just melusina

Proud winner of the photo contest Winter in Berlin!

2012-01-17T12:28:00.000-08:00

When snow started falling on 1920 Berlin, a photo contest has been published for pics inspired to that magical scenery. I spent a great night wandering around the city and shooting beautiful corners covered by the white. But i never had thought that my pics would be appreciated so much to make me win the contest!

Now I received the notice of the winning I'm happy twice: first 'cause my pic has been judged well, second 'cause Berlin is one of my preferred places in SL since my beginning. I remember when I arrived by chance to Flashmans - another place I did learn loving so much! - and a lady, seating on the bar and wearing a wonderful dress (I was not aware of it, but i was discovering then the great clothes by Sonatta Morales), told me about 1920 Berlin.
Being a lover of history and art, and mostly of the style and art of the decades between the two WW, my curiosity arose up and i couldn't wait to visit that place.

I went there with a close friend, Maizon Rayna, and it has been a stunning visit! We were speechless seeing the historical atmosphere of the still unfinished city, the narrow streets and the broad Unter den Linden, the slums with walls covered by political propaganda and the luxury cafes and hotels...
Then, we saw a lady entering a door... despite she did seem very busy, Maizon has been bold and asked her about the place. So we met Jo Yardley, who wore yet her now famous barmaid apron :) She drove us for a while around the city, and finally showed us a brand new club: it was the Keller!

Months after, when i started my brand Melu Deco, I wished it would be appreciated there, since my furniture style is exactly that of the time in which Berlin lives. Frau Yardley gave me a shop on rent, but she was a bit worried I shouldn't like that it was beneath the "Gentleman's club".
On the other hand, I found that a nice thing, and i was right! I met there some wonderful friends, like Pola Solo, and i could have the joy to see sitting in my shop (what better than a furniture shop to sit down and chatting?) many Berliners.

The following story would be long to tell: i lived some great and dramatic moments of the Berlin life, from the Miss Berlin Contest, to the moving church service for the anniversary celebrated by Father Cuthbert Helendale, to the impressive self distruction of the old city made by Frau Yardley when she built the new SIM and moved Berlin there...

At that time, Frau Yardley has been so kind to drive me through a desert, still closed SIM: crazily driving her car - as usual ;) - she showed me the new city, and I was speechless again: without losing anything of its style and of its historical accuracy, the small city I knew was become a metropolis!
In the new SIM I could get two Melu Deco shops: one in the visitors' area, the other one at the no.6 of the awesome Alexanderplatz. I'm always delighted when i take the train to Berlin and, going out from the Station, I see my sign in that famous square :)

I regret missing a lot of events, and to have too few time to enjoy often the slightly surreal talks at the Keller at the daily Happy Hours, but nevertheless, the list of the amazing events i take part in there is endless: luxury Mask Balls, great Burlesque and Cabaret sessions, great art exhibits, pretty holiday markets and open air feasts... All that, thanks to the tireless work made by Jo Yardley and by some other great spirits, like the art lover and expert GStone Turas, whose friendship has become one of the great thing of my SL.
Recently, then, a new attraction has been set: the Eldorado club, managed by Sonatta Morales! If somebody want to live an authentic 1920s club's atmosphere, naughty and genial, anarchic and whimsical, just go there!

I have also had the honor to see my photo exhibit Future Past in the Schloss Museum last Summer. It has been exciting to see my pics on the walls of that austere and solemn columned building!

It's also exciting seeing my furniture in the homes of many Berliners: after 18 months I keep there my shops I can proudly say they are a point of reference for the decor of many tenants. They have been presented at their beginning on the Berlin magazine, edited then by Zeno McAuley, while my last photo exhibit has been published too on the stunning magazine Styl, edited by GStone Turas, whose kindness and friendship made her also sponsor the exhibit.

Now, I'm happy to see my portrait among the ones of the Berlin Long Term Tenants, close to those of many friends and city's life protagonists. This makes me remember all the great moments i lived in this unique place and I tried to summarize in this post.

Buildings and streets are awesome and full of interesting things, but a city is made by its residents: i couldn't name all of the other people who let me share a so amazing experience, but I didn't forget them. To all of them and to all of the ones I mentioned yet I due the proudness to be able saying... I'm a Berliner!

MELU DECO Perfume Bottles Collection !

2012-01-10T15:04:00.000-08:00

I created some vintage perfume bottles and i thought to sell them in a more funny way than the usual one.

I made a Gatcha with more than 50 bottles and i invite customers to collect them. Since they are transfer, ppl are able to exchange their copies with friends to complete the 10 sets of the collection. When a single set of 5 bottles is complete, the collector will receive a gift from my brand.

Moreover, bottles are entitled to famous people of the Art Deco decades, so they stimulate ppl to learn more about those great times :)

Go to Melu Deco shops, click the sign and get the "How to" notecard, for instructions, gifts' list, and more. Then... click the Gatcha and start the game!

For a better view, and for detailed pics of each bottle set, see my Flickr

MELU DECO main store

Happy New Year!

2011-12-31T07:49:00.001-08:00

MELU DECO
The Classy Vintage
Art Deco furniture and home accessories for SL

Melu Deco main store

vintAGE imAGE: photo exhibit at Seraph City

2011-11-23T13:21:00.000-08:00

After two important exhibits i couldn't blog 'cause the lack of time, at the Schloss Museum, 1920 Berlin and at the R&D Gallery where my friends Redcin y Danny host me regularly, i got the honor to be sponsored by the Berliner Styl magazine for a photo exhibit at Seraph City, so I moved there the vintAGE imAGE exhibit, the one i held at R&D gallery in the past months.
"Vintage Image. Details from a glamorous past" is the complete title, 'cause it's centered on fragments of the reality the camera doesn't copy, but does build.

I wrote it in the introduction of the show, that now is part of an article published on the new Berliner Styl issue.

Being sponsored by GStone Turas, the magazine's editor, is really an honor: GStone is a volcan who never stops thinking and making great cultural initiatives, at her gallery in Berlin and elsewhere. She's one of the protagonists of the cultural Second Life, and one of the greatest animators of the Berlin life.

Moreover, she proposed my pics to be hosted in Seraph City, one of the great retro SIMs of SL, together with Berlin, Paris 1900, Chicago Roaring 20s, Old Hollywood and a few others, more Steampunk style, like Caledon or New Babbage. I love Seraph since my first visit, when i rented a shop that is still there, close to the New Champagne Room venue. Its Art Deco architecture is one of the best examples of that style to the extent of a whole city.

No place would be more appropriate, then, than the First Bank building, that is being hosting my exhibit through to December 15th, thanks to the courtesy of its owner, Paul Creighton.

. You can find also a kiosk whre to buy the stunning issue of Styl magazine dedicated to travels.

I'm happy to show here some of the photos of the exhibit, inviting my readers to enjoy a visit there.

VMA Build Off - Art Deco buildings

2011-11-02T07:53:00.000-07:00

I had the honour to be chosen for judging the Virtual Museum of Architecture seasonal Build Off.
The reason is that its theme this year was Art Deco building, so my activity in creating Art Deco furniture had given me the opportunity to give a closer look to some wonderful buildings made by professionals or even by "novices".
Fantasy, good knowledge of that style, building skills of the contestants made possible walking around a little city where the elements of Art Deco architectural style have been displayed in more than 20 buildings which go through the variety of the different types of 1920-30s architecture.

Build Off winners'buildings

I want to stress, among the others, the originality of the Jolie Serendipity's idea to build a big burl radio to host a radio station, or the stunning façade and the rigorous Art Deco interiors of the Bijoux Films venue made by Terra Tepper, or the intriguing color palette and the mix of bricks and glass in the Marcan Aridian's building.

Terra Tepper's building - tied 1st winner - professional

Marcan Aridian's building - tied 1st winner - professional

Jolie Serendipity's building - novice 1st winner

Terra Tepper's building - professional 1st winner ex aequo (interior)

I'm glad to show here the winner's buildings (thanks to courtesy of VMA staff), which will stay rezzed till the next VMA contest. It's an invite to visit that place and to enjoy the beauty of these great creations.

Hideo Inaka's building - professional 2nd winner

Hideo Inaka's building - professional 2nd winner (interior)

Granelda Oh's building - professional 3rd winner (2)

Arteer Olivia's building - novice 2nd winner

Rottin Dean's building - novice 3rd winner

Camden McAndrews' building - novice popular vote winner

These are the winners; here below a few of others noteworthy buildings among the contestant's ones:

Niamh Burnstein's building

Niamh Burnstein's building (detail)

Morgan India building

Enoch Kips' building

Sandi Glas' building

More pics of these and of other contestants' buildings have been added to my collection of Art Deco places in SL Flickr set.
Enjoy them!

So grateful to my friends...

2011-11-01T02:35:00.000-07:00

My dear friends of Look Elite Model Agency Laura18 Streeter, Bourbon Zenovka, Bety Dudek and Kellis Denimore wanted to celebrate my third rezzday giving me a wonderful gift: the stunning new booties recently released by the great shoemaker Bax Coen.

Bax Booties Porto and Soho

I added them to an almost complete collection of these brand's shoes, not so many pieces, but items which marked SL shoe fashion during years.
Cute bicolor, slightly ironic high heels pumps, laced and decorated by pretty textures and great matching colors: I wear them with some MEB dresses and coats, showing how they can be paired to different outfits to express a lot of personal looks.

Soho booties with MEB Audrey coat

Soho booties with MEB Miuccia Jacket and silk pants

Porto booties with MEB Chelsea coat

(Pics are taken at two places i love much: the Cafè and the Rothko Gallery at Campus d'Art built by Cecilia Delacroix and the Cupcake SIM)

Henceforth poorer...

2011-10-06T07:34:00.000-07:00

More (past) photo exhibits...

2011-06-30T04:04:00.000-07:00

In the last post I wrote about my photo exhibits at R&D gallery and at MAAD. Though, I didn't realize that I never noticed I have started exhibiting my pics since a while yet!
I never should have thought to exhibit my photos; I'm not a professional photographer and my technical skills are probably poor; I'm just a passionate amateur, enthusiast witness of my own feelings about SL people, places and magic. If technics is poor, my catching eye is driven by strong feelings and emotions.

Thanks to Olympes Rhode, great Paris 1900 photographer, dancer and friend, I had had that opportunity: she trusted in my skills and she invited me to join the Photographes Inter-Sims group, asking me first some pics for the thematic exhibit "Passages" at the stunning Galerie des Machines in Paris, then for taking part in two great exhibits at the Café des Artistes.

The first one, some month ago, has been about "Paris Impressions" and I had the honour and the pleasure to share the exhibit's rooms with Zaelle Uxlay ans Shoji Kumaki.
The second one, even with the same friends, is about the theme The Bright Side of Life" and it's still open at the Café.
The first pics (you can see them on a Flickr set here) try to catch some meaningful corners of one among the SL cities i love much, where i keep stores and where i take part in great events.

The second exhibit gave me a strong impulse to reflect about things that make my SL worthy and beautiful :) Even a small tree or a bright sunshine can be a reason to love this Life and the Other One.

Faces, Places, Moments are the three words which I had in my mind when I selected the pics.

The Passages theme brought me to experiment some ideas (or questions) about SL-RL relationship: Imitation, Swap, Trespassing. Three possible ways to live both Lives, as we have the chance to do.

Merci Olympes!

Art Deco photos...

2011-06-28T01:37:00.000-07:00

As most of my friends know, since a long time I collect pics of Art Deco places in SL (see my Flickr set). I have been surprised by the huge amount of buildings and whole towns that i found around SL.
Months ago i've been asked by a friend who keeps an art gallery to exhibit some of my photos. So bore the exhibit Second Deco, hosted by Red Bickin and Danniela Bruun at their R&D Gallery.

At the exhibit, i met Frey Bravin, who was starting with the project of a Museum of American Architecture and Design. He invited me to dislpay my works at the new Museum; so I'm grateful and proud to see there a room where my pics are shown.

Likewise, I'm proud also to see my pics shown in an Artist Walk of the beautiful SIM Campus d'Art, owned and built by Cecilia Delacroix, among great SL and RL artists's galleries.

I invite all art lovers to visit these places, that witness one of the most worthy side of SL.

(A special thank to Pandora Runo and Lulubelle Muircastle, who made me met Red and Frey; and to Laura18 Streeter, who gave me the pic of the MAAD exhibit entrance)

Another victim of a wrong policy: Primtings Museum is no longer in SL

2011-06-21T06:43:00.000-07:00

.
.
JUNE 24th UPDATE!
Primtings and the Shakespeare SIMs are back!!
A miracle?

Many Second Life SIMs close every day: wrong plans, weak management, lack of money, scarce advertising kill old and great commercial brands or even small communities' discos or chatting venues.
It's sad, very sad, to people who loved (and LIVED) them, even if they were just entretainment places.
It's life, it's Second Life.

But sometimes we have to regret even more, 'cause the disappeared place is a different and a special one. Closing of public interest SIMs makes all of us poorer and destroys a piece of the great puzzle-dream that SL would be.
Losing a museum, a theater, an accurate rebuilding of an historical or art town, a famous cafè or a passionate creator's fashion brand means subtracting to SL one of its aims: that of being a place were creativity, passion and skills - which often are frustrated in RL - could show themselves and could give pleasure and useful knowledge to many other people.

So, i think we can't keep silent while Primtings Museum and the connected Shakespeare (with a stunning rebuilding of the Globe Theater) and sLiteracy SIMs disappear from the SL map.

Primtings was a very special museum (i wrote several times about it) where SL artists made 3d versions of contemporary art masterpieces. An unique place, where you could hang on a tree aside to the liquefied clock of the famous Salvador Dali's painting, or you could take a cup of coffee at the counter of the Phillie's pub of the Edward Hopper's Nighthawk one. The architecture of the museum was itself a very original witness of modern design.

I enjoyed it several times, i brought there dozen of friends, and all of them had become enthusiast visitors and supporters of the place. Here you can find records about all the artwork that were in the museum.

Ina Centaur, the restless creator of these wonderful places, wrote a sad message to all her friends telling the bad story that brought the SIMs to die. I don't add anything but a short notice for those who don't have the time to read her letter.
Despite Primtings and Shakespeare SIMs have raisen the money needed to survive until half 2011, the arrear in tier payment of other SIMs brought Ina's account to be closed by LL. Consequently all her properties and items disappeared from our virtual world.

All supporters and contributors of the funding campaign have to be astonished and upset by this strict enforcement of LL rules. But even more should be astonished and upset all art and culture lovers who live in SL, seeing that LL demonstrate to be indifferent to preserve what can be considered as an achievement of SL purposes: making dreams real, showing the great opportunities of the virtual world, overcoming funding tyranny and lack of profitability that is a constant treat to art and culture in their highest forms.
An enlighted management should have to recognize what has worth and deserves support, even if it should mean departing from economic rules. LL should have been supporters of such an initiative - as hundreds of SL residents are - and not its killers.

This post is a requiem for a great place, a protest against a shortsighted company policy and a faithful witness of an art lover and of a SL enthusiast, who feels herself injured by this sad and unnecessary event.

52 Weeks of Colors Challenge - Mahogany

2011-06-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

This Week Luna Jubilee proposes the color MAHOGANY.
Being a furniture maker, it sound to me like one of the best woods for ancient and luxurious furniture... I can't resist, though being busy...

My mahogany!

I got a great gift...: LollipopZ hair!

2011-05-03T09:20:00.000-07:00

I'm so happy that my work in SL Fashion let me meet so many amazing people!
One of them is my friend Zeev Dinzeo, whose LollipopZ hair I wear very often (when I'm in Avination, when i've less hair than in SL, I wear almost only her Chances hair, whose blonde color and whose bun closed in a black net make a very great effect!).
Now, she has been so kind to give me her new hair's line, and i want to share some of them with my readers.
Hair come with their matching hair bases, and this is yet a great improvement to their fitting; moreover, the choice of colors is so wide that i had to stop trying them last night, 'cause the dawn was coming yet!
Finally, hair with accessories (bows, bands, berets...) have a HUD that allows to change the accessory color, so that you can adapt them to your outfit.
No more words, then! Let me show now some sample of these great creations.

Angelic hair is one of most versatile ones i ever got: here, I wear it in a semi-elegant mood, with the MEB Capri outfit, but while i write i'me wearing the Auburn version with a full colored bobo-chic outfit, and i can ensure you it's stunning too! Moreover, you can add it a big braid, laying on your breast :)

Daniela hair style mixes up an elegant cut and a wild and provocative one. Here i wear it with the top MEB gown, Red Carpet Neige, and it's a pity you can't see how well curls on the back move when i walk. Really original, glamour and sexy!

The white version of the same hair Daniela requires another skin, to stress the almost futurist mood it suggest. I worn my Glam Affair Mary Grey skin, and you can easily see by yourselves how it enhances the sober and refined elegance of this bright white hair.

I was talking about accessories, before. Well, the simple wool band coming with Julia hair can change by HUD up to 8 different colors, making of this hair a perfect example of classy casual ones. Another accessoried hair is Scarlet, with its cute wool beret, that leaves just some curls outside its shape.

The LollipopZ new line is then completed by Dolce, long hair, coming down to the breast on both two sides (and can add braid too).

Thanks, Zeev, really great hair styles!!

52 Weeks of Color: EGGPLANT

2011-04-16T16:39:00.000-07:00

Eggplant: i love it!
So I wanted to take pics with a dress and with lingerie.

Dress is MEB Isabella, an exclusive item for Front Row, the charity against Cancer (Relay for Life) managed in sl by Glance International. It's on sale at MEB main store: all incomes proceeding from its sale will go to RFL.

SAVE PRIMTINGS MUSEUM!!!

2011-03-28T06:35:00.000-07:00

We all contributed to good causes, in these days. A great solidarity is being seen about Japanese tragedy, and Fashion for Life event involved thousands of fashion lovers, raising more than 4750000 l$.
But we risk to forget that even culture needs even more help.
In many countries, education and culture are neglected and beaten by funds' cuts stated by governments 'cause the economic crisis... In SL, LLabs cancelled tier relief for educational SIMs...

Primtings is a unique virtual museum, where great SL artists tryed to give a virtual life to RL art masterpieces:wandering around its awesome rooms, among beutyful views on the sea and stunning minimalist architectures, you can WALK inside surrealist landscapes or take a drink at the Edward Hopper's Phillie's bar. Or even admire a great baroque 3D ceiling by Andrea Del Pozzo, or get lost in the Escher's labyrinths.
Or even "DIE" like David's Marat in a bloody bathtub...

All that could get lost to SL art lovers: the creator, Ina Centaur, launched a support campaign, but offers are not still enough.
She thought to migrate to other virtual spaces, to preserve the great Primtings idea. But we should lose the pleasure to spend time in that place and our SL would be more sad and poor.

A long strip made by squares to color by our contribution is now at the Museum.
Add a little square to the collective painting we are making by our L$ helps, take part in the campaign Paint by Prims!
Primtings - Paint by Prims

Don't allow one of the best SL Art places desappear!!

52 Weeks of Colors - WHITE (on black)

2011-03-27T16:31:00.001-07:00

So, i can wear one of the most stunning MEB dresses: Red Carpet is born on its proper color, the "Rouge" (Red), but suddenly, its success made MEB make other colors. Among them, this awesome bright white "Neige" (Snow). I shot it in a black background and decor, a typical Art Deco elegant room, that i made collecting pieces from different "ages" of Melu Deco history. The best way to stress the brightness of this great gown. (Better view on Flickr)

52 Weeks of Colors: SKY BLUE (to Japan)

2011-03-21T03:03:00.000-07:00

I dedicate this week's pic to all japanese friends, hoping an ever blue sky :)

Black haired Melu wears a kimono by Fall'n Angels, blonde Melu wears MEB Anastacia (exclusive, not for sale, but avalaible in other color as Juliette). Furnishing by Melu Deco.

(Better view)

Something for Japan

2011-03-15T05:12:00.000-07:00

I've no words to comment the tragedy in Japan.
Since I live in SL, Japan is no more an abstract thought (i live on the other side of the world), but it means to me friends, direct news, discovery of culture and everyday life...

What can our avies do for them?
Many ppl and organisations started collecting aids.
Eagles Rave SIM will open a store with stuff by all its merchants, whose incomes will go to Japan.

Two Moon Paradise and Mermaid of the Mist will raise funds for japanese Red Cross by an auction on March 16th.

We can contribute to raise funds also through LL:
Buy this cute teddy bear at LL's store on Marketplace and hug your japanese friends!

52 Weeks of Colors: Umber

2011-03-13T13:57:00.000-07:00

I follow taking part in the Challenge, but the moment is too sad to add words..
Just a good thought to Japan and to all people there.

(wearing MEB Lorraine; furnishing by Melu Deco)

better view on Flickr

For Japan

2011-03-11T14:26:00.000-08:00

(thanks to Marleen Vaughan for the pic)

MEB takes part in Fashion for Life Event (March 12th-22th)

2011-03-10T09:12:00.001-08:00

Fashion for Life is the greatest fashion event in the year: more then 190 fashion designers offer clothes to support the fight of American Cancer Society against cancer.
The event is also a parade of SL fashion, with its 9 sims of stores arranged this year on the theme Beyond Black and White and inspired to 9 famous photographers.

According to the theme, I decored MEB store at Helmut Newton SIM (build by KMADD) in black and white, and we selected the outfits to show and sell there mixing up white and black clothes and colored ones. It's to represent the hope to go from the basic colors to a more colored life.

These are the outfits MEB offers to FFL: buying them you'll contribute to this good cause

We invite our friends to check the sims out, and to visit the MEB store there.

ECRU - 52 Weeks of Color Challenge

2011-03-06T14:34:00.000-08:00

Following the challenge by Luna Jubilee, I come again with pics in the color of the week, after some ones by which i've been not inspired...
This time I tryed some effects with mirrors: it's a challenge in the challenge :)

MEB wardrobe is wide enough to contain ecru clothes (even if they are a darker shade of this color), and Melu Deco furniture can be made in matching woods :)

Here are the results...

As usual, better views can be found in my Flickr set

Paris Impressions exhibit

2011-02-14T00:33:00.000-08:00

Thanks to Olympes Rhode and Ziget Tammas, of Admicile, I could take part in an exhibit along with two talented photographers as Zuelle Xulay and Shoji Kumaki.
The place is the pretty Cafè des Artistes at the Brasserie Graff, close to Paris 1900's Moulin Rouge. I had also the honor of furnishing the exhibit rooms in Art Deco style.

Paris Impressions affiche

Zuelle's room

Shoji's wall

Melu's wall

The Opening

Melu, Caran, Shoji, Olympes

This is to thank Olympes, Ziget and all the friends who came to enjoy the exhibit.
Celebrating a great city in RL and SL!

(more pics of the opening at http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/sets/72157626045919800/)

52 weeks of color challenge - RED

2011-02-14T00:13:00.000-08:00

Red spots!

Just spots of red on a bright background of furniture by Melu Deco: I wear the Colette jacket (from a MEB Spring 2011 Collection outfit), whose special shade of red deserves to be stressed by a contrasting background.

Better view: http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/5444630244/

52 weeks of Color Challenge: BLACK!

2011-02-06T01:22:00.001-08:00

This is the most difficult challenge!
How to choose among the thousands of black outfits I have in my inventory?
Well, i've to put more than one pic (again!)

For the first "black" pic I choose a place and a dress that recall one of my favorite places: I worn the MEB Yvette outfit (an homage to Yves Saint Laurent) and I did dream to walk along the ancient Monmartre streets in Paris. Within a week I'll do there (in SL Paris 1900) an exciting thing: I'll take part in an exhibit with some of my Paris' pics! So, nothing more appropriate than wearing this great outfit, dedicated to the French fashion Master!

Now the vintage pics!
Using my own furniture and accessories (Melu Deco), I build a set celebrating the so called Jazz Era: just a couple of stand lamps, a black consolle, a fitting rug. But the atmosphere is done by some icon of that times: the pic by Tamara de Lempicka, the Queen of Art Deco painting, and the Lalique's vase, a well known masterpiece by the great French artist of the decorated glass.
Jazz Era: I'm wearing now a stunning outfit by my dear and great talented friend Maizon Rayna (Terra d'Ombra), that she called Coltrane. Have I to say that this is to me A Love Supreme? *

On the same background, i wanted to wear two dresses from the small collection of precious pieces by Rush Raymaker (Stylissimo): the total black Twisted Victoria and the golden glittering Nightingale's Lock.

What could be more appropriate to celebrate the color (or not-color?) that is the keyword for most of the Haute Couture, the main color of the Jazz scene and one of the main features of the Art Deco style?

* A Love Supreme is the masterpiece suite recorded by John Coltrane in 1964; it's considered one of the greatest and most influential works in Jazz and music history.

52 weeks of colors challenge

2011-01-22T05:46:00.000-08:00

The challenge launched by Luna Jubilee follows with this lovely color:

"Taupe" is the french word for mole. Its spelling is close to the italian "talpa" (mole), while its pronounciation remembers the spanish "topo" (mole). I guess moles has different shades, too ;)
I furnished 3 sets using proper wood and burl textures, and i wear 3 MEB outfits in different shades of taupe.

For better views:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/5377334081/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/5377933462/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/5377333817/

52 Weeek of Colors Challenge: INDIGO

2011-01-15T05:56:00.000-08:00

Dress: MEB Prada sky - Hair: Kik Suzy - Furnishing: Melu Deco
(for a better view, click HERE)

Mood Indigo
Barney Bigard, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills
(1930)

You ain't never been blue, no, no, no
You ain't never been blue
Till you've had that mood indigo
That feeling goes stealing down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh
Go along blues

I always get that mood indigo
Since my baby said goodbye
And in the evening when the lights are low
I'm so lonely I could cry
For there's nobody who cares about me
I'm just a poor fool that's bluer than blue can be
When I get that mood indigo
I could lay me down and die

You ain't never been blue, no, no, no
You ain't never been blue
Till you've had that mood indigo
That feeling goes stealing down to my shoes
While I just sit here and sigh
Go along blues

Performing:
Nina Simone: listen HERE
Duke Ellington: listen HERE

52 Weeks of Color Challenge: SIENNA!

2011-01-09T04:07:00.000-08:00

Outfit: MEB Penny; Furnishing: Melu Deco; Hair: W&Y 57

"Sienna is a form of limonite clay most famous in the production of oil paint pigments. Its yellow-brown colour comes from ferric oxides contained within. As a natural pigment, it (along with its chemical cousins ochre and umber) was one of the first pigments to be used by humans, and is found in many cave paintings (...) The name derives from the most notable Renaissance location for the earth, Siena, Italy, and is short for terra di Siena, "earth of Siena"
(Wikipedia)

Shades of Sienna

For a better view: http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/5338432065/

52 Weeks of Color Challenge - Sepia!

2010-12-04T06:33:00.000-08:00

My usual mix of MEB clothes and Melu Deco furniture for the Sepia pic!

I'm wearing the outfit Eljsa, from the MEB Winter 2010 Collection, along with the brown shirt Lucy. Hair come from Zero Style.

52 Weeks of Colors Challenge - Plum, now!

2010-11-28T05:39:00.001-08:00

I try to follow the fun challenge launched by Luna Jubilee, to take a pic themed by a different color each week.

This week it's PLUM, and I worn my MEB Blossom gown, in a room furnished with my Art Deco furniture (Melu Deco).

For a largere, better view, see here

52 Weeks of Colors Challenge - Goldenrod

2010-11-23T18:27:00.000-08:00

Again here, into a Challenge!

I try to start again this blog, sunk since a long time into a deep sea of engagements due to my work at MEB and with the Melu Deco brand.

I start again with a nice thing: i decided to take part in the blogger challenge launched by Luna Jubilee and named 52 Weeks of Colors Challenge.

It's very simple and funny: every week she proposes a color and bloggers post pics with clothes in that color.

This week, the color is "Goldenrod": it's hard for a not native english speaker to understand what a goldenrod is, but i succeded in it, and so i can post a pic where i'm wearing two yellow MEB outfits from the Winter 2010 Collection: Daysy (right) and Flash (left).

In the pic I (two MEs ;) ) sit on a Melu Deco leather couch, whose wood (it's thuya one) is yellowish as well.

It's also a multiple mirror game, and i really enjoy it, when i made it :)

For a better view, pls, go to my relevant Flickr's page: http://www.flickr.com/photos/melusina_parkin/5203190254/sizes/l/in/photostream/

Thank you Luna!
:)

East meets West Fashion Show – March 27/28

2010-03-25T09:37:00.000-07:00

A big cherry tree blossomed in the MEB main store :)

It bears a sign speaking of a fashion show. Better, a fashion meeting.
East meets West: five western brands go to Japan, to show their clothes together with five eastern ones.
The idea and the management of such an opportunity is by AGATA model agency, whose models will present outfits by Azul, Garçon, Honey, Pik Gal, Scars (for eastern brands) and by Miamai, Angel Dessus,Leezu, Hyper Culture and MEB Fashion.
SL has virtually no boundaries and no distances, but cultures and traditions stay alive in it and meet each others in a field so strictly bounded to people’s customs and tastes like fashion is great!
MEB is honored to take part and to contribute to this great meeting and to share with so great brands two days of good taste and beauty.
MEB will present there some outfits from its Spring 2010 collection.

Come to Tokyo, to take part in this great event!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/MK%20Tokyo/24/231/3011

East Meet West Spring Collection, MK Tokyo SIM
2 shows for people in different time zones:

1st show - Saturday, March 27 at 6:00PM SLT
2nd show - Sunday, March 28 at 6:00AM SLT

2010-03-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

I was very sad, last day, 'cause the nice land where i opened my first store, Bayou Noir, is gone!
As it often happens, owners decided to sell the SIM: so no more store, and no more splendid moonshines in the bayou park, no more dancing at Satir...
But meanwhile, another clever SIM owner, my friend RobertBob Aquila, offered me a big store, where Melu Deco stuff could find a relevant place to be showed :)

Melu Deco Main Store at Eagle's Rave
(http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eagles%20Rave/228/51/24)

Eagle's Rave SIM worths a visit (you can walk or take a gondola, or a balloon :)), and Melu Deco main store gives you the opportunity to check all my items out, in a pleasant displaying.

Here you can see a Flickr slideshow of the store:

SPECIAL POST - SUPPORT PRIMTINGS

2010-02-25T12:55:00.000-08:00

Primtings Museum is a great Modern Art museum in SL. It displays artworks by SL artists reproducing famuos ones by RL XXth century artists.
Lack of interest by public RL cultural institutions for this SL important work, whose support would be important for Primtings activity, is bringing the Museum to the end.
To support this no-profit cultural institution, the owner launched a campaign to raise funds to pay the SIM tier.
I met Primtings long time ago, and since that meeting it has been one of my favorite places in SL. I had a seat in the Hopper famous bar, i have been hanged on a tree near the Dalì melt clock, i did lived in my favorite paintings, enjoying an artistic experience impossible to live in RL.
So i wanted to support Primtings in its campaign, and I decide to ask my friends to consider to do the same.
Enjoy the Museum and support its life!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Primtings/173/69/53

Sorry! (But good news!)

2010-02-17T06:01:00.000-08:00

I cheated my readers (is there somebody who still reads this blog?), promising some months ago to restart this blog after few weeks of stop!
But meanwhile MEB work increased dramatically: two new collections, the stunning Fall and the great Winter one needed care, many new stores were opened, a lot of shows required preparation. That’s the life of a fashion brand that follows growing up.

Then… great news for Melusina herself. I started since a lot of time to build small furniture for MEB shops, simple things, shelves, displays, tables. But managing textures and prims quickly became an addiction, for me (another addiction, after smoking, shopping and wandering around SL!) and I paired it to my passion for vintage. The result was to discover I can build acceptable Art Deco furniture, and in few weeks I found in my inventory more than 50 new items, coming from my own hands and mind: tables, chairs, rugs, lamps, room dividers reproducing famous 1920s-1940s furniture and accessories, or inspired to the sharpen shapes, rich materials and geometrical designs of the Art Deco style.

So born Melu Deco, my own brand. I rented a first store on January 1st in a nice land I found by chance. Bayou Noir is a New Orleans styled land, with a wonderful park, a nice vintage ballroom (the Satir) and pretty buildings. I did fall in love for it and I couldn’t resist to rent an empty store I saw in the central marketplace. I filled it by my stuff in just one day, and I did believe I finished yet.

But when my friend Jennyfer Miles saw it (she is the MEB top model you can see in the most vendors of our stores, but she’s too the owner of a nice land called Porto Venere, reproducing a very pretty Italian sea village) she proposed me to open another store there. I had the group of the SIM, since MEB had opened there a store I arranged whit special care, according to the elegance of the place, and it was easy to choose one of the nice stores in the center of the town.

So, Melu Deco starts with two awesome stores: after setting more than 50 MEB shops (you can see all them in a beautiful Flickr slideshow I put here below) I am able to mount a store in less than one hour, but I was frightened by the idea of arranging my own one, so I studied for a long while vendors, display arrangement, item choice, trying to make the best I could. If you visit my stores you can evaluate the results.

It was impossible not giving these news in my blog! So I decided to restart again ;)
You all know that my aim was to tell the story of my work at MEB, but the time past since the last posts added so many things to that story that it’s impossible planning to tell all them in details, together with the news of my new activity.
From now on, I decided to write three kind of posts, that I’ll mark by a subtitle out: the first ones will tell a summary of this wonderful last MEB year; the second kind of post will be devoted to Melu Deco and its news (after the first 70 items, that I actually sell in my stores, I have about 20-25 new ones almost finished!), the last kind will be the funny part of my work at MEB: combining items to propose new outfits, a game all our customers can play with a lot of fun 

This post is too long to add what I planned to tell here: the description of Melu Deco inspiration and of the Art Deco style main features. I just address you to the post I wrote to open a group on the social network MOOLTO, but I can’t refrain to post here a slideshow of my new stuff!

Finally, who would like to visit my shops inworld, can follow these SLURLs to Bayou Noir and to Porto Venere.

Restart!

2009-09-27T09:55:00.000-07:00

I had to stop the blog some weeks, ‘cause a terrific pc crash that made me lose almost all last year’s data, even sl pics! I’m trying to recover them through the downloaded ones in my sl inventory or by my friend whom I did give them. Now I save my data copies every day, in a lot of devices (dvd, pen—drive, external hd…): this is the punishment for distracted people who don’t care to save regularly copies of their data; AFTER the disaster, they become maniac with copies and storage devices 

Well, thanks to my friends like Sharron Schuman, that allowed me to use some of her beautiful pics to make my fashion show posts less boring than a simple calendar, I will be able to restart posting, and I’ll do it very soon.

To make this post less tragic, I will stop for a bit the history of my work at MEB and I’ll jump to present time, to show some astonishing outfits of the new Fall Collection, released by MariaElena in these weeks and that was shown yet at the International Fashion Day (managed by Glance) and at Modavia Fashion Week.

In the sequence, I’m mirroring Sorbonne, an outfit that recalls the intriguing atmosphere of the French bistrot, but that - if worn with jewels and proper hair - can be an elegant interpretation of casual wear, thanks to the precious silk of the pants and the soft color of the sweater.
No doubt about the elegance of Riviera: once more wool and silk, but in smoother and lighter colors and a touch of provocation in the tight and short line of the top.
Tiffany is the feast of the contrast: black velvet and cream silk for an outfit made by a straight jacket and a soft pleated midi skirt: I wear it in a ballroom, there, despite it is thought for the elegance in the work days.
In the last pic I put Penny on a stormy background. It’s to say that even rainy weather can be agreeable if we wear this wool traditional kilt, made original by the asymmetric line and paired with a velvet dark brown jacket worn on the naked skin. Boots are the natural complements of such an outfits, and MEB Grunge ones are exciting with their wonderful rawhide texture and their comfortable heels.

Everyday life in MEB

2009-08-22T13:27:00.000-07:00

The manager’s life is not only work, of course, but even in my private life I feel very well wearing MEB clothes . I play with the single items to experiment new outfits, but the play risks to be endless. Once I wrote that MEB catalogue is like a painter’s palette, from which people can choose colors (and shapes) to “paint” his own wardrobe. Here are some pics to show how I use these dresses in my everyday life (and to show my friends, my places and my vanity) ;)

At the theater with my beloved friend Alexin, an Italian designer who shares with me her SL since our very first days. I wear the Pandi black outfit, made more elegant by pearls, white hair and black stockings.In the second pic, I play modeling with Laura18 Streeter in the astonishing Striking poses store. She wears MEB Jennyfer, while I did compose an outfit by joining the Saigon blouse and the Rodeo white pants.Below, a moment of relax at MEB store. MariaElena is talking with our friend Ergosumma23 Amat, and she seems not aware that her CEO is relaxing ;) She wears a brown version of Pandi outfit, while I’m wearing Barbara, one of my favorite casual ones.Again Ale in the last pic: we are on the top of a lighthouse, after dancing in a 50s style parlor at Mandalay. My outfit is one of MEB best seller, Giselle, that I wear with black pearls by Jennyfer Miles and white boots by Bax Cohen (I have been an amateur photographer, so I love so much black and white…)

How a manager does look in the night? MEB leather jacket Baires or Gold, sunglasses, foulards… what a difference with the bottom left picture, token before going to work, were I wear the Pepe jacket, with its almost military look! Top right I’m wearing the Romy sleeveless outfit, without accessories, for a walk in the nice market land Macos Mall, where MEB holds one of its stores.

A New MEB Main Store (April 2009)

2009-08-17T03:16:00.000-07:00

Being the old MEB main store too small for the growth of the brand, MariaElena decided in April to renew the palce. Thanks to the genius of Aiyki Takakura, the builder, a new big store born in few time. Two floors, smooth colors and an astonishing tubular structure to bear a modern glass roof, in the same place in which the old store was (CZESTATE, Kua Nui).

Ground floor is dedicated to show MEB classics and new collections and decorated by two nice fountains and by a cascade; at the right center of the space lays a runway, a promise for the many forthcoming events that the brand will organize.
First floor shows casual clothes, separates, accessories and an exposition space called Fashion & Art. As usual, a large corner of the first floor hosts the nice Pandora Runo’s furniture shop. Thanks to our friend Zhora Maynard, sculptress of lights and shapes, the store shows also some of her works.

The new store, a more comfortable space for receiving customers and spend time chatting and watching clothes with them, was opened with a nice party, where all MEB’s friends were invited, and where the models Giada Oh, Maura Taurog, Kellykelly Vendetta, Beckybloom Beaumont, Silviax Johin and Memole Giha have been testimonials of the brand wearing some of the best known MEB outfits.

MEB Staff (MariaElena, Melusina, Pandora) in black clothes, dancing at the opening party. Below, thwo artworks by Zhora Maynard: Dragon Power and Esencia

Maura Taurog wearing the MEB beige raincoat; Giada Oh wearing the elegant dress Austen

Main entrance, a moment of the party, one of the fountains, and a pic of the old store.

MariaElena proudly walking on the new store’s runway

MEB models (2): Giada Oh, MEB Face 2009

2009-08-15T06:31:00.001-07:00

Winning a contest, best voted among other 30 awesome avies, Giada Oh became the MEB Face 2009. She wears MEB clothes with natural feeling, so she became protagonist of ads and books promoting the new collections, and represented MEB on many runways. It is a pleasure for me shooting Giada, whose poses and expressions give worth to MEB clothes.

1. The very first pic of Giada, wearing Tayra jacket,
the night she won the MEB Face 2009 Contest
2. Giada wearing the evening dress Demoiselle

Giada wearing the three different versions of the Pandi outfit

MEb Fashion Shows (2)

2009-08-13T06:00:00.000-07:00

To present the Spring Collection, besides other outfits, was LookElite, the model agency leaded by Fia Bonetto and managed by my close friend Laura18 Streeter. In the framework of its splendid sky runway, its models - among which was Laura herself - gave a crowdy public the taste of MEB Spring.

The poster and the LookElite runway

The public and Laura wearing Demoiselle

The Barbara outfit in the runway; MariaElena and Laura smile at the end of the show

A complete set of pics by Tillie Ariantho at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tillie/sets/72157615325728607/

The same collection was then presented at SLCN TV (now Treet TV), in a exciting show made for Fashion Spotlights by the models of Moda Agency and presented by Harlee Lane and Nyte Vargas. You can see or download the entire video at http://archive.treet.tv/moda-fashion-spotlight-meb-designs-0

The TV owner and manager, the designer and guests at the show.
Three colors for the Laura outfit

1. One of the top outfit of MEB formal catalogue: Jane Austen, made by a light lace short dress and by a lace-like short jacket.
2. Tayra blue coat, a classic among MEB afternoon outfits.
3. Giselle, the best seller outfit of the Spring Collection.

MEB Spring Collection 2009 (2)

2009-08-10T10:27:00.001-07:00

Some Spring Collection outfit worn by Melu in everyday life.

Leonore, Pandi black, Laura blue

Giada brown, Laura black, Jennyfer

Laura, one of my favorites, with different accessories, skins and hair.

MEB Spring Collection 2009 (1)

2009-08-08T03:30:00.001-07:00

Some MEB Spring Collection 2009 outfits:
Pandi black, Juliette, Ballerina and Henriette,
worn by Giada Oh (mannequins); location: Alchimia;

At the very beginning of Spring, MariaElena gave all us the surprise of a new collection. In few weeks she created a lot of astonishing outfits, that quickly became some of MEB best sellers.
That is not surprising, looking at the seductive simplicity of Giselle or Jennyfer dresses, or considering the futurist painting inspired Ballerina and Henriette, or even the elegance of Laura, Giada and Leonore. Complete the collection Pandi and Juliette, set at the opposite points of a scale between provocation and graceful kindness, and the stunning Demoiselle, the only long dress in MEB catalogue.

The MEB Spring Collection 2009
(models: Jennyfer Miles and Giada Oh)

Jennyfer Miles mannequins wearing some Spring Collection outfits:
Giselle, Jennyfer, Laura blue, Leonore.

MEB Fashion Shows (1)

2009-08-05T17:06:00.001-07:00

Several shows in the first months of 2009 for MEB, that took part in many ones in different lands where the brand keeps a store, but also proposed its owns, with well known Model Agencies.

Annemarie Perenti is the owner of Best of Italian Style land, a place where you can really find the best of Italian fashion. She did ask MariaElena to present her dresses in a very informal event: no runway, no formal presentation for this Showcase that did look like a tea at home with friends :)
MEB outfits, did match very well to this style, being thought for everyday life.
A photo show of the event was made by the great fashion reporter (and model herself) Sharron Schuman, and is avalaible at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sharronschuman/sets/72157613443609724/.

MEB took part in two important events. First, the Fashion Weeks organized by Runway (few of us in fashion world would believe that these would be the last public event made by that great agency, animated - as well as the Runway Magazine - by the passion of Maggie Mahoney and Ocean Bates).

Then, the great happening called FuturRoma, an homage to the Futurist art movement in the year of its centenary, hold in RL and SL in Rome, thanks to the hard and passionate work by Mexi Lane and Patrizia Blessed.

Runway Fashion Weeks, February 2009: the poster and a moment of MEB show

FuturRoma 2009: the two MEB dresses made by textures from futurist paintings (Henriette, texture by Enrico Prampolini; Ballerina, texture by Giacomo Balla); an image of F. De Pero's New York, whose 3D reconstruction has been one of the frameworks of the fashion show.

MEB Models: Jennyfer Miles

2009-08-02T04:36:00.000-07:00

Working at MEB, I had the privilege to make several shoots to Jennyfer Miles, great model and great friend of MEB. Her feeling and her original poses and expressions give special life to MEB clothes. You can see Jenny in most of the vendors and ads in MEB stores.
Working together was the beginning of our friendship.

Jenny wearing some well known MEB outfits: the one that bears her name, Jenny, full of spring suggestions; the gorgeous and elegant Leonore; two lace pattern decorated jackets, Fleurs and Jane, worn on the gorgeous dresses Cameron and Austen.
Below, a giant MEB ad, where Jenny shows different ideas for using Fleurs jacket, from formal to casual.

First 2009 new outfits, in February

2009-08-01T17:04:00.000-07:00

Some weeks later, when i was contracted as a manager at MEB, my first task was to compose some outfits for a fashion show. I did realize that MEB catalogue is like a painter's palette and I could "paint" more than one hundred outfits. MariaElena did choose six, shown below. My best reward for that job was that she gave my name to one of them.

In the pics:
Barbara, Black Moon, Romy, the casual based on jeans and nylon sleeveless or leather jackets;
Arianne, Juana, Melusina, the urban style at the best, combining floral and/or lace-like jackets and bodices with simple midi and mini skirts.

At the very beginning...

2009-07-31T04:09:00.000-07:00

January 2009:
it's the first time i meet MEB (the brand, the store) and M.E.B. (MariaElena Barbosa, the designer). I fall in love with outfits like these ones.
Prada is a light silk minidress, available in three smooth colors (in the pic, the grey one), simple enough to be innocent, small enough to be provocative.
Tayra is a short coat that easily become an afternoon dress, fascinating by its lovely colors (blue, pink, white or mauve, white and blue).
Audrey is an homage to the famous A. Hepburn elegance, and needs no words to say its charme.

Was I wrong, then?

Let's start

2009-07-30T09:50:00.000-07:00

First words and pics here, being Melu in holidays, after almost one year of SL.

Her work as CEO at MEB Fashion in SL can now turn in fun, so she decided to open these pages, gathering pics and thoughts born during the exciting past months.

Enjoy! (I do it ;) )