neutrals, Louis Chair Stripes
Tartessos Arts - Bear
{What Next} - Rosie Hobby Horse
Boogers - Wooden Panda
Belle Belle - Naomi Rug (animal skin)
Kuro - Decorative Plates
Snuggles Gifts - Bouquet of white roses
Libertine - Candles, Candleholders
Kalopsia - Staglady Statue (tinted)
Zigana - Apothecary cabinet (stacked)
Theosophy - Dinmael Bust (Sand/Gold), Billyballs (bronze) on stairs
Miyu Adder - Pumila (plant)
22769 Bauwerk - Vintage Globe
Commoner - Nova Collection/Armillary
RO - Dress Form
Kismet - Persian Tapestry
Mesh Plants (Reid Parkin) - Floral Arrangement 1 in Pot (with added greenery)

Art - Mine
Art - Libertine, Gustave Dore Series

Let them Eat Cake - A Wedding

In today's society, the cost of a wedding is becoming far too expensive and for the practical-minded, an extravagance that can't be justified.  Yet, there is still a strong tradition of weddings and matrimonial fanfare.  

I was lucky enough to be asked to create a setting for a wedding. 

I choose Heartsdale Hall created by Kaya Angel for that "over the top" luxurious ambiance.  It was prefurnished with chairs, tables and beautiful light fixtures.

I made a statement with the entrance. RED.  The rug is a texture change piece from Not so Bad called Amal.  The red Victorian sofas are created by Augyr Ayres.  Occasional tables are from Apple Fall - Empire Coffee table.  The final, but essential touch are the Rose Floral arrangements by Nienna Wood (Chessie Chengpang).

The centerpiece of the setting is the table with the cakes - amazingly detailed creations from Aphrodite.  I used the Loving Swans and the Choco Roses cakes.  If you click the cakes, you receive a piece on a beautiful plate, either chocolate, strawberry or tiramisu (and a fork).

You can see the rest of the credits at the end of this post.

ADDITIONAL CREDITS:

Aphrodite - Aphrodisiac Champagne Tray, Loving Swans Wedding Cake, Choco Roses Wedding Cake, Scripted Curtains (re-textured)

Kismet - *K* Florentine Dove Fountain, Vintage Wine Floral Arrangement

Heart Homes - Christmas table, Silver dining chairs

Turnip - Lace tablecloth

Kaya Angel - Exotic Standard Lamps, Antique Wall Table Large (white), Vase on Stand 6

Bazar - Memories rug

Apple Fall - Cherry Voulevants, Designer Table (gold), Tiffany Drink Trolley, Cherry Blossom Branches

Post - Stack of Plates

iTuTu - Petit Vine leaves

Rusalka Writer - Champagne Bucket

Antique Rhodes Show - Candelabra Crystal Cascade (table top candles)

Poche - Merry Christmas Champagne (on table tops)

Tartessos Arts - Resort Champagne sets, Virtuoso Stand Candelabra

JoHaDeZ - Vase "Elegance"

Trompe Loeil - Oceania Chair, Oceania Bench

Sakisa - Harp

Lisp - Grand Piano Open and Bench

UrbanizeD - Garden Vases

E'lan - Tree v2 with Fairy Garden Lights

Half Deer - Mr. Mousies Door and mice

BA - Fabienne Pied-a-Tierre - Oldie but a Goodie

One of the most popular backdrops for interior stylists is Apple Fall's Paris Apartment Skybox.  It is stylish, sophisticated and stunningly neutral - waiting for the inspired decorator.

Several years ago, Barnesworth Anubis [ba], issued a Paris Apartment - Fabienne pied-a-tierre Skybox.  Its design is more targeted, but still has plenty of room for creative interpretation and it is furnished.

I removed the furniture and jammed it full of details.  I hope you enjoy.

French Country Day - Chateau La Lutiniere

I prepared several sets for the Spring, 2014 edition of Love to Decorate magazine - stay tuned.  Once the photos were taken, I did a partial tear down and added my French Country Home - Chateau La Lutiniere.

Before I re-design my sim, I wanted to capture some pictures of pastoral beauty.

The Serious Musician - Abiss "The Apartment"

I've been building and preparing for my article in the March/April edition of Love to Decorate Magazine.  When the edition rolls off the virtual press, I will publish more shots.

I have been banging on the keyboard lately and thought i'd do a quick set of photos.

Credits:

Abiss - The Apartment

LISP - Grand Piano Open

Sakisa - Cello

LISP - Vintage Boudoir Chair

Elan - Exotic Lily with Phylox

The LOFT - Bon Accord Vase Cluster

WTF Wednesday - Lady Plumber

The Men's Department is one of the coolest ideas in Second Life.  Shopping designed for and inspired by Men.  The clothes, shoes, and hats are generally male-specific, but there is also some really neat man-inspired furniture and decorating items that draw me back each month.

As you would expect, the place is filled with hunky, adorable men; And, a large population of under-dressed females.   They just seem to hang out in the aisle and generally clog up the place.  

After accidentally bumping into many of these vixens, I realized they were not shopping for hat, or glasses, or a stool - they were shopping for Men.  The Men's Department is filled with men.

Head up lonely ladies - looking for a fashion forward male companion?  Check out The Men's Department.  It's open season, no license required.

I snapped a pic of this alluring creature.  I'm thinking she is a lady plumber or onsite maintenance worker.  Notice the crack.

Lady Plumber Working It at The Men's Department

The Crazy Cat Lady Loves The Arcade

I love my KittyCats.  I have 20 of them and they all have names.  The majority are Siamese - so aristocratic.

I'm not a breeder.  I birth my kitties and convert them to Perma Pets.  They are charming and liven up my Second Life homes.

I guess with 20 cats, you can call me a Cat Lady!!!

Credits:

KittyCats

Nylon Outfitters - Cat Art - The Arcade March 2014

{anc} - Butterfly's Dream Thistle Chair Red - The Arcade March 2014

[Commoner] - Award Statuette - The Arcade March 2014

Arthur - augyr.ayres - Victorian Sofa (3 seat)

Vent du Sud - Geo Black and Brights rug

The Loft - Roxy pillows

The Loft - Portolla Chair Purple Spring - FAMESHED (new)

Senzafine - La Gitana Ottoman (toque)

Cheeky Pea - Millesime Baignoire Table

Apple Fall - Ornate Mirror

MudHoney - Coil Basket Green

FUSE (lamps) - Cheese grater streetlamp; emerald anvil gear lamp

Trompe Loeil - Valiano Serving Table - FAMESHED (new)

Trompe Loeil - Ines Branch Screen

Annastasia Scofield - Jar

Dutchie - Palm

!Ohmai: - Mochi Kittens (in basket)

Augusta's Wild Animal Revue

Kodiak, Polar, Grizzly, Brown, Panda, and Boogers.  They may be cute, but don't let their cuteness fool you!

Bears are dangerous animals.  I keep mine caged.

Credits:

Mad Pea - Freak Carriage

Boogers - Bears - The Arcade March 2014

Rub a Dub Dub in My Tub - The Parisian Row Home

The Parisian Row Home (by TLG - The Looking Glass) has a beautiful, period bathroom complete with tub, sink, toilet and mirror.  I found new accessories at The Arcade to add to the space and I sprinkled a liberal dose of older favs.

Note the cute detail on the bathroom door.

Credits:

TLG - The Parisian Row Home

Aisling - Bric-a-Brack Storage - The Arcade March 2014

Second Spaces - Bathroom Clutter Bottles of beauty, Bucket of things (her), crate of things, pass the time, tray of accessories - The Arcade March 2014

Apple Fall - Willow plates (on wall), scented candle apple and jasmine, Woodstock, Poppies / Glazed Vase, Beauty Is (picture)

Zacca - Wall light Black

Bazar - Arizona Rug Bath 3

Pixel Mode - Flower Bowl, Iris

Lisp - Vintage Boudoir Chair, Rub a Dub Tub Hanger

POST - DeWitt Towels, Kalmar Salon Rug

Lark - Vintage Chandelier (new Fifty Linden Friday)

Lark - Dessert table

Pilot - Hairpin bench

What Next - Spring Clean Bucket and Broom - The Arcade March 2014

The Secret Store - Wild Flower - Wild Cyclamen - The Arcade March 2014

Zigana - Weed #2, Plant #3 - The Arcade March 2014

TLG - Parisian Row Home