the one where i kick that chicken's ass.

I stumbled across PIXLights Factory several months ago...I forget how...but I grabbed a LM so that I could go back later to check it out and take some pics. That brings us to today.

Petrpix Cascarino is the designer behind the brand -- he's got vehicles, clothes, and probably some other stuff...but of course, his furniture is what I was most exited about. Honestly, I'm not sure if any of his stuff is mesh...I suspect it isn't, but it is all really nicely done sculpts. AND it's almost all really silly, funky, whimsical stuff - who doesn't need that?? Here are some of my favorites:

See more at PIXLights Factory! [SLurl]

the one where I venture forth.

I'm trying to get out more, to find designers that are new to me, AND that happen to be awesome. So far, so good.

shop: Apple Fall

designer: Apple Fall ((warehousefifteendesigns)

location: [SLurl]

blog: http://apple-fall.blogspot.co.uk/

(Pssst...that super cute adobe house is a free group gift!)

Really high-quality mesh items, and really really great prices for such quality. Definitely worth a visit!

Apple Fall [SLurl]

L2 could mean "Elle Elle". Just saying.

Ohhi there. :) A quick fun announcement:

I'd love to see you there! Read more about it over at Prim Perfect!

Now for something even more fun! I got a notecard a few weeks ago, advising me that I should check out L2 Studio...so I did. Designed by Lindini2 Lane, L2 offers a few nice prefabs, as well as some really cute accessories. I checked out the South Austin House, which is rezzed at the L2 location.

The South Austin House is mostly modern in style, but it has really great accents that give it a little shabby/rustic feel. I really love the window tower thing (I'm not really sure what to call that) - it adds great visual interest, both inside and out.

The house is a nice smaller size (you guys know how I love that), but still with plenty of functional room. I also really enjoy that Lindini2 designed this with sunken spaces at the back of the main room and for the bedroom. It's little touches like that that keep spaces lively.

Again, there's such a nice marriage of modern and rustic here, with the contemporary windows and wood accents. It blends so well with the little window niches that look like they're part of a marble wall. Great mix of textures.

There were also a few vendor boxes set out for other prefabs. I would love to see these other houses rezzed...but unless I totally missed it (which is very possible), there was no option to rez them at the shop location.

The Milkwood House looks really cute!

Be sure to stop by L2 Studio to see for yourself. I like what I've seen so far, and I look forward to seeing more soon!

L2 Studio [SLurl]

Monday, Monday

I decided to grab a few LMs from my folder of "places I found and really like and want to blog someday" and, you know, actually blog them. The system works!

Herbalys - designer Albert Beerbaum has put together a fantastical, whimsical, and really really well-done stock of items, mostly decorative in nature. He has some really fun (almost Seussical) trees available, as well as the pond set included in the first group of pictures, below. Great use of sculpts and awesome texturing make this a must-see shop - and those purple curtains alone make it a must-buy shop! The little ceramic (or stone maybe) owl is just precious - I think I'll definitely need one of those for the windmill!

Herbalys SLurl

Kidd Garden - I am a big fan of really awesome landscaping items, and am especially drawn to grasses and wildflowers that really bring depth to a large open area. I've blogged several of my favorites in the past, and now I add Kidd Garden to the list! Created by doP Kidd, Kidd Garden offers just a ton of really amazing landscaping options. One of my favorite things is how the basic grasses are sold - you'll see in the first pic below that the grasses are offered in various shapes to give a really 3d option to your space. That pic only shows just a few of the various sizes/shapes - there are many more! In addition to great grasses and wildflowers, there are also quite a few really nice structures, stepping stone sets, and bridges. Plus, the sim is set up so  nicely with all the products on display, you'll just want to wander around in the fields picking flowers and soaking up the fresh air. Or something. :)

Kidd Garden SLurl

As I was preparing this post, I got notice of new releases from The Loft - so, while clearly The Loft is not a new place for me to blog ;) - you know I have to share the goodness!

I believe the Krissy Shelves are completely brand new, and the Mayer Chaise was previously released in a single color for the Haiti fundraiser. Lots and lots of colors are available now, and I gotta say that this chaise is THE best I've seen on the grid. The curves are perfect, and (of course) the texturing is amazing. I bought the Haiti relief edition, which is an olive green -- and I think I'm gonna need at least one more color! The zebra stripe is sassy, I may have my eye on that one. ;)

The Loft SLurl

The Loft - Wisteria

I'm willing to bet that the SL universe is already pretty well a-buzz about The Loft's long-awaited release of the Wisteria home. I know I am not the first blogger to post it, and I've seen the plurks popping up on my timeline to indicate that everyone and their brothers are heading to The Loft sim to check it out. Still, I can't not post it, too....because it is AWESOME. Plus, dear readers, you all know that I. Love. The Loft. Period.

Here's what I can tell you about the Wisteria. Colleen Desmoulins and Bethany Heart have been working on the house and the furniture since at least March, and maybe even earlier than that. That should indicate right there just how much has gone into this project and what level of detail you can expect to find. When I say "detail", here's what I mean: tons of accessories, tons of animations, amazingly and realistically textured objects, full suites of furniture, and overall a house that feels like someone lives there. The official release notice from The Loft states "...the Wisteria is large in scale, yet still cozy enough for your friends and family." I couldn't say it better.

The super exciting part for me is that I got to work with Colleen on a tiny piece of the project!! I mentioned the tons of animations - and really, there are tons all over the house - and I'm very happy to say that about 9 or 10 of the kitchen animations are custom work by me! Cutting veggies, making a sandwich, wiping the counter, cleaning the window...those are just a few of mine, and I had a great time making them. Yay!

Even if you have no intention of buying, I really hope you'll go see the Wisteria in person. The pics in this post are also from the official release notice, but they still don't show you everything there is to see. You really need to explore every corner, play with all the animated items, and just be in the house. It's worth the trip. :)

The house is available alone, or as a complete package with all furniture included. You can also buy the room sets individually, and this is furniture that will work in any house of traditional or contemporary/modern design. So go, go now, and see the splendor up close. Oh! Also from the official notice: "A free gift awaits you on the second floor.  Look for a pair of sconces with candles." ;)

The Loft

**UPDATE** Check The Loft blog here for more pictures!

Friday goodness!

Happy Friday! Just a few quick hits today -- quick and awesome! Mudhoney - Grand Re-Opening Event and Sale! It's a new location for MudHoney, and Rayvn Hynes is having a 50% off sale to celebrate! Get over there between August 8-15 and grab up some bargains! The new location looks awesome; be sure to explore every inch - the entire store is on sale!! Congrats to Rayvn on the new build!!

iTutu Garden & Furniture - I found iTutu several months ago, and LMed it for a future blog post...then I came across a post about some new stuff earlier today, and that prompted me to get over there and take some pics! iTutu is a must-see for anyone who enjoys the rustic, shabby chic look;  designer Kao Sands does an amazing job with textures to achieve that rustic look. You'll find a great selection of lighting, plants, and furniture, all very reasonably priced! Kao also has some really cute ground covers available - be sure to check out the garden area behind the shop, it's a little floral paradise! You'll also see a TP box in the shop that will take you to her Forest Sky Box - definitely check that out, too!

Here's just a small sampling of what iTutu has to offer - TP over to see the rest!

Have a great weekend!

*Designer Spotlight* NOTsoBAD

I think it's safe to say that I am a furniture geek. And a texture geek. And when great furniture meets great texture -- well, there may be squealing involved on my end of the PC. I don't even remember at this point how I found NOTsoBAD (henceforth known as NsB) - but I'm damn glad I did.

According to the latest NsB group notice, the design team behind the brand is Reda Bertolucci, Emilie Freund, and farahattah Shabazz. I love them all. NsB really doesn't have a huge inventory, especially not compared to a lot of my favorite places -- but what they do have really packs a punch! Without further ado...

Dinara Bed - most of what you'll find at NsB comes in many color options, and it's all amazingly lush. "Lush" is absolutely the first adjective that came to mind when I first saw the shop. I'm not sure I have any other words -- so just behold the gorgeousness:

Chabba - So exotic - and did I mention lush?

You can see the board with the color options over to the left of each piece -- in the shop, you can rez each color, too, to see it up close. You'll also notice that both of these pieces are sexbeds -- so, those of you who need the high style AND the options for gettin' freaky (and you know who you are), then NsB delivers. Take a peek at the primary animation menu -- we won't even get into the sub-menus. ;)

Leon Antique Office - I just love this, absolutely love it. The desk is gorgeous, all on its own -- but the details make this awesome beyond description.

It makes me smile everytime I look at the pics -- not that I condone any of those vices, but still -- it's just so cool! There's also a Scarface edition of the desk, complete with briefcase full of cash. :)

You know I love a great build, and NsB is gorgeous, very classical, with lots of light and shadows. They have amazing drapes (which are available for purchase) on all the windows, and I love their little shop desk, complete with sewing machine and bolts of fabric. I swoon for details like that.

Be sure to check out the DJ turntable and record collection, too. :)

I joined the NsB group when I was there, and yesterday I received a notice of several new releases. I haven't been to the shop to see them in person yet, but I like the looks of them from the preview pics in the notice! Here are two of the new releases:

When you go to visit NOTsoBAD, be sure to grab the freebie just outside the entrance. Post-it notes (pack of 10). How adorable!!

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 9!

Welcome to Part 8 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

Pillow Talk

Odds are, you've heard of Pillow Talk by Sandy Clymer. It's a well-established shop, you'll find Sandy's products used all over the grid, and it's a sweet shopping experience for couples. Still, there may be 2 or 3 of you who aren't familiar with Pillow Talk...so we'll remedy that right now. :)

Pillows

Most of what you'll find at Pillow Talk is, well, pillows. Not just your average pillows, though - no, no. Sandy has a great selection of couples pillows, personal pillows, and single pose pillows. The cool thing about having the pillows with poses is that you can throw them down on anything -- your current furniture, the floor, the porch, the beach - anywhere you want them! You need to grab a pal or significant other and go try them all out. Here's just an idea of what you'll find...

As it turns out, I had no pal to go with me when I was taking pics...so I hit up the single pose pillows. There are pillows for relaxing and eating popcorn :) and there's also this adorable "hold kitty" pillow -- complete with kitty.

Swings

Sandy has some really fun swings...and you guys know how I love a swing! The swing I have at my house is from Pillow Talk, and there is no place I'd rather lounge than on that swing. She's got singles and couples swings, and the tire swing can be either!

Apple Tree

I hadn't noticed the apple tree on previous visits. This is really cute and fun, great for hanging out and a silly photo opportunity, too. :) Again, I had no pals with me, so here's a pic of the tree so you can see the detail (nice hand-drawn look), and the inset shows the poses included.

Prefabs

You don't really expect prefabs at a place called Pillow Talk, but there are a few. :) I first saw the White Siding House used in a residence on Nantucket, and absolutely fell head over heels with the house. When I had 2 residential plots (because sometimes I like to throw money away), this was the house on my 2nd parcel. It was dreamy and beautiful. The lighthouse is very precious, too -- and I think I also saw it on Nantucket. It's very "cape"!

Shining Star

I almost didn't see this since it's hanging way up in the sky --the Shining Star swing! *AND* it's only $1L!!! Be sure to grab one for yourself!

Pillow Talk - grab a buddy or two and go play!

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 8!

Welcome to Part 8 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

Happy Mood

We take a step into fantastical today with Happy Mood by Sasaya Kayo. Sasaya has put together an adorable and creative build filled with just the cutest things ever for home and garden. So, if you've been following along with these blog posts, then you know all the places you need to shop to build the perfect, most awesome garden in the history of SL. Yay, you!

Okay, first though, read my post. THEN go and shop and create.

As I like to do, let me show you a picture of the awesome build at Happy Mood -- it's straight out of a super-cool kid's fantasy book:

I love the feel of this place -- it's almost mystical.

Globe Lamps: These are just beautiful -- the texturing is so realistic on the metal and the glow effect is perfect. This is the butterfly version; there are also moon and snow versions, all available in small or medium sizes. They make me think of Tinkerbell. :)

Rocking Horses: these make me giggle. I don't think I've seen rocking horses anywhere else in SL...and certainly none this well-made. They do rock, of course, and the big one comes with 7 different poses -- and my favorite pose is shown here. That's how you chill on a rocking horse. :) The small one has just one pose, and it makes me laugh -- do you remember being, like, 10 years old and still desperately wanting to ride your 3 year old cousin's rocking horse, so you folded yourself up like this pose? ...was that just me?

Little Birds: that's exactly what they are, and they are the cutest SL birds ever. There are a lot of very nice, detailed birds to be found...these are, by far, my favorites. Each bird comes with 2 types in one package: 2 scripted to move and sing, and 2 non-scripted. All adorable. There are 14 colors available, or 1 mega pack that includes all the colors. My sim needs these!

Bunnies: again, there are a lot of cute bunnies to find in SL -- these are definitely at the top of my list! They come in 3 sizes...they all are animated to blink, twitch their noses (omgsocute), and wiggle their ears and tails. There's also a sleepy version whose eyes slowly close...precious.

Just to be sure you're still with me -- remember, these are all things to make your garden come to life. :) See? I'm still on theme! The last pic I want to share is what's currently in the Lucky Chair...which did not produce an E while I was able to hang around...the Bubble Chair, fairy version rather than 70s inflatable furniture version.

Happy Mood -- there's much more to see: cute little table sets, really precious dogs, and look for the sign to TP to the garden area -- more gorgeous and massive trees! We love the big trees!

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 7!

Welcome to Part 7 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

Organica

Today's post is another filled with trees and landscaping items. Aki Shichiroji of Organica has put together a gorgeous spot filled with her trees, flowers, grasses, and other outdoor goodies. As always, you know I love a good build, and Organica is a very pleasant, peaceful oasis that you just have to wander around!

It's also not so large that you feel like you need to leave a trail of bread crumbs, and I really like that, too. Now on to all the stuff I love!

Aki has massive sculpted trees available. Like, really massive. Her trees are a great mix of realism and fantasy -- the shapes in the largest trees just really remind me of hobbits...maybe it's just me...but they're still not so out-there fantasy that they don't fit on your average sim. I say they're great for any theme.

Elm Tree #1 with Treehouse

Anytime a treehouse is involved, I'm for it. I adore the little pieces of wood nailed into the trunk for the ladder up to the treehouse. Perfect touch. You'll see Giskard and I sitting in the treehouse, and that shows you the scale of this tree, too. MASSIVE.

Oak Tree #3

Another great staple for any wooded sim. I love the shape and texture of the trunk -- you can tell this is a tree that's been around forever and will still be around in another forever. Giskard is showing us the scale again - and let's be honest, that guy is always looking for an excuse to be in a blog picture.

Hollow Tree

I set my world to sunset for this one, to add that spooky glow. This tree is gorgeous, with such fun details. You can add mist by clicking on the tree...and if it's hard to tell what those little things are in the hollow of the tree -- well, they're skulls. :) When you go to Organica, be sure to zoom in closely on the skulls...you'll see some were placed more recently than others. ;)

Cathedral Ruins

If it made sense on my sim, then I would have these ruins. Hell, if I had the time, money, patience to re-do my sim all over again, I would build it around these ruins. The shadow and beams of light are all part of the package -- beautiful.

Curving Stream & Bridge

I am trying to find a place for this on my sim -- we love sculpted water! This is actually two copies of the stream that you see here...but the stream is sold with copy permissions, so you can have as many as you want (for just $500L)...and the bridge is only $50L (also copy)!

Wildflowers & Grasses

As it happens, these items fit perfectly on my sim, and I'm slowly filling up the entire sim with them! I really adore the wildflower pack - I bought the mega pack that includes all the flowers, with multiple versions of each: slanted, flat, concave, convex - that makes it easier to fit to the landscape. Each swirly sculpt of flowers is just 1 prim (you have to see them to know what I mean)...and they're all copiable, yay! Same for the grasses -- 1 prim, same variations, multiple colors - combine them all, and voila, you have an awesome overgrown garden look! Instead of using a picture from Aki's sim, I'm gonna show you my sim and how I'm using the flowers/grasses. I really truly love how it's turned out so far!

It's like a carpet!

Be sure to check out Organica - there's much  more to see than I've shown you here. Enjoy!

Oh...and go, Steelers! ;)

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 6!

Welcome to Part 6 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

New Trail

I first came across New Trail, by vitrail Illios, sometime this past autumn...and it was love at first sight. Vitrail has brought a very cool twist to his trees, which seems to have caught on very quickly! I bet you've all seen his trees in your travels -- maybe the little ones, maybe the big ones -- I've seen them all popping up frequently! I noticed in Vitrail's profile that he's moving to his own sim soon...I'm sure that means there are more great things coming!

The SLurl I provided will take you to the current New Trail location. When you get there, follow the little path to the ladder, and descend -- such a cute way to get to the shop. :) Also, be sure to join the subscribe-o-matic group! Vitrail gives out great group gifts, and you can get updates on the new sim and new releases! Now, on to my favorites:

Gloo Trees

I lovelovelovelovelovelovelove the Gloo trees. Love. They're sculpted beautifully, they have a gorgeous shine to them, and they're sparkly! They're available in about 5 colors - and you probably need all 5 ;) -- here we have the red one. Ooooohhhhh.....

I love how Vitrail displays most of his trees on tabletops. :) It's like scale model building for trees.

Aborea

The Aborea line is so realistic -- well, realistic AND fairy tale-ish all at the same time. Remarkably well done, and the best part is that they all come with static and animated shadows (awesome), as well as sculpted groundcovers for the fallen leaves. It's those details that really make me swoon.

In the top picture, you can see the shadow and the groundcover (even on the table display, so cute!). The bottom pic is Aborea - Autumn Mood...wonderfully vibrant colors in the foliage. Gorgeous!

Abies Fir Tree

For a more alpine feel, definitely check out the fir trees. In addition to the green (below), you can also find snow-covered fir trees.

Vitrail still has the holiday/winter section in place, and you'll love it! Here's a birds-eye view -- look at all the shine and sparkle! Also, note the rays of light - they are available for purchase! Great touch!

My absolute favorite item in the winter section is the miniature gloo trees. They're like little shiny, glittery bonsai trees! There are 9 variations to be had -- precious!

Go and explore New Trail -- everything is beautifully laid out and it's great for wandering. I can't wait to see the new sim and its awesomeness! Remember - join the group!

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 5!

Welcome to Part 5 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

Tesh Gardens

We covered Tapioca Tastes yesterday, by designer Tequlia Tapioca; today, I want to introduce you to Tesh Gardens by Hamish Stuart, Tequlia's partner. I have a major soft spot for landscaping items, especially when they go beyond your standard greenery and flowers. Tesh Gardens is filled with beautiful plants, PLUS so many precious little extras to really provide what's needed for a full-fledged garden. Even better, it's all housed in one of the most gorgeous true-to-RL builds around. When you go, be sure to wander all around -- especially over to the other side of the hills. You'll see. :)

As you explore both locations for Tapioca and Tesh, you'll see that this is clearly a collaboration between Tequlia and Hamish, and there's a little bit of each in both locations. You'll find quite a few Tesh Gardens items mixed in with the Tapioca Tastes garden furniture (at the SLurl in Part 4), and then a few Tapioca pieces mixed in at the official Tesh Garden location. Speaking of which -- prepare to have your breath taken away.

The Dutch Manor house (top) is just beautiful - the detail, the scale, the textures -- all just perfect. The middle picture is taken just inside the Manor House, and I love how Hamish has it set up like a RL garden center -- a few shelves, the counter and cash register, gardening tools laying around. Precious. The bottom picture is the conservatory where you'll find all the plants available - be sure to walk through each room! Speaking of beautiful plants -- Tesh Gardens has 'em. I only took one picture of the plants, though...it's the buildings and the other stuff that I really want to show you. :)

Other Stuff

When you go to visit, be sure you really look closely at everything laying around. Hamish has everything arranged so naturally, like it's a working nursery, that you tend to forget that these are actually product displays. You can find what you need to build a vineyard...a vegetable garden...a greenhouse...there are tons of planters and pots for your flowers...look at everything. My favorites:

Greenhouse: I love greenhouses. I have absolutely no RL skill with potting, planting, landscaping, etc...but I sure do love the acoutrements available for such activities. :) This greenhouse has great texture and detail - I love the worn and weathered look to it. Be sure to check out what's inside. ;)

Organic Vegetable Garden Gift Set: Words can't describe how much I love this set. Again, it's the little things like this that make a place really look and feel like a garden! Flowers and plants are great -- I need the details! The set comes with everything you see here in the foreground -- every awesome piece of it.

Copper Water Hose with Bucket: I think the name says it all. :) This is genius -- you can't have a garden without a spigot, right? Ta da!

There you go -- get those gardens started! Head over to Tesh Gardens and grab your supplies. Look around thoroughly; you can find a single-domed conservatory available as a prefab, as well as a beautiful conservatory/orangerie available on the other side of the hills. Enjoy!

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 4!

Welcome to Part 4 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

RL kept me from blogging yesterday...and it's trying hard to keep me away today, too, but I'm going to get this out there come hell or high water! I have great stuff to show you!

Tapioca Tastes

Not to kill the suspense...but today's post is part one of a two-for. So, this is part 4 of the series...and tomorrow will be part 5...it just so happens that 4 & 5 go together. :) It will all make sense eventually.

Tapioca Tastes is another LM I've had buried in my inventory for a very long time. I sort of rediscovered it a few months ago, and made a note then that I needed to blog it. Ta da! Tequlia Tapioca is the designer, and she offers a nice range of basics: living rooms, bedrooms, some fun Moroccan-inspired pieces, and really nice garden furniture.  The Wisteria sim where the shop is located is very pretty - gently lanscaped, very peaceful and serene, and it's a nice place to just wander and explore.

I find myself very drawn to the garden furniture, so that's what I'm going to share with you today -- be sure to check out the two (2!) shops full of interior furniture, as well. The SLurl will drop you right in the middle of the garden furniture, and the shops are on either side. You'll also see some really awesome landscaping/gardening items -- those are (technically) items from Tesh Gardens...and we'll talk about them tomorrow. ;)

Garden Gazebo Swing

I am a sucker for a swing. I'm not ashamed to admit it. I have a swing at my house...I've just added one to my sim...if I could justify it, I'd have one at home in RL. What I really like about the Garden Gazebo Swing is the detailed frame, the varied colors in the wood texture, and mostly, the tiny little detail of having one board slightly out of place. It's not easy to see in my picture, but look closely -- you'll see the 3rd plank from the bottom is slightly askew. I love that. It makes it feel so worn and rustic!

Da Petro Garden Set

Great set for any garden! I really love the patio table with the mosaic inlay tabletop -- great detail there. The chairs have a very nice iron mesh detail, too...and you know me, dear readers, I love the details! The planters with the arch are perfect at the entrance to your garden, and the gazebo is just yummy -- I see it as a great spot for more greenery, some roses...and a very sweet couples danceball. :) Romantic!

Picnic Table: You may wonder why I'm excited about a regular old picnic table. Well, look at it! Great wood texture, yes...and such true-to-RL detail! The cross-beams for support, the individual planks in the seats and the table top - it's just perfect. The mug of steaming coffee makes me smile -- a great accessory from Tesh Gardens (wait til tomorrow!).

Garden Spa: I love the wall-mounted faucets here, and it's just the right amount of steam. Very peaceful and calming...this would be a great piece to incorporate with some of the Zen items we talked about on Day 3. ;)

There ya go! Tapioca Tastes! As I mentioned above, be sure to explore both of the shops to see the interior furniture - some great basics, a few pieces with unexpected little twists (I like the Pristine White sets for their plant detail -- look for them!), and a wide assortment of items to check out. Go now, and I'll talk to you tomorrow (fingers crossed)!

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 3!

Welcome to Part 3 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

Another Man's Treasure

When I first found AMT, the shop was located in a giant treasure chest. It was awesome. :) Designer Stormy McCallister has moved on to other locations, and now has two completely separate shops that you need to check out. I'll tell you what I think of when I think of AMT: men. Make of that what you will ;) -- I think of men because I think Stormy's designs are very masculine and warm. Lots of wood, very no-nonsense fabrics, quite grand in scale -- great for guys, in my opinion. I have sent several guy friends to AMT when they've asked about decorating, and they've always been impressed with the offerings there. I'm going to give you a peek at both locations today...so on to my favorite things!

South Beach Location

At this location, you'll find living rooms, bars, a few patio sets - all in that nice, warm, masculine style. What I really like here is the Club collection -- that's the perfect description for it; I definitely see it as reminiscent of a traditional gentleman's club. First, the living room set:

Great fabrics here -- plush without being fluffy, if that makes sense. :)

Next we have more of the Club set, what I would consider the Lounge pieces. The fireplace is actually named "Gentleman's Quarters", which is perfect -- and oh, I think Stormy makes amazing fireplaces!

Now on to the Lohengrin location -- this location is specifically filled with Zen-inspired furnishings and accessories, and it's all gorgeous!

I really love the Cherry Wood Desk set -- I like the sort of "open boxiness" of the desk, and the suspended bookshelf makes me very happy. What's great, too, is that the bookshelf comes with all the accessories you see - including the adorable and well-detailed globe! Very well done!

The Asian Summer bedroom caught my eye mainly because of the green (that's my color!), and especially because of the detail on the front of the armoire. That's really a beautiful pattern -- again, without being girly -- and the architectural details of the pieces are spot on for a modern Asian feel. The bamboo rug is the perfect touch, and something that I really love in RL decorating - it works with everything!

Now, my absolute favorite: the Asian Bath! This is so spa-like and so well-detailed -- the basket of towels may be my favorite part! The splashes of cream keep the room from being too dark. You can buy the entire set --  unfortunately, that doesn't include the bath house that's used to display the bath and accessories. I think it would be great if  Stormy offered the hut for sale, as well; the whole thing would be great in the middle of a heavily landscaped zen garden...lots of mist swirling around...can't you picture it?

Another Man's Treasure - go, see, buy, decorate! And boys - a tip for you -- chicks dig a well-decorated pad. *whispers "you need to shop here."

*Second Spaces* 9 More Places! Part 2!

Welcome to Part 2 of my 9 More Places! series. Not sure what this is about? Click here for the original post!

Belle Belle Furniture

I showcased Belle Belle in one of my holiday posts; I stated then that I really needed to spotlight the shop soon...and here we are. :) Leyla Firefly is the designer, and she has put together quite an extensive collection of very nicely detailed items, lots of extras, and a lot of focus on coordinating pieces. What I think is so awesome is that each of her furniture series really is that -- a series of rooms, all in coordinating textures and styles. So, for each series, you'll find a living room, kitchen, dining room. office, bathroom, and bedroom. Perfect if you're hoping to furnish your entire place in one fell swoop! I had to restrain myself from taking pics of everything in the store - since I do want to tease you just enough so that you'll run out and check out Belle Belle for yourself -- so let's jump into my favorites!

Marrakesh Living Room

Of course, this is just one room in the Marrakesh series, and all the other rooms are just as lush. I really love this fireplace -- it's hard to see from my pic, but Leyla has included lots of little vases and knick-knacks on each shelf. That makes my heart go pitter-patter.

(Note: Leyla seems to be in the process of adding another building to her shop -- the Marrakesh is in the other shop across the water from where the SLurl will take you.)

Dako Living Room and Kitchen

I am just drawn to browns and blues, it seems, so the Dako set really catches my eye. Also, as I believe I've mentioned in the past, I adore a well-made kitchen!!! Sure, kitchens may be a bit silly in SL -- but then, so are edible food and drinks, but those are just fun! Kitchens are just as fun, and Leyla makes some of the best kitchens I've ever seen.

Oh, those cabinets! Don't you just want to touch the wood (heh)? I would totally have this kitchen in RL.

Bandera Kitchen & Arne Kitchen

So, before I continued this post, I sat and debated: do I really want to add more kitchens? Or go ahead and wrap it up so that you, dear readers, can get over to Belle Belle? ...yeah, I'm gonna show more kitchens. :)

Bandera

I think it's the little details that really get me here. The rolling pin? Perfect. The hanging pots - love them. The marble (or granite?) surfaces are great -- and the artwork is a nice and unexpected splash of color.

Arne

You'll see some of those same little details here (yay!) - what really captures me with the Arne Kitchen are the curves and angles. The color scheme is great, too, and I love the dots! If I had a kitchen like this, I might actually learn to cook. You heard it here first.

Ok, dear readers -- those who've been with me for a while will know that I am a sucker for presentation. Cute packaging and creative displays just slay me. Understanding that, you will certainly understand why I love Leyla for displaying her throw pillows in this manner:

I just love it!! So simple and so fun! You'll find these bins scattered around the store, filled with the pillows to coordinate with the series, and you can pick up sets of 3 pillows from the bins. Oh, I love it.

Be sure to join the Belle Belle group to get in on the freebie goodness (there's a precious Valentine topiary in-store now, available to group members only), and of course, to get notices when Leyla releases new items -- like all the Valentine goodies you'll find just outside the main store. Last, but not least, get over to the store now to pick up the free-for-all freebie available -- this absolutely adorable Laughing Buddha! I <3 him and his shiny belly! When you click him, he says Buddha things - find your inner peace, dear readers!

Belle Belle

*Second Spaces* 9 more places!

Following up on my previous Top 12 series, I'm happy to welcome you to the "9 More Places Everyone Should Know About in SL, Especially If You Own a House or Land, and You Like Cool Stuff" series...henceforth known as "9 More Places!".

This is not a stack ranking or countdown of best places - these are places that I have found over the years that I really enjoy, LMs that I pass out when folks are looking for decorating goodness, and places that everyone should check out at least once, as decided by me. Ready? Ok!

Ingrid Ingersoll's Homestore

Let me start by saying that I consider it a huge shame that I have never blogged Ingrid before. It was not an intentional oversight by any means -- Ingrid Ingersoll is one of the designers I found very early on when I began to really dig into SL design, and one who fanned the flames (oh my) of my passion for SL furniture, architecture, and decor. I'm going to share just a few of my favorites with you, and then I want you to go check Homestore out yourself! I can't do all the work for you!

Let's start with the furniture. Ingrid is amazing with textures -- her woods/wickers are glorious, and her fabrics are plush. And that, dear readers, is what hooks me.

Belmont Set:

Fowler Set:

Can't you just imagine the feel of the fabric? Note that each set is available in several fabric options -- you can see the other fabrics in the cute little display stands.

Ingrid also has a large selection of wonderful prefabs. I guarantee you've all seen her tree house in your travels around SL -- it's awesome, I love it, and clearly lots of other folks love it, too. Another prefab I know you've seen, especially if you're a shopper (I see it used most frequently in shopping sims), is her Garden District Townhouse. Gorgeous.

You can also find very nice, small decor details at Homestore -- sconces, vases, candles, etc. I love the hourglass...

..and one of the items that really caught my eye, way back when, is Ingrid's wooden shelf. Seriously. It's the simplicity of it that I love so much -- it's simple, but still more interesting than a single rectangular prim. That's my inner decorating geek coming out, btw. We all need shelves -- and these are the ones you should have. (There are different wood textures available at the shop.)

When you visit Homestore, be sure to also look at the floor -- there are lots of yummy area rugs scattered around -- and just 25L each!

Ingrid Ingersoll's Homestore - enjoy!

*Designer Review* Touche'

I stopped by (late) the grand opening party of Touche' this past Saturday to check out the new shop by designers Shay Savon and Abe Ruff. My pal GIskard tagged along and, after I shouted my love and devotion for the sexy DJ Kalia, we went in to explore. It's a nice looking shop; it's not filled yet, and I know Shay and Abe are working to fill it up. There are some nice basics to be had -- the style is warm contemporary, along the lines of West Elm (RL), with some cute accessories mixed in. A few pieces that caught my eye --

Just some basic shelving, but with a tiny bit of a 70s retro feel, which I love. I really like the wooden bowl, too -- it's the little things!

The Cafe Haus set is really cute -- I can totally see this in ...well, in a coffee house.

The other piece of the Cafe Haus set is this super-sized mug of hot chocolate. So cute! And mmmm....chocolate-dipped Elle.  ;)

There were also little goodies scattered around, scavenger-hunt style. I only found three -- but check 'em out!

Definitely swing by Touche' and take a look - the prices are very reasonable, and the prim counts are just right. Keep your eyes on them, I'm sure there's more to come!

*Sneak Peek!* Instinct!

I had the privilege of meeting with Cornelius Sloat and Devon Fischer last week as they revealed their new line of furniture under the Instinct brand -- and I was blown away. First, they had it set up like an actual presentation -- with live models! -- and I felt all fancy. :)

You may already have seen some press on the Instinct line on other blogs...because I'm slow...so I'll sum it up by saying: this is awesome. Essentially, Cornelius and Devon took on the mighty task of making very stylish, very well-made, very thorough sex beds. :) I say sex beds, but really, they're so much more -- as Cornelius stated, they're Intimate Beds. :) I like that. All the anims are new and custom-made by Cornelius and Devon, and they're really fun. Here's the "Hang Out' menu:

For the record -- and I'm keeping the pics for my private collection ;) -- the sexy anims are awesome. I tried them out with my new friends Toko Voom and Professor Preminger...and I may have asked one or both of them to marry me as a result. Powerful animations, I tell ya.

Just a couple sneak peeks -- Instinct opens tomorrow, 8/22...so this is all you get until then!

That's my new pal, Professor Preminger, in the first pic. :) The second bedroom is dreamy - and I swear that's taken straight from SL, no doctoring! How amazing!

And my favorite hanging out pose -- it's so cute, the animation had us swinging our legs while Toko and I talked. :)

As mentioned, Instinct opens tomorrow -- I don't have a SLurl, so be sure to check Cornelius' or Devon's profiles tomorrow, I'm sure they'll have the location on their picks. You really have to go see it in person -- they also have animated bathrooms! They're great looking, too! Enjoy!

*Designer Spotlight* New Release!

I was talking with Luna Benavente yesterday about the design contest coming up, and she asked me 'Have you seen our new house?' I had not, and I'm not one to turn down an opportunity to see a house - in SL or RL - so I said TP me! Here is the actual true response I had as soon as I walked in:

[2008/08/05 8:50] You: i actually just gasped

I've stated in this blog before that I'm not partial to big honkin' SL houses - they tend to feel cavernous and cold, and you couldn't possibly ever fill them up and make them feel cozy. The times, they are a-changin'. :) The Deeb Home is a product of The Firm, a company formed by Luna and Asri Falcone...and it should be required that you go see it. Yes, you.

When I went back to the house this morning to take pics, I had a really hard time not taking pics of every square meter, because I love every meter as much as the last. So I'm going to try and highlight just the coolest things and tease you just enough that you'll run right over to see the whole package! Now you know my M.O.

Entrance waterfall:

Super cool curvy ceiling w/recessed lights, over the living area:

My absolute favorite SL office of all time:

Recessed hot tub & bar in the upstairs hall -- the coolest thing about this is not that they put a hot tub in the upstairs hall...it's that they did it with such subtlety. It's not like you walk upstairs and go 'Wow! There's a hot tub here!!!' It's more like you come around the corner and go 'Oh! Well, look at that. There's a hot tub. Cool.' It's not a focal point; it's a hidden treasure.

Best master bedroom ever -- bear in mind that this picture only shows the bed area...you're missing out on the sitting area, the fireplace, the large cool TV, the master bath, and the cute little wardrobe/closet area. Go. Now. And. See.

The Deeb Home is listed at $L18,995. Before you fall out, let me explain! That includes the house (copy/mod) AND everything inside it. All the cool, sleek, very well-textured and animated furniture...the accessories...original artwork...working faucets...and more and more...and the best SL ceilings I have ever seen. Seriously, as you explore the house, be sure to look up. A lot. And, at 1372 prims (furnished), this is not a house for the 512 sqm land owner - but for the rest of us... ;) as the info notecard for the house states - 'be the talk of the town in your neighborhood!'

Check out The Deeb Home here. Enjoy!

*Top 12* Summation!

Here's sort of a quick link guide to the Top 12 places. I hope it's been useful -- I really, truly appreciate the great comments received here and in-world, and it's been absolutely delightful to speak with several of the designers that were spotlighted in the list. I'm going to add a link over to the right of the page so that this post can be easily accessed going forward, and I really do hope it can be considered a toolkit of sorts for folks who are ready to claim their own second space!

Houses:

Part 1: Barnesworth Anubis Pre-Fab[ulous] Homes & Furniture [blog post]

Part 2: The Black Spot Shipyard [blog post]

Furniture:

Part 3: The Loft [blog post]

Part 4: Mezzanine [blog post]

Part 5: Del Sol Furniture [blog post]

Part 6: Rustica Home Furnishings [blog post]

Part 7: Ramos Designs Furniture [blog post]

Landscape:

Part 8: Heart Garden Centre [blog post]

Part 9: Botanical [blog spot]

Accessories:

Part 10: CAS [blog post]

Part 11: Avenue Four [blog post]

Part 12: Shade Fantasy Outfitters [blog post]

Thanks again to all for the positive feedback on this series. Stay tuned -- I've got more evil plots that I'm hatching and plan to unleash on the world - you don't wanna miss that! In the meantime, I'm going to try my best to resume regularly blogging; I have a few places I was contacted to review, so I want to be sure to get those taken care of first. Hope you'll check back often!