October 06, 2015

It's Autumn @ Fair Play


It is the last round for the "El Mundo" game setting at Fair Play. I am a bit sad about that since I loved that setting a lot. But at the same time, I'm totally excited to introduce you to the new one at the end of this month. Yes, I had the chance to sneak a peek already, and some others as well. I can assure you, everyone is looking forward to it! So, if you want to see "El Mundo" again before it'll be gone for good, visit Fair Play! And in case you have missed my interview with Kaleidos where she tells us on which game the "El Mundo" setting was based on, you can still read it here. Watch out for upcoming posts because, of course!, I'll give you a sneak peek of the new event location with all interesting background information about it just shortly before its doors will be officially opened for the public.

It's Autumn @ Fair Play (last round for "El Mundo" board game setting)

It's Autumn @ Fair Play (last round for "El Mundo" board game setting)
For now, Fair Play "El Mundo" is decorated a bit, and the designers bring to you offers inspired by autumn and Halloween. For this post, I chose parts of the Queen Of Autumn outfit (it comes with an additional matching flexi prim coat and mesh sleeves) by BlueMoon enterprises to get into the mood for fall, and to celebrate it royal, hehe! The halo is one of the various commons in the gacha machine of ERSCH which is also available at the event.

Have fun shopping and exploring!

HEAD: LeLutka Mesh Head Stella
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands
HEAD / BODY APPLIER: Lumae Fae - 2 - Satin // Bare
HAIR W/HORNS: Tableau Vivant Legend. Circe
EYES: IKON Triumph. Armor - free group gift / no fee
EYELASHES: Mon Cheri Falsies
EYELINER: Glam Affair Couture

HALO: ERSCH Das Schone Sterbe @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm! - Gacha
COLLAR & SHOULDER ORNAMENT / DRESS: BlueMoon enterprise Queen Of Autumn @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm!
FUR: glYph Royal Ermine. Royal/Gold tyvm!
APPLE: glYph Royal Orb. Red tyvm!
COAT: PEQE Secret Cloak. Hear Me Roar - Gacha

October 05, 2015

Interview: Totally Top Shelf

In 2014, Darkylicious von Savage (darkmatter.wizardly) took her chance on proposing an event idea to Nicii Nitely, owner of Fantasy Gacha Carnival, who offered to sponsor an event. Nicii was convinced about the concept and the name, and so the story of a today well-known and popular event began: Totally Top Shelf.


Originally, Totally Top Shelf was located on a gorean roleplay sim. But as the event began to grow, Darkylicious wanted to expanse from the focus on gorean fantasy fashion to fantasy fashion in general. They would also need a bigger location, and it was Duchess Flux who invited her to join the Ippos Community. „I thought it would be perfect. And like you mentioned the key word ‚community‘: I don’t like the way events are portrayed such as competition. Most of the same designers are in the same events across the board. Here we help each other to gain as much publicity for our designers involved. As I say to anyone here from The Secret Affair to The Fantasy Collective: If i can help any way with getting the word across to as many people as possible, I will. Here we are all like a extended family!“

The fact that a lot of designers have been with Totally Top Shelf from the start is just one proof for this statement. Like for every other project’s start, she confesses though: „It hasn’t always been easy. But I am so happy to see to what our little event has grown. It’s really the designers, the bloggers, and the buying public of Second Life who make the event what it is today.“ Today, that is one year later, and the first round after their 1-year-anniversary is about to start. And it’s also a special round because one of the most popular events of the year awaits us, Halloween.
Interview: Totally Top Shelf
„A Halloween-themed event was obvious for a round in October. So we decided to have a spooky event but with a twist“, Darkylicious reveals. „The new series of The Walking Dead is coming. We just had to do zombies! But I wanted more. I am a big fan of Wes Craven and his horror films. It was such a shock when he recently passed away. So I decided why not bring one of his best creation to life in Second Life, so to speak: his famous figure Fred Kruger.“ She laughs and adds: „I think it comes across as that well. At least, I hope.“
Interview: Totally Top Shelf
With so many events on the grid, it is a big challenge to bring originality, and to offer a theme which hasn’t been done yet, and where all designers can come up with an idea for an item. But since I have had the chance to visit the location already and could take a few sneak peeks of the upcoming offers, I am sure that people will like this round and its setting. Especially with activated windlights, the event location provides an atmosphere that indeed could give you some nightmares on the street. I myself felt like I have stumbled in the midth of an apocalypse. The set up of the event location was a joint effort by Darkylicious and her partner Jon. Jon, by the way, is currently also working on a gorean roleplay sim project. Of course, I had to take advantage of that by interviewing him about it so that I may introduce you to him with an upcoming interview within the next few days.
Interview: Totally Top Shelf
Darkylicious, Jon and Heatherfury are the hard working management team behind Totally Top Shelf. Their declared goal is to to make the event as fun as possible for everyone involved. „We work busy in the background to relieve the stress that can be caused in events. I myself believe it shouldn‘t be stressful but fun! Because if you have a real life job already you wouldn’t want to have a second one as soon as you log on.“ Another tool to support designers is Pinterest. „I have just recently started to use Pinterest. It helps a lot with themes as we can share ideas for inspiration. Its functionality is perfect for this purpose.“ They also ask their staff about their ideas and what they would like to see. Their xmas round which was like a seelie and unseelie court winter wonderland was actually a suggestion by one of their designers. „It made it a fantastic event! I really like to listen to our designers and bloggers, and to take their ideas on board.“

Totally Top Shelf has developed a lot within a year, and its popularity also shows in the number of designers and bloggers who regularly apply. I am curious what she would recommend on a personal level to people who would love to become a team member. „Have fun!“, she states first. „And don’t take things to heart if it doesn’t go the way you visioned. And always work well with the people you intend on working with.“ She points out again how important it is for her that it feels familiar for everyone: „I look at each and everyone in our event group as an individual, not as a number in a group. For me, it is a family.“
Interview: Totally Top Shelf
Last but not least, I have to ask her one last personal question: „What will be your costume for Halloween this year?“ Darkylicious bursts out in laughter: „Oh my God! I haven’t any ideas really. But…“, she then thinks out loud with a cheeky grin, „I was thinking of lots of liquid latex, special effects make up and black wear.“ We’re looking forward to that! A big thank you to Darkylicious for taking her time and telling us more about the Totally Top Shelf event.

All pictures were taken on the current event location of Totally Top Shelf.



Interview: Totally Top Shelf
At the end of the interview, Darkylicious (left) posed for a picture with me. Aren't we cute?

SKIN: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Esmee. Pineapple tone (appliers: Lola's Tango, PhatAzz, SLink hands/feet)tyvm!
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands + SLink feet
BODY APPLIER: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Maitreya applier / SLink total body HUD: Pineapple tone tyvm!
SHAPE: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Temperance tyvm!
HAIR: Tableau Vivant Mikazuki
EYES: TrevaH Infected Eyes. Red @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
EYELASHES: Mon Cheri Falsies
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5
TATTOO FACE / NECK: Suicide Gurls Bleak @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
TATTOO ARMS: [I<3F] Bloody Arms - free subscriber gift

EAR PLUGS / SEPTUM: Tabou Irresistible Bloody @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
CORSET / PANTS: LuLu Madmoiselle Fifi #2. Black Suede @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
BOOTS: SHEY Lace Master - free group gift / no fee

POSES:
QweenB The BackStabber @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
Eternal Dream Survive Or Die @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!

Event Date: Oct 2 - 23

October 03, 2015

Witches Gathering

Witches Gathering

RUBILYN WEARS (right):

HEAD: ABSOLUT CREATION EVE'olution
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands/feet
HEAD / BODY APPLIER: Stargazer Creations Sairina Avatar. Forest tyvm!
HAIR W/HAT: Magika Sorcery - free subscriber gift (sent Oct 3)
EYES: irrisistible The Crow @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm! - part of a full avatar

DRESS / WINGS / CROW SHOULDER PET: Tayren's Fantasy Fashion Malise. black @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm!
SHOES: BOOM Ginchiest Creepers. tar checker - 75% off closing sale

POSES: Eternal Dream Survive Or Die @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!

Witches Gathering

LILIAS WEARS (left):
Find Lilias Blog Post here!

SKIN: Essences Alice
SHAPE: NOYA Avril
MOUTH: Loud Mouth Fiona
HAIR: Truth Essena
EYES: Genesis Lab Demon @ The Fantasy Collective - free gift
EYELINER: Langly Eyeliner - free gift

HEADPIECE: ERSCH Die Schone Sterben. Red Rare 1 @ Fair Play: El Mundo
DRESS: Mistique Anshee. Red @ Fair Play: El Mundo

POSE: Axix Lady Crow



SCENERY:

E.V.E DYSTOPIA Flowers @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm! - read more about it here!
E.V.E Waving Bioluminescent Fungus @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm! - read more about it here!

E.V.E-creator Noke herself wrote such amazing posts about her products, and I didn't want to sound like I was copying her. So please check out her blog!


Won't Bring Me Down

Won't Bring Me Down

HEAD: LeLutka Mesh Head Stella
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands
HEAD / BODY APPLIER: Lumae Niska - 4 - Peach // Sangria
HAIR W/SNAKE: Poison Ivy Isabeau @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
EYES: The Stringer Mausoleum Fright Night. Red @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!

FACEBAND: Cubic Cherry Kre-ations {CHO} faceband. Crimson @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
DRESS: FDD Stories Audry. Fall Rare @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm! - Gacha

POSE: Eternal Dream Survive or Die. 03 @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!


Wind Rider

Wind Rider

SKIN: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Nuria. Taupe tone (appliers: Lola's Tango, PhatAzz, SLink hands/feet) tyvm!
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands/feet
BODY APPLIER: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Maitreya applier: Taupe tone tyvm!
SHAPE: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Temperance tyvm!
HAIR: pr!tty Sumi (fatpack) - free group gift / no fee
EYES: S0NG Runa. Green @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm!
EYELASHES: Mon Cheri Falsies

CHOKER: ChicChica Gretchen - free subscriber gift (sent Sep 5)
NECKLACES: Maxi Gossamer Jewelled Dragon's Egg
HEADWEAR / FEATHERS: Spyralle Wind Rider. Coromell tyvm!
DRESS: Spyralle Tarja. Teal @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm!


October 01, 2015

Like A Rising Phoenix

Like A Rising Phoenix

Totally Top Shelf is about to start its next round in a few hours only! It will run from Oct 2 until Oct 23. The sponsors of this round are  (in alphabetical order)  alterego, Bite & Claw, Chimeric Arts & Fashion, DAZED, Endless Pain Tattoos, FDD Stories, Fuubutsu Dou, Glitzz, Suicide Gurls and Tiar. The theme for this round is: Survive Or Die.

.^.:MA:.^. comes up with feather accessoires, and since I really love feathers, I just had to do this metaphorical interpretation of the Survive Or Die theme: If you die, rise again, like a phoenix from the ashes. Or, as in my interpretation: from the water that has purified your past.


HEAD: LeLutka Mesh Head Stella
HEAD APPLIER: Glam Affair Leda Applier. Petal. Ghot Party @ LeLutka - free gift in lipstick object on the table
BODY / BODY APPLIER: Maitreya Lara body/hands
HAIR: Lamb Wake Up - Gacha
EYES: Genesis Lab Demon @ The Fantasy Collective - free gift
TATTOO: White Widow Wild @ Cosmopolitan Sales Room - free group gift / no fee

WINGS: AITUI Mechanical Wings. Icarus Black - Gacha
MASK / COLLAR / PASTIES / ARMBANDS / BELT: .^.:MA:.^.  Crow. Black/Silver @ Totally Top Shelf tyvm! - Gacha
SKIRT: !gO! Drow Girl. Apron Black - Gacha


September 27, 2015

Getting Ready For Halloween @ Fair Play

Getting Ready For Halloween @ Fair Play

Fair Play reopens its doors on October 1st for a round where you can also find Halloween-inspired offers. And I have a sneak peek for you already, hooray! Also, keep an eye open because I will interview one of the designers next week to introduce you to this creator! :-)

By the way, have you ever googled why witches ride brooms? NSFW, I tell you! But very interesting... !

Getting Ready For Halloween @ Fair Play

HEAD / HEAD APPLIER: LeLutka Mesh Head Stella
BODY / BODY APPLIER: Maitreya Lara body
MAKE UP APPLIER: Jinx Dame du Corbeau soon @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm! - part of a full outfit
HAIR: Exile Sugar @ The Arcade Gacha - Gacha
EYES: Genesis Lab Demon @ The Fantasy Collective - free gift

ARM/LEG PIECES: aisling Morigan - Gacha
HALO: OtherSkin Time Out soon @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm! - hand of the watch can be turned on/off
OUTFIT: Mistique Anshe. Orange soon @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm!


TREES: Roawenwood Fantasy Oak Saplings Set tyvm! - with 7 foliage colors change HUD
TEARDROP HANGING CHAIR: DoggMata Elven Felegrea tyvm! - includes lay and sit poses
PUMPKIN W/BROOM: InFoco Halloween - dollarbie



Interview: The Plastik

„I am totally confused about your appearance“, is my astonished exclamation when I arrive at her home where she invited me to. „Isn’t your store all about gothic and black and darkish stuff?“ The Plastik owner and creator Vae (aikea.rieko) laughs and leads me to a table to take a seat. I won’t sit down for a while because I am way too busy to discover zealously all the cute details I can find on that table: fancy cakes, cupcakes, buttercakes, pancakes, brownies, pies, tarts, flans, puddings, pumpkin bread, sweeties and candies, icecream, tea, coffee, hot chocolate with a cream topping, ornamental plants and: a laptop!
Interview: The Plastik
The entrance at The Plastik mainstore welcomes you with a cosy atmosphere
„If this was my workspace, I would never leave“, is what I state before I finally sit down. Once again, I eye up Vae who looks like an angel with horns to me. „I buy everything in white!“, she explains and points at the table with a grin: „This is my random collection of sweets. I’ve been building into it for at least two years.“ I shake my head because I just can’t believe what I see. It is amazing! Vae shakes her head a bit, too, and adds: „I can’t help it. I’m really picky but when I find one I like, I go nuts! Well, I’m obsessed with them.“ Obviously! But I could stay here forever.

„I wouldn’t have expected all that. You look white and innocent but I connect ‚gothic‘ and ‚black‘ with your label.“ Though I had a little idea already before that Vae is not only into ‚dark stuff‘ when I saw that she just joined Shiny Shabby for her first participation. And Shiny Shabby is well-known for a more pastel-colored style. „A lot of people do, but I think that's mainly because I use the dark woods, and the rustic elements and the dark themes for my store because I find them to be really gorgeous. I'm trying to ligthen up a lot lately because I don't just make dark stuff. Although it is my favorite thing, I want people to be able to see that I'm not just all about the dark and the witchy and the creepy“, Vae explains with a wink.

„I started with Second Life back in 2006 but I remember The Plastik being on the grid like forever. When did you actually start?“, I ask for some details. „I think Plastik, with the current name, probably started somewhere around 2006 or 2007. I'd had a few smaller stores on different accounts before then, all the way back to 2004.“ A quick calculation shows me that The Plastik exists already for almost 10 years! That is a considerably long time, especially in a virtual environment. „What motivates you to continue? I could imagine that after all those years, you sometimes go through phases when you just want to break off with designing?“ Talking about breaks, all out of a sudden, someone breaks in and lands on Vae’s head after teleport!

„And that’s my manager on my head!“, Vae cheers, „Sorchiee!“ Sorchiee? Yes, that Sorchiee whom I have met for the first time during my interview with Enchantment: Second Life is a village! „I take breaks once in a while, and most of the time it's not by choice. I've got a diminished immune system so I get sick fairly easily, which requires me, every month or so, to take a few days off to recharge. I always tell people that the day I stop really loving and enjoying the work I do, I will start the process of finding something else. But I really do love having this as a job. I'm always excited to work on new things, and I still get giddy when I'm working on something I'm really looking forward to. And I still find the time every day to take little breaks: I go on Tumblr, I take stretch breaks, I'll play a little bit of Diablo 3. I'm getting a lot better at balancing my time!“
Interview: The Plastik
Your path into the mainstore is enlighted by hundreds of little star shells
I connect with Plastik also very detailed jewelry and want to know how she acquired her skills. „Well, before the mesh capabilities came out, I was already familiar with the formats, the layouts, and the way mesh handles. I've been an avid modder of the Elder Scrolls community since 2003-2004, probably before, which has amazing games like Oblivion, Morrowind, and Skyrim. I've always been really into modding games and looking at the inner workings of their design. So it was really easy for me to transition.“ Before mesh came to Second Life, people were working with sculpties. What is her opinion about sculpties? „I'll admit, sculpties were such a mess. I dont think anyone really enjoyed working on them, they were just so limiting. There are always upsides to them, too. But when it comes to creating, I think mesh really re-invigorated how i do my work, in the same way that mesh bodies being introduced reinvigorated my love for system layer work, which was what a very large percentage of my really early work was all about.“

Layers, I wonder? When mesh hit the grid, I saw a lot people going crazy and stating that they would never ever wear layers again. „Do you think layers could become as important as mesh clothes again, Vae?“ -- „I love the layers. I always said that we needed more and more layers! I think its important when you do clothing that's got appliers for mesh parts, not to leave out the system layers and all possible mesh layers. I always try to offer every possible way to wear items so that people who cannot afford, or prefer to just wear their normal default avatar, or want to layer, have the option, too. I dont like anyone feeling left out. For mesh bodies and layers, though, i definitely think there should be more. Layering has always been a really popular thing, and I think that they‘ll always be relevant. I don‘t really know about the importance, because I know how much everyone adores their mesh parts, but I still use both constantly!“

Since we were just talking about variation of offers, I am curious if she has restricted herself to any limits what she wants to design. Maybe she would never create bicycles? „You know, I think about that often! I've considered getting into furniture and decor, and stuff like that, but I rarely ever find the time. I think the only thing I won't really get into are vehicles and cars, I know how much work goes into every single one and I don't think I'd be able to dedicate that much time. I admire the people who do, though!“ Vae creates many skins, a collection of nail appliers, a plenty of clothes and numerous accessoires, and I see her offering her creations more and more often with a broad HUD for color options.

It must be a lot of work. But designing is only one part of a business. A store owner has to keep many other criterias in mind: to watch the market, to promote new releases, to establish in events, to produce within deadlines and so much more: „Where do you get all your inspiration from to be up to date and bring always something new?“ Vae is participating in a lot of popular and well-known events, so I assume that she has a very tight schedule. „Well, a lot of that I credit to my manager Sorchiee! We spend a lot of time together getting ideas together, brainstorming, and she kicks my ass to make sure I am always on time. She's also been the one who's been helping me market my style and focus more on the things I needed to do to really get my stuff out there and noticed. I've got this dropbox folder of inspiration as well as several sketchbooks of things I've wanted to do since I was a teenager. And so I go through and I look at it all for inspiration when the event has a theme.“
Interview: The Plastik
Behind the bridge is a huge meadow with mystical trees
Time flies! Again, one hour is almost over. „Is there anything teasing you’d like to share with us? For example what you plan to come up with next?“ -- „Well, I‘ve got a few really amazing corsets coming out as well as a dress that's gonna blow people's minds! I'm working on some body parts as well that are going to be really awesome for fantasy buffs, and several new skin lines. My workload is huge, but I am hoping that everyone will find something they love in the coming months! Plus, halloween is coming, and all of my customers and people who know me know it's my favorite time of the year, and I go all out!“

That sounds indeed teasing! I am looking forward to that in excitement but now, I finally screw up my courage and hope that I wouldn’t sting into a wasp‘s nest. Because there is one last question left for which I have waited more than one hour. Actually, the only reason to request an interview was to get an answer to this matter. -- Okay, just kidding! But I still have to ask: „Before I came over, I read something in your profile which won’t let me sleep if I continue to brood over it. What the heck is the ‚Leafy-Peepybirds animation‘? English is not my native language, so some things sound really weird to me. I have no idea what it is, but to me, it sounds like a bird on acid… ?“

I should have known better! Of course, I made her laugh at me with my crazy interpretation but she helps me out with an explanation: „An old friend of mine, a long time ago, a long long time ago, made me this really cute animation which was used in my boxed products that played when you attached it. In one box, I had accidentally put the animation in full perm. And even though i fixed it a few days later, a few people had decided to use it for their stores as well. This animation was made especially for me, it is sentimental to me. So whenever I see someone using it, I ask them to please stop because it was special to me.“ To let me see it, she hands out a cute little rabbit to me which contains the said animation. Click! And here’s the snapshot of us two:

Interview: The Plastik
Vae surprises me with an all white appearance and a workspace table full of candies!
- see credits below -

Last but not least, I have a bit more to reveal for you, dear readers. First: the store will be undergoing a rebuild somewhen in the near future. If you have seen Vae‘s previous store builds than you will already know that it will be a great one. I promise you, I will take snapshots of it as soon as I may get access to the location once it’s done! And second: at Shiny Shabby, The Plastik has shown the lighter side of this brand to a bigger public. So we may look forward to jaw-dropping creations for casual and mainstream fashion as well in future! By the way: The Plastik is currently looking for participation in casual events, so don’t be shy and contact Vae if you’d like to collaborate with her for your event.

A big thank you to Vae (aikea.rieko) for taking her time, for showing her lovely work space and for giving us the chance to get to know her with interesting anecdotes and from a very personal side.





RUBILYN WEARS: 
HEAD / HAIRBASE / EYES / EYELASHES: Genesis Lab 04. Alice 2.0. Relaxe Milk @ Cosmetic Fair - Gacha
HEAD APPLIER: Genesis Lab Tara. Cream @ Cosmetic Fair - free group gift / no fee
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands/feet
BODY APPLIER: Genesis Lab Fluture. Maitreya Appliers (updated tones)
HAIR: Tableau Vivant Barley
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5

EARRINGS / NECKLACE: The Plastik Ladae Jewelry Set. Gold tyvm!
BRACELET: The Plastik Byatrix tyvm!
NOSE PIECE: The Plastik Koralyn Bridgeclip tyvm!
BAG: KEEM "Tres Chic" Soho Leather Bag @ Tres Chic - free group gift / no fee
DRESS: Dead Dollz Isabeau. Sand
WEDGES: REIGN Peep Toe. Violet


VAE WEARS FROM HER LABEL THE PLASTIK
HORNS: Chrysophylax Horn. Snow
NECKLACE: Kore
NOSEPIECE: Koralyn Bridgeclip
NAIL APPLIER: Opaline Heavens


September 24, 2015

A Touch Of Breeze

A Touch Of Breeze
HEAD / HAIRBASE / EYELASHES: Genesis Lab Makena 2.0 . Albino @ Tres Chic - free gift
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands
BODY APPLIER: Genesis Lab Fluture. Maitreya Appliers (updated tones)
HAIR: lamb Lust @ Collabor88
EYES: IKON Hope. Denim
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5
TATTOO ARMS: Things Atinne - previous Fantasy Gacha
TATTOO LEGS: Things Vayiane - previous Fantasy Gacha

OUTFIT: Moon Elixir Vampy Corset Bodysuit @ We <3 RP!

POSE: elephante poses Part of Your World tyvm!

September 23, 2015

A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift

A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift
I found this cute and free (!) Albino Mesh head from Genesis Lab at Tres Chic, and thought immediately of a fairy. In combination with the stunning Shamalla dress release from aisling at We <3 RP as well as the sophisticated Autumnus Jewelry Set from Plastik - again, Vae (Aikea.Rieko) put so much love into detail, the HUD variations are amazing! - which you can currently find at Shiny Shabby, and last but not least the Summer Flats from FDD Stories, I was ready to dive into the world of fairies.
A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift
Of course, a fairy needs a nice place to live in, and so I stumbled over a roleplay sim which is based on fairytales: StoryBook Drift. I found that the right setting to be, and to explore. The landing zone is a library from which you start your journey into a world where you could meet any character from fairytales. The fairytales itselves are the inspiration for the characters but Alice, Peter Pan, Snow White, Rumpelstiltskin bring their very own twist into the stories they have to tell.

I liked the concept of this roleplay setting, so I decided to tell you about it, and to take a few snapshots. However, I have to give you a little warning: It is an adult place, so please read the information about this place carefully and entirely on the official homepage of StoryBook Drift before you visit. I wouldn't want you to be shocked because you surprisingly met Miss Snow White who wants to chase you with a whip... ! ;-)

A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift

A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift

A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift

A FairyTale @ StoryBook Drift


HEAD / HAIRBASE / EYELASHES: Genesis Lab Makena 2.0 . Albino @ Tres Chic - free gift
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands/feet
BODY APPLIER: Genesis Lab Fluture. Maitreya Appliers (updated tones)
HAIR: Blues Valerie. Fatpack - free group gift / fee
EYES: IKON Hope. Denim
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5

JEWELRY: The Plastik Autumnus @ Shiny Shabby tyvm!
DRESS: aisling Shamalla @ We <3 RP!
SANDALS: FDD Stories Summer Flats - Gacha


September 22, 2015

30L events: The Jackpot Gacha Fair

30L events: The Jackpot Gacha Fair

You have certainly heard of the 30L events already: the weekly 30L Saturday Sale, the annual 30L Love & War Fair, the 30L Midwinter Fair, the 30L Mystery Gacha Fair, the 30L Vintage Gacha Fairs (they had 4 of them this year already!) and so on... -- And now they are here with The Jackpot Gacha Fair! This gacha event has a little twist for the addicts: if you are lucky, you may get 2 or even 3 prizes for one pull. And the biggest prize to win is: The Jackpot.

The Jackpot prize will be given out to only one lucky player who gets 50 free pulls of any machine in the event. The big lucky winner will be able to redeem the free pulls from Sept 26 on when the machines will go into the Jackpot mode. -- Sounds tempting, doesn't it? Hehe!

The Jackpot Gacha Fair started already on Sept 15 and will end on Sept 25. Good luck, gacha addicts! :-) And don't forget to touch the balloons: many contain great prizes for free!


HEAD / HAIRBASE / EYES / EYELASHES: Genesis Lab 04. Alice 2.0. Relaxe Milk @ Cosmetic Fair - Gacha
HEAD APPLIER: Genesis Lab Tara. Cream @ Cosmetic Fair - free group gift / no fee
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands/feet
BODY APPLIER: Genesis Lab Fluture. Maitreya Appliers (updated tones)
HAIR: pr!tty Lilah. Ombre [B] - free group gift / no fee
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5

HEADPIECE W/VEIL: Dita Couture Arabian Headdress @ Jackpot Gacha Fair - free balloon gift
PASTIES: Luas Ambar
ARMOR SHOULDER / FOREARM: In My Cloud Ashe. Brazalet Black @ Jackpot Gacha Fair - Gacha
SKIRT: Junbug Nouveau Fairy Skirt. Cream @ The Secret Affair - Gacha
COLLAR W/CHAINS: Luas Ashanti Chain Top
CHAINED BRA / BRACELETS: Luas Verina @ Jackpot Gacha Fair - Gacha


September 21, 2015

Valhalla @ The Secret Affair

Valhalla @ The Secret Affair

The Secret Affair is one of the shopping events where you really should stay for a while and go exploring the location! They put always so much effort in decorating an appropriate setting for the current theme. This round is themed Valhalla.

Valhalla @ The Secret Affair

With its snowy and misty landscape, the stonehenge setting and its mysterious fonds, the event location let you escape into the fascinating world of the Norse Mythology.

Valhalla @ The Secret Affair


During my exploring tour, I was wearing this stunning dress from aisling which is available at the event. The details of the chest piece are an eyecatcher! Each color combination of the dress includes two versions and a HUD to change the metal of the chest piece.

Valhalla @ The Secret Affair
HEAD / HAIRBASE / EYES / EYELASHES / EARS: Genesis Lab 04. Alice 2.0. Relaxe Milk @ Cosmetic Fair - Gacha
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands
BODY APPLIER: Genesis Lab Fluture. Maitreya Appliers (updated tones)
HAIR: pr!tty Anne. Ombres [A] - Gacha *I read various times from different creators that this round of Chapter Four would be running until ~Sept 25 but it's already closed as of today... I'm really sorry!! However, the gacha machine should be available in the mainstore soon*

DRESS: aisling Astrid Dress (Light Blue) @ The Secret Affair

September 20, 2015

Purple Steampunk

Purple Steampunk
I was exploring the event location of Hidden Sanctuary events (= HSe) so I decided to make a quick post with some of the offers over there. The duration of the event has been extended a little bit but: time flies! Last shopping day is Sept 22.

SKIN: 7 Deadly s{K}ins SEPTEMBER 2015 GIRLS gift. Chestnut tone (appliers: Lola's Tango, SLink hands/feet) tyvm! - free group gift / fee
BODY: Maitreya Lara body/hands/feet
BODY APPLIER: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Maitreya applier: Chestnut tone
SHAPE: 7 Deadly s{K}ins Temperance tyvm!
HAIR / HAIRBASE: elikatira Rita - previous FLF exclusive
EYES: IKON Triumph. Armor
EYELASHES: Mon Cheri Falsies
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5
NAIL APPLIER: Dark Passions Koffin Nails. Pure Romance @ HSe tyvm! - limited edition

JEWELRY SET: Glint Beaded Magenta Skies @ HSe tyvm! - available in various colors
HAT / JACKET / SKIRT / BOOTS: Souled Out Berry Proper Gothic Dress @ HSe tyvm! - exclusive offer




September 11, 2015

Interview: Independant Objects @ Fair Play

„Welcome to my contemporary world!“ acclaims me Susan Independent, the creative mind behind her brand Independent Objects. I am standing in the middle of a modern pavillon, furnished with a modern table and modern chairs, and: with christmas trees. „Christmas trees at the beginning of September?“, I wonder surprised. „I am used to such phenomenom in the superstores where they sell ginger bread and almond bisuits already in autumn. Is this part of your business?“ Susan has a chuckle to herself and enlightens me: „No. These are breedable plant pets. If you water it, every 52 days a descendant will spawn. Sometimes, something else spawns out of the christmas tree. A tulip, for example.“ I find that hilarious, and Susan explains that her friend inspired her. But what you actually find in Susan’s shop are roleplay-inspired clothes and costumes, and everything you need for landscaping a roleplay sim such as plants, houses, furniture and decoration. 
Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
Like for many others designers, Susan started her business for the simple reason that she needed reasonable priced buildings which also suited her setting vision. „At the time, I was not willing to spent thousands of L$ for pixelated objects. That has changed a lot“, she laughs. „So I just tried to stack one prim on another, and looked where it lead me to.“ In 2009, she took her first steps in building but it was already two years later when she finally set her first item on sale. „I have learned most of my building skills by myself but also some of them with the help of a few close friends.“
Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
Today, Susan shares two sims with Sweetgwendoline Bailey, owner of Sweet Revolutions, and four friends who have installed little shops on location. „The sim next to our store sim is a gorean roleplay area which serves also as our showroom.“ Susan tells me that she has been into Gor roleplay for a long time but then gave up. Since a few weeks, she’s finally active in an elven roleplay again after a two-years-hiatus without long-pointed ears. Apart from having her own store and being a roleplayer, she’s also very active in various events. „Isn’t it time-consuming? How do you manage all that?“, I want to know.
Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
„I have no idea how I make it“, she admits laughingly. „But what I can assure you is that a day is too short. For me, every day should have 96 hours at least.“ I have read her store name in events like Fair Play, Fantasy Faire, 30L Saturday, or 35L Sunday. In which events may we expect her next? „I am participating in the Twisted Hunt which starts on September 19th. Another hunt starts on October 1st: the Medieval Fantasy Hunt hosted by Eldowyn Inshan. This hunt and the Medieval Fantasy Fair are one of my favourite events on the grid.“ While we talk about various popular and famous fantasy events in Second Life where we both love to shop regularly, Susan reveals also one of her biggest dreams as an SL merchant to me: to be a participant in the We <3 RP event.
Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
„You are specialised on ancient, medieval and fantasy items so far. Trees, plants and everything for nature is in a certain way timeless. But have you ever made an excursion to modern age, so to speak?“ -- „Oh, sure! There is almost nothing which I wouldn’t give a try. My friends tell me quite often to specialize. But then I have to reply: I can’t! I love to build too much to restrict myself to limits. So far, I have also made steampunk outfits, or a modern hospital, as well as some custom-built outfits for an urban roleplay environment. Mostly, I build everything which my friends and I currently need or want for a roleplay.“
Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
I ask for examples what this could look like, and Susan rezzes a shelf with scrolls: „We were searching desperately a shelf that would allow us to store our healer scrolls. We also wanted that the notecards in the scrolls would be available for everybody with a simple menu. Low on prims, and with an appropriate design to match the furniture in our elven treehouse. But we couldn’t find the right shelf for us. So I built this one, and my friend was totally happy with it.“ She remembers another story: „Years ago, we had a roleplay where we visited a duke. We thought, a little souvenir would be reasonable, and I built some Elven Potions.“ As a farewell gift, she hands over a copy of these Elven Potions to me before I have to leave for now. A big thank you to Susan for the invitation and the nice talk!

All landscape pictures have been taken on Autumn Isle (mainstore sim) and Silken Dreams (roleplay and showroom sim).




Since I have blogged the current exclusive Catherine dress offer from Indepedent Objects already here, I decided to show you another one of her offers: It is the Moroccan House 8 which I have seen at the Fantasy Faire for the first time. It was a perfect match for the other exclusives I wanted to show you from this Fair Play round: Suleika's Room by Tiar, and PoshTale's Deiphe dress.


Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play

Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play

Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
HOUSE: Independent Objects Moroccan House 8
FURNITURE: Tiar Suleika's Room @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm!
PALMS:
1) Botha Palm YS @ marketplace - free
2) Botha Palm YSL @ marketplace - free
3) DaD Design Single Palmetto @ marketplace - dollarbie
4) L&Short 15 Palms Trees Group Curve Mod.2 Light Foliage @ marketplace - dollarbie
5) L&Short Maldives's Island Off Sim @ marketplace - dollarbie


LOTD plus Interview: Independent Objects @ Fair Play
HEAD / HEAD & BODY APPLIER: Genesis Lab Naomi. Cocoa - currently on sale
BODY: Maitreya Lara body + SLink hands
HAIR: CATWA RockStar
EYES: IKON Triumph. Armor - free group gift / no fee
EARS: [MANDALA] Steking Ears Season 5

FACECHAIN: The Forge Singh @ The Fantasy Collective
JEWELRY SET: Secret Love Anne tyvm!
DRESS: PoshTale Deiphe. Aqua @ Fair Play: El Mundo tyvm!

POSES:
1) elephante poses Part of Your World tyvm!
2) Aerial portrait gift pose 2 @ marketplace - dollarbie