May 19, 2011

Willo Wisping

“Vanity, I am sensible, is my cardinal vice and cardinal folly; and I am in continual danger, when in company, of being led an ignis fatuus chase by it.” ~ John Adams

*Evie's Closet* Willo O' The Wisp in Lament (Soft Lilac)

*Evie's Closet* Willo O' The Wisp in Lament (Soft Lilac)

It was pointed out to me that I didn’t make mention of the fantabulous little number I was wearing in yesterday’s video post.

The Willo O’ the Wisp outfit by Evie’s Closet is a faetastic fairy ensemble (it comes with lovely wings that are not pictured in my photos, but you can see them in the store promo below) that really does everything right. The system layers are scant, but cover all they should. The textures aren’t just mindless repeats edited here and there, but shaded and blended to give a convincing tattered and patched look. The overall effect is stunningly lovely while still remaining delicate.

The use of prims is both practical and effective. The little hip frill on one side has different flex movement than the longer veil-like silks that drape from the shoulder, hips and chest. This lends an airy feminine allure that you don’t see enough in fantasy and lingerie pieces. That sense of being wrapped in a whisper of fabric translates here. There are sculpts where there need to be sculpts and regular prims textured expertly where they need to be. In the overly sculpted creations that dominate the market these days, this type of outfit stands out, proving that you can use multiple techniques to produce a superior effect.

*Evie's Closet* Willo O' The Wisp Store Promo

*Evie's Closet* Willo O' The Wisp Store Promo

Prior to March of this year, I hadn’t been to Evie’s Closet in a long while (I think it was 2009 the last time I visited) and I was delighted to see how sophisticated the stock was. Evangeline Miles is a content creator who has developed herself in the format, skilled up with the market, and learned to employ layers and other multiple elements to give her creations an edge over most of what you see in the fantasy offerings.

While you’re at the store, you’ll also want to explore the rest of the Oubliette SIM. It’s a nicely done little fantasy realm.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys
*Evie’s Closet* Willo O’ The Wisp – L$350
Evie’s Closet

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Oubliette/184/189/249

Filed under: Fashion SL,SL - Shopping by Salome at 4:11 PM

May 18, 2011

Drakyn Preview

“I believe in everything until it’s disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists, even if it’s in your mind. Who’s to say that dreams and nightmares aren’t as real as the here and now?” ~ John Lennon

Two weeks ago I wrote about the Drakyn statuary that is currently on display and for sale at Sax Shepherd Designs on my Sim. Today, I thought I’d try my hand at a video blog entry previewing the soon-to-be-released Drakyn companions.

Living breathing dragons under 30 prims. Enjoy.

Also, I apologize for the mindless babbling. I’m still so focused on how the frak to use the hotkeys that I forget that whole speak like an intelligent being aspect of video blogging.

Filed under: Second Life,SL - Fun,SL - Shopping,SL-Art by Salome at 9:03 AM

May 6, 2011

Breezy Gizza and the Drakyn

We have no reason to harbor any mistrust against our world, for it is not against us. If it has terrors, they are our terrors; if it has abysses, these abysses belong to us; if there are dangers, we must try to love them. And if only we arrange our life in accordance with the principle which tells us that we must always trust in the difficult, then what now appears to us as the most alien will become our most intimate and trusted experience. How could we forget those ancient myths that stand at the beginning of all races, the myths about dragons that at the last moment are transformed into princesses? Perhaps all the dragons in our lives are princesses who are only waiting to see us act, just once, with beauty and courage. Perhaps everything that frightens us is, in its deepest essence, something helpless that wants our love.

So you mustn’t be frightened, dear Mr. Kappus, if a sadness rises in front of you, larger than any you have ever seen; if an anxiety, like light and cloud-shadows, moves over your hands and over everything you do. You must realize that something is happening to you, that life has not forgotten you, that it holds you in its hand and will not let you fall.
~ Rainer Maria Rilke, Letters To a Young Poet (Letter Eight: August 12, 1904)

Lately, my SIM, Seven Veils has been undergoing major changes. After six years, I’ve closed my texture store, Esprit Decor. I haven’t the desire nor inclination to keep the products from getting stale. While I’ll be keeping them on the marketplace, there are simply better things to be done with the real estate.

Case in point: Drakyn Statuary from Sax Shepherd Desings (whose creations are slowly taking over Seven Veils)

Chernobog Boneback Drakyn Statue From Sax Shepherd Designs

Chernobog Boneback Drakyn Statue From Sax Shepherd Designs

Each Drakyn statue is based on a creature of its own lore – like this Chernobog Boneback atop an ancient temple which is only twenty four prims and textured in a rich aged bronze. I love the spikes down the neck and spine and the fact that you can see the arm/wing skeletal structures that frame the webbing of the wings. The texture is magnificent, employing a mix of rust and patina effects and set to a very slight shine which lends the illusion of old metal that has been polished.

Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture From Sax Shepherd Designs

Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture From Sax Shepherd Designs

My next favorite is the Tricerat Drakyn on its floating island which casts its shadow on the ground below. This little trick is only eighteen prims (woot!) and textured in lavish sard (carnelian) which is complex, lush and vibrant. Like all the statuary by Sax, it’s modify so you can leave it floating, or incorporate it into a structure or fountain if needed. Sax also sell his textures in his shop so you can build complimenting structures and accessories, too.

And just because the from-a-distance shot doesn’t do the thing justice, here’s my closeup, Mr. DeMille:

Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture From Sax Shepherd Designs

Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture From Sax Shepherd Designs

As for what I’m wearing, I finally trotted over to Gizza where I haven’t shopped in (I want to say years, but that seems impossible) a very long time. Gizza tends to be hit and miss with me. Some items are tres delish while others just don’t hit the same quality in terms of prim work and/or texturing. And because their stuff is copy/no-trans I am cautious about what I buy because if I have to mess with it too much, it gets annoying to edit no-copy objects. Still, their prices tend to be quite fair for no-copy, so I don’t have a whole lot to complain about.

And sometimes they knock it out of the park; such as with this pairing that reached high on my squee-o-meter.

Gizza Fashion - Chiffon Shirt & Floral Jeans

Gizza Fashion - Chiffon Shirt & Floral Jeans

The Chiffon Shirt and Stretch Jeans do not come as a set, so you have to find them separately (they’re on the second floor not too far from each other). As you can see, the colors are vibrant and the prims are very well done. I did a little fitting but didn’t have to fuss too much to get them happy on my shape. The textures are sumblime and unapologeticly feminine. The semi-transparent system layers on the top give you a flirty little glimpse of navel, while maintaining modesty, and the prim textures manage to be gauzy without that annoying trans flicker that is the bane of SL fashion existence (of course it helps with that to wear an updo). You can also see the detail in the photo, how the shading gives the perfect illusion of gathers and ripples in the delicate fabric.

Gizza Fashion - Chiffon Shirt & Floral Jeans

Gizza Fashion - Chiffon Shirt & Floral Jeans

I don’t wear jeans a lot IRL, but when I do, I prefer them dark and these are perfect with a deep rich denim and light stitching to punctuate the seams. The floral patterns are bright and lovely and manage to be chic with a hint of throwback flower girl. The prim cuffs are well done, easy to fit and boast a lazy curve and fold that I prefer to a straight turn-up.

As sexy Summer casual goes, you can’t beat sweet chiffon and floral jeans — even if they don’t offer much protection against Boneback Drakyn spines.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys:

Chiffon Shirt [Pink Roses] – L$200
Stretch Jean [Pink Floral] – L$200
**GizzA**

http://slurl.com/secondlife/GizzA%20Creations/126/131/22

Chernobog Boneback Drakyn Statue – L$750
Marketplace
Tricerat Drakyn Sculpture – L$750
Marketplace
Sax Shepherd Designs – Here Be Drakyns

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Seven%20Veils/64/207/21

Usual Suspects:
Shoes (Maitreya)
Hair (Truth)

Filed under: Fashion SL,SL - Shopping,SL-Art,Virtual Living by Salome at 11:24 AM

April 18, 2011

Animated Bunny Ears From Sax Shepherd Designs

Bunny boiler is now part of our language, and I’m proud of that. ~ Glenn Close

Animated Bunny Ears From Sax Shepherd Designs

Animated Bunny Ears From Sax Shepherd Designs

Sax Shepherd has been decorating my Sim, Seven Veils, with his creations for the last several months, building his skyboxes and opening his stores. His first wearable, however, is officially squee-worthy and requires blogging.

These Animated Bunny Ears are the perfect accessory for Spring dress-up and naughty bunny romping. More than that, they’re just plain fun. The sculpted ears attach to the chin by default and first come in a basic white with shademap. But there are oodles of options from there.

To start with, by turning animations on, the ears will randomly stretch and bend, creating a cute little winking effect. The time between animations can be adjusted from 1 to 120 seconds to accommodate both lively or subtle preferences. Additionally, the animations can be turned off and the ears can be custom-positioned.

Animated Bunny Ears Menu

Animated Bunny Ears Menu

There are 9 pre-set colors that change the outline of the ears if you want color on the edges with white in the middle, but they can also be custom-tinted to provide a range of mix-and-match variety. You can also play with the Utilities options to allow friends to change your ears, or limit access to yourself as well as check for updates when they come out.

Although he doesn’t have a wearable store yet, Sax has the ears out for sale at his Pavilion Gazebo and also up on the Marketplace. So hop over and grab ‘em.

Where Does She Get Those Wonderful Toys:

Animated Bunny Ears
Sax Shepherd Designs

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Seven%20Veils/170/196/43

Marketplace Listing

The Student Top
PARADISIS

http://slurl.com/secondlife/PARADISIS%20Creations/160/49/32

Filed under: Fashion Accessories SL,SL - Fun,SL - Shopping by Salome at 2:03 PM

April 15, 2011

Can’t Trace Time

“The only constant is change.” ~ Heraclitus

I decided to see what the oldest outfits were that I could find in my inventory. In preparing for a new culling, it was fun to take one or two last shots in some of my favorites.

Hint: If your avatar looks in any way like these photos, you are sporting 2005 pixel vanity. Upgrade now. You may think it makes you seem cool and aloof, but it really just makes you outdated and out of touch.
Extra Hint: If the stuff you are making looks anything like these photos, stop, drop and skill up (this means *you* hair designers).

It’s worth noting that I no longer seem to have my old glasses, eyes, or stockings from that era, so I’m sportin’ current eyes and glasses and sans stockings.

Throwback SL 2005 Look

Throwback SL 2005 Look

2005: Part I
Hair: Lash Xevious (Flower Child in Bronzed)
Skin: Starley Thereian (CS Passport Skin – Paris/Brown Torrid)
Rose: Forseti Svarog (Roses For Hair – Scarlet)
Top: Nicola Escher (GK – Red/Black Lace Corset Top)
Skirt: Janie Marlowe (**Mis** Lil Ebony Ruffles)
Shoes: Fallingwater Cellardoor (Mary Jane Mules)

Throwback SL Look 2005

Throwback SL Look 2005

2005: Part II
Hair: Lash Xevious (Flower Child in Bronzed)
Skin: Starley Thereian (CS Passport Skin – Paris/Brown Torrid)
Dress: Nonna Hedges (Thank You India)
Shoes: Jackal Ennui (Taupe Brocade Mules)

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