This Thread is Rated: L (Light Ranting)
Hey again!
I've spent the last few days considering the overall direction this blog is going to take and how the heck I'm going to be able to cover new releases in all the genres that appeal to me. The simple answer is that it's just not possible .. so I'm going on record right NOW saying that I'm going to try my best to represent as many of them as I can. What I will ALSO say right now, though, is that every post here will be unique (as much as such things are possible in SL) and that in the coming weeks I hope to put together a nice little blogroll on the sidebar over here. ->
Ideally, what I can't cover, other bloggers will. ;)
The theme of this post is collaboration and it's funny how the ideas I've had running through my head this week came together with the two (and later, three) pictures I ended up taking. One thing I've noticed in the last little while here is the increasing number of weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly shopping events in Second Life; so many, in fact, that it's becoming a real challenge to keep track of each one. Whether this is helping our favourite designers or not, I think there are some real benefits (and drawbacks) for SL plebians like myself:
1) Benefit - It has become MUCH easier to find new content creators on the grid and to remember that the designers you loved earlier in the year are still making fantastic stuff.
Self-explanatory and definitely the most important point to make at this time.
2) Benefit & Drawback - Theme shopping is a trend that allows shoppers to find the sort of items they want or prefer at a given time .. so long as the time occurs during the duration of that event. Afterward, we're sort of on our own when it comes to tracking things down.
There is simply a TON of stuff in Second Life. Also, I've noticed that some content creators IN Second Life aren't making items from past events available in their mainstores so unless you're able to buy what you like (for ALL your SL accounts) during the events in question, you're unfortunately S.O.L. Maybe I don't understand how the term 'Event Exclusive' changes from one event to another, but this has become a major source of frustration in recent months.
3) Drawback - There are SO MANY EVENTS!
Between the regular events we're all used to (We <3 RP, Collabor88, FaMESHed, TDR, FLF, The Chapter Four, The Seasons Story, The Arcade, and the Fantasy Gacha Carnival) and the multitudes of new events that have sprung up in the last year (as far as I can tell), it's becoming really difficult to keep track of what's happening next and how long each new event is going to last. With this are the predictable issues of shopping budget, inventory critical mass, and general confusion that I really want to explore in another post.
Conclusion:
I love the new direction and pace of shopping in Second Life because, for me, this IS one of the factors that keeps me interested in being here. I think the overall quality of content available to the residents of Second Life is improving every day and I am always, always excited to see what's new at each event. There was a time when I would just take a tour of some of my favourite stores when I felt like shopping but now all I need to do is have a peek at group notices, flickr, or a blogger I like to see what events are taking place. Click, click, teleport! This almost guarantees a close look at what's trending at any given time and, usually, I'll find something I like too!
So let's have a peek at what I found at the Mystic Realms Faire, yeah?
Hey again!
I've spent the last few days considering the overall direction this blog is going to take and how the heck I'm going to be able to cover new releases in all the genres that appeal to me. The simple answer is that it's just not possible .. so I'm going on record right NOW saying that I'm going to try my best to represent as many of them as I can. What I will ALSO say right now, though, is that every post here will be unique (as much as such things are possible in SL) and that in the coming weeks I hope to put together a nice little blogroll on the sidebar over here. ->
Ideally, what I can't cover, other bloggers will. ;)
The theme of this post is collaboration and it's funny how the ideas I've had running through my head this week came together with the two (and later, three) pictures I ended up taking. One thing I've noticed in the last little while here is the increasing number of weekly, bi-weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, and quarterly shopping events in Second Life; so many, in fact, that it's becoming a real challenge to keep track of each one. Whether this is helping our favourite designers or not, I think there are some real benefits (and drawbacks) for SL plebians like myself:
1) Benefit - It has become MUCH easier to find new content creators on the grid and to remember that the designers you loved earlier in the year are still making fantastic stuff.
Self-explanatory and definitely the most important point to make at this time.
2) Benefit & Drawback - Theme shopping is a trend that allows shoppers to find the sort of items they want or prefer at a given time .. so long as the time occurs during the duration of that event. Afterward, we're sort of on our own when it comes to tracking things down.
There is simply a TON of stuff in Second Life. Also, I've noticed that some content creators IN Second Life aren't making items from past events available in their mainstores so unless you're able to buy what you like (for ALL your SL accounts) during the events in question, you're unfortunately S.O.L. Maybe I don't understand how the term 'Event Exclusive' changes from one event to another, but this has become a major source of frustration in recent months.
3) Drawback - There are SO MANY EVENTS!
Between the regular events we're all used to (We <3 RP, Collabor88, FaMESHed, TDR, FLF, The Chapter Four, The Seasons Story, The Arcade, and the Fantasy Gacha Carnival) and the multitudes of new events that have sprung up in the last year (as far as I can tell), it's becoming really difficult to keep track of what's happening next and how long each new event is going to last. With this are the predictable issues of shopping budget, inventory critical mass, and general confusion that I really want to explore in another post.
Conclusion:
I love the new direction and pace of shopping in Second Life because, for me, this IS one of the factors that keeps me interested in being here. I think the overall quality of content available to the residents of Second Life is improving every day and I am always, always excited to see what's new at each event. There was a time when I would just take a tour of some of my favourite stores when I felt like shopping but now all I need to do is have a peek at group notices, flickr, or a blogger I like to see what events are taking place. Click, click, teleport! This almost guarantees a close look at what's trending at any given time and, usually, I'll find something I like too!
So let's have a peek at what I found at the Mystic Realms Faire, yeah?
Looking above and below, I hope it's possible to see how these pictures relate to one another since, yes, I took both pictures within a 30m radius on my home parcel. It's the same avatar (I don't alter my shape unless it's the standard boob/booty-smush), and the same sky. Looking closely at the first picture, you may see tiny birds on the scarf tucked so artfully beneath my pretty new violin .. which brings us to one of my favourite finds of the week!
As a blogger I have an especial love for fun and interesting pose sets because they really do help me find new ways to bring interest to my posts. Yes, it may be faster to stand in front of a white background, both feet on the floor, facing forward. Yes, it may also be the best way to showcase clothing, shoes, accessories, and hair so .. sometimes that's what needs to be done. The rest of the time, though, I want to have fun with what I do! I want to go to an event and see something, like this Stirling Set from Picture This!, that brings an immediate smile to my face (and yeah, reminds me to hit up youtube.com to see what Miss Stirling has been doing lately, too). This pose is also the missing link between my theme and pictures today! When don't musicians collaborate with one another?
Also pictured above and available at the 'Faire are the stone arches and swirling leaves from Kalopsia that I just couldn't resist and, yes, the adorable lantern bunnies (Lefty and Righty) that bring a sort of Narnia-meets-Middle-Earth vibe to the picture that I just wasn't expecting. Of course, it's a perfect setting for a violinist dancing around while she plays a truly epic Viking theme. This is where we look at the picture below.
Cool, right?!
I was SO EXCITED to hear that The Fantasy Collective, another shopping event I should have mentioned above, is holding a flickr contest for their fantastic fan photos! This is a perfect example, by the way, of a theme event that works because as soon as I saw the TFC notice my first thought was "VIKINGS!" (actually, I may have said it aloud. Don't judge. >.>)
As a blogger I have an especial love for fun and interesting pose sets because they really do help me find new ways to bring interest to my posts. Yes, it may be faster to stand in front of a white background, both feet on the floor, facing forward. Yes, it may also be the best way to showcase clothing, shoes, accessories, and hair so .. sometimes that's what needs to be done. The rest of the time, though, I want to have fun with what I do! I want to go to an event and see something, like this Stirling Set from Picture This!, that brings an immediate smile to my face (and yeah, reminds me to hit up youtube.com to see what Miss Stirling has been doing lately, too). This pose is also the missing link between my theme and pictures today! When don't musicians collaborate with one another?
Also pictured above and available at the 'Faire are the stone arches and swirling leaves from Kalopsia that I just couldn't resist and, yes, the adorable lantern bunnies (Lefty and Righty) that bring a sort of Narnia-meets-Middle-Earth vibe to the picture that I just wasn't expecting. Of course, it's a perfect setting for a violinist dancing around while she plays a truly epic Viking theme. This is where we look at the picture below.
Cool, right?!
I was SO EXCITED to hear that The Fantasy Collective, another shopping event I should have mentioned above, is holding a flickr contest for their fantastic fan photos! This is a perfect example, by the way, of a theme event that works because as soon as I saw the TFC notice my first thought was "VIKINGS!" (actually, I may have said it aloud. Don't judge. >.>)
There may be one or two items in this picture that I didn't find at one event or another (like Exile's hair from Summerfest and more than half the accessories and armour bits from the 30L Viking Gacha event and Fantasy Gacha Carnival) but really, this scene has existed in my head for months and I am absolutely -thrilled- to get it out and into the world! Credits are below!
The last thing I want to talk about here, and I promise to try and keep things brief, is event etiquette:
Whatever the event, whatever time of day, and whatever your expectations, PLEASE remember that this event is not about us. We are almost always camming 1) the build and, 2) the vendor boards. This means that almost without exception, no one will notice what we are (and are NOT) wearing. If we are lucky enough to get into a popular event within the first few days it is a common courtesy to keep script count and render weight as low as possible; WE may not be lagging but that doesn't mean someone else's computer is not screaming at them. I wrote an article earlier in the year detailing a few ways to keep lag as low as possible that may be helpful, too (a short read while you're waiting for a board to rez, maybe? :D).
Most important of all, though, is realizing that we are not the only frustrated party on the grid today. We may spend hours frantically clicking a landmark with NO result. We may lag, crash, and wind up at -1L$ multiple times. We may want to scream at our computers, rant at our friends, and vow to avoid an event altogether because things just aren't going our way. This is when we need to get up and walk away from the computer for a little while and ask ourselves why we're trying so hard to get there right away. Will we wear every single item we find on day one? Will every vase, mirror, and flower arrangement find its way into our SL homes immediately? Will complaining in our store's group chat or (worse) at the event itself accomplish anything other than making us sound like utter jackasses? Probably not.
So breathe. Keep calm and .. SHOES!
Whatever the event, whatever time of day, and whatever your expectations, PLEASE remember that this event is not about us. We are almost always camming 1) the build and, 2) the vendor boards. This means that almost without exception, no one will notice what we are (and are NOT) wearing. If we are lucky enough to get into a popular event within the first few days it is a common courtesy to keep script count and render weight as low as possible; WE may not be lagging but that doesn't mean someone else's computer is not screaming at them. I wrote an article earlier in the year detailing a few ways to keep lag as low as possible that may be helpful, too (a short read while you're waiting for a board to rez, maybe? :D).
Most important of all, though, is realizing that we are not the only frustrated party on the grid today. We may spend hours frantically clicking a landmark with NO result. We may lag, crash, and wind up at -1L$ multiple times. We may want to scream at our computers, rant at our friends, and vow to avoid an event altogether because things just aren't going our way. This is when we need to get up and walk away from the computer for a little while and ask ourselves why we're trying so hard to get there right away. Will we wear every single item we find on day one? Will every vase, mirror, and flower arrangement find its way into our SL homes immediately? Will complaining in our store's group chat or (worse) at the event itself accomplish anything other than making us sound like utter jackasses? Probably not.
So breathe. Keep calm and .. SHOES!
~Mien~
Jacket: *Fishy Strawberry* Ducato Leather Jacket - Brown NO TANK ~ Fae Eriksen
Dress: shine by [ZD] ENI BELTED MESH DRESS sky ~ Cecilia Blachere
Stockings: Izzie's - Slink Physique - Applier Sheer Tights Basics ~ Izzie Button
Boots: Eudora 3D Victoria Boots ~ Eudora3D Resident
Hair: [Entwined] Maia (Rigged) ~ Vivienmarli Resident ~ NEW!!
Ring: Amala - Lonely Leaf Ring - Silver ~ Crystalny Resident
Scarf 1: Tee*fy Collar Snood Freedom ~ Azure Electricteeth
Scarf 2: Maitreya Long Scarf * Sepia ~ Onyx LeShelle
Pose and Violin Props: :Picture This!: Stirling 3 ~ KeliahAngelisResident ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Stones and Arches: Kalopsia - Old Stone Arches ~ Isabeau Baragula ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Leaves: Kalopsia - Flying leaves (green) ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Bunnies: Bunny Path Light (Lefty AND Righty) ~ Garvie Garzo ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Trees and Landscaping: Landscaping by Felix ~ Mesh Dream Rock Forest ~ FelixvonKotwitz Alter
Anypose Expression HUD ~ Phate Shepherd Creations (Still free on Marketplace)
~Mask~
Vest: {AS} Skadi Mesh Fur Vest ~ Deep Brown ~ Arwen Serpente
Skirt: .::DD::. Siv Skirt Brown ~ Epic Maidstone
Boots: lassitude & ennui Lazy boots brown ~ Jackal Ennui
Hair: Exile::Blown Away ~ Kavar Cleanslate
Circlet: [The Forge] Celtic Headband, (Silver) ~ Deccan Arida
Shoulders: The Muses . My Lady . brown/silver . Pauldrons ~ Dolce Blackflag
Neck 1: [The Forge] Chain Mail Collar (Silver, Plain) ~ Deccan Arida
Neck 2: *OAL* Runes Necklace ~ Discovering Destiny
Upper Arms: [Tia] Mjolnir - Upper Arm - Silver ~ Tia Biscuit
Upper Arm 2: *{Junbug}* The Valkyrie's Armlet in Silver ~ Juno Mantel
Bracers: [The Forge] Viking Bracers, (Silver) ~ Deccan Arida
Wrist: *OAL* Runes Bracelet ~ Discovering Destiny
Belt: [The Forge] Braided Belt, Brown ~ Deccan Arida
Horn: .:: Dark Forge ::. Viking Horn for Belt 1 COMMON ~ Belford Elman
Shield: Noodles - Eric Shield Silver ~ Natalee Oodles
Bow: VFX Tundra Bow ~ Tungsten Engineer
Pose and Sword Prop: .mien. {Valkyrias} 05 ~ Connie Stratten
Palisade: PFC~Palisade (light) ~ Pucca Firecaster
Bird and Pine Trees: Landscaping by Felix ~ Mesh Dream Rock Forest ~ FelixvonKotwitz Alter
~Calm Down And Shoes!~
[PO] Bendet Top (Keep Calm) - gray ~ London Dailey
Maitreya * #4 * Cut Off Jeans Shorts ~ Onyx LeShelle
Izzie's - Tube Socks white lavender stripe ~ Izzie Button
Exile::Blown Away ~ Kavar Cleanslate
P.C; Reclining Feline Earrings ~ Cora Lu
Pose: Le Poppycock *Die a Little* B -Famed and forgotten ~ Olivia LaLonde NEW @The Chapter Four
~Portia~
Skin: [PF] Harley <Ivory> - Lid 02 - (ltbrow - B) ~ Mochi Milena
Eyes: IKON Hope Eyes - Quicksilver ~ Ikon Innovia
Lashes: *MC* "Falsies" Eyelash - Upper+Lower ~ Freya Olivieri
Body: Slink Physique Mesh Body V1.4 ~ Siddean Munro
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands - Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid ~ Siddean Munro
Nailpolish: Hello Dave: Slink Avatar Enhancement- French Ombre ~ Maia Gasparini
Jacket: *Fishy Strawberry* Ducato Leather Jacket - Brown NO TANK ~ Fae Eriksen
Dress: shine by [ZD] ENI BELTED MESH DRESS sky ~ Cecilia Blachere
Stockings: Izzie's - Slink Physique - Applier Sheer Tights Basics ~ Izzie Button
Boots: Eudora 3D Victoria Boots ~ Eudora3D Resident
Hair: [Entwined] Maia (Rigged) ~ Vivienmarli Resident ~ NEW!!
Ring: Amala - Lonely Leaf Ring - Silver ~ Crystalny Resident
Scarf 1: Tee*fy Collar Snood Freedom ~ Azure Electricteeth
Scarf 2: Maitreya Long Scarf * Sepia ~ Onyx LeShelle
Pose and Violin Props: :Picture This!: Stirling 3 ~ KeliahAngelisResident ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Stones and Arches: Kalopsia - Old Stone Arches ~ Isabeau Baragula ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Leaves: Kalopsia - Flying leaves (green) ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Bunnies: Bunny Path Light (Lefty AND Righty) ~ Garvie Garzo ~ NEW @Mystic Realms Faire
Trees and Landscaping: Landscaping by Felix ~ Mesh Dream Rock Forest ~ FelixvonKotwitz Alter
Anypose Expression HUD ~ Phate Shepherd Creations (Still free on Marketplace)
~Mask~
Vest: {AS} Skadi Mesh Fur Vest ~ Deep Brown ~ Arwen Serpente
Skirt: .::DD::. Siv Skirt Brown ~ Epic Maidstone
Boots: lassitude & ennui Lazy boots brown ~ Jackal Ennui
Hair: Exile::Blown Away ~ Kavar Cleanslate
Circlet: [The Forge] Celtic Headband, (Silver) ~ Deccan Arida
Shoulders: The Muses . My Lady . brown/silver . Pauldrons ~ Dolce Blackflag
Neck 1: [The Forge] Chain Mail Collar (Silver, Plain) ~ Deccan Arida
Neck 2: *OAL* Runes Necklace ~ Discovering Destiny
Upper Arms: [Tia] Mjolnir - Upper Arm - Silver ~ Tia Biscuit
Upper Arm 2: *{Junbug}* The Valkyrie's Armlet in Silver ~ Juno Mantel
Bracers: [The Forge] Viking Bracers, (Silver) ~ Deccan Arida
Wrist: *OAL* Runes Bracelet ~ Discovering Destiny
Belt: [The Forge] Braided Belt, Brown ~ Deccan Arida
Horn: .:: Dark Forge ::. Viking Horn for Belt 1 COMMON ~ Belford Elman
Shield: Noodles - Eric Shield Silver ~ Natalee Oodles
Bow: VFX Tundra Bow ~ Tungsten Engineer
Pose and Sword Prop: .mien. {Valkyrias} 05 ~ Connie Stratten
Palisade: PFC~Palisade (light) ~ Pucca Firecaster
Bird and Pine Trees: Landscaping by Felix ~ Mesh Dream Rock Forest ~ FelixvonKotwitz Alter
~Calm Down And Shoes!~
[PO] Bendet Top (Keep Calm) - gray ~ London Dailey
Maitreya * #4 * Cut Off Jeans Shorts ~ Onyx LeShelle
Izzie's - Tube Socks white lavender stripe ~ Izzie Button
Exile::Blown Away ~ Kavar Cleanslate
P.C; Reclining Feline Earrings ~ Cora Lu
Pose: Le Poppycock *Die a Little* B -Famed and forgotten ~ Olivia LaLonde NEW @The Chapter Four
~Portia~
Skin: [PF] Harley <Ivory> - Lid 02 - (ltbrow - B) ~ Mochi Milena
Eyes: IKON Hope Eyes - Quicksilver ~ Ikon Innovia
Lashes: *MC* "Falsies" Eyelash - Upper+Lower ~ Freya Olivieri
Body: Slink Physique Mesh Body V1.4 ~ Siddean Munro
Hands: Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands - Elegant1 ~ Siddean Munro
Feet: Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Mid ~ Siddean Munro
Nailpolish: Hello Dave: Slink Avatar Enhancement- French Ombre ~ Maia Gasparini