The 24 2015

 The 24 2015, September 11th-19th, 2015

 1 Week...
 72 Designers...
 Menswear!
 Womenswear!
 Accessories!
 Skins!
 Furniture!
 Homes!
 Outdoor Accessories!
 Oh My...

Will you be able to snatch up our limited edition exclusives before they are all gone?

Cultured The Magazine, Designing SL, Dope Magazine, ECLIPSE Magazine, HomeStuff, iNOVARE Magazine, L'Homme, MenStuff, ModeLS Magazine, SCALA, Siren Productions,  SL Live Radio, and WomenStuff are kicking off The 24 2015, this summer time staple, September 11th-19th 2015. We are taking it back to it's roots with bigger designers, bolder designs, and we are bringing back the home and furniture designers. All limited editions exclusives for the discerning individuals in Second Life who like to be and individual and unique in what they wear, how they look, and the environment that surrounds them. Do not Miss Out on This Event!

We have an entire week of shows and events planned with some of our amazing designers including Lybra, Gabriel, Rfyre, RICIELLI, Lavian & Co., h.m.a.e.m, Zibska, Champagne Sparkling Couture, BENDER, United Colors, and K E L I N I. We also are giving a sneak peak at all the hot Exclusive Limited Editions on the runway with a special show on Sept 12th, 2015 at 6pm. There will be a fabulous opening party with Cultured The Magazine and the incomparable SL Live Will be closing the house down on Sept 19th, 2015 at 2pm Right After the Pop Stars Show. Come shop, party, and have fun with some of the top designers N4RS, Stockholm & Lima, Tres Beau, RAPTURE, WoW Skins, Diram, Wicca's Wardrobe, Dynasty, and Bravura! Homme to name a small few taking part.

The level of designers this year and the inclusion of home designers can not be beat. That means that not only will you look unique but your home can as well. Express your uniqueness with limited editions skins, hair, make-up, accessories, and clothing. Show off your individual design aesthetic and tastes with the limited edition furniture, home accessories, and outdoor items. With only 150 being produced and sold you are not going to see these items on everyone across the grid. Stay up to date with information on the event including a complete list of designers, calenders, and more information as it develops at http://sirenproductionsl.com.

What will you find that is a must have...

Here is your landmark to this event (SLurl)

Sincerely,
Lexie Jansma
Siren Productions CEO
http://sirenproductionsl.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sirenproductions/

Keep Safe with Tom of Finland

I don't usually run first life product advertisements, but once in a while I may be convinced to do so without monetary gain.

Nonetheless, when this press release from Jalo Helsinki appeared in my email, I knew I simply had to run it.

Tom of Finland and Jalo Helsinki are ready when things start getting hot at home

"Finnish fire safety company Jalo Helsinki and Tom of Finland Foundation have teamed up to create a new line of red-hot fire safety products. Four of Tom of Finland’s iconic drawings will appear on Jalo Helsinki’s fire blankets, raising the temperature on interior design goods.

The blankets can extinguish small fires, but while there are no flames, users can have Tom’s art on display to enjoy, within easy reach and in case of emergency.

“A fire blanket by nature is quite a practical application, but we also want it to be beautiful and meaningful beyond its primary function” says Olli Nuutila, CEO of Jalo Helsinki. “By launching, we want to communicate Tom of Finland’s message of love, respect, tolerance and freedom through display of our fire safety products” he adds. 

The Jalo Helsinki team worked with Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles to identify inspiring and iconic drawings to grace the fire blanket covers. Dubbed The Leader, The Aviator, The Hero and The Dog are quintessential examples of the Finnish artist’s work featuring men depicted as powerful, distinctive and unafraid - notions that ran counter to the prevailing sentiment in the late 1950s when Tom of Finland drawings first started appearing.

“This collection of fire blankets is a wonderful hybrid between art and design, and further elevates Tom’s work to heroic proportions. We are honored to partner with Jalo Helsinki in making Tom’s drawings and message easily reachable and always available.“ says S.R. Sharp, Curator at Tom of Finland Foundation.

“When we started our collaboration project with Finnish designers and artists - some iconic, some emerging - we knew that we wanted Tom of Finland on the list. He represents freedom, pride, and promotes a respectful attitude towards other people. His body of work embodies this universal message that we also stand for as a company” says Nuutila.

Jalo Helsinki’s fire blankets comply with EU fire safety standard EN 1869:1997 and are available to buy online through the Jalo Helsinki shop."

Press contact:

Olli Nuutila,

CEO & Co-founder

 olli@jalohelsinki.fi

+358 40 578 0109

Media Kit

About Jalo Helsinki Jalo Helsinki is a Finnish design company turning fire safety products into beautiful design objects and improving user experience with the help of internationally famous designers. The company’s current products range from smoke alarms to fire blankets. Jalo Helsinki was founded in 2009 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. More information: www.jalohelsinki.com

About Tom of Finland/Tom of Finland Foundation (Touko Laaksonen, Finnish 1920 - 1991), is the creator of some of the most iconic and readily recognizable imagery of post-war gay culture and is regarded as one of the 20th century’s most influential artists. He produced thousands of images beginning in the 1940s, robbing straight homophobic culture of its most virile and masculine archetypes (bikers, hoodlums, lumberjacks, cops, cowboys, and sailors) and recasting them through deft skill and imagination - unapologetic, self-aware, and boastfully proud enthusiasts of gay sex.

In 1984, the nonprofit Tom of Finland Foundation was established by Durk Dehner and Touko Laaksonen. As Tom had established worldwide recognition as the master of homo-erotic art, the Foundation’s original purpose was to preserve his vast catalog of work. Several years later the scope was widened to offer a safe haven for all art in response to rampant discrimination against work that portrayed sexual behavior or generated a sexual response. Today the Foundation continues in its efforts of educating the public as to the cultural merits of erotic art and in promoting healthier, more tolerant attitudes about sexuality. More information: www.tomoffinlandfoundation.org

The Amazing Samuel

As you all know by now, I have engaged the skilled landscaper Samuel Fallen, of Lytton & Fallen, to help with some landscaping around the new mansion.

Shabby-chic stuff from Apple Fall combined with a
Quidditch set from somewhere else in a beautiful way.

Well, you should also know that Samuel isn't "only" a landscaper and gardener, he in fact designed The Luton Manor (the new house I have bought) for Redgrave Houses & Homes and is also a marvelous interior decorator.

I got clear and irrefutable proof of the latter when I logged into SecondLife the other day,

The evening before I had dragged out some things by Apple Fall, that I knew I wanted to use in the decoration of the house, out of my Inventory and just left them in a mess on the floor to deal with another time. Well, when I logged in, the things had been tastefully arranged in a shabby-chic display by Samuel. I couldn't in a million years have done anything as good or better with them.

My new strategy will be to - sort of recklessly - leave things floating around and see what marvelous things Samuel will come up with. Please do not tell Samuel!

Otherwise the landscaping project is at somewhat of a semi-standstill as we are awaiting the arrival of spring and new stuff to arrive at Botanical. Tomais is busy interior decorating, while I tag along and help where I can, mostly by carrying the heavy stuff around and saying "Oooooo" and "Aaaaaa" at suitable intervals.

Project -15: May the Works Commence!

Yesterday I and my home-team met again with Samuel Fallen of Lytton & Fallen (L&F)  for further discussions and to see if we could seal a deal on the project. L&F consists of Samuel and his partner Spliff Lytton. The company provides services in interior design, landscaping and custom builds for SecondLife.

Although it is still winter on Southern Charm, the first touch of spring can be felt. It was a rather mild day yesterday so I decided to show some leg during the discussions. To be quite honest, that has been a highly successful tactic and has in hindsight landed me with more advantages than I would otherwise rightly deserve. 

So with bare legs I, my royal consort Tomais and my royal groundskeeper Butch "Bj" Diavolo-Gracemount met with Samuel at the site. We had a very good discussion in which Samuel evidenced some qualities that I appreciate very much in my fellow humans. Samuel was receptive to our thoughts and ideas but was also outspoken and straightforward in his responses in a pleasant manner. He also has a no-nonsense attitude and strives for a realistic look in his designs.

I am happy to inform you that we sealed a mutually advantageous deal yesterday and that the work on the project will now begin.

After the meeting I was totally thrilled and excited, this is going to be so much fun!

It's Time for A Change

Those of you who have been following my blog may already have understood that major changes aren't really my forte. Or as my stepson Guyke bluntly tells me, "You don't like changes!" 

I don't completely disagree with him, but I would hasten to add that my qualms with change are mainly on an emotional level. When I feel safe and loved I don't mind changes in other areas of my life one bit.

It's a new year and time for a new project at Southern Charm! Faithful readers may remember the last major change on the sim happened during the summer of 2013 when the old ugly house I had been living in since 2008 was torn down and a new modern house was erected in it's place.

This year I got a new house as a Christmas gift from Guyke, after he had carefully showed it to me twice beforehand. The first time I saw the villa I was adamant and told him I didn't like it at all and that I wasn't ready to go through the hassle of moving again so soon after the last rebuild. The second time I saw it I absolutely fell in love with it!

It is a classic french villa with large open spaces called Luton Manor and is made by Redgrave Houses & Homes.

My building team this time around consists of the royal consort and the royal groundskeeper, Tomais and Butch. The two have also benevolently agreed to advise me concerning decorating and other interior design niceties.

The old house has been emptied and taken into Inventory, the beautiful villa has been placed in a preliminary spot, I am awaiting advice on the definite placement from a landscaper who has been contacted, but not yet contracted. He will hopefully also be hired to help with the necessary work on the immediate surroundings of the villa.

At "Villa Kakelbont"

My stepson Guyke Lundquist is very unlike me in many ways. One of them is that he c-o-n-s-t-a-n-t-l-y remodels his home, while I do so very rarely. Guyke must have about 200 buildings in his Inventory of all conceivable styles imagined or encountered through all the history of mankind and the furnishing and accessories to match them all.

While I was away Guyke has completely remodelled his home, aided and abetted in his work by the brilliant and talented - yet surprisingly humble - builder/interior designer/window decorator Butch Diavolo.

This time Guyke has gone for a Scandinavian countryside/peasant villa, which is a vast contrast to the ultramodern design of the home he had before. He has named the new home "Villa Kakelbont", which is the Dutch version of the name of Pippi Longstocking's home "Villa Villekulla".

The guys have done some amazing work and created an extremely cozy home using a lot of the nooks and crannies of the wonderful building for reading, work, play etc.

At the back of the house there is a wonderful balcony and - as is the case everywhere in Second Norway - one is never far from the wonderful water.

Spontaneous Clubbing

After a long and busy day of overseeing my master builder-interior designer-landscaper-gardener all rolled into one hot packet of dynamite, the brilliant and sublime Butch Diavolo, and shopping for more plants and more furniture I was knackered. When Guyke and Butch dropped out for bed I was going to leave too, I just had to buy some new eyes because the ones I had were doing weird stuff and then I  also had some stuff I wanted to put out over by the barn - or so I thought.

I  ended up fiddling about with stuff at the barn until I got the notice that DJ Wes and Khar were starting their party at The Tribute, so I thought I might as well go there to relax and look at men a little before hitting the sack. I ended up staying for over an hour, the place was wall-to-wall carpeted by the most wonderful men.

The Hasting- Vanbeeck's , Tasty and Petr, with a stranger 

DJ Wesley Spengler & Kharissa Indigo

Sexy Baz Ceawlin & Kolin Wylie

The always stunning couple Shepherd & Larz Kas

Some dude, it could be me

 A study of an Australian patron who had a great body and beautiful moves. I have seen Muhu around the scene earlier, but he has never caught my attention as he did last night. Horniness could have played a role in this., mine not his.

Muhu

Muhu

Muhu

 And lets finish off this post with a cute couple.

Angel & Divi

Early Notice: Housewarming Party

The palatial mansion at Southern Charm

"Hear ye, hear ye! The Much Honored Bock McMillan, laird of Southern Charm, prince of Cascade Falls and sovereign ruler of The Commonwealth of Southern Enchantment with Outer Territories, hereby announces that there is to be a housewarming party of the newly erected palatial mansion on Saturday July 27 in the year of the Lord 2013. The time has not yet been set, but it will not start earlier than 12 PM."

In the earlier stages of the party you should be able to meet the cranky but brilliant and sublime builder and interior designer Butch Diavolo, who will take you on a tour around the mansion and share his thoughts and ideas with you regarding building and design. (Butch may be open to answering any question, however this cannot be guaranteed with regards to his volatile personality.)

Invitations will be sent out during the next weeks!

Short Summary of details
What: Housewarming Party at the lairds new palatial mansion
Where: The Southern Charm sim (landmark to be supplied in a later announcement)
When: Saturday July 27, 2013 (exact time to be announced in a later announcement)
Who: Family and friends of the laird are expected to attend, friends of family and friends are also welcome.
Additional Information: 

1. Summer leisure clothing (bring along swimwear). The laird expects to see lots of skin.
2. Gifts are highly discouraged! Any bearer of gifts should expect to be kicked of the sim and possibly banned from it no less than six months.
3. B.Y.O.W. 

Lounging About

After the recent weeks, which have been intense and filled with chores, duties, running round in shops and overseeing an erratic - yet always brilliant and sublime - builder/interior designer there was finally a moment of peace and quiet.

The builder was away resting in first life so there was no one around barking orders and telling me to "Now unlock that part of the building, no not that part, that part!"

I enjoyed the stillness and calm that had temporarily settled over my home-sim. The work in the house was almost finished but for a few finishing touches and then there would be that much smaller project of rebuilding the welcome-area if we decided to go ahead with it. After that finally my kind hearted, generous and humoristic friend Butch Diavolo would once again emerge in place of the cantankerous "artiste" (French pronunciation please!). Ahhh happy days to come...! 

Sunrise Over Southern Charm

As the entire building team, the brilliant and sublime Butch Diavolo, builder/interior decorator extraordinaire, my stepson Guyke and myself, assembled this morning the sun was just rising over Southern Charm.

Although we were in a hurry to get on with the finishing touches of the remodelling of the main mansion and its interior, we simply had to stop working to take in the breathtakingly beautiful sunrise.

Sneak Peek - The New Kitchen

My brilliant and sublime builder/interior decorator  Butch Diavolo has - grudgingly, but still - agreed to allow me to post this detail of his ongoing work on my new kitchen at the build site on Southern.Charm.

Doesn't it look awesome?

The Flags Are Raised

Little by little and with surprisingly few differences of opinion my buddy Butch Diavolo, brilliant builder and sublime interior decorator, and I are getting things in order at my new mansion.

Today there was a special moment when we raised the three flags again that have always blown over Southern Charm since Ars and I moved in on the sim.

The Redecoration Project

When Ars and I moved in at Southern Charm, just before or after New Years Day 2007/2008 (I cannot remember at the moment), we were in a hurry to get settled in before my vacation ended and the clubs in SecondLife, with whom Ars worked both as a DJ and as a manager for The Sarco Sound Group, started getting busy again after the holidays.

We rented the house and 12,000 sqm (two parcels) because we had both fallen in love with the house sitting over the beautiful waterfall. The house was a part of the deal and the landowner expressly preferred that we kept it a it was. The house is a prefab from one of the biggest suppliers of such homes in SecondLife.

Ars and I did the interior decorating of the second floor and the kitchen and bathroom on the ground floor  ourselves. When we realized that we were running out of time and would not be ablé to get the living room area ready we discussed it and decided to get the readymade package of furniture for that room from the supplier. It was an interesting moment and a new experience for me when i suddenly found myself sitting in front of my computer controlling all the prearranged furniture with my cursor. I was told by Ars not to let go before we had it in the right place because if i did we would have to arrange every individual ugly item ourselves. Luckily I made it without problems (not counting a very high pulse rate) and I believe Ars was really proud of me, for the very first time.

This arrangement was meant to be a temporary measure that we would take care of at the first convenient moment ourselves. Alas that time never came. I detested the living room furniture from the start, and I believe Ars did so too.

When I the other day realized how much I hated it I finally decided to take action. I decided what to do and considered the possible options carefully. When I had thought everything through I contacted my buddy Butch Diavolo, who is an excellent interior decorator.

We discussed the matter and he agreed to help me. We also decided that the first thing he should do was see if he could find a better house that would fit on the top of hill over the water falls. A house that I could have full rights over, as the present one is still owned by the former landlady (who has since left SecondLife) which means I am not able to change anything about it..

If he could not find a good enough house we would settle for redecorating the living room and the adjacent reading room. Butch would, with his expertise and exquisite taste, tell me what to buy and in what quantity whereafter I would rez them in the house for him to move them around. If we needed to do anything about the house itself we would find some suitable workaround ( I have been thinking of Potemkin villages a lot lately). We will cross those bridges when we come to them.

It was with great joy I set about deleting all the shitty stuff in the living room and reading room. The rooms looked much better when the furniture was gone, even if they were empty.