Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Damiani Skins Review and Lust






New skin. I can hardly think of two words more welcome in Second Life. Just saying them calls up visions of fabulous original ideas and tantalizing new makeup styles.

Say it and the tongue does a little jig then curls up and purrs like a cat on a pillow. Ahhh.

I love new skin, can you tell? Well today dear reader, I had the extreme pleasure, the down right seduction, and the overwhelming joy of receiving from my good friend Pompeja Rossini a couple of brand spanking new skins from Damiani Skins/PomJ Fashion.

A relatively new store from the creative minds of Pompeja Rossini and her partner KaoZ Koba currently located at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Zenlan/123/187/406. According to Pompeja, she does the skins makeup while KaoZ does the skin detail. And from what I’ve seen, these two work fabulously together.

I feel awfully silly saying this but I was actually trembling as I tried on my first Damiani skin. Logically I know this is foolish, it’s not really scary, it’s certainly no ones King Kong, it won’t cook me and eat me, its skin for crying out loud! But tremble I did. Anticipation and worry that it might not meet up to my over exacting, anal retentive, must be perfect expectations!!! I shook. Sigh.

The truth is skin is kind of mysterious. As it happens, it’s kind of fickle at times. Sometimes it loves our shapes, sometimes it downright loathes them. Consequently I’ve bought skins in the past that while initially I thought looked good, turned out to be a very bad decision based on having to change my shape for a runway show or for a magazine photo shoot. A deep sadness overcomes me when I think of that.

But not today! Today I bring you two hot, original, maximum enjoyment skins that just keep on making my day better and better…arrr, arrr, arrr!! I feel myself channeling Tim Allen just thinking how lucky I am!

The skin fair starts in a mere three days and this skin WILL be featured there but I am one of the lucky, lucky girls to have their sweaty little virtual palms wrapped firmly around these pixels.

Michelle skin Sophisticated and Michelle skin Fair are the two skins I’ll show you today from Damiani skins. Although there is a darker tanned version of Michelle, I chose to go with the two lighter versions and play with the sliders to see how dark I could make them. Yes, that’s right they are modifiable! Not only can you change the pigment of the skin, but the glossiness of the lips and some highlighting details of the eye shadow as well. Oh my I was in slider heaven moving those numbers around, twisting those pixels to serve my will! Am I starting to sound maniacal? Oh well, it’s my skin now dang-it I can do what I want with it!!

Ahem. Anywho, for dignity’s sake I wish I could rein this back a bit but I just can’t. Take one look at those pictures, that creamy skin, the perfect pixel combinations the details of the collarbone, perfect shading of the breasts, inner elbow definitions and oh dear lawd the makeup. Look at that makeup! Doesn’t it just make you want to tear off all your clothes, run up to your partner/spouse/significant other/jealous friend/worst enemy and scream LOOK AT ME! It did me. But for the sake of the children- ok I don’t have any children but for the sake of my dignity- don’t say it- I didn’t.

I will tell you the lips on this skin are some of the best I’ve ever seen made in Second Life and I have all the top name skins because yes, I am a skin addict. No twelve step program can help me baby. The eye makeup on this skin is simply sheer fun. Color coordinating eye makeup with complementing lips tips the scale of this skin from really good to great. The eyebrows are perfectly shaped and colored not to dark, not to light with just enough realism to make the whole look work ideal together. I didn’t have to change my shape one bit to fit this skin. It just doesn’t get any better than that.

Michelle Sophisticated is slightly lighter than Michelle Fair and both have the same makeup combinations. Although according to Pompeja Rossini, sometime next week will be a new release of a whole slew of glam makeup for the Michelle line! Already new makeup… *cries.

Another thing I want to mention before I forget are the seams of this skin. Everyone who knows me knows how picky I am about seams. But the seams on the Damiani skins are done exceptionally well. Even in the really hard to hide areas of the tummy they did a superb job. If this is their first attempts at skinning, I can’t wait to see how far they progress in the future.

Now everyone knows I have to pick on something so I won’t disappoint you this time. ;) However it’s not much. The only thing I can find to critique on this skin are the bits. They are slightly out of focus and the southern bits are bare with not as much detail as some may want and no current carpet option. But since I’m not one to go around showing my bits to every Phillip/Torley/Pathfinder there is, I’m not too concerned. And as luck would have it, Pompeja told me she’s currently working on an underpants layer of carpet for Michelle and will include it in all future packs.

In all seriousness this skin line has displaced one other in my top 5 rank of best skins in my inventory. I’m happy to say that it’s this humble ink slingers opinion that the Damiani skins should do well in the Second Life skin market. It’s shaded nicely, with great makeup, well done overall. I’m pleased as punch to have it and bring it here for you to see and drool over.

If you want to get this skin now you can find it at http://slurl.com/secondlife/Zenlan/123/187/406 but they are going to be moving possibly as soon as next week to a new grand location at plush micron 170,85,22 so go today or next week but go visit Damiani Skins/PomJ Fashion.


Thank you Pompeja and KaoZ for sharing your latest creation with me, I wish you both all the luck and success you deserve. Great job!
Two makeup choices $1500L

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

PRESS RELEASE-photoLIFE OM-10


photoLIFE, Hale ukana (34, 29, 753)– February 24th - Three months ago OomPoppaMowMow Snookums was visiting a friend who was complaining about difficulties she was experiencing with her current photo studio. Having considerable experience with building homes in Second Life he decided to look into the problem to see if it was something he could help with. Seeing some immediate issues with his friends’ studio he attempted to contact the creator and offer his assistance in addressing the problems. Sadly the creator of that studio did not respond to his offer.


After doing research with several photographers and photo studio owners, OomPoppaMowMow Snookums armed himself with statistics on photo studio requirements and began the creation of photoLIFE.


His goal was to build a photo studio unlike any other in Second Life. He would handle all the scripting and building himself leaving nothing to chance. This would allow him to make certain all scripting was done to his exacting details.


In the world of the internet, if you build it they will only come if you tell them you exist. His photoLIFE studio is being promoted in world and out. The ability to buy his studio on SLEX and onRez is allowing this phenomenal product reach more and more people.


This amazing studio is now available to the public and can be seen and experienced in person at photoLIFE, Hale ukana (34, 29, 753). To discover just how different photography can be in Second life, visit the site or contact OomPoppaMowMow Snookums for a demonstration of all of the photoLIFE OM-10’s amazing features.


Be sure to read the article in the next issue of The Best of SL featuring a full length interview with the creator OomPoppaMowMow Snookums himself.

OomPoppaMowMow Snookums says, remember LIFE is good.

Interview Contact: OomPoppaMowMow Snookums photoLIFE, Hale ukana (34, 29, 753)

Thursday, February 21, 2008

LIFE is Good


Interested in the next generation of photography in Second Life? Then make your way over to Hale ukana (34, 29, 753).
No other photography equipment in Second Life compares. Come see for yourself, try out the one and only original photoLIFE OM-10 and see how good LIFE can be.
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hale%20ukana/43/36/751]photoLife


***COMING SOON*** The hunt for the FACE of photo Life a contest to find the model for photo Life products. How's your LIFE?

Friday, February 15, 2008

Couture On A Budget-Review GG Couture






Back in Texas, I always loved seeing the t-shirt that read, “If I am what I eat, then I’m fast, cheap and easy”. Well, I’m none of the above, but if I can find a deal in clothing like that, and it’s good clothing, then I’m all for it.

Yesterday I was out sim hoping for just something fast, cheap and easy and came upon GG Couture. A tiny little shop located at Cherry Button MoonDoggies (177, 11, 28).

Not a lot of designs but what she does have out is cute, cute, and cute. I plucked up this darling pair of dark green Capri’s with a buttoned high waist on the jacket layer, fully photo realistic and great detail for wrinkles and texture. I paired it with my Last Call blouse from Kirsten with those great Seinfeld puffy sleeves, some red tights from Creamshop and of course my favorite boots from Maitreya, Bloom in black. Nothing about this combination says fast, cheap or easy but it was!

Before you could say, give me a double cheeseburger, and yes I want fries with that, I had a complete outfit suited for a night out on the town or a night in, curled up with a good book and a nice glass of wine.

There is one teeny weensy design flaw in the back seam that doesn’t match up (see picture) but it wasn’t enough to keep me from being happy with my purchase especially when these Capri’s cost only $75L! While I was there I picked up a couple of other outfits I couldn’t resist and hopefully can blog them later when I get the chance.

Whilst I was sneaking around, I ran into Giana Paine, owner and designer for GG Couture and discovered she’s opening a new store soon. We chatted briefly and she dropped the skin on me you see featured in the second picture which will be available when her new store opens. So go ahead and drool cuz yeah, I got a copy, she hooked me up and it’s very pretty skin. Thanks Giana!

Green High Waist Capri’s $75L
Cherry Button MoonDoggies (177, 11, 28)

Friday, February 8, 2008

NAIMA- New Name New Location


Just a quick blurb to let you all know that great little shop I blogged back in October has changed names AND locations. Originally known as Naima Emporio, it is now simply known as NAIMA.

The owner is the same, the clothing still as fresh and original as before and the new location is simply magnificent. You've got to get time to go see this store. Very clean, very modern and ultra chic.

I managed to pluck up this uber cute, extra mini sculpted skirt while I was there courtesy of my good friend MariaBeatriz Beck, who also is the one that alerted me to the new store location. Thanks Maria!

You can find the new and improved NAIMA at: NAIMA Store, Clothes & Boots, Lagoon (66, 39, 21)

NAIMA Black Leather Sculpted Skirt- $250

Monday, February 4, 2008

Integrity- Do You Have It?


So many people in Second Life. So many that claim to care about content theft. So many that love the original content creators. If that’s true, get off your asses and do something about it now. Make your voice heard. It will take you all of one minute at the most to log into Jira and VOTE to lend your voice towards stopping these heinous acts against some of our greatest content creators and designers.

I for one am devastated that Minnu may never make another skin and that someone as talented as Emila Redgrave would actually consider leaving Second Life because no one in power seems to be listening. For the love of great, original and stunning design, please click the link and VOTE. As Tigerlily Koi said, there are about 3000 in the Calla group alone. Please, please make your voice count!

Also I want to remind people what Sachi Vixen from Adam n Eve said about her skins which I think is a valiant and admirable attempt to stop thieves in their tracks:

My PROMISE to you - If one of my skins is stolen and is offered for a lesser price, please do NOT buy it. Contact me and tell me where it is for sale by thieves and when I have verified that the skin is mine I will give it to you for free, you have no need to purchase from thieves, if you tell me about them, I will reward you with the item myself. This is the best way that I can think of to stop the thief in his tracks by making his product as worthless as he is trying to make mine. I will give it to you rather than let him profit from it.” – Sachi Vixen

Go to http://www.adam-n-eve.co.uk/ to see the entire article.

There is a way to stop this and together, with enough great minds at work and enough people willing to step up, it can happen! So be Blunt, come forward and ask people, What happened to integrity?

Saturday, February 2, 2008

Tuli S5 I'm in Love!


Have you seen the previews of Tuli’s new S5 skin yet? If not, please lift the rock in which you’re living under, crawl out, head straight for the Fashion Feed of SL and just scroll down a little. I feel certain you’ll see five or ten blogs that have already posted pictures.

Tuli Asturias is one of those great designers that keeps cranking out the most amazing work. In addition she has always been very generous and so very kind. I asked for and received some of her newest skins to review and boy am I ever glad I did. Normally I would say I have reservations about reviewing new skins because as everyone knows, I’m extremely picky about skin and I will tell you exactly what I think holding back nothing.

I have been know to yes, use Ctrl 0 to zoom in on seams and take glaring photos of pixilation at its worst. This time however, I am happy to tell you I had nothing to worry about. Not that I was that really all that concerned because anyone that knows Tuli’s work knows she’s a perfectionist at everything she does from clothing to skin.

This skin is no different in that it’s just sheer perfection. The makeup is incredible, the skin tones and shading stunning and those lips, omg no one does lips like Tuli.

Take a look at these photos I shot, completely untouched. This skin is divine. In the pictures I’m showing the three skins I liked best and had time to review.

Tuli S5 Med Glam 1, Tuli S5 Pale Rebel 2 and Tuli S5 Tan Diva 2.

The S5 skin line has 7 skin tones Pale, Asian, Light, Medium, Tan, Exotic and Goth.
The initial release will offer a choice of 8 makeup packs per tone, including Diva, Glam, Lace, Natural, Natural Freckles, Rebel, Sweet and Tears. Each pack contains 3 versions, but all of her makeups will be available in singles.

The release date for this line of skins is February 7th, 12 am SL time, only at the main store in Le Zoo, just a few days away. You can make it, just take a few deep breaths and know that in a mere five days these skins can be yours.

Le Zoo - Shops & Entertainment, Le Zoo (61, 166, 21)