måndag 15 juli 2013

Second Life - Hair Fair 2013



The huge Second Life Hair Fair started yesterday, but since absolutely everyone and all their friends were trying to get into the Hair Fair sims (four of them) yesterday, I decided to wait for a less laggy day to go. Today was much better and I popped in for a quick grab of the free gifts. Later on I will go back to have a good look around, but for now, let's see what the designers are giving away.

Now, I only picked up the hair gifts, since the few gifts that had mesh clothes were useless to me. But I am sure they are lovely, these are some very talented designers.

[COLORS] had a gift out of their hair 'E', and I was able to resize it handily into a more normal size (for me that is). Very cute pixie-like style, a little ruffled, with asymmetric ends. I will be using this one from time to time for sure. It came in lots of colours, but I stuck with white as that is the colour hair I normally use.


 The shop adoness had two hair gifts, both in black with a red streak. The first here is called 'pythoness' and is a short hair in a ruffled style. Quite nice, even though it is not my usual colour. I think I will even keep it, I may use it some time.


 The other hair from adoness was 'toffsy', also a bit of a ruffled style, but less so than the previous. Some curls in the back on this one, and a bit of volume. I liked this one better than 'pythoness' actually.


 Alice Project had a hair called 'Erika' (and 'Erika II', although I could see no difference) which came with two HUD:s to change the texture of the hair. There were a LOT of choices, and you get a preview function on the texture change where the HUD applies the texture for 60 seconds, before changing back. The unfortunate thing with this hair was that once you pick a texture, a bright red streak appears in the front. So you could use this as is, white, or you could just view it as a demo.


 Next was Alli&Ali, one of my favourite stores, since ALL their hair resizes to proper size (for me of course). Unlike last year, they didn't have any specific Petite hair in their gift, but as I just mentioned, their hair sizes down, so I resized a few of the styles to show you. There were many more hairs than what I have here, so by all means pop by and pick up your own goodie bag.

First there is 'Amandine' in Light Copper Blonde. Very sweet style, long updo I guess you could call it. A hair that would suit pretty much any style of clothing, from modern to medieval.


 Then there is 'Anderson' in Light Brown. A male style, but it works for women to, and looks exceptionally good on me, in my own opinion. Short, with a little flex on top and upswept bangs.


Another male style, and this is one I will keep, because it came in my colour. 'McCool' is a short hair with a little flex in the back and on top. A bit of a rocker style hair, I think, very stylish. Also works quite well for women as well as men.

And finally here is 'Ramona' in Split White-Black. A shoulder-length style that is literally split down the middle, half white and half black. A little unconventional, but very nice I think. This one is a keeper as well.

Amacci was giving away a pack of their hair 'Lova' and I'm showing off the version in white here. It came in many more colours. A somewhat severe bob with straight bangs, which resized perfectly. I think it sets off the pixie face of the Petite avatar quiet nicely.


From Bliensen + MaiTai we have another bob, this one with a bit of curl in the front. It is called 'Modern Times' and certainly has a modern feel to it. Me likey.





'Desiree' was one of the styles that Calico was giving away (well practically, it was 1L). It resized well, although I might have wanted it just a wee bit smaller if it had been possible, but it was not, so I will deal with it. 'Desiree' is a loose updo with a braid band across the front. This hair comes with two HUD:s for textures and seven (yes, you read it right, SEVEN(7)) HUD:s for changing the texture on the streaks. A lot of choices in other words.



Calico also had three other styles that I have not unpacked yet, but they look nice in the pictures. 'Denise', 'Mandy' and 'Renata', and I assume they also come with texture change HUD:s.


Clawtooth had a long style called 'Dear Heart' in three colours, Dreamy Red, Dusty Black, and Wheat, which is the one I am wearing in the pictures. Again, resized very well using Edit.

This next hair I think I will keep even though it is a bright green, but it is just so adorable. It is a bob with pigtails, with bows that come separate for the pigtails. It resizes very well using Edit and was easy to get into the right position on my little head. Can be worn with or without the bows.


Tameless had 'Dori' in their gift back, in Naturals. That means it is texture change in natural hair colours, like browns, blondes, and so on. I of course turned mine white. It resized, but again as with the other hair above I would have wanted it a wee bit smaller. However, it works. That is to say, it doesn't look like I have a dead animal on my head. 'Dori' is a loose style that is just short of shoulder-length, with a single hair pin holding the bangs. Nice flex and overall a cute hair.

 

And last, but not least, Vanity Hair. They were giving away a pack of 'Morea'. Here shown in Silver (what else?) it is a longer bob-type style with straight bangs and not much volume. With the short round face on the Petite avatars, this hair can make the face seem longer and thinner, adding a little variation to your avatar.


Well, there you have it, all the Hair Fair freebies that will work for a Petite avatar. My suggestion: go pick up some gifts and have a peek at the gorgeous hair available for sale from all these amazing designers. The best time to go will be right in the middle time, after the inital rush and before the panicked late-comers crowd in during the last two or three days.

Enjoy your Second Life!

fredag 12 juli 2013

Second Life - A Petite Body and Soul

Well I am just spitting out blog posts lately, but I am finding so much inspiration in Second Life right now. This time it is mostly pictures because I found a new (to me) shop that has skins, eyes and shoes for Petites. Some of you may know about it, it has been in SL for quite a while I believe.

The Skin You're In (TSYI) has been offering skins and other body parts for biggies for years, and now they also have skins and eyes for Petites. Currently you can get two of the skins for free just by going to visit the store and joining the group, which is free to join. One of the skins is a rezzday gift and the other is a group gift. Both use a script and applier HUD, but the scripts come with very comprehensible instructions and anyone with basic prim editing skills should be able to do this.

This first picture shows Shanna, the rezzday gift skin. It comes with two appliers, one with cleavage and one without. It is a very nice tanned tone with light make-up.


The second skin is Mary, current group gift at the petite store. A lighter skin tone, but still with only light make-up, something that appeals to me personally.

I got a closeup of the face, here using the Mary skin, to show the eyes better, but it did not come out as well as I had hoped. I think you can still get an idea though, and since you are going to the store anyway, you can see more images there of the eyes. Here I am wearing 'Sparkle Eyes BlueGreen' and they really are a very lovely BlueGreen colour.

Next we have some shoes. I bought these flat sandals because I was tired of flip flops, and black high heeled ankle boots just are not the right footwear when you are going fishing. These come with a HUD to change skin and nail colours, and have a touch menu to change the colour of the straps. You have to zoom in fairly close to get to the touch menu, as it is in the actual straps, but it isn't too difficult to access and it has literally thousands of colour combinations since you work with changing increments of Red Green and Blue. Finally you can have shoes the exact same colour as that favourite top! Note in the second picture the cute little dangly detail on the side. It is those little things that can make all the difference.

Just to get some variation, I have some non-practical shoes as well. Here a Strappy Heel that also comes with a HUD for changing skin and nail colour. It is very stylish, don't you think? These do not have the colour change menu like the flats do, but they are cute just the way they are, I think.

And last, but certainly not least, the Heart Strap Shoes. Very sweet little heels that go perfectly with any dress. The colour does not change, but it is a fairly neutral colour that goes with most other colours. Note the adorable little heart at the front holding the straps.


I would also like to mention the other items I am wearing in these pictures. The clothing is from Carriage Trade Miniatures, a store that no longer has an in-world location, but all of the items are available on the Marketplace, and new items are added fairly frequently.

The hair is Bonnie (browns) from Tameless. They have the best hair in SL, I think, mostly because it is mesh and so less laggy than flexi prim hair. Bonnie is available from the Lucky Chairs, and actually comes in biggie size, but as you can see it resizes down to Petite size very well.

The jewellery is from Two Sisters Treasures Petites and the set is called Juniper Rainbow. It was offered as group gift for May. They change their gifts once a month, but often add additional gifts throughout the month and have a Midnight Mania board, as well as many 10L items. Very affordable and cute items.

There you have it, some pretty shinies, cute shoes and a nice skin, what more can a Petite ask for?

Enjoy your Second Life!

torsdag 11 juli 2013

Second Life - How Many Petites Does It Take To Eat A Melon?




This is something I have been wondering for a long time, and suddenly along comes the way of finding out the answer! Torty took a melon and sliced it up into eight slices, then she went and hid the slices all around the Petite Forum area. Now it is up to you, all you Petites out there, to find them and help us eat them!

But wait, there's more! Not only do you get to gorge yourselves on yummy melon, you also get to take home some prizes! Yes, it's true! I have posted the picture here below of all the prizes, together they make a full set of living room furniture, including a fireplace and a bunch of really cute little decorative items.

However, since I already scurried all over the area and tasted the melon slices (don't worry, I washed them with alcohol afterwards, no germs), I happen to know that they can be a bit iffy to find, especially if you have never been to the Petite Forum before. So, I decided to put all the hints up on here, just in case you have trouble finding one of the slices, you can go to the next one and come back to the other one later. Because believe you me, you will want the full set.

The first hint you can get from the hunt poster sign at the landing point HERE. The sign is just next to the greeter bot (yes yes I know I should not call her that, but it is what she is). So pick up your hint and go hunting. Here is the list:

#1. I can be found where the stars gather!
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Chair v2

#2. I could lay an egg up here.
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Lavender (is what the item says, but if you look you'll see it's a multiple object, so be sure to be in edit mode when you rezz it out. It is actually a pot of lavender, a plate of oranges, a book, and a table lamp)

#3. Floating away on the air, I can cross all 3 sims.
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Coffee Table

#4. I see wonderful things in your future.
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad End Table

#5. Glowing mushrooms seem to grow here. Must be the steam.
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Wall Art

#6. It was such a long trip here, I had to wash my clothes outside.
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Fireplace (how did she fit a whole fireplace in a melon slice???)

#7. VROOOOOOM! I plan to win!
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Rug

#8. ARRRRRR matey!
Prize: Torty's Petite Nomad Sofa v2
AND a Secret Prize! I won't tell you what that is though, you will just have to find the melon slice and see for yourself.

So go out and get hunting! We must solve this mystery once and for all of how many Petites it takes to eat a melon! And hurry to, because by some inexplicable twist of fate, or magic, every single melon slice will get all slimy and mouldy on the last day of this month. And that is just nasty.

Also, Enjoy your Second Life!

Here is what you are looking for. Don't mind the bite marks, I did wash it, in rum.



Torty's Petite Nomad Living Room Set. Isn't it gorgeous?


onsdag 10 juli 2013

Second Life - Unexpected Success

A while ago I saw a notice in the group for the store "The White Armory" about a contest for finding "Miss TWA 2013". On a lark, I sent in a picture. Imagine my surprise when a few weeks later I find out that I made the quarter final. So I sent in a new picture, like the instructions said, still not really taking it too seriously. I figured perhaps there weren't that many entries and I got to the quarter final by default.

Yesterday I received a notecard that said I was now in the semi final, and with instructions on how to proceed. I suppose it could be another coincidence, perhaps enough people dropped out of the contest that I again passed through by default. In any case, I sent in my photos, but I have to say I am taking the contest a little more seriously now and starting to worry about the possibility that I might actually win.

Although honestly it's flattering that I've got this far even. I really hope I'll get to the final, especially after shooting my last two photos. In my efforts to make them as good as possible with the tools provided in-world, I crashed four times because I had the settings up higher than my crappy laptop can handle.

Anyway, I've posted the pictures below that I sent for the initial choice and for the quarter final. Decide for yourself if it's a coincidence or on purpose.

Enjoy your Second Life!


First photo submitted. The gown is 'Celtic Queen' by The White Armory.



Second photo submitted. This time I am wearing one of the new mesh gowns, of the White Tree series. This one is called 'Keeper of the White Tree'.


The third photo submitted, or rather one of two photos submitted for the semi-final. The theme was given as "Fairies at the bottom of the garden" and I chose to wear 'Stroke of Lightning' along with fiary wings, in a fairy garden.

The other photo of the semi-final set. One full body shot and one headshot was requested. The jewellery is from Chop Zuey, the eyes are from Curious Kitties, and the hair is from Tameless. I made the shape myself, the skin is a freebie from Tuty's.

söndag 7 juli 2013

Second Life - Pretty Pictures

Allrighty, I promised you pictures of prizes from A Midsummer Night's Dream Hunt 4 (Petite Path), and now I have taken the time to sort through my items and pick a few I thought were most worthy of mention. To see the full size pictures, click the image and it will open to the larger version.

First off we have the outfit from DemotiK, called simply "Ranger". Here I have tweaked it a little by adding resized hooves from Death Row Designs, and "Forest King's Horns" from the hunt prize at Iron Tiger Jewelry. The bracelet is "Fallin Leaf Topaz Emerald Bracelet" from Two Sisters' Treasures Petites and the necklace is "Forever Infinity" from EarthStones, a group gift that resized very nicely.

In this first picture "Ranger" is perched on the Roawenwood hunt prize "Zumurrud Day Bed for Petites", a gorgeously detailed piece of furniture with several sits for both single and couple.
This second picture shows the bracelet a little better, as well as the amazing detail on the bow that comes with the outfit. Only a decorative bow, but it fulfills it's purpose admirably. And of course we see the beautiful "Forest King's Horns", with the dangling gem in between them on it's golden chain.
The next set of prizes are from Kastle Enchanted, Le Petite Purr, and Dionysia Designs. The first picture is a closeup to show the lovely detail on the skin from Kastle Enchanted. The face tattoo is amazingly detailed and complements the shape of the face beautifully.

The crown is from Dionysia Designs and is called simply "MidSummer Night's Dream Crown". It is absolutely adorable, and the large gem in the middle is the icing on the silver crown.
 I want to mention also the other accessories I am wearing in this picture. The antennae are from Caverna Obscura and the little coloured drops on the ends change colour by touch. The eyes are "Nightwish in Purple" from The Stringer Mausoleum and come in two iris options, I am wearing the smaller. The hair, finally, is "Veronica" in Rose from Alli&Ali and has colourchanging streaks. Mine is set to Light Rose and has full bright off, because for hair 'full bright is just not right'.

And the final picture shows the amazing "Titania's Bower" by Le Petite Purr, a pose prop, although I find that term seriously lacking when describing this item. It would not look out of place in any garden, whether fairy-themed or not. And just in case you might have use for it, I suppose I should mention that the non-petite prize at Le Petite Purr (or rather, Co*Motion) is a full-sized version of "Titania's Bower".
The picture also shows the two outfits offered by Kastle Enchanted, female and male. The male outfit was graciously modeled by Gindipple, and he wears it well, don't you think. ;)

Well that is all I have for you from MNDp4. Just a few of the prizes offered by 38 different stores. If you haven't done the hunt yet, you should get started, before those prizes are gone forever.

Enjoy your Second Life!

söndag 30 juni 2013

Second Life - The Choice of Voice

For a while now one of my pet peeves in SL has been people who use voice indiscriminately, all the time, everywhere. It's wonderful that they have people they want to talk to so much, but _I_ do NOT want to hear their personal conversations. And they can get pretty darn personal, if you know what I mean.

Usually, unless I have to stay in the area, I just leave and go somewhere else. If I have to stay in the area for a while, I open up the voice control panel and turn down the people I don't want to listen to. It's that little button on the bottom of your screen with the headphones. Or, if like me you've trimmed off all unnecessary buttons, use the menus at the top. In that case it's Comm > Nearby Voice.

Now, it may seem like a silly thing to get worked up over, but think about it for a moment. Would you want to listen in on the 'dirty talk' of some random strangers while you're shopping for shoes? Or hear about all kinds of personal details of someone's life? I don't know about you, but I certainly don't.

And of course it makes one wonder what kind of people these random strangers are, flaunting their business in everyone's face? Have they no sense of decency? Have they never heard of privacy? Or is it just that they fail to realise that all those other avatars are actually controlled by real people? For all I know, maybe they just don't know how to use voice IM?

In any case, I finally gave up and just disabled voice chat. Much simpler and I kick myself for not doing it sooner.