Xen's Pen
Fashionable ramblings from Xenobia Foxclaw's virtual pen.

In real life, I love hats, but they have to be loose, because a tight hat gives me a headache. I also like fairly simple hats without lots of decorations, and I don’t want to pay a lot for them. I like the same things in SL, so I decided to make my own. Today is my first foray into selling one–actually two, because I’ve included a black one with a white band and a white one with a black band. I wanted to begin selling my hats on a day when you are sure to get an extra good bargain, so I picked 55L Thursdays. You can find my hats here, and while you are there, be sure to click on the 55L vendor to pick up the list or click here to go to the website.

When I saw a place called Fan Shopping, I had to see it, and I was not disappointed. It was filled with limited edition buys from many of the designers that I really like. I would have loved to buy everything, but being on a limited budget, I selected only a few of the great limited buys.

It’s no secret that I am a big fan of Yula Finesmith’s designs, so I had to have the Rissa Demure Necklace and Earrings. They are very dimensional, more so than is evident in this photo. The other thing I love about them is the color-change feature. It makes them very versatile.

Another item that caught my eye is this pink Emila gown from Entre Mares. Pink is among my favorite colors and I really like the design of this gown and the possibilities of mixing pieces with other items in my wardrobe.

These are limited edition buys, so you will want to get yours while you can. You will find lots of other great designs there, so you will want to go to look around.  Here is your transportation to Fan Shopping.

What Xenobia Is Wearing

Jewelry: Finesmith Designs at Fan Shopping – Rissa Demure

Gown: Entre Mares at Fan Shopping – Emila (Pink)

Shoes: G Field – Flower Pumps Eve

Skin: Belleza – Eriak (Fair 7)

Hair and base: Vanity Hair – Alice (Soil)

Eyelashes: Miamai – No Alpha Lashes No. 6

Eyes: InSight at Amacci – Inwoods

Poses: Morgane Batista Poses

Photographer and Model: Xenobia Foxclaw

When I was young, my grandmother took her double strand of pearls to the jeweler and had them made into single strands that she gave to my sister and me. They were not real pearls, but they were precious to her, and they are still precious to me even though it’s been 50 years. I’m here to say these are not my grandmother’s pearls, but I really, really like them. I love silver and I love pearls, and I love what Yula Finesmith has done with them. The earrings are the 55L Thursday item for April 21 from 7:30 a.m. SLT to April 22 at 7:30 a.m. SLT. (I have discovered that Yula sometimes extends the low pricing, so if it’s just a day after and you missed the chance to get them, stop by and check.) The necklace at about 350L is worth every Linden and then some. Here is your limo to Finesmith Designs.

What Xenobia Is Wearing

Jewelry: FineSmith Designs – Mary Pearl Necklace & Mary Pearl Earrings

Skin: Belleza – Erika (SK 3)

Hair: Bliss Hair – Taylor Hair (Caviar)

Hairbase: Amacci – Hairbase Tattoo (Coal Black)

Eyes: Pulse – Thorueau

Eyelashes: Miamai – No Alpha Lashes No. 6

Photographer & Model: Xenobia Foxclaw

When chiaki Xue passed me a fatpack of her newest design from DURA, I just had to share it with you. I was in a brownish mood, so I put on my favorite bodysuit from Ingenue and some great jewelry from Finesmith, and struck some poses.  I moved the hair back a smidgen to get it out of my earrings and change the hairline a bit. Now I have a long hairdo I can wear with big earrings.

What Xenobia Is Wearing

Hair with base: DURA – Boy 18 (Sienna)

Outfit: Ingenue – Falling Autumn (Rust)

Jewelry: FineSmith Designs – Nerrative

Boots: G Field – Short Lace-up Boots (Brown)

Skin: Belleza – Erika (Sk

Eyes: InSight – Inwoods

Eyelashes: Miamai – No Alpha Lashes No 6

Eyeliner: BOOM/Kozmetika – Liquid Glaze (lashed) (Black)

Nails: FineSmith Designs – Painter (Colored Brown)

Poses: Morgane Batista Poses

Model & Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

When I logged into Second Life today, I was delighted to find the newest hair from Chiaki Xue of DURA waiting in my inventory. With happy anticipation, I tried it on and was not disappointed. DURA Girl 19 is a delightful shoulder-length do with an unexpected braided side on the left. Worked into the braid is a heart that is light red, but it doesn’t jump out at the viewer. In fact, it could easily be overlooked, but I knew it was there and it brought a smile to my RL face. Girl 19 comes in 10 shades with and without a size-change menu.

What Xenobia Is Wearing

Hair: DURA – Girl19 (Ash Brown)

Skin: Belleza – Erika (SK 3)

Eyes: FS New Eye (Teal) (No longer available)

Eyelashes: Miamai – No Alpha Lashes No 6

Fingernails: FineSmith Designs – Painter

Bikini: SHAN – Sophia

Bracelet: FineSmith Designs – Idioma Bracelet

Poses: Body Talking

Model & Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

I was looking around FineSmith Designs yesterday and discovered a new design from Lybra Rage–Corba (under the label Privileged). The texture is something special, it “feels” silky and sensuous. From the high neck to the uneven hem it’s a delight to the eyes. I admit I was hard pressed to select only one color, but this teal really fit my mood. It’s a dress that lends itself to jewelry and yet does not need a lot of jewelry–it stands well on its own–I added one of my favorite collars and a set of earrings from FineSmith of course.

What Xenobia Is Wearing

Dress: Finesmith/Privileged – Corba (teal)

Necklace: FineSmith Designs – Ash Collar

Earrings: FineSmith Designs – Definition Earrings

Skin: Belleza – Erika (SK 12)

Hairbase: booN – gathered raised hairbase (blonde)

Hair: booN – PKJ371 (blonde)

Eyeliner: BOOM/Kozmetika – Liquid Glaze (black)

Eyelashes: Miamai – No Alpha Lashes No. 6

Eyes: Bower Bird – Mythos Eyes (HERMES) (Closed, but send a notecard with details to Charm McAndrews if you are interested in purchasing)

Nails: FineSmith Designs – Metallic

Pose: Body Talking

Photographer and Model: Xenobia Foxclaw

Background: Jessies Textures – Abstract Lights 22

If you don’t have these three FineSmith Design items in your inventory already, you can get each one of them for only 55L until Friday, April 8 at 10:00 a.m. SLT. The Xenobia Ring (I suppose you can guess why that is one of my very favorite pieces) and the Triva Earrings are both texture-and-color change. Go, have fun spending a few Lindens.

After making my last post mere hours ago, I was standing in the far section at DURA when I happen to glimpse an upstairs. This should give a hint about how observant I am–I completely missed the set of stairs leading up. In my defense, however, the lower part of the stairs is hidden behind a rock wall, and it all sort of blends together. However, once I ventured up those steps, I discovered a whole new section, most of which was hair for females with a few cross-gender styles.

I bought several to show you some more of the range of Chiaki Xue’s hair designs. If you love them as much as I do, you can hope over by following this link.

Girl 01 (Dark Brown)

Girl 03 (Red)

Girl 05 (Light Brown)

Girl 09 (Pink)

Girl 10 (Soil)

Girl 11 (Mocha)

Girl 14 Flower (Dark Blonde)

Girl 16 (Strawberry)

Boys & Girls 05 (Hawaiian Tan)

Boys & Girls 08 (Dark Blonde)

Boys & Girls 11 (Black)

What Xenobia Is Wearing With DURA Hair

Jewelry: FineSmith Designs – Diamond Earrings & Collar (Silver)

Skin: Belleza – Erika (Deep Tan 16)

Eyes: Amacci – Insight (Dark Brown)

Eyelashes: CCD – RealLash Prim Lashes #02 Normal (Brown)

Pose: Morgane Batista Poses

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

I was recently reading a blog and spotted a hairdo that really caught my attention, so I hopped over to the store, one with which I was not familiar–DURA. It was love at first sight, perhaps because in real life I have very short hair, and the hair in DURA was mostly short. Although many of her hairs are designed with males in mind, I don’t think there is a single one that wouldn’t look equally as good on a female. However, while not all of them come with hairbases, I always wear one, borrowing from another set if necessary. The hairs come with two versions, one with a menu to change sizes easily, and one without. I personally prefer the menu driven one because I can copy it, set it to the size right for me, and delete the scripts, reducing lag for fashion shows and other areas that are rife with lag.

I wore two of the hairs below for an “I Love Japan Auction” that was sponsored by Opulent Magazine and that raised 179,021L in about 4 hours on April 2. (You can read more about that here.) I was happy to see Chiaki Xue, owner of DURA at the show. She was one of the many designers who made generous contributions. Let me show you some of the styles so you can see for yourself. If you love them as much as I do, you can hope over by following this link.

Boy 01 (Black)

Boy 02 (Auburn)

Boy 3 (Blonde)

Boy 06 (Light Blonde)

Boy 07 (Dark Blonde)

Boy 08 (Spice)

Boy 10 (Onyx)

Boy 13 (Hawaiiantan)

Boy 16 (Gold)

Boy 17 (Ash Brown)

Boys & Girls 15 (Chocolate)

ARAI & DURA Kimukimu (Dark Brown)

DURA & ARAI 02 (Flower Strawberry)

DURA & ARAI 02 Flower with Long Wavy Extension (Strawberry)

DURA & ARAI Curling Hair (Black)

What Xenobia Is Wearing With DURA Hair

Skin: Belleza – Erika (Deep Tan 16)

Eyes: Amacci – Insight (Dark Brown)

Eyelashes: CCD – RealLash Prim Lashes #02 Normal (Brown)

Pose: Morgane Batista Poses

Model and Photographer: Xenobia Foxclaw

Yula Finesmith has made a heavenly design in two different colors for the Glance Front Row project for RFL. Get either color for only 250L–100% goes to Relay For Life. This is the only time these will ever be sold, so be sure to get yours. I love mine–they make me feel like an angel.

Here is your cloud to the Finesmith Vendors.

What Xenobia Is Wearing

Jewelry: FineSmith Designs - RFL Feathers (White [top photo] and Black [bottom photo])
Dress: My Precious – Mysterious (White)
Skin: Belleza – Erika (Fair 0)
Hair & Hairbase: Amacci – Fayne & Tattoo Hairbase (White)
Eyes: TULI – Intense Eyes (Blue) (Apparently this eye is no longer available)
Eyelashes: Miamai – No Alpha Lashes No. 6
Eye Glaze: BOOM/Kozmetika – Liquid Glaze Bown
Liner: BOOM/Kozmetika – Love My Eyeliner & Mascara Bottoms Only
Liner: [[Mozz]] Cosmetics – Black Liners (Raccoon)

Poses: Everglow

Photographer and Model: Xenobia Foxclaw