Khimar Wrap

I'm back! My connection is stable once more, and so I was able to finally log in and finish what I had started. I'm very excited to share this, it was a headache inducing experience but very well worth it.

Draping cloth is something that takes only a moment to create out in the real world, but is a challenge to artists who try to render it in any medium. I love covering myself in as much draping, flowing cloth as the temperature allows and I've always wanted my avatar to reflect that more.

"Khimar" means roughly a head scarf or veil in Arabic, and although it's more modernly associated with full body wraps and longer garments I felt I might still be able to get away with calling it this*. I went for a very middle eastern look for it, but that's entirely optional, as the head band/wrap or "agal" is a separate piece from the hood and can be worn with or without it. The mask is separate too, in case you just want a hood with the cowl. In fact, all the pieces can be worn alone or in any combination that you like!

*Anyone who might be better in the know is welcome to correct me, as I'm just a Westerner with access Google and Wikipedia :)~)

Every piece changes independantly, so if you want to experiment with having a black hood and a blue mask, or a black agal with a red hood, go for it! Create any random color scheme you like, but only on the purchased version; the demo combines the three head pieces so that you're not covered in little hovering demo boxes.

The hood is pretty incompatible with hair, but a lot of hair stores (such as ETD) sell just bangs as an add-on to their hair styles, and I think that would work well with this if you simply MUST have a few lingering locks. Speaking of, this is perfect for expositions or sales or fashion shows where you need to keep an eye on your prim limit, but still want to look fashionable. All in all, wearing all the pieces, it only adds up to eight prims! Aaaah the miracle of sculpts!

Here's where it was a pain in the ass though... for eight prims I needed to do seven unique textures, and do those seven unique textures in twelve different unique colors. Whereas normally I can be a bit of a cheapskate and use as few as two or three unique textures on an item, or creatively re-use textures on similar prims (like recently my hat bands) I ended up doing over a hundred uploads for this item's textures alone! And that's not counting troubleshooting sculpts! It was a devil getting all of the textures and colors to look right together, from 2d into 3d. But the good part of this is that everything looks deliciously silky. Looking at the results, I definitely feel like it was all worth it.

I also think I know what you're thinking... CLOAKS! The thought (obviously) occurred to me too, and I'm planning on it. I should even be able to re-use pieces of this wrap, but there's certainly going to be enough original material on any cloaks I make to make it worthwhile to buy both.

The wrap is currently available at the main store for 450L, and with this release, I've lowered the price of the old Assassin's Guise to only 175L as a sort of budget version. :)

Stand and Deliver!

After I had remade the Bauta cloak, I was having a lot of fun with the base of it. Once you have the cape prims and the flexi all sorted, it makes things a lot easier to make a few versions of it. So I did! Here's the open cloak, a bit like the original.


Pretty simple, but with a nice high sculpted collar to hide cozily in. This is pretty much the same cloak as the bauta one, just open and with a more finished collar. However, I did have a little fun with this next one.

I've always adored the triple caped coats of the late 18th century and I finally get to have one! It has the sleeves from my coque feather coat, with a bolero cut jacket underneath the coat so that the back has coverage as the prims move with the flexi. It has yummy sculpted cuffs too and it's very elegant for an evening out at the opera or perhaps an evening stroll around Caledon.

Yay for coats!

Revised Release of Remade Relics

I've been quiet but far from idle. I've just been holding my cards to my chest, and by cards I mean masks!

First up, my very first "event masks" made especially for the Midsummer's Night's Eve party of last year (speaking of, I need to set a date for my next party, that's coming up, sorry to keep you waiting). The originals used the old civetta and columbina bases which were rough and ill-fitting, and so have been remade with the latest base masks and fit much, much better. Also tidied up the textures, neatened up the details, tightened up the tiny prims and tweaked their royal little heads.




These are still unscripted, as I like to preserve my artistic vision in these with a specific look and color. That's the way I like to keep my super special event masks, my chance to play picky artist.

Next up are a couple of blasts from the pasts, from the very first retirement sale. I also apologize for not releasing these sooner, I really have no excuses.


Not much structural tweaking needed, just some texture work to again, tidy up, neaten up, and make them cleaner. The Swan Mask used to have seams for goodness sake! And the clockwork mask was all one texture, just tinted differently! That's been changed, and definitely for the better. The Swan Mask is now available in black or white, while the clockwork mask is available in that nice warm copper color or cold silvery steel.

Lastly, for my list of lovely remade treasures, the Bauta is back! I know how much everyone loved this one, but there was a lot wrong with the old one. Stiff movement, rough textures, prim overlap problems and a sort of awkward look at times in the shoulders. Not to mention, it was historically innacurate. Being the daughter of a history buff who helped make it a past time to point out anachronisms in movies I simply couldn't let that stand. So the new Bauta is New and Improved: Now With Lowered Innacuracy!

The real Venetian bautas are actually completely closed, and not a lick of hair or clothes would show. It truly was the ultimate disguise, and you could truly be anyone at all under there, all that could possibly reveal you is the quality of the material of your cloak and hat, or perhaps a pair of shoes. I've also now included a female version, which has a larger base to give the illusion of a dress underneath, and has more slender shoulders than the broad male cloak. As you can also see it also has a "guise" piece, which attaches to the skull and completely covers your hair, and includes the hat and covering scarf piece. The mask also has been tweaked from the original, to have the sharper more prominent features and the square shape that is just so distinctive of them. There's also a fun little tidbit I didn't mention on the vendor board (but it's on a notecard included with the set) that if you type "/5" before something you want to say, it will make you speak as the "Mysterious Cloaked Figure". Just for that extra oomph of perfect anonymity!


I know that there are some people who will be missing the line and amount of coverage that the original bauta cloak provided, which is why I am planning on releasing a "highwayman's cloak" that will have an open front and hopefully the same amount of flare. Still working on more piratey goodness, but I'd like to put it out all at once.

Now at least you know I've been spending my time well!

Bravery

There are a limited amount of ways to be brave or adventurous in Second Life. You can't exactly go bungee jumping, skydiving is just a novelty, and it's simply impossible to die if you choose not to. In taking risks, the only stakes are your time and your reputation. I am proud to say that in this safe utopia, I have laid my time out in a gamble, and found a way to push past my comfort zone. I've just tread beyond into an area that has always terrified me, intimidated me, and frustrated me.

I've braved the template, imperfection, and hundreds of lindens in uploads in the process of actually making a piece of clothing. I had a dream, a vision, an inspiration that had to come to life, and it demanded that I pick up the tools I so dread, and brave the 5th circle of hell, which I've recently discovered is actually full of seam matching. So mayhap I'm a little overly proud to celebrate overcoming a personal obstacle with this:

I'm ridiculously proud of it. I've been obsessing over it ever since Caliah Lyon planted the idea into my head, which was sometime in mid-October! She suggested a feather trimmed cloak, but when she said that a beautiful, sumptuous image arrived in my head of a soft, silky and fashionable feather trimmed winter coat that was dramatic and fabulous. The coat comes in two lengths of coat tail, so you can have a long, full length dress coat, or a shorter more casual calf length, but the long a-line flare is what I had initially dreamed of. I wanted an enormous soft collar that you could bury your face in, and yet at the same time show off an elegant necklace. Then of course I needed big yummy cuffs to balance it out. The collar actually turned out being 210 prims, which I tried my darndest to show restraint on, yet when I did it just didn't look the same. Ah, well that is true luxury isn't it! To compromise, I've included a low prim version of the collar as well, that has fewer feathers but will be much more friendly to your computer. (I say low prim, but it's still 83 prims ^^;, so I guess I mean lower). All in all, the effect is very striking, and I haven't taken it off yet. It's exactly what my avatar needed to avoid getting cold in the upcoming virtual winter.

Sadly, since I'm offering so many options, for my own protection I'm making this coat copy only. You might say "but it's just the prim pieces that there are options on! no one's going to give away/sell just the prim pieces", but not so! I've gone above and beyond the call of duty on this one, and answered the prayers of a certain niche of my customers. My dear rainbois and flamboyant, secure men, I have included a unisex version of the coat top, without breast shading, so that you too can be utterly fabulous and amazing. Of course you already are, but the coat helps to make it more obvious.

Mysteeeerrrious

ooooOOOoooo *wiggly fingers of darkity doom and darkness*

Ok, so I'm very happy with this, it's fabulous, exquisite, and the most realistic cloth drapery I've seen yet. But I'm actually frustrated! This was supposed to be a large flowing veil! Look at it! It's not an elegant and exotic female garment!.... ok yeah it is. But it's not a veil and that's what I was trying to make! Darn wild creativity! So basically I didn't get anything off of my to do list, I just did another do.

Yes, I will simply answer that it is as nice as it looks, and is completely made out of sculpted prims except two or three normal ones as were needed. The cowl area is delicious, and has a sculpted neck piece that comes up under the chin, and it looks beautiful alone. The mask part is a modified Neenja mask with a front drape panel, to make it look like it's been wrapped around the back of the head without interfering with the hood. And the hood... Oh that's yummy. As you can see it's pretty cozy in there, and for most folks should be a pretty nice glare height. I made buying it as "male" or "female" an option, but really it's just the large and small versions. The male has a shorter, thicker neck and much broader shoulders, with a larger head, but obviously if your male avatar has a long neck and relatively slender shoulders, go with the female and just stretch. Please don't feel I'm emasculating you, I just want things to fit!

I got in touch with the owner of the marvelously extravagant Victorianna Castle, because she happens to be the owner of the Victorianna Doll Store. I have a policy in general against setting up vendors away from home, but I make exceptions if the theme is strictly adhered to and the stores are of good quality. It's a little nook of yummy victorian gothic girliness, the hub of Elegant Gothic Lolita, and it was sorely in need of my parasols and top hats. Apparently rent is free if she has the space and deems you worthy!! Huzzah!

That also leads me to something I will simply call "synchronicity requests". Often times I'm so focused on something I want to work on, that suddenly people will start asking me for it. People who have no idea I was planning on working on said thing, and who all say it within about 5 hours of each other. Here are what people have been asking about:
Full burkha style face veils, multi layered and covering the head and shoulders... which was what that sexy piece of gothy goodness was supposed to be (but I love it anyway)
A desperado hat, Zorro style, with a big wide brim that's all bad ass and stuff
A beautiful and extravagant lady's hat with tons of fezzers
and here's where the doll store comes in:
Victorian inspired and historically inspired hair, in fabulous sculpted glory.

I guess i need to do some serious internet footwork for references!

I think, however, that with all of this stuff to do I might actually take some time for Real Life tomorrow. Food in the refrigerator and an emptied trash might be nice!

I Killed Mozart

Releasing a new bauta! This one is just a single, sculpted prim, for the most ridiculously customizable fit imaginable. It can be squashed, stretched, smushed, flattened, anything you need for it to fit your face like it was made for it. It was/is the most popular type of mask worn during Carnivale, and was designed so that one could eat or drink without having to take it off. It is also my interpretation of the "male version" of the Domino, despite the fact that it was worn by both men and women. (Hint hint, even though it was made for a man, I've been wearing it around). It was more than just a mask, it was used like the Domino to hide your identity, or even your social status. If you wanted to forget about social protocol and hang loose with the commoners for an evening, it could be done! It's unique shape could even could disguise the voice! Not only that, but it was also the equivalent of a ski mask/balaclava in those days and could be used to hide the identity of many criminals. Hence the title of this post: supposedly a man wearing a bauta assassinated Mozart!

The bauta is traditionally associated with the tricorn hat and a large flowing over garment that drapes around the mask... but attempts at that didn't turn out so pretty, and I really wanted to make a cloak just for the men. I also wanted to show off the new hair I made...

After a sad search all around Second Life for clothing suitable to wear for that picture up there, I found only TWO Georgian Coats and absolutely no suitable hair! So since I delight in making that which has been neglected, unloved, or un-noticed, here is the Dauphin powdered wig. Frankly, I find my male avatar the most handsome he's ever been, and extremely distinguished! It especially looks extremely dashing from the back. I also know that not every modern man will enjoy the Dandy look, so I have a blonde, black, and brunette version. In case you can't see, it has a fun trailing pony tail with some flexi. Some people call Second Life hair wigs, since your avatar is bald underneath... but now, you can have a REAL wig.

Bauta Cloak, Hat and Mask: 250L
Dauphin Wig: 95L per color, 350L for 4

Domino Venetzia

A pet project of mine has always been attempting to make cloaks, but they have always been sad victims of my stringent perfectionism. But bless sculpted prims, I've finally been able to make something that I'm willing to sell. Mind you, I could tweak these for an eternity and still not be happy with them (the flexi is too tight, that part falls too short, that length needs to be changed, that collar part needs to be moved). BUT... I know myself, and I know that I can be happy with it if I sell it right this instant.

I present to you proudly the Domino Venetzia. A Domino wasn't always a plastic thing you knocked down to make other plastic things get knocked down, in Venice in the 1700's it was the ultimate lady's disguise. It was a combination of a mask that covered the entire face, and a voluminous cloak that would only show the stylishness of the manner in which you were dressed. It was used so that women could indulge in secret trysts, or even go out to bars and have a riotous good time without ever having to suffer damage to their delicate, refined reputation. It was the ultimate shroud of mystery.

For my domino, I have constructed the clasp, cowl and hood entirely out of sculpted prims, and used the Columbina Venetzia as a jumping off point to add a delicate flexi veil. My proudest piece of this, is actually the textures. I've never made my own textures before (except random uploaded pictures of stuff, and edited random pictures of stuff... and UV wrapped textures made in Zbrush), so I'm extra proud of these. I actually took a picture of my sculpted prims in world, put them against a gradient background and then fitted them to be the proper size for long flexi prims! That way they were all sure to match... and sure enough, the cloak trim, veil trim, and mask trim are all in perfect harmony. Hurraaay!

I'd also like to share that I have completed, finally, and god I mean finally, converting all of my rose creations to the new 20 colors. May I live long and not have to do that sort of damn thing again.

The All Color options are only available as copy, as obviously I do have to protect myself and I want to be able to offer an extremely deep discount for people who want more than one color in their life. Most of my all color packs have been set at the price of one X3, so that's when it becomes worth your while to get the bunch! But I realized that if I sold them transferable... I could be very easily suffering some losses there ^^; So it's best to be safe rather than sorry :) You can still IM me as always for gifts or giftcards.

Speaking of giftcards, I've been trying to figure out a way I might instigate them. More news on that soon :)