Back from.. home (Farafina)

In Bambara language, we say Farafina to call our homeland. Some translate this with “Africa”, but actually it should mean something like “land of the black people (or black skinned)”. Farafina is home for many of us. It’s a place where to come back to find the loved ones or to escape for a while when coming back from an emigration’s country.

For me it’s the reason why my blog was abandoned for 2 months (!!). I went back to Africa and back here again. Many problems there, many different kind of issues, and SL seemed too far from me over there. But now I’m back and the friends met in the virtual world are already remembering me that friendship, even through different media, is always a treasure to preserve. So thanks for have been waiting for me, I’m so blessed.

First thing I did while back to SL was to have a walk along the Zulu Hut sim, an African place in SL. Watching the big huge trees, the blue sky, and getting rid of my shoes while tasting the earth with my bare feet. Just like when I was a child in Farafina.

My outfit:

HAIR | NO.MATCH No.Now
DRESS | MIMIKRI JouJou Feather Trim Dress gold
NECKLACE | A&J CREATIONS Davinia Necklace Orange
EARRINGS | EARTHSTONES Simply Put – Tiger’s Eye
RINGS | KIBITZ Misti rings silver

and as usual:

BODY | MAITREYA Lara v3.5
HEAD | ANGEL ROCK Viola MESH HEAD Dark Chocolate
SKIN | ANGEL ROCK Nubian Goddess NC M36 v8

Modeling (and kissing) for a better world

 

I’m here wondering if you will join tonight (early afternoon in USA).. at the lovely venue set up by the wonderful Trouble Tavern and Lounge, and the great team behind this place.
At 12pm SLT time, meaning 9pm Central Europe time, many wonderful models (I’ll try to be one of them) will be gathering together to support a charity event called Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show, to help support Breast Cancer Awareness and Research. You’ll attend the fashion show and there will be also a really fun initiative, meaning two “kissing booths” (to help to “kiss cancer goodbye”) where people would be able to taste the scent and the fragrance of some models’ lips, because love is the real energy which makes the world go round. This is starting even earlier at 11am SLT for those of you who want to .. warm up. But if you are late you’ll find some pro kissers later too 🙂  More, music from DJs and everything you might want to expect to have a real fun. Here’s your Second Life limo:

Breast Cancer Awareness Fashion Show

We’ll show ourselves, our beauty, maybe our dancing skills – and for sure our sense of humour I hope – as well as our… breasts, yes. Because the world can always improve through the effort of each one of us, also a little effort, as this time for me. And Second Life is a wonderful platform to raise funds for some who are in need, I have checked it out myself. See you later there!
Aw.. My outfits? You’ll be able to check it out tonight! Here’s just some hint:

HAIR | VANITY  Jioni-blacks
HEADDRESS | KIBITZ  Eliza steel
EARRINGS and NECKLACE | MAXI GOSSAMER  Ashanti Ebony set
BANGLES | MAXI GOSSAMER  Octavia Star Pearl
TOP | ??

 

Care of my body.. (and the mind follows)

Care. Care of my own body. And the mind.. follows.

Wandering around SL I discovered this gym that I really like. No too many body builders around, many different exercises to do, machines to use, there was also a coach online (a woman, and this is nice). Even some yoga poses!  Despite of some people around, no harassment or embarassing proposals (especially by men). I also met someone with whom it was interesting to talk. Very good..
I sweated and I got out of breath, I challenged my limits, but it was a healthy afternoon and at the end I felt really good. I also had the chance to try my brand new leggings by FLG, which I’m really loving. See you at Alpha Gym I hope, guys, let me know when you there.. We’ll have some training together.

 

My outfit:

LEGGINS | FLG No Cabide – Felicia Leggings (HUD 60 models)

SHOES | FLG Sneakers (coming with the leggins)

TOP | ALB ZISSI tank top

NECKLACE | KOSH Multiplex necklace

BANGLES | BIRD NEXT DOOR (BND) Shop  Taped glove/men bangles

RINGS | KIBITZ – Misti rings silver

HAIR | EMO-tions  *AYSA* -BLACK/WHITE

and as usual:

BODY | MAITREYA Lara v3.5
HEAD | ANGEL ROCK Viola MESH HEAD Dark Chocolate
SKIN | ANGEL ROCK Nubian Goddess NC M36 v8

Location:        Alpha Gym

COLORS #2: brown on brown (part 2)

Some more image to share again about brown on brown skins, pale colors, and …yep, my style maybe. Yesterday I went to The Looking Glass sim, an island full of colors and some surprising corners, where I am going sometime to practice tai-chi..

@ Looking Glass

I was with a friend and we waited for the light to fall before attempting a quick photoshooting, on a little cozy beach. Part of the light was coming from some incredible fireflies flying there, not afraid of us at all.
Here’s the result, aside with an image of another outfit I like so much, quite simple but with a great tank (actually beige, not brown) and a skirt (Idira) I really can’t stop loving. Details below, as usual..
Wish you a good fall day, a calm mood and a relaxing visit inworld if you there.

First outfit:

DRESS | ARTIZANA Kiasi (Congo) dress

HAIR | .SHI  Raven Hair [Set 1 . Unisex]

NECKLACE & EARRINGS | EARTHSTONES  Siobhan – Mother of Pearl

BANGLES | BENS BEAUTY  Hoop Mesh Bracelets

RINGS | KIBITZ – Misti rings silver

SHOES | KOKOIA Gea Jambalaya

Second outfit:

TANK | ALB Zissi tank top

SKIRT | *Just BECAUSE*  Lona Skirt

HAIR | .SHI Bob Knot

NECKLACE & EARRINGS | EARTHSTONES Simply Put Jewelry Set – Tigers Eye

AfroPunk. Carnival of (black) consciousness

A post about a RL (Real Life) event? Wasn’t this blog supposed to be devoted entirely to Second Life and his virtual world? Yep. And it will. But this has to do with it. And everything is connected..
Second Life is about imagination, music, art, identity. All these ingredients were also in that wonderful event which took place last saturday September 24th in London. AfroPunk Festival London was an entire day/night full of people, fashion, art, music, food, related to Africa some way and to Black culture in general. When I saw the news on BBC, I was astonished seeing how much people (black or not) were partying together and showing their best side.. a kind of “Carnival of Consciousness“, as the claim of the next edition that will take place in Atlanta US, next october.
Yes, because AfroPunk festival was born in Brooklyn and has expanded to Europe, Paris and London, adding some other editions in the US.

I never had the opportunity to attend such an AP event, but I’ll look forward to be in Paris next edition. Because just like our beloved Second Life, this is a Real Life opportunity to reflect about culture, exchange experiences, dance, talk, simply have fun partying.. Be human, eventually. Such an inspiration.
Give a look at the AfroPunk website, at their Instagram, Twitter and FB linked below, and at the BBC tv report linked up here. And if you want to feel a bit of Africa while reading and watching, here you can find a suggestion for something to listen to..

Oh.. last thing.. If someone here in SL had the possibility to attend one of these events, please let me know your thoughts. Or if you know there is something similar in SL, I just saw there’s a Black Rock Rebels group linked to people involved in AP. Maybe I just don’t know.. See ya soon!

AfroPunk Website

AfroPunk Twitter

AfroPunk Instagram

AfroPunk Facebook

COLORS #1: brown on brown

It happens to me so many times inworld: people say that they love my skintone, and that it’s perfect for strong saturated colored dress.. It’s meant to be a compliment, and I usually smiles and thank people offering me their view about it. They probably right. But many times I find myself, while dressing, going in the exact opposite direction. It’s not only because I LOVE soft, light pastel colors. It’s also because that when I see something of the kind on black people (also RL), I find this really nice and charming.

Brown on brown skin

And I got a special passion for brown. And since when I started to wear “brown on brown”, I never stopped. Brown it’s such a warm, special, magical color, don’t you think? It smells of autumn and winter, more than summer, ok.. but maybe this statement too it’s just a usual bias. And I love to break preconceived ideas, hehe. Brown for me means protection, warmness, caresses, but it’s also a deep earth color, which brings life and vitality..
What are you experiences with brown while dressing? let me know please.. Or with brown as a color for your creativity, no matter what! I’ll be glad to hear. Have a wonderful sunday!

Autumn blue (without any blue)

Kind of blue day today.. so I found myself walking through the hills and cabins at The Shire, wistful melancholic place. Really happy of my very new outfit. Just trying to understand better my little sadness, breathing into the fresh autumn breeze..

HAIR: .SHI Bob Knot [Mono]
EYEGLASSES:  EARTHSTONES eyeglasses – The Classic – Darks
NECKLACE/EARRINGS:  EARTHSTONES Simply Put – Tiger’s Eye
HANDS JEWELRY:  KIBITZ – Misti rings silver
DRESS:  FAFA Masozi Fleur
SHOES:  KC Aria heels

LOCATION: The Shire

Hair & personality.. just playing

I remember that when I was a little girl one of my favourite games, with my sister possibly, was to play trying to invent some crazy and fantasy haircut, adding whatever to our heads, such as grass, straw, hay, fabrics, even wood branches.. the goal was to change color but also shape, modifying this way our facial expressions, and laughing hard at the result ..
This is what I was thinking today, while trying the new hair I couldn’t help but buy yesterday at the Hairology event (till September 30th) , that is the wonderful Aysa, black/white version, by EMO-tions.
So I thought to renew the old game just taking some pics of me in a club, similar shots but changing hair all the time, using also some old favourites of mine, not so fresh but to which I’m fond.
My sister wasn’t there to laugh, and I used almost a unique pose to make the comparison. But it was once again very interesting to see how hair really can modify not only our look, but also our general mood, enhancing some aspect of our personality. Each time I wear a new haircut in Second Life, I discover something new about me, and this can be tricky.. 🙂
So not only a little gallery of my favourite haircuts at the moment, but also a journey towards the little girl in me, laughing and having fun. That’s why the last picture I added it’s something unusual, because (as in RL) I don’t play too much with hair dying. But here, with the new CHEVEUX M089 I bought yesterday too (I got broken as usual) turned here also to blonde red, I really had issues in realizing it was me. But I laughed again..
What are your thoughts about that? What are the kind of hair you prefer, to boost your personality?
Let me know down here what you like. See ya guys!    [click to enlarge pictures]

Hair photos taken @ AAI <))) An Alternative Indie Music Club
SLurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Clockwork/151/26/299

Jewels: Kibitz – Eliza jewelry set – steel
Hair (picture order):
– EMO-tions Aysa
– EMO-tions Aysa [back]
– !VA! Amina HP-Black
– CHEVEUX M089 black
– EMO-tions Carla
– ANALOG DOG – Ariel Black
– .SHI Raven
– .SHI Bob Knot
– KIMBERLY DT04
– ANALOG DOG – Lara Black
– AIBEAT *Roots* black
– VANITY Jioni Blacks
– CHEVEUX M089 blonde red version

Dress: Meli Imako Mesh Strap Tank and Pencil Skirt with Slit FITMESH – Slink – Maitreya – Belleza                                                                                                                         Shoes:  ::ROC:: Lace Up Heel

Artizana, ethnic and bohemian..

When I first entered Second Life, I immediately looked for some points of reference to build an African avatar with an African look. Not so easy, actually..
One of these references was immediately the Artizana‘s shop someone told me about. There I could find a way to feel myself, and at the same time to be able to share something of my culture.
Artizana was a wonderful place, not ran by Africans, I must say, but by a Canadian woman instead, as far as I know, Dainie Fraina. I never met her and in the future I would like to get an interview from her.

But I immediately liked the so-called “ethnic” touch and the wise use of wonderful fabrics, also from the African tradition, together with an innovative design.
After some years Artizana has changed a bit, new stylists  I think are involved, but the “Bohemian + ethnic-inspired virtual apparel for Second Life” claimed by the shop’s promotion is still there, though not being the only style represented.

Here you can see an old photo of mine [old avatar!], with a dress that’s a classic for me, the BUNUNDA series. Love the design and the great fit. And perfect to go barefooted like I adore, so many times..

More fresh pictures: here with the recent Artizana KIASI (Umber) Dress, which I really love for some quiet evenings, together with some awesome GEA Jambalaya {Kokoia} shoes, (a mesh that left me astonished for beauty and detail).

 

Here I’m wearing a classic Artizana TAKALAGOMI long dress, which I often wear, here with Maitreya Gold shoes.
Except the first pic, all photos are by Phuoc Hanh, who I really want to thank here once again.
Let me know what you think about… see ya soon..

To better know Artizana:  INWORLD SHOPS 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Harbor%20East/95/225/32
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Renaissance%20Galleria/177/32/23
Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/artizana
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/artizana.sl
Tumblr: http://artizana.tumblr.com