Everything’s coming up roses!

Happy February!  Today is my big birthday, the one I’ve been dreading for years…..the one I’m in denial about.  As I look at the scope of my life, I should have done more, traveled more, seen more, failed more, accomplished more, basically the next half of my life, I need to create adventures and live life fully.

Today’s post continues the Valentine theme only this time bringing the love outdoors with Tylar’s Treasures Rose Arbor offered for 50% off at Perfect Ten (2/1-15/16).  The rose patterned draped arbor includes a chaise lounge with dance, single female poses and 44 intimate couple animations.  Behind the arbor is Tylar’s Treasures Valentine Proposal Gazebo scene with pink trees & shrub.  The gazebo animations include couple dancing, cuddling, kissing, wedding proposal and acceptance kiss pose, available at the main store.  Also shown in the first photo are Lunar Seasonal Designs menu driven heart flower beds and planter, offered at Perfect Ten for 50% off.  Have a great Groundhog Day; Punxsutawney Phil & I will be ringing in our special day and wishing for an early spring!

Structure: Trompe Loeil, The Karin Cottage (Sky)

• Finishing Touches: Trio of Roses & Hearts (Pink), Trio of Roses & Hearts Topiary (Pink), Roses are Red Hanging Heart, Crazy Daisies Birdhouse Trio, Victorian Rose Bench, Victorian Rose Swan Planter, Roses Are Red Topiary, Roses are Red Woodland Bench & Summer Garden Tiered Dessert Tray
• Alouette: Pansy Fence Planter (White) & Pansy Plant
• Apple Fall: L’Olivier
• A.D.D.Andel!: Potted Plant Lavender
• [DDD]: Rose Bush (Potted)
• O.M.E.N: Dear John – Diaries & Love Letters Mail Box
• Lunar Seasonal Designs: Menu Driven Planter & Bed of Heart Flowers (@ Perfect Ten, 50% off)
• Tylar’s Treasures: Rose Arbor, Valentine Proposal Gazebo & Tiered Candleholder (Pink)
• Jian: Beaumont Brick Path & Boxwood Shrub (Hedge)
• LISP: Rain or Shine Table & Chairs (Texture Change)
• What Next: Antique Heart String Lanterns

Love is in the Air!

Happy Sunday!  Are you in the mood for love?  In need of a romantic pink bedroom suite?  Can’t get enough hearts & flowers?  Or, maybe just love Valentine’s Day (like I do).  Today’s post features CIRCA Livings Love Notes Room Collection in Amaranth discounted 50% off at Color Me Project till Wednesday, February 3rd, so run now.  The lovely and romantic Valentine themed room is available in either deep ruby or amaranth (rose-pink) hue, both colors are 50% off and all pieces are sold separately.  The Love Notes series is a mix of vintage with modern touches including desk set with opening drawers and 24 male/female chair sit animations, V-day card string, letter ladder with rose planter, vintage birdcage, wall and side tables, multi frame heart wall art, and damask area rug & drapes.

I paired the Love Notes items with Sway’s Rosalie Romantic Bedroom previously released at Uber, now available at the main store.  The bed is available in PG or Adult version with 20 single/friend animations for up to 3 avatars or 10 couple poses.  There are 8 linen texture options and 3 metal frame finishes (gold, silver & copper).  The Rosalie set includes a bedside table, lamp and decorative accessories.  Also shown above are Sway’s Keira Candlesticks & Picture Frames offered in 6 color choices.  In addition, I used Sway’s Birdcage Wall Art & Candle Holders available at Tres Chic until February 10th.  Lastly, I accessorized with La Galleria Valentine freebies including the rustic wooden heart collage, applique wall hanging, pink heart garland, needlepoint Valentine toss pillows and heart trinket boxes.  On the desk I added Lunar Seasonal Designs color change Vase of Heart Flowers available at Perfect Ten for 50% off.  Hope you enjoyed my love is in the air Valentine themed bedroom and don’t forget to take advantage of the deals, some ending soon!

A step back into time…

Just a few days till Halloween and I wanted to share with you one build I’ve been preoccupied with since spring.  I hoped to create the rolling hills of a French countryside wine region similar to Provence using Apple Fall’s rural farmhouse (rare) from the The Arcade March 2015 round.  Nestled in the hillside, the stucco two-story building with creeping ivy, clay tile roof, worn exterior shutters and double barn door has a vintage aged working farm atmosphere. Step outside to be greeted by vineyards, zig-zag rose-bush lined cobblestone path and a secret retreat garden shed. The converted garage barrel room has some of the best views of the lake and hillside.  Come join me on my journey, a step back into time.

The interior of the farmhouse is vintage shabby chic with a distinctive feminine feel with rose print chairs and rugs in the living room.  The first floor has an open layout concept with the dining area near the stairwell and the kitchen on the back wall, with views of the sunflower field out the kitchen window. Enticing baskets of fruit and baked goods are arranged on the pantry unit just in reach from the dining table.  The opening under the stairwell has bushels of fresh picked farm apples.  Although small, the kitchen has everything one needs with a vintage stove, butcher block counter tops, farmhouse sink and country stove.

As we move upstairs we are awash in royal blue and cream.  Two doll houses grace the window facing the rolling hillside, a cozy chair placed next to the dresser with an antique French perfume print which hangs above.  The inviting bed beckons us with a breakfast tray already made, the dressing area has a corresponding armoire with hat boxes placed on top and a rose detailed ladder for easy access.  Hope you enjoy the trip back in time!

Structure: Apple Fall Rural Farmhouse RARE

Trees & Landscaping:

• Studio Skye: Enchanting Forest
• [DDD]: Vineyard Grapes, Rose Bush (Dirt & Potted)
• The Little Branch: Sunflower Field, AppleTree*Dark{With Apples Menu}
• *alirium* tiny forest: Green

Garden Shed:

• {vespertine}: Haru Garden Shed & Spring Garden Tools
• Dreamscapes Art Gallery: *Gardener* Table Blue & *Garden* Wheelbarrow Blue
• PILOT: Water Hose & Garden Supplies
• DIGS: Verona Mosaic Table & Chairs
• A.D.D. Andel!: Bird Bath Ivy
• 36 – 8f8 – primavera in Toscana Clay Pots (past gatcha item)
• La Galleria: Watering Can and Seed Packets
• Sari-Sari: Mrs. Bumpkin’s Garden – Welcome Sign (Rare, past gatcha item)
• [Tia]: Spring Garden Planter

Wine Cellar:

• ROOST: Wine Cellar Set
• Aphrodite Shop: “La Bodega” Argentinian Wine Corner Set
• Decor Junction: Wine Barrel, Wine Bottle Holder & Single Wine Holder/Glasses
• Tarte: Wine Light
• [ht:home]: Barrel Lid Wall Deco
• [ zerkalo ]: Basket

Living Room:

• Apple Fall: Ulysses Butterfly, Book Shelf, Toile Chair (Cream), Butlers’ Tray Table, Tiffany Tea Pot, Daffodils Jug, Lemon Tea, Kingsbury Pendant Lamp, Shauna’s Chair, Dolly Piano, Teacup Pearls, Frame Shelf, Botanical Prints
• *ionic*: My Rugs

Dining Room:

• Apple Fall: L’Olivier, Pottery Dining Table & Chairs, Teacup Rose, Nardyas’ Tulips in Mason Jar
• Poche: Summer Orange Tart
• Tres Blah: Tea Time (TeaPot)
• Erratic / aea – jam&cream

Pantry:

• Ariskea: [ Pot Pourri ] Seperator with ivy
• {what next}: Brixton Bakers Rack
• Apple Fall: Mixing Bowl Set, Lemon Whip Drizzle Cake, Cherry Voulevants
• Dust Bunny: Fresh Fruit Stand (Blueberry Container, Lemons, Peach Pile, Cherry Container)

Kitchen:

• Apple Fall: Plantation Set, Mixing Bowl Set, Copper Pan Set, Patchwork Rug, Willow Plates, Pestle & Mortar, Decorative Artichokes, Neva’s Kitchen Shelf, Rosemary, Grass, Heart (Home Sweet Home), Tea Time Tins
• Floorplan: Vintage Egg Basket, French Plates, Baking Canisters, Recipe Tin, Le Lait Can,  3 Apple Crates
• Junk: Fresh Eggs Sign
• 8f8: Green Grocers (Cherry Jam, Strawberry Basket with Pricing, Cherry Basket with Pricing)
• Cinphul: Lavande
• Tres Blah: Kitchen Basics – Scale (Black)
• Tartessos Arts: Coffee Sack
• Alouette: Basil Plant (Potted)
• Lark: Jar Utensil Holder & Market Bag (Potatoes)
• Dust Bunny: Kettle
• [DDD]: Harvest Bucket (Red, Yellow & Green Apples)

Bedroom:

• Apple Fall: Old Roman Bed, Pearl Chandelier, Dolly Lamp, Pheasant Feathers, Coffee & Muffin, Book Shelf, Neva’s Laundry Basket, Victoria’s Armoire, An Lar Ladder, Neva’s Sideboard, Roses Box (Pink), Gilt Frame (Landscape), Cornish Dolls House, Victoria’s Dollshouse, Gilt Frame (Portrait), Annan Sidetable, Storage Boxes, Hat Box, Toile Chair (Stain), Feuilles Lantern
• Cinphul: Lavande
• Willowinds: Round Cobalt Blue Rug
• ISPACHI: [Florian] Breakfast Tray, ISPACHI [Florian] Chair & ISPACHI [Florian] Dresser [Eggshell]
• Floorplan: Rose de Provence
• {what next}: Nieve Hatboxes

Twisted Victorian Gothic

The Twisted Hunt (9/19-10/19) is well under way and although dubbed the hardest hunt on Second Life, the prizes are worth the effort.  Today, I’m showcasing Finishing Touches main hunt gift the Qi Skybox, side hunt items and a corresponding gacha collection.  The skybox and all the furnishings have a modern Victorian Gothic influence in a black, white and grayscale palette….perfect for a sophisticated Halloween.  Victorian Gothic is an architectural style and movement during the mid-late 19th century, often seen as a sub-style of the broader Gothic Revival style.  It is characterized by gothic details, decorative patterns, scallopping, lancet windows and hood moulding.  Architectural elements such as pointed arches, steep-sloping roofs and fancy carvings like lace ant lattice-work were applied to a wide range of Gothic Revival objects.  The movement is all about drama and elegance with lavish interiors, curved ornate furniture and plenty of decorative details.

Finishing Touches Qi skybox has a decorative pattern tiled ceiling, tall narrow pointed arched windows, oversized white candle fireplace and white/black wainscoting.  I styled the Victorian living space with the tufted curved black & white sofas, armchairs and stools enhancing the ornate detailed birdcage chandeliers and patterned tapestry wall hangings.  Pops of red, hanging boston ferns, potted palms and framed Victorian silhouette complete the space.

To commemorate the 11th Twisted Hunt, Finishing Touches is offering a side hunt with eleven gifts that correspond to the gacha collection.  The hunt items include 3 versions of a skirted table, 3 versions of hanging tapestry, couple rugs with pillows, Persian Grey wrinkled rug, box of skulls, pumpkin trio and ceramic vase.  All side hunt gifts can be found in the Twisted Qi skybox (the main Twisted Hunt gift).  Do you love the Qi skybox?  Need to furnish it, then check out the gacha for beautifully twisted coordinating decor priced at $50 per play.  Try your luck at black or white caged chandeliers, shadow box frames, tulip lamps, coffee tables, and tufted stools (see key below).

Lastly, 24Karat Roux, owner and creator of Finishing Touches is offering the Rolled Arm Couch & Chair in White Leather and Black Leather for 50% off the regular price during the Twisted Hunt.  The couch and chair were designed to coordinate with the Twisted Qi skybox hunt gift and Twisted gacha decor items.  Hope you are inspired to create an elegance spooky gothic Halloween using the Finishing Touches free Twisted hunt gifts.  Happy Hunting!

Taxi to Finishing Touches please…

Always Kiss Me Goodnight!

Today, I have tons of new releases from Serenity Style; combine them all together to make the perfect autumn bedroom.  First up is the Always Kiss Me Goodnight Set available at On9 Event until September 28, 2015.  The Goodnight Set includes a natural wood animated bed and matching nightstand.  Also offered at On9 is a green painted version of the bed.  To the left of the bed is the Dizzie Set (room divider, wheel, and mannequin) found at Mesh Avenue, till September 30, 2015.  Every time I style a room featuring Serenity Style items, I include a board game or toy to showcase Hans Inshan (owner & designer) whimsical and unique style.  This time I used the Game Time Checker Set, soon to be available at Flux Sur Mer event on September 15th.  To complete the bedroom, I used The Ancient Ladder wall art, the suitcase table desk (part of the Travel Summer Set), and Divine Flash Camera (on the suitcase desk).  Hope to see you on the grid!