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More Eyes

New today, ten more contacts. This line is called the "Natural Series".  Some of these shades are a wee bit on the "unnatural" side (violet, aqua). They are just not as dramatic as the last two batches, thus the title.  I may do one more series of eyes in the near future, just to balance out my walls.  I will probably also take the time to rework them for IMVU one of these days, I've got a couple requests for that.

Click to enlarge:

Jeepers Creepers!

New peepers at Celestial Studios!

I have released two series of eyes today.  I've been playing with these contacts for awhile, and I'm finally happy with the results! 

The first series is called "Deep Eyes", which is fairly self explanatory. Very dark and shiny shades, which I love when I wear blonde hair. I like the contrast.  There are 10 shades available in each series, priced at L$75 for one or L$375 for the complete set.

Here's the full range, and a sample of the individuals for detail (click to enlarge):

The second series is titled "Mirror" and is a super bright and shiny/reflective collection. Which is what I like to wear with dark hair. I'm just weird like that.  These have also been described as "Lazers". (Ty for that one Sol). :P But I like them!  I think they're very striking.

Sneaky Peaky

I sent the beta packs out today, so I guess it's ok to post a sneak preview of the new skins here since there will be 20 people on the grid that can wear them (if they don't hate them). The verdict is still out. :))

Beta Closed

I am not accepting anymore beta applications.

Thanks to everyone who I applied, I have way too many to go through!

**One hour later**

Ok, I've gone through every single beta application (almost 100 :O) and I must say "Wow!" almost everyone went way above and beyond the call of duty. I'm really impressed with the level of critique and information people included in their applications.  Not just what skins they wear, but why they wear them, when they wear them, and how they make them feel!

This was incredibly insightful and interesting to read. The applications themselves have been a HUGE HUGE help and all information provided will be taken into consideration.

I'm going to double the number of testers to 20 and I picked out a few that I'd like to call back later in the development phase to specifically test the darkest skins in the line.

I wish I could include every person who took the time, but I'd go bonkers trying to analyze everyone's input. I am however going to try to think up a little goodie as a thanks for taking the time just to fill out your notecards.

Thanks again, everyone and special apologies to the men who applied, I still don't have a men's line. :(

Call for Beta Testers

I've sadly (or happily, depending on your point of view) spent a decent chunk of my "vacation" working on a skin that's been in off-and-on development for about 6 or 7 months.  I think the prototype skin is very near completion. I've received mostly positive feedback from the few people who've had a chance to see the skin so far.  I would really like to get some more feedback about it before I decide if or how I want to develop it as a skin line.

This is where you come in! 

I have a few minor seam issues to work out in the next day or two, and then I'd like to have about 10 beta testers try a few on and give me their opinions.  I'll pass a notecard with some specific questions to answer and space for other commentary or opinions.  Please do not volunteer for beta testing if you can't take the question/answer seriously.  I will likely give "demo" versions to test, and then trade the completed notecard for full version of the prototypes, which will probably be three skintones with similar or same makeup, that you can keep and lord over your non-beta testing friends. ;)

The point of this exercise is to get constructive criticism about the skin and what could be done to improve it.  Saying "I LOVE IT!!" might make me feel happy inside, but doesn't do much to improve the product.  Conversely, saying "this sucks" or "this is a piece of crap" might get your point across (and make me feel sad inside) but again, doesn't do much to improve the product.  The type of feedback I'm looking for would ideally be something like:

"This ______ is too _______."
or
"I think the _______ should be more _______."

How to apply

If you are interested, please send a notecard to Starley Thereian. Make the title of the notecard "Your Name, beta application". On the notecard, please list some of your favorite skins that you own and wear now. I'd like to get a variety of tastes, so that is very helpful information for me to know.

If you are chosen to participate in the test, I will let you know via IM in SL and send you the demos and questionnaire some time this week.

About the skin

The skin was originally planned to be an updated version of the photorealistic Passport skins, but took a left turn somewhere on the path and has become a true hybrid of all the skins i sell now, additional photorealism, hand painting and computer aided shading.  Stinkybutt Willow (the earliest beta tester) has posted a sneak peek on PXP.

It's gone too far.  Now I'm being wished death, yay. I've taken my skins down and am taking some time away from the game.  I may be back, I don't know if the skins will be.  On the one hand, this is heartwrenching because I've worked really damn hard for the last two years to make a successful business for myself, but on the other it's just not worth it. I'm tired of being stolen from, bitched about, made a public joke of.

So, congratulations to the people who set out on the smear capaign. It worked wonders. The facts and truth are all twisted and somehow I am to blame for everything that happened to Torrid.  So bravo. *claps*

Bye. ,|,, >.< ,,|,

Turning comments off since anonymous fuckwits just can't resist the lure of a text field and a chance to agree with themselves.

Oh My God, Shoes!

So these are a pretty basic pair of new shoes, but that's good because they go with almost everything. :D  Despite being plain black pumps, I did work really hard trying to get the shoe shape right. I think it turned out pretty well, curved in all the right places. It must be right, because my eyes hurt from staring at them for so long.

I've also put out my older shoes again. I simply forgot when we moved to the new build, then decided it would be a good time to script some of them with my beloved color script. (Now Lulu compatible!) So the wood heeled shoes and buckled espadrilles are back and improved with the script. The grommet sandals are back too, but still just plain black.

OMG SHOES

Two new updos

I am on some sort of hair kick, I guess.  I need to make one more Charmed pack to fill my big wall o' Charmed skins, but I can't decide on theme for it and I'm still a little burned out on clothes after the last 200+ piece Lulu set, so.... HAIR IT IS! Or maybe shoes next. (Ok, Ginny? Shaddup now.)

The latest hair is two distinctive updo styles, both of which started as an attempt to make something else entirely but spun off in different directions, but I liked the end results, regardless of how far they strayed from "the plan", so I am releasing them both anyway.  Maybe I'll just keep trying to make that hair in my head and see where else it takes me. :))

My favorite of the two is the one shown above, which I've titled "Delish".  It's casual enough to wear with jeans and a sweater, but probably dressy enough to wear with a bridal gown as well. I love the versatility of the style, and add to that the color changing script, which affects the headband and flower seperately so you have almost infinite options to match your outfits. The texture on the headband is metallic to start with, so using "silver", "gold", etc. color codes gives it a really nice looking metallic finish.

Also out today is the one shown below, "Deco". Which I titled as such because the hair ornament (is that like a metallic snood? I don't know.) reminded me of certain art deco architecture (not that I'm an architecture buff, I could be way off. Who knows?).  I think it looks great with a more formal gown or with silks, if you're into that sort of thing. ;)

The headband on this one is also equipped with the color change script. It's tinted "navajowhite" in the picture to give it that sort of pale golden color, but is silver by default.

That's all for today. I'm off to enjoy the rest of my long weekend. Cheers!

Elise II

I've updated one of my best selling hairstyles. It remains pretty true to the original, with two main changes, new face framing bangs and flexible strands. This marks my first foray into flexi hair!  I must say, it's even harder than non-flexi hair, which is damn hard for me, given my obsession with perfect symmetry and my inaptitude for mathematics. Yargh!

This release happens to coincide with Dazzle Haute Couture's new  "Elise" dress, which is a gorgeous confection Ginny describes as "a girly dress for girly girls".  The tulle skirt over the mesh skirt is a great idea. It looks wonderful, and you don't see many dresses done with an overskirt this way.  The dress also has a really pretty iridescence to it, which she doesn't mention, but I think it deserves noting.  Anyway!  The dress and the hair look great together.

So... go buy them both! ;)