Author: Lisa Millar

Kitty Is Tantalised And Tormented By Toronto!

Kitty Is Tantalised And Tormented By Toronto!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I promised you ANOTHER Bazar blog-post yesterday.

Unfortunately my plans took a bit of an awkward turn, meaning I didn’t get to spend any time in-world at all, so please forgive my delay.

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I promise I’ll make up for it by telling you about the latest BAZAR home release, the delightful Toronto House.

But first, some background. My home is of course the Arizona House by Bazar.  This was my introduction to the brand, and I have (somewhat obviously) been a firm fan ever since, because the house is BEAUTIFUL. It’s spacious and has all the features a girl-about-town like this little Kitty could possibly need. It would take something really special for me to consider changing it. (Perhaps an update to the existing structure with a few extra rooms could be just what I need.. An Arizona #2 perhaps?  Oh if wishing made it so!) 

On Friday I spent most of the day in a sandbox taking pictures of the Floria furniture set that I blogged previously.  As I was doing so, and having a kittygasm at it,  Ria Bazar dropped a review package on me and I almost wet myself.  It’s a good job that I wasn’t on voice at the time, because I made quite an excited ruckus! (Think the sound of a goose farting in the fog, yup, that’s me!)

Now, cast your minds back to The Home Show 2013. If you recall the Toronto furniture sets that Ria revealed there, then you’ll have an idea of what to expect from this build. The individual Toronto items proved extremely popular with their  simple styling and texture changing options. Not only that but they have true universal appeal, being adaptable to both feminine and masculine home environments. Well Bazar now have the house to match the furniture, and my word it’s GOOD.

It’s NOT a huge build, but it’s beautifully structured, delightfully textured and boasts great structural features. It’s nothing less than a virtual architect’s dream abode.

(Now I tried to take some pictures but I was in a sandbox,  and it was difficult to find just the right  angle that would present this house in the glory that it rightfully deserves, so I defer to the marketplace snaps that Ria has uploaded to illustrate this post, with the exception of a quick interior shot further down the page.)

First things first, I REALLY love that this home takes on the industrial flourishes that are hinted at by the Toronto furniture range. The emphasis is on clean lines, brick, concrete and metal. It’s back to basics but done so beautifully that it exudes a warmth that you would normally expect from a much grander build. The exterior is a delicious combination of wooden windows, bare brick and grey, weather worn concrete.. There’s a spacious patio area and a smaller deck to the rear.  To the side is a metal exterior staircase leading to an open roof space perfect for after hours partying with friends. A nice touch is the tree that rises up the brickwork to the rear of the build with a flourish. An even nicer touch are the extra trees (including bare and leafy) and the grass texture  that the house package includes, enabling sympathetic landscaping around the house.  A thoughtful bonus.

Inside the property the focus is on crisp lines and structure.  Open plan is the theme, with wooden beams and stunning brick archways. It’s a home that requires you to be conscious of the space that surrounds you and envelopes you in a surprisingly welcoming embrace.  Despite the industrial elements in the design this is not a space that feels clinical, instead it exudes designer comfort.

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Walk around the interior and when you look above you will find yourself in a space that suggests a warehouse heritage.  It’s no surprise that there was a Toronto Arts and Crafts furniture set that would be perfect for this setting, because this home would be an artist’s dream with the large windows allowing for the home to be flooded with light. It’s clean, crisp and ripe for decoration; which I did a wee bit of, as you can see below:

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To access the first floor you need to climb upstairs via the open wooden staircase into a large bedroom space with an adjoining bathroom. There’s a nice glass balcony that you can see above  which denotes the first floor, and would make a great relaxation area with a sofa and a few potted plants to decorate, or even a spa-massage table.

Toronto’s small size makes it a great choice for smaller land plots. As I was enjoying it I considered it a perfect choice for landowners; a few of these houses neatly arrange would certainly make a really lovely home rental prospect. I must admit I started fantasising about having a number of these in a block and decorating them..such FUN!

This really is a great choice for a virtual home.  With a 23×23 footprint, and a prim count of 219 ( the structure is 100% mesh) it’s going to leave you with ample prims to furnish on a small plot. Even better is the price; a structure of this quality should by rights cost an absolute arm and a leg, but it’s a very worthwhile investment at just L$1980.

It’s practically a steal at the price, and offers so much potential. Go and experience it in-world and consider making Toronto your virtual abode, I am absolutely sure that you won’t regret it. 

Even More Fabulously Floria By Bazar!

Even More Fabulously Floria By Bazar!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

I’ve had a very pleasant day today, even though it’s been throwing it down with rain outside. I’ve been sat at my desk drinking mugs of hot steaming tea and catching up with e-mails, all the while feeling snug-as-a-bug in my Kigu.  Eventually,I found time to log on so that I could catch up with my blogging and take the photos that I needed  to accompany this post. I released a short while ago that  I’ve been sat here for hours, and you know what? I have loved EVERY minute.  

Blogging is my happy time and Second Life is my happy place Taking photos and writing about the things that make my virtual existence so worthwhile fills me with joy. I consider myself very blessed indeed.

And my blessings are many  today, because I’m blogging one of my favourite stores again today, and that store is of course BAZAR.  Regular readers are well aware by now that I’ve blogged Bazar many, many times, and I will continue to do so whilst Ria Bazar-Mavendorf keeps making such beautiful furnishings and homes.  Today I’m going to be featuring some new additions to the Floria range.  I have already raved about the Floria Bedroom, which is the style that I have adopted for my bedroom at home and I truly adore it.  I’ve also blogged the Floria Dining Room, an elegant dining solution that is perfect for evening soirees with Second Life chums.

Today I’m going to be featuring the Floria Living Room and Floria Kitchen.

Floria Style

It was with some joy that I learned Ria had created a Floria Living Room and  Kitchen in the same classical stying  that I had enthused about before. Of course I couldn’t wait to open the boxes and discover what was inside.  As I’ve said before, that apprehension you experience when you’re opening a review box is pretty special indeed; it’s like opening a surprise at Christmas or  paying a Gacha machine and waiting those few tantalising milliseconds before you see your prize. Of course, I wasn’t disappointed by what I discovered at all.

The Floria range, as we’ve established before, is a complete furniture solution for the more classically styled Second Life home. The design features elegant lines and shapes that evoke a bygone era, but are finished with a modern flourish that brings the range bang up to date.  The pieces in the collection are so well made that you will find that both traditional and ultramodern accessories work extremely well with the entire range, helping you to create a sumptuous abode.  Floria is indulgent and expensive (in appearance at least) Second Life styling, make no mistake about that.

What makes this range stand out are the options that come with each package. You can colour change the wood in all the Floria ensembles, and some of the soft furnishings too.  This is taken to yet another level with the Floria Living Room which includes a number of exquisite components such as coffee and console tables, lamp, curtains and cabinet, but the piece that brings them all together is the sumptuous sofa with both the cushions and fabric holding texture-change options.  This flexibility inherent in the range means that you can change your environment on a whim to suit your tastes at that moment.

A sensual atmosphere can be created by choosing dark, or even black wood options on the furniture and selecting a corresponding fabric, curtains and cushion pattern to suit. Not only that, but the sofa incorporates a fantastic array of poses for both male and female avatars. Like previous Bazar release there is the option to rez props to enable your avatar to read a book, surf the internet and a number of other actions too, but I don’t like telling you about all of the menu options, because it’s so much fun finding them out for yourself!

Something I wasn’t expecting in the sofa was the ‘Lovescene’ option. This is something I’ve only ever encountered once before, and it doesn’t take much imagination to work out what it’s all about. Instead of an Adult menu with poses for one action requiring intervention at frankly inappropriate moments, ‘lovescenes;’ allow for a fusion of  different actions allowing for a very natural, intimate experience.  For the sake of the blog I can confirm that I have fully-tested these (fabulous!) actions (Poor Jez!) and must  advise that these animations are not for the faint of heart. If I dabbled in such behaviour on a regular basis I’d fear for my eyesight!

One of the joys of Bazar furniture has always been the functionality, and Ria has really spoiled us with  the elements in the Floria Living Room. Not only are there all the texture change and animation options, but you can also click on the coffee table to rez props such as wine, and cake. Perfect for high tea with friends or a loved one before you push the coffee table out of the way and embark on an epic rumpo session on the sofa…ahem.

There’s nothing that I dislike about this living room. The tall dresser has a built-in display case featuring decorated plates and books, and there’s even space for a few of your own items in there too. I love the curtains and their vast array of fabric textures, complimented with an elegant railing and luxurious golden cord and tassel which coordinates perfectly with the opulent chandelier.

For my pictures I’ve added a few Arcade winnings to show you how beautifully the collection works with other quality items that can be found upon the grid, and I’ve also included a few of the texture combinations that you can make. Fabulous isn’t it?

Floria Living Room

Of course, once you’ve exhausted yourself in the Living Room, then it’s a good time to pop into the kitchen and replenish lost energy with a tasty snack. The Floria Kitchen complements the Living room, Dining Room and Bedroom outfits perfectly, with a traditional kitchen appearance, simple fixtures and metal fittings in the same gold tone that is carried throughout the range.  It’s quite beautiful.

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The kitchen also has a simpler light fitting that’s more in common with the kitchen theme, but it works just as well as all the grandiose living room chandelier.The centrepiece of the room is the large kitchen island.

Floria Kitchen

Like the other pieces throughout the range, clicking  on the furniture will enable for texture change as well as a menu of poses and movements.  The menu in the kitchen features quality animations ut with a twist;  this time you can embark on a number of kitchen-related tasks such as washing the dishes and preparing food.

It’s always nice to be surprised in a metaverse where you think you’ve seen it all, and it’s the first time in Second Life that I’ve ever  come across the option to descale a fish!  

Kitchen Kitty

You can also enjoy a drink of wine with your partner or friends, and there are some more adult-themed animations too, for those who like to use their kitchen for making whoopee as much as jam. (Or cake…I do like the fact that a cake is always a feature in Bazar menus!)  I genuinely adore Floria. Everytime that Ria has released a new addition to this range it has excited me and entranced me which I must confess is unexpected, because my tastes are more modern when it comes to home furnishings, hence my adoration of the  Arizona and Toronto Bazar sets.  But the fact that Floria has me well and truly under its spell is down to the fact that it is quite simply some of the most beautiful and functional furniture I’ve seen in-world yet, and I admit it leaves me longing, yearning even for more.  In fact, I feel greedy for even saying it, but there has to be a Floria Bathroom as well, surely?

And don’t even get me started on the prospect of a Floria House..that’s too much to wish for! Or is it….??

Check out the entirety of the Floria Range by clicking HERE to visit Ria on the marketplace.

Click HERE if you’d like to go in-world to see the furniture in the flesh, and come back tomorrow when I’ll be featuring even more BAZAR! 

Kitty Goes To Gachatopia!

Kitty Goes To Gachatopia!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 1 Comment

With September welcoming another round of the ever popular Arcade, it’s both an exciting time and a depressing one too.

Exciting because, in my opinion, it’s the BEST round of The Arcade yet. Depressing? Well, you try to get in; there are more green spots on the map than there were on my chops when I was a spotty teenager!

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See what I mean?

Fortunately there are plenty of ways to get your Arcade fix in-world without having to deal with Linden Lag. There are yard sales and flea markets galore, and each time a round of The Arcade arrives it seems that more are added to the ever growing list of places to visit when seeking a particular Gacha item.

The majority are private, meaning that they’re a personal collection of items to be found for sale at someone’s home, but some are public. These are a business enterprise all of their own; patrons rent tables and place their arcade winnings out for perusal and purchase. It’s a great idea and the majority of my collectibles  are sourced at these sales because you can usually find exactly what you’re looking for. 

Sometimes that elusive prize can come at a steep price. There’s always a lot of debate around whether or not rare items should be sold at an increased cost. Some argue that it isn’t fair, and that items won should be sold at the price listed on the Gacha machine that they came from, nothing more, nothing less. Others say that once you’ve considered how much was spent on the machine to win the item in the first place then what’s wrong with trying to recoup some of the money spent? You can spend a small fortune gambling on Gacha and may never win what you’re after, so why not just pay upfront to get it?

Of course there’s no hard and fast rule on this. Some creators object to their items being sold at higher prices, some don’t. But Gacha is addictive.  You become obsessed and yearn for a complete collection of items and it seems as though your Second Life isn’t complete without that one last piece.  The trick is to take a step back and evaluate how much something is worth to you.  A small increase on the cost price isn’t necessarily a bad thing, but paying thousands of Lindens for something that could disappear from your inventory in a heartbeat? That’s a big decision to make.

Browsing the stalls at Gacha markets  is a fun task, and it’s made even more entertaining  when those markets really make the effort to look  fun and enticing too. Sure, you can rez a few trestle tables in a skybox for your wares,  but it’s a LOT more enjoyable visiting somewhere a bit special to make up for the fact that you can’t get into the main event..

One such place is GACHATOPIA.

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I’ve completely fallen in love with this amazing build. It’s a brilliant 1950’s style sim dedicated to all things Gacha. There are shops to explore and trailers bursting with common and rare Gacha winnings.   The central area features a museum and the first dedicated Gacha auction house in Second Life, as well as gig space for live events.  To the sides of the sim there are retro style dwellings just begging to have their photographs taken.

It’s colourful, vibrant and makes shopping for prizes an absolute joy.

I caught up with the team behind Gachatopia, Morbid Deceit and Lucius Templar, to ask them why they had brought this mad, crazy retro vision in-world and what they had planned for it!

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What inspired you to create Gachatopia?

I think we were most inspired by the Gacha community. We had run the Trailerpark Yardsale on our home region since December 2012 and it was a total pleasure. We loved the people, we loved the vibe and we loved the machines! We had a vision for a bigger, better Gacha destination and since we had the extra sim we just went for it!

How many people are involved in the project?

It was just another one of our “couple” projects with Morbid taking the helm for concept, structure and layout. Lucius designed some of the main builds. Since opening we have added people along the way in different capacities – all of whom are Gacha fans like us.

Why did you choose the vintage feel? ( I love the way the sim looks, it’s beautifully constructed!)

We both love Googie art and architecture, mainly it just makes us smile. We wanted the sim to feel like the Trailerpark but in a bigger more epic way. Luke’s build, the Atomic Spire, was built very early on and set the tone. We will always be working on the sim design but that kooky retro vibe will always prevail.

With The Arcade beginning on Sunday, you’re sure to be busy here! What is your view on re-selling of rare items, especially at inflated prices? Some people really disagree with it, what are your thoughts?

First and foremost we believe that the creators permissions and terms of use are what should prevail and Gacha creators typically understand what it means to offer no copy , trans items to their customers. A rare item in a machine is set to a certain level of difficulty for two reasons. One, is to increase the pleasure of playing the machine. And the other is to make more Lindens by selling more items to people who are digging for rares.

The creator has been paid for every item that was won from the machine and has given the player permission to do what they want with the items they have won. Rares are resold at a higher price because it takes more Linden to get them and there are fewer of them around. Rares being sold at “inflated” prices is typically because the person selling it has no grip on what the market value is.

At Gachatopia we try to help people as much as we can, to better understand market value and to keep things “in the spirit of Gacha” which is ultimately about playing the machine. At the end of the day, no one should be in disagreement about re-sale. It is part of Gacha culture. There will be people who push resale price boundaries and there will be creators who push the rare percentage boundaries but as with most things in life, the best people and creators will fall somewhere down the middle.

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 As well as Gacha items there is a fantastic auction house and museum here too. I really loved the museum, are the exhibits from your own personal collections or have you approached designers?

Right now the collections are our own items. We do hope to have exhibits up that are curated, mainly because it will take more than one person to complete them but also because it can be fun to have your things out on display. When the Googieheim (a play on the style of architecture we love called Googie and the Guggenheim Museum) is complete, we will have plaques set out naming the people that contributed to the displays from their personal collections, as well as information about the creators and their landmarks.

Are there any content creators that have voiced their support to you regarding this project?

Gachatopia is year round exposure for content creators. We have had awesome feedback from creators and you never know who you will see here on the Sim enjoying themselves. That’s all the support we need.

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I’m so thankful to  Lucius and Morbid for their brilliant answers to my questions, and strongly suggest that you zoom over to the sim to check out what is available. I really do get a very positive feeling from this place; it’s being run by people who clearly have a passion for the Gacha movement and I really hope it will be a great success.  It’s a great place to while away a few hours (while you’re watching the green dots on the map at the main event!) and while I was there I saw a lot of traffic to the sim.  If you’re tempted to rent your own space at this location I’m afraid you’ll be lucky, all the tables were taken when I visited. I think that is in part to their incredibly reasonable rates; a table costs just L$150 per month for 25 prims, a trailer L$300 for 50 prims and so on.  Renters can also use bid boards and participate in the auctions too; bid-boards cost L$50 per day, and auction podiums are L$75 a pop.

Here’s wishing a heap load of Kitty-luck to Morbid and Lucius and everyone at Gachatopia.  

I can’t wait to see what the forthcoming holiday seasons will bring for us Gacha-addicts at this astonishing location! 

Like what you see and want to go visit? CLICK HERE! 

**Note: The next Gachatopia LIVE auction will be held on Sunday September 8th at 1pm**

The Drax Files: World Makers [ Episode 10: Robin Sojourner]

The Drax Files: World Makers [ Episode 10: Robin Sojourner]

by Lisa Millar ♥ 3 Comments

The latest episode of  ‘The Drax Files: World Makers’ has dropped, and it’s one that really resonates with me.

You see, the lady featured is Robin Sojourner, who I know better as Robin Wood, the creator of some of the most beautiful Pagan artworks I have ever seen.  Her work adorns my most beloved deck of Tarot cards (The Robin Wood Tarot) and her artworks adorn many a treasured tome on my Witchy bookshelves in my real life home.  She’s also the proponent of the theory of cat gravity, something to which I fully prescribe. I guess that you could say I am a bit of a fan..

When I joined Second Life I wasn’t aware that Robin used it as a vehicle for her creativity, so I was of course delighted to discover that she has an in-world presence. Not only that, but as I’ve blogged before, Robin has a fabulous Wiccan Learning Centre in world that you can visit to discover more about this particular Pagan path.

However this episode isn’t about Robin’s Pagan persuasions, but about the way that she uses Second Life.  Robin waxes lyrical about the virtues of our metaverse, and how it can be an essential tool for creative development, arguing that there’s not much difference between real life work and engagement in the virtual, and that both are equally valid.

I adored this episode. It was so lovely to see someone I really admire featured, and I also think that Robin may actually be Mrs. Santa Claus! (If the gentleman in the video is indeed Robin’s partner as I am speculating, than check out his amazing beard! What a guy!)

Here’s to another fantastic instalment of this essential machinima series; great work as always Drax!