A very small artist's voice

Major discovery: if you click on the time on the lower tool bar, it also tells you the DATE! (Due thanks to Mr RL for this amazing find).

See, I get fuzzy about dates sometimes because this year has been a question of 'OMG deadline tonight / Friday / next Tuesday lunchtime'.

PUT IN A PARAGRAPH BREAK HERE PLEASE BLOGGER. Gah.

Have a picture... and why no, the photo is not straight. It attempts to shows the soft lighting effects of this flowerbox, which is of course a total revolution for your walls and solves alpha clashes with windows, and also I think they're pretty. Leather flowerbox, fabulous textures.

Onwards (oh, and lots of colours of leather for this one. Well, three... but more if you like). One of the primmer ones at 12. But details! Pretty!

And yes there is a point to this. November 4 and 5 seemed to be a long way away in late October (month of deadline and air travel hell). Also, I'm just emerging from a phase of SL in which I've been doing more, um, socialising and talking about the Meaning of Life than making stuff. This happens, although partly because even hauling prims after meeting deadlines seems to be like too much hard work. Let alone blogging. (Who said 'phew' over there in the cheap seats?).

Another one below. Looooook no alpha clashes against your windows! 6 prims!

(Yes I am still a crap photographer. I like this silvery one, though. The one below it that I cut off is pretty too. Really. Touch the frame and the candle goes out. Wow! And if you knew the scripting hell I went through to do that... small artist, remember?)

And why yes, all this to say I went and missed the boycott thing, which I wasn't going to do anyway (I'm on the side that says it was counter-productive). Also, the 4th and 5th disappeared somewhere in this week's fog of dates.

What I did want to do was to have a sale to support creators. So I'm having one.

I am horrified by the idea of copying people's stuff, although don't think I'm exactly the Next Big Target.

I do know, though (and respect the fact) that some SL creators need their income.

And they're being ruined by idiots who are basically thieves.

BREAK. PARAGRAPH BREAK. Blogger... why do you hate me so?

(Hits 'enter', looks at 'preview', weeps).

As I said in the title, I'm a very small creator and lucky that SL is a hobby (and even luckier that I don't have to meet many deadlines except paying tier. Which I tend to pay well in advance in case a month slips by without me noticing).

(Look - rustic. Pretty seaglass. Sculpts! 10 prims! Great textures! Bad photograph!)

If I could persuade Mr RL that putting just a little more money into SL (we're talking about, what, a couple of coffees a week, but he's in finance and figures and budgets) I would probably just give stuff away.

But he gets grumpy and does not understand the beauty of a soft leather boot on a virtual foot...

(Imagine a photo of my new SL boots here but you do NOT want to see my attempts at photographing myself...). Believe me on this.

But anyway. I usually price stuff based on the worst case scenario (see how this finance-speak drips off my tongue?), meaning that the average month means - if I keep away from too many soft leather boots and textures - I can hang in there and don't need to resort to bribery (oh, spoil yourself Mr RL and buy that bit of software and by the way I just need to top up my SL rent...).

So yes, I'm fortunate.

So - here's the deal. I've marked my flowerbox-things-for-walls down by about 60%. Until... whenever I remember to put the prices back to their whopping 150L or so. Most are at 50L. A couple are even down to 20L.

Here, an attempt at 'close-up'. And if you look REALLY close you can see that the partition wall I put up to take the photo isn't quite aligned.

PARAGRAPH BREAK DAMMIT

Great wall of greenery though. For 50L. Here (plug plug plug). Low-prim again because of amazing technology (gotta love sculpts). I think it's about 10 prims (or 9, or 11, and I'm not inworld to check, sorry).

Also, if you are an SL creator who wants one or some made for one of your amazing projects / stores, or somebody who wants a special or copiable one, send me an IM. I'm a great fan of barter. And nothing gets the creative juices flowing more than somebody saying 'can you make me something like this but with red...'.

And thus endeth (nearly) a rather (OK very) rambly post.

Please drop in and see our little spot of SL. The sim is easy to negotiate (as in it's half a homestead and Mr RL will get the rabbit-in-headlights look if I mention 'more land and prims' right now).

And I know, I know. Good thing I don't post often these days but I'm not usually quite this rambly.

Anyhow...

The main square is here

And the flowerboxes just over there

And for IMs (they come to my mail): Ariadne Korda

PS. If anybody knows how to make Blogger respect my paragraph breaks, let me know? I hate walls of text and it just won't put the damned things in sometimes and have to run because Mr RL is glaring and making 'fridge is empty' noises...

Never mind the quality, read the breathless prose (rant)

Sheesh my blogs are getting boring and all about - well - SELLING stuff.
And oh dear, it's one of those days.

Well, I could get into a rant about nobody caring about my utterly exquisite creations. Or I could go away and make some more...


... or continue staring at 'bloggers' raving about an extremely marketing-savvy designer whose stuff I wouldn't buy if you paid me. But hey, kudos to her and her little band of breathless prose writers. Really. I do mean that and why of course I'm a little jealous.

Because marketing is most definitely where it's at. And I'd rather be either making things* or watching virtual waves or dancing on the square.

(I actually wanted to put this photo lower down but Blogger hates me this morning and it won't budge. So, plug*. ). I'm only human. Lousy photographer, but human ;)




Snob, you are no doubt muttering to yourselves. Who wants a 3-D arty-farty... thing for their walls anyway (although please note that it is actually at 90° despite the lousy photo.


And what about poor Ms Newbie who needs to be encouraged?

Well... yes. Definitely. But...



I was thinking about my first wonky glass bowl yesterday, and horrified at the thought that I actually tried to sell it. But (fortunately) I met a very pleasant builder-guy who was a lot SL-older and wiser than me, who said ever so politely 'you may want to work a little on your building, however tempting it is to jump on the oooooo let's do business' bandwagon.

He was so right. At this point I could show the said glass bowl, but it could be extraordinarily embarrassing. I rather hope it's fallen into the Big Inventory Void. Oh to hell with it - here it is. Why does SL save that and eat my seagull?

And no, it's not at 90°. But behold the huge discovery that you could put dimples into spheres and slap a freebie texture on. Way to go!


(Sadly, this amazing item is no longer for sale, please don't flood me with requests).


What am I actually writing about here? Good question. It's Saturday morning, and I should be running around doing laundry and gearing up for a long work trip as of Tuesday to a Long Way Away.


Actually, I think I'm saying I'd rather be making my silly fiddly things * that nobody buys than churning out same old, same old or really making the investment in time and Lindens to get my stuff known. (*another plug while we're at it).


But at the same time, much as I admire people who do get their stuff out there, I sort of prefer discovering that it's good stuff. Quality may be in the eyes of the beholder, but sloppy, blurry textures and wonky seams / alignments tend to stop me in my tracks before I can admire the 'look' for its 'artistic value'.

Here endeth a fairly useless ramble. Better than laundry, though.

And did I say plug?

NEW! Fleurs du Sud flowerboxes

Back to lots of activity at Vent du Sud after the summer. Rett is muttering and fine-tuning some brand new outfits, Menthal is spreading smoke all over the square as he works on a plane (more about all this later as the flight scripts are... not quite ready, meaning - well - you can imagine but be prepared to duck).

And me? Well, after a little gentle persuasion on the lines of 'less gossiping, blogging and go and make something' from my much-loved friends... I did.

I still need to take some decent photos... OK I need to learn to take decent photos.

But after all this rambling, here's a preview: FLEURS DU SUD and a line of 'flowerboxes' and other floral arrangements that are - I think - unique in SL. Find the new store on the main square!

Why? Because just popping a pot in a plant anywhere near a window and the delightful SL alpha-issue immediately rears its head. With a flowerbox on your wall, that's one problem less, eh?

What? Elegant frames, a mix of sculpts, soft lighting, water, superb textures. Bring greenery and elegance, nature into your home for a real touch of class and a statement piece if ever there was one. (Pumpkins: note the pumpkins...).

How much? Prices are all below 200L (some well below and one is marked down to just 50L - go look!). Prims: from 7 to 16. So far, 8 to choose from and more on the way

(Note:) My subscribo people will be getting a special flowerbox FREE as soon as I have a few minutes. Find the machine outside the Vent du Sud shop, also on the square.

Class (and Rett puts something on SALE)!

Now, girls and boys. Time for a math lesson - absolutely essential for working out how to handle those Linden dollars, no?

At Vent du Sud, our guys are always helpful, see. And Geek Back's latest scripting masterpiece is just that. Touch the blackboard, and you're all set for an interactive lesson (in English...). Slouch on one of the benches, and feel sorry for the little guy in the corner wearing the Dunce's cap, or admire the amazing detail in the classroom, expertly created by Geek and Menthal Oh. And, no - it's not for sale, just for fun, although the blackboard (seriously, it's soooooo clever) can be yours, tailored to your own needs, by contacting Geek.

If you're interested in a schoolroom setting for role play, then let Geek or Menthal know, and they'd be happy to provide desks (they have great animations) and the other accessories too.

And naturally, our very own Rett Gentil joined in the 'back to school' fun too. And (wait for it...) her schoolgirl outfit is available ON SALE. Yes, I really said sale. For 250 instead of 350, and ONLY in the classroom. Lots of options with this outfit, and definitely a very sexy schoolgirl indeed. Thanks, Rett - I'm so glad she has a roomy store with us with all her unique styles, so don't forget to check them out (plus her subscribo and cute free outfit).

So, drop in and test your brain power, pick up our other superb Vent du sud freebies (new ones coming soon, yet again), and relax by the sea in the warm, gentle end-of-summer days in a superb Mediterranean setting.

RECIF DE REVE - REEF OF DREAMS

Something very special this month at Vent du Sud: an underwater (yes - underwater) photo exhibition by R0bin Helsinki, one of SL's fun, dynamic photographers with an eye for the 'different'. It's opening today, but will run for the whole month of September

How to visit? Well, wearing scuba gear specially made by Geek Back for the occasion - pick it up here for free, and glide through the stunning photos, lit up by your divers' mask and with the smooth, perfect animation making it all a great experience. In a hurry? You can visit on foot and admire the great photos (mind the stingray, OK?).

So please drop in, enjoy a swim, a game of pétanque or, enjoy a whiff of the Mediterranean.

Other great surprises are in store too... always something new to see and do at Vent du Sud, not forgetting the great shopping for unique décor and classy clothes.

SL at its worst: help, anyone?

(this post also explains why there's still a sale at one of the Vent du Sud stores... no time to go put the normal prices back...!)

This is part of a build I did a while back: a 'community and retail' area for a lovely, mainly residential place that was recently bought out by one of the residents, and a friend of mine.

Sooo, last night Europe time, a good half of the houses, interiors, things in stores, etc. disappeared. Some things have been returned to 'lost and found'. Some haven't. On my own sim, a few weird things happened but not to this extent.

Whether it was SL's asset server in this case (I think so - I hope so), or whether somebody deposited a mass of junk that filled up the sim and meant that everything not set to the group was sent back - not sure yet. But, obviously, there are a lot of very upset residents and retailers. And yes of course things should have been set to the group but that's what happens when permissions, etc. aren't as carefully set up as they should be from the outset.

Yes, they've asked for a rollback but it's part of a mainland sim, meaning all other owners have to agree. If this doesn't happen, then we're all just hoping that people will be sympathetic and patient and not attack the new owner, who is completely distraught.

It will be fixed. Somehow. I'm hoping to enlist a few builder and decor-making friends to help replace anything 'lost', if the rollback doesn't happen.

And sure, I'd be really, really happy if any other builders / furniture makers would be prepared to help out by contributing a few things to people who have lost their stuff. If you feel you can help, then please, please let me know (Ariadne Korda) and I'll put you in touch with the owner and managers.

Yes, I know this probably sounds like some sort of scam. But it's not. The new owner is a lovely lady and is taking this really hard, so I'm appealing for a little solidarity. Not for money.

Thanks so much to anyone who is prepared to lend a hand.

90% off in a whole store full of stuff

First, yes I do mean 90% off: it's valid for everything in the Vent du Sud store next to the ice cream cart, for a day (or two, or three... but no more). It includes the fireplace, fountain, multi-anim cushions, rugs, great pottery, wall hangings, etc. Soon, that store will have an entirely new range of pretty things, and I need to get on with them.

In addition to that, we're all gearing up to fun things like an underwater expo and a 'back to school' month, which means I need to organise myself.

And it's just so easy to get distracted (and play Barbie, although hey, it's fun. As is chatting to great people).

But... sitting around watching waves is fine for a while. And then it's time to be a little more active and quit the navel-gazing.

So go pick up what's there before I think I've gone completely nuts.

Remember - next to the ice cream cart, right by the tp point. And pick that up too - it's at a great price, it's wearable and it's FUN (and it's colour-change). A great addition to any sim. Just pay the poster 190L and you can hand out ice cream to all your visitors (or wear it and ride it around if you can't spare the 36 prims!).

Just off to watch waves for a while. Really, just for a little while...