New experiences all the time....

Last night, I worked on a short machinima piece for Rodeo Drive Modeling Agency & Training Center.  It was both boring and interesting. I think part of that feeling stems from the lack of equipment. I think 'shoot' and think there should be something to shoot with. Not so in SL! It's just a little spooky... Hopefully it comes out nicely.

In the meant time, I'm continuing my Blender learning quest and have purchased Sculpt Studio and am learning that as well. I need to get merchandise out for Christmas by Thanksgiving in order to hit the whole season. Working on it!

Slowly getting inventory....and learning a LOT in the process..

First, about the store. I have some of my original items out now - a couple of lamps I made. They're cute gas lamps that have the flame that turns on and off.

I have several items that are lacking only one thing - a believable metal texture! I have the sculpts done and ready to go. In fact, if I ever get a metal texture for my chain, I'll be able to get out several things very quickly....alas it seems I have to learn a whole new area of Blender in order to be able to do this. I may finally be pushed to 2.57 as it seems these things are easier in that version. We shall see. Nothing amazing will happen in SL for a bit as RL will be hectic this week. I think I may put out a couple more lamps. I'm working on some additional inlaid designs for my tables.

I also have decided I'm going to participate in the Renaissance Hunt. Perryn Peterson sent many merchants a link about it and after reading the requirements, and that the start date isn't until December 1st, I think I can have some nice items ready. And no, I'm not going to say what! You'll just have to wait and see like everyone else on the hunt.

Modeling is, um, good and bad. In the advanced class, you learn advanced things that are much harder to do. I may not do very well at this part of the modeling, but we shall see. I just need to keep practicing! And it does take practice like anything else.

Stop by and see the store if you get a chance. Not much in it yet but it is SO pretty!

Now that I have a shiny new store, made to order (how cool is that! Thank you Vian Magic of Mieville Wells!), I have lots to do to get it going.

I purchased a Bejambled Sales Monitor system from Cory Hancock. It does many cool things - more than I really need right now. Planning ahead though - and it has one feature coming I really like! The ability to temp rez items! I'll just have to figure out which I want temp rez and which demo. I'm a touchy-feely person and would like the customers to SEE things in world before they buy if at all possible.

For now just getting a few things up to take advantage of the Steampunk Hunt hunters is my goal. Working on it! I just don't want to throw things up without due consideration, such as:

Returns and Exchange Policy

Separate email address - got that today!

Customer account kiosk - working on that

oh, and so many things!!! I'll get there - just not in 5 minutes as I'd like to!

On a side note, I finished beginning modeling school Wednesday! Yea!!!! Now to get a job! And of course.....take the advanced modeling class! Why do anything halfway! That's what my dad always taught me - so here I go!

I look at it this way. My modeling career can help support my store as I start, so any modeling gigs come first and foremost - so anyone reviewing my blog - please note that!!! It doesn't mean I'm not working on the store, but I will schedule my time to make modeling appointments without doubt and without fail.

Whew! Got that off my chest! Now if I could just get rid of this darn cold!

Always Eclectic Exists in Second Life!!!!

Thanks to the generosity of the Steampunk people during SteamHunt month, I have a new, beautiful store rent free through September! Such a deal! The SURL is http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Mieville%20Wells/107/149/31. I am so excited! Great location! Nice neighbors! Wonderful management!

Now, back to the inventory......time to kick it up a notch.....my beautiful store is going to be a tad sparse for a while. I'm sure everyone starts that way.....come over and take a look! Even empty, it is way too cool for words!

On the modeling front, one more class!  We were told the graduation requirements today and I think I'm pretty good. We shall find out....

Me...in a machinima...awesome!!

Part of our training at Rodeo Drive Modeling Agency & Training school is experiencing runways under realistic conditions. Lights in your face, cameras for machinima rolling, the whole bit. What a difference a few lights make! Those turns are harder to make out, the spots  on the floor are a bit tougher to hit exactly.....but it does make you feel more that an audience is waiting just beyond where you can see. Add in costume changes in rapid fire succession and the unpredictability of other models and you have a pretty realistic scenario. As far as I know, I only made one bit bobble - kinda stepped off the runway - oops! Rather than fret over it, I just stepped back on and kept going. Hair changes, shoe changes, the only thing I didn't try was nail polish changes. Nobody went on stage with the wrong outfit or anything. Pretty amazing all in all.

One more week left until graduation! Can't imagine what we'll cover in the last two classes...I will bet getting a new profile pic shortly. The new me deserves one!

As for the HHBS build contests, the week long build is in progress. We had a low turnout for the speed build, and more than before for the long build. I'm trying to advertise it more in the groups and on the SL events. Maybe that will make a difference? I hope so.

RL has gotten in the way of my doing too much with my wanna be business. That just happens. The next few weeks are kind of 'hang on to your hat' weeks in real life and hope I come out the other end okay. I'll do what I can; that's all we can ever do.

Halfway done with modeling school!!!

I've officially attended half the sessions for my modeling class. It's more challenging that I would have thought. Remembering to keep the lag down. Dress well for auditions but not too well. Be on time. Follow directions. Walk, pause, walk. Follow directions. Behave professionally. Follow directions. Do you see a theme here? Not following directions seems to be a big problem.

On the store front (pun intended!), I'm finishing up some things to sell that look pretty good if I do say so myself. I have that minimum of 25 things in mind...

I also have some leads on some good store locations. I'm still debating between hard store and store front....I will probably debate until I hit the button to rent or buy something. The debate now is prims - how many do I need? I really like the idea of temp rezzing products for people to see the merchandise before they buy it. Even if they decide no now, they will know they will be able to see things for themselves. I've gotten a lot of junk that I couldn't see before hand so to me this is a big thing.

Still learning lots about Blender and Photoshop and all the rest as I discover something else I want to do with merchandise or signage. Fun stuff!