Daddy Cool

Daddy Cool

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

Back in the 1980’s I was a lucky girl…I got my very first computer in 1986 (It was a Toshiba MSX. Don’t laugh because it was actually really good:) and my Daddy and I would buy magazines with lists of code in them, and take it in turns to program so that we could make aeroplanes drop bombs or drive tanks across the bottom of the TV screen. It was great fun, I got to spend serious quality time with my Dad and I loved it. Over twenty years later and he’s making a tentative return to the computer age, but this time it’s the wonderful world of internet and e-mail. Now, no disrespect to pop but he’s of an age where a nice cup of tea and a sit down is considered by some to be the highlight of their day (Actually, it is for me sometimes and I’m only 34!) so kudos to Dad for embracing the internet age with as much gusto as he can muster. Imagine my delight then when he said he was willing to give Second Life a try! I know some people would think it a tad odd that their Dad was in the virtual world too, but why not? It’s great fun, a bit of a challenge for him and I was so very proud last night to take him around the world and show him a few sights. In fact, he managed much better than I thought he would. I’ve got him a ‘mature’ avatar (Upon a recommendation from SLMen.com) that is a tad more fitting to his persona than a winsome young buck stalking around the virtual landscape. ( I mean, he’s my Dad-that would have been too weird!) Of course being my relation he *has* to look good, so I’ve been to Lookr, Hoorenbeek and FNKY! to get him a few outfits and I have to say I think he looks utterly brilliant:) So where did we go? I took Dad to ‘The Pig ‘N’ Horn’, which is a new venue in-world. There are many wonderful bars and pubs in Second Life competing for attention as we all know, BUT this one is a tad different. Forever Delaid, the tractor-obsessed lunatic who had a penchant for shining his vehicle in the much-missed ‘Three Lions’, has created a venue in a barn replete with hay bales, goats, pigs, rats, straw on the floors and the usual kinds of things you see in a farmyard. It looks great-I love it when people inject a sense of humour into their builds-but it’s the people that make the party, and the guys here are just fab. For a first-timer it must have been pretty daunting for my Dad, but he just about managed to keep up with the conversation, contribute and even have a wee boogie with me on the dance floor! ( I was especially chuffed that he did that, I remember when I started it took me AGES to understand the concept of dance balls!) He was really pleased that he got a shout-out too. I think he was a bit perplexed by the tiny ginger cat and unicorn zooming around the pub on beer barrels (Jonny Fraise up to his usual naughty tricks..gotta love him!) Pop agreed it was a highly enjoyable experience, and to give him a taste of what SL has to offer, I took him to Tribute Island to see the wonderful monuments there and show him how Second Life can be the perfect medium for expression of people’s skills. I’m sure It’ll take a while for Dad to get completely au fait with SL but I really hope he perseveres with it!I have to admit though I was kinda speechless when he asked me when we were going to Xcite to get his bits sorted out though..( I’d lent him the tourists guide to SL, and he’d obviously read some of it!) I think he’s perturbed by his avi being somewhat emasculated, but I was equally perturbed by the thought of walking around Xcite with my Dad! I *think* I’ll leave that one for him to sort out on his own at a later date…he obviously has no idea what he’s in for…har har evil chuckles!Anyway, if you want to say hello, then look out for ‘LeapyLee Cliffhanger’ in world. Be nice to him (as readers of this blog I have no doubt that you would be) and feel free to bestow money and gifts on him should you feel the need, LOLOL. You can try chatting him up as well if you like, however I’ve told him to be careful because the buxom young wenches you see in-world aren’t always what they seem…so don’t be surprised if he runs away squealing!

 

She’s a Lookr…

She’s a Lookr…

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

Now, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Adam Soler yet, I’m hoping that Prad’ll introduce me as I need to tell him that he is crafting some fabulous clothing and want him to give me loads of freebies.
So while I was at the Southsea launch last night, I wandered around the Lookr store and examined the clothes and I have to say that I am very impressed..I wasn’t the only one either, Kaylee Linden who was also perusing the textiles agreed that the outfits were pretty good too! Have you noticed that I seem to be mentioning men’s clothing a lot today? It’s probably because I was having a really good peek at Adam’s designs last night. Chaps, you can never have enough t-shirts in your virtual wardrobe, and the ones that you wear should always be quality. That means realistic shading and creasing, and the obligatory motif – for me the funnier the better. Lookr ticks all the right boxes here, with great logo tees featuring excellent rendering and a worn-in look. In my opinion, the more authentic the clothes, the better the avatar. It’s a simple equation, yet so many people(especially men) spend money on great shapes and skins and then adorn themselves with nasty crud that quite often wasn’t even cheap. I can guarantee you that you certainly won’t look nasty in anything from Lookr. I fell in love with the shirt and denim combos, as well as the suits..oh the suits are *lovely*. I really have to get Jez in-world so that I can make him wear one of these as they look truly excellent. A quality suit *never* goes out of style, and the FORM suit is a wonderful example of the genre. It’s a tad pricey BUT you definitely get what you pay for, and if you are prepared to pay a lil’ bit more there are compliment packs to enhance your look. Consider it investment wear for your avatar! ( And seeing as I’ve already blogged SLMEN today, click to see what they had to say about it. The pictures are very nice indeed!)
But of course my main interest was the women’s wear, and ooohhh girlies it’s great!! Lots of hand-drawn details and interesting styling are the key here, with an emphasis on smart casual clothing. Adam has used some interesting textures and they pay dividends, especially on my fave outfit that I’m wearing here, VIXEN in Chocolat. This is a great long cardi with tie and furry cuffs, and you also get a nice pair of jeans with that, for a mere L$250. I’d so covet this in RL!
I also treated myself to a pair of shades in Earth and were a great compliment to the overall look. My verdict? Lookr makes me clothes happy..so take a trip to Southsea and indulge:)
PRim Designs @ Southsea Sim

PRim Designs @ Southsea Sim

by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

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Well it’s taken a lot of sweat and tears to launch ( I’m refraining from mentioning blood as that would be a tad EWWW!) but Southsea is finally here. It’s a joint venture between Prad Pravithi and Rrishanna Regina of the wonderful design store PRim Designs, and Adam Soler who makes rather special clothing at Lookr Fashions. I make no bones about the fact that I’m a Fifi groupie, but if he wasn’t so darn talented I wouldn’t be. The guy must dream in photoshop and CAD ( wet ones I wonder?) as the designs that he has engineered recently have been truly awe-inspiring. Team Prad with the creative skills that Rrishanna brings to the table and you have a winning combination beyond compare. I wonder sometimes if Rrishanna gets a tad over-looked but it is indeed a partnership, and the combination of the talents of these uber-designers result in wonderful wares featuring undulating lines and such mouth-watering textures that I end up feeling like one of Pavlov’s dogs.
It is obvious from the moment you land in Southsea that you are in a quality environment. There’s nothing tacky about Southsea, no garish colours or haphazard construction for this sim. Everything that has been placed here has been done so after careful thought and meticulous preparation and planning, indeed it has taken 4 months to bring this dream to life. The hard work has indeed paid off. The textures that have been chosen for all the furniture and houses have been picked because they are the very best. The poses that have been selected are used because they are good, organic poses and not generic ‘nasty’ forms. PRim Designs stated in their press release that their ambition was to “..push back the boundaries of what can be achieved in the metaverse..”
Prad and Rrish, you have done that and then some….Go to Southsea, buy some furniture (or a house!) and go home knowing that you have been truly blessed by the Goddess of Good Taste.

SLMen=dribble dribble drool drool!

SLMen=dribble dribble drool drool!

by Lisa Millar ♥ 2 Comments

I owe Ben Vanguard a humungous apology as I had never visited his SLMen website until today…at least I don’t think I have, but the old brain is a tad addled at the moment and I’m tending towards goldfish memory levels at the mo. Anyways, it’s official-I am indeed a wally of immense proportions as this is one mighty fine blog. Have you been? If not-go and take a peek. Even if you aren’t a male avie/have a male avie in your life this is superb eye candy for us lady-types:) I promise you will get a serious case of avatar lust at this blog. It’s utterly tottylicious, and not only is the styling of the blog superb, the imagery is equally scintillating with a cracking writing style to boot! The outfits that Ben blogs are excellent combos, although some outfits are a tad too outlandish for my beloved’s tastes. (Yes, he’s still around. No, he hasn’t been in-world for months..he’s been busily levelling one of his characters, a swamp bogey monster or something, in WoW) Fellas, if you want to look ‘the hotness’ then SLMEN is essential reading for you. Ladies, if you want to leave moist patches on your chair you should also check out this blog…..