WInter Princess Farie

Just a quick post as I dont have time to take all the photos for this to do it justice. The Winter Princess Farie evolved from a customer request to add fur to one of the Milady gown. When I finished it was a beautiful Princess look, but I wanted more so I added some gorgeous silver and gold wings, a snow wand to complete it and Voila! Winter Princess Faire lives. This is a huge set of about 24 pieces and Includes the original Milady as well as the following

Winter Princess Farie - Special Edition Includes 2 tops with and without sleeves, gloves, A set of Flowing Draped Sleeves, A Set Of Ermine Fur sleeves, Ermine Fur Stole for dress with Optional SparkleErmine Fur Tiara with Optional Sparkle Ermine Trimmed cape with Diamonds and roses, Daimond and rose cape, 3 Styles of prim skirt A line, Medium train, Long Train 2 styles of Gold & Silver wings,Snow Wand that snows on touch

I have also made a beautiful gift box with Roses for those who wish to purchase this as a gift certificate.

Twilight Moments

Magical moments against the twilight sky.

Its been a really difficult month or two, this week and next will be the worst. I have had some really interesting classes on character and make up design which I am looking foward to utilising into some new concepts and designs for the upcoming year. However my statistics class is really killing me and I have a back log of gowns that are finished or nearly done but not photoed and packaged. Today was another test, one more to go next week, it was very disheartening as I'm sure I didnt do well despite the days and nights of studying, and if I dont do well next week it means repeating the course. I am terribly math phobic and the minute I sit down to the test sheer panic sets in and everything I thought I knew goes flying out of my mind.

I came home so very upset and depressed from my exam I decided to try and lift my spirits with something as far away from math and reality as possible. This is a gown I have been working on and off now for a while that seems to keep evolving. Sometimes I think designs have a life of thier own and if we allow them to the grow and sometimes become something far more beautiful and magical then we originally started with.

I have a few more thoughts on where I want this to go, so in between studying and praying that I pass Ill let it sit and see where its magic will take me...

Allure by Sparkle Skye

She is Queen

Stripped of her birthright, her mother beheaded, called a whore and a witch so a besotted, self indulgent King can try to produce the much desired male heir he so desperetly seeks. She was the least likely ever to cimb the steps to England's throne.

Half of England despised her calls her a heretic, the French want to kill her, Spain lusted after her their suit rejected, choses to condem her as the Bastard Queen. They have sent proclaimations condemming her, urging her people to rise up against her and murder her.

Spain has mounted its greatest assault yet, they are coming for her, they will not rest till her blood flows.

She will not run for She is Queen and these are Her People....

Queen Elizabeth hair available at Allure by Sparkle Skye

Winter Queen Tiara Queen Hiedi Alienbear Design

Queen's Crown- Le'Bear II Princess Crown by Alienbear Design

What goes into making a designer?

Ok Im going to rant a little about something I see all to often thrown around that I find extremely irritating. I normally make it a policy to not to do this but I feel that on behalf of myself and many other designers something needs to be said. Today I saw an all to frequent comment on a blog "After all, couture and fashion cost naught but thought and time in Second Life plus maybe a $10L upload fee. " I am sorry but this quite frankly is a very uniformed statement and is most likely true of someone who may just beginning to toy with the idea of designing. Before you get out the pitchforks to start the fires burning let me explain all that really goes on behind creating a good quality designer.

First thing you need is software while there maybe other software thats free in my opinion in the long run your going to need Adobe photoshop currently priced at $999 or $349 for an upgrade. Next thing youll need is a wacom drawing tablet, the smallest wacom intuos 4 by 6 is $229.00. You will also need a reasonably good high quality monitor, I state this because while some will say well I have a monitor already it may not be suitable. The reason is color monitors are fairly cheap these days but the cheaper ones tend to give you poor color values. Next you will need some training, there are many ways to obtain training, theres a ton of tutorials on the net or you will need to pay for training. Again these are my opinions but I think your best bet is go to your community college and sign up for a class and supplement with tutorials you find. Cost for a class will vary here your talking about a $100 plus materials and parking.

Ok these to me are the basics for a beginning designer who has looked at it a bit and decided they really want to do this. Now lets take a look at what goes on beyond the basics. I'm basing this on myself and some designers I know who are pursuing design somewhat seriously. While community college classes and tutorials are a great start to go beyond that your going to have to get advanced training, that comes at a cost. Typically classes run anywere from$800 to several thousand dollars depending on the intensivity of the course or workshop you are taking. Add to that books and magazines you will need for reference. Next you will need a high quality digital camera, a good camera of the quality you need is going to run you about $700, you also need a tripod and lighting, you can get a reasonable tripod for $80 lighting is quite expensive a beginning lighting kit will run $300 to get the bare minimum.

Some of these things you will not need in the beginning of your designing career but as you improve you will need to add them. Ok you say did all that done right? Well that depends on your desire to improve and the quality you desire to reach. For me and professional artists I speak to training and learning is a process that never stops unless you wish to become stagnant and not grow. In addition to taking classes in photoshop I recommend taking classes in drawing, painting and color in design using real medium not the computer. Why you might ask? this gives you a basic fundamental ground to work from so you will understand why things work.

This doesnt even touch the costs and training 3d modeling which is starting to become one of the tools that designers are needing.

One last thing before I get off my soap box, the phrase "its free all it is is your time" well many of you have or have had a job in real life where you collect a hourly or weekly paycheck. I highly doubt if you went to work tomorrow and your boss said oh we have decided were not going to pay you today after all its just your time yould be very happy.

I recently saw a tv show the name escapes me but it was based on the cost of your time on normal mundane activities such as doing laundry, dog walking, taking your pet to the vet to loading your ipod they calculated the time these things took and how much time you were losing to them each week and it amazed me when you started totaling it all up how much time we lose just running errands. The focus of the show was the many services out there that you can hire to perform these tasks, who knew you could hire someone to load your ipod and set up play lists? My point is your time has value and it doesnt really come free as its at a cost of something else, it takes time to take classes, it takes time to seach the net for tutorials, it takes time to make dinner and do laundry.

So perhaps before someone says its just your time it costs you nothing maybe think twice....

Perfect for the Fashionista

Port-A-Hud Never misplace a Landmark again!

Porta Hud is prolly one of my most favoritest things right now and I think once you try it you'll love it too!
Ever been afraid to delete a Landmark for fear youll NEVER find that cute little store with the most perfect outfits?Regularly bombarded with landmarks, have hundreds or thousands of the little suckers in your inventory, then Port-A-Hud is for you!


Port-A-Hud


* Allows you access to your landmarks without opening inventory (good when inventory loads are SL-owwwww)
* Allows you to quickly arrange your landmarks into categories for easy finding
* Allows you to display your landmarks in ascending, descending order, or selectively by starting letter or symbol.
* Allows you to search for landmarks by any search criteria
* Allows you to delete your landmarks* Allows you to send multiple landmarks to others nearby* Allows you to quickly get to where you want to go!
* Provides quick SLURL's of your current location (great for bloggers!)
* Conveniently "flips up" out of the way when not in use.
* A variety of diffent background images (skins)

You can find it in the games area of the store on the back wall by the Snarkie Sharkie careful he doesnt bite you!

Dominus Designs

Stars for Charity

Queen Galaxy Auction sets for Red Cross

Hi all a quick reminder that today is the last day of the Jewelry Expo and the last day to place bids on the auction sets. Alienbear Gupte of Alienbear Design Has donated 3 gorgeous sets for auction the details and craftmanship on these sets is exquisite. they are also a wonderful compliment to the celestial wedding gowns I recently released. Make your day complete by adding this set to the gown.

All the money from these sets are going to the red cross so not only can you own a beautiful unique set of jewelry your donating to a wonderful cause. The Red cross is involved in so many diverse efforts that need our support from disaster relief, blood drives to a multitude of international efforts that help children and families with immediate and long term support. They are one of the organisations that comes in we we have disasters such as Katrina and the flooding in the midwestern states.

"The American Red Cross responds to approximately 75,000 disasters a year, including Tropical Storms Dean and Erin, floods, house fires, storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and other disasters, providing aid to more disaster victims nationwide. This means that every eight minutes a disaster strikes and a family turns to the Red Cross for help. The Red Cross stands ready to turn the compassion of our donors into action. With your support of the Disaster Relief Fund, a fund that requires constant replenishment, the Red Cross can be there for the victims of the recent storms."


Please find it in your heart to make a donation if not to bid on a set a donation of any amount I am sure would be appreciated, you never know when you might be in need of help.

A Star among the Celestial Heavens

I have to admit when I got a request to do a wedding gown with stars I was a little stumped on how to design the gown to give it the sexiness the bride requested with a touch of glamour and elegance that would tie it all together to make a regal but sexy bride. After tossing around a few sketches this is the final outcome. Im really happy with how it has turned out. The set has 18 pieces all together I originally did the skirt in all satin, after I was all done I mulled over it for a few days and decided I really wanted a touch of lace to soften it a bit so I have included both the satin version and the lace version. The bodice is adorned with pearls diamonds & stars. I have created 6 variations of the top inculding sheer, opaque and one with little stars on the sheer bodice. The skirt has a jeweled draping of prim sapphire stars with tiny seed pearls and diamonds draping from it, the back bustle is also adorned with more saphhire stars. there is a sparkling bustle overskirt with tiny little stars that cascade and sparkle over the gown. A No sparkle bustle included. A ceremony gown and reception gown are included as well.

I wanted something special to go with this gown and asked Alienbear Gupte of Alienbear Design if she could design something to match this gown and she has created the wonder Celestial Jewelry set which compiments this perfectly it has tiny stars like a starry night in the celestial heavens with pearls a great set that will suit many different occassions. The Sapphire Tiara in included with a veil and face veil in the Celestial gown set which can be found at my main store Allure by Sparkle Skye

Set details - The set Includes a ceremony gown with train, prims stars & pearls adorn the bodice of the skirt & bustle. There is an optional sparkling over skirt with tiny little stars that cascade & sparkle over the gown. Also Included is a reception skirt also with an option sparkling over skirt. A prim sapphire & diamond tiara, veil & face veil is also included

Celestial Wedding Gown in Sky Blue Allure by Sparkle Skye

Celestial Necklace Alienbear Design

Celestial Sky Blue

Celestial Bride in Sky Blue Portrait

Store Shot

Details Shot of Bodice, Celestial Tiara & Celestial Jewelry

Bodice has 6 variations including sheer and opaque. The gorgeous Celestial Necklace was designed for this gown by Alienbear Gupte of Alienbear Design the necklace has beautiful detailing and 2 tiny stars dangling down the back of your neck and comes with matching earrings. I love this set as it has a modern feel and is extremely versatile can go from a formal event to a casual outfit.

Celestial Gown in Sky Blue available at Allure by Sparkle Skye

Celestial Necklace by Alienbear Design

Lost in a Dream

I was in a bit of a melancholy mood last night when I started to do my vendor pics which didn't get done so ended up doing a composite and taking some photos around the sim. I used to do alot of composites and create stories for them this photo was shot at ImaginExotica where I have a tower in the water that goes up in the clouds. I often like to sit there when I'm trying to work things out be it a new project or some problem I have.

The image originally started with me thinking of a princess locked away in a tower broken hearted but wistful, her tears don't show on her face but in the rain that pours all around her as she contemplates both her past and her future. Her tower is both a prison and refuge where she hides but hopes... But what does she really hope for? The old fairy tales would say a handsome prince to come to her rescue but I think this princess chooses not to be bound by those old tales as seductive as they can be. What will she do, what path will she take? Only time will tell.

Oh gentle winds 'neath moonlit skies,
Do not you hear my heartfelt cries?

Below the branches, here about,
Do not you sense my fear and doubt?
Side glistening rivers, sparkling streams,
Do not you hear my woeful screams?

Upon the meadows, touched with dew,
Do not you see my hearts a'skew?
Beneath the thousand twinkling stars,
Do not you feel my jagged scars?

Seek not my mournful heart kind breeze,
For you'll not find it 'mongst these trees.

It's scattered 'cross the moonlit skies,
Accompanied by heartfelt sighs.
It's drifting o're the gentle rain,
A symbol of my silent pain.

It's buried 'neath the meadow fair,
Conjoined with all the sorrow there.
It's lost among the stars this night,
Too far to ease my quiet fright.

No gentle winds, seek not my heart,
For simply ... it has torn apart.

I'm wearing the Milady Arwen Gown with Ruby Red trim paired with the Princess Gelashia set in silver from AlienBear Gupte.
Allure by Sparkle Skye

ImaginExotica

Alienbear Design

Jewels for a Princess

Princess Gelashia by Alienbear Gupte

This is a stunning piece from the wonderfully talented AlienBear Gupte of Alienbear Design, one of my hobbies many moons ago was doing jewelry pieces made from tiny crystal beads and when I saw the Princess Gelashia set it truly brought that to mind. I think this is the first set I purchased from her and was delighted at the quality of her workmanship. It captures a delightful feeling of regal elegance with a touch of the whimsical with the two hearts intertwined, she also has a pair of very delicate earring with tiny little hearts, tear drops and earring backs that are just perfect.

What impressed me most about her work was the detail of each piece she creates, there is a thoughtfulness of design that carries through out all her pieces be the from her regal pieces to her playful fun pieces.
The Princess Gelashia set was a wonderful pairing with the Milady gown I just finished for a bride to be with a ruby red trim. The photos of the necklace simply do not capture the richness of the set.

Edited slurls added and working correctly) Yay finally figured out how to do slurls !

Jewelry - Princess Gelashia in Platinum by AlienBear Gupte - PLATIUM JEWEL AlienbearDesign

Gown - Milady Arwen with Ruby Trim -Allure by Sparkle Skye

PhotoBooth Photosphere???

Ok well I'm going to tip toe in for a moment on the photosphere, photobooth discussion for just a moment. Firstly a disclaimer that I know neither of the partys that advertised the spheres and do not own either of these booths (there are a few for sale looking through forums) but I do own a number of photobooths and the first fully enclosed round booth was actually made by Hosequeen which was a freebie that I got in 2004 which I happen to love and still use, Its not fancy doesnt have all the new neat features these have but it was the original concept of using and enclosed round booth and super low prim.

Also at SL burning man last year some did an awesome huge display showing landscapes in a fully enclosed build where they broke up 1 panaromic photo across many panels so you felt like you were inside the landscape. (I cant recall the project creators off hand)

I have also bought a number of other photobooths not because any were broken but because I liked a background or some effects it had even tho 99% of the time for adds I photo against white and do my own backgrounds. Its still fun to have something for a quick photo in world that has a great back drop already done for you.

I think the creativity is not really the shape of the booth but in the backgrounds it comes with and the new backgrounds you can get for it and only you the artist can express those through your own ideas, feelings and emotions. I think thats what people are really buying not just a sphere or a box that anyone could rez or tint.

Thats my 2 cents on it for what its worth, hopefully no one takes it the wrong way, its entirely possible I'm way off base here and not understanding (it wouldnt be the first time) .

Tell me How ....

Tell me how it happened
in those strident tones that
once shook my lips,

shaken once the tones
in those lips that told me
it happened,

how my strident touch
quivered through you,

as the echoes had flickered
through the candlelight once-
once your touch had echoed
through flickering quivers,
the candlelight, as through the
lips that once in shaken tones
stridently echoed my touch,
through you.

Gothic Rose - Blood Red white trim

Gothic Rose Black trim

Kiss my Tears Away

Gothic Rose

The first in my Gothic wedding gown series its a luxurious deep black satin with blood red roses and a red satin trim. The wedding ensemble includes a cathedral flexi gown and cathedral length bustle, a reception gown without the full train and a smaller bustle, a Rose garland wreath with a delicate lace veil and a lace over veil, lace & pearl detailed panties, stockings and black satin gloves.


Available in the Bridal Salon which is on the second floor of my main store. Im me to view this gown available only at Allure by Sparkle Skye

Katherine Red & Silver

Detail shot

Finally got the silver done for the Ruby Red & Teal. I have changed a few things around in the shop and have completely redone the Hub so things may look a little different when you TP in. I have also added gift vendors for this gown as well as the Milady and SweetHeart gowns. This is the last week of school in Glendale thank goodness still slugging it out in my anatomy class Ill post some pictures soon. I have to say sculpting the skeleton out of clay is one of the hardest things I have ever done

Katherine Teal & Silver

Pastels Part Deux

Ivory

These are the last of the Pastels for the queen Katherine series. Except for doing the ruby and teal with the silver trim I think this series is complete. I am considering a bridal version of this that will be slightly more elaborate but need to give that some more thought.

Peach

Its really hard to see the detail on the bodice in these shots so when I return from school I may do some close up details shots. The peach, Im not sure how well it is showing in the photo but it has soft undulations of the golden sun peaking through the peach.

Pale Blue

I really loved making this gown, Im a bit sad I am done with it as I still have so many ideas for it but I will put those to a new series. Hope you enjoy it.

Pastels for Queen Katherine

Lavender Iridescence

A few more colors for the Queen Katherine of Aragon series the lavender has a touch of iridescence in the fabric that makes it shimmer as you walk. The pink is that real light icey pink the reminds me of a desert. The spring green feels like the morning dew on the grass.

Pink Pastel

Spring Green

Dark Colors for Queen Katherine

Queen Katherine in Purple Amethyst with Silver Trim

Here are most of the dark colors for the Queen Katherine Series. This ensemble consists of 16 pieces that will give you a minimum of 6 looks. The set includes 3 jeweled corsets, the ballgown 2 styles of prim sleeves a selection of 3 lace & diamond neck ruffles and 2 capes and a jeweled tiara with lace netting that has easy touch color changing. The fabrick is a highly detailed silk velvet with lace and jewel adornments. at my main store only Allure by Sparkle Skye

Queen Katherine in Ebony with Gold Trim

Queen Katherine Teal with Gold Trim

Colors for Queen Katherine Gown

Queen Katherine Magenta with Gold Trim
Queen Katherine Sapphire with Silver Trim

Queen Katherine Ruby with Gold Trim