Oct 15 & 16: Two Hunts for Builders, and Tiny Swagtastic Weekend

Starting October 15 are two hunts that builders will enjoy, and a Tiny Swagtastic weekend.

USC Textures Hunt

The weekend of the 15th-16th only at USC Textures.  The theme is “where the wild things are”. Eagle often puts on fun themed hunts, and has bunches of MM boards and lucky chairs about. And he puts up with me!

USC Textures is located at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Paradise%20Landing/139/140/21

I have had a little shop upstairs in the Texture Tomb ever since I was a small otter on Miriam’s coat tails and put all 12 of my plant textures up for sale in her garden shop. Now I have a fun corner shop of my very own in the upper level.

So for this hunt I made a set of vine textures that I think will be useful for landscaping and adding a bit of wildness to builds.

Full Perm Mini Hunt

Also starting on the 15th is the Full Perm Mini Hunt which will run till 31 October.  These mini hunts are always fun, and a very nice way to stock up on building supplies. There will be a charge of 1L per hunt item.  For this one I made some seamless berry bush textures (and one berry-less) for non-alpha bush and hedgy uses, or wherever one might need some non-alpha greenery.

Tiny Swagtastic Weekend 15-16 Oct

Tiny stuff! For those who haven’t realized it, I’m usually NOT human. I am usually a tiny otter.  Which can be the cause of much hilarity for new customers “You’re the shop owner!?! But you’re a tiny otter in a… is that a Lady GaGa outfit?!”

However, if one heads over to Raglan Shire normal size humans are considered outside the norm. This weekend is another Tiny Swagtastic weekend in Raglan Shire with 50L offerings for tinies. My friend Mutley is kind enough to let me put stuff at her store Pawesome in Raglan Shire, and I got myself together enough this week to make an autumn tree with 3 seats for tinies in a small patch of dried grass.

New Pumpkins and Cats

Latest stuff that is useful for the season: pumpkins and cats! And not just any pumpkins or simple cats, nonono.

Check out this punkin set – not just a nifty 1 prim pumpkin with stem, but also 2 pumpkins of the same size in 1 prim, 2 pumpkins of different sizes in 1 prim and 6 different texture colors because I always get carried away with textures…

Sculpted Pumpkins

And the new kittys! Thane is back (yay!!) and within minutes of his arrival he uploaded this fun cat sculpt that I just fell in love with and had to start texturing right away. The body language! The funny hat! I made 3 different textures for these 1 prim cats with hats, and these black cats have the same blinky green eyes as the other black cats – so 3 prims all in all.

Thane and I have lots of joint projects out where he makes the sculpt and I do the texturing – you can tell our joint stuff by the two logos on the sign, and they are all named *RH* & DBS

Cats Wearing Hats

Thane Woodford is the owner of Raven’s Heart Sculpts.  He has a lovely shop at:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Talisman/191/32/22

Thane has kindly made room for his friends at his shop as well, so come have a look see.

Samhain Festival 3 – 31 October

A month long festival of events celebrating the new year: Live music, literary, story telling, DJ Themed Dances, photo exhibits, freebie hunts (find a black cat in each vendors kiosk), vendors selling fun stuff and much more.

All donations and fundraising go to the Make a Wish Foundation.

Come Join in the fun! You can get a schedule of events by clicking the Samhain festival signs by the landing point or the stage.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Talisman/43/191/22

Merchants at Samhain Festival:

• Deep Blue Sea designs – my sculpts & textures 🙂
• TiggerWorks – Sculpts & gadgets by Tigger Genira
• TexWorks – Textures by Miriam Donogal
• Maelstrom Curio & Decor Shop – decor & artwork by Gabonica Lorefield
• Jinxed Toys  & Jinxed Magic – whimsicality by Ishani Mhia / Amadine Abonwood
• BlakOpal Designs – clothing by Blak Opal
• Old World Delights – old world builds & furniture by Daily Panthar
• 420 Design Sculptys – furniture sculpts by Neoh Hotshot
• AMULET Sculpts – whimsical sculpts by Beautiful Shamen
• Raven’s Heart Sculpts – delightful sculpts by Thane Woodford – Thane also donated the plot in Talisman for the Samhain fest – Come see his awesome sculpty shop here in Talisman!
• B&B Spiritual Supplies ~ a Botanica – spiritual & voodoo supplies by Burke Benior
• galaxyrises! –  shapes & skins by Nichole Twigvald
• D. Wytchwood’s shop – Buildings, clothes & art by Dwynwen Wytchwood

Events Schedule:

Samhain Fetistival 2011
By The Wild Roving Foxes

**All donations to the Make A Wish Foundation**

Once more, the old year turns. The new world comes. Samhain is the end of the natural year and the birth of the new, a time to release the past and prepare for the future. Once again, we are celebrating this time with a month of live music, literary events, exhibits, vendors, freebie hunts, story telling and themed dances.

Please check below for literary events.

Story teller and DJ: Stories of the Season and Music by Fox Ravenheart
Mon Oct 3 – 6-7PM
Thu Oct 13 – 7.30PM – 9PM
Sun Oct 21 – 3PM – 5PM
—-

THEMED DANCES:
Sun Oct 9 – 5-8PM – Zombie Dance – DJ music. Come as your best brain eating zombie for a chance to win lindens.

Photo by Allie Tomsen

Photo by Allie Tomsen

Sat Oct 15 – 7PM-9PM – Fancy Dress Party with holiday songs by DJ Mistu Figaro. Linden reward for best costume.

Fri Oct 21 – 9PM-11PM – Violet Omenthal DJs Jazz Night. Come in your best Jazz Age garb for a chance to win lindens.

Sun Oct 30 — 1-6PM – Fey Dance with DJ Fox Ravenheart. Come as your best Fey or fairy or elf from any culture around the world for a chance to win lindens. Stories and Music.
—-
EXHIBITS:

Thu Oct 6 – 4-5PM – Allie Tomsen gives an opening tour of her exhibit, Fading.
Fri Oct 21 – 6-7PM —  Isabelle Eyre gives an opening tour of her photo exhibit, Doors and Temples of the Angkor Wat
—-

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE:

Thu Oct 6
5:00pm – 6:00pm
Phemie Alcott
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Shannon Oherly

Sun Oct 9 1:00pm – 2:00pm
Brendan Shoreland

Tue Oct 11
12:00pm – 1:00pm
Benski
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Live Music Event

Thu Oct 13
4:30pm – 6:00pm
Dusty Smythe
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Woodsong Zapetero

Tue Oct 18
5:00pm – 6:30pm
Kitzie Lane
6:30pm – 8:00pm
Geos Copperfield

Thu Oct 20
6:00pm – 7:30pm
Thunderfoot Lightfoot
7:30pm – 8:30pm
Mamaa Saiz

Fri Oct 21
8:00pm – 9:00pm
Bluemonk Rau (Part of Jazz Night)

Tue Oct 25 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Christopher Walmer
1:00pm – 2:00pm
LIVE MUSIC EVENT

Thu Oct 27 5:00pm – 6:00pm
Katrose Serendipidy
6:00pm – 7:00pm
Senjetta Witt (Live Music)

SL  Samhain Literary Events

10th October, Monday — 6pm    Duos – Phorkyad Acropolis  Poetry & Music

7pm     Duos – Freda Frostbite   Poetry & Prose

12th October, Wednesday —   12pm  Open Mic Read
hosted by:  Sabreman Carter
featuring:    Serene Bechir

8pm  Open Mic Read
hosted by:  talkswithmarie resident
featuring:

17th October, Monday —         6pm    Duos – Derry  McMahon  Storytelling & Art
7pm     Duos – Hypatia Pickens   Short Story & Poetry

19th October, Wednesday —   12pm  Open Mic Read
hosted by:  Leslye Writer
featuring:    Klannex Northmead

8pm  Open Mic Read
hosted by:  Kamille Kamala
featuring:   Ryanwriter4 Reident

24th October, Monday —         6pm    Duos – Sangreal Arnica & Leslye Writer – Ghost Stories
7pm     Duos – Leonardo Zimring – Poetry & Art

26th October, Wednesday —   12pm  Open Mic Read
hosted by:  Klannex Northmead
featuring:    Leslye Writer
8pm  Open Mic Read
hosted by:  Jael Constantine
featuring:  Kamille Kamala

31st October, Monday —         6pm    Duos – Kaikilani Resident – Storytelling & Chanting
7pm    Duos – Remembrance & Renwal – a reading of poetry by those who  have passed into the next life

Second QuirkWorks Grand Opening – fun in Caledon!

Grand Opening Sale this weekend – 10 am Oct 1 to 10 pm slt Oct 2

25% to 50% off full perm sculpts, textures and gadgets!

Free textures!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Port%20Caledon/82/73/23

We are rarely organized enough to have a sale of our items – so now is a good time to stock up on bulding supplies!

A short while ago I had a crazy hankering to set up shop in Caledon. Of course I would be lonely if it was just me, so I dragged Miriam Donogal of TexWorks and Tigger Genira of TiggerWorks along as well! We found a lovely plot in Port Caledon, and Tigger made a build that fits right in with the area and accommodates our stuff nicely.

Here is a fun pic of Tig and I  – doesn’t she look happy to have me sitting on her?

I love being in Caledon – everyone has been SO nice! We have lovely neighbors, and I have had the pleasure of meeting the Guvnah himself! So please, come by and join in the fun and bickering.

Natures Hunt – Miracles of Autumn

I’m really excited about this hunt! I’m ready for summer to be over and Autumn to start!

This hunt runs from 16 Sept to 26 October, official page is here.  You are looking for hidden pine cones, bear in mind that hunt objects are 1 L each.

I made a tree in autumnal splendor in a field of dried grass with 3 pillows strewn about for seating for three people:

At only 6 prims and copy / mod, this should give you some nice landscaping and seating options.

It’s getting steamy

Yes its almost steam hunt time so it’s been panic and rush around here as we all try and get ready. Strangely though we are ready almost a week early. Usually we know its coming but we never get prepared in advance…

This is a stunning level of organisation, for us, way above our usual level, so it’ll never happen again.

And what has our combined cunning and artistry conjured up ?

errr….

Well Miriam, has of course created some textures for you, a series of artistic embossed and engraved riveted metal panels that keep to the spirit of steam punk, and would grace any build in the theme.

Sea has looked around at all the usual mechanical things that make up steampunk and decided to make… trees.
Well of course what could be more steampunk than a tree. Ok so these are clad in brass sheeting and have gears for fruit. You might also need some sort of hat if you should stand beneath them as those gears look heavy and might just fall.

And me, I have been working around the clock on a clock. I know, its hardly original, but I do hope you’ve never seen – or heard – one quite like this. 11 prims of automated steam themed whimsy which ticks, thuds, scrapes and squeals its way around the hours in what I hope is a functional and entertaining way.

Any how.. we wish all the best with the Steam Hunt which will start as of the 1st of September, and do check the steam hunt blog for more details of all the participating stores. The Steam hunt never disappoints, well, so long as you like the steampunk theme, and if you don’t… then why are you doing the hunt ?

Why I make builders supplies in Second Life

I make builders supplies in Second Life – sculpts and textures. The raw materials of content creation. Most of my stuff is for land and sea and sky. Tigger Genira and I set ourselves to figure out how to make plant sculpts because I wanted some very badly, and we adore figuring out HOW to do things.

I wanted to landscape my little gardens just so. Then I realized I needed textures, plant textures. I had found some nice ones, but too many were icky blobby ones with white halos and blocky alpha clash.

So I started to make plant textures, from photos I took of plants in my garden, plants at work, anything that struck my fancy. And with the help of Miriam Donogal, I slowly learned to work in Gimp.

At first I was going to sell made plants in Second Life – you know, copy / mod or mod/ trans plants already made for people to landscape their homes  with. And I did for a while. But then people started asking to buy the sculpts and textures, and almost all my friends are builders  – so I totally understood why people wanted the builders bits and not the already made things. That is what I, as a consumer wanted as well.

Well and two confessions:

1) I am not a great builder – I love to build, don’t get me wrong, I’m just not that good at it. I get distracted easily if there’s more than a few prims involved, I wander off if I get to a tricky bit. I am constantly astonished by what people make with my stuff – its much better than what I would have come up with.

2) I am a lazy, lazy otter. To me, making a texture or sculpts is a relaxing solution to a  defined purpose or a perceived need. And when a texture or sculpt is done, its done! There is no “will this door script work right for all my customers?”, “will this skirt fit on all avatar shapes?” or “do I have enough bling in these shoes?” (kidding! kidding!).

So I am spoiled – my customers for the most part are builders, and builders are awesome folk. They understand the vagaries and limitations of Second Life, and they are usually patient with the typical merchant mistakes – say incorrect perms, or forgetting to pack an example. Because they will probably turn around and be selling their builds, so they know what all goes into the process.

My customers who are mostly builders also help me by defining a perceived need. One of my customers bullied me into making sunbeam sculpts, noting that the sculpt form wasn’t all that different from my plant forms. Most of my plant sculpts are from very specific builders requests that were just plain good ideas.

My friends all make things  – be it music or buildings, clothes or jewelry, and of course, sculpts and textures. And we actually all work well together – offering ideas, setting up in each others shops. Lots of us collaborate, and they put up with me leaving them little presents 😀 I hope to drag some of them into this crazy blog idea that I am percolating.

Yesterday I had a customer tell me that they wished they “were artistic too”. I was a bit taken aback by this. Like when my husband bought me a drawing tablet “because I was an artist”. I don’t think of myself like that – I don’t have an artistic vision, I don’t have an aesthetic like some of my friends do that can take your breath away.  I see myself more as a facilitator – I make useful bits so that people can make their artistic vision come to life. To me, that’s what makes Second Life so much fun – all of us creating together. Like we did in the Second Life 8th birthday exhibition:

Magical Illogica group build for SL8B

Five of us collaborated in that build. Tigger made the atrium build, with the tunnel entrances and tubes that went through the underwater bit, and a lovely little tree and garden patch inside.  Beautiful Shamen made the amazing tree islands and waterfall that flowed into it. Thane Woodford made the dancing Pan sculpts, and decided that we needed all 4 elements present – earth, water, fire and air. The animals made by Thane and I were strewn about, and I put in a couple little  meadows. Miriam Donogal made some amazing stained glass textures, and the slate seen on the floor of the atrium.

See? The sum is greater than the parts!

Hunts in September

Upcoming grid wide hunts in September:

September 1-30, 2011 – Texturemania Hunt 3

This hunt is all about original textures and sculpts for builders. The theme this year is “vintage fantasy”.  I like to do flowers for this hunt, so this time around is a set of sunflower alpha textures.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 1 –  30, 2011 – Steam the Hunt 5

I am really excited to be in this hunt – I missed it last year. Now all I have to do is narrow down my gift options…

Hunts in August

This month hunts are:

29th July – 31st August 2011 –  Nature’s Hunt: Tropical Nights which is also listed in the SL Destination Guide.

For this hunt I made a cute leetle shack on a floating island with plants and a pond.  It can go into the sky or into the water and is sized to fit perfectly on a standard 512 sq meter lot (16 x 32 meters). It is packed into a rezzer box for easy set up, and is copy mod so you can tear it apart and use or mod the bits as you like.

August 15 – August 30, 2011 – Full Perm Hunt  – a mini hunt for builders!

For this hunt I have  a set of terrain & ground cover textures:  sands, dirt, rock, grass and a flowery ground cover

First post of the easily distracted otter

<waves>

Halloo all. I have decided that I am in need of a blog. Because I’m sure that the world is eagerly awaiting a blog by someone who is usually a sarcastic tiny otter in Second Life ™.

I am Sea Warcliffe, owner of Deep Blue Sea designs.  I make builders supplies, textures and sculpts and stuff.    Let me figure out how this works and then maybe I will be able to organize my thoughts coherently, but don’t count on it!