Emerald Isle!

First, a big congrats goes to the team behind the SL Home & Garden Expo 2016 who raised $4,010,116L for Relay for Life of Second Life, benefitting the American Cancer Society.  Second, a warm thank you to all my readers who supported the cause.  The RFL-SL fundraising season continues with the 10th Anniversary Fashion for Life from March 6th-20th.  This year the offerings are vast on nine sims with daily entertainment, fashion shows, $10L hunt, live auction and photo contest, all details here.  If I have some free time this week, I’ll try to showcase some of the items but in the meantime please check out my nearest and dearest friend, Rhiannon Colclough blog, Fashion is Fun!

This coming Thursday will be St. Patrick’s Day and I’ve always marked the occasion with a holiday themed blog post. As I was looking through past entries, I noticed I’ve never featured outdoor decor.  Today’s scene was created with Brook Hill Living, Park Place, Tylar’s Treasures, Serenity Styles, Sway’s, What Next and Chez Moi.  I’m very excited to share with you a new home builder, Brook Hill Living who recently released the Waterfront Barn last week and the Chilmark House at the Expo.  The Waterfront Barn is available in two version, shabby or posh with four dock options, two gazebos, and an open floor plan, available on the marketplace or in-world store.

Park Place Home Decor is currently participating in two monthly shopping events; Swank and Gacha Good.  The Gold Plaid rattan patio set and Garden Chair Planters (gacha item) are offered at Gacha Good until March 31, 2016. Emerald Isla Garden Cart, Flower Basket (Pink & Red), Magazine Basket, and Purple Tulips in Twin Vase are available at Swank until April 1, 2016.

Tylar’s Treasures has the Nautica Collection on sale for 50% off at Perfect Ten (3/1-15/16).  The Nautica Collection includes arbor bench and planter {first photo}, crate, wall decor, stool, table decor, and is texture change (4 options). Also available for 50% off at Perfect Ten are The Mustard Seed Willow Trees, Lunar Seasonal Designs Blooming Shamrock Basket & Planter and Dreamland Designs Riverside Rustic Bedroom Set {display inside}.

To finish the deck styling, I used Chez Moi new March group gift, the super fun and colorful Lemonade Stand.  Touches of spring were added with Sway’s Hana Tulips in wooden bucket & rain boots, available at The Liaison Collaborative (3/7-3/30), and Floria Hanging Plants flanking the door.  Whimsical Stone Garden Decor animals/insects {sleeping cat, ladybug, snail and frog} by Serenity Style add a humorous twist.  Through the window we can see Serenity Style Ly One Way Set, available at Gen-Neutral (3/12-4/2).  Finally, I added hints of shamrock decor with Free Bird horseshoe wall plank (free group gift), free lanterns I picked up at Swank Luck of the Irish event, and the lucky clover plant stand hunt gift from The Artist Shed (Poppin’ Penguin Hunts 3/1-31/16).  Hope you have a great weekend and Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Hope Springs Eternal

Happy Sunday!  The SL Home & Garden Expo 2016 will come to a close this evening.  If you haven’t stopped by yet, this is your last chance to grab some 100% donation items, hunt for home decor treats and be inspired to re-decorate for spring!  There are so many wonderful product, I wish I had more time to share.  Last night, we learned that Relay for Life of Second Life raised over $15,354 or a little under $4 million Lindens ($3,838,469L), so let’s join together and push the grand total over the $4M mark, I know we can do it!

For my last post for The Expo, I wanted to showcase the lovely Spargel & Shines Homes (Hope 1) Bocas Belle Cottage and both of Tylar’s Treasures 100% donation items: Spring Chalkpaint Bench and Spring Gazing Ball.

Completing the scene is What Next Spring Garden gacha items from the current round of The Arcade and Doormat with Wellies (past FLF).

Also shown are Lunar Seasonal Designs Menu Driven Blooming Shamrocks in Basket, Finishing Touches pastel For the Birds Garden Set featuring repurposed fence & birdhouse armchairs (so cute) and The Mustard Seed Greenhouse/Cottage, Weeping Willow Tree, Hydrangea Planter and Wall Fountain, all available for 50% off at Perfect Ten (3/1-3/15).

I converted the inside of The Mustard Seed greenhouse into a relaxing hideaway with Circa Living Bon Vivant Cafe Set in Florals & Colour Frames (50% off at The Expo -Hope 7), and Jolie spring ottoman in aqua, yellow polka-dot area rug and chest cabinet with flower vase in delight serving as a buffet table for sweets, available at the main store (pic below).  Flanking the buffet table inside and over the planter boxes outside are Finishing Touches Wall Mount Half Bird Cage (50% off at Perfect 10).  All the flowers displayed in the greenhouse in pots, milk cans or watering cans are part of the new spring garden collection from Finishing Touches available at the main store (there are some very specials items, please stop by to check them out).  Finally, at the foot of the bistro table is TMS Curious Kitties with Bunny Baskets and Carrots…..just in time for Easter.  Hope you have a nice end to the weekend, stop by the SL Home & Garden Expo and take advantage of the great deals at Perfect Ten!

Dashing through the snow!

In my last blog post, I focused on the interior of the EL Houses Forest Camping Cabin, today we draw our attention outside to some new holiday releases from my sponsors and more.  Up first, Tylar’s Treasures has created a number of winter exterior scenes with animations including couple cuddling, dancing and solo poses.  Shown below is the Pine Forest Seating with park bench, armchair, coffee table, snow dusted wooden forest and moose.   Also included in the Pine Forest styling is Dreamscapes Art Gallery cheeky Stick Reindeers and StoraxTree’s Holiday Delivery A (sled).  On the left side of the forest cabin is the adorable Tylar’s Treasures Bringing Home the Tree Alaskan Huskies dog-sled team which includes snowy trees (background) and stump with cardinal bird.Finally, gracing the entrance is Finishing Touches Simple Elegance Holiday Swag, Wreath & Tree in Marble Urn from Perfect Ten event (50% off until 12/15/15).   Although 24Karat designed these items for interior use, the swag and urns are modifiable to fit your needs.  Dreamscapes Art Gallery Snowman with Bucket (b) greets visitors on this chilly evening as Bing Crosby sings Jingle Bells in the distance.

Witching Hour

Halloween is fast approaching and am getting excited.  I want to share with you some new items from Serenity Style and loads of freebies from around the grid.  There are so many events and hunts happening now that you can always pick up a little something extra for your porch.  I also styled the inside of the witch cabin with hunt gifts, so check out the style card below and have fun decorating!

• Serenity Style: My Witch House (Tres Chic, ends 11/5)
• Serenity Style: Not Every Witch Gatcha (Wayward Halloween, ends 10/31)
• Park Place: Ye Olde Witch’s Rocking Chair 1 ($10L on Star Search Hunt, ends 10/31)
• Park Place: Witch’s Holiday Celebration Table (Hunt gift on Along Came a Spider Hunt, ends 10/31)
• The Artist Shed: Welcome Ghost (Hunt gift on Boo! Bunny Hunt 4, ends 10/31)
• The Artist Shed: The Horticulturists Horror II (Hunt gift on Scissor Happy Halloween Hunt 2, ends 10/31)
• The Artist Shed: Hay Bale Set with Bunting
• Lunar Seasonal Designs: Coneflower and Butterfly Garden (50% off @ Perfect Ten, 11/1-11/15)
• [ free bird ]: Name-the-Dead Gravestone (Anna Robix)
• Lark: Elemental Bookcase

Fall is Calling!

Autumn is quickly approaching, the leaves are turning a golden shade, the air is crisp and the smell of yummy delights waft through the house.  I love fall and it’s my favorite time of the year to decorate.  The season makes your home and landscaping look so inviting.  Dreamscapes Art Gallery has released a number of new autumnal decor items perfect for your landscaping needs.  I styled the Tumbleweed One tiny house by Dorian, a cute one-room log cabin trailer with loft space and bathroom (7 x 20m, 21 prims).  I loved the painted red door with engraved deer outline, I thought it would be the perfect backdrop to showcase Dreamscapes new items.

First up, is Dreamscapes Art Gallery new VIP Group Gift Autumn Haybale Deco with Candles and Apples for Sale sign.  I flanked the new group gift with What Next Orchard Decor Set (ladder, basket and fallen apple decor).  Behind the haybale is The Mustard Seed Sunflower Trio with Frog and Bee, available for 50% off at Perfect Ten (until 9/15/15).  Finally, Dreamscapes Topiary Pumpkins with Lights welcome guests and border the porch steps.

On the porch I styled two separate entertainment areas; to the left of the front door I used the Dreamscapes Vintage Pallet Set, which includes a bar table, three bar stools with different fabric cushions and a tray of Halloween cookies.  I accessorized with Dreamscapes Apples Wood Buckets, Autumn Deco Shutter E and La Galleria Sunflowers in Pumpkin decor.

The right side of the porch, I used another Dreamscapes Autumn Haybale Deco B with lantern, plaid blanket seat and pumpkin decor including a carved pumpkin, Autumn Deco Shutter B and Pumpkin Bucket D.  Dreamscapes has a number of haybales and decorative shutters, so be sure to check out all the versions.

In the foreground of the trailer house are some more adorable Dreamscape harvest landscape items consisting of Autumn Deco Tree Stump with carved pumpkins, Candle Chair Autumn, and Market Cart B with Apples and Pumpkin Bucket B.  I also used What Next new VIP Group Gift Scarecrow with texture change fall greeting sign.

The Mustard Seed Gentle Overhang Tree & Autumn Days Climbing Vine/Trellis (both texture change & on sale) are placed in the back right corner of the landscaping.  On the market cart is The Mustard Seed Honey for Sale Set with sign and vintage beehive honey pot, on sale for 50% off at Perfect Ten event.  I hope you enjoyed my autumn hideaway and are inspired to create a warm and inviting landscaping using Dreamscapes Art Gallery items.

Lastly, I want to mention Dreamscapes Art Gallery parcel has undergone a renovation and expanded with two large stores, multiple buildings, landscaping spaces, and a larger art gallery area.  Carlotta Ceawlin, owner and designer of Dreamscapes is generously opening her art gallery to guest artists for free.  Check out the rules below and follow-up with Carlotta (she’s really nice :-).

Dreamscapes Art Gallery – Guest Artists

With the renovation of my parcel I’ve decided to offer space for guest artists at my gallery, which I did in the past and always wanted to happen again.  There will be no costs for invited artists to display, but there are some requirements.

Dreamscapes Art Gallery is an established location since years and shows on the top page under art/gallery in SL search.  I’m looking for high quality SL artwork only (no RL paintings, photos, etc).  The artwork must be your own and free of any copyright issues, which will be checked by me (no exceptions to this rule!).  Artwork must be PG, tasteful, non violent and again, high quality only!

The guest artist space is located outside, behind the barn on a brick wall, similar to the new setup I chose for my own artwork.  Each guest artist can display 2 works on one wall section.  The art should be placed next to each other and in a preferably same size as mine are shown, to ensure an esthetic look.  The artwork can be framed or not and 1 LI per piece.  It can be set for sale, if you wish so.  No scripts are allowed, also no info/LM givers and similar can be placed – just the artwork. 🙂

Each guest artist gets his space for three weeks and can change displayed work as often as wanted – there’s no rule to do so though.  But you may want to show off a new work, then feel free.

So how do you get invited?  Send me a notecard with your name and link to your work (flickr, etc), or inworld location to look at.  I’ll consider having you as guest artist and let you know!

PS: Space is limited and the selection of artists is totally subjective by me.  If you don’t get invited doesn’t mean your work isn’t good or high quality, maybe it just doesn’t *speak to me.  Don’t be sad and don’t be mad 🙂 Art is often a matter of personal taste.

Greets, Carlotta

Structure: by Dorian, Tumbleweed One

New releases by Dreamscapes Art Gallery:

• Autumn Haybale Deco (VIP Group Gift)
• Topiary Pumpkins with Lights
• Vintage Pallet Set (bar table, 3 bar stools & tray of Halloween cookies)
• Apples Wood Buckets
• Sina Wall Board A (over door)
• Autumn Deco Shutter E (saying: Leaves are Falling, Autumn is Calling)
• Autumn Haybale Deco B
• Autumn Deco Shutter B (saying: Happy Fall Y’all)
• Pumpkin Bucket D
• Autumn Deco Tree Stump 
• Candle Chair Autumn
• Market Cart B 
• Apples Bucket
• Pumpkin Bucket B

Featured at Perfect Ten (until September 15, 2015 for 50% off)

• The Mustard Seed, Gentle Overhang Tree & Autumn Days Climbing Vine/Trellis (both menu-driven texture change), and Honey for Sale Set

Other items used:

• What Next, Scarecrow (VIP Group Gift w/texture change fall greeting sign), & Orchard Decor Set 
• La Galleria, Sunflowers in Pumpkin