I owe you an explanation..

*sigh* Yeah, I’ve been pretty unresponsive and slower in SL this last month or so.  I’m dealing with a lot of crap RL side right now, mostly involving the rising cost of fuel, my husband’s hour long drive TO work and then his hour long drive back.  So, I’ve been having to cut some of the stuff down that I can and consolidate others.

Here’s the senario:  My husband’s job is in Little Rock.  It pays 32K a year.. which was fine, until recently, with the rising cost of pretty much everything, except the paycheck.  Take home isn’t that great, due to two loans (medical reasons) we took out, so we’re slowly losing the battle we had nearly won on getting out from under the rock. He hasn’t gotten a raise in two years (this year no one got raises - or so he was told), and this next year doesn’t look likely either.  *mutters* 80 USD a week for fuel is just killing our budget and bad.

Before you ask, “Are they looking for handouts?”  NO!  No, no and no.  What I’m looking for is either a stay at home graphic arts job OR one that is closer to our area that pays equal to his current job for him to apply for.  I know I’m hoping for a rainbow here, because of the way the economy is turning.. So I’m spending more time searching and trying every creative means possible to get him a new job.  This means I’m drained on a mental level, so all I want to do when I give up for a bit is play City of Heroes to just hack and slash my way through.  Sadly, that might eventually go as we cut costs.

Right now, my shop in SL won’t be affected, because it pays for itself.  I’m really glad that I didn’t try to expand too quickly, or I wouldn’t be able to afford it now.  *takes a deep breath and lets it out*  So, right now, I’m digging and searching.

What I’m looking for is something in the area of Hot Springs, Benton, Malvern, Arkadelphia, (in Arkansas) if driving.  Anywhere in the US if working from home.  If you happen to know of a postion or such, drop me the info in world.  It would save me a bit of headache and free up time to work on my own stuff.

Hmm.. I might try to find a customer support job that lets me work from home.  I’ve had nearly 5 years experience doing that, and while abusive is at least entertaining.

Well, thought I’d let you all know how things stand at the moment.  I’m going to spend this evening working on a new gown, but please don’t shoot me if it’s not ready until Friday.

Also, quick shout out to Osiloa Jorgensen for her suggestion for a change to the packaging to make it easier to find the resulting folders!  Starting with the new dress, I’ll be doing *DX* <insert dress name here> so that the folders are a bit easier to find.  Then I’m going to go back into the shop vendors and my JEVN server and update.  Sorry, I will not be doing this for the SLEx or the Onrez sites, because it’s a PAIN.  Thank you!

 

RL ate me!

If you haven’t seen me in a bit, sorry!  I’ve been doing the whole being a mommy thing going, which means, awards ceremony and field trips and then family trips that get sprung on one around the end of the school year.  I’ve been so swamped that I finally got free for a day or so this week.   I’m working on two dresses to put up for sale and trawling for ideas for another.  So, sorry for being gone for so long.  I seriously had only enough time to do customer service.

Also, a bit of rant.  Folks, DO NOT SEND ME GROUP INVITES.  I don’t join groups that I personally don’t hunt for.  If you send me one, you are automatically on the mute list from here on out and are AR’d as spam.  This excludes invites from people with whom I’ve made a purchase of an item that requires occasional maintenance or am renting from. I will ask if I want an invite or will simply join, otherwise.

Now, people who are asking me about renting spots in their areas.. I’m looking into expanding a wee bit, yes.  Give me time, because I’ve got RL to deal with and I like to look the areas I might rent from before I make any commitments.  I am primarily Victorian/Old West/Civil War period, so I will ONLY be looking at those areas that fit that theme.  I have one branch at Victorianna Castle in Hogsback, because the owner specializes in Victorian, Doll, and Gothic Lolita style dress.  Kudos to her for the thoughtfulness!

As soon as I get a chance, I’ll add SLURLS to my sidebar so you can click and teleport to the branch/main shop.

 

Oops and Megaprims

Right, I’ve been so distracted RL side by the fact that my son is finally starting to sleep in his own bed without us getting up and down all night.. again.. that I forgot to post the release of the Dainty Time.  Yeah, I’m sorry.  It’s a pretty little ball gown and meant mostly for dressy events.

Also, someone please explain to me why LL bothered to shut off the server side megaprim creation ability?  This is rather like locking the barn door after not only having the horses escape, but having the barn burn down behind them!  Just let us create mega prims, Linden Labs.

And before you exclaim, “But they’ll be used for griefing!”  Umm.. you can do that with regular prims too.  Look in your normal Linden hell.. I mean sandbox and you’ll find the non-megaprim griefing.

A lot of builders use these things responsibly.  I use them in my shop for walls, floors and whatever.  I keep them within my boundaries and make absolutely sure that they are under the 60×60x60 in size.   I don’t see how one 60×60x60 (although mine run more like 30×60x20) is any harder on the physics engine than roughly 36 10×10x10. This is not the megaprims set physical, only left un-phantom.  I am not interested in physical megaprims, because I know they’ll still do bad things for the physics engine when set physical.

One thing I could suggest is if a prim is over a certain scale, remove the ability to check mark the physical button on it.  Heck, it could be for any prim over the standard 10×10x10, as long as we were allowed to create them!

 

Cosset Time Released!

Cosset Time BlackPIC

Originally uploaded by raudf

And I also realized I never posted last week.. Oops. Chalk it up to exhaustion and just flat too busy.

Well, anyways, I’ve got this fine dress up for sale in the shop now. Also, I’m retiring one of the gowns, the Teatime, which was the first Victorian Times dress, so it’s for sale for L$75 now until the 16th. Then it’s gone for good, because I’m not going to release it as a freebie.

Now, anyone got any suggestions on how to get a child who is not only afraid of being alone, but of storms to ease over the fears? I’ve tried many different things, but none of them are working.

 

I hate XP and Dell

I think the title says it all.  Over the course of this last week, I’ve had to completely reformat my harddrive.  What happened?  No clue, but it happens almost every six months.  This happening while dealing with my son’s (again) cancelled field trip.  So, I’m frazzled.

The shop is ‘down’ and open, with a few other changes.  Let me know what you think of it.  I’m looking into using a different vendor system for the in shop vendors.. because there’s not floating text and people can’t seem to understand they need to look at the local chat to see the prices.  I felt that was better than trying to use the floating text, since people kept confusing what text went with what vendor.   If you have any suggestions on this, let me know!

Next on my agenda.. sleeping.  But first, I’ll be working on the Gala jackets in their various colors.. as soon as my computer finishes updating.  Also, I’m working on a Victorian style dress, but am thinking of doing a formal dress as well.  Maybe a casual if I can scrap up a few brain cells.

If you see Raudf in world and say hi.. and I don’t respond, I’m sorry!  I’ve probably found my keyboard to be very comfortable as a pillow.

 

Updates in Shop!

Wheeeeeeee!  I’m a masochist!  I got tired of the horrible shop and decided to build a new one, which is located exactly 300.500 m up in the air over the old one. (If you want to look.. just don’t umm.. like.. bother Trill too much.)  So, yesterday, I spent 5 hours building it, so far.  I’m not going to move it until it’s completely ready.  I think it’s looking much better now.

Also, I’m going to be releasing the Gala’s jacket as a separate piece for those of you who wanted it, but didn’t want the dress/pants/shirt combo that came with it.  It’s also going to have more colors than the ones in Gala.

Just thought I’d let you all know what I am up to!

 

Doll Time Released!

*sigh* SL couldn’t behave, so I had to retexture one of the dresses.  Fortunately, I’ve started using Trilliannas as my test subject, so I caught it before it went out.  I did texture it yesterday, I swear!  SL just hated me.  But it’s up for sale now.

I’m dogged out, since last night was spent dealing with a child who refuses to sleep by himself, even though he was FINE until that last set of really bad storms that came through during the night.

 

Doll Time Sneak Peek

Doll Time Sneak Peek

Originally uploaded by raudf

Hi, hi, everyone.. yeah, it’s been a ROUGH week! My son still isn’t able to handle the night, so I’m changing tactics on it and see if a new way might help… but I have found a few braincells and some alertness to actually get a dress done.

Introducing, Doll Time! Theoretically, it will be released tomorrow.. depending on LL’s ability to keep the grid up. Seven colors, and based on a doll dress I once saw. Couldn’t resist trying to recreate it. Okay, I failed at that, but then, I usually do, because then it’s more my design than anything.

Well, I’m taking a break tonight to prepare for the new tactic on child fear vs sleep.

 

Sorry!

Sorry, there’s not going to be a new outfit for the next couple of days… I’m dealing with a six year old who is suddenly terrified of thunderstorms.  Monday night was kinda iffy, but today.. I’m running on one hour of sleep.  I’m both angry and disappointed in the kiddo, not because he’s afraid, but because the huge tantrums he just HAD to pull to keep me from getting any sleep too.  He got maybe two hours of sleep and he’s going to school anyways, because of the tests they’re having for kindergarteners.  Well, he might, if we’re not flooded in again.  *sigh*  If it’s not, I’m picking up a small fan for white noise and some children’s benadryl.. and adult benadryl.

I might get it out tomorrow, if I can get some sleep today while the kiddo is in class.  *crosses fingers*

 

Fanciful Time Release!

Fanciful Time PinkPIC

Originally uploaded by raudf

Thank goodness SL behaved long enough for me to get this dress up for sale, not to mention textured and all.

Yes, folks, I’m still here and this dress has a bit of the whimsical, impractical to it. Imagine trying to get this dress through a real door! It has the hat, and the top comes in two layers for those who want to show a bit more skin.

If I’m allowed to stay home tomorrow, I’ll get to work on a new dress, but it’s unlikely. *sigh* RL loves dragging me away from the computer!