Sometimes you need sunflowers (even virtual ones)

What a week. Seriously. You don't want to know. Whining is not good. So I won't.

But were good things too.

I live in southern France in RL (already good) and yesterday I was out in picture-book surroundings, including lavender and field upon field of sunflowers - which I love.  AND I found a milk churn at a flea market!

So here's a milk churn with sunflowers and some lavender.

Free. Right by the subscribo, here at Vent du Sud.  Even copiable.

If you sign up to the subscribo, you'll get news of a VERY special, er, "not-hunt" offer this week which will not only mean a great offer but a couple of lucky people are - I hope - going to win a BIG prize.

And still in sunflower and lavender mood, I wore this: it's the loveliest, swishiest summery dress that is perfect for dancing on hot summer evenings. It's from A la Folie, and comes with shoes and a sculpt bustier that I'm not wearing - it's also nice without. Name - "Ciel et Terre" - earth and sky. The fabric is just... yum.

Look.  Swish.

Come and dance any time at Vent du Sud, btw. A peaceful, summery bit of France, with Intan for couples and a dance floor... and sunflowers. Of course.

Feeling beachy, thanks

Vent du Sud brings you:

Opening 12.30 SLT - 21.30 Europe

at the Vent du Sud ART CAFÉ

Who? R0bin Helsinki, a fantastic photographer and inveterate traveller

What? Views from beaches all over the world: unusual, striking, unique (and affordable!)

Why come today? Because these photos are beautiful. Because R0bin is fun to talk to. And because today, there are gifts (including photos and surprise gifts at the opening) and dancing on the square!

How long? Until R0bin puts up a new series of photos, so don't wait too long - she has so many fantastic themes and ideas.

And while you're here, have a wander on our quiet beaches, admire the sunsets from a lighthouse... and feel free to come over in swimwear and dive off our dock (or watch the dolphin, the seagulls or the waves or take a pedalo ride around the island).

(Swimwear on me: "Swallow" by BareRose which is my all-time favourite and comes in 4 colours for 135L)

(PS: Find it at BareRose using their website here)

We would really, really love to see you at Vent du Sud later today (and the exhibition is already open so if you can't make it later, come on over right away)!

Fig chutney, sculpts and a tiny bit of frustration

No really, this doesn't look like something rather awful, particularly when you see the figs all chopped up ready to make....

Fig Chutney (yes, another adventure thanks to our neighbours-with-fruit-to-spare). It tastes wonderful. Check out the recipe in the link.


So, fresh from putting it into jars (lovely waft of balsamico), I came up with this...

The VENT DU SUD FIG CHUTNEY COLOURED "Curve it!"

...(amid much hilarity from various sources). But seriously, they are such LOVELY colours. 

Seats up to 5, 9 prims in total, lots of anims, couples poses too. Get it HERE for the next 48 hours only, and 100L instead of 199L.

Also, I am too broke to buy some fun-looking sculpt maps of jamjars with fruit preserve textures, which I rather like the idea of giving out as freebies. It may still happen. So yes, this is a compromise at half price and then I may go sculpt-hunting. 

And I can feel a rant coming on but will TRY to make it short.

I've heard a few derogatory comments recently about 'hmph, that's just a sculpt bought on XStreet with a texture slapped on'. Well, I've seen stuff like that, yes. But there is 'slapping textures on', and there is fiddling endlessly with textures, offsets, tints, not to mention putting poses in, adjusting them, or combining and tweaking various sculpts to make a 'whole' that has some of your own skills in there too. 

Few people in SL can do everything. And what is wrong with finding (or paying) people to do the bits you can't (scripting, making sculpts, poses, etc. in my case)? Personally I'd rather have something made using GOOD sculpts I've bought (from somebody I know hasn't ripped them) than battling with software I don't master and producing clunky ones.

Yes, it's good to  learn new things. I'm not saying it isn't. I am slowly getting to grips with making textures, modifying scripts, and adjusting poses. Scripting is currently scheduled for around 2014.

At the moment,  however, I love playing with colours and shapes and moods, and that takes up my SL building time.

Ah, got that off my chest.

So once more... FIGS (and Vent du Sud... and honestly I've redone my LMs so nobody lands in walls out by the patio store any more - sorry!). That one is the main square, the other one is for the pool where you find the offer. Really.

And admire the Kookie 'Lazy' shoes I shall probably still be wearing next week. Well, one of the three colours I bought (another reason why people may have to wait for the jam jars: it was tier time and they were such lovely shoes *sigh*). I need them in a sort of darkish, figgish aubergine now.

Ermmm.... the neighbours bought green beans today. And yellow ones. Watch this space.

However (and really, I'm going now), if you do want a 'custom CURVE IT!, just ask me, Ariadne Korda.

I can do green. Or whatever :)

Strategically placed fruit and other things of interest

It's a lovely summer day here in RL southern France - and blue is really a part of Provence.

So let me show you the GEO set called 'seaside blues'.  I love blue and white and yellow when it's hot, so I thought this might be an idea as a special.

As my subscribo group know, there's a HUGE deal on it, in a box that includes the whole lot - couch, chair, (both with singles and couples poses, colour change cushions), table, rug, pillow set (top pic), glassware plus a little extra (hint: it's yellow).

Where?

At Vent du Sud, obviously. See the set in my mainstore opposite the  tp point here but THEN...take yourself off over here to find the WHOLE lot for 120L. Only until about 12 hours from now (i.e. when I wake up tomorrow morning).

And as I'm sure some of you are already missing the regular fruit references...

I have a friend with a sense of humour who sent it to me as a gift, see. Quite... er... a fashion statement. It's called 'Eat Fruit' and is by Gumi Yao.

Takes a little strategic placing, I tell you.

Have a great Sunday, all... OH.... and another quickie. Superb new 3-prim parasol in FIVE colours outside the Vent du Sud mainstore. 50L only (again until I wake up tomorrow and change it to 129L).

(Please note: this is a non-rambly post - I have a RL man doing a barbecue, which mostly involves him standing watching things cook and me running around doing marinade, table, salads, sauce, drinks, etc. (and clearing up). Does this sound familiar?)

Not a rant (with a digression on apricots)

Well, no news from the decor divas. Must say that a quick IM to say 'ooops sorry it was a glitch' would have gone a long way and I would be writing a blog saying 'oh hey, mistakes happen'.

But... I'm not. So subject closed, as far as I'm concerned.

(Today's nearly-free offer. Small but fun... scroll down for details).

So yesterday turned into a rather bizarre day. I had a deadline to meet for (RL) work, which was somewhat complicated by the arrival of a neighbour with two massive boxes of apricots that needed to hit the jam pan before they went more mushy (the joys of rural French living!).

Delegated husband to buy sugar and chop fruit and stir, while I ploughed through a translation that makes watching paint dry seem positively thrilling. Lunch break, popped inworld to gossip with a couple of friends, and of course for that Barbie Moment. 

Nothing quite like feeling feminine in SL when in RL you're in scruffy shorts and tee, with apricot-y dribbles.

This dress from SALT (Summer Romance)? Gorgeous. I'm wearing it sleeveless but it has sleeves too. The belt is from the Fri.day romper suit (which has THREE, each in three sizes - meaning it's one of those incredible staples and beautifully done).

Much better than the jam-smeared RL version.


Afternoon: met deadline (phew). Went for a swim. Cooked a meal. Put labels on a ridiculous amount of apricot jam (with vanilla, without vanilla, plus apricot chutney containing rather a heavy-handed dose of chili).

Went back to SL and...

... wow. People strolling around Vent du Sud, some lingering for a dance and a chat, others sending IMs that made me feel all warm and mushy... it was just great.

Never talked to so many fun people in one evening, ever. Amazing people. Lots of laughs, and some great, great contacts.  Went to bed feeling extraordinarily mellow and delighted to see some of the very, very good side of SL.

Must rant more often.

Well no, actually. It's a bit like chili... overdose and it gets a little too much.

Right now I'm working on something to put in the subscribo (join it!) and also on organising our upcoming opening party for the superb photo exhibition at the Vent du Sud Art Café (but check it out - already open). More on that soon but wow, those photos.

No, the gift will not be an apricot chair. Seen enough apricots to last me a very long time.

If you've read this far, oh brave reader of rambles, here's the firebowl.
5L, copy. Right by the subscribo at Vent du Sud. Turns on and off as any good firebowl should, but really pretty flames.

Have a great weekend, everyone. And believe me, I appreciated the comments, IMs and laughs yesterday SO MUCH.

Thank you.

A hunting we will go. Or not. Rant.

This is a rant. Please be warned.

Also, do help yourself to some Vent du Sud nearly-freebies (scroll down another one). A sample of what I do, with lots of attention to detail. Like, y'know, I'd do with hunt gifts.

So what's making me so grumpy? Well... hunts. Or rather one particular hunt-to-be.

See, I organised a couple, way back. They involved up to 30 (mainly fashion) stores, and it was a hassle. Helping vendors, helping hunters (some of whom behaved liked spoiled brats, but most were lovely), answering countless IMs and notecards, and plugging away to get it on blogs, on the events calendar, etc.

It did wonders for traffic, i.e. for getting the sim I co-owned on the map. Whether it was any use to the vendors is hard to say. We recommended that people put good stuff out, as a 'visiting card'. Some did. Some.. didn't. I was tempted to grumble about that but didn't. It was their call. But for me, I see it as good advertising: people may come back.

I swore I would never, ever run one again, though. It was exhausting and thankless, mostly, so I have to admire those who do.

Usually.

But.

(You knew there was a but coming, right?)

Time for another photo because, y'know, plug for my stuff while I collect my thoughts.

Vent du Sud 'Curve it!' - seats up to 5 plus couples' poses

So, let's say there's a hunt announced - in a group you belong to - that you feel enthusiastic about as you're a creator in precisely that area. You sign up on the same day and send off the notecard to the person stated on the form. Wait patiently to be equipped with the... whatever it is they give vendors. Notecard accepted (so far, so good).

No news.

OK, so maybe they're a bit behind. This happens. Nothing on the blog, so all must be well. Mustn't pester. I've been on the receiving end of this, remember.

You send the notecard again on the day the entries close, just to make sure. Still no news.

Then, a week later, you find out that the organisers have changed and the person you sent the notecard to is no longer dealing with it. She says, however, that your sign-up has been forwarded to the NEW people.

Except it hasn't. Or it has but for some reason you aren't included - not sure which.

"You", of course, being "me".
(Yes, I'm irritated. Can you tell?)

Contacting the new organisers is like bashing your head against the wall. One profile says 'we're accepting no more vendors for the hunt, sorry you're too late tough shoo go away' (sort of thing).

What?

Send notecard anyway, explaining the problem.

Nada. Zip.

Tried IMs yesterday. Bingo... or rather not.

A promise to 'get back to me right away' left me hanging around for two hours.

Not a word.

Tried one last time this morning and will of course update the blog if I finally get an answer. I'm not holding my breath.
Apparently there is drama between the original organisers. I don't give a damn about their drama. I'm just not impressed with how people who signed up early, in good faith, are now being completely left in the dark. Apparently I'm not alone, either.

- Why wasn't there some sort of information sent to the group by the new organisers, to inform people there had been a change?
- What did happen to the sign-ups that were sent to the original organiser?
- Why don't the new organisers at least respond to (polite) requests by the people who signed up on the original form - it's still the SAME hunt after all and apparently the same sign-up rules?

So it rather looks like Vent du Sud won't be taking part. I shall survive. It's is after all only a hunt, not a life-threatening event. I just don't like feeling I've been screwed over because of some sort of internal drama. NOTE: I really feel for the person running the group, however: it is really not her fault that things have gone awry.

During the 'hunt week', however, I will be offering "special specials", including freebies, so please stay tuned.

(Like this one for 1L... click on the plants and they change. Right by the subscribo).

Rant over.

Deck, dock and... er no not that. DESIGN

So, all the automatic LM-giver scripts are gone. I do listen to people. Sometimes. Even if it can be anything but what I want to hear.

Freebies, however? Will have the Brand New Magically Appearing But Self-Deleting LM script (ask scripting genius Geek Back if you want one).

And having done that I am ready to ramble on again.

... about deckchairs.  And an idea I had when I came up with a series of seaside-ish type things. Find these two in the Vent du Sud mainstore at 120L for the pair or 69 each, btw, if you're feeling nautical.  Or captainish or mateish.

Please check them out: yes they're simple but a lot of care went into the texturing.

Yes, they have (3, animated) poses- see one of them below. Three prims each. Ideal for watching sunsets after a long day of fiddling with scripts.

Better still, how about customised ones?

Here's a set I did for a lovely lady yesterday. Custom ones are 80L each, 130L for a pair, and you can choose the fabric, font, wood and the names you want, within reason (for example your own name, or His and Hers, Stupid and Stupider, Master and Slave, or a store name, event name or... whatever).

Big orders = reductions.

Normally, they're copy, but if you'd like them as advertising I can make them copy / transfer for your giveaways for a price we can haggle over.

Turnaround time? normally 48 hours max (unless you have a list of 40 names in Polish or Hungarian). 

See the sign at the Vent du Sud mainstore for details but basically you IM me or mail me, Ariadne Korda (my IMs go to mail), I make the chairs (being the trusting sort), and then you pay me. Paying me in advance is allowed too (and for big orders, I will ask for part of the cost up front).

And that sunset? Just the moment of peace I wanted last night.

Fashion notes: Great, vibrantly-coloured long dress by Coco designs and a lovely blowy hair called 'Afterglow' by Cake.

Have to say I never tire of sunsets at Vent du Sud. Remember, there's a great pedalo ride too, off the dock, plus a fabulous swim system out there. Bring your friends!