May Treasure Hunt – Clue 2: Cherished

The May edition of Prim Perfect once again invites its readers to go on a Treasure Hunt. This time there are FIFTEEN items waiting to be found, and you need to visit each store to discover their prim count. Instructions on finding the prim count can be found on our Treasure Hunt Information Page. What is your reward? You could win something from the Prim Perfect prize cabinet, generously donated by talented designers and store owners from around the grid.

I am so happy to see this next store on the Treasure Hunt. Cherished, in Pinehouse, is new to the Treasure Hunt, but it has been one of my favorite places since I began exploring in Second Life. It was also the subject of the first blog article I wrote here. The last time I wrote about the sim, it was wintertime. Now the ice on the river has melted and you can once again grab an inner tube at the docks and enjoy a relaxing float on the river. All the beautiful places are still there - the piano, the bar, cushions clustered around a fire pit, and a private space hidden behind the waterfall. The shopping areas are there as well, and the main Cherished building has expanded recently.

As you explore, keep your eyes open for this Antique Jelly Cabinet. Not only are the contents delicious, but the details are as well. The body of the cabinet is made of wood, but the paint and some of the wood has worn away with what looks like years of use. A piece of marble is used for the top of the cabinet and a pie sits cooling on a pretty doily. The door has a screen window on it, and it swings open to display the jars of homemade jams and jellies inside. As a wonderful extra touch, designer Esmee Isbell offers to personalize the jar labels for a small fee.

Wandering the grounds, I found a cute little thing - a funky tea cup and saucer turned into a bird feeder. This would provide a bit of whimsy tucked into a garden. I actually made something like this a few years ago for a favorite aunt, using a thrifted tea set and some copper pipe. It made me smile to find the idea again in virtual form. Wait - did you remember to get the prim count of that jelly cabinet? Make sure you write it down somewhere safe before enjoying the rest of the sim.

For this treasure hunt competition, find as many prim counts as you can for each of the magazine’s treasure hunt items, and send the details to primperfect@gmail.com, including your avatar name and an answer to the tiebreaker question (which you can find in the magazine on page 63). The winner will be the person who is closest to an accurate prim count, and in the event of a tie, the tiebreaker question will be used. Also - you don’t necessarily have to find every prim count to win a prize! Just find as many as you can, and these clues are here to help. You have until June 5, 2008, to send in your entry. Good hunting!

See our earlier clues here:

May Treasure Hunt – Clue 1: Elements in Design

Another clue will be appearing shortly!

Otherworldly Delight: Fallingwater Flowers

Another friends’ recommendation: Shiny Things, also the location of Fallingwater Flowers. I was looking for garden stuff, not shoes (though I did look at them) (in fact, I even bought some), and here’s what I found:

Flowers, trees, and furniture of great creativity, most of which come with a variety of colors built-in. I salivated over the fountain/sculpture in the foreground of this picture (it was hard to get a good shot of), but at over 100 prims, it would’ve taken up most of my condo’s allotment!!

Suffice it to say that I now own an Andromeda Tree, a lily chair, and a small flower (plus a pair of shoes). I would’ve bought more, but there’s that prim allotment problem.

The selection here is not huge, but if you’re looking for that otherworldly element, this is the place to find it. Some of the plants are animated, the furniture all has a certain organic look, and the prices are quite reasonable.

So why are you still here? Go look!

May Treasure Hunt – Clue 1: Elements in Design

The May edition of Prim Perfect once again invites its readers to go on a Treasure Hunt. This time there are FIFTEEN items waiting to be found, and you need to visit each store to discover their prim count. Instructions on finding the prim count can be found on our Treasure Hunt Information Page. What is your reward? You could win something from the Prim Perfect prize cabinet, generously donated by talented designers and store owners from around the grid.

To start the hunt, we visit Elements in Design, in the sim of the same name, and look for this DeVine Seating for Winter. Designer Gwen Carillion has created a design that’s ethereal yet curiously practical. There are cushions cradled within the leaves of the vine with poses designed by Pillow Talk and Bits & Bobs. Up to five people can sit within the vine, and the information on the seating says that the units are stackable if you need more seating. For the creative or whimsical businessperson, this could make an interesting alternative to a conference table! There is also a green DeVine available in the store for a warmer look.

To the side of the Elements in Design furniture store is a smaller store, Dreamscapes, dedicated to artwork. There are fascinating tree sculptures as well as wall hangings to discover. I was captivated by an animated sculpture called Souls’ Dance. The intertwined entities - one in cool colors and one warm - slowly revolve, their appearance continually changing. Soft white light pulses around the base of the sculpture, and little sparks of colored light twinkle around their union. I was fascinated for a long time watching it change. Eventually I broke away, remembering the treasure hunt!

For this treasure hunt competition, find as many prim counts as you can for each of the magazine’s treasure hunt items, and send the details to primperfect@gmail.com, including your avatar name and an answer to the tiebreaker question (which you can find in the magazine on page 63). The winner will be the person who is closest to an accurate prim count, and in the event of a tie, the tiebreaker question will be used. Also - you don’t necessarily have to find every prim count to win a prize! Just find as many as you can, and these clues are here to help. You have until June 5, 2008, to send in your entry. Good hunting!

Another clue will be appearing shortly!

When generosity meets imagination

From the “I wish I’d thought of that” department:

Miles Beck, who sounds like good friend material, sent me a message requesting a “gift certificate” good for an advertisement in the next issue of Prim Perfect for Rosalie Roux to celebrate her birthday and the opening of her new store Decorum Furniture. What a great idea, Diva says to herself! So, my curiosity piqued, I paid a visit.

As expected from a new retailer, the number of pieces offered is modest so far. The look is contemporary, and though my taste runs to more decorative pieces, I found a lot to like. I was particularly fond of the wall art; here you see one of her wall hangings with an Asian-inspired chest that demonstrates her simple and straightforward aesthetic.

So, happy birthday, Rosalie! And props to Miles for such a thoughtful gesture. Best wishes from Prim Perfect for your success(es).

A glimpse of things yet to be unveiled

No comment.

Damani: Store or Landscape? You Decide!

I asked a friend where I should look for furniture for my new place, and she suggested Damani. So, off I went!

I was not expecting the immersive experience that “shopping” there turns out to be.

This futuristic theme (which, frankly, I should have been expecting) is consistent throughout the Damania sim and its residential sister, Elonia.

Here’s one of the fountains in their fountain showroom (the one I want, though whether there’s room for it in meters or prims, I don’t know!). There’s “Lumi’s Thrifty Shop,” which contains fairly pedestrian furniture, and then there’s … everything else.

Gorgeous retro automobiles, for example. Animated kitty-cats (I nearly bought the black one). Furniture that ranges from the ordinary to the merely odd to the fantastic medieval to the (literally) Geigeresque. Sculpture, animated and non-animated. Weather systems.  Oh - and I had to come back and add prefab houses!

Also, a Bumper Cars arena, Club da Mania, and a meeting area.

And then there’s Elonia. With large houses and an apartment building, and amenities including two swimming pools, a dance pavilion, and water views all around, this looks like quite a nice place to live, if you like the style.

Damanios Thetan is the designer of all this, and the Elonia covenant states his intentions: “There are no gaudy signs or unattractive builds in the sim also. It is a peaceful environment for all to enjoy.”

There were still some houses and apartments available when I visited, so you could make yourself even more at home than I did! Or buy some furniture, or a cat, or a lovely fountain, or just admire the artistic vision of this shopping experience.

Do you have a secret yen to be Miss Manners?

Now is your chance.

The Primgraph, a soon-to-be-launched magazine from Prim Perfect Publications will feature a regular column of etiquette advice tailored to the sensitibilities of the gentleman or lady of, shall we say, a more vintage nature. This esteemed adviser will be modeled on the American columnist Miss Manners in an homage of respect to that witty and sensible gentlewoman whose heart is truly Edwardian. For those of you not familiar with her engaging style, examples of her advice may be found here, here, and here.

All those interested in filling these sizable and respectable shoes are invited to submit their answer to the following question to us at: primperfect@gmail.com. We will look at the actual advice, of course, but also with the engaging style and individuality with which it is rendered. The criteria for selection are deservedly quirky, and the decision of the judges is final. (But if you are really fired up to write, let’s talk. We love writers and treat them well. Ask anyone.)

Dear Miss Manners, I had arranged to meet a young lady for tea last Saturday. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend, owing to technical difficulties of a depressingly familiar nature. How should I tender my apologies?

Do submit your answers soon, because we can hardly wait to be edified and amused. We wish you good fortune, Gentle Readers.

Issue 9: The May edition of Prim Perfect is now out!

Hi everyone and welcome to the new issue of Prim Perfect!

One year ago, on May 1^st 2007, a new magazine launched in the Second Life world. Prim Perfect was a new kind of magazine for Second Life too – the first to focus on Second Life Homes and Gardens, and to highlight the work of designed environments where people might live.

I wanted to create a magazine that would reach out to three different groups of people:

• Store owners and designers, so they could get word out about their products
• <Newbies who wanted to learn how to shop for furniture, what prim counts were, and how to arrange things they bought.
• Fashionistas who wanted to see all the latest and best goodies.

Since those early days, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the most talented and creative people in Second Life. I had a lot of help from talented and well-established Second Life designers early on. And finding new designers is a constant pleasure – as is finding beautiful places and builds to share with our readers. Then there are the wonderful sim owners who have let us onto their land to create an apartment, a cabin, a house, a castle, a cottage or manor of someone’s dreams!

Over the last nine issues, we’ve gone from strength to strength – and the team has grown. I produced the first issue with the aid of one reporter, a newbie called Moodyloner Korobase and a designer called Samanta Shepherd. Now there are a team of wonderful talented writers, a brilliant designer in Perry Applemoor (who produced the famous ‘Galaxy’ cover way before she had even set foot in Second Life!) and a superb ad and client manager in Diva Regina.

We’ve also launched a TV show on SLCN.TV – Meta Makeover. And we have some exciting projects lined up: such as The Primgraph, produced in association with the Connolly Telegraph. So this has been a fantastic year – and next year will be bigger and better!

So – what do we have for you this issue?

Our sim of the month is the beautiful Orkney Islands. A loving imagining of the islands off the North Scottish coast, they combine tradition with modern day life in a way that is reflected in our Star Prize cottage, furnished by our star designer, Kittie Munro. Join us as we visit the ancient cairns and the modern harbour …

Our Landscape of the Month offers another kind of beauty – the Botanical Gardens of the Second Life world. Our Readers’ Home of the Month shows what happens when a castle owner and beach home owner set up home together - if they have an impeccable sense of style!

We also have news on Relay for Life, with a sneak preview of one of the sims, and the first of a series of articles about Non-Profit Commons. There’s more news about Meta Makeover. We look again at the very serious issue of IP theft – and what to do if you suspect an article has been copied.

All this - plus our regular Advice for Newbies, the Treasure Hunt, News from the Grid … and more!

So how can I get Prim Perfect?
The magazine is online at: http://www.primperfect.net/mag/may2008.pdf in pdf format.

It will also be available shortly through SLExchange or OnRez (just search on either site for Prim Perfect). This will deliver you a copy in the form of a Thinc book that you can rez and read inworld.

Another inworld option is to buy from our inworld vendors (located at various stores). Sometimes we have had problems with these, but you can help! If you see a vendor still selling an earlier issue, contact primperfect@gmail.com, and we’ll send someone to update it.

We also have subscribe-o-matic machines at our offices in Venice - so you can just click to subscribe and get an issue regularly!

Or you can have it delivered to you automatically each month as a Thinc Book, by joining the Prim Perfect Readers group inworld. It costs nothing to join and, apart from delivering the magazine each month, we won’t overload you with chat or messages!

In addition to delivering the Thinc Book version of the magazine, you’ll also get a link to the online pdf version of the magazine, so you’ll be able to access that too.

How to Join Prim Perfect Readers

• Inworld, open Search.
• Search Groups for Prim Perfect Readers.
• Click to join

So … enjoy! And let us know what you think of our new edition!

Is “system bork” cutting into your sales?

We have heard a number of reports that the recent asset server problems have put quite a dent in our clients’ sales in the last month or so. Since we are dedicated to supporting your success, we’ve hunted down some suggestions for propping up your customers’ confidence in buying your products. If you have other ideas, let’s help each other out by noting them in the comments below.

• It appears that avi-to-avi exchanges are working, but vendor sales are plagued with losses. So if your volume is low enough and your or your staff are inworld a fair amount of the time, consider offering the option of contacting you directly for personal payment and delivery.

• Encourage buyers to check their inventories immediately after each vendor purchase and to contact you if they encounter a problem.

• If you offer a “pay by PayPal” option, post a sign prominently near your vendors and offer a notecard with clear instructions.

• Likewise, if your items are avaiable at SL Exchange or OnRez, don’t assume that your customers will know that. Put easy-to-rez signs around your shop with the information that will keep them from just turning on their heels and looking somewhere else.

Remember, communicating a willingness to ensure your customers’ satisfaction will go a long way toward boosting sales and increasing buyers’ loyalty.

Best wishes for your ongoing success, from the staff at Prim Perfect.

A tip of the chapeau to Qalabah Quintus for brainstorming with us.

A little inspiration

Gospel Voom, following in the footsteps of centuries of honoured craftsmen, has created a cathedral.

And what a work of art it is! Based on New Orleans’ St. Louis Cathedral, it is majestic yet airy, with beautiful stained glass and ceiling frescoes. Unlike the darker, castle-inspired basilicas one might have seen here and there, it is flooded with light, allowing a full appreciation of the soaring Gothic arches. But don’t be fooled into thinking that detailing will have been sacrificed for big-look impact; even the less noticeable features, like the outside spires, are given meticulous attention.

This post has been awaiting the launch of the rest of the sim, and it was worth the wait. The whole community is a worthy accompaniment to the craftsmanship of the cathedral. But don’t be intimidated by the classic beauty here, fun lovers, Orleans Blues is a hopping place. Beautifully designed retail stores line the central square, and the New Preservation Hall plays (what else?) jazz and blues worth kicking off your shoes for.