Category: second life resident blogs

WITCHY WEDNESDAY- ‘The Maiden’ By Ellabella

WITCHY WEDNESDAY- ‘The Maiden’ By Ellabella

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

witchy wednesday_001I haven’t written a ‘Witchy Wednesday’ post in an age, which is a poor show when you consider that the blog is called ‘Kittywitchin’..ahem!

Anyway, fortunately this week I do have something rather lovely to share with you all, and it costs next to nothing!  This gorgeous ‘Maiden’ pentacle necklace is from ELLABELLA and costs a mere L$100.

It’s available at this month’s THE MENS DEPT (as you walk in, on the wall to your right) and is perfect if you want a pentacle that’s a little more fancy than usual. On closer inspection you’ll find that the pentagram is surrounded by five Rubies, separated by purple squiggles (evocative of Theban Script) against a black base. There are crescent moons for the Goddess to either side, and the piece is finished with three violet pendants.

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I think it’s a great piece of jewellery and it’s very eye-catching too.  Here’s your taxi to THE MENS DEPT where you’ll find this piece, and other fabulous items too! 

Kitty Writes: Some random thoughts on blogging…

Kitty Writes: Some random thoughts on blogging…

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Keeping a blog is a commitment, especially if your blog is sponsored. It takes time and work to maintain and requires updating regularly to retain its audience.

A couple of weeks ago I started a new RL job, so I haven’t been updating as much as I would like. This made me feel pretty miserable. But then I realised something; I felt so obligated to my own blogging regime that I was making myself feel like a failure because I couldn’t update as regularly as I wanted to.   Beyond everything this blog has always been an outlet for my writing and founded on enjoyment, rather than necessity. So I had a word with myself, relieved the pressure and felt much better for it.

I don’t owe it to anyone other than myself to keep this blog updated, which is a freedom many bloggers don’t enjoy.  That’s the problem with being a mega-successful blogger, content has to be fresh and new to bring readers in and keep page sponsors happy.  But the fact remains that updating a blog every day is just impossible for me these days.
The reasons for this are many, but in my case it’s primarily because of how long it takes me to write a post and create the photographs that go with it. To illustrate what I mean, let’s break down a typical blog post:

  • For a start I have to source something to write a post about. This means purchasing item(s), styling my avatar and creating a look that’s interesting.
  • I then have to choose my location for photographs.  More often than not I’ll shoot against a white background because I love the way it looks, but I still have to erect a photo studio and choose a pose.
  • Take photographs. Often this will take time because the shot that I imagined initially proves not to work, or I get carried away and take way too many pictures making it hard for me to choose!
  • Post-processing photographs (If required; now that my graphics card is more sprightly I’m finding that I don’t need to do much work on my pictures unless I actually want to)
  • Writing the actual post and publishing.
  • Promoting the post via news outlets like Facebook.

Of course, writing the post is what takes the longest, for me at least!
I have NEVER been the kind of blogger who writes a few brief sentences about the item I am featuring. There are plenty that do that and if that works for them that’s excellent, but it’s not really Kittywitchin’s style. I like to talk about creators, textures and items in-depth. I often like to write about how they make me feel, and my emotions too. In short, I like to waffle a bit, but that’s what makes this blog unique in a number of ways.  I’ve had a lot of feedback from creators telling me that they like that too, because they feel that their products are valued and appraised properly, and ‘sold’ to the audience more effectively.

Something new that I do now is publicise my posts via my FB page, and a number of FB groups that I am a member of.  I’ve found this to be a really effective way of generating traffic for the blog, and I’ve noted my blog-followers increase too, so it is well worth the effort.

The truth is a blog-post is not something that can be accomplished in a matter of minutes, not an effective one anyway, It can take me a couple of hours to write, edit and then publish. Add to that the length of time it takes to create the picture, and then list the items featured and yup, you’re looking at an afternoon of work at least. Are you surprised by that?
This is why my intention is to keep to my blogging regimen of two-three times a week. I would LOVE to write more, but I don’t have the time (or the money) to be able to do that. (Bear in mind I don’t get that many blogger packs sent my way so I have to self-fund. No that isn’t a whine; I don’t mind at all!)
In short,  I love keeping a blog, and that’s why Kittywitchin’ has been around for as long as it has; it stems purely from my love of Second Life.
A love that grows constantly, and long may that continue.

JUST JEZ – The Mens Dept Has It All!

JUST JEZ – The Mens Dept Has It All!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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I don’t know what Jez would do without THE MENS DEPT; it’s just such a boon to Second Life men’s fashion. It constantly  features excellent designers to fall in love with* and offers fabulous on-trend items and home-wares.  This month is no exception either; a range of absolutely sensational gear that is very easy to wear and is guaranteed to turn your fella from Ebbe Linden stylin’ to street chic in less than the time it takes you to read this post!

My particular favourites this month include this fabulous style from INK HAIR, this gorgeous tee and tied shirt combo by HOWL and these epic pants from APPLE MAY DESIGNS. 

INK HAIR is definitely Jez’s brand of choice and it always looks fabulous on him. Their colour range is particularly good, with the brown shade suiting his over-all look perfectly.  I find that their hair-bases always wear well too; they don’t look as though someone has gone crazy with the boot-polish on his scalp.  This style, ‘Flow’, is really substantial and frames his face beautifully at the front. It blends into the hair-base well and doesn’t look ‘stuck-on’, as can often be the case with such styles.

The HOWL tee is a real find.  It’s mesh, and I did notice that to get a good fit on the sleeves he had to adjust his pecs ever-so-slightly, but no matter, such sacrifices must be made in the name of fashion.  If you’re willing to shell out some extra Lindens then you can boost your package (ooer missus!) with a HUD that features a number of tee patterns and shirt colours, so this piece will definitely see Jez through Summer 2014 in style.

I have to confess that I usually despair at baggy-crotch pants, but these ‘After Shorts’ were too good to pass on, although I really do find myself wanting to give Jez the most epic of wedgies every time that he passes me, hence his voice being a little squeaky at the moment! (I may have pulled a little too tightly last time! Oopsy!) The style of these is actually pretty nice, and they’re textured really well, something you would expect from APPLE MAY DESIGNS. Plus if he wasn’t wearing the tied-shirt, you’d be able to see that he’s wearing pants too. Rather than going commando, you get the briefest glimpse of boxer shorts in these bad boys. Yum!

To finish he put on his old fave EUDORA trainers, which were a group gift (although there are some spangly new space-age ones in THE MENS DEPT this month) and added some jewellery from a previous TMD round from MANDALA  (another brand with some epic new releases at the event)  (The bracelets are old group gifts from RONSEM).

I really love this look on Jez; he looks cool and stylish with a polished, urban edge, and it wasn’t a painful experience getting him to go shopping at THE MENS DEPT at all, in fact, truth be told, I think he enjoyed it!

And so will you, I guarantee it! Here’s your TAXI! 

Jez wears:

  • Shape – Jez’s Own
  • Skin – ‘David’ by REDGRAVE
  • Tattoo – ‘Japanese Sleeves’ by AITUI
  • Eyes – ‘Ascension’ Eyes in Pewter by IKON
  • Hair – ‘Flow’ by INK
  • Necklace – ‘Kotowari (Full) by MANDALA
  • Shoes – ‘Blaze’ Hi-Tops by EUDORA 3D (Group gift)
  • Tee/Shirt – ‘Rui’ Summer Outfit by HOWL (I wonder if he has a moving castle?! Sorry..)
  • Shorts – ‘After’ Shorts in Dark Denim by APPLE MAY DESIGNS
  • Bracelets on both wrists were group gifts from RONSEM

*The majority of items on this list, with a few exceptions, were from designers Jez discovered because of THE MENS DEPT; which just shows how effective these kinds of events are. Whenever Jez goes shopping now, these are the designers he tends to check out first…just sayin’ ;P 

SUPER SECOND LIFE READS AHOY!

SUPER SECOND LIFE READS AHOY!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 3 Comments

Even when I can’t log-in to Second Life, I’m still seeking my fix of all things virtual.  At the moment in RL I’ve just started a new job, which has meant my time in-world has been slight, but through the power of internet publishing I can still get my pixel-fix by reading some of the many virtual publications that are out there.  

Some of them are truly amazing, with exceptionally high standards of photography and some great copy making them just as much fun to read as shop-bought glossy mags. In fact, I actually think they”re better, and of course they’re free!

 I like nothing better than curling up with my Ipad and a cup of tea and enjoying a read of some of the latest magazines.

Here are some that are currently on my reading list, why not check them out? 

http://http://issuu.com/feroshsl/docs/ferosh_ss_2014?e=1749275/8086161

First up is FEROSH, which is just that. This magazine features 452 (!) pages of virtual fashion inspiration, with some amazing photography and some fantastic imagery to behold. It’s an absolute feast for the eyes, and will probably make you want to go shopping immediately. My favourite feature is ‘Asian Inspiration’ that begins on page 50, but there’s so much to love about this magazine that it is incredibly hard to choose! I cannot recommend this one enough, make yourself a brew and settle down to see Second Life in a whole new way. I promise you will LOVE this.

Next we have ‘LTD-The Magazine’ which is the companion piece to the always amazing blog (which you MUST visit daily if you’re a fan of Second Life virtual interiors) The magazine is published bi-monthly, which is just as well, because it takes me so long to visit all the content creators featured each issue! This month is an absolute feast for the eyes. There’s a wonderful feature on a Kittywitchin’ fave, Atelier Visconti, and every single page will make you want to redecorate your virtual home again and again. I absolutely adore this publication, and when you consider it only launched in January it’s fast become the style bible for all things virtual home.

The May edition of STYLE KINGDOM is definitely worth a look if you love all things animal! They’ve gone for a really unique twist on Spring fashion, with models sporting animal prints and accessories galore. It’s really unusual and works really well and will leave you with the kind of longing that only an epic Second Life shopping trip will fix!   It’s the kind of magazine that you need to read with a notepad beside you so you can make a note of all the SLURL’s you’ll be visiting once you’ve finished.

FUSION Magazine is a well established favourite of mine, and each month has a great variety of articles and features with photographs that leave you drooling.  Well, they do me anyway! The May edition is no exception, check out the feature on Goatswood (starts on page 19), featuring photographs by Rylan Carling. It’s absolutely sensational and will make you want to investigate this RP sim immediately! There’s also a feature on ‘It All Starts With A Smile’ which was Kaelyn Alecto’s fabulous sim that gifted SL residents with a myriad of photography opportunities. Sadly the sim has closed, so this serves as a somewhat poignant but worthy reminder of an absolutely epic place.  There’s also a cracking inventory management series running that has given me a few ideas, and the ‘Get That Style’ feature is always a must see!

Last but most definitely not least is VISAGE.  This was a new one to me but has already become a favourite because I absolutely adore the layout of the magazine.  Unfortunately there are only 22 pages to enjoy, but that’s turns out that this production from Autumn Ashdene was for a university project. She asks that if we enjoy the magazine that we head on over to her Flickr page to comment, and I don’t know about you but I would really love to read this one on a regular basis, so please support Autumn in her endeavours and let’s hope to see more from VISAGE in future!

Do you have a favourite Second Life magazine that isn’t featured here?

Why not share it with us in the comments below!