The One for Nostalgia

Hey everyone ;-)

I hope you're all well and have enjoyed Halloween, and for those in the UK, Bonfire Night, too!

It's been yet another month since my last blog! where oh where does the time go?! 

This month I've had the learning cap firmly screwed back to my head as I worked my way through attempting to learn yet another program to help with the models! This new piece of software helps with the textures instead of me just using Photoshop and I've been in awe at what it can do, so much so, that I've updated the lanterns I made for the store early on (to lessen the land impact) and have added 4 different textured options (White Satin, White Rust, Black Satin and Black Rust) to my Marketplace store.

I still have a bit more learning to do on it, but as with everything else to do with mesh models, I'm getting there. 
What else have I been up to? 
Oh, I've almost completed the desk and chair I've been working on for what feels like forever! I've still got to add in the animations and I'm in the middle of making two new wood versions for it, but there are 15 different seat and cushion textures added with a texture changer (get me!) and some desk clutter to create before I can set it for sale but here's a sneaky peak... ;-)

Finally, and this is both scary and exciting for me in equal measure! hahahaha, I've created an in-world store that you can visit!
Until I've created a few more pieces I'll only have things for sale on Marketplace, for now, but you're still very welcome to go take a look at what is essentially a very empty store - if you're interested in seeing the things I've been creating and working on that is! ;-) 
And, if you happen to drop in while I'm there I'd be delighted to see you! So please say hi! and don't just poof away ;-)
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bolsena/58/204/3207

I've also updated/changed? shrugs with a laugh ;-), my advertising (because I wasn't overly happy with the first ones I'd created). I think I mentioned in my last blog that I wasn't sure it was right, but I just wanted to get something out there on Marketplace - not that I'm impatient or anything ;-) 
I've finally created, after hours and hours of head-scratching and almost throwing my comp out of the window, a number of advert templates that I'm actually pleased with. I wanted something 'Regal' looking, something that reflected an idea of luxury and the things that will be, eventually, out of my head and in the store. I wanted to use my crest and the shield in some way, my favorite colour - Navy Blue, and, well, the list of things the adverts had to achieve (in my mind) was crazy! 
In the end, I created about 8 different templates, to give variety, that I can pick and choose from when I'm ready with a new item. Fingers crossed when I manage to finally fill my little store I'll still like them! ;-) 
What do you think? ;-)

I know it might seem strange to add in photos of an empty store, to explain this journey I'm currently on but as the title of this blog states, this is one for nostalgia, one that I'll look back on in a years time and be able to see the difference 12 months can make! fingers, toes and everything else crossed this is the case! hahaha. I wanted a record, even if it's just for me, to see how my new, Second Life store, started and when I have crabby days, when the head-scratching reaches fever pitch and I've got splinters in my fingers,  I can look back through this and see how far I've actually come! ;-)

I hope you all have a wonderful week, until next time, huge hugs to you all. 

Take care
Casey
xxxxx
;-)

https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/16284?id=16284
SLURL - http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bolsena/58/204/3207

And So It Finally Begins!

Hey there everyone!

It's been a while, hasn't it?! But I have great news!
After 6 months of hard slog, a lot of late nights, and countless days where I almost gave up! I'm seriously pleased to announce, that my old store has now been removed from Second Life Marketplace and the new one has begun! (can you hear the corks popping and the fireworks? ;-))

It's a small start, but it's a good one! and although I'm still messing about with advertising, and how I want my Laminak store to look, it's out there! Finally! ;-)

The first items listed were created for a friend in SL, and don't really reflect what will be sold at Laminak but they were fun to create and I've used them as a learning exercise; and boy have I learnt while making them. 

 I'm going to make a start on the things for the store over the next couple of days, I have lots, and I mean LOTS of ideas on what I want to make, so I'll have to narrow it down a bit .. maybe I'll make the bar set I was planning before I got distracted in WW2... ;-) 
What ever I decide to make from now on I'll keep this blog, Flikr and  Facebook pages updated. 
But for now - hands you a glass of champagne and gives you a huge hug - Laminak is back! ... CHEERS! ;-)
Love to you all
Casey
xxxxx

Market place listings: 
https://marketplace.secondlife.com/stores/16284

Jungle Adventures and Building Bars

Hi everyone

I hope you've all had a good week.

The weeks are flying by so fast this year! it hardly seems like five minutes since my last post, yet here we are, another Sunday of musings as I take sips of my coffee.

I've had a busy time in RL and SL this week. It's Second Life's 16th Birthday at the moment and there are loads of events going on, so it's been nice to get out and about again after all the work I've been doing on my SL home.

Of course, my Linden balance has suffered but I'm not too worried, I've found some lovely pieces for my home and garden and I've explored sims I haven't been to before, so it's been a lot of fun.

I promised in my last blog to tell you about my roleplaying antics in the Jungle and as I've just applied to train as a healer there I thought it might be a good time to explain the place to you, as it looks like I'll be sticking around ;-)

There's a really good article about the sims that will explain it all far better than I could for you, I've added the link below, so take a look if you want to know more about it before you go, but the best way to experience it is just to go ;-)

When you arrive at the landing point there are information boards and a knowledge cave, which you have to go through and you must accept the experience (which places a dot above your head so the locals know who you are) but apart from that, in my experience, it's pretty easy to get started!

There are nine sims to explore, and loads of people who live and play there so there's always someone to talk to (roleplay with), and there are plenty of people on hand to help explain things to you if you get stuck.
I do have to warn though, this is an adult sim, and there are adult themed spaces, that you're encouraged to use, but if, like me, you prefer the social and exploration side you can spend hours in there gathering food, trading the food for coins (they have their own currency - which costs nothing to participate in) completing quests and generally enjoying the environment, then you can't go wrong here.

I'd recommend it to anyone who likes to have a quiet time (like me) as well as those who like a good fight/battle as there are bandits quite willing to take your coins and anything else you have if you're not careful. ;-) or armed enough!

Links are below for the information and the slurl to the landing point and if you take the plunge and venture forth into the jungle, and you happen to bump into me, please say hi!

The jungle aside I've had a go at some more mesh pieces this week, and although I'm still struggling a little I'm getting there. I've made a few pieces with prims in world, just to help me with sizes, etc and transferred the objects in the 3ds max to alter. I really wish I could take Casey in so I had something to gauge the proportions against but never mind, I'm slowly getting my head around it! ;-) even if it is taking a while!

I had a little swimming pool at the back of the house but as it didn't have animations in it, it seemed a little bit like 'wasted space', so I've covered it over and decided to turn this part of my home into a little bar area.
I did try to find bar furniture for it but nothing was suitable so this is one of the 'things' I mentioned in my last blog that I'd be making.
Thought it might be fun to do a before and after shot! hopefully, by next Sunday, I can show you the finished item ;-)

Actually, whilst I was looking for bar furniture I found a really good animated drinks place and bought a few crates along with a celebration pack, you can find the slurl below, and I'll be going back to buy more once I've finished the build, but for now, it's nice to just merrily plod along doing bits and pieces here and there ;-)

Or not ;-) having a drink and dancing the night away is still doing something isn't it? ;-)

I guess that's it for this week. I hope hope hope I have something to show you next week! fingers, toes, and everything else crossed!!
Until then, I hope you all have a wonderful week and I'll see you soon!
Huge hugs
Casey
xxxxx

Link for Amazon Jungle Information:
https://issuu.com/avajhamin0/docs/l_amour_diversity_mag_-_iss24?fbclid=IwAR0pROrPSscoHOjmsucfPrPdisqjWgpPlp5a4J7Y6mZHmXOB4A9kQuL7FXc

Amazon SLURL:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Glint/213/27/21

No.59 Bar Equipment SLURL:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Chatham/220/203/25

A brand new home and fresh new outlook.

Where do I begin as it's been almost a month since my last blog post? ....

The month of May proved to be a little bit difficult in RL, but a couple of weeks ago I got my mojo back and I've been working on my RL business as well as setting up a new SL home and role-playing in a jungle!

Up until yesterday, I hadn't logged into 3ds Max for almost four weeks, but I wanted a picture for one of the walls in my new home and I couldn't find what I wanted inworld, so at 10pm last night I logged in and it all came flooding back.

I don't honestly know what I was worried about, but I was. I thought I'd have forgotten it all and I'd have to start again, stupid hey? But it was fine, and apart from a couple of umming and ahhing moments, I created the picture without any problems. I loaded it in world and it's now where I needed it in the lounge.

So why have I moved? ...

Well, there are a number of reasons, the first one being that, although I loved the estate my old home was on, and I'd forever recommend it to anyone who wanted to live the medieval, steampunk, fantasy life in SL, this time around in Second Life though I'm not so focused on the purely medieval world. I want to expand and create a number of different things and I needed a space to call home that not only reflected my new outlook but was completely different from anything I'd ever had in SL.
Don't get me wrong, I do still love the fantasy world, I love old furniture and the darker the better but I'm not solely focused on the Tudor/Gothic like I was last time.

I left the old sims about 6 weeks ago, after buying mainland (which is the second reason I left - I'm trying to keep costs down a little).
I put up a house and decorated it, but it just wasn't 'me'. Then on 50L Friday last week, there was a house included in the sale and on a whim I bought it. In the end, I didn't use it, as it still wasn't right, but it started a much-needed rethink in my head, to go out and look for what I really wanted.
And boy did I find it! I actually had trouble choosing which house to get in the end, because I loved so many at the store I found! (I've added slurls for some stores I've used below)

After a couple of hours pondering (coughs ... more like 5!), teleporting back and forth between three homes I'd whittled it down to, I picked one that was perfect for me and I absolutely love it.
There are times in SL that just spark your imagination when you're filled with fire and a plan and you just have to go with it, whether it's a new look for your avvie, a party to organize, a wedding, or a new home! and that's pretty much what happened. I'd been floating around for a few weeks (in the jungle! but I'll do a separate blog for that) until the 50L sale and then 'BAM' one simple purchase changed everything. It woke me up and has thankfully reignited the fire I first had back in January.

I landscaped the rocks and placed the house where I wanted it - overlooking the sea, then it was time to decorate, and I purposefully didn't use anything I already had or have made. I wanted a fresh start and a fresh perspective and a place to come home to that wasn't work. If that makes sense?

When I started building in 2007 it was because I couldn't find the furniture I wanted for my castle, but it's nice to have a change, especially if you've been looking at something for hours on end, either creating or animating. I didn't have that last time. I've already said in an earlier blog that I don't intend to spend all my time in SL building, and when I get the store going again - because it will still happen ;-), I wanted a space away from the 'store', somewhere to escape to that's not filled with my own creations. Somewhere to meet up with friends and just potter about on. There will, of course, be bits I make, because there are things that I can't find and want to have, so I'll have a go at making them, but for the most part I wanted other creators things and there are, as I've also said before, some amazing makers out there now.

I haven't finished it all yet, I kind of like the idea of finding pieces as I go along now, or making bits as I realize it's just not out there. I've gone for a vintage, antique, Mediterranean look, which is a bit dark and grungy, but then, I love dark and grungy ;-) and well, honestly, even though we'd all like to think people loved our decorating style, does it matter if no one else does? if you're happy with the place you've created as a home, then really, it doesn't ;-).

As with RL, there will be lovers and haters, of everything you do, whether it's how you look or dress or where you live or what you believe. There are stores in SL that I don't particularly like and others that I truly think are magical and amazing, which is just how people will react to things I create. Laminak will be loved and hated and that's totally fine because it's the diversity we have in RL and SL that make both worlds so special and quite frankly, wouldn't life be incredibly boring if we all liked the same?

Hopefully, this little blip I've experienced has now come to an end and together with my home ;-) and my new found focus on 3ds Max and my RL business I'll be back to updating this weekly again.
Until next time, big hugs and safe paths to you all ;-)
Love
Casey
xxxx

House from Scarlet Creative: 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Scarlet%20Creative/232/22/26

Rocks and Mossy Steps from Skye:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Skye%20Elgol/159/106/24

Garden Walls and Old Bell Tower from GOOSE: 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Oyster%20Pond/174/111/31

As I've used numerous stores for the decorating I sadly can't create a slurl list for you, but, if there's an item in one of the pictures you like and want to know the creator of just leave me a message and I'll do my best to let you know where to get it. ;-)

Enchantment, Dragons and Butterflies

Greetings Everyone ;-)

I wasn't sure if I was going to do a post this week, but after visiting Enchantment I felt inspired!

I've been spoilt recently with amazing places to go and things to see in the fantasy realm within Second Life!

This week the new round of Enchantment - 'The Iron Thrones' based on Game of Thrones - opened, which I think is a quarterly event (don't quote me on this though ;-)) and one that's definitely worth visiting if you like all things fantasy.

Slight confession here, I've never watched a single episode of Game of Thrones! I know I'm one of the very few in this world who hasn't succumbed to the charms of this fantastical saga and considering I'm so in to fantasy I know this must sound odd, but when I first cottoned on to it it was in its third season and I hate trying to play catch up, so I haven't started watching.
I can still appreciate the aesthetics though and it's nice to see what the creators have made to go along with the theme.
As always at these marvellous events, there's a huge amount to tempt lindens from you, furniture and clothes, skins, animals and of course the Gatcha machines! I was good though and pretty much kept my linden balance intact, although, coughs, I did have to play the dragon Gatcha a couple of times! And I almost, almost, bought one of the Teegle Animesh Unicorns but I decided to put it on my growing list of 'Things I'd Love to Have' when Laminak is open. The 'list' such as it is, isn't huge, more like a little promise to myself that's spurring me on to continue with my studies and mesh building ;-)

 Speaking of mesh, what have I been up to this week?
Well, I started to make a chair to go with my desk (which I added a picture of in my last blog) but it's almost like I have too many ideas for what I want to build and instead of creating a suitable seat I twisted myself in knots and in the end I decided to put it to one side for a while.
Instead, I thought I'd have a go at making an ornament, something simple and easy to do so that I didn't get disheartened. Three days later! I finally finished and I now know I could have made it quicker! but hey, this is all a learning curve and I'll make the necessary adjustments to lessen the land impact for when it's in the store. I won't reveal the whole item, I want the store's wares to be a surprise but here's yet another sneak peek ...

I guess that's it for now if you would like to visit Enchantment please check out their website (link below) or join the group in world.
Hope you all have a fab week!
Love and hugs as always ;-)
Casey
xxxx

https://enchantmentsl.com/

Fantasy Faire, Life and Work

Greetings Everybody!

Another week has passed by and it's been a busy, busy, busy one for me.

I'd hoped to get through all the 'Fantasy Faire' sims this week before it ended yesterday but sadly; as it's seriously huge! I didn't manage to properly explore it all. I did get around most of it though and I bought a few bits from the RFL (Relay for life - American Cancer Society) vendors to help (main picture above shows the things I purchased and won on a few gatchas) because although the charity is based in America the cause is one that is actually close to my heart.

You see, (and I guess there's no better time to talk about this, seeing as the subject has been brought up) I lost my Mum to Cancer last October and I know many, many people will have experience of this horrible disease affecting them in some way, whether it's yourself who has had it, or a friend, or like me, a very close family member, when it happens to you it's hard to put into words how utterly helpless, vulnerable and powerless you feel. 

To watch someone you love go through operations, chemotherapy and radiotherapy is horrendous enough, but if you then lose that person and the disease wins your world falls apart.

My life completely changed in October 2018, I not only lost my Mum, but I also lost my best friend, my holiday buddy and my crafting partner. She was the person who understood me the most, my biggest supporter and the one who always pushed me to aim higher than I would naturally go. 

Mum's Avatar

In 2008 she was intrigued by the things I was doing in Second Life, she wanted to know all about what I was making and I convinced her to join. It wasn't long before she asked me to teach her how to build and when I'd finished showing her the basics, BOY did she build! Everything, and I mean everything, she made was bright, colourful and fun (just like she was) and either retro, 50's or hippy in style. 

I gained three pets when she passed away; two dogs and cat, which has proved to be quite tricky; as I already had one dog and two cats myself, but we're managing. 
It does, however, mean I can no longer go out to work like I used to do (as Mum would look after my dog, and I now have three, and no one to look after them if I'm not here) so I decided in January to re-train myself, I'm learning a number of things; not just mesh, in the hope that I'll be able to work from home, long term, and keep her and my fur babies fed and happy ;-)

I hadn't intended to explain all this yet, it always feels like such a horrible topic and not something most people want to hear or talk about, and it's certainly not something you expect to read on a blog about a Second Life store, but I'm kind of glad I've explained things now, because if I have wobble weeks and tell you it's been difficult, you'll understand why (hopefully). 

Anyway, back to the Fantasy Faire...

I hope some of you managed to get to it. The sims were incredible! I loved the colours and mystical, almost underwater feel in the cave system at 'Twilight Spring'. I liked the light, open, old-village feel at 'The Light of Va'loth'. I loved the atmosphere and grungy but magical setting at 'The Shrine Tree' and I loved the vast, opulent splendour at Midas and the Scary but fantastical rock beast at Trollhaugan! 
There was so, so much to see and I'd thought I could do a couple of sims each night, but as per usual, I was distracted by what I was seeing and lingered far too long at each place! I think next year I'll start earlier and I'll hopefully manage to get around all of it.
(You never know, I might even be involved in it next year! Now there's a 'Mum' type thought!)

Trollhaugan

The Shrine Tree

Midas

Speaking of which, I put my learning cap back on this week, I wanted to find out what 'materials' were, someone told me back in January, it was just about the 'shininess' of objects and clothing, so I haven't bothered to look into it, but now I know what it actually is I wish I'd investigated sooner, because yet again I've had to go back through things already made to update them! 
I'm not overly worried about this extra little side step though as it's been seriously worth it, everything looks way better, almost real, and that's just what I wanted ;-)

I promised in my last blog to show some things I've been making, so here goes. Again this is just for the store and I wasn't overly worried about the land impact; although I have still made this with the lowest land impact possible; but still keeping all the detail I wanted. It'll go in front of the shield and flag display and be the place where I have free gifts etc at the front of the store.

I'm actually quite pleased with it so far, I have the chair to make next and a few other bits, but I'll hopefully - fingers toes and everything else that's even remotely crossable, crossed - be able to start working on furniture for the store soon ;-).

I'm actually starting to get excited about re-opening Laminak now. I just hope I can get everything made that I want to make and create the store I've been yearning to have since I first joined SL. The more I learn the more that seems totally possible ;-). 

I hope you all have a fab week.
Much love and many hugs as always
Casey
xxxx 

A Roller Coaster Week

I thought I'd do something different with this week's blog post, and chart my adventures in a diary style, explaining day by day where I went and what I did. 

I've had a weird week again in RL (I promise I'll explain all in due course) but I'm thankful, yet again! that Second Life has been a place I could retreat to and has proven itself to be the tonic I've needed and given me the opportunity to explore places I've never been to.

So here goes! The original plan (as I started the week) was to visit a different European city each night but, as you'll see from the pics, I got a little distracted ;-) 

Monday ...
I finally figured out how to make 'low poly' and in turn low land impact decorations! So the frames I've made will need to be updated, but hey, it's a win-win day! (I promise I'll add in pics of my creations soon but for now, I'm keeping things secret for a little bit longer ;-))
To celebrate I thought I'd head back to where you can swim with dolphins 'Coeur D'Azur' and instead of just staying by the beach, which is really secluded and full of lovely little spots to sunbathe and cuddle ;-) I took the bike I bought on Fifty Linden Friday - by Dust Bunny - and headed up the hill to the houses and had a ride around shops. I bought a little painting from a RL artist there, which now has wall space in my SL home and the views were really nice to just spend a quiet moment admiring. Highly recommend this sim ;-)

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coeur%20d%20Azur/132/141/22

Coeur D'Azur

Coeur D'Azur

Coeur D'Azur

From here, I found a place called 'Amsterdam at Midnight':

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Midnight/125/109/3804

I realised quite quickly it was 'Adult' sim, but it was set out quite nicely and I found some lovely little places to stop and rest the bike for a while...

Tuesday ...

I've always wanted to go to Italy in RL, I love the sound of the language and I could eat pizza and pasta all day every day! so, continuing on with my European tour I searched Italy and found 'Mystical Tuscany'. 

Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mystical%20Tuscany/148/106/31

And I have to say, I completely fell in love with this sim!

Visiting a pet shop in Tuscany

I could have been really creative here and had a before and after pic ;-) but never mind...

...I took this instead in the photo booth next to the phonebox...

Ice-cream anyone? 

Wonder if they need staff? ;-)

I could happily settle down in SL here ...

Taking photos in the balloon above the sim ...

And, well, it would have been rude not to have a glass of the bubbly stuff if it's offered, right? ;-)

Resting after the tour in a roadside cafe...

 Wednesday ...

I searched for Sweden, no idea why, but I have RL friends who live over there (I'm in the UK) and I thought I'd see if I could find a Second Life version. I sadly didn't find anywhere to go, so I had a look through the editor's pics in destinations (European tour distraction one!) and ended up in the 'Isle of Ice'.
Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Aerodyne/20/138/22

It looks as though there's some sort of Second Life quest or hunt there but I couldn't quite get it to work and to be completely honest I like exploring, not a huge fan of hunting for things, so I left the headquarters, put on the ski's and mooched around for a while. 
It's certainly fun to have a nosy around, highly recommend it if you want to practice your slalom skills as it was pretty much empty, but I didn't stay for very long, as another place caught my eye during my earlier search, and as I already had my ski suit on I thought I'd give it a go and tp'd over to 'The day after tomorrow'.
Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dolcenotte/31/222/24

 Not a huge place but it looks great! If you love the film, go check it out, it's great for pics! (Just a shame Dennis Quaid wasn't there to rescue me ;-))

Thursday ...

I saw a notice for the 'Fantasy Faire' pop up in my notifications and as I'm such a huge fan of anything to do with Fantasy (no shit Sherlock!) I hopped over with a friend. There's a huge amount to see there, I think we only managed to get around 2 of the 16 sims before I grew too tired and had to log off but I do intend to go back to explore it all, thinking that might be this week's challenge (unless I get distracted again that is!) ....

Link to the blog about the Faire:

https://fantasyfairesl.wordpress.com/shopping-2019/

Slurl: 
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Fairelands%20Junction/123/160/110

 Friday ...

I was honestly going to get back on track with my European tour on Friday, I searched, Greece, and a few places came up that looked interesting, but I sadly couldn't TP to any of them. I'm really hoping they're not gone and it was just a glitch so I'll try again this week, but in the absence of anywhere I fancied going to in the normal search I checked out the editor's pics again and thought the 'Goodnights Amusement Park' looked like fun so I went ;-)
Slurl: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Goodnights/80/216/24

And I'm so glad I did! This sim, along with the Tuscany sim, were by far my favourite places of the week. The park is heaps of FUN! There's loads to do there, tons of rides and places to chill. I just wish some friends had been online to share it with! I'd definitely go back again and I don't often like to revisit places once I've explored them.  

Saturday ...

I'd given up on the European tour by Saturday and decided to go check out a few shopping events that I hadn't been to yet. The first two on the list were Flourish and Salon 52. The hair event (Salon 52) wasn't open, I think it's just bi-monthly? and doesn't stay open between event dates, which was a shame, but Flourish (on the same sim) was, and I ended up spending quite a few lindens buying new clothes! 
Surprisingly (as most events are usually in boxed off areas), the sim itself was really interesting to explore too, with an abandoned wild west feel to it. 

Luckily (for me), a very good friend logged in as I was there and I rounded off the week having a dance surrounded by cacti and desert sand ;-) ... Bliss ...

I guess, with all things in life, plans don't always work out how you want or expect them to. There will always be distractions and events that take you on a sideways path. 
I had it in my mind to get certain things done this week for my store, and they didn't happen. I'm still learning this wonderful world of mesh and there are day's when I find it so hard I want to throw in the towel and give up! 
It really is like being on a roller coaster! 
I'll finally figure something thing out and it takes me back several steps; as I want to improve on things already made, then the next day I master something else that's been foxing me, I have another eureka moment and feel as though I'm moving forward again. There will (I hope, I hope!) be a point in the not too distant future when I'll be able to get off this roller coaster, shake my legs out and take a leisurely stroll. Until then, I'll just have to go along with the constant ups and downs and try to be patient! 

Bye for now.
Huge hugs and much love to you all!
Casey
xxxxx