SL Free*Stylist - Shop Free*Style Gacha of the Day: HANDverk

Today's Gacha of the Day is by HANDverk. HANDverk designed our current store, which will be switching out with the redo, so enjoy this shop while you can. They have rebranded, so these items will be leaving the grid once the rebuild happens. Grab them while you can!

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It is only L$30 per play, so grab a seat and chill!

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Visit Shop Free*Style

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You can find this gacha on the back wall of the first floor.

You can find all other gachas, as well as other items, on the second floor of Shop Free*Style. Just take the Teleport up.

Hair Fair 2103: Nitty Gritty - The Best Gifts (pt 1)

Hair Fair 2013 is in full swing. The big crowds have dissipated and you can easily navigate the 4 sim wide event. The sims have been split into three parcels, each one is using the non visible attributes of SL so that you cannot see people in the other parcels and the buildings are all phantom so that you can slip in through the walls if the entry to one is crowded.  The hair is fantastic this year, especially mesh styles as they are now so fully integrated into our wardrobes. Today I am going to concentrate on what I thought were some of the best gifts (0 - 1 L) at the fair.  There were lots of gifts this year and the quality varied. Some were very current, while others were older styles with old textures and/or flexis, so there is something there for everyone's taste. I spend a lot of money at Hair Fair every year and see gifts as a chance for me to become acquainted with a designer's work and the good ones are worth the search. 

One of my very favorites is Alison from EMO-tions (Sim 1 - Cloud).  It comes in two colors and includes the hairbase.  It's not mesh nor should it be.  The textures are really great.  My necklace, from HANDverk, is a new release for the final round of Zodiac.  The Zodiac version is available in 5 colors at a discounted price of L$150. They are 100 % original mesh and textures (I watched Daphne make them so I can vouch!) making it a steal for a one of a kind item. 

eep's gift for Hair Fair (Sim 3 - Brickness) is a fantastic mesh style that has optional bows that change color.  This style is mesh and the textures and sculpting is impeccable.  It comes only in green but it's a really fun green that I do not see around a lot.  Just on that point, it's a keeper.  My woodland necklace from Deco is currently available at Collabor88.  Deco is another brand that does all it's own sculpting and textures in-house and I'm fussy, so I like that.  I adored Sn@tch's new Pop Violence Bustiers and you get all colors in the size of your choosing.  Love them, Ivey!

Another fantastic mesh gift is Ann from Due (Sim 2 - Port).  It is a two tone pink style that can be worn with both casual and dressy looks.  I just wanted to note that it is rigged and cannot be resized and I did have to adjust my forehead (losing all my brains) and my ear angle but both were easy fixes.  The lovely jewelry set is a Hair Fair gift from Zibska (also on Sim 2).  Zibb Scaggs' gift was so generous and included a full set of eye shadows in addition to the jewelry.  Thank you!  The top is a hunt gift I recently found at Auxillary for the Fist Pump Hunt and comes in both Sky and Copper (really nice! TY Tyr).  Auxillary also gave a very generous clothing gift at Hair Fair (Sim 4 - Harbour) though I've not gotten around to shooting that yet.  My shorts, though you can barely see them are from Sn@tch and are for the Dark Katz hunt. It includes a fat pack of leopard print mesh shorts in all kinds of colors.  Again, Ivey rocks!

Last on my list for today is Janetta from Miamai (Sim 3 - Brickness) .  Janetta is a nice banded ponytail that is to be worn with a hairbase. It comes in 6 colors (both "normal" and "fun" colors) and includes matching hairbases and a HUD to change the color of the hair bands.  Awesome gift - thank you, Monica!  The Gouchi earrings are a gift from Herve Faenzo (also Sim 3), who had some of my favorite hairs at the event.  The oversized earrings include a hud so that you can change both the metal and stone textures.   My outfit, which shown here does nothing to show how awesome it is is part of a two outfit subscriber gift from Hucci. Ebony Khan has been releasing one sexy mesh item after the next lately and the gift includes special colors of her two newest releases.  A tip about the subscriber - you cannot retrieve previously sent items if you are a new subscriber so my advice is to subscribe and do not leave.  You can get recent gifts for a period of time if you are a current subscriber.

Hair Fair is primarily a fundraiser for Wigs for Kids.  It is not a freebie event and I personally spend generously at the event.  Each designer is required to give at least 15% of the proceeds from each sale to Wigs for Kids, though I saw most designers voluntarily donating higher percentages.  Everything you need to know about the charity, store locations, maps, and so forth can be easily found on the official Hair Fair 2013 website.  I've provided the sim location (above) of each gift to get you started.  Enjoy!

Credits:
Skin: All skins: Glam Affair
Poses: a combination of poses from Ploom's Hair Fair gift (Sim 2) and Diesel Works monthly free gifts, which are ossum.
Photo 1:
Hair: EMO-tions: Allison (HF gift)
Necklace: HANDverk: Lion Tail Necklace - currently available at Zodiac for discounted price
Tank: Eaters Coma: Slashed Tank (not free)
Shorts: erratic: Jessy: Studded Shorts (not free)
Photo 2:
Hair: eep: Hair 012 (HF gift)
Necklace: Deco: Woodland Necklace: currently available at Collabor88
Top: Sn@tch: Pop Violence Bustier: new release
Photo 3:
Hair: [Due] Ann (HF gift)
Jewelry: Zibska: Fleurette Set (HF gift)
Tank: Auxillary: Boho Backless (sky) - Fist Pump Hunt
Shorts: Sn@tch: Feline Leopard Shorts - Dark Katz Hunt
Photo 4:
Hair: Miamai: Janetta Hair (HF gift)
Dress: Hucci: Rouen Dress: July Subscriber gift

Even Mermaids Accessorize

HANDverk Mermaid's Purses now at The Arcade.  Only 50 L per play - 22 different purses (2 rare).  Mesh completely hand modeled and textured by Daphne Klossovsky.

Credits:
Purse: HANDverk: Mermaid's Purses - Sea Anemone (rare) - 50 L per play @ The Arcade
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Lory - 50 L per play @ The Arcade
Skin: flounce: Charmed - by Mimi Coral - Group Gift - free to join
Mermaid Duds: Evie's Closet: Nereida Mermaid - free
somewhere I have a slurl for a free Mermaid AO -- when I can find it I will add it but there is one for 50 L here

No Good Deed Goes Unpunished

I'm about to throw my computer against the wall.  My fab new computer has great speed and memory but a horrible graphics card and what usually takes me about 20 minutes to do has taken me over 2 hours.  What I don't want to do, though, is make my frustration hinder you from some great items. I could start anew but I'm at that "screw it" point so please forgive and focus on the products.   Baby Monkey Shoes has it's free join weekend from now through Sunday evening.  The group normally costs L$250 to join but the fee is waved only this weekend.  Member benefits include lots of exclusive gifts (the 12 Days of Christmas is HUGE, an extra set of lucky chairs to increase your chance of winning, as well as sometimes significant discounts on new releases.  The shoes I am wearing are a brand new group gift, the xxxxxx shoes, in an exclusive fatpack of bright colors.  These will not be available for sale otherwise.  If you like to own lots of shoes in a wide spectrum of colors, this is a group you will want to stay in.  I know few people in SL as generous as owner, Pixieplumb Flanagan.  The cute linen dress I'm wearing is a lucky chair prize in the mesh clothing section.  I love the linen texture.

You can see from my screenshot of the HUD that there are a ton of options, including toe rings, ankle bracelets and colors.  The other tabs open of a slew of toenail options, skin matching (including exact RGB), resizers and heel sounds (I always turn mine off!).

Finally, Baby Monkey is holding a Spring Photo Contest.  The contest is free to enter and you may submit as many entries as you wish.  The clothing and footwear must be from the store but it does not say the items cannot be free, so this is a great chance for photographers on a low or non-existent budget to challenge themselves and win gift card prizes!  All the details are noted above.

I also wanted to show you the gorgeous new skin from Cupcakes, Creampuff.  Rosemary Galbraith and Mimi Coral had a creampuff skin way back when they merged their brands during the Stone Age, which I loved but I love this one more!  They are beginning to phase out their full perm skin lines and have been creating new, beautiful skins.  There are complimenting lipsticks, eyeshadows and even eyes for the skin.  I have been a fan of Cupcakes forever and am thrilled with they are returning their focus to the consumer line.  Love you two!

Credits:
Shoes: Baby Monkey: Ultimate Roxanne 2013 - All Colours: new group gift (free join this weekend!)
Dress: Baby Monkey: Patty Dress Lilac: mesh clothing lucky chair prize
Skin/Eyes/Makeup: Cupcakes: Creampuff - Creme tone (basic lip-rose/eyeshadow-black/blue eyes): New Release!
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Betty: available exclusively this month at FaMESHed
Necklace: HANDverk: Tassel Lariat - Lime
Clutch: HANDverk: Flamingo Clutch - Lime - available at L'Accessories until April 8! 

Shop Free*Style: It's Real

Shop Free*Style is coming soon!  Our first store will be open to the public on February 27!  We have kicked into high gear and the store will be full of great bargains brought to you by many of our favorite designers.  I am a huge architecture buff and Frank Lloyd Wright is one of my favorites.  I share this passion with architect and mesh creator, Tobias Convair.  Tobias, along with his partner, Daphne Klossovsky, are the owners and creators for HANDverk, which specializes in spectacular hand-crafted mesh items for both home and avatar.  Tobias' design for Shop Free*Style was inspired by the Goetsch-Winckler House near Lansing, MI, which embodies Wright's Usonian style.  I'm trying to not get all bookish on you so I've provided links for you factoids.  The build contains room for 108 vendors; there is also a skybox version because we are going to need at least 2 floors to house all the items we will offer.  This amazing build has a minuscule land impact of 60 and soon HANDverk will be offering a similar version for sale at their main store.  It's so cool! You go, Toby!

Here is a bit of a peek at the store interior.  The empty rectangles will be filled with vendors, leaving lots of room for shoppers to move about.  I love how the horizontal windows let in lots of light.

Key points about Shop Free*Style:

• Designers will be offering items at 3 price points:
• L$ 0/1
• L$ 25
• L$ 50
• Why isn't everything free since we are called Free*Style: Straight up, we've never been all about freebies. Back when we started the blog there were not that many places to get good freebies.  You either went to those large scale freebie warehouses that offered mostly hideous items that many of us are still trying to evacuate from our inventories... or you trolled the grid for an occasional store gift.  We now have numerous grid hunts at any given time, lucky chairs, midnight manias, event giveaways, more group slots, etc. so it's easy to look great for little or no Lindens, as evidenced by the plethora of freebie blogs these days.  At Free*Style we are pro-designer.  We have cultivated lovely relationships with many designers and we know how much effort goes into their creations.  We want to honor that, as well as offer amazing value for frugalistas, by allowing designers to recoup some of their cost for the items.  We endorse the designers who are participating in the shop and want them to stick around SL for a long time. Off my soapbox.
• Some of the items are available as gatchas.  They are fun; you can trade; and it allows us to offer more items in a one prim vendor.  
• We are not requiring items for the store to be brand new or exclusive but expect them to be current.  I'm expecting fabulous.  Sileny will be doing a post soon about our participating designers. 
• Nobody at Free*Style is profiting from the store.  The land and builds have been generously donated and the vendor spaces are free. 
• We have opportunities to expand: Our second location should be open March/April! 

More details soon! 

Ridin' High

The new group gift skin from PXL Creations is to die for; a Valentine's Day version of Kate with kissable lips and the brightest pink shadow and brows.  So much fun!  There is a $L250 join fee for the group but totally worth it - a steal just for this skin and the gifts are frequent and darn tootin' good!

Also totally loving the hoochie cutie outfit from Sassy! for the Jack or Jill Hunt.  I usually don't dress like this in SL - as I am a bit reserved - but I had so much fun dressing this up.  The 70%  hair sale at Elikatira continues until later this month and its such a bargain that even some of my poor unloved alts got updated hair!  I finished off the look with some non-freebies that did the trick: Boots and Bolo from HANDverk and awesome ring from Remarkable Oblivion.

Credits:
Hair: [e]: Claim - includes hat and hatless versions - big sale!
Skin: PXL: Kate VDay 2013 Group Gift - join fee (worth it)
Outfit: Sassy!: Cali Cutie (Mesh): Jack or Jill Hunt
Shoes: HANDverk: Western Ankle Boot: Ostrich/Pink - not free but sooo cute
Bolo: HANDverk: Rio Grande Bolo Tie - not free
Remarkable Oblivion: Bitch Ring: pretty good deal at 99 L for gold and silver and two hand versions
Prop: Adorkable Poses: Phoney Pony: sadly it's been retired :(

Cupcakes, anyone?

I've always been a supporter of Cupcakes from way back before Mimi Coral and Rosemary Galbraith merged their two stores many years ago.  They have recently undergone a complete sim rebuild with new shops and every shop has some kind of opening special.  You need to hit it this weekend or all the items will return to full price.  I adore the new Emilia skin, which is a complete steal at 70 Lindens, and each tone includes oodles of makeup layer options.  The mesh scarf is also a great deal at 50 L for 3 pastel colors: blue, pink and lilac.  Both are original creations which I just love.  Also, I've not done justice to the dress but it's from coldLogic who is having a huge 1 year anniversary sale with this entire store half off through February 10.  Santé!

Credits:
Skin: Cupcakes: Emilia: new line - limited edition at 70 L
Scarf: Cupcakes: Braided Scarf - pale blue - 50 L for 3 colors
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Fay Mesh Hair - @ FaMESHED: new release
Dress: coldLogic: Holly - slate - 50% off sale! 
In background: HANDverk: Longchamp Skybox: new release

25 for 25

Hi there!  HANDverk is one of my favorite stores ever and for every Saturday in December they are having a fun event for inworld group members.  The group is free to join and for 25 minutes they will price a number of items down to 25 Lindens.  I'm going to give you a sneak peek of this Saturday's items, which includes an amazing mesh replica of the Wassily chair, a Bauhaus masterpiece.  Also included are 2 accessory sets, a scale clutch and serpent ring in yellow and separately, the super sexy Eve pumps, also with a yellow serpent. The shoes include both the red and green apple version so you can mix and match.  All the items will be transferable and make awesome gifts.  This is a serious good deal, y'all.  25 minutes prior to the event the inworld group will be notified. The group is free to join...so check your offlines often if you are not inworld!

Quickly, I've not been online much because of RL stuff but on of my besties, Hempy Weezles, told me about this awesome mesh miniskirt that is a group gift at Happy Undead.  It is turquoise latex and it is HOT.  It comes in about a billion sizes and includes several alpha layers so it should fit nicely over many different booties.  I do advise wearing undies as the alpha layer does not hid your bits...or if you enjoy flashing...there you go.  I also thought the mesh shelf made for Royal Living's Great Outdoors hunt was pretty sweet at only 45 dollars so I wanted to show that too!  Take care!

Details:
Chair: HANDverk: Wassily Chair - red: 25 Lindens for 25 minutes on Saturday: join the group to be alerted
Shoes: HANDverk: Eve Pumps - yellow: 25 for 25 on Saturday
Clutch: HANDverk: Scale Clutch in yellow - a yellow serpent ring is also included: 25 for 25 on Saturday
Shirt: Ingenue: Agathe: Newer release: not  free
Skirt: Happy Undead: Vinyl Mini Skirt: Group gift - group is free to join
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Joy Hair: New release: not free
Shelves: Abiss Design: 45 Lindens for Royal Living's Great Outdoors hunt

Need Skin?

Long time no see!  RL has been kicking me in the pants lately and I've been on a bit of a blogging hiatus while my energy is needed at home.  My in-world time is limited but I was thrilled to get the notice from Rozena about their darling Coco skin that is utterly and completely free for ONLY 5 days.  It has the super soft, gentle and innocent look that I associate with Rozena.

Quickly, HANDverk is one of my favorite stores of all time and the creators make brilliant mesh items. This smart little clutch is a gift for subscribers and/or group members.  Hand made in a sexy red snakeskin.  A must have. (I apologize for the jags - my computer refuses to cooperate)
Credits:
Skin: Rozena: Coco Natural: November gift: free
Hair: Wasabi Pills: Kylie: new release / not free
Eyes: Redbird: Sienna Eyes - light: not free
Clutch: HANDverk: subscriber/group gift
Top: Ison: Geometric Tunic - green : this version was only 50 L for FLF - maybe it's still out?
Leggings: MichaMi: Tilda Suede Leggings - mesh : new release / not free

Today is a grey day

Aida Ewing send thru  Glam Affair Group an awesome gift. There is a ridiculous small fee to join the group, but totally worth it. Check the notices, this gift will be available only until 24th.

Kokane also sent a subscribe gift, this awesome mini dress, if you aren't in this subscribe you should! They sent quite often males and female gifts.

HANDverk sent this amazing handbag on their subscribe, they are in a provisory location.

Non free: 

Shoes by DECO

Poses by Croire

l'argent est un cadeau empoisonné

Hey there! This time there is no freebies, but a bunch of cheap things,  some old, some new... but I like how they go together.

Skin: .::Mother Goose's::.Nadine 1L$ , Dollarbie

Hair: ""D!va"" Hair "Norma" (Type A)(Red amber) on Collabor88

Hat: LaGyo_Blackdrop hat Black on Collabor88

Eyes: Izzie's - Autumn Eyes (mesh) *green* , part of a pack of 3 colors, october group gift of Izzies (fee to join but totally worth it)

Eyebrows:  FAKE :: Lona Eyebrows // GINGER (non free)

Eyelashes: ::BB:: Mesh Lashes V.01 (clumpy tintable) (non free)

Dress: +>A&A<+ Svelte Dress XS - Pink, available at Cinema

Clutch: [HANDverk]Stud Clutch.liquorice for L'acessories (non free)

Hands: Slink Mesh Hand Elegant 1 R and Slink Mesh Hand Elegant L, you can mix and match hand poses. Non free but remember to get the slink group active to receive store credits by Siddean Munro (non free) 

Feet: Slink Womens Medium Height Barefeet (Rigged S) by Siddean Munro (non free)

Shoes: Slink Vintage 2-Strap Pumps Badpixel Pink by Siddean Munro (non free)

Poses : BENT

The Arcade: Sneak Peek

The Arcade, a new gacha event opens tomorrow, September 15.  The link at to the left will take you to the official webpage that gives all kinds of details about the event including vendor lists and links for plurk, flickr and their in-world group.  Somewhere around 70 designers will be represented at the event and they are promising something great for everyone.  The Arcade will be a quarterly event and it is expected to be heavily attended!  Because gachas are scripty creatures, the number of people allowed in at a time will be limited.  This is a one spot destination, not a multi-sim event, so plan accordingly and please try and not add to the region burden by wearing/attaching heavy script attachments.

I was fortunate to receive advanced review copies from both Brutus Martinek of Pididdle and Daphne Klossovsky of [HANDverk], who are participating in the event and offering adorable mesh items.  Pididdle will have the adorable, handmade mesh Decor Collar available in 15 yummy textures from lace insets and animal prints to metallics and satins.  They have a sweet little bow in back and gem piece in the center.  There is one rare item.  They are only 50 L per play.

[HANDverk] is offering these yummy Serpent Rings for only $L25 a pop. They are all handmade and are unrigged so that you can resize them, making them a great unisex item.  The black one is the rare prize for these little cuties. 

Remember, The Arcade does not open until tomorrow.  Until then, save some Lindens and clean your inventory!  Then TP here! PS: Qopi told me she is covering the event for Seraphim, so I'm hoping to see a gallery soon! 

Credits:

Collar: Pididdle: Decor Collar for The Arcade Gacha Event (starts 9/15)

Ring: [HANDverk]: Serpent Ring for The Arcade Gacha Event (starts 9/15)

Hair: Wasabi Pills: Noriko mesh hair for FaMESHED September

Skin: Glam Affair: Roza-Summer1 (previous TDR)

Nails: Adones: Basic Nails - Persian Red