Category: Landscaping

Gatcha, Santa!

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Santas Workshop Gatcha

I am constantly amazed by the talent of designers in Second Life.  The combination of creativity and attention to detail can just blow me away.  This set of gachas (is that even the right terminology??? or spelling??? I’m certainly no gacha expert lol!) is a perfect example… I love each and every item, just sooooo adorable.  Adding one, two, or even all to your holiday decor is that perfect element of fun! Personally, I think it’s perfect that it’s a gatcha, cuz I could never choose which one(s) to get!!!

Tylar’s Treasures – Santa’s Workshop Gacha. 15 absolutely adorable gatchas of Santa & his elves — 12 commons, 2 rares, 1 ultrarare — perfect for the 12 (or I guess 15 lol) days of Christmas! Available EXCLUSIVELY at Twe12ve from Dec 12th -31st!  Try your luck, just 50L per play!  I wish I could have shown all 15, but here’s what’s in the pic (you can see all in the gatcha key below):

  • Workshop – Ultra Rare!
  • Santa’s Sleigh – Rare – animated!
  • Santa’s List – Rare
  • Wrapping Gifts
  • Decorating
  • Tree
  • Bicycle
  • Rocking Horse – actually rocks!
  • Xylophone

Not shown:  Workbench, Fireplace, Wagon, Sled, Drum, CandyCane

Pondering the Magic of the Season

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Pondering the Magic of the Season

I talked a lot about how excited I am to be part of the SL Christmas Expo again this year in my post of Nov 25th, and to help support its mission this year to fight childhood cancer.  Now that this amazing mega-event is finally open, I’m ready to start featuring just a few of the many many amazing items that dozens of dedicated designers have donated to the cause.  This year’s theme is Believe In The Magic Of Christmas that’s spread over 8 beautifully designed sims, all making for a great holiday shopping event.  But as great as the shopping is (and believe me, it IS definitely great!), there’s so much more to see and do! The Expo will feature special events, including live performances, dance performances, djs, skating parties, a Snowman Building Contest, The Holiday Stockings, The Gift Of Hope Mega Raffles, a Christmas Tree & Wreath Lot, Photos with Santa, holiday raffles and gotchas, the Holiday Of Hope Ball, the Winter Breedables Fair — with several of SL’s top Breedable Creators donating One Of A Kind Breedables to be auctioned, including KittyCatS (as you all know, I’m one of those crazy cat ladies in here!) — and, back by popular demand, the Christmas Bazaar area.  And my personal favorite (which you’ll hear more about in a later post), the Lights of Hope Decoration Contest. Open Dec 5th through the 15th, it’s all just waiting for you.  More details can be seen HERE.

Dench Designs:  The Ice Fountain.  Absolutely stunning winter decor for your seasonal landscaping, complete with male, female, friends (x2) & cuddle animations on the bench.  In addition to the “base” decor of the frozen fountain, bench, & 3 bare trees strung with white lights, extra decor is also available just by touching the top of the fountain. Add some or all of the following:  snowdrops, bushes, squirrel, robin, sparrow, & pheasant. I’ve shown it with EVERYTHING added above, but because it’s equally beautiful in a more stark fashion without it, I showed it below as well without any of the extra decor (used the same animation though lol). You can turn sound on & off for all three birds too! This very special item is a 100% donation to the fight against children’s cancer through Relay for Life at the 2019 SL Christmas Expo, opening today Dec 5th through the 15th.  Join the fight! You can find the LM to TP direct to the Dench Designs booth once it’s available in the shopping directory HERE (not yet posted at the time this was published). 

Ho, ho, ho and away we go!

Posted on by cejalaval

 

Yes, I’m a resister when it comes to holiday “stuff”, I feel that the holiday season shouldn’t officially start until Thanksgiving. But the fact is Thanksgiving is just a few short days away (eeek!!!), the shopping season has already begun in earnest, and when you see something spectacular, you just need to say something.  AND THIS IS THAT SOMETHING!!!!

If you’re looking for something that epitomizes the fun and joy of the holidays and just makes you smile, you need to check this out.  Santa can fly around your property or sit there looking good until you say “FLY”, because he has a programmable flight menu.  Prefer to be in the sleigh yourself? There’s a second Christmas sleigh available with cuddle and singles bento animations instead of Santa, but with the same programmable flight menu.  Either way, it’s Merry Christmas, and away we go!!!!

Tylar’s Treasures – Santa Sleigh Flying, with programmable flight menu.  Easily set home position, range, min/max height changes, speed, start, stop, & go home.  So much fun to watch!!!  Available at Black Friday November 22nd – December 1st.  (The second sleigh with cuddle & singles bento animations is available at the same event.)

Happy shopping!

A Bit of Coffee and Autumn Sunshine

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Coffee and Autumn Sunshine

I don’t understand why everyone is always so anxious to move onto the next thing. It happened with Halloween. And now it’s starting to happen with the holidays. I’m beginning to see holiday items and winter and snow and all that already — SNOW! I mean, c’mon folks, I know it’s coming, but can’t we just sit a bit and enjoy this last little bit of autumn sunshine and color before we rush off into the bitter cold of winter? I mean, sure, snow and winter is beautiful here on the grid. My whole estate turns on winter on Dec 1st, and I’ll be bagging all the autumn leaves till next year, and happily pulling out all the holiday decor.  And it’s not like my lips actually get all chapped and I feel my bones freezing like in RL. But let’s not rush things, shall we? Let’s just take another week or two to sit in the autumn sunshine (when it’s there), bravely facing that bite in the air (it’s definitely more than a nip this year), and THEN move into winter.  Hmmm, the more I think about it, it’s beginning to feel like winter already… maybe I’m actually starting to fall behind the times? Well, I’ll think about that as I sip my coffee and enjoy this little stretch of milder weather that we have today…  In the meantime, happy shopping!

  • Outfit:  Tonic – NEW! Frosted Outfit.   Includes the Frosted Sweater & Toasty Tight Leggings — you can wear the off-one-shoulder sweater as a dress, with the leggings or with jeans, mix ‘n match.  Sizes for Curvy, Fine, & Fine-mini.  Leggings & sweater also available individually.  Sweater comes in 24 colors; a version with more room around the waist is also included.  Leggings also come in 24 colors (some solid; some patterned like what I’m wearing); a boot-cut version is included but be advised that it may not work with all boots. EXCLUSIVE at the November round of eBento, Nov 10th – 30th. Demos available.
  • Skin:  7 Deadly s[K]ins – Abby, worn in Caramel browless.  Another simply beautiful Omega skin, fresh & clear, with lightly glossed lips. Two fatpack options of 5 tones each (dark or light, including both omega & BOM, with & without brows) available EXCLUSIVELY at the AnyBody by Flair for Events, Nov 7th – 30th.  Demos & shape also available.
  • Boots:  MOZ Designs – “Aspen” Ankle Boots. Awesome little boots that can be worn with or without the bradded leather straps.  Available in 6 leathers with HUD to change the beads on the straps, or one superpack with all options.  Sized for Slink, Maitreya, Tonic, Belleza, & eBody.  EXCLUSIVE Original Fitmesh at the November round of eBento, Nov 10th – 30th. Demo available.  See closeup below.
  • Blanket:  Simple Reflections – SR Picnic Blanket Autumn.  Includes the blanket, pillows, food crate with all the goodies displayed.  HUD includes 3 textures, as well as both single & couple animations. This blanket will work with the AVSitter Experience, so props for the animations will automatically go to your hand, etc. once enabled. Personally, I found many of these anims to be quite unique, & many feature food/drink, which are always among my favorites! Available EXCLUSIVELY at the November Swank Event, Nov 7th – 31st. 
  • Fire:  Tylar’s Treasures – The Brock Fall Fire Basket – with scripted fire & fire sounds, as well as smoke (originally featured in my blog post of Nov 5th with the rest of the collection)
  • Head: Tonic – Pixie, the all-new bento head from Tonic, now available at the main store
  • Body: Tonic – Curvy Beauty + Booty Control… truly the most natural curves on the grid with the ability to add that extra oomph how & if you want it!
  • Hair:  TRUTH – Oasis
  • Brows:  Avada – Anja Eyebrows
  • Mole/Freckles:  Izzie’s – Heart Mole & Freckles (Omega)
  • Jewelry: Maxi Gossamer – True Hearts Necklace & Earrings; Chop Zuey – Bel Aire Gold Women’s Wedding Band
  • Nails:  Encore – Shades of Green
  • Cats:  [Rezz Room] – Bengal Cat Family

An Enchanted Autumn Hideaway

Posted on by cejalaval

http://An Enchanted Autumn Hideaway

As I’ve said before, one of the things I try to create on my property are special little nooks and areas.  Some are very small, just one item tucked away in a grove of trees or behind some rocks.  Others are more extensive, when there are multiple pieces that work together to create an entire scene.  This autumn “set” from Mindgardens Creations is one of the latter (though it could easily be the former as well with fewer pieces), which I’ve used to create a very special area hidden in the back of my property, an area full of quiet and enchantment, perfect to hideaway from life’s cares…

Mindgardens Creations – all this and more available individually at the November Swank Event, Nov 7th – 31st.  Each piece is EXCLUSIVE and absolutely amazing in its own right (I’ve added separate pix below), but when you group them together, you can easily create an enchanted little area:

  • Autumn Gnarled Lantern Oak Tree with Vines & Lanterns (on left in the main pic)
  • Autumn Oak Tree with Blinking Lights & Lantern (on right in the main pic)
  • Autumn Ground Ivy & Scattered Leaves – copy, so you can add as much (or as little) as you’d like
  • Elephant Ear Plant (includes 3 variations) – the variations include tightly grouped, & loosely spread out to look so natural when mixed! Copy, so you can easily customize your setting
  • Enchanted Autumn Gazebo – with a hanging light curtain, lights around the front “trunks” & lanterns
  • Enchanted Autumn Bench & Table – Animated! Includes both single (M & F) & couple sits. Just a lovely little set!

To make your shopping even easier, here’s a LM direct to their booth at Swank!

Gnarled Lantern Oak Tree
Autumn Oak Tree
Elephant Ear Plants
Enchanted Gazebo
Enchanted Bench & Table

Fall’s Embrace

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Fall's Embrace

So as I sit here sipping my hot mulled apple cider (you thought I just blogged about it???), I’m thinking how fall is not just hot drinks and warm clothes.  Decor and landscaping is such a big part of it, especially here on the grid where nature does not naturally participate… you need fallen leaves and pumpkins and blankets ready to wrap around you at a moment’s notice. It’s why we all go looking for those beautiful photogenic sims that change with the seasons, because it just doesn’t feel like fall if it doesn’t LOOK like fall.  That applies to your home here in SL as well.  And no it doesn’t mean that you redo everything every season.  What it DOES mean is that those summery deck chairs and barbecue sets get stored away till next summer (just like they do in real life!!!), and a few well chosen autumn sets or pieces take their place.  There’s a lot to choose from; here’s a set that I think is so fabulous, I’m now personally using it in my own home. Whether you choose this set, or another, or none at all, have fun exploring all there is out there.  Happy shopping!

Tylar’s Treasures – The Brock Fall Collection, available INDIVIDUALLY for sale EXCLUSIVELY at the Uncharted Event, Nov 5th – 20th.  Use them alone or group them together like I did for a fabulous fall setting (and since everything is copy/modify, your setting can be customized just the way you want it!):

  • Brock Fall Bench Bento – available in both cuddle & adult versions.  Animated with slow dances, bento couple & single animations & sequences.  Also includes 8 texture changes for the pillows & blanket, & two for the wood (dark or light). (See closeup below)
  • Brock Fall Fire Basket – with scripted fire & fire sounds, as well as smoke (See closeup below)
  • Brock Fall Fountain – with animated water & water sounds; includes the haystalk, pumpkin & gourd, scattered leaves & lights. (See closeup below)
  • Brock Fall Planter – beautiful autumn color!
  • Brock Fall Wall Vine – with animated bird & chirp (See closeup below)

Attack of the Man (or Woman) Eating Spiders

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Attack of the Man (or Woman) Eating Spiders

With one week to go, we’re getting into the final stretch for Halloween.  I’m just really starting to look around at what’s available, and I have to say, there’s just so much quantity out there in every genre, it can be downright daunting to find the quality items. I have to say that one of my favorite items this year — in fact I believe it will rank among my personal favorites for a long, long time, gracing whatever land I own — is ATTACK OF THE MAN EATING SPIDERS from Tylar’s Treasures.  It’s just such a uniquely creepy item, it’s really cool!  The scene features a bare tree covered in a spiderweb. The ground beneath  the tree is covered in skulls and two whole skeletons.  But what really makes this item come alive is that it has 3 animated spiders — one of the giant ones wanders around the scene (yes, you can set his range!); another giant is attacking a skeleton in the foreground; and a smaller cousin is moving up and down on a web from the tree.  This can be seriously creepy stuff, especially if you get tangled up with the big animated spider… which happened to me the moment I tp’d to the event using the LM below (consider yourself forewarned lol).  Want even more creepiness?  The giant animated spider is copy, so you can have as many giant spiders running around as you can handle before calling for the exterminator!

  • Attack of the Man Eating Spiders –  TYLAR’S TREASURES … A must-have for anyone who does Halloween landscaping! With 3 animated spiders, one that will roam as far as you allow (read the full description above).  Creepy, cool, chilling… everything Halloween should be! EXCLUSIVELY available at Mad Circus, Oct 5th – 31st. 
  • Location:  Pendle Hill

A Fall Bounty for All the Senses

Posted on by cejalaval

http://A Fall Bounty

Now that a permanent move to Florida is in the works for me in a year or two’s time, I find that I’m paying even more attention than usual to the seasons.  And although I’ve always KNOWN it, I’m really seeing how so many of the little things that make the fall season special just get lost in all the noise about Halloween.  Don’t get me wrong, I love Halloween, but I also love the crisp bite of the fall air and of the late-season apples (we just went apple-picking yesterday!!!!), the beauty of the red, gold and orange leaves on the trees and the crunch underfoot of those that have fallen, the clarity of the air and the way that mist and fog seem to reach out and beckon in the gloom, the bustle of the squirrels and the cry of the Canadian geese as they both ready themselves for what comes next, the scent of fall treats and comfort foods baking, and so very much more.  It truly is a season of bounty for ALL the senses. That’s why I was thrilled to find among all the awesome horror and Goth items at the current home & garden area of this month’s Swank a beautiful fall deck that, for me, just helps crystallize the glory of this season as I relax and watch the waves.  Check it out, and I think you’ll feel the same way…

EVHAH – The Fall Deck, which is actually not just the wooden deck but also all the decor as shown, plus the rocks & autumn tree at left (copy so you can more to the scene if you want), the surrounding flowers, & cattails (not shown), all in a rez box so it’s super easy to set up initially & then customize from there if you want.  Includes texture changes with 9 options for the blanket/pillows & 7 for the wood; you can also turn on a slow fall of swirling leaves from the autumn tree which has 3 autumn textures plus 1 green & a winter option, so you can easily use it year-round. Also includes both single & couple animations (I’m using one) — including swim, drinks, dance, cuddle, & sex options. With the little lights on the deck & on the autumn tree, this is just a gorgeous addition to your fall landscaping, day or night! Available at the October Swank Event, through October 28th.

Black Cat Halloween

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Black Cat Halloween

Anyone who knows me in SL or follows my blog knows that I’m a crazy cat lady.  I have more cats than I’m willing to admit, and about 18 boxes (for those of you who are unversed in the world of KittyCatS, that means ready-to-birth kittens) in storage.  So needless to say, when I saw this Halloween gacha set full of black kittens my craziness rose to the surface and I just HAD to HAVE THEM ALL and blog about them.  Although I couldn’t fit everything into my pic and do them justice, you can see the full set below.  What I absolutely LOVE LOVE LOVE about this set — in addition to it being cats together with Halloween, which is in itself enough! — is that every piece is wonderfully detailed, and unique and different in its own way.  Yes, one or two are variants in black or orange, but the number of completely different items is extremely high for a gacha set of this size, with 12 commons & only two items classified as “Rare”.  And I just have to mention that the rat with the cat animates on touch, and the dog has really red eyes.  Such fun!

Black Kitten Gacha:  MOoH! – EXCLUSIVELY at the Driftwood event, Oct 5th – Nov 5th, 50L a play. Good luck!

Another Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Posted on by cejalaval

http://Another Legend of Sleepy Hollow

We all know the Legend of Sleepy Hollow, the story of Ichabod Crane.  I happen to live not all that far away from Sleepy Hollow, and the cemetery there is always a place for all kinds of haunted doings at this time of year.  There might not be a Headless Horseman anywhere in sight, but this is my version of Sleepy Hollow this year… the scene adds just the right bit of eerieness to make the season feel more Halloweenish!

  • Graveyard: [HarshLands] – Cemetery Walls.  A modular set of graveyard walls that come in multiple configurations — open sided walls, gates, closed walls, corners — in three variations — mossy, bloody, or regular — so you can create your own customized cemetery.  Available at the October Swank Event, through October 28th.
  • Tree: CJ Creations – Halloween Twisted Sleepy Hollow.  This is Halloween decor at its finest. A twisted hollow tree with moss & hanging vines, skeletons, spiders, & an eerie shrouded figure with a lantern. Best of all, you can turn fog in the hollow on/off by touch.  I’ve added another pic below so nothing is obscured by the cemetery walls. EXCLUSIVELY available at the October Swank Event until October 28th.
  • Fog:  Dysfunctional Designs – Creeping Fog, because I couldn’t resist adding more to the effect from the tree!