Flat Ebbe and Me

I've been waiting for Strawberry Singh to do this meme ever since she plurked about stalking meeting Linden Lab's new CEO a week or so ago. I had such fun with Flat Rodvik and I figured Flat Ebbe Linden would be a fun date. However, Berry thinks we should just lecture poor Ebbe about how to be a good CEO. Sorry, Ebbe, our date will have to wait.

Meme instructions: Pick up a copy of Flat Ebbe Linden from Berry's marketplace store for free and take him to one of your favorite places on the grid. Also, share at least three things that you’d like to tell Ebbe. Please remember to leave a link to your post in Berry's comments and share your Flat Ebbe picture in the Blog memes flickr group.

So Ebbe, as we pose for a pretty picture standing in the courtyard of Cory Edo's beautiful creation newly released at Collabor88, the Cortona Villas, here are my thoughts:

1. I really like what you have said about Second Life so far. You have inherited a passionate and creative user base who created everything interesting to see and do in SL, so we don't really see ourselves as customers of a product. We are creators and supporters of a surreal visionary world. We built it, we feel connected to it. I think you get that and I really appreciate that you do.
2. You're in a honeymoon phase, but eventually you will tick off one group or another in SL. While this ire will probably be a by-product of some benefit you want to introduce, it will happen and you will be tempted to withdraw from your current accessibility so you don't have to listen to a lot of - well - let's call it counterproductive trash talk. As a communications professional in another life, I can tell you that once you have opened the conversation with your customers as you have done, closing that conversation when things get challenging is a mistake that leads to bad feelings and loss of trust for the entire community - not just the ones who were ticked off in the first place. Have a communications strategy to deal with these issues as they arise. Appoint other Lindens to speak on the issues and keep the messages consistent and honest.
3. Advice for retaining new users - here's one little thing that seems to have been overlooked for years - the waddle-walk of a newbie. I'm not suggesting you need to fix the dorky stands (you're using one of them in the picture), but couldn't that waddle-walk be turned into something more graceful? A script in the shoe with a nice smooth female or male walk? Anything? The new starter avatars with mesh outfits and hair are a good beginning, but give a poor newbie a decent walk.

Credits:

Argrace Hair HARUKA - Cinnamon (Unrigged / resize)
Mutresse Guzla Shorts (at FaMeshed)
Tee*fy Sophie Cut-Out Ruffle Top Bloom (at Collabor88)
Ingenue Pandora Flats (Slink Feet Add-On) Sepia (Gacha item)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Flat

Glam Affair - Vera - America 02 F
IKON Spectral Eyes - Amber

Bicycle and pose from What Next

 Trompe Loeil - Cortona Villas (at Collabor88)

Potted plants from Apple Fall and XED Designs

Evolution of an Avatar

The other day an old Second Life friend logged in for the first time in about five years. She had picked up new hair from Truth and new skin from Belleza when we got together, so I sent her off to SLink for mesh hands and feet (and a pair of boots), then back to Belleza for appliers to match them to her skin. I explained about standard sizing for mesh clothes and how to "add" versus "wear" alphas and attachments. She made some minor adjustments to her shape, then we headed out to coldLogic for some much needed style updating. I left her looking at Ikon eyes and searching for the perfect mesh eyelashes.

Seeing all of this through the eyes of someone who knew Second Life in the old days led me to a renewed appreciation for how far Second Life has come since the introduction of mesh thanks to the ingenuity of creators. I love you guys!

Credits:

coldLogic dress - loring.blush mocha (New Release)
Ingenue Pandora Flats (Slink Feet Add-On) - Sepia (at The Arcade Gacha Event)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands
Slink Female Feet (AvEnhance) - Flat
Slink Visage Mesh Head - Becky

Glam Affair - Slink Visage Applier - Romy 3 ( America ) (at Skin Fair 2014)
TRUTH HAIR Perla
Glam Affair - Vera - America - Clean E
IKON Promise Eyes - Green

Pose from Diesel Works

Trompe Loeil - Valiano Bistro Chairs Copper (at FaMeshed)

Trompe Loeil - Valiano Bistro Table Copper (at FaMeshed)

Nostalgia

Collabor88's theme for January is nostalgia and I am inspired. There are so many great items that I have several blog postings planned. I've never blogged JunBug before and I am delighted to let you knowthat the JunBug Instant Crush dress is gorgeous. Never have I seen a sexier rear in evening wear! Make sure to demo - I had to wear a medium instead of my usual small. The D!va Astralia hair works perfectly with the dress, don't you think?

Trompe Loeil has a lovely materials ready chair called Astrid in an elegant style, and the Crawford mirror from Lark is feminine and classy. Collabor88 has them all. Here's your TAXI.

Credits:

JunBug - Instant Crush in Bloom (at Collabor88)

D!va Hair Astralia (Red amber) (at Collabor88)
Lark - Crawford Glove Box (at Collabor88)
Slink Avatar Enhancement Hands 

Belleza Ria Med 1 R (at Collabor88)
Mandala Simple Ears HUTUU

Lark - Crawford Mirror (at Collabor88)
Trompe Loeil - Astrid Chair Nostalgia Rose (at Collabor88)
Pose by Flowey (at Collabor88)

 

The Bedroom

I love home decor in Second Life. I can be awfully fickle and redo a home from the ground up more than once a month. Digs just released a lovely new bedroom set called Ainsley that I'm currently enjoying. The bed comes in PG or Adult versions for all our bedroom activities. Color change bedding and furniture gives plenty of versatility to the look.

Credits:

DIGS - Aisling Bed - Pastel

DIGS - Aisling Bedside Table

DIGS - Aisling Bedside Lamp

DIGS - Aisling Tallboy

DIGS - Aisling Dresser

DIGS - Aisling Reading Pile

DIGS - Aisling Mirror

DIGS - Aisling Wicker Storage

DIGS - Aisling Skincare

DIGS - Suspension Lamp - Pewter

DIGs - Closet Doors

DIGS - Weather Embroidery trio

What Next - Norwegian Wood  Guitar

The Loft - Alderan Planter White

Trompe Loeil - Hanging Tri-Planter Blue 

Dutchie Plants

Cheeky Pea - Kaleidoscope Dreamcatcher

Tres Blah - Bon Voyage Clock Radio (Pink) (Gacha Item)

Apple Fall - Lustful Lilacs

At Home with Dolly

When I go to events I don't just buy new release clothes, I buy furniture and houses, too. The Modern Villa is the new release by Trompe Loeil at Collabor88. I'm slowly decorating it and the great room is shaping up nicely with Dig's new Douglas sofa, table and wall art at Liaison Collaborative's Garden. The rug and floor cushion are from Pilot, the floor lamp is from Trompe Loeil's Oceana group at this month's FaMeshed. Other assorted accessories are from Dutchie, Post, and Mud Honey.

Part of the fun of decorating a home in Second Life is the pleasure of mixing the work of different designers into a cohesive look. For my fireplace grouping I used the Trompe Loeil Oceana sofa, chairs, trunk and coffee table. I mixed in a floor lamp from the Digs Douglas grouping, a table lamp, mirror, wall art, and some accessories from The Loft's Alders grouping at Collabor88. The Mission style dresser and the books on the trunk are from Apple Fall at Collabor88. The only items NOT from a new event are the Pilot rugs, the hydrangas in a glass vase from Apple Fall and touch of greenery in the right corner from Rustica.

I think I'm going to be happy at this new house for awhile. Did I tell you it has a pool?

Home Show Goodies from Digs

The Home Show is a new home and garden event that just opened and will last until the end of July. It takes up two sims and is filled with top notch designers' new and exclusive releases. Digs' new releases include an interesting casual living room grouping called Ferryside. The table, tray,  sofa, matching chair, and lamps are all part of the grouping. Everything has texture changes for easy customization. Also shown is the Ryker bentwood slatted chair, the Healy ottoman, and in the next photo is the Emmet desk and possibly the best desk chair in Second Life (not because it's naughty, because it's exactly what I want for my real life desk chair).

I added plants from Dutchie and a rug and wall art from Trompe Loeil to round out the room. HERE is your taxi to the Home Show. It sets you down right by Digs and What Next on the second sim.

Just My Everyday Tiara

I got such a giggle from Maxi Gossamer's concept of an "Everyday Tiara."  So much so that I decided to make it the centerpiece of my first FaMeshed post for May.  I'll just tidy up the kitchen now - the mesh kitchen from Trompe Loeil available at the all new FaMeshed.  Honest to god, I feel like Penelope Cruz bragging about her espresso machine. 

My Exile hair, FABULOUS "everyday tiara" and surprisingly ladylike dress from Cracked Mirror are only a few of the offerings at the one year anniversary bash for this great event.  I went to FaMeshed early in the morning and still had to try a few times to get in.  It will settle down in a day or two and it's there for a month, so don't let the early crowds stop you from visiting.  Take a pile of lindens.  You'll want everything.

My sexy/cute housewife a la Mad Men pose is a collaboration between Cheeky Pea (for the duster pose prop) and Exposeur, not from FaMeshed. 

Credits:

Cracked Mirror - Wool Peplum Dress (grey)(at FaMeshed)
Exile Hair - Fire To The Rain Natural Fusion (at FaMeshed)
Maxi Gossamer - Everyday Tiara - Pearl Heart - SILVER (at FaMeshed)
Maxi Gossamer - White South Sea Pearl - Necklace - Single Strand
Mirror's Enigma - Victoria Tan Skintone (Nude/Red)