New year, new release!!

First, HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!  I hope this year brings you everything you would wish for!!!

 

Where to start? I spent much of my holiday break working on the newest release and updates to some business related things. So, without further ado, here is Peacock, inspired by the peacock style crowns from the Victorian era.

And, introducing the winner of the model search among the store group.....Khaavren Blackwater! And don't forget the jewelry he's wearing while you look! * wink *

 

This is the first time for me to offer 'all color' sets. I hope you like the idea!

 

I also have a new freebie - one of the gatcha's from the Jewelry & Accessory Expo, and a new Very Nearly Free (meaning $10L). Lots of reasons to stop by!

 

The first 2014 release for Cherish Charms is nearly done so be patient a bit longer! The wait will be worth it!

 

See you soon!

 

-- Riendra

 

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A little taste of Italy - one of my favorite places!

I have to say I love Italy! It's one of the few European countries I've returned to, and I think I've been there at least 3 times now. There's just something about it that FEELS different from other places. My favorite city to visit is Venice, but that remembrance is just too long for this blog......

Anyway, one of the things I saw in Italy is items made with glass created in a millefiori style. You may or may not be interested, but here's a link to a short You Tube video on how they make these lovely patterns. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw_yUsTVS0

Of course, mileage may vary on the SL version! Here's my take on some jewelry make with glass in a millefiori pattern. I won't include every pic here. There are 8 different varieties, 5 with gold and 3 with silver. Enjoy!

 

 



Hope to see you at the store! Ciao!

Riendra

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We're now on Facebook! Stop by and Like us! http://www.facebook.com/AlwaysEclecticJewelry

The New Always Eclectic Main Store is OPEN!!!!!

YES! It's all together, um, mostly, and I made it in time for the start of Steam 7! I thought I was pretty prepared but I kept thinking of loose ends - and just thought of another one!

First, a pic of the new place - not the greatest but I'll get better ones later.

Doesn't do it justice - you don't see the landing point in the gazebo or the pretty stream, or the weeping willow or the.....well, you get the picture. Yes, I'm proud of it - it was a lot of work and I really like how it turned out.

Also, a new release and a couple in the wings....this comes in 9 different colors.

Also, I really, really like how my Steam 7 hunt item turned out. I tried for a totally different look this time. Let me know what you think.

Now, the list of things you have to do when you move stores....and I KNOW this isn't everything. This is just so you appreciate and understand when your favorite store moves, they have to WANT to move as it's a lot of work.

- Find a new location - the biggest piece of all - where? how much is tier? how many prims? what kind of sim? etc., etc., etc.

- Create a building - I chose to do this before I bought the land so I could, more or less, plunk the building down and start. That plan sorta worked. I still ended up changing some things since I rushed it a bit to make Steam 7.

- Create new merchandise! Can't open a new store without at least a couple of new releases!

- Do all the thingies to reset your merchandise vendors to the new location and TEST them all! Or at least I test them all and probably still missed something.

- Try to remember all the places your landmark is and change it - classified ads, ad boards, online sources, and OH!!! If you put an LM in your merchandise, you need to change it in all of the merchandise packaging too! That was a job and a half. I can't imagine the work if you had a big store.

- Landscape - and ideally have a plan before you start so you don't redo things. I, of course, did not do that and changed my mind at least 3 times before I finally made up my mind. Arghhhh! All self directed ARGHHH!

- Decorate the store if so desired - I desire, but haven't gotten to that part yet - getting there!

- Notify any hunts you are in that you've moved.

- Are you having an opening sale?? A promotion? Event?

- Let your group members and friends know.

- Post on your blog! ;-ppp

I'm sure there are a lot of things I have forgetten. As you see, it is not a five minute task. However, I love my new store! I hope you like it too!

Riendra

Love is in the air with the February weather - Brrr!!

I don't know about anyone else, but I spend February freezing!!! To warm things up a bit, I've created some new items for you that should help you find a little sizzle, subtly....

This first set is a Renaissance period set based on some earrings I found. Lovely! Elegant! And the rubies have a life to them....

This pearl fringe set is based on a necklace I saw. It really emphasizes the neckline and face, as well as that elegant wrist....

There are a number of old hunt items that I'll be putting out for sale. Plus, some really nice hunt items this month AND a special group freebie at the main store.

If you haven't been by the store in a while, stop over. You'll be surprised!!!

Welcome 2012!!

A new year always seems to bring hope and dreams. Besides the usual world peace and stamp out world hunger, I have some wishes for Always Eclectic...

.....Continue expanding the jewelry lines. I'm envisioning 3 lines - Victorian, Renaissance, and anything that doesn't fit into the first two!

.....Take or at least consider custom work requests. I completed one recently for the Dr. Who store in Mieville Wells (Who's Who). The owner seemed quite pleased with the outcome. There is more than one way to increase brand awareness!

.....Create a line of jewelry for Tinies. I'm not sure how I want to take this. I could just make reduced sized versions of my normal lines, or I could create silly stuff that would only make sense on Tinies. I think I may take a tiny, Tiny survey to see.

.....Have a stall or small store in each specialty area - Victorian, Renaissance and Tinies. This is easy enough to do for Victorian (already there!) and Tinies (there's a Victorian Tinies sim (Mieville Shelley) and there's Raglan). Renaissance seems a bit more difficult as most of the sims seem to be roleplay sims. This will probably take some research.

.....Learn about mesh in relation to jewelry making. I keep hearing that mesh is great for jewelry - I'd like to find out why and how mesh is created, etc. This is a stretch goal as I don't anticipate being ready for it for a while. I'm learning enough the way I'm going between Sculpt Studio and Blender and Photoshop and Illustrator.

.....Trust my own instincts. Recently I got myself into a, um, opinion war between a couple of strong willed, well meaning people. It got very uncomfortable for me. If I had stuck with my guns in the first place, I would not have had nearly the problems I ended up with.

I think that's plenty!!! I'll try to readdress these points periodically to see if I'm making progress or if the direction has changed. Makes sense for now though!

Happy New Year everyone!

Riendra

Twas the night before Christmas....

...and all through SL
Many creatures were stirring
Non-creatures as well.

And I as a diligent shopkeeper do
Some clean up, some stock up,
some straighten up too.

Through the hunt hints I go
through SL type snow
Friendly help waiting
to keep me a go.


To the top of my house
to the bottom of my stash
Victorian christmas dress hunting
and off in a flash.


To a Mieville fun party
Thanks Perryn, it was marvy!
We dance and we laugh
Then I must go get tiny!


Back to the stash
For my new w00tmas flash
then up to Raglan
for the fun w00tmas bash.


White reindeer have taken
the stage it is clear
It must be a conspiracy
to start the new year!

So I'll say Merry Christmas, happy w00tmas to all
Happy holidays to you all!

Riendra