Magnete Gown!!!

OK, other very much delayed post… but hey, Kuc (since, yeah, you’re reading this and noone else is lol), you know I was busy!!!
Hehe, you surely do know, since I got you a little busy, too, with all my need of advice and models! Lol… well, Magnete Gown is done, up on the walls, and it looks fabulous (again, complimenting myself as only a total idiot would hahahaha). And when Cape saw me wearing it she was kinda shocked, methinks (just for you, doc)… I tried to get as close as I could to CanDy’s wonderful Breezy… And maybe my efforts were not totally vain. Oh, well, at least it looks good and people love it (which is the most important thing, isn’t it?).
And back to Cape… OMG, lol, I said a lot of times how much I love to work at CanDy, because of the inspiration and the people (and, of course, because of the freedom we have with our schedules… of capital importance in my case), but let me tell you: my boss is awesome. Not only as a designer, but also as a person. She allowed me to set up a little vendor there at CanDy, so if you pop by, you might notice my stuff, too (among the billions of huge and puffy gowns from Cape), and she gave me some very smart and useful tips on how to make my designs look betterJ.
Yuppie!
So I will have to start working on a different prim shape (for a new gown) I bet… and that will cost me loads of hair lol (hopefully I learned something in the meanwhile, that will save me time and energy lol). And I do have some idea in mind, but let’s see if it’s possible… I still need to fully get into building and its potential.
Haha, I also made my first tuxedo. Which looks crappy, I know, but it’s a start and it’s cheap… lol at least this time I manage not to be too glimmering about a creation of mine!
Oh… I moved my store!!! Hahahaha, no need to say this here, cause I already said it in my profile, but it’s just to keep this posts up to date (well, almost… since I write once a week lol). And about this moving: Don’t ask. At least not for now… I will write something about it, maybe… one day… who knows. I first need to get the whole thing cleared up in my mind, I guess.

Well, nothing important to say, apart from “It would be better if I tried to study”. But let me say one last thing to my favourite (and only?) reader: I have been writing a few lines for the SL Romance, Kucypie, and I am kinda scared I will end up talking nonsense, because I truly suck when it comes to emotional talk, feelings, and relationships. But I said I’ll write about it, and so I will. Just hang on! Lol.
And the same for the SL History: I will write it, sooner or later (MOST likely later lol).
See ya all.

P.S: If there’s anyone different from Kuc reading this post, leave a comment… even just to say “hello” , or maybe “stop bothering with this crap!” (lol, hope not this last one)… so I can get a slight idea of how many people are so desperate that they don’t have anything better to do than read my posts and leave comments lol (yes, Kuc, you are desperate, I know, but I bet anyone would, if they had to deal with Pall all the time! LMAO!!!)
[and, btw Pall… Thank you again a lot for your offerJ] ß(piccola parentesi viola).

SO PROUD OF MYSELF!!! lol

Hey everyone!

... I know, I know... haven't written in a while, and I apologize for that. But you know I was very busy inworld, and still kinda am (but of course, today it looks like I cannot stay connected for more than 2 minutes, so I just got off for a while).

And I am writing here to whoever will read this post (... why don't I just say: "Thank you, Kuc!" for always reading my blog!!!).

First news, which almost got me a heart attack yesterday, is: I managed to make the gown I have been working on for almost 2 weeks now! Yessss, even before the Dizzie Dress (here in the picture... comes with matching bikini!!!) I was already working on a gown. I wanted to make it a real formal gown, one of those people would get compliments for. A gown I could maybe sell in the Phat Cat's Mall, which is certainly a perfect place where to advertise your business.

And well, I think I got there...

Of course, it is not definite yet, I have to fix the skrt, to make the last adjustments, and then to create a pair of nice gloves to add to it, and maybe some "jacket"... something to cover up the shoulders (for us ladies, when we get to dance out in the cool air of those open ballrooms lol).

And then the awesome (yes yes, as I said in the title, I am more than proud of myself for finally getting to it) new gown from Ccard's will be there, on my store's walls (and who knows, maybe also in some nice mall...).

So here is a little and crapy picture I took in my store with the final prototype of my gown on. Can you see the tears coming down my cheeks? (because if you zoomed in you could actually see those, I am so happy!).

I am with my fellow designer Xavy.

... So, what do you think?

lol! Well, I am more than proud of it. Kuc said: "Wow Clio! Looks like a waterfall!". And it DOES!

While it flexes it does look a lot like a waterfall lol. Maybe it will be the name of it. Even though I actually have a name already (came up with it 2 weeks ago, or so... when I started designing it lol), so since I will have more than 1 color, maybe "waterfall" will just be the name of the blue version.

Oh well, whatever! I am too confused and blinded by my own tears of pride now to think of a name!

So... other news? Well, since you last read a post of mine, Xavy opened a store, XZ designs, which I advice you all to go to, because his designs are way cool! (and because he's a friend, and because he was almost a pupil of mine lol... ).

Then... My gurl's (no mind in the gutter please... lol) club, The Greek Goddess, was closed a couple days ago, for rebuild. It will be back open on Saturday, with a speed dating thing... which I was forced to sign up for by Pall and gurl, obviously. Lol.

And, I evidently messed up with land settings at The Golden Temple (trying to hide this among the many news so it will be less noticeable LMAO!), and got half the items returned to the owners' inventories... Disco is a saint! "SANTO SUBITO! SANTO SUBITO!" (those of you who live in Italy will smile, lol... for the others: "santo subito" means "saint right away"... it's a funny thing some guys on the radio invented. They hear stories about people who did something nice and just start saying "SANTO SUBITO!". So it's become something kinda popular to say lol). And Disco fully deserves to be "Saint Right Away", because he somehow managed to keep himself for killing me, when they found out it was me messing... SORRY BRO! (and sorry dad, ad mom, and Zammie and Chiwa, and whoever got stuff returned for my stupid mistake).

Then... other news, from CCard's: I assigned my first "model" tags. Yes! Now I sometimes ask people to model for me, and so I decided each one of them should proudly wear a tag that shows he/she modeled for a clothing line!

And about this I also need to apologize (just a little lol) for my pickiness (is that an english word?) to Kuc and Lib, the hot models of the Dizzie Dress... see the picture above... But then you girls said it was funny, so I hope I didn't tire you out too much!

Mhmmm, about CCard's new releases I should also mention the SL-addicted shirt, which is way too funny (and for which Pall modeled, of course lol), and the Tee's Tee... that is definitely a "T" shirt! And which I got Xavy and Key's picks for.

So... enough for now... I certainly left out some exciting news from the last days, but hey, you know I am a mess (read the huge title on top of the page lol) and I forget EVERYTHING!

Hahahaha, ok... I sound drunk, and it's only 1:30 PM... should post this and eat something, and then maybe even study a bit (study... what's "study"?... don't remember...).

Byeeeee! Wish you all a nice morning, day, afternoon, evening, night... (and pretty much I said them all...)

Hippy party:)

Here is a snapshot from the hippy party we had a couple days ago, at Queen Celtic's Shops:)

I think this one in front of the camera is Disco... hard to tell though, cause he's generally bald lol.

Anyways...everyone was wearing that funny hair mom gave us... to look as more hippy-like as we could lol. It was a great party. Lots of smoking and drinking, of course.

Mhmmm, I just realized that I don't have any picture of my family on my "online profile" (i.e.: this blog). I should take snapshots and set up a pick for each one of them (... before they get to a number too high to handle!).

Ah! I'm also working on my very first custom order: a star wars jedi outfit:) Who knows if I'll get it good enough.

See ya folks... RL Clio is WAAAY tired. She'll take an "evening-nap", I guess.

CCard's new store!

:) I am sooo happy!

Today CCard's got a new store at Queen Celtic's Shops!

It's a rental area brother Disco designed, and we are renting lots of stores at fair prices (so for anyone interested, come and check them out;)).

And of course how could CCard's not be among the Queen Celtic's shops?

And as all the times, I need to thank Kawa for the opportunity he gave me to meet the whole family and to group with them:)

Thank you sooo much daddy!!!

Then... This is something I thought many times and even told some friends: I will soon start collecting information for the 2 new "big posts" I will want to write (sooner or later... sigh).

As I told (certainly to Kuc... ) I want to write a post on SL romance and a post (that will actually be many posts) on SL history.

This last one is something I REALLY want to write... ever since I met Shadow at Candy Silks... when I was still kinda new and I met such an old SL resident.

I want to write something that tells about SL in the past years... when there were no clubs, no business... and then how it all got to nowadays world. It would be sooo interesting. And I bet not many people would be able to describe first year's SL... maybe they wouldn't even be able to picture it... (I think of it as a "all nooby" world: no prim hair, almost no clothing nor skins... very basic building... ).

Well, if Clio stopped being lazy and waiting, we'd soon know:)

So... I guess I said enough for today. My SL is very busy and my eyes and fingers are tired... so I will just concentrate on the party.

Have a nice evening/night/day...

Celtic Moon Island

Hehe, this post is a couple days old too... What can I do? I go to places, party, take pictures... and then I just forget to write the post, or I am too busy doing other things.

So I am writing it some days later... and let's say something about what happened in those days in between, shall we?

Ok, it all starts on the 7th of this month: tha day before Easter.

It was (obviously) a Saturday and The Golden Temple organized some event on a beach.

This beach is Celtic Moon island. And the whole party thing was a way to help X sell some of it (the island I mean).

The idea was awesome! And it worked!!!

Many people got the chance to see the place (which is beautiful) and decided to have a little beach corner there:) (among those of course Pall, Kuc and Laz:))

(notice the Kool Aid guy!!! So hilarious...)

Then! On Easter day we had our "Best In Demo" event!!! Lol, it was so funny! But we'll have to do it again, cause I think not many people got the notice, and maybe since it was Easter...

Anyways, since Pall bought land at Celtic Moon Island, he's been over there a lot, and I went there for a party at Laz's place and to go car-jumping over the whole island (lol... something we won't be able to do any longer soon...). This proved that virtual cars are not really my thing... I need to study for my driver's license... I so SUCK! lol

And after car-jumping, we got talking to Kuc's new neighbour(which, maybe, is my new brother?) ... and then mommy came by and tried to set Pall's friend up with Disco! Lmao... what a laugh...

Oh, well... I gotta go and feed my fleshy-self.

See ya:)

SL Ballet

Hey people!

Lol... ok, first of all I should say this post was meant to be published some days ago... but I was just so messed up with trying to get to some scripting that I didn't have the time to efficiently collect the material I "needed". Now that I got it, I'd like to thank so much Inarra (and Espresso) Saarinen, for sharing with me (and with you guys) these notes I am publishing.

They are about the Olmannen play, which I had the luck to partly (cause of course I got there late... silly me!) see performed by the SL Ballet.

I wanted to have these notes about the ballet not only to have the thing written directly by those who know it the best (since Inarra is the Second Life Ballet director... so who can tel us about it better than her?), but also to show you guys what SL can be stretched to. I mean: who would think that in a virtual world, apart from meeting people from all over the world and be who you want to be (and work) you could even get to do ballet?

Well, for those of you who didn't know about this possibility, and for those who are curious about how a ballet play can be performed on a virtual stage, I publish what Inarra wrote.

(Please note that the text is copyrighted... Espresso Saarinen was very kind handing it to me, and I hope noone will use this post to do something he and Inarra don't wish to be done... Thank you).

From the Olmannen playbill:

"Synopsis
Olmannen is the story of souls fighting for love. Centuries ago, Namon agreed to become a Devang to save his one true love, Seraphette, from evil. Namon has waited centuries for her soul to be reborn to reclaim their love. But now that she is reincarnated, Seraphette has changed. Can Namon still love the new Seraphette? Can Seraphette possibly accept the love of Namon, a creature of the Overworld?
Principals:Seraphette: A beautiful dancer who has been recently reincarnated and now performs in public alleys. She had a lover, Namon, in the past.

Namon: Seraphette's true love; he agreed to become a Devang to save her from evil.
Corps:Evil beings (Devangs), who live in the OverworldTarts in the Public AlleySprites in the Mystical Garden

ACT ONE(The past) The Ice Garden
Namon and Seraphette are happy and together as lovers, bound together by idealized love. However, they become threatened by evil. In order to save Seraphette from this evil, Namon battles the Devangs and agrees to join them. Seraphette eventually dies a broken-hearted, old woman.

ACT TWO(The present) The Public Alley
Seraphette, dispirited and despairing, has been reincarnated as a dancer who performs with tarts in public alleys. Namon has waited for Seraphette's soul to be reincarnated and he returns to find her again. However, Seraphette has only a vague memory of him and Namon has to fight to remind her of their love. Finally, he reveals himself to her and she falls in love with him again.

ACT THREE(The future) The Mystical Garden
Their true love allows Namon to be released from evil and Seraphette to return from her despairing life. Sprites herald their return. They reunite forever in the mystical garden and ascend into "Olmannen", happy in their realized and true love.

The Making of Olmannen

Inarra Saarinen 2007.01.31

Creating Second Life Ballet's premiere of the ballet Olmannen was truly an amazing experience. It took several months from concept to completion. Besides the normal artistic challenges there were also technical and logistic challenges. Artistically, the story was written and became more clarified over time and rehearsals. Part of the beauty of writing the story specifically for Second Life Ballet was that I was able to utilize the unique aspects of Second Life to bring the story to life. I saw dragon-like creatures appearing in the air, a couple in love spiraling down and up, sprites flying, and a beautiful woman transforming instantly into an old woman while the man transformed instantly into one of the evil beings. I found some wonderful collaborators in places all around the world; something that would be very difficult in First Life. Our immensely talented composer lives in London, our architect and PR person from Australia, and the dancers are from England, West Cost U.S., and East Coast U.S. It was a difficult challenge to find a costume designer, lighting designer, set designer, videographer, and stage manager. We did find an artist and stage manager towards the end of our rehearsal period. We also had a challenge keeping dancers because of First Life changes and commitments. These dancers put in very significant dedication and work to Second Life Ballet and are a large part of why the ballet works. Because of the lack of a costume designer. I spent a significant amount of time finding off-the-rack costumes and AVs that would fufill the artistic vision and then spent some time negotiating to make them "transfer ok". In this way, costumes can go out to the dancers and then are transferred back into Second Life Ballet costume department. Once the story began to fall in place, I was able to animate most of my visions. What a wonderful release to be able to choreograph with dancers who have grand jete's that were full splits in the air, perfect "turn-out" and timely forever turns! This allowed me to really produce many of the effects I wanted. Of course, these are real dancers, so there was always the "I thought said you wanted me to come downstage?" kind of discussions. These dancers are not scripted! Rehearsals did take place in almost exactly the same way a First Life rehearsal would -- except for the "I need you to hover up a bit" kind of directions. Technically, I used Avimator to create the animations. I began with some ballet animations and created quite a number over the course of the choreography. All in all, there are approximately 75 original animations in Olmannen. The main difference between dance animations at clubs in Second Life and these ballet animations is that 90% of the ballet animations do not loop. The animations were put into gestures, which are I made akin to musical phrases in ballet. That way the choreographer and dancers and the composer were able to work in a normal First Life style. The gestures also allowed very precise timing between animations (in tenth of seconds) and compound animations. That is, in a gesture if you do not add a "wait" step the two animations happen at the same time. The dancers mapped the gestures to function keys or could use "/gesture_name" to activate the phrase. It was up to the dancers to rehearse and time the execution of each gesture in order. Two other logistic set-backs were the unfortunate timing of broken gestures in Second Life that took several weeks away from us. Also, Inarra was closed out of Second Life for some reason and so I worked with a limited Alt for about several weeks as well until that was fixed. During these times, I tried working with both off-the-shelf and custom HUDs, but neither of them gave me all of the functionality that I needed. There were added lags in a HUD, for example, even though having buttons was nice for the dancers. In closing, this was an exhilirating experience with an absolutely wonderful committed artistic team. We learned an amazing amount of what Second Life can and cannot do, and what virtual and physical dance is and how it interconnects. We look forward to more exploration in the future. "

This is it.

For any of you who's willing to know more about SL Ballet, I advise that you join the Second Life Ballet group:). It is open enrollment, so you can do that directly from the Search Menu.

Meanwhile, I announce you what Inarra told me: Sunday (Easter day...) there will be a new performance by SL Ballet, at 4 PM:)

Might see you guys there!