Feathers

I've been making Feathers! These are matching gloves and neckpieces, all softly feathered and held with chains and gems.



Here I am, mincing about at home in "Just Beautiful Black" with Sonatta Morales "Mystere" gown.



And just for the hell of it, mincing about without said gown.



Aaaand, here's the full range. Please click for full sized images, as the feather detail is worth it!

Just beautiful black


Black & silver


Just pure white


Black & gold


Black & burgundy


Black & blue

These are all copiable, modifiable and script free. Each set includes two glove styles- opaque and semi-transparent. Demos can be found in the Sinaburoe Mainstore here. And if you'd like to do a little Marketplace shopping, find them exactly here.

The Gentle Art of Script Deletion

Once upon a time, we all put resizer scripts in everything. And made everything no-mod. Let's not go into the reasoning behind that, as it was 'the done thing', and has been greatly debated everywhere. Like many, I've rethought my practices since then, and made everything modifiable, and now do not add resizers to new releases either.

(24/12/2012--I'm editing this to say that now yes I do. I now add texture changing scripts to some new releases that include resizers. These are a new generation of scripts, which are removable as always, but now are a single low-lag script (not one script per prim). One script per piece. Items are still moddable. Helper signs over each range will tell you what is in each set. The rest of this post about deletion is still just as relevant.)

Linden Lab is preparing to clamp down on scripts worn by avatars. Even if this weren't true, it's definately a good thing to keep them to a minimum, just for the sake of smooth teleports and happier lag-free living.

I've always advocated deleting these scripts from the jewellery I make. It's really really easy, and pain free.

Here it is in steps.


1) Acknowledge that you finally *do* have to part with the scripts. They are useful in the short term, but you do not want to be prancing about with them all the time. Make a backup copy of the jewellery, and put it in a seperate folder. Then, get to work on the copy. Wear it and say a final "byee" to the scripts.


2) Touch the first piece, and wait for the blue dialog box to drop down. Touch "All Prims" as shown.


3) Wait again for the next blue box. This time, take a deep breath, hold it, and touch "Delete". I swear nothing will suddenly go all weird on you.


4) Breathe out and in again. Then do all the pieces in the set in the same way.


5) Smile- you have just done something wonderful for the grid. And if you ever need the convenience of resizing with a script again, pull out the original. Or just do it with the edit menu, of course.

Rococco

"Rococco" is a jewellery range I designed when one day needing something romantic, curly, and a little historic to complete a gown.
The colours are light and subtle, with minute variations of gem colour, and the twinkling that comes with the interplay of prims and virtual light.
Gems are sculpted, and the rest is straight prim-work.



The gems and "metalwork" support softy-carved cameos.


Ever indecisive, I couldn't choose between two necklace ideas, and so both are included- longer and shorter. Each set also has long earrings, bracelet and dress ring.


Each piece is copyable and modifiable, and so the hues can be adjusted using the edit menu to match any colour scheme. Size can also be adjusted using the edit menu, or using the removable resizer included if that's just not your cup of tea.



Rococco is available in six variations. The "cream" vendor is shown. Free demo packs are available in the Sinaburoe Mainstore, to help make your decision easier. Or harder.

Marketplace giftgiving -yes it can be done.

I'm suspecting that the Marketplace has grown harder for some to navigate, especially with giftgiving. There seem to be too many steps now between finding a perfect gift, and completing the transaction. So many of the pages in between are confusing as they give uneccessary space to irrelevant advertising, and the option to bestow a gift is pretty well hidden.

I've been working hard to improve signage instore, and using links to the Marketplace to make giftgiving easier. There's now a notecard to be picked up at the landing point which shows the steps clearly...but here they are....



Over each of the signs in the Mainstore (Sinaburoe) is a new "helper sign". Touch the button on the top right, and a blue drop-down window will appear in your top right. Click "Go to page".














This will open the corresponding Marketplace window in your web browser. One set from the range you want will be shown at the top of the page. Make sure you are logged in.

For a different colour, scroll down to find the one you prefer under "related items". Click on the one of your choice.













This will take you to the correct colour (this example is "Eclectica Nouveau Rose Gold"). You can choose "add to cart" for multiple purchases, however "Buy Now" may be simpler for single purchases.













This will take you to the next page, as shown. Click "Edit your order" (This is hiding stupidly down the bottom, and this page really ought to have a big orange button saying "Send as a Gift". I suspect this is where we are all losing sales).
















On the next page (shown) check that the price and amount is correct. Then, to the left, select "Send as a gift". (Again, where is the big orange button?)














A little window pops up, which lets you add your friend's name, and a nice message. "Update" it when it's done.














Here's the next page. Check it's all correct. Then use the "Checkout" button. The next step is final, and you may wish to ensure that your friend is inworld, expecting the gift, and not in busy mode.













And it's done...you reach the confirmation window, and your account will be deducted. Congratulations...you just sent a gift!

Peace on Earth

The Peace on Earth Hunt is on again for the third year, between the first of December and the third of January. This will be my first time participating, so I have no idea what horrors lie ahead. (I jest.) A few years ago, Eclectica was in a gridwide hunt, and it was quite fun to be a part of. So I figure that once every two-ish years is not overkill for me.

I took some time out to go and hide away and enjoy some quiet prim-playing, and eventually this dove hair-comb emerged. Little sculptie feathershapes are used, with tiny mounted cut gems, and delicate golden olive twiglets. Most of the comb is a soft mother-of-pearl, and all is softly glowing.

It sits at the back of the head, and uses a mouth attachment, but these can be adjusted of course to whatever suits your hairdo.

The comb is transferable, so of course can be gifted if it's not your style. Like if you're a bloke, or something.

If you want to see more examples of what's on offer at this years hunt, there is a Flickr group, as well as the POE website.

And so, I hope to see a few visitors pop by to say hello during the month ahead :)

Herbals

This is me, still catching up on this bloggy thing and having some fun taking photos. I'm wearing Eclectica Herbals "rose", part of a garden-themed set of jewellery.

A lovely lady, Vic, who lives next door, is off sleeping, so I've snuck over through the hedge to take advantage of her early snowfalls. Her bit of the garden is putting us to shame.

It's a great chance to finally show some close-ups of this jewellery range. I had the 1930's in mind when designing these. They are soft, subtle, made of soft, glowy translucent glass held by hand-forged metal. The shapes are simple, and nicely support the tendrils and vines.

Close-ups.....
.......close-ups......
...close-ups...ugh!..what the!!.....what is that claw!!!!??!


Damn I hate this. It's got to be the bane of every jeweller. We make lovely bracelets and rings, which would look stunning on any human hand. And they do appear natural and wonderful when watched as we gracefully saunter across the room in SL, but as every jeweller knows, just try freezeframing a hand for closeup inspection and it's enough to give the most stalwart matron cardiac arrest. So...wipe that picture above from your mind and scroll down below to my prettied-up hand.


See...that's what we all really look like, with most of the multiple-fractures removed.

Below, you can see the full range of Herbals. All available at the Eclectica mainstore, or on the Marketplace, and are all copiable and modifiable.


Violet
Rose
Moon
Leaf

Elizabeth

This is the Elizabeth range. As with any photo, please click to see a bigger and better view.

Two different necklaces and earrings are included in each set.







I made "Elizabeth" a while back, and I still love it and wear it. It's pre-sculpty, and there are goods and bads in that. It rezzes faster, being pure tortured prims. You won't lob up anywhere as a mass of balls, however it has a few more prims and therefore perhaps slightly higher arc. It shows a certain prim-learning that may not be as widely used lately. Some people always like that. I do, and I'm glad that that's where I learnt my craft. I have no intention of retiring this range, as it's a good example of it's kind in a certain period. And it always looks gorgeous on any ballroom.

I've recently been re-watching the Elizabeth movies, and have to admit that I have a bit of admiration for Cate Blanchett (she being a fellow-countrywoman and all). The costumes are all stunning, and if I were a SL clothing designer I'd probably never get out of photoshop.

I can tell this is a theme that I haven't finished with yet.