EXCELLENT New Releases @ House of Heart!
Aug 31, 2008 Hair
The immensely talented Sheltered Heart of House of Heart (SLURL) has released four new hairstyles on OnRez today! Dirrty Gurl, Margo, Sable, and Wild Isabella are all quickly becoming four of my favorite hairstyles.
As a New Orleans native, born and raised, the first thing I really noticed was that Wild Isabella totally reminded me of Mardi Gras strutter costumes… and so I instantly fell in love with a sense of nostalgia when putting it on. The delicate feathers are just fantastic for adding that extra oomph to the crazycurly hair-do.
Dirrty Gurl is a messy, flirty, bedsecks, walk of shame ‘do with a ‘tude. I could’ve paired it with some sort of casual outfit and a morning-after ciggie,… but figured I’d just let the ‘tude speak for itself. I love this hair. And the *snarl* it makes me feel.
Margo is a cute and curly up-do that kind of gave me a little Manhattanite in the middle of winter feel. The kind of up-do you’d wear with a cozy sweater dress, bundled up while walking through the fashion district shopping for very expensive holiday gifts. Adorable.
Sable is a cute, versatile, long side pony tail that I absolutely ADORE. It is officially my favorite side pony EVER… and they are so hard to find!
Check out OnRez to grab these styles! Single packs run for $195L a piece (5 colors), double packs are $290L (10 colors) and the whole Kit and Kaboodle packs are $700L. Oh, and don’t forget to visit House of Heart (SLURL) and pick up the other absolutely fantastic hair dos! So much hair, so little time. *cringes at linden balance*
Excellent work, as always, Shel! :)
Release (the Hounds!)
For everyone who has wanted to know where they can buy my jewelry at these days, the answer is you couldn’t.
Until now!
I’ve finally released the four sets that I’ve been being asked about continuously, and am proud to say that they are now located in the store that I’ve been dying to create and grow… Genesis (SLURL). With my beloved Caelen Mata, we will be embarking upon a journey together to grow this store and FINALLY bring our creations to you on a wider spectrum. However slowly we may grow at first, believe me — we have incredible aspirations and are greatly looking forward to the future.
A little about the sets as they stand…
The Antique Sterling Locket
This set is actually my first attempt at locket creation within Second Life(TM). The locket opens and closes and includes instructions on how to easily change the picture inside. Simply drop a picture inside the locket contents, type a quick chat command and voila… instapicture change. Store as many pictures as you like inside, and switch between them as you please.
The Santa Fe Set
The Santa Fe Set was actually inspired by a recent trip to Santa Fe, New Mexico. I wanted to keep to sort of a Native American theme, and yet add a tiny touch of elegance. This set is really perfect for the casual jewelry wearer, and goes nicely with any sort of everyday clothing. With a sculpted, embossed wood centerpiece and tiny accentual shell beads, this set is beautiful on anyone.
The Prathivi Set
Named for one of my most dear friends, this set is fully sculpted and consists of cultured pearls and wood. In keeping with the spirit that natural elements are healers and soothers, this set goes beautifully with both casual and evening attire.
The Southsea Choker
Named for my beloved (and belated) Southsea… the Southsea Choker is a three strand Tahitian pearl choker with a delicate feather clasp positioned to the left of the neck. Perfect for the elegant cocktail party or romantic evening. (Please note… the choker as it stands is only available in white pearl with gold and silver metal options, however — I do have a black pearl set made, the ad is just not created yet — once the ad is up, I will make note of that on the blog).
I also feel compelled to mention that all of these sets (as well as the rest of my jewelry from now on) is being sold MOD/TRANS — so boys, if you need to buy a gift for that special lady… you may do so!!! :)
I hope you enjoy them as much as I enjoyed making them! Again, you can find these four sets at Genesis (SLURL) on the new Juicy Bella sim. And while you’re there… be sure to check out the awesome model poses! Just a sneak peek into the head of my incredibly talented partner. :) More to come! We’re SO EXCITED!!!
Draining It For All It’s Worth
Aug 22, 2008 Fashion
You know… I love summer. I actually really do. Despite that I love fall… when the leaves start to change, the weather gets cooler… everything’s so pretty…. but I just love summer. Summer heat… summer love… yeah. All that jazz.
So I was poking around in my inventory today, and believe it or not, I’m still very much in “summer mode” when it comes to dressing my avi… despite that fall is fast approaching. But I’m trying to depart from that and lean further into the fall fashion mixed with a summer touch. And the outfit I settled on today made me think, “Wow, this is cute.” So I thought I’d write a quick post and share it. :) - Click for bigger image!
Shirt/Top: Last Call - Compliquee - Blazer & Layered Knit Tank
Shorts: Dernier Cry - Alaina: Beige Denim Shorts - Golden Beige
Belt: Kari - Dead Sailor Belt (Curvy)
Legwarmers: Fluky - Legwarmers - Brown
Sandals: Tickled Pink - Cirque Sandal - Brown Leather
Bracelet: EarthTones - Cedarwood Spheres Bracelet (L)
Necklace: ::69:: - Rattan Necklace 1
Hair: ::69:: - Rush2 - Jetblack
SINdecade Skins: Hand Drawn to Perfection
Aug 17, 2008 Skins
Woo! I have so much blogging to catch up on!
A rather sweet Trin Trevellion of SINdecade (SLURL) dropped a notecard on me about a week ago letting me know that he had just finished a new skin line… and being the (oh my god, stop me) skin whore that I am… I was incredibly happy when he dropped his latest release on me!!! Skins, eyes, a shape, tintable eyebrows, and facelights to boot… excuse me while I fan myself. *flutters*
Before I started delving into the contents of this fantastic review pack, I had to do my homework… what do the skins cost, where can you get them, etc. So I visited the SINdecade headquarters to poke around a bit. This sci-fi looking build is a tiny bit confusing when you first land, but have no fear. Simply follow the walkway to the smexiness that awaits you at the other end. On the way, be sure to check out his “skin evolution” posters!
There are several female skin lines to choose from (Newt, Wyver, and Auri - the one I will be reviewing today) with tone options for each. Again, I’ll be reviewing the Auri female skin (yay!) so let’s get down to the details, shall we?
Creator: Trin Trevellion
Shop Location: Jeaden (SLURL)
Tones Available: Tinge 1 (pale) and Tinge 2 (slightly tanned)
Price: $2300 per variation (6 skins) / $4400 for the fatpack (25 skins)
Note: Unfortunately, you’re unable to purchase only one skin at a time, you will need to buy them in sets based on makeup variation which means you’ll be getting 6-8 skins at a time. Purchase of the fatpack (or Acme pack as it is called) includes freckle options, 4 facelights, 25 skins, a female shape, six variations of tintable eyebrows, and 12 absolutely GORGEOUS pairs of eyes).
Each skin has a freckle option and comes with a fantastic set of eyes paired specifically for that skin!
You guys know the drill by now.. top down, yes?
The face is lovely and clearly hand-drawn to the last detail (by the way, the eyes I’m wearing in this photo are actually just one of TWELVE pair you’ll get if you buy the fat pack of these skins!). The lips have a subtle gloss to them which is nice for you gloss lovers. One thing I noticed is that the color eyeshadows tend to be a tiny bit too bright… but the Smokey eye set is beautiful. I just love black eyeshadow… I don’t know why that is. *ponders* The skin tone itself is very nice, smooth and milky. The ears, while suffering from the typical and unfortunate “painted on” syndrome that SL seems to love so much, are well drawn and detailed.
The chest area is nicely done, with spectacular detail on the nipples and shading of the breasts. The collarbone is lightly shaded so as not to look like a bright orange smear across the top of the chest, something I see more often than I care to admit in a lot of skins. There are several little “angel kisses” as my mom would’ve called them scattered on the skin (you know… those little brown moles we make up cutesey names for to make them seem more appealing) giving it a more natural skin look. I especially love the belly button on this skin. I have this strange fascination with well-done belly buttons and this one is no exception to the rule when I say it is very… lickable. (Ya hear that boys?… lick.a.ble.)
The pubic area comes with a small, relatively natural puff of pubic hair (black) and unfortunately is not optional. Well known to all of my readers, I am very anti-pubic hair… I’m weird like that I guess. Hahaha. Though the vajayjay is very nice… and actually surprisingly natural looking. The detail on the labia is very nicely done and the highlight on the clitoris is EXCELLENT. Really, quite brilliant work… now… any chance for a Brazilian version??? Please please? *pleads*
The knees and feet are nicely shaded and have clearly separated toes and toe nails. I love that more skin creators these days are taking the time to make the feet look as flawless as possible. With how ridiculous SL feet look anyway, taking the time to make them look as pretty as you can really deserves a gold star in my book — so bravo on the feet, Trin! Lovely work. The hands are equally nicely done, with some spectacular bone structure shading on the top of the hand.
The backside of this skin, especially along the spine and shoulder blades, is well shaded but perhaps a little TOO harshly highlighted. Too harsh highlighting makes a skin look almost like it’s been painted with that chalky white paste you used to use in Kindergarten (you know, the stuff that smells like spearmint that the ‘big kid’ in class used to eat like it was candy), and while this skin hasn’t reached that level of highlighting harshity, it’s right on the borderline. None the less, the clearly defined shoulder blades is a good selling point in my book, and the shading on the ass is marvelous.
All in all, I’d say these skins are really just beautifully done and carefully hand drawn to be better and better with every new release. Despite that you’re unable to buy single skin packs, for all the extra added goodies you’ll get with a skin purchase (a full perms shape, eyes, etc), I’d highly recommend heading over to SINdecade (SLURL) and picking up a demo! I can’t wait to see as this skin creator evolves in his work. The future is very promising indeed!
Oh! And while you’re at it, check out the Harajukubox Skin Faire (SLURL) for a couple of exclusive releases from Trin and many, many other skin creators! Perhaps I’ll see you soon! You just know I’ll be there skin whoring it with the best of you! It ends in just a couple of hours, so don’t miss out!
Instinct Furniture: Coming Soon
Aug 16, 2008 Furniture
*NOTE: I’m apparently a dumb ass that can’t read! The name of the store is INSTINCT, not Ignite! So forgive me my idiocy!!! *dunce*
I had the pleasure of meeting the creators of the CORN Furniture (SLURL) store this past weekend, Cornelius Sloat and Devon Fischer (I’m sure you’ve read of me blogging about them… they really are fantastic with the sculptie work). A lovely couple of people Devon and Cornelius are, and talented to a fault. I’m sure you’ve heard me rave about them in the past, and this time will be no different! It is with great anticipation, pleasure, and wide-eyed fascination that I tell you they will soon be opening a new store to take the Second Life furniture realm by storm…
I’d like to present to you the coming creations of Instinct (SLURL), a new furniture store set to open to the Second Life residential public on August 22, 2008. (Please click on the photos below for larger viewing!)
Everyone that knows me knows I’m a sucker for perfect lighting, excellent texturing, natural materials, well done sculpties, well-placed shadows, and all around TERRIFIC furniture. I’m a bit of a furniture snob, I guess you could say really.
After speaking a while with Devon and Cornelius, I was able to mosey around the preview rooms full of furniture, decor, rugs, and art. I was fascinated by the impeccable lighting and shadows I saw, not to mention the beautifully sculpted beds (there are sixteen new ones) and bathrooms. Everything is completely interactive, right down to the lighting systems… toilets are flushable, showers are usable (with multiple poses), water taps will run when clicked, lights will turn on and off, and the beds… oh, the beds. Let me tell you about the beds.
Being one of the lucky people to have obtained one of these fantastic new beds, I don’t think I can rave about it enough. After spending a considerable amount of time tinkering away at it, the bed is actually INCREDIBLY, WONDERFULLY, ENDLESSLY fantastic. It is based on an entirely new menu system, and comes with a VAST array of BRAND NEW, never-before-seen animations! Everything from hanging out with a friend to erotic intimacy with your favorite person, these beds have it all down to a tee.
In addition to the excellent furniture, there are also tons of lamps, vases, flowers, and various other forms of decor that have been created and detailed right down to the very last highlight, perfectly in waiting for you to take them home and decorate. As a detail and furniture whore, I can say that this store is definitely speaking to my inner interior designer. I am so incredibly excited for it to open!
Again, Instinct (SLURL) will open to the public on August 22, 2008! I’ll be waiting with baited breath… and I’m sure you will too!!! Get those check books ready… it’s going to be the sim rush of a lifetime!
A Trip to Starlust Motel
Aug 11, 2008 Events, Fashion, Freebies, Sales/Hunts
I’ve been reading up on the feed that Starlust Motel (SLURL) is having it’s 24 hour Pantie Party starting at 6PM tonight. Having never been to the motel itself, I figured I’d take a trip and see what all the hubub was about. Oh. My. God. It was such a fun trip, and I’ll tell you why. (Click the photo below for a larger image!)
I’ve never walked away with so much fun stuff before. LOL! I was honest to god giggling the entire time I was roaming the sims with my little Kylei.
Aside from the StarLust Motel ‘Eat Me’ freebie which greets you at the door (the cheeseburger avatar… omg), there are also TONS of freebies around the hotel shops themselves including a dress from Amplify, DOZENS of poses from LAP, several freebies inside the hotel lobby, a treat bag from SD Wears, a pair of freebie shades from Vintage Wear, a box full of yumminess from Schadenfreude!, a cute handbag from MimiEden, a several dollarbies at Twosome, and probably a ton of other things I’ve yet to find. Now, I have absolutely no idea just how many of these freebies are exclusive to Starlust, so I’d suggest just heading there and trolling the two sims for all the freebies you can find. Oh, and grab some of the awesome shit for sale too!
Basically, I always have so much fun raiding these places. You never know what shops you’ll run across that you’ve never heard of before, or what shops you’ve heard of that have all this wacky stuff in these themed malls. And to make this trip even MORE fun, there’s actually a hunt going on in honor of the pantie raid, as it’s been dubbed… the golden clam hunt! The hunt covers both sims, Lloyd and Floyd, and you’re essentially searching for tiny golden clams… that are just waiting for you to scoop up the free underpants inside! Be aware… these clams are tiny. But well worth the effort to find, I’m sure of it.
More information from the Starlust Motel blog:
Please join us Tomorrow (Aug. 11th) at the Motel for a wee party celebrating all that is underpant. Starting around 6pm SL DJ Jhuzen Ketsugo will be um… spinning the phat beats? Yeah? I’m pretty sure that’s what they’re called. Even if they’re not phat, they’ll be good sized and really confident with themselves so do come.
Also there’s a 5 day hunt with almost an uncountable amount of clams holding underpants from almost an uncountable amount of vendors going on. The hunt covers both sims of Floyd and there are underpants for men as well as women. Sexy and casual, fun and then some very serious ones. I do think you’ll have a good time!
I plan to be on the hunt for panties, as well as more kooky stuff!!! How about you? Be there or be square!
PS: Oh! I should probably mention that the golden clam hunt has items for both MEN AND WOMEN!!! So drag your man with you. Come on, boys. You know you like to hunt just as much as we do. :P
Outfit Credits for the image at the top (Left to Right):
Dress: Elate Bridget Dress in Chocolate (Freebie)
Hair: House of Heart Tapika in Coffee Bean (Freebie)
Glasses: VINTAGEWear Simple Frames (Freebie)
Shoes: .:Periquita:. Beda Sandals in Brown
Necklace: Japancakes Fashionista Necklace
Headband: Japancakes Button Headband (Medium)
Purse: MimiEden Psychedelic Flower Bag (Freebie)
Jumpsuit: *Kurotsubaki* Tsunagi in Gray
Leggings: *Kurotsubaki* Socks Romantic B Set in Yellow
Belt: *Kurotsubaki* Hippie Belt A
Hair: Hiccup - Slow Jamz 2007 in Black
Shoes: .:Periquita:. Mary Squares Shoes in Brown
Necklace & Earrings: ::Violet Voltaire:: Angel Set Black/White
Starlust Eat-Me Freebie Doublecheeseburger Dress
Top: Heartattack&Vine Smile! Tee
Shorts: Tres Blah StarLust Motel Shorts (Freebie)
Hair: .: mela’s :. Simple Bun in Brunette (Freebie)
Earrings: PUDGE Yellow Dotty Earrings (Freebie)
Choker: Bliensen+Mai StarsChokerS (Freebie)
Who Has Our Backs?
Aug 10, 2008 General
In the past months, and most recently, it has come to light about yet another DMCA filing between designers. That’s not what this post is about. What we’d like to address here is the “keeping things quiet” aspect of these situations.
We completely understand the need for silence when dealing with said issues. However, one thing that has consequentially occured from doing so is that many, many bloggers are continuing to post on items they are unaware may turn out to be stolen. This is painful in the end for not just the designer - and we totally share your pain in this - but also for the many bloggers who have showcased/reviewed the products, filling their blogs with praise for the items, only to feel let down in the end and ultimately have their own values questioned.
Such widespread covereage on the SL blogosphere also leads to more customers/readers considering the products in question for purchase, and again the bloggers do feel very responsible for that. As many designers know, if a blogger at any time suspects an item’s integrity, they will immediately contact the designer to make them aware of the situation. In a lot of cases, this is what leads to DMCA’s being filed. Not everyone can have eyes everywhere to see their own content has been stolen.
But who looks after us?
Second Life fashion bloggers are valued and sought after to showcase items for many designers, but that is where the respect seems to end. We hold designers in such high regard. If we were told via IM or notecard that something was amiss with the content of one creator over another, we would be perfectly capable of keeping that to ourselves should you request that. Naturally, further blogging on the items in question would cease to occur. We understand that designers dealing with the trauma of having their work stolen may not have considered alerting the bloggers as a course of action in the past, but now is when it is crucial to stand united in this and feel more like a community than ever before.
Keeping it to yourselves is what is letting many content thieves get away with thier thievery. Without an undisputable display of theft, these “content creators” are able to continue producing, and in doing so they will inevitably use bloggers and fashion feeds as tools to spread the word. Bloggers, like designers, also spend many, many hours behind closed doors compiling blog posts and genuinely working hard on their own written content. We don’t always see and hear everything. In the past, too many newer bloggers have been attacked in comments on their own blogs because they weren’t aware of theft with a particular store. That in itself is reprehensible. If you know something the blogger doesn’t, IM THEM and let them in on it. If you don’t want to consider it as helping the blogger, at LEAST think of it as helping the designers that have been stolen from.
We hope that people will help us in the future by letting us know, privately and anonymously if necessary, that there is questionable content making its way around the blogosphere. We have no interest in spreading gossip! But we DO have interest in, as well as obligation to our readers to know about, content theft. Hopefully, in the end, we will not feel like we have to rip our blogs apart and delete older posts (which will consequentially punish other designers who were mentioned and linked to) in order to hide what has been done innocently.
Sincerely,
Ryker Beck & Sasy Scarborough
