Jewellery Fair 2011

It's the annual Jewellery Fair, the biggest event on the virtual jewellery calendar, and something that I've taken part in for the last three years. This year, the theme is "Elementals", and I snuck in yesterday to have a peep at the sims.
As customary, there are four themed builds over four sims (Water, Air,Earth and Fire). Each are looking spectacular. Something that's a departure from the norm is that you will not need to stagger drunkishly across sim borders to walk from area to area. Instead, you will arrive at a central port, and need to merely touch each portal to teleport gently to each landing place. Fingers crossed. This is because the builds are at different heights, and this does wonders for not only creating the (very) unique atmospheres in each, but also assists with lag issues.

As has been the custom since I've known, the elected charity is Oxfam. The jewellers voted several years ago on this, the choice was easy to make, and nobody has seen a need to change it. We respect Oxfam utterly, and I believe that we also recognise that our efforts need to be on a world scale. Nothing makes me happier.

Plus their shops are full of really cool stuff, and they make me drool.

The Eclectica display is on Water sim, chosen as I see the clarity of water as reflecting the brilliance of gems. It feels like it suits me best, and I like to go with the flow (bad pun intended).

A new jewellery design, "Opulence" will be available exclusively at the Fair.



It has four versions, but I've had fun with colouring and tucked an extra version in each box, as I really couldn't make up my mind. This might inspire you to do your own tinting (just remember to zoom in and "edit linked" and only ever do this to a copy in case something unintended happens, hee hee)

"Pewter"


"Gold"


"Black"


"Silver"


When designing these, I went for a very swirly Victorian feel, but a bit of Bollywood may have crept in somewhere. They are lovely as they are, but you certainly could vamp up the hues a bit, and for that reason the texturing has been kept simple and contrasty.

Each set has a basic necklace and earrings, plus a recoloured version of each. All are copiable and modifiable, but not transferable. They contain no scripts. A demo pack will be available at the Eclectica display at the Fair (by the door as you come in).



The Opulence set above has been made for the Charity Auction. If you want a unique set, based on Lovely Bluey-ey Wateriness, come have a bid for it, and help raise some money for Oxfam.

Check out the Official Blog for more information.

Feral Furs

This is one of those visions that was never going to let me go until I'd purged it from my brain by doing something about it. I suspect the fox I'd caught in the act of dragging off my darling chickens has somehow contributed to this. I swore I'd make him pay somehow, and since I'm not particularly bloodthirsty in rl, this is my way.

So I'm going to hell in one fell swoop with this photoshoot. For the combined faux-pas of fur-wearing and smoking.



At least I'll look good while doing it. *Cough..hack*





My little friend is based very loosely on a vintage stole I've had tucked away in a safe drawer. It fastens traditionally, by holding a decorative chain in it's mouth, except my version has rather more teeth.



There are four moddable sets with two versions per pack (one has the extra tails at the back and tongue, and one is plainer). You can find them (and demos) at the Eclectica Mainstore here.






Have fun!

A Foray into Footwear- Garden Party Shoes

I've been wanting to add more diversity to what is on offer at the store, especially since I have a little more space, and have been agonising for weeks over just how to go about embiggening the Sinaburoe shop. (I'm still agonising, but perhaps more about that later, and it's more the "oh-dear-I-have-too-much-space-now-what-shaaaaall-I-dooo " pleasant kind of agony.)

(A candid snap of my shopgirl, Eccy, who despite being given minimal responsibility demands the earth when it comes to bonuses and freebies...Here she is being generously plied with shoes before she left an unruly mess all over my boudoir rug *tsssk today's youth*)

Anyway.

I'm a shoe girl from way back.

Shoes then. Grin.

I love them, always have, in every universe. There's something about a certain height of heel that I can't resist- I love a good high no-half-measures heel, as to me it's most flattering. The problem is that I'm often looking to wear a vintage style, circa 20's/30's shoe, and back then shoes had gorgeous trimmings, but horrible heels. It's why Daisy Duck and Minnie Mouse look the way they do in shoes, I suspect (shudder). I have no desire to emulate them. So I can never claim that Garden Party shoes are authentic historic footwear, however to me they are a good marriage between vintage styling with a sexier modern shaping.

Most of my personal-use shoes end up being black. It's because I love the colours, but can never decide, so invariably lump with the sensible choice. That's why each Garden Party pack has a floral-and-black and plainer-black-with-trim pair. Also if the colour isn't quite right for your outfit, you can use the edit menu to add a slight tint to the prims. So the trims are quite brightly coloured- it gives you room to dull them back with another hue if you need without losing too much contrast.

Anyway, we all understand each other perfectly here, being shoe-girls, I'm sure, unless one of us stumbled in from some weirdie googling of Daisy Duck and sexy high heels. Let's ignore that person, and enjoy the yummy gardenny colours below :)


tangerine

lilac

fuschia

bluebell

ash

apple

Each shoe is copiable, modifiable and script free. No huds. Two versions of each style are included- one with invisiprims for older viewers, and one that uses alpha layers for newer viewers, so pick your poison.

Make sure you try a demo first if in doubt (The helper sign over the vendors will give you a demo pack to help you check quality and colours. Just remember that of course these can't demonstrate the modify qualities of the full version.)

Swoon

Taking a break from all the sneezing, I'm pleased to be feather free for a little while."Swoon" is a very romantic take on gloves, and something simpler for those who like things a bit less fluffy.



These sets each include long and short gloves for day or evening wear (you can adapt them to any length you need), with unique sculpted flared tops. Ribbons and bows tie about the arms very prettily, and these are augmented with a simple gem to add a little shiny contrast. Matching sculpted collars are included.

As these are completely modifiable, the ribbon and lining colours can be made to whatever you desire using the edit menu. I have included suggestions only.


Ivory


Gold


Ebony


Crimson


Cornflower


Cappuccino

Please click for the full picture!

March into Spring

Ahh! Spring is springing (so I heard) and new growth bursting forth all over the place, apparently sending everybody into paroxysms of creative and fertile stirrings. Well, this may be true for half the planet, that other half vaguely over there where I don't live, but never mind as I get to naturally feel like that most of the year round in my sunny home. So even if the days are shortening over here, I can still get into the spirit, and share the joy with the best of you.

What nicer way to completely ignore any Autumn Blues than to be involved with a Spring Fair!

Embody Poses and Shapes is holding a "March into Spring" Market up on it's sunny rooftop, and Eclectica is joining the happy bunch.

As well as this being a chance for a group of original designers to display their wares, a hunt has been arranged (not a ginormous 500-sim event, just a nice smattering of businesses on the one sim for a bit of fun). Many of the designers have generously provided $L10 items as well so that you can get a taste of what's on offer.


"Flounce" earrings in Dark Pink can be picked up for $L10 at my display.....


.....and this "Flounce" brooch in Dark Pink is a hunt gift.

Come pop by, pick up some good bargains, grab an Eclectica Demo Pack if you like, do a little hunting if that's your poison, and celebrate the change of seasons with us.
When: March 5th to 20th.
Where: Embody Rooftop.
For extra information: visit the Embody blog here.

Marketplace giftgiving- a vast improvement

It's with great pleasure that I announce that my old tute on how to navigate the Marketplace giftgiving shamozzle is completely obsolete. It is now a wonderfully more simple and intuitive process.

Please delete the previous instructions from your brain, and replace with these: (biiiig smile, as the process is so much shorter, and I have far more confidence in using it).

Pictures below will help guide you. Please click them to enlarge.
As usual, if you are already in my shop and want to send a gift, helper signs will take you to the correct Marketplace page. If you found me via the Marketplace search, you are already there, so ignore this bit.


Scroll down to find the "related items" if you prefer a different colour, and click it.



Once you have your colour version, click the lovely big orange button called "Add to Cart as Gift". Write your friend's name in the window below. Click the next button down called "Find Resident".


Add a nice message, and click "Finished".


Hurrah! It's done!


The item is now in your shopping cart, and is ready to be delivered to your friend when you check out.

Much nicer!

Feathers & Pearls

I have longer gloves for you this time, and all are luxurious satin with gorgeous trimmings. Gently moving Feathers with Pearl-and-Metalwork detailing set these apart from anything else. And of course, each has a complimenting feathered collar to complete the look.



All are copy and modify friendly. All are script free. No huds or resizers necessary. Demos can be found at the Eclectica Mainstore here. Gifts can be sent (via The Marketplace) directly from here.




Aubergine


Crimson


Dusk


Ebony


Gold


Ivory