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. ;-)