The Chicken Diaries » House & Garden

House & Garden | Very Big Mushrooms

Tracy Sparrowtree — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:24:10 +0000

I received a surprise invite today to a private concert. Although I was busy retrieving 70+ things that had accidently been auto-returned to me, yes animals included, I managed to make it to the last few minutes of the Skye Galaxy concert.

The Dancefloor

I’m so glad I did because as I rezzed in I realised I had arrived at a very special destination. Martin’s Fairy Island and Studio has been created by martinyau Spiritor and after my initial impression of the detail that has gone into this delightful fairyland I was very interested to find out that martinyau had created much of it and now sells it for others to enjoy also.

Very Big Mushrooms

I particularly love the mushrooms. They are large and uniquely coloured. Although not breedable of course, they would make a wonderful addition to any garden. Martin’s Fairy Island and Studio is open to the public, although it is an adult sim so if you have problems getting there I suggest you go straight to xstreet to purchase. It is worth a visit to this very special fairyland though and you will find a free gift on the dancefloor in my favourite colour and which I did manage to sit precariously on (after testing many of the others, because who doesn’t want to sit on a giant mushroom?)

Free Gift

After arriving at the event I discovered there was a fairy/elf dresscode. Thankfully I had picked up this outfit just last night. I was a freebie at Angelwing, it comes with a skin and shape, but I chose to keep my own and with socks but not shoes. My shoes are from Basevi Moda, a dollarbie or freebie. I wouldn’t survive without the wonderful freebies that are on offer in SL, as my L’s go elsewhere, but that’s another post really.

Martin is a wonderful photographer and has his studio set up here also which you will discover at you look around.

SLurl: Martin’s Fairyland and Studio

On Xstreet

Technorati Tags: fantasy, featured, gardens

Barn it Up!

SuriYangtz — Thu, 08 Jul 2010 11:57:23 +0000

Callie Cline and Barnesworth Anubis have been collaborating for a time and bringing the breedable community beautiful builds for their beautiful pets. Callie and Barnesworth aka the designers of The Pampered Pet Company, have released two new barns which come in two different styles, Classic, and Posh; they also come in to different sizes, Mini, and Life sized. You know I am all about variety, and diarrhea of the mouth. I think these builds are going to be so awesome when the Amaretto Ranch Breedable Horses come out of Beta. So here are the details as well as some pics.

The Mini barns, are beyond cute, primtastic (meaning very minimal prims), and ideal for housing smaller pets.

Mini Barn Set (Posh and Classic)
Size: 4.5 x 3.5
Prims: 20 prims
Build includes: (Working door, path, pen, and plants)
Price: 350L
[no copy/ no mod/ no transfer]
The “Life Sized” Barns, are spacious, open, and a totally awesome Loft, Hay sliding anyone? These are perfect for larger Breedable breeders, they can be used as a business storefront, a live/ work space, etc.

The Barn (Posh and Classic)
Size: 25×20 meters
Prims: 77Prims
Building includes: (Lock capable doors, and privacy windows, auto rezzor for ez setup)
Price: 1750
[Copy/mod/no Trans]

Tractor:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/So%20caL/53/48/24

Technorati Tags: Barnesworth Anubis, Barns, Callie Cline, featured, prefabs, The Pampered Pet Company

SL House & Garden | Bugtussle Country Birthday

PacificBlue — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 22:06:34 +0000

BugTussle – presented by LVS & Co and Sher’s Country Cottages, is having a weekend birthday bash themed towards country and cowboy. This celebrates Ravelynn Templar’s birthday. Walk around this shabby chic BugTussle town sim to find many bargains.

Going cheaply you can find many country themed furniture pieces, some pose prop sets, plus some fabulous prefabs – many of which will suit your ranch setting for horses or other animals. Here are my own favourite finds, much of which are not even on sale, but excellent bargains none-the-less.

Good Fences L$150 (Not on Sale)

This fence contains 2 animated poses for standing or lying across the lattice fence.The flowers are also included, taking it up to 29 prims.

Old Country Hill Pose / Prop Set L$10

6 different poses, 31 prims for this fantastic prop set on sale this weekend.

Country Outside Tub L$10

One bathing animation, 30 prims, a tub with flowers and a tree stump. On sale.

Mater Pose Boxes L$10

Tomato Crates – a set of three to pose on.

Veggie Burlap Food Bags L$10

Yum

Cowboy Artwork Freebie, Dollarbies

Horse and Cowboy artworks – some are free, some are dollarbies.

Mission Furniture

These heavy oak furniture pieces are going for L$20 each. Oh, and look for the freebie necklace beside these boxes – it’s a cowboy hat.

Ranch Hand’s Hideout L$250

You’ll find this 24 prim little hideout at the main landing point. It’s not for sale, but I fell in love with it anyway. Furnishings not included in the price, but don’t you just love the little matching rocker and tubs of plants etc?

Find these, and many more birthday bargains and just real nice furnishings on the BugTussle SIM at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Kaseo/84/134/24

Technorati Tags: barn, featured, freebies, Garden, house, poses, props, sale

SL House & Garden | Going Potty

PacificBlue — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 21:49:18 +0000

These two pot people are available free via Colleen Desmoulins of The Loft. You will have seen the man pot across the blogosphere a week ago, as it was a subscribo gift sent out to those joined up at The Loft. The female behind (who in my eyes, looks a little grumpy) is a free group welcome gift if you join up on the new SL group – SL House & Garden. You will find her in the group notices. Join the group for news and adverts from SL’s prefab, furniture and garden designers in the future. Plus this free gift.

Each pot – 12 or 13 prims, and incredible detail.

Mine are outside our new greenhouses, quite fitting for some pot people.

Technorati Tags: featured, freebies, Garden, house, pots

Lumberjack Tree at napoliy

PacificBlue — Sat, 08 May 2010 15:33:26 +0000

For Project Themeory this week the theme is ‘Lumberjack’ and Napoliy has an interesting item out for only L$75 – a dead tree with axe and stump. napoliy http://slurl.com/secondlife/CHILE%20SL/200/93/1022
posted by PacificBlue Hanly on CHILE SL using a blogHUD : [blogHUD permalink]

Technorati Tags: sales

SL Homes & Gardens | Creative Fantasy Purple Peacocks

PacificBlue — Sun, 02 May 2010 13:29:11 +0000

I’ll let you into a little secret – my Aunty Audrie is due back in-world any day now, and if she were to choose a little cottage for herself, I’d dare say this would be top of her choices.

Because this Creative Fantasy Cottage is surrounded by purples and lilacs in lush plantings of what my English aunt would define as true ‘English Cottage Garden’ I also took note of this one for the Paint SL Purple week on this blog.

Imagine my surprise when I found that inside, it’s less country cottage and much more royal purple fantasy.

‘Le Petit Paon’ Cottage features menu-driven windows and door, a working fireplace and chimney, and included in the price are some bonus extras – the furniture, curtains, trellis with plants and lanterns, a flagstone walkway, pictures, rugs, nature sound rock. The cottage alone is 94 prims, with a footprint of 23 x 18.

Sadly, the splendid animated peacock above the trellis is not sold in the package, but is available separately. You should get it, given the name – ‘Le Petit Paon’ means The Small Peacock. The theme is transferred through the prefab, and more so upstairs, where you may find the traditional purple and green colourings of a more common peacock also.

The white peacock features inside also – you will find it in an oval framed art piece above the magnificent fireplace. The cottage downstairs is decorated in rich royal purples and antique golds, with parquet wood flooring underneath.

Entering under the lattice trellis, you have an L-shaped ground floor with fireplace, and large windows looking out. These are menu controlled, however the demo version doesn’t give you the option to try out the AeonVox window system. A teleporter allows you up to the second floor.

This second floor opens up the fantasy surprise even more so than downstairs. Two large feature cabled walls are decorated with purple and fern lushness, whilst two of the roof eaves have been made into large scenic glass windows, looking out over the neighbourhood. Of course, the trees and purple flowering plants outside of the demonstration cottage at Creative Fantasy bring in more of the theme, so you might like to consider what your environments may do to your cottage.

The furnishings seen here also come in the cottage package – a rich toned bed, a beautiful lush rug, and a small oak table and chairs, oil lantern, and a large antique trunk – with purple lining. The greens are brought out on the final wall opposite the large windows overlooking the trellis underneath (with that white animated peacock), and by the green carpet underfoot. Downstairs you may have noticed the purple rug in front of the fireplace.

From the outside, Le Petit Paon Cottage looks just that – a little cottage. The external appearance would see it fitting into many roleplays or themed SIMs, including English garden to farming scenes, provincial French to a lovely gardened modern. Step inside, and it’s something quite fantastic, and requires some truly majestic furniture. Shabby or royal – furnishing such a cottage could really be fun, especially as you are given several pieces to start with.

Yes, I think my Aunty would really approve of this one.

SLurl : Creative Fantasy

Credits : Available at Creative Fantasy Home & Garden, Serenity Falls

Lilac bushes, L$150 for group
Summer Vine Lantern with moths and purple / yellow flowers, L$450
Julia’s Wild Blue Bells (ground cover plants), L$150
Snowdrops & Blue Bells (ground cover plants), L$275
White Peacock, L$450

‘La Petit Paon’ Cottage, L$3500

SL Homes & Gardens | Home Expo 3

PacificBlue — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 14:50:06 +0000

This is my third post on the wonderful prefabs and items found at the SL Home, Garden & Patio Expo (still currently on). Again, my picks. Go there, choose your own. And if anyone has a SIM spare (for free, as I have no money left) where I could put out all my own purchases, great! I’m welcoming your generous offers now (kidding!).

For this post, I thought I’d concentrate on prefabs and gardening stuff which I might like if setting up a small farm or cottagey garden. Just because…

La’Licious – Shabby Little House

I fell in love with this pale cottage, what can I say? So I bought it. And the fireplace you find inside, and the full blue kitchen set you will also find inside. But I stopped myself at purchasing the little matching playhouse, regretfully. L$1500 for the cottage.The purple bedroom in this three roomed cottage contains a display of the kid’s range “Dollhouse” which also nearly makes me want to go out and find a kid just for the sake of the cuteness of that furniture. Enough said, me thinks.

The La’Licious display area is found at Home Expo 3

Mudhoney – Jameson Garden House

In part 2 of my Home Expo posts, I mentioned Mudhoney’s props which are available at the Expo. But this one is too, and it’s an RFL item also.101 prims,L$375. There is also a Jameson open gazebo as another RFL item at this display.

Again, Mudhoney can be found on Home Expo 3.

Antique Artistry – Victorian Dream Greenhouse

Another white garden type house, this time from Antique Artistry. Beautiful and only 48 prims, for L$995. Of course – the full and large Victorian Dreams house and clocktower (not shown here) in this feature garden are also worth it. And there is even a matching – wait for it – chicken coop / bunny hutch. These are colour tintable also.

Inside the chicken coop and greenhouse you will find many marvelous vintage gardening accessories such as the 19 prim potting table, and around the gardens there are bird tables, hand pumps and many other detailed accessories for your cottage garden.

Antique Artistry is found on Home Expo 7

Green & Wild – greenhouses, garden implements and blossom trees

In Post 2 I previewed the nice gardening stuff you can find at Petals in the Wind (Home Expo 6) but there are some equally wonderful stuff at Green & Wild’s large display. I took a liking to the simple white greenhouse there, plus the forks, shovels, pots and the lovely 4 prim group of blossoming trees (L$75). There are four gardens displayed at G&W including a large water garden. Stunning stuff, and you can buy a pack of flower cover as an RFL item too. Another shot from the Green & Wild garden display is used as the header for this post.

G&W’s Display can be found on Home Expo 3, next door to La’Licious.

Home Expo Website and Silent Auction

The Home Expo is running an expo raffle for several items, and a silent auction. A few of the items I have mentioned are up for auction, including the Barnesworth Anubis Pacific house and the Antique Artistry Victorian Dreams house – and greenhouse. I’m leaving you with a link straight to the silent auction site on Home Expo 3, but please don’t outbid me on that Barnesworth Pacific house – it’s got my name on it, surely?

SLurl : Home Expo Silent Auction

URL : SL Home Garden & Patio Expo

SL Homes & Gardens | Home Expo 2

PacificBlue — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 10:26:48 +0000

This is my second review of the Home Expo currently on, and I will simply be showing you a series of images taken at the Expo, of prefabs, and gardens which I took a particular liking to. Most of those shown, I now own.

Little Boxes – Beach Shacks

Little Boxes has a very large display area on Home Expo 6. There is a beautiful little stone cottage with bright blue shutters, but what really took my own eye was this series of beach shacks on display. There is a larger shack to the left, but I couldn’t choose for these smaller shacks – in pink, blue or orange. Inside there’s room for a sofa or table or so, similar to the beach huts which you find on stoney British shorelines. Each sells for L$300, or you can pick up the fat pack of all three for L$800.

Petals in the Wind – Gardening

Walk across from Little Boxes to find this very cute gardening display for Petals in the Wind. I fell in love with the stack of seedling boxes to the left, and the pile of dirt with a shovel and hoe to tend your garden also. In the background there are several trees and sheds well worth considering for that old cottage garden feel.

The Woodshed – Macrath Cottages

These make me want to take up a hobbit’s life. You can purchase not only the cottages but the furniture you see inside (helpfully in packs). The smaller Macrath is only L$1000.

Prime – Umbrella and Low-Prim Sculpted Furniture

This umbrella, available as an RFL item at Prime (Home Expo Eight) seems to have taken Second Life by storm. But it was the rest of the low prim sculpted items in the Prime store that really got me excited. There are lower cost highly detailed sexbeds and bedroom furniture but I fell in love with the Banana bed set, based on banana cargo boxes. Only 21 prims, but containing 400 animations (most of which I have no reason to use, er-hem).

Gum’s Flower Shop

Just down the way on Home Expo Eight you may find Gum’s Flower Shop. At the front display you will find beautiful sculpted little flowers, accessories and vases. To the side, you’ll find tables of sculpted food and fruit items. Beside the pond you will find some very cute ducks with their nest. Each duck is only 3 prims, one sells for L$20 and the other for L$50. Touching this one produces a temporary egg. The eggs in the nest are copyable for free also.

Behind the large tree you will find a wonderful RFL item – a strawberry barrel – it serves strawberries on touch. And it’s currently half price at L$50. Beautiful details! This is a must-have for my own farm, although I did hum and hah over the cute chipmunk on a treetrunk too.

Home Expo Website

My final entry is one of a reminder. Often times bloggers are encouraged to blog (or get the word out) about certain events individually under the format of ‘get as much coverage as possible’, when much of that information is already available officially and via various sources. It’s hard work to write such official websites, and often for many weeks before the actual event.

Those websites should be more naturally supported than what is happening at the moment (yes, I’m saying something political here). I, too, have previously been remiss in linking back to the work of the official blogs and writers on this and other Faires. No more.

So, for full information on Home Expo SIMs, events and objectives, your first port of call should be via the SL Home Garden & Patio Expo blog. From there you should find links to more pictures on Koinup and other image sites, and much more to entertain you. If you do blog this Expo yourself, linking back to that Home Expo blog will also be much appreciated, and that’s actually how google works with links and reciprocal links working much harder to get the word out than this individual blog article may do.

Visit the Home Expo before it closes this weekend. It’s well worth many hours of your time.

URL : SL Home Garden & Patio Expo

SL Homes & Gardens | Home Expo

PacificBlue — Wed, 14 Apr 2010 15:19:25 +0000

The Home Expo is on again this week, and there are some lovely home, garden and patio items available from many creators, plus some extra special goods in aid of RFL again this year. I took several days to travel around the expo, teleporting in during quiet AM times in PDT, avoiding lots of lag experienced by others. Here are some of my own picks from the Home Expo. I hope to do up a couple more posts over the coming weekend.

Designing Worlds at Home Expo

On Tuesday at 2pm SLT, Designing Worlds held a live showing (also on Treet.tv) at the Expo. An audience including myself sat at the Press area of the Home Expo watching this live show, while Designing Worlds reporters visited other areas and designers showcasing at the Expo.Unfortunately technical difficulties meant I could no longer stay around for all of the show, but it is still available in-world on televisions, and over the web on Treet.tv (I held off posting for a day to allow for this to become available). This Designing World Home Expo show will give you a very good feel for all that Home Expo can offer.

Included in this show were Barnesworth Anubis and Callie Cline’s new Pampered Pets company and the designs. More on this is a future post.

The Press area for the Home Expo sits opposite Belle Belle’s display area.

Belle Belle – Trailer

Belle Belle went for a simplistic grassy display area this year, and showcases only a couple of items. However one of these is the popular La Vie Est Belle Belle or trailer fully furnished. We saw this recently in last month’s Spruce Up Your Space trailor park themed month, and now is your opportunity to pick this trailer up again at an outstanding price of L$995. This trailer is a Relay for Life item.

Belle Belle also has a swimming pool out, which complements the trailer. This is free within the Hud hunt run at the Home Expo, or purchaseable also. Unfortunately the male model outside the trailer doesn’t appear to be for sale…

SLurl : Belle Belle @ Home Expo

C&D Designs – Journey Skybox

I’m always going to be a skybox fan, so took a liking to C&D Designs’ new offering – the Journey Skybox, selling for L$2600. This is large and roomy, with a display wall, colour-change walls inside, and a removable balcony barrier allowing you to use it not only in the sky but on the ground also. Perfect for a modern store, or office.The Journey Skybox is on display above the Home Expo – there is a TP up to it.

C&D Designs has a large display area at Home Expo, and you can find their fantastic modern lights and lamps for sale there also. The display also profiles another new prefab out, the Seventy, which is a modular curved store available in several textures. Available for L$1125, this would make an excellent small store or office unit.

RFL Vendors at the C&D Designs display will provide a hope chest for L$250 or a full pink bathroom set for L$2400.

SLurl : C&D Designs at Home Expo

Organica

Organica’s display area this year is worth the visit just for the tranquility. Themed as an Asian garden, there are beautiful maples and leafy trees (all to buy) in the gardens surrounding the Asian-style shop. Step inside, and you will find a beautiful Bourganvillea Gate available as the RFL item, for L$250. It’s copy perm’ed and only 4 prims.

CoOrdinates : Organica @ Home Expo can be found at Home Expo 7 (217, 192, 24)

Barnesworth Anubis

Barnesworth Anubis and Callie Cline have a new brand out, of pet products (which you’ll find next door), however I’ll talk about that in a different post. In the meantime, the BA display will show you the latest prefabs out – the Platt and the Pacific (the later needs to be teleported to, off-grounds). Both feature a combined studio space and living spaces for artists, designers or bloggers perhaps amongst us.

The Barnesworth Anubis item for RFL is a fabulous summer pergola for L$300 or a small couch for outdoors, for L$150.

SLurl : Barnesworth Anubis @ Home Expo

Working Hard For a SIM

PacificBlue — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 21:08:09 +0000

Okay, so I don’t actually have the lindens for the SIM I live on. My cousin, Black pays for it. But does this fact make it okay for him to sit around sunning himself on a log while I do all the domestics?

Seriously…not happy.

Credits :

Pink Lawn Flamingo – L$50, this weekend only, at Aria – part of the Spruce Up Your Space Straight out of the Trailer Extravaganza.

Wearable Push Mower - L$50 yesterday only, at RC Cluster – Fifty Linden Friday promotion.

Ridable Clippy Mower – L$150, this weekend only, at Ambiance - part of the Spruce Up Your Space Straight out of the Trailer Extravaganza.

Log with animations - L$unsure – Dutchie. There is also a couples log. This single log contains seven animations, and is only one prim.

Technorati Tags: fun