Beginning to Look a Lot Like Gothmas

Another December in Second Life is here. This will be my fourth, and second as a merchant. The last few months have been spent slowly updating the store after rebranding to @->~ISD. I knew it wouldn't be an easy process, at least as far as the amount of work involved, but I admit I could have planned it all a bit better. I did it in spurts as my time and energy allowed instead of waiting and dropping it all down at once one it was finished. There's been some confusion with organizers and bloggers as a result, and to add to the mess was a small move of the in-world store, but all in all it was pretty painless. But there's still a lot of work left to be done. The in-world store is completely updated now, but the Marketplace store is in shambles (more on that later) and I'm no closer to opening the in-world group I've been wanting—I might end up shelving or even scrapping the idea, I haven't decided.

One thing I am rather pleased with is the new vendors in the store. One of the complaints I've been hearing around the grapevine is not having clear permissions and price shown on an item. To address this, I've come up with new vendors for the store that have both price and perms below the vendor ad. Vendor adds have also been added to all the boxed items, another complaint that had been going around about merchants in general.

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Despite the slow rebranding process, I've still been busy putting new stuff together. Items that premiered in A Clockwork Spiral and Horrorfest are now on the walls, the latest TSG Sinner's Hunt has just ended and now into December, there are two hunts and an event with many more goodies.

First up is the BHD A Steampunk X-Mas Hunt. I mentioned before that the Clockwork Spiral finally gave me a reason to work on Steampunk wares, so when I saw the announcement for this one I jumped at the chance. It didn't take long to decide on what I wanted to do:

@->~ISD Clockwork Celestial Wings - Black Snow (Retail version)

There are two versions of these mesh wings. The ASX version is a full-sized open pair of wings (on the right), copy only with a resize script. The 'full' version offers much more: regular and petite sizes, copy/mod with resize script, plus an HUD that changes the wings between open and folded with a shine option. The ASX Hunt is a 1L hunt, and the full version is available in-world (and soon on MP) at a reduced price of L$200 until the end of the hunt.

Next up is the Winter's Dark Hunt, another 1L hunt, with many great gifts to be had. My offering for the hunt is a gift each for the ladies and the gents:

 A second color for each is available on Midnight Mania boards:

Both colors of the scarf and vest are a taste of what's to come, with the upcoming and much anticipated Gothmas by Gaslight Event.

Gothmas by Gaslight is one of the bits of Second Life I eagerly look forward to. It started out as a simple grid hunt, then became a gacha fair, and now it's blossomed into a full shopping event. If I seem to gush a lot about Cursed Events, that's only because the masterminds behind it are some of the best people and beautiful freaks I've ever had the fortune to meet in SL.

Though the event is still two weeks away, I got to work right away on the goods for it. Both the scarf and vest will be for sale in five other colors, one of which will be exclusive to the event. There will also be two gachas at the event:

Gothmas by Gaslight begins on Dec 15th, and more details will be made available as the date draws closer.

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On a closing note, I've decided to extend an offer to everyone for the month of December. It's the season for gift-giving, and as I stated at the beginning my Marketplace store is a royal mess. A good deal of stuff isn't listed, and everything that is listed needs updated. So by way of apology and in the spirit of the season, December will be a Buy One Gift One special. Every regular item purchased in the in-world store (past hunt gifts and current hunts excluded) will be delivered to one other person of your choosing. As easel at the front of the store will have the full details.

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With best wishes for the season, 

        ☥ Stacey

This is Halloween, Everybody Make a Scene

Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn't you like to see something strange?

 

Without a doubt, Halloween has become the most celebrated event of the year for almost everyone I know. It's the time when we all get together and have fun, being what we want to be and reliving some of the childhood of Halloweens past. Of course, a lot of our 'treats' are a little more grown up, now...

And what would Halloween be without lots and lots of goodies from the neighbors? As usual, SL pull out all the stops and fills the month of October with more events, new items and gifts than you can shake a Pixy Stix at. I dove in to the fray with several new offerings for both the Goths and Gothlings

First off is the much-anticipated return of Horrorfest. The three-week event is back after a hiatus and The crew has pulled out all the stops to make sure the comeback is a memorable one. Dozens of vendors from around Second Life have come together to bring you a sim full of amazing items for all your Goth, Horror and Halloween needs.

Every vendor has at least one brand-new item with all proceeds going to the Epilepsy Therapy Project, as well as many more with new items donating 25-75% to the charity. There is also an eerily beautiful gacha graveyard filled with even more items

I decided to go back to my 'roots' for this event. As much as I enjoy the challenge of working with mesh clothing, I absolutely love making jewelry. I found the perfect centerpiece to work from, and it all came together beautifully. 

The Death's Grip set comes in five colors, and are packaged as a set and earrings and choker separates) with a complete pack of all colors for each. The 'Death' color is a Horrorfest exclusive with 100% of sales for all three options going to charity. All other colors and complete packs donate 50% of sales to charity and will be available after the event both in-world and the Marketplace.

The gacha items is a hand fan in nine colors. Sculpted prim fans with a mesh skull grip, scripted to open and close on touch. The rare prize is a complete set of all nine colors.

Landmarks for the main booth and the gacha are available at the store by clicking the Horrorfest sign in the New Releases section.

Horrorfest is also holding the Grande Olde Halloween Horrorfest Hunt for the duration of the event, with over 70 Horrorfest merchants participating The 1L hunt object is a jack-o-lantern pumpkin. My prize for the hunt is a sixth color of the Death's Grip jewelry set, 'Sepia'.

A hint is available on the hunt sign at the top of the stairs.



Several bloggers have already showcased the Death's Grip set, and each one of them have stunningly beautiful pictures for us.

Aarya Phantomhive - Dark Phantom

Willow Llewellyn - DEADASWE

Darkley Aeon - guerilla avatar

Mildread Gloom - Horrorfest/Dark Collective

Shayariel Teardrop - Shopping with Shay

Anika Bellissimo - Classy Trashy 'N' Free
Zivaah Jansen - Haute Selection
Tigist Sapphire - Ticklemetummy
Purz Nirvana - Hurry Up and Change
Cindy Gedenspire - Gedenspired 

Thank you, each and every one of you. I'll update this list and Plurk each new post during the event.

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Isabelli Anatine of Uncertain Smile Poses is holding a Spooky Times Halloween event at her store, and was gracious enough to let me join in. 

For the event, I've created a new set of mesh backpacks called 'Don't Fear the Reaper'. A Grim Reaper pattern in six colors with a matching metal skull dangle, 100% unrigged mesh resizable for both Goths and Gothlings.

The orange backpack is a free Halloween gift and only available until the end of the event.  All other colors are sold as separates or a complete pack of five. They will be available after the event both in-world and the Marketplace.

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Not quite done with the Halloween goodies yet! There are three more gifts I've out out for the Halloween season.

This first is a seventh color of the Death's Grip jewelry set, available as a Midnight Mania prize. The board is set to auto-deliver when the target is reached, and will be available on the board until I have something new to put up.

Next is two Halloween freebies, one for the grown-ups and the other for the Gothlings of all ages.

Hoodoo Voodoo Corset Piercing

Skully Hair Bow - Orange

Both are on the floor in the Discounted & Freebies for 0L until Halloween.

 @->~~~~~~~~~<-@

 

More events and new items will be coming soon, including the next round Flux and The Sinister Goth Sinner's Hunt (Greed). Stay tuned for updates.

Stay Beautiful,

           ☥ Stacey

Something Steampunk This Way Comes

I've always had a soft spot for Steampunk. A lot of it has to do with the Victorian attire at the heart of it, which is something it has in common with Goth; trading black and silver for brown and brass, much of the attire is just the same. There's even a Steamgoth subgenre that blurs the distinction between the two even further. And I don't think that's a bad thing.

Plus, they both have corsets. I have a thing for those.

Much like the 'Gothling' category (for lack of a better word), I've had an interest in designing stuff for the Steampunk/goth crowd, but never got around to it. I had my first chance with the now-concluded Burlesque vs. Steampunk Hunt. Originally I was going to go all-out for it, and had even planned to make entire outfits. Then something even more exciting came around at roughly the same time: Bronxelf announced the A Clockwork Spiral event. With the rousing success of the last World Goth Fair, I jumped at the chance in participating in another Cursed charity event with a line-up of amazing talent. You can check out all the hows and what-fors of the event in the link above. Suffice it to say, I knew right away I'd want to focus my attention on bringing the best new merchandise I could to the event. While I was happy with my hunt item, this is where my attention would go.

Sadly, time and real life conspired against me and I couldn't bring half of what I'd planned to the event. But I do have a handful of items available in my little storefront there, and once again I'm happy with the results and pleased to be part of yet another fundraiser event.

So without further ado, here's a quick look at what I'm offering:

@->~ISD Clockwork Spiral Corsets

Rigged mesh corset in five sizes. There are three 'tightness' variations available (what I've personally dubbed Loose, Fitted and 'Ribs? Who Needs Ribs?'), each available separately for L$200. These corset will be available after the event, but I encourage you to buy them this weekend if you can, since half of the proceeds go to charity.

@->~ISD Clockwork Spiral Cane

Unrigged mesh cane with a built-in hand grip AO. The cane is copy/mod sit it can both be resized and if desired, the AO removed. This item is an ACS event exclusive, selling for L$100 with all proceeds going to charity.

@->~ISD Clockwork Spiral Necklace

Mesh gears and spring coils in red copper suspended from a sculpted 'vine' cord of engraved iron. Female fit, but copy/mod for custom fitting.  Also an ACS event exclusive, L$100 and 100% to charity.

@->~ISD Clockwork Spiral Eyes

Unrigged mesh eyes, rusted scrollwork sclera and engraved brass pupils. The package includes three different pupil sizes and an alpha layer that hides both system eyes and eyelashes. Work for all genders and most species (they'll even fit petites with a little bit of prim wrangling), and copy/mod to help that along. ASC event exclusive, 100% charity item also for L$100.

And finally, my little storefront has a gacha machine. The prize:
@->~ISD Clockwork Spiral Goggles

100% unrigged mesh unisex goggles, red copper eyepieces and gears with black leather straps. Eight colors of lenses are loaded into the gacha, with adjustable transparency (manual edit, not scripted).  There's also one rare prize loaded, a scripted color-change pair with all eight colors.
The gacha is L$30 a pull, with half the proceeds going directly to charity.

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Like other past charity events, my only wish is that I had more to offer, but like those events I'm more than happy to help out the cause in any way I can. If you want to help out more towards the charity (the National Kidney Foundation) beyond the generous merchants at the event, there are donation jars around the entire grounds and several DJs playing over the weekend in fundraising shows (including a big show with a Best in Steampunk contest—check the site for details), and you can donate directly to the NKF.

The event is through this weekend only, Sept. 18th-22nd. But a little Broxelf birdie tells me that if the event does well, it'll be extended to an entire week next time around. So let's do what we can to make it a success and help out a great cause.

You can get a direct LM to my storefront by clicking on the ACS sign on the New Releases wall of the @->~ISD store.

Stay Beautiful (and Steamy),

        ☥ Stacey

Barker? I hardly knew 'er!

It's that special time again that only comes around twice a year, and I don't mean your haircut. September is here, which means the Twisted Hunt has landed on us all again.

If you don't know what the Twisted Hunt is, it's one of the oldest (if not the oldest) grid hunt in Second Life. There's been many imitators over the years, and now dozens of grid hunts every month, but Twisted still holds a special place for those that have done it, either as a hunter, a merchant or like me, both. This was THE hunt I wanted to get in on when I opened shop. And now I'm on my fourth romp into the insanity. If this is your first time, please take the time to read through the website. It won't stop you from going insane, but it will slow down the process and maybe even make it a somewhat enjoyable trip.

The theme this time around is Carnival. Not a new theme as far as hunts go, but Twisted being Twisted, well... I think that scary clowns will be the least of your worries.

While it would have been easy to take the macabre route for the theme, seeing as how easily it lends itself into Goth, I decided to keep it a little more traditional.

There are three gifts in total: two outfits in the main path and the doll key on the Petite path.

• The Circus Tent outfit is comprised of an underbust mesh corset and mesh v-front skirt, both in 5 sizes. The velvet long-sleeved crop top comes in three clothing leyers, and a Lolas Tango applier for both top and bra layers.
• The Ringleader outfit is a mesh vest and pants, also in 5 sizes each. The velvet pullover shirt likewise comes in three clothing layers (plus pants and underwear layer for the bottom) with an unrigged mesh collar.
• The 3-Ring Circus Petite Doll Key includes both a rotating and static (non-rotating) key

All prizes and their components are copy/mod.

In addition to the three hunt prizes, there are two gacha machines set up in the store.

I'm particularly tickled with how the eyes turned out. It quicly went form "I wonder how this will turn out?" to "Oh, these things just scream Twisted!"

(it's not a perfect loop, but you get the idea)

 Both gachas are L$20 a pop, ten prizes and one rare each. All prizes are mod/trans for trading or gifting. The cheek piercings are ready to wear out of the machine, but the eyes are boxed. I've set up a small rezzing area for you to open them up. Look for the Lament Cube stripe around the gacha:

Even though it has an auto-return in effect, please be kind and clean up when you're done.

Best of luck with the Twisted Hunt, and all the fabulous prizes along the way. I hope you—

"HEY! What about the other stuff in the picture??"

Oh, you mean the top hats, the collar, bowtie and the shoes?

"Yeah! They're not in the prizes! What kinda scam is this?!?"

Don't get your panties in a bunch. You can have them too. They're in the chest in the middle of the store.

"...What's the catch?"

Oh, so you ARE familiar with Twisted Hunts. Good. If you want the extra prizes, you'll have to do a little more hunting. For all the gory details on the mini-hunt, click on the easel next to the chest for a notecard.

@->~~~~
That really is all, now. Have a Twisted September, everyone.
Stay Beautiful,
          ☥ Stacey

Staring Blind

The last week of the month is on us again, and that means it's another round of Horror Haute. This time around I've created something that I rarely babbled in, and that's avatar parts. Not long ago, I got my hands on some mesh eyes and started playing around with them. I've several designs on the drawing board, but the first of them is out and ready.

The Bloody Blind Eyes are copy/mod, adjustable to most sizes of avatars. Included is an alpha layer to hide bot eyes and lashed, and the bloody tears are an optional tattoo layer.

Available at the Horror Haute guillotine in the New Releases for L$50, and in the Horror Haute vendor after Aug. 30th.

@->~~~~~<-@

The end of the August also means that we're just days away from the Fall installment of the Twisted Hunt. I've been working away at prizes for both the regular and petite hunt paths, as well as some gacha prizes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have enjoyed creating them.

@->~~~~~<-@

That's all for now. Stay tuned for more info on A Clockwork Spiral and Horrorfest 2013 events, new releases and other store developments.

Stay Beautiful,
       ☥Stacey

.::MADesigns HAIR::. ~ GRETA ~ Red VII; ~Black Arts~Diamanda Skin- Ruby Rose; @->~ISD Bloody Blind Eyes; @->~ISD Blood Moon Choker; @->~ISD Gothic Piercings; Tori's Stylez (TS) Charm Gown - Red; *H:: hO wEAr ::H* Muse Gloves

Gears and Gothlings

Heya, everyone. More newness rolling out today.

To kick things off, if you've been into the new store you might have noticed the sign that says 'Dollies & Gothlings'. Making more items for these two categories is something I've always intended to do, and the new releases coming out today will hopefully be the first of many more to come.

First off is the brand-spanking new Hoodoo Voodoo backpacks.

Click to view larger image

100% unrigged mesh corduroy backpacks with a voodoo doll pattern and a spider charm hanging from the flap. Both colors come in a 'bloody' and 'clean' (bloodless) pattern, available for L$100 each and L$300 for the Pretty Face Pack, in-world in the New releases section and on the Marketplace. 

The second 'new' item this month is another mesh recreation: the Skully Hair Bows.

Click to view larger image

 Available in six colors, each with a hairband and bow-only option. L$50 each, or L$200 for the Pretty Face pack, in-world in the Dollies & Gothlings section and on the Marketplace.

Next up is the BHD Burlesque vs. Steampunk hunt. This 1L hunt runs from Aug. 10th to Sept 10th, with many great prizes available. The hunt object is a gear with a top hat. The prize I have for you is something for both the ladies and the gents, the Clockwork Vision Goggles.

 Much like the Gothlings, the Steam genre is one that I've always wanted to dabble in.I'm quote please with the way these turned out, and I consider it a warm-up for what's to come: I look forward to further flexing my steam-powered muscles in designing for the upcoming A Clockwork Spiral event by Gothika. These are the same wonderful freaks that bring us the wildly successful World Goth Fair. Just like always, many great merchants are lined up for the event, and I'm thrilled to be participating for the cause.

That's all for now. As always, stay tuned for further updates on new releases and upcoming events.

Stay Beautiful,
        ☥ Stacey

Surf and Sanguinary

Heya, everyone.

To kick off August, I've got some new-new-and kinda-new stuff for you.

First off is the new-new, with the August round of Flux.

I wanted to bring a little Goth back into my offering this time around, so I whipped up a little something I call Dead Tropics.

All four colors are available for L$100 each, plus a Pretty Face pack for L$300. While you're at the booth, you can also pick up a little freebie, a mesh hibiscus flower hair accessory:

There's a special scripted texture change version available in the Flux Gacha, which will only be available until the end of this month's round. Be sure to hit it up for many great prizes, the proceeds go towards the cost of the sim to keep this great event going. The swimwear will be available in the main store at the end of August. Until then, swing by the Flux Kon Tiki Trailer Park and Flamingo Lounge for these and many other awesome items by some awesome people. You can also pick up a landmark in the New Releases section of my store, to the right of the entrance.

And speaking of the store, it's a new store!

I'm still in the process of putting in the last bits and pieces, but everything is in its new home with more new stuff to come.

Which brings me to the kinda-new: next up in the "mesh revamp" project is one of my early and still favorite pieces.

Funnily enough, this is the piece that I thought would be the easiest to remake, but as Murphy would have it, proved to be the hardest. Regardless, I'm very happy with the results and I hope you are too. The updated Bloody Tears Brow Piercing is available now in the store and on the Marketplace.

That's all for now. Sta tuned for more updates coming Soon™.

Stay beautiful,
        ☥ Stacey

The Old is New Again

Heya, everyone!

A while back I said I had plans to revamp some of my older wares with newer mesh versions. I got started on that project a few days ago, and I decided to start with the one I figured would be the hardest: the Gothic Piercings set. But once I got started it went a lot smoother than expected, and I'm very pleased with the results.

And now I'm happy to announce that the new Gothic Piercing sets are ready to go, exactly one year after their original release. All the colors (amethyst, emerald, ruby and sapphire) have been meshed up and repackaged. The four separate pieces and the Pretty Face packs are available on the store floor in place of the old, and all the Marketplace listings are redone.

 

(Click an image for its Marketplace listing, then follow the Related Items links for the rest of the pieces and packs) 

As an added bonus, I've also rereleased the mania prize version (turquoise) and slipped a second board up next to the piercings (the Velvet Empress is still available in the first board, with a slightly lowered target). The board will be up for the rest of July, when I hope to have most of the rebranding done and the new store in place.

There are a few other items I plan on giving the mesh treatment, as well as other new releases on the drawing board, so stay tuned for future updates.

Stay Beautiful,
        ☥ Stacey

No Kings or Tyrants

Happy 4th, everyone!

With the coming of another American Independence Day, @->~ISD brings you a bit of good-ol' fashioned patriotism and a bit of good-ol' fashioned royalty.

The rebranding is going at a slow but steady pace. I've already started to implement some of the changes in the existing shop, so that everything will go as smooth as possible when I drop in the new store.

One of the changes coming is an in-world group. There will be a small fee to join, but in return members will enjoy a discount on most in-world purchases, exclusive Midnight Mania and Lucky Chair prizes and group gifts. The group isn't open to the public yet, but there will be an announcement when it is.

Focusing on the rebranding, I'm not participating in any July hunts, but there's still some new items and events going on, with a new gift and new dollarbies available.

First off is the return of Flux, a monthly themed bazaar featuring dozens of great merchants. I'm thrilled to be a part of it, and hope to participate in the months to come, seeing what I can come up with to fit the themes. This being July, the month's theme is Americana. While I strayed away from Goth for this one, my offering touches a bit on my punk side.

 

Two wearable demos, one for each style vest, are available at the @->~ISD Flux room for 1L. 'Wearable demo', in this case, means a 'demo' of the product that doesn't have any lettered textures or floating signs saying that it's a demo product. You get a vest that lets you preview how it fits on you before buying the event item, and you can keep wearing it. Double win!

The His and Her Faded Glory Vests are only available at the Flux Bazaar, from July 4th to the 28th. Grab a taxi from the link above, or visit the store and click the sign on the New Releases board for a landmark.

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Also new in the store this month is the first of hopefully many new mesh clothing releases: the Velvet Empress.

The outfit comes in four colors (crimson, midnight, nightshade and sable) and as pack of four, available both in-world and on the Marketplace. The skirt is rigged mesh in seven sizes, and the clothing layer corset top comes with a Lolas Tango applicator. The fifth color, Wine, is available on the brand new shiny Midnight Mania board in the store with a low target.

@->~~~~~~~~~~~<-@

More updates to come, including new and updated items and further details on the rebranding and store group. Until then, Stay Beautiful.

        ☥ Stacey

A Sign of Things to Come

  

Coming up on my store's two-year anniversary, I've decided it was time for a bit of a facelift. Along with the new branding, there will be a new store and hopefully several new items. 

I'll be phasing in the rebranding over the next few months. New and revised items will be the first to get the new brand, then the older items that don't get discontinued (and yes, you'll have a chance to grab them at a discounted price before they're gone). 

I have a few other store changes that are still in the 'firm maybe' category. I'll update as I make decisions on those.

Stay Beautiful,

     ☥ Stacey

Giving Doesn't Have to Hurt

Heya, everyone. Quick and dirty update this time around, with a couple new things in the store.

First up is the June Horror Haute event. This month's new item is a jewelry set called 'Got My Eye On You', a corset collar and pair of earrings for when you need an extra set of eyes... or three.

All three pieces are copy/mod with a petite-friendly resizer script, and like it says on the tin, 100% mesh.

The set will be on the Horror Haute guillotine from June 24th to June 30th, next to the New Releases board, for L$100.

Next up isn't a new item. It's a new thing.  As I've mentioned in previous posts, the Sophie Lancaster Foundation is a cause close to my heart. Its aim is to end prejudice and hate for alternative lifestyles and subcultures (and everything else) through education and policy change.

Even though I don't talk about it much, there is another cause which is similarly close to me. Free2Luv is a nonprofit LGBT artists' community, aiming to "stand up to bullying and support equal rights." The organizers have discovered Second Life and are eager to utilize its potential to the fullest. To that end, they've set up a donation kiosk system and an in-world group, which I was all too happy to participate in. All proceeds go directly to a Free2Luv SL account and straight to the organization with no middle man. The group joiner is there below the donation box. If you'd like to join in with a kiosk for your own store, or know someone who might, kiosk packages are available for free at USC Texture Tomb at Paradise Landing.

And that's all for now. There will be another post very soon about the upcoming Flux event and other new items in the works. Until then, stay beautiful.

     ☥Stacey

@->~ISD Got My Eye On You Collar & Earrings; @->~ISD See No Evil Dolly Eyes (prev. Horror Haute, available in-store); Skin: - Quarantine - Fragmented Love Broken Doll Skin (old ZombiePopcorn Hunt gift); Hair: +DV8+ Dreadful - Carbon Black (no longer available); Lips: Pin Me Down Lip Markings (past Horror Haute item)