“Our culture encourages us to plan every moment and fill our schedules with one activity and obligation after the next, with no time to just be. But the human body and mind require downtime to rejuvenate. I have found my greatest moments of joy and peace just sitting in silence, and then I take that joy and peace with me out into the world.” ~ Holly Mosier

I have been tremendously busy as of late with several projects in and out of SL as well as my RL, and sometimes I have said “Yes” when I should have said “No.” I am learning how to handle how I approach some of it, so it’s a good experience. Today’s blog is a mega blog because I just had to get in so many things—I hate not showing some of the awesome content I have seen lately and I want to share it with all my readers. And I wanted to create a refuge, the sort that would help me find some downtime.

I just put up Trace Osterham’s new skybox made entirely of mesh with optional radiators. The build is welcoming and camera-friendly. With warm colors and textured brick walls it has a simple, open floor plan, but the layout defines spaces. With a land impact of 36 for the build only, it’s also great for low prim usage so you can completely fill it with all your favorite furnishings (most of which I show here are also ridiculously low land impact).

Trace includes this HUD with the skybox so you can swap out textures on the walls and woodwork as you please. The accent colors give the skybox definitely different “moods” as you try them out. I went for warm and neutral, but the green, for example, could make the space look more “industrial.” The decorative “painting” you see on the walls—the modern flowers—are actually prims that Tash Porthos made to be tinted in SL. As you can see, I got kind of wild with the colors, choosing orange, red, and even a light green against the brown wall of the dining room. I love having this option to “paint” bare walls.

I filled mine with some great new furniture from Tya Fallingbridge that she has come out with this month. First is this darling bed with little attached lamps that have derby hats for shades that she has at FaMESHed. With a texture-change sheet set and tons of great animations, it’s perfect for any couple living in a cozy skybox.

This great little dining room set from Tya features texture change on the table runners and comes with animations in the benches. The lovely chandelier has matching wall sconces you could use throughout your skybox. And the rug, which I have used in several places in the skybox, also includes texture change. (See it in the bedroom, on the floor under Tobias Convair’s sectional sofa, in front of the fireplace and here in the dining room—same rug with different textures).

Tya is selling this darling little bench in several versions at The Home Show 2014 with a wall-hung letter tray in complimentary woods and a lovely scrolled coat rack. This set, mixed and matched as I did, would go great in a foyer or home entryway. I have it in the bedroom opposite the bed.

This great shelf from Cory Edo, which she is featuring at Fameshed, is great for filling a wall space, especially when you have lots of books or gacha items you want to display. (I only show the Tommy lamp from McChris Flanagan that I was unable to show the other day.) I filled the shelf with books and yarn I made myself!! (I’d pretend I made it in mesh but really, how hard is to rez a sphere and cover it with yarn texture…?)

My outfit is easy and almost hippy, starting with the midriff-tied shirt with a decorative yoke from Ivana Canieri, which she is featuring at 100 Block. I love the pastel colors, especially since the blue goes with my beaded sandals from Maxi Gossamer, who is featuring a turquoise blue on the leather portions of the sandal but has given a great texture change for the beads (which are materials enhanced natch). My awesome jeans are Kinu Mayako’s great exclusive for the 100 Block. They come with five great denim textures in a HUD so you can pick just the shade you want. I am wearing Truth Hawks’ newest braid, a darling natural look with headband that can be switched via HUD. My skin is Aida Ewing’s offering for The Season’s Story, a natural look for a great day off with downtime.

“It is important from time to time to slow down, to go away by yourself, and simply be.”~ Eileen Caddy

Hair: TRUTH HAIR Elyse by Truth Hawks for >TRUTH< *

Skin: -Glam Affair – Brandi – America 01 B by Aida Ewing for –Glam Affair-, available at The Seasons Story *

Eyes: [Brixley] Spring Eyes – darkest brown by Isabelle Requiem for Brixley, available at Kustom9 *

Top: F.owl – Knotted Hipster Shirt BLUE by Ivana Canieri for F.owl, available at the100 Block *

Jeans: [ SAKIDE ] Denim Worker Pants by Kinu Mayako for [ SAKIDE ], available at the100 Block *

Hands: Slink Mesh Hands (av) Casual Right and Slink Mesh Hands (av) Relaxed Left by Siddean Munro for Slink

Nail appliers: Flair – Nail Hud Add On – Slink Avatar Enhancement – Set 209 by Sasy Scarborough for Flair, available at Cosmetic Fair *

Feet: Slink Mesh Feet (Av) Flat by Siddean Munro for Slink

Sandals: MG – Sandals – Ibiza Summer Beaded by Maxi Gossamer for Maxi Gossamer, available at the Monochromatic Fair *

Poses by {Imeka} Charmy – Pose Pack by NatiWilliams for Imeka, available at Pose Fair 2014 *

Skybox: {theosophy} Nicholaston Skybox by Trace Osterham for {theosophy} *

Décor:

[PM]Pixel Mode – Wire Form Coat Rack – Copper by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Home Show 2014 *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Hallway Bench – Dark Wood by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Home Show 2014 *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Stuff Holder – Dark Wood by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Home Show 2014 *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Derby Bed – Adult by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at FaMESHed *

+CONVAIR+ Modern Leather Sectional.black by Tobias Convair for Convair *

[dirty.little.secret] :: wall stencil :: weeds 1 by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret] *

[dirty.little.secret] :: wall stencil :: weeds 2 by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret] *

[dirty.little.secret] :: wall stencil :: weeds 3 by Tash Porthos for [dirty.little.secret] *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Senza Tempo Table by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Senza Tempo Seat by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Gattera Ferrero Platter by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

[PM]Pixel Mode – Throw Rug by Tya Fallingbridge for Pixel Mode, available at the Liaison Collaborative *

7 – Square Frame Wall Leaners by Agustkov for Seven Emporium

Trompe Loeil – Novel Decor – Suitcase Endtable with books by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil *

Trompe Loeil – Birdcage Worn Copper Short by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at FaMESHed *

Trompe Loeil – Round Shelf Copper by Cory Edo for Trompe Loeil, available at FaMESHed *

DMF – Living Lamp (Tommy – Common) by McChris Flanagan for Dew Me Furniture, available at Erotigacha

Dutchie row of books by Froukje Hoorenbeek for Dutchie *

:CP: Hemmingway Book Pile by Isla Gealach for Cheeky Pea

[what next] Pile O’ Books by Winter Thorn for {what next}

{what next} Knitted Pillow (caramel) by Winter Thorn for {what next}

{what next} Laptop by Winter Thorn for {what next}

Kauri Vase 1 by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri *

Kauri Vase 3 by Kaerri Rae for Kaerri *

Yarn by me