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Nortfarthing’s been a different place since Mistletoe came to town. Sometimes better, sometimes not, but definitely different. She rolled up her sleeves on Day One, devoting many hours of love and labor to this village. In a short time, she’s earned the confidence of Lord DonPaul, and thus much more power and responsibility have been entrusted to her.
But what if those powers weren’t used for good?
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Just a “little” something I spent the day building.
20mx25m at widest parts. Approx. 30m high.
121 prims.
Portcullis, 3 lockable cells, downstairs room (guard barracks? Kitchen? Whatever), spiral stairways, tower “suite” upstairs (for the really high-class prisoners, don’tcha know), secret passageways.
Based on an old German woodcut (14th? 15th? Century… don’t remember)
This would be a FUN place for RPing, with plenty of possibilities.
Dunno, I was just in the mood to build such a place today. Ever have a day where you were starting to wonder if maybe you were losing it? That was today, for me.
(in homage to Prad…)
Good: He’s a great dancer and a willing partner, that makes you look good on the floor.
Bad: He outdresses me.
Worse: He goes home with the guy I wanted.
moar funny pictures
I’m a pretty easy elf to get along with, really. Not a saint, of course, but really. It’s not easy to get on my bad side, but you too can do it if you try. All you have to do is either of the following:
- Be an asshole.
- Be an idiot.
Don’t misunderstand me; ignorance is not the same as being an idiot. If there’s something you don’t know and you ask me about it, you will see me take plenty of time to patiently explain/teach it to you. No, being an idiot is when you don’t know something but insist that you do. Or when you don’t take the time to listen to/read what is actually said. Or do what this gem did:
Mistletoe (to strange guy who’s stated that he’s “successfully” hitting on her): *sigh* I’m sapiosexual, do you know what that means?
Guy: no lol
Mistletoe: It means I’m into guys smart enough to look it up.
Guys are funny, they think that I’m just so fascinated in their pretty avatar that I can’t possibly resist. Well, to paraphrase Ron White: you can make your avatar whatever height you want, get whatever hair or eyes you want, get whatever size package you want, click on something to be a great dancer… but kids, you can’t fix stupid.
And if you combine stupid with asshole? Oh you’ve hit the jackpot then. If you’re just being stupid I might tolerate you. But show me that asshole and this conversation is over. As are all future ones. I don’t care what compelling argument you or your friends or your sockpuppets may try to present; once I determine someone No Longer Worth My Time, that’s pretty much it. I’m not going to play games or draw it out; we’re done here.
Pardon me while I rant a little bit.
I’m sick and tired of the idea that “real” artists (or musicians, or builders, or whatever) who love their art don’t do it for money. We just let the magic flow through us, to touch the lives of countless others, and because our powers are imbued by divine means we must not need such earthly things as food or shelter.
Or something.
Fact is, artists and musicians are usually broke (maybe because of this mindset).
Event planners, please. I understand if you don’t have a budget, that sort of thing happens (believe me I know!). If you don’t plan to pay your performers, tell them before you talk scheduling. Your time is precious to you, and so is ours. Don’t waste it for either of us.
I’m more than happy to play for free for a charity. We’ve done so for Project Children a few times and are happy to do it again (reminds me, I should get in touch with Derry…). When we do a gig for an actual charity, we’re fine with not expecting a dime in the way of tips. And we plan it out with enough time in advance that we can do other, paid and/or tipped, gigs to cover our rent for the week.
I’m more than happy to play mostly free for a fundraiser. As long as I’m sufficiently informed as to this fact, and as long as we can at least put out the hat to make a few Ls.
I’d LOVE to be so independently wealthy that I can do anything and everything for love alone and just give it out free to everyone. But even in a virtual world, I got ends to make meet. Don’t call me less of an “artist” for that.
My dear friends, the limbs of my heart enfold you, and they will continue to enfold you no matter how many foolish decisions you make, no matter what happens. But it’s really hard to see you hurting in the wake of foolish decisions, so if you could maybe see what you can do about making fewer of them, that would be great.
That said, thanks for being there whenever I’ve made foolish decisions too.
Sunday is the one day per week that I try to take off from SL. It’s especially difficult for me to get through a Sunday when I’m on a creative spike, which I have been lately, and I just want to GO and BUILD and MAKE STUFF DAMMIT.
To make matters more interesting, “Archimides” (my RL husband) is going off nicotine gum. He’d been a smoker for 30+ years, and on the gum for over 2 now. Due mostly to expenses, he’s decided it’s time to quit.
We are a pair today. Him digging in every single nook and cranny in the house to try to find one more piece of gum, me trying to think of anything else in the world to do. I’ve spent much of the day on an art project. Did some laundry, some dishes, cleaned the litterbox. See, just not as exciting as “today I made a whole freakin’ castle”.
And the sad thing is knowing that there will never be enough time in this world to have all the ideas I’ve been hit with lately come to fruition. There are just not enough hours in the day.
But. I’ve been steadily working with my shop and people are really starting to take notice. My traffic has increased like mad since DonPaul put some keywords in my parcel’s description. And when I mentioned a clearance sale in the shop group? WHOOSH. Like humans to hamburgers.
The great thing about a business in SL, as opposed to RL, is that you have time and room to make mistakes. You can have a business doing badly but still open your doors, and learn from your mistakes. You have a limitless inventory on your shelves; you don’t have to buy materials and pay manufacturers or any of that. It’s a different animal for sure, and it’s taught me quite a bit in the 9 months or so since I first opened up shop.
I’ve learned that for all the gimmicks and tools that are out there to get people through your doors, NOTHING will beat a quality product. Flash fades. And sure, you can have 70 campers on your shop site and it can have your traffic/search numbers shoot up the ranks–but do people buy there? Do they stay? Do they come back? Do they recommend you to their friends for anything other than camping? I finally gave in and got a Lucky Chair. But how am I to know what people want to win? Better to let them choose; the prize is $100L gift cards. Something men or women can use.
And I’ve learned that the best product in the world does no good if people can’t find it. Before making your shop “pretty”, I’ve learned, make it functional. It’s like that old saying, form follows function. I’ve learned that my high-res 1024×728 display textures take 20 years to rez and people will lose patience and leave before even seeing them. I’ve cut many down already to 256 wide, some even 128 wide. They show up just as pretty, and they do so sooner.
I’ve learned to put my shop’s name all over EVERYTHING. I want people to remember, THIS item came from THIS store.
I’ve learned the sheer delight of “splurging” on a web-enabled vendor system. Oh, hell, it’s my blog, I can drop names. Hippo is great. Perfect? Course not. But it makes my life a million times easier. Invest the 1750, it’s worth it.
I’ve learned so far that it’s the little things that really make the difference. Thank your customers when they purchase your product. Make things right when they’re wrong. Smile, answer questions, make life easier on customers and they’ll make life easier on you. I get some of my best ideas when I talk to people who come in to browse, and I’ve met tons of interesting people.
I have it clearly in my mind what I want to do: I want to provide quality, authentic, well-researched medieval & renaissance clothing that’s easy to wear and looks great. As long as I’ve stayed on that path, I’ve done well. As long as I’ve strayed from it to try to follow trends or gimmicks, I’ve done poorly. And, I’ve learned that I can be successful and not compromise my principles. I haven’t caved to the Gorean market but for the one time I made veils on a commission, when I was new and didn’t know better. I do not and will not carry silks or slave clothing; I make historical apparel, not fictional (Besides, how many variations on bikini + loincloth can one really do?). Maybe it’s cost me some money. But I can sleep at night and the older I get the more valuable that becomes, let me tell ya.
So, anyway, the ideas keep coming as the renovations continue. If anything’s costing me any sleep at night it’s the busy mind. Busy busy busy. Wish I could make five of me in RL like I can in SL.
If you want to do it, the cat wants to sit on it.
