Store Modeling Opportunity

Many of you, my customers, have asked in the past about store modeling and photo shoots. Well I have decided to try an experiment with store modeling. Please feel free to come pick up an application at the store. I will be limited the trial to eight ladies, but may include more over time. Just click on the sign near the modeling stands in the collections area which is here.

To qualify you must:

• be able to communicate well in English.
• be available sometime between 8 AM and 10 PM SL time (hours may be extended later).
• have at least one premium quality skin. Group gift skins are fine as long as they are not TOO specialty.
• be at least six months old.
• be able to adjust prims such as skirts so that they FIT you as needed.
  
• have hair and shoes to go with outfits (you can also model in exchange for shoes).
• join the Samara Studios Fashion group for group announcements as needed.
  

Rez Day Gift Adventure

I wanted to give you a heads up on the event happening this WEEKEND (don't come yet). You can find a board with a notecard at any of my shops including the main Samara Studios store.

The fun starts Saturday evening for the European folks and runs though Monday morning - so Sunday is The Day. That's only fitting as it is my 2nd Rez Day.

I made five special gifts (dollarbies) for my shoppers, all based on design favorites. There is a Fall print top with texture belt and matching skirt, thigh high socks with textured prim tops, some silver and garnet domed earrings, and SHOES based on the I'm So Sexy boot.

Originally there were only four stores but I lost count along the way and made five items. That worked out perfectly though since I opened a shop in Ivy Falls. Here's how it works. You can start at ANY of my shops. For the most fun, you buy the item in the BRIGHT pink box (not hidden - this is not a hunt) and you get a folder with the item(s) and a landmark to the next store. Go there, get the goods and a new landmark. If you don't want all of the items just skip them and TP to another shop.

The main shop is at: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gembong%20West/226/111/25

Other stores are at Urban Shopper in Dubya City, Serendipity Isle, Ivy Falls and Whiskers (by the giant shoe store).

New Digs: Ivy Falls

I've joined the Ivy Falls sim -- currently home to the great Exile Hair Hunt! I REALLY like it here. It feels like Fall and that's my favorite season. Time to get back into sweaters and boots and maybe even a hat.

There are two Samara Studios stores here -- one for cool weather outfits such as sweaters and jackets and such, and one for shoes for men and women. My best sellers for the cooler season are here as well as some Halloween goodies and a few things from the home store. It was so great to have extra prims to decorate with. Yeah!

The leaves are falling as I walk around the sim and the train has people riding in it this morning. Oh, and the hair? I found two not far from my shop, so come on over and take a look around. There is lots to see and do.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Ivy%20Falls/130/135/27

New Digs: Serendipity Isle

Just announcing that I have a new store at the redesigned shopping sim, Serendipity Isle. It's right down the street from the ballroom and across the street from Dark Mouse :) I see that Love Chic has a little cart across the way. It will be fun to see who else moves in here. I like the look of the place, the rent is very reasonable and the landlady seems nice. So we'll see how it goes.

The store features my best sellers as well as current dollarbies. The main store is still in Gembong -- celebrating two years there in December!

This will be one stop on my Rez Day Treasure Hunt Tour. Hope you can attend.

State of the Union and all that jazz

It's an odd night tonight. I somehow feel compelled to write a bit here with no real logical reason. It might be the stars and I suspect that if I looked at the charts (RL pro astrologer here) I would have some answers. Instead I decided to ponder in print-- partly for my own records, but more for the newer designers that might be wondering what in the Phil's Place firmament is going on.

My second rez day is on the horizon, so while I am not a member of the old guard, I am definitely not in the newbie camp either. For those of you that don't know, I have had a shop from the beginning. Furniture to start, then shoes and garden and stained glass and eventually clothes. So I am fairly diversified in Phil's domain just as I am in RL. The US economy took a major hit today with stock market plunges, major financial institution bail outs and the like and I was wondering how all this might affect our virtual land.

We, USA folks, are no longer the giant majority of residents in our virtual land -- not like we were when I joined. We are diverse and global and all that is fantastic. We are a melting pot of ideas and cultures. Still, the real world is global these days, interdependent more than ever before -- especially economically.

So, especially for the NEW designers who have just set up shops, worked hard and given their hopes and dreams, laughter and tears to the SL economic system and wondering if it will work -- here is what I want to say. This is just ONE case and not necessarily the norm. I doubt many people want to tell the world their financial business -- virtual or RL, so I figured maybe someone should say SOMETHING (smile).

I have been here two years and have had a shop almost that long. I have ALWAYS made a profit. I expanded from my profits and I have no RL money invested. I am still making a fair amount of profit. Most likely a lot less than our superstars and a lot more than many shops. Currently I am diversifying a bit into different locales. I have no guarantee that my half sim will ALWAYS be available to me. Estate owners come and go and I have been lucky so far; "owning" in estate land is always an iffy proposition. As times get tougher in RL and at Phil's we will most likely see more abandonment and "foreclosures". Virtuality mirrors RL in many cases.

My profits now are about half of what they were six months ago. So those of you that have read this far now have "some" benchmark which I am guessing is somewhere in the middle ground (just a guess though -- I have heard 60% down from some retailers). What does that mean for the new kids on the block? It's a bit like starting a business in the midst of a recession or depression and I have done that in RL. It is tough. It is also doable if you are wise, and careful; if you pay attention and know your market. Having a good product is pretty much a given or at least I hope it is.

My personal plan is to stick around. I am still enjoying SL and I am still making money with not all that much effort. I put in 12 hours days for a year so I can rest on SOME laurels now (wink). If I find that I am in the hole for a couple of months, I will either downsize or leave. This is just me, this isn't meant as advice.

And I guess it is time to get off the computer and back to my DVD. Virtuality is after all, simply that.

New Free Use Pose Stands

Many of you know that there is a free use photo studio here in the Collections area of Samara Studios. Today I have added three pose stands with very nice poses from some of the top animators. Some were gifts, some purchased. There are 69 poses to choose from including a "male" pose stand.

There are also switchable backdrops for each one. These are the same design as the photo studio where you click to change the texture. I have adapted them and added additional textures including plain black for Photoshop uses and several neutral light backgrounds. The backdrops are for sale for $100 and are Mod - Copy so you can add your own textures if you like.

There is also a free pose version of the pose stand which now includes all the FREE poses in the gift box. So if you want to keep it simple and have a use for a pose stand this might be what you need. It is $10.

That's part of today's news!

July's Picks Winner

Beth Lehrner was the July winner in the Samara Studios Fashion Picks contest. She chose the Uptown collection for her prize. Congrats to Beth!

I Don't Get Out Much!

I really don't. But Sn@tch is having a modeling contest and it was great to get out of my workaday persona. I also wanted to support Ivey as I think she does a great job! So I went back in time a bit before I had a mini empire (laughing here) and worked so much. And it was great!





Thank you Ivey and best of success with your show!

What's YOUR Number?

Some of you may have seen the post in the official blog about the new Avatar Rendering Counter.It let's your know how hard the server is working to render (draw) your avatar. You can see the number floating above the heads on those near you as well as yourself. Handy.

So what does all this mean for the future? Presumably some clever script guys will make an "entry gate" that won't let people in with a number over -- say 500 (very good but 1 is best - wink). This got me wondering about my wardrobe which is naturally fairly simple except for my everyday OMGthatissogorgeouswheredidyougetit--CalicoCreations hair. I did a little test for curiosity sake and thought you might want to see what happened.

These are different versions of a VERY PLAIN outfit.
Click the photo for a larger view.

• The one on the far right is my normal attire. THE BIG RED NUMBER is BAD. BAD BAD NUMBER - LOL. It includes 25 prims per shoe, facelight and HAIR.
• The picture in the middle is the same but with simpler (ETD Sideswipe in this case) hair.
• The picture with the lowest number is the same but without hair. Something I would almost NEVER do.
• And, If I take off ALL attachments and just have on a top and pants (no prims), my magic number is ONE! How great is that?

The big offenders are obvious to many of us. Blinging jewelry (which seems to be out of fashion of late anyway - at least in the places I visit) and hair. Animation overrides don't figure in this number as they are not "rendered". They still cause lag of course. I was amazed how much my C G Facelight added to the mix (48 points) -- especially since windlight doesn't love us so much without it. HMMM.

Still, you can see by the center picture that you can look fairly well dressed in crowded places with a very low and happily green number. For me it was all about the hair.

So, I went through my personal hair inventory and picked out a few of the styles that are low numbers on the rendering scale. These are by NO MEANS the only low number styles, just ones I had in my inventory. And not too surprisingly many of the best ones for server strain are FREE. the more transparent and flexi prims and the more complex the design, the higher the number.

• *booN free hair NMR32
• *DH*Mysena Romance
• *TRUTH* Danny (VERY low number)
• Bewitched Rosa (VERY low number)
• Calla Lucerne
• Curl Up and Dye: Dani, Flying Nun, Geisha, Lara, Nyna, Rico
• ETD: Airy, Chandra, Sideswipe, Vixen, Casual, Lily, Jessica II, Jolleen, Bedded Attitude, Simply Sassy
• Gurl6: Babe, Abundance, Nikki, Impulse
• Philotic Energy: Beri, Boyd, Eliane
• WRONG: Style 1

If you want to check your own numbers, you need the latest release candidate (Second Life 1.20.5 (86279) Apr 30 2008 00:22:51) or later. You need to turn on your ADVANCED menu if it isn't showing. CTRL+ALT+SHIFT+D will do it. Sorry, I don't know the MAC keys.




Here's the path you need to turn on Avatar Rendering Costs. Have fun and spend those rendering costs wisely if your in a crowd. Cinco De Mayo is coming up :)

The Corporatizing of "Phil's Place"

I am not a big wave maker -- in RL or 2ndL (wink) but as I went to drink my first lovely cup of City Coffee of the day I found that something was nagging at me and just wouldn't let go. The blogs were full of news this morning that Armidi had added to their team ( http://armidi.com/workroom/?p=57). According their post Sofia Gray, Public Relations Manager, states that these new avatars will work "within the style boundaries set by Armidi".

When I came to our joint virtual world a year and a half ago it was MUCH smaller and to be fair, it wasn't nearly as pretty as it is now. We had a few big name designers and even fewer small shops. What we did have was INDIVIDUALITY. The whole point of "Phil's Place" was to go forth and create (or enjoy the products of those that did if you weren't a creative sort). Now that the world is growing and people are coming to it with dollar signs in their eyes -- are we going to lose all that?

And no, I am not upset that I wasn't asked to join up. I just make everyday clothes at everyday prices. That's the tag line and within that I try to get creative now and then. If my seams match and the clothes look good on most avatars, I'm a happy camper. There is no way I want to be in the "fashion world" and I can say with certainty that I would still be in my own shop had an offer appeared in my mailbox. Others have and I have said no. I just want to do my own thing.

But what about all the other wonderfully creative designers out there that are having trouble making their tier or getting their names out there. Will they follow suit and become a mesh of cookie cutter conglomerates? I SO hope not.

As Ivey says (I'm paraphrasing here so I hope I get it close to correct) - Buy what you like, not what you think you should because someone tells you it is the style.

Addendum: Apparently this was all an April Fool's joke. Since it seems like a lot of people did NOT get it (smile) it is probably a GOOD thing it was out there? Joke or no. Something to think about.

**************************
There was a lot of chattering on iheartsl.com about this post. I am just adding my answer to that here so that it can be referrenced :) in the future.

I am not upset that the "joke was on me". I however do not think it is very funny. For many people -- and especially those that have been watching "from a distance" this is not far from the direction things have been going. Especially all the new (cough) three month old designers and new (cough - wink) shops that are springing up. I wonder how funny this may seem in a year --- or not. A very happy April 1st to your all. I'm going back to work when I can log in again. Cheers.

SS on OnRez

Just a quick post to say that I am adding items to an OnRez store. I am starting with clothing collections (pretty much finished today) and moving on to the rest of the single item clothes and then shoes. If I don't get TOO burned out, I will add many of the home store items also -- or at least the big ticket items (wink) , but I may need a rest in between there.

You can find my OnRez store in progress at: http://shop.onrez.com/Samara_Kasshiki

This is a LOT of work for thousands of items but I will work at it a bit at a time. If you have purchased any of the collections and are fans, please feel free to share you thoughts with the ratings. Thanks.

This will also let you send gifts to friends and I know some of you have been wanting that. So give me some time. I'm working my way towards the shoes (wink).

Hybrid III Upgrade

Just a purely personal post to say I have just upgraded from a Hybrid II to III skin-- just out at Nevermore Studios -- Sovereign Crux (150, 62, 622). Same skin tone, same basic makeup but much nicer with more definition and better lips. I was very happy with my old Hybrid II but this is more sophisticated I think and keeps within my same look. I gained a year or two but it has been that so only fair.

I am a happy camper here doing my little happy dance as I go off to read in the real world -- are we sure WHICH is exactly the REAL world? :)

Shoe Store Remodel

With some great poses from Long Awkward Pose -- Carolina Beach 21/164/22 -- , a modicum of patience and a LOT of changing outfits, the shoe store at Samara Studios has a face lift. It might look more like an art gallery than a shoe store, but I was getting OH so tired of all those shoes in circles. The shoes are still there. Even the circles are in evidence, but I hope the new layout and ambiance will be both pleasing and easier to shop. So take a look at the new Shoes Simply Shoes when you are in the neighborhood.




You get bonus points (not redeemable for ANYTHING of import) if you can guess where all the photos were taken. These two are easy. The others a bit more of a challenge.

Photo Studio Free Use

I spent the major part of the day making a photo studio that people can use for free. There is a large variety of backdrops (both RL and SL street scenes and such as well as plain). You simply click on the backdrop to change the photo. The floor works the same way. There are all black versions of both the backdrop and floor as well as a nondescript gray; these can be used for photos you will take into a graphics program. The solid black floor works as a riser of sorts to make it look as though you are REALLY in the backdrop.

The lights -- all eleven of them -- work independently so you can get the effect you are looking for. There are instructions in a vendor on the wall.

The rules are simple. No nudity; no violence; play nicely :)

There also a new, private and quite lovely changing room adjacent to the photo platform. Anyone can use that also. There are pose stands and good lighting as well as a place for a friend to sit, chat and advise on your wardrobe choices (wink).

Find all this in the Collections area at:

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gembong%20West/218/46/25

(That is a 25 Z cooridnent there - for some reason it won't come up but map seems correct. Sorry.)

Samara Studios Photo Contest

I really love the photo contests that are going on now and I woke up this morning thinking that the cavernous clothing collections shop (it used to be the Home Store for goodness sakes) could use some filling up. I'll get there eventually with clothes collections, but some of those bare walls are getting to me. And So ---




I am looking for fun, romantic, beautiful, dangerous -- you name it -- shots of people in my outfits. Primarily these would be the multi-pieced collections as I will be moving all the collections to that area (Gembong West 224/70/28) in the future. So if you are one of the multitude with the "flirty lace top", I hope you love it-- but I don't need a picture of it - LOL.

I know there is a lot of work involved so I want to make this worth your while. Presumably you love taking photos anyway ( I definitely do) so this should be FUN and not a JOB!


Prizes for any of the pictures chosen (I need a few so this isn't a one only thing) are:

• Your choice of any of the collections (value up to $595)
• 1000 Linden gift voucher (transferable) that can be used in for ANY Samara Studios goods (shoes, sailboat, home, garden etc. -- this does NOT include the vendor shops on the far side of my complex - sorry).
• 500 Lindens in cash.
• Your photo on the blog (ah the fame).
  

I REALLY want to give these prizes away and have some fun new pictures around the shop, but quality photography and layout are a must here :) Be creative!

Hints: If your photo has another person in it (this is fine), YOU should be the center of attention. So your boyfriend for example should be holding you from the back or whatever).

NO nudity (we are showing off clothes after all).
NO overt violence.



Send uploaded photos IN A NOTECARD (Photoshop type enhancements are fine - at least 512 in one dimension) to Samara Kasshiki. They need to be full perm of course. Include your avatar name, photographer if it is not you, location if appropriate. Be sure you have permission for anyone ELSE in the photo.

Note: I will ONLY be using these in my store and on the blog. If you do NOT want to be on the blog just let me know and I will not post :) By sending in your photos to me, you understand that I "may" crop them or further change them before they show up in the store.

There really is no deadline per se as I would like to make this an ongoing event, but I would also like to make some additions to the store soon, so I will make my FIRST decisions on February 25. So send in some great pictures.

Thanks so much!

Face Light with HUD and Fashcon

There is a new free facelight with hud that is SUCH an improvement over the others. It is a must if you take photos in SL or simply want to look your best. Find it here, * Gembong West 226/116/23 * RIGHT next to the Fashcon poster (I am brand new and not in the listing yet) and right around the corner from the FREE pink undies set for February. Now how can you go wrong?

Live The Dream - Now open!

Live The Dream is now open.

Step slightly -- oh so slightly -- out of your comfort zone at Live the Dream.

This brand new section of Samara Studios lies right down the courtyard from Classic Casuals.

The Wanderlust collection (pictured) reminds us of romantic times. It comes with a belted blouse, a tuck in blouse, a mid-length skirt, leggings and leather pants (both slacks and boot cut). Matching boots are available. The blouse can be worn with or without prim sleeves (two sizes are included for easy editing). The blouse can be purchased separately.

Velossity racing leather sets (see earlier post) come in three colors with knee slides and modify decals. These are available in both men and womens sizes (prim parts). Jackets are available separately.

Collections often include coordinating shoe options as well as some unisex items.

If we only have one life -- let's Live The Dream!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gembong%20West/225/57/25

Sneak Peak at 2008!

There are some fairly major changes on the way in 2008 for Samara Studios. It seemed only fair to let the folks that come by the blog be on the "inside" of it all (wink).

In thanks to all the people who have embraced my Classic Casual fashions I will be continuing with CLOTHES. This blog will showcase fashion news only (it was almost there anyway - LOL).

Along with the designing comes a need for SPACE. I am a true believer in BIG vendor pictures. How can anyone be expected to buy from the tiny and blurry photos after all. So-------- the Home store will be moving across the plaza by stained glass. What was the home store will become an extended area for fashions making the whole East side of Samara Studios a dedicated place of BEAUTY!!!! Yeah!

For those of you who mostly shop for home and garden items, rest assured they will continue to be added to and changed as always. I love to build in world and won't be abandoning that any times soon.

The fashions in the new store will be a step away from Casual Classics. Don't worry, the basics will be continue to be added to also. We ALL need "Everyday clothes at Everyday prices". I understand the need to feel at ease in SL outfits that mirror our RL wardrobes. It is a comfort zone many of us embrace. At the same time -- we have the ability in SL to step out of our boxes just a bit and that is what this next store is dedicated to.

The first collection is called Velossity (and yes, I DO know that isn't how Webster spells it)! I started working on this for a RL and SL friend who races and wanted some racing leathers that looked more like RL ones. Along they way I discovered that I, Samara, was having a GREAT time trying on these outfits (/me smiles broadly). And isn't SL supposed to be fun?

So come embrace your slightly more adventurous side in 2008. It's a new year and if we only live once -- let's make the most of it.

Look for changes to begin after Christmas!

Secret Santa Signup

Want to spread a bit of cheer in SL? Sign up to be a Second Style Secret Santa. (Your secret is safe until AFTER Christmas anyway).

Just click on the poster at the clothing store to get a note card with more info or to sign up.

AND if you already signed up either at Samara Studios or another location please note that due to some problems, Celebrity lost those first three days of participants. So, come sign up again. You don't want to miss out.

Anniversary Giveaway - The Results

Just after midnight and the tally for the day is in. The event which ended at 9 PM saw over 1,500 items being given away with a value well over 75,000 Linden. Most popular was the Christmas Holiday outfit (not really a part of the ANNIVERSARY giveaway it will be available until the end of 2007 - see previous post) with the Asymmetrical sweater set coming in a close second.

Thanks to everyone who came by and made the anniversary party a success and gold stars to all the ladies who got a complete outfit!