On early autumn I spent some great time working with Gracie Kangjon-Bayn and Stephen Venkman of Royal Living Magazine. I was invited to give an interview for the magazine about being a designer, finding inspiration, managing my store and many more.

If you'd like to read a story about me and [MAGIC NOOK], you will find the interview in September issue of Royal Living Magazine. You can also read it below:

Long time no see! My RL projects are currently taking a lot of my free time - new and awesome things are happening, but I didn't forget about SL, just focusing on other things at the moment. I felt though that it's time to update the blog with some news.

These days I've been only logging to SL to make/rez stuff for events. I didn't event advertise the items, or send review copies to anyone (*blush*). So in the next few days you may expect new review copies (if you are a blogger), a reply to your inquiry (if you are a customer) and quite a few new blog posts (if you are a reader of this blog) :)

I'm kind of late with this announcement, but it's better late than never, right? :) [MAGIC NOOK] is a proud participant of FAIR event, and if you still haven't heard, FAIR is a monthly event from CHIC Management which focuses on a theme of time. Each participating designer is inspired by one of the 24 hours in a day.

I got 11PM, which inspired me to create Parisian Romance Clutch Bag. It is a small charming mesh hand bag – a perfect accessory for a date night and a great finishing touch for any evening outfit. It features a big leather bow and a cute zipper across the top. Held in your hand, it will add a pop of colour to your look.

The bag is available in 5 colour packs. Each pack consists of 5 clutch bags scripted with bow texture change (25 colours) and zipper texture change (2 colours).











For more information on the event, please visit FAIR website. For the time of event, the bags are ONLY available at event location, so be sure to visit!

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] @ FAIR event

Happy shopping! :)

I've been away from SL for a while because there's a lot of cool stuff happening in RL :) However I did manage to release new items in the meanwhile.

Love Bracelet is delicate feminine puffed heart bracelet with a little gem attached to add a lovely hint of colour. It's available in silver and gold, and scripted to change gem options: colour, glow intensity and shine intensity through easy menu.

Wear the bracelet alone or layer it with other favourite bracelets. You can also wear more than one Love Bracelet at once and just change gem colour on each to create more funky look.







The other new item is funky and unique letter ring made of a wooden tile attached to a gold ring base. You can change the letter on the ring or choose one of 18 special characters through easy menu.

Feel free to stack more rings together to display short words like ‘fun’, ‘love’, ‘win’, ‘sexy’, ‘cute’, ‘you’, ‘hey’ etc. It's a great gift for Scrabble fans or a lovely treat for yourself.



You can get all these items at [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store.

By the way, be sure to check The Dressing Room every two weeks. You can get [MAGIC NOOK] items there cheaper than usually. Currently Drizzle Earrings in gold are available for 70L$ only!

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Happy shopping! :)

Vintage Fair 2012 opens its doors to the public today at 4PM SLT! I worked hard last few weeks to bring you these new items created specially for the event.

Golden Life Sunglasses are my first MESH item for sale! They're glamourous, oversized, attention grabbing and chic - so... always in style :) They will give you an air of mystery and that fabulous movie-star look.











Each pack consists of sunglasses scripted with:

• frames texture change (5 colours)
• lenses texture change (11 colours)
• lenses opacity change (11 opacity levels)
• lenses glow change (11 glow levels)

 
Additionaly each pack includes two prop sunglasses (they have arms in different positions than the main sunglasses). The props can be used as fun attachments, eg. worn in hands, attached on clothes etc. You can also rez them as decoration items in your virtual home. They are scripted the same way as the main sunglasses.





My second new release for Vintage fair is Victorian lady Cameo Necklace and matching Cameo Ring. The necklace has an accent of ribbons, dangles and beads, but modern (plain) version is also included.





For more information on the event, please visit Vintage Fair 2012 website. You will find there maps and SLURLs to all booths as well as information about Vintage Fair Flickr Competition!

[MAGIC NOOK] booth is located at CHIC sim - I hope to see you there!

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] booth at Vintage Fair 2012

Happy shopping! :)

I'm liking boho style these days and I think it shows in my new items :) The new release is Navajo Arrow necklace in silver and gold - a delicate native necklace with a dainty arrow charm, and - as this week [MAGIC NOOK] is TDR's shop of the collection - I've got for you boho ear cuffs featuring  a cascade of beautiful brown wild feathers.







For the next week gold Navajo Arrow necklace is available cheaper at TDR, and the ear cuffs are available cheaper at my mainstore (just be sure to buy from TDR's shop of the collection board right in front of the entrance).

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Happy shopping! :)

New earrings in store! Babydoll earrings are classic hoop earrings, in three sizes, available in silver and gold. All three sizes are included with your purchase - you don't have to buy each size separately. Light and delicate, they are great for everyday wear, especially in summer!





As usual you can get the silver earrings cheaper for next two weeks at The Dressing Room!

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Happy shopping! :)

Pixel food is one of those things in SL that I can't resist - if it's cute, I want it ^^ Sometimes I can persuade myself that I don't need another bag of sweets, or a hot-dog, or a strawberry cheescake - but if it's free, it will definitely go to my inventory. Today I focus on items from Poche (no need to introduce this place, right? if you've never been there, go now!). Just look how yummy these are!











All items shown here are FREE, get them at Poche:
Poche Main
Petit Poche

I released new vintage watch necklaces! They mix modern style with old-timey charm and are really cute. The necklaces are available in 5 designs (some silver, some gold).











As usual one of the designs - Kitty - is available for a lower price at The Dressing Room till friday. All of the necklaces are available at [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store.

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Taxi to The Dressing Room (new location)

Happy shopping! :)

I released new earrings - a different approach to classic hoops. They are triangular and will look great with any outfit, from casual to evening wear. Available in silver and gold. I'm blogging them a little late because... *blush*... I forgot earlier (RL is busy busy busy lately). For a few more hours you can get these earrings in silver for a lower price at The Dressing Room. Be fast, tomorrow the collection at TDR will be changed! :)





Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Happy shopping! :)

Awww, mesh is thriving on SL market and everyone is so excited: creating new items, trying new clothes, testing new possibilities. I might be the only person in SL that is (kind of) not very enthusiastic about mesh. It's not that I don't like the benefits mesh creations bring to Second Life - I LOVE the possibilities - but it's more like I'm not ready for mesh yet.

I remember when I first heard of sculpties I disliked them so much! That time, just like today, I didn't feel I was ready. There was so much to discover about regular prims (and I'm still learning) and I had no experience with 3D graphics except a few simple renders I had created long time ago out of curiosity. It was all new and I felt it requires too much professional knowledge which I thought I wouldn't be able to gain through my favourite method of learning: trial and error.

But once sculpties were available gridwide, each time I created a primmy item I thought "Oh, sculpties would make this so much less primmy". I started experimenting with various software and finally settled with Blender 3D, which really is a fantastic and powerful program for making sculpted prims. I learned to make sculpties - through trial and error.

I love sculpties. I made a lot of sculpted items since then, I learned how to make complex sculpties in one prim, I learned to make sculpted plants, I started to make sculpted clothing items and jewellery, I learned how to bake materials and lights on sculpts... And there is still so much to learn about sculpties, so much to discover! But mesh is now available gridwide. I don't feel like I'm ready yet. But when I make items now, I think "Oh, mesh would solve this problem easily". Is it time already?

I released new glamour earrings! They are light catching and eye catching beauties, perfect for a fancy night out. Available in silver and gold, each in two styles: normal and with subtle glow. Please note: The earrings do NOT have particle bling.





Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Happy shopping! :)

Spring is almost here and it's a perfect time to pack your bags and visit someplace new. It's still a few more weeks to spring break but until then you can enjoy dressing up your avatar to look stylish when crossing sims ;) A few stores are making it easier by giving away those lovely travel bags, apparently made of same mesh template, but still awesomely cute and really great if you are on a tight budget.



Get them here (from left to right and up to bottom, respectively):

• Bag 1: La Galleria (Mesh Travel Tote Bag - Duffel Style / Teal) / FREE! (store gift)
  
• Bag 2: Bella's Lullaby (Mesh Travel Bag / Owl) / FREE! (Lucky Board)
• Bag 3: La Galleria (Mesh Travel Tote Bag - Duffel Style / Tan) / FREE! (store gift)
• Bag 4: La Galleria (Mesh Travel Tote Bag - Duffel Style / Peru) / FREE! (store gift)
• Bag 5: Bella's Lullaby (Love Doodles Travel Bag / Valentine Gift 2012) / FREE! (Marketplace item)
• Bag 6: Bella's Lullaby (Lullaby Travel Bag) / FREE! (group gift - in store)
• Bag 7: Turistas do SL (Travel Bag Mesh) / FREE! (group gift - in notices)
  PS. There are more fun travel freebies at their office, so it's worth to pay a visit!

Outfit details:

• T-shirt: The Sugar Garden (I Like Big Books & I Cannot Lie Tee) MESH
  
• Undershirt: Tres Blah (Plain Black Sweater)
• Jeans: Not So Bad (Jane Jeans / Faded) MESH
• Waist shirt: COCO* (Shirt-tied-around-Waist / BoyishCheck)
• Belt: {mon tissu} (Seneca Threaded Leather Belt / Worn)
• Scarf: Maitreya (Voluminous Scarf All colours in-one / Brown)
• Badge: [MAGIC NOOK] (Polar Badges / Ctrl + Z Badge / tinted to match the outfit)
• Necklace: (Yummy) (Classic Literature Necklace / Multiple)
  
• Ring: [MAGIC NOOK] (Neon Candy Ring / Blue / tinted darker)
• Bracelet 1: Arai (Hair gom)
• Bracelet 2: Kari (Ruler Bracelet / Red)
• Bracelet 3: Kari (Ruler Bracelet / Blue)
• Watch: DDL (Confide in Me / Red / tinted to match the outfit) MESH
• Shoes: 2REAL (Pure / New York Pattern)
• Bag: Maitreya (Mesh Leather Satchel / Beaver) MESH
• Books: GRANDMA (part of Shop Uniform outfit)
• Glasses: Reek (Augie Glasses / Dark Red)
• Pocky: Atypical Mouthies (Strawberry Pocky Stick)
• Coffee: .:Hermony:. (CoffeeCup)
• Eye make-up: LeLutka (Gift MakeUps / MakeUp1) / FREE! (old gift)
• Lips make-up: Croire (Bitten Lip Gloss / Icing) / FREE! (subscribo gift)
• Blush: Hair Oh (Cheek) / FREE! (old gift)
• Lashes: [glow] studio (Flutter Lashes / Madam Butterfly)
• Hair: [elikatira] (Quirky / Brown 06)
• Skin: Rockberry (Uma / Natural)
• Pose: (marukin) (Vermillion Set / Raion) / Four Corners item
• Location: EPOCH 2012 Creators Cafe

I wish it was spring already so I released new earrings inspired by spring drizzles. They feature cute wire clouds and sparkling flexi chains dangling down like rain cascades. They're available in silver and gold, each in two styles: normal and with subtle glow.





Silver earrings are currently available cheaper at The Dressing Room!

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Happy shopping! :)

It's Valentine's Day and I'm at home with sore throat, sneezing and coughing like crazy (le sigh), but I got a cute hand-made valentine from my boyfriend earlier so I guess I can't complain :) Since I can't spend the evening on a romantic date, I thought I'll catch up with some freebies and share my findings with you. Enjoy!



Get them here:

• Shoes: [ROLY-POLY] (Josephine / in Teal Green) / FREE! (SGB 4th Anniversary gift)
• Perfume props: {mon tissu} (Valentine Parfum & Cologne Prop / mesh item) / FREE! (group gift - the cost to join the group is 1000L$ but it's worth it, the gifts are always very nice; with perfume props you also get male briefs and two sets of female lingerie - not shown here)
• Glasses 1: Glasiz/ShadZ (LoveMe) / FREE! (WOMENstuff hunt gift)
• Glasses 2: Glasiz/ShadZ (I <3 U) / FREE! (store gift)
• Necklace: R.A.Crystal (SGB necklace / in Rose Red / tinted for more saturated colour) / FREE! (SGB 4th Anniversary gift)
• Rings: .:*December*:. (Rose Ring) / FREE! (store gift)
• Lingerie: Willow (Sweetheart Lingerie Set / in Valentine) / FREE! (Valentine's Day store gift)
• Bows: Magika (Kawaii Bow / tinted) / FREE! (subscribo join gift)

I released more hot water bottles, this time with heart detail, for TDR Choose Love! collection. They are available in red, pink and white, so you can choose your favourite colour to stay warm on Valentine's Day - those pretty dresses we wear for our dates are not very warm, no? ;)







The bottles will be sold at [MAGIC NOOK] mainstore after two weeks, but they are less expensive at TDR, so it's worth to pay a visit and get them now.

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Happy shopping! :)

I released new necklaces to help you make a social statement and show your support for world peace.



 

For one more week the gold version is available at The Dressing Room cheaper!

Taxi to The Dressing Room

Taxi to [MAGIC NOOK] Main Store

Happy shopping! :)

It's 2012 and it's time to look back at my last year's predictions for SL and to make new predictions for upcoming months.



Here's what I listed last year (details of my predictions in my 2011 post):

• Teens on main grid will speed up economic growth RIGHT
  I'd say I'm right. It wasn't only the teens - creativity was thriving in 2011! Think of full mesh avatars (while mesh was still in beta!), pencil skirts, creative use of alpha layers, excellent events and so on. All this resulted in a major economy boost, and I think it keeps growing strong.

• Viewer 3 will be introduced RIGHT
  It's not exactly what I was expecting, but you can actually arrange the buttons now to look like in viewer 1.23 and thanks to that change I like using the official viewer much more. And I'm expecting more changes this year - the viewer is still far from perfect, and unfortunately still not as good as 1.23, at least from a designer's point of view.

• Browser viewer will be open for everyone WRONG
  That's interesting - seems like the project was completely forgotten and abandoned - but maybe Lindens secretly work on it?

• SL will become more mainstream RIGHT
  Well, there weren't actually many movies about SL, but the marketing was very active and intensive. Lindens were doing it cleverly, using different channels like YouTube and Facebook, and targetting various groups of people. This surely added to Second Life's popularity. Think of Linden Realms (a game-like experience) as something for Facebook gamers, or the 'become a vampire' ads as a response to Twilight hype. There's one interesting observation here - basing on how SL was advertised in 2011 it seems the most wanted 'newcomers' are younger people, probably teens, even though (or maybe - because) the current average resident is about 30 years old.

• A better IP protection system will be introduced WRONG
  Seems like another forgotten topic of 2011, but I think it will come back sooner or later. It is something that needs to be heavily discussed before applying any new changes/policies and I expect some news this year.

• New CEO will prove to be a good leader for Linden Lab and Second Life RIGHT
  I think Rod Humble successfully balances residents' needs with company's needs. He's paying attention to what has to be done and makes it so that both 'sides' are satisfied. I don't remember any of his decisions that would make me angry last year, so I guess so far so good :)

• Gambling in SL will be back WRONG
  So wrong - it's a lesson to not believe in rumours :)

• New tools for managing inventory WRONG
  No new tools at all, meh.

• Anton Bogdanovych will release his motion capture equipment on the consumer market WRONG
  Well, that was more wishful thinking than an actual prediction anyway ;)

What to expect in SL from year 2012? Here's what I think:

• Less expensive land
  I expect there will be many land sale promotions and reduced prices to increase land ownership in SL. There will probably be more focus on mainland - it seems to be forgotten for last few months.

• More marketplace improvements
  As they say, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. There is a significant marketplace improvement being tested on Beta Grid at the moment: direct delivery, which means soon we won't need to accept deliveries from marketplace (they will go straight to inventory) and we'll finally have possibility to sell unboxed products, just like in-world. I think it is just a beginning of many improvements to come. I was curious why the magic box was never updated since the switch from Xstreet SL to SL Marketplace - well, now it's obvious: there was no need, because we won't need magic boxes soon. Which also means you won't need any land (for hosting magic boxes) to sell your items on the marketplace.

• More viewer changes
  Following recent changes I think there will be more configurability added to SL viewer. Hopefully there will be changes made with creators in mind, making it easier to use the official viewer in design process - currently many people still use 1.23 based viewers to create items, unless the item requires the new viewer in a way. I also think there will be a light/web/mobile viewer introduced soon - there is a need for a thin SL client.

• Focus on performance and stability
  There will be definitely a lot more focus on performance and stability. It is actually related to viewer changes, as most people currently can't use the official viewer at all - it keeps crashing every 5 minutes, even on newest computers. I know a lot of people have this problem with SL. It is something that needs to be fixed and I believe it will be fixed in 2012. Maybe there will also be some changes as to how objects are rendered?

• NPC engine for all
  NPC/AI scripted engine announced by Rod Humble will boost in-world creativity after being introduced and will result in many new interesting products, never seen before in SL.

• Designer certificate program
  A designer certificate program will be introduced to protect intelectual property. When strict terms are met, you will be granted a certificate acknowledging you as a trusted designer. This will also start an open discussion about IP protection - this time with less emotions and more thought.

• Premium users appreciation program
  I expect more attention from LL to premium users, with no exact prediction as to how it would look like. But I definitely expect more advantages of becoming a premium user.

• Increase in mesh popularity
  As works on mesh development and the official viewer progress, more and more users will leave 1.23 based viewers, which will result in increased mesh popularity. I also think big players might come in this year, like game makers, or talented individuals, who will set new level of quality that designers will have to achieve in order to stay competitive on the market.

• New tools for managing inventory
  It is the same prediction as last year. This just needs to be done and I've got a feeling they are working on it.

In general I think there will be many changes for better. 2012 should bring stability, bigger user base, stronger economy, more conversation between LL and residents, less confusion and so on. It will surely be a good year :)