Friday, May 27, 2011

The Follow

It was a dream come true for Talia Fournier, who with her beloved Jack and an incredible community of friends and fans at Equinox InWorldz, hosted the best live concert I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy in any virtual world, bar none.



We're talking about "The Follow", and if you don't know who they are, take a listen to this video on YouTube, or visit their Facebook page here.  Then go to the closet and get out the belt and whip yourself for not being there!

Jim Tarber lead the way into The Follow concert at Equinox tonight, spinning tunes from The Rock Party. I missed most of it though, having some severe clothing malfunctions.. as in a naked lower half, even though I had on a huuuuuge black poofy skirt on my screen.  There are pics out there saying otherwise.  No, I'm not showing them to you!

But there's nothing that could have kept me from coming back, naked or not, to catch this show.  In a word - I N C R E D I B L E!   You truly had to be there to understand. 

The Follow played to a packed house at Equinox of Inworldz, where dancers moved to the music among a surreal steampunk setting. 
 Troy and AJ Rickertsen, and Mat (Powers) Matlack put their hearts and souls into a show that rivaled Pink Floyd, with strong overtones of U2 inspiration. 
 
 A quote from their Facebook page: "Best friends formed a band in High School called The Follow that has endured two decades. The driving force behind the band is their friendship and the spiritual connection that they have within the music. This band grabs your heart and your soul. They celebrate with you, they cry with you, they shout with you, they rock with you! Visit TheFollow.com for a current show schedule, videos, free music, and more exciting information about The Follow."

Join their group "The Follow" in InWorldz for info on upcoming events.  And as always, be sure to tip the venue if you have the extra izzies to help keep music alive in virtual worlds.  Thank you Talia for putting on this show!  We love you <3


Muah!
Boudica

More Hair for the Guys

Here are a few new hairstyles I've created for the guys.  I will be working on colorizing these into many shades and adding them to the queue for the new Destiny Hair shop opening soon in InWorldz. 

First is James, a mid-length wavy style:

 


Next we have Julian, a longer style for men, pulled back into a ponytail at the nape of the neck. 





Hope you like!
Boudica


Pictures taken in the Kingdom of DeMolay - Medieval City of Rhodes

Friday, May 20, 2011

A Little Peek

Just a little peek to show you some of the new styles I've been working on for the Teen Hair Project. 

Try as I might, it turns out I just couldn't get my InWorldz hairstyles to export to the other grid (perhaps my very slow DSL internet connection). So after about a week of trying to fit a square peg into a round hole, I suddenly got the brilliant idea to just make new styles! 

So far they're going over well, and I'm expanding my skills and really getting into the theme of a medieval city and styles that might fit in better there. 

So this past week, I've made four new styles!  If all goes well I'll figure out a way to import them back to InWorldz and share them with everyone. 
 When I come up for air and sneak out of my studio, it's great to get to explore take in the sights.




If you want to see more about the Kingdom of DeMolay grid and project, you can see some fabulous pictures of the build taken by RJ Kikuchiyo of Kiku*Craft, who is the main force behind all the authentic buildings and reproductions.  Some amazing talent!  Pictures here, here, here and here. Or you can read more about it here on Metaverse Sailing.

The project is coming along great, and I've really been enjoying my little artisan vacation, playing tourist in the medieval city of Rhodes while I've been away from InWorldz.  It has brought a new perspective to my work, a breath of fresh air, and I've enjoyed meeting and working with another great group of talented people.

Enjoying the Journey...
Boudica

Saturday, May 14, 2011

A Little Break

It's hard to believe ten days have flown past since the last time I wrote, but my latest project has been taking quite a bit more time (and technical headaches) than I was expecting.

For those that do not know, I have recently begun to create hair, with the intention of opening a new hair shop in InWorldz. I've had a bit of a learning curve, learning how to make every bit of my styles from scratch, including all my own textures, taken from photos of my own hair, and all my own sculpts. 

Having never made hair before, it's been quite a learning experience, and I've found that it's much much harder than it looks!  For instance, in order for me to recolor any of my styles to other shades, it would be impossible for me to manually do this.  With all the alpha sides, especially on my flexi tendrils, it would be a nightmare to even try to recolor one style, much less recoloring it in the 24 shades that I have created so far.

So about a month ago I enlisted the help of Anna Debruyere, who if you have not heard of yet, is the great mind behind the InBiz unofficial InWorldz Business Directory, as well as the Exclipsex ATM system.  She was such a delight to work with, and even walked me through some very basic things I had not known about how to find a face on a prim, and how to find my texture UUID's, to help me in configuring the script/notecard system she created.  If you ever need some script-work done, I highly recommend Anna, and Eclipse Scriptworks!  Please tell her I sent you.

Well, procrastinator that I am, I didn't get around to recoloring the 3 styles that I had created in the months prior, and the new male style that I just finished.  So I've been working busily away on those this past week, in anticipation of finishing the "Teen Hair Project" I've been working on for another Opensim grid.  My deadline moved forward by about a month, due to an event they are holding this weekend, so I've been rushing to complete at least those 4 styles and ads done so they had something to offer their teens and new advisors on this grid.

"What grid,"  I hear you all asking.  Well some of you had a sneak-peek at it a few weeks ago, when Jane Fosset wrote about it in her blog post Hypergrid Sailor II on her Metaverse Sailing blog.  It's really a rather incredible build, with a great group of builders working hard to bring it all to life, and I'm delighted to be working with them, even if only in a small way, by creating some of the hair styles that they'll be offering free to their teens and residents.

I should have known not to do the bulk of my work on Friday the 13th.  It was one major technical problem after another, compounding into quite a mess, and as of right now I still have zero styles moved over successfully to this other grid to show for all the effort. It's more than a little disheartening.  But, it's a learning experience, and for that I am grateful.

To top off my already discouraged feeling, I just logged into my Blogger account to find that my new "Destiny Hair" site that I just created a few days ago has been removed.  Now, I don't know how these things are usually done, having never lost a blog before, but not to receive any notification in my email and to leave me just hanging on a question, "Why?" is just a little too much for me to handle at this time.

So, while I get all these things sorted out and complete my task of importing my 4 newbie starter hairs over to the other grid, I'll have my hands quite full and will not be doing much in the way of posting on this site.  My goal is to determine what's going on with the import/export issues and move those styles over within the next few days, then work on the other 4 styles that I would like to have completed for that grid, in all 24 colors, and then *finally* get  my Destiny Hair shop open here in InWorldz, before my birthday on June 7th.  If all goes well!

Here's just a little sneak peek at the styles, in case you missed them before my new hair blog was taken down.  I'm new at this, I'm learning, and hopefully growing into something that people will enjoy wearing.  I want to make people happy.  Perhaps a bit too much of the "people-pleaser" in me.  So if you see me making something that's just "Ew!" please let me know, and I'll do my best to learn and improve.  Thanks!


Well, it's almost midnight here and I've been rambling on, so I'll leave you with my sincerest wishes for good times, wonderful memories, and a most enjoyable virtual experience, wherever you are and whichever virtual world you are playing in at the moment. 

Loves <333
Boudica

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Harvest Moon Shopping

Harvest Moon is a unique shopping experience with a style and atmopshere that places it well among the most sought after shopping locations in InWorldz. Unlike most commercial malls, Harvest Moon strives to preserve the natural landscape and incorporates trails, parks and events, and viewing areas into a design that blurs the line between virtual and reality.
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Feel the breeze as it whispers through tall pine trees. Listen to the rush of waterfalls and let the fresh ocean air invigorate you as you explore the pathways winding through the meadow, across rivers, and from shop to shop as you smell the flowers, and delight in birds and butterflies fluttering about.
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There are many pleasant nooks and relaxing seating areas to enjoy yourself with friends, including the thoughtfully designed Daily Grind coffee shop, which is an ideal place for cozy concerts and starting or ending your day in style, or simply relaxing between adventures.
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Several beautiful shops have become available at Harvest Moon, in both the Harvest Ridge village boardwalk shops, and also the Grandridge Town Center shops.

At Grandridge we have one stunning large corner shop, perfect for a main store, or outlet location (I'z $400/wk - 500 prims). There is also one Medium shop (I'z $280/wk - 350 prims), and two small shops at only I'z $150/wk - 200 prims.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Harvest%20Moon/63/142/37
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On the Boardwalk, and right off the pathway from the Wish hair mainstore, there are two delightful seaside shops available (I'z $150/wk - 200 prims).
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Harvest%20Moon/252/70/40
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Locate your shop among one of the finest shopping destination locations in InWorldz.
Harvest Moon - It's more than just a place to shop, it's a place to relax, to unwind. It's home.

Welcome Home to Harvest Moon.

Love,
Boudica (a very happy Harvest Mooner!)

Monday, May 2, 2011

Southern Belle Fashion Show by Allure

Allure Modeling Agency produces "Southern Belle" a Fashion Show in InWorldz
With much anticipation I awaited the date of the Southern Belle Fashion Show, to be held in InWorldz, and produced by Allure Modeling Agency.  I had heard of the fashion show, sponsored by Rowland Larkham of "Morning Coffee" through several group announcments, blog posts, and also through a friend of mine who's gowns would be featured in the event.
Southern Belles Fashion Show Poster
Unable to attend the beginning of the show due to a prior engagement (see here), I arrived at Bella and located a seat among the crowd of other fashion lovers.
Boudica at Southern Belle
Olivia Winterwolf and Rowland Larkham
Admiring Fashion Lovers
Apparently, there was a bit of lag, commotion, crashes, and last-minute changes of venue before I arrived, as reported here by Scarlett Qi of InWorldz Network News. I cannot say that my experience was near as bad as hers sounded.

When I arrived the lag was fairly minimal, with the models taking it all in stride with poise and confidence, though they had to walk through the stage rather than on it, and at times needed to float above it.  I was impressed at how cool and level-headed the production was, with encouraging and smooth announcements by Raven Dulce, CEO of Allure Modeling Agency.
Raven Dulce, Allure Modeling Agency

Featuring designs by Brain Circuit, Talon Faire, NJ Designs, Mer-Elf Creations, the show catered to a more romantic side of fashion, with silks and finery for both men and women. It was a delight to see!
Model Sweet, wearing Royal Blue Frill Dress
Model Sweet, wearing Royal Blue Frill Dress
Cote wears 3 Jacket Tux, or is it the other way around?
A Gentleman to the core, Cote wears his Southern heart on his sleeve

Model Tori Jules, wearing Rose Pink Sequin Jacket and Skirt
Model Tori Jules, wearing Rose Pink Sequin Jacket and Skirt
Model Sweet, wearing Lady Flora
Model Sweet, wearing Lady Flora
Rhiannon stuns the crowd in Champagne Brocade Dress
Model Rhiannon, wearing Champagne Brocade Dress
Model Cote, wearing Johns Charms
Stealing the ladies hearts, Cote breaks free of the stage to his adoring crowd
The sound of hearts breaking was resounding
Model Tori, respendent in "Christina" gown by Mer-Elf Creations
Model Tori, positively glows in "Christina" gown by Mer-Elf Creations
I have heard that there will be a YouTube video produced of the show, and will update with the link if one becomes available. (Updated:  Here is the link to the YouTube video of the event)
Finale - Bravo!


Unable to both walk and chew gum at the same time, I found myself struggling to both take pictures, and keep notes on who was wearing what, by which designer, as the chat flew by. As soon as I track down the names of designers for the other gowns, I will add credit to the captions. Apologies in advance to the Designers, and thank you again to Raven Dulce and Allure Modeling Agency, for another engaging and professionally done show.  Bravo!

It all seemed to go by so quickly, in a rush of swishing gowns, mysterious glances, and flourishing grace.  I regret missing the other lovely designs that started the show, but I hope my photos help bring to life for you a most pleasurable day, in the spell of the Southern Belle.

Enamoured,
Boudica

Style Credits:
NJ Designs by Natasha Janus - Blue Frill Dress, Pink Sequin Jacket and skirt, gents Tuxedos and  Champagne Brocade Dress.

Brain Circuit by Olivia Winterwolf - Lady Flora pink gown and hat.

Mer-Elf Creations by Morgaine Price - Christina white gown.

Talon Faire by Amaranthim Talon - All Eyelashes.