Exploring the grid: Goatswood

Goatswood is an RP community set in a rural English village. While not referenced in the notecards I wonder if the name is a tip of the hat to Ramsey Campbell's fictitious village of the same name. The build is loosely based on Castle Combe, in Wiltshire, but has a personality of its own.

You arrive at the train station of Mortchester. Large, Victorian and the initial starting point for all the various notecards and HUDs as well as a few vendors along the aisles.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/NeverlandX/33/52/2002

Catching the train to Goatswood you disembark at a little country station and move into the streets of the village.

And what gorgeous streets they are too. Discovering that Kora Zenakova and Baal Zobel are responsible for this sim after having visited the Venexia sim (which I detailed here) comes as not surprise.

The texturing is stunning and obviously made by someone with an understanding of Jacobean architecture.

Many of the buildings look perfectly normal from the outside but, like many things in Goatswood, appearances can be deceiving.

Bonus points are awarded for actually having the Church aligned on the east/west axis.It's minor details like this which make the realism of the build so impressive

Mushrooms hold notecards which tell the explorer some of the stories of the  location.

Houses are available to rent, even if you decide the RP is not for you but you just want to live here that's allowed as well.

 Little details like a crossing ford help sell the feel of the place.

The standing stones, a site of rumour and speculation.

The Gypsy encampment.

The village Maypole. The old traditions are very strong in the village.

The setting puts me in mind of Summer Isle from The Wicker Man. There's plenty of old magic in the history of the place and the residents are free to incorporate as much or as little of that into their own roles as they like.

While I don't have the time to devote to RPing in this sim it's a lovely build that I could quite happily spend time just strolling through. When I visited I was lucky enough to hear a gypsy woman practising her violin and just sat and listened for a half hour or so.

Comfort Station

Not long ago I created a Comfort Station in New Babbage. That was a polite way of saying a public toilet. I'd been collecting reference pictures after seeing a much grander one in the Berlin 1920s sim, but it was waaaay down the list of things-to-do.

But recently I was browsing Baroquen Ethics and discovered a new texture set that matched the cast iron panels from some of the public loos in my picture collection.

And thus was born this little whimsy.

Thanks to Kimika Ying for the wonderful photo.

Victoriana closes its Doors

It is with great sadness that I discovered that LittleBlackDuck Lindsay, the Mayor of Victoriana, will be closing down the sims very soon. After a glitch left his account without the ability to edit objects belonging to him (which is 90% of the infrastructure of Victoriana) and LL being unwilling or unable to fix the problem, LBD has decided to stop banging his head against the wall and pack up shop.

While I've only officially had a shop there for some three weeks, I've watched the sims grow and have stood in awe of the texturing finesse LBD displayed on his buildings. From his Caledopoly creation to his Golden Harp Pub the details were always done so that they looked like real buildings.


The main station at Victoriana Square.


Victoriana Town Hall


The Golden Acorn Pub - recreated from the Golden Harp.


The Interior of one of the Victoriana Trains. Each platform had a train announcement in English, German and French. And they run on time!


Victoriana Pavilion. Modelled after the Queen Victoria Building in Sydney the same as my own considerably prim-starved version in Babbage Square.


Mountain rail cars for the unfinished Victoriana Alpine sim


Pavilion Station


Based on Fort Denison in Sydney Harbour


The Pearl - possibly the longest running bawdyhouse on the grid.


The waterfront on Victoriana Harbour.


Victoriana Carnivale


The Salty Squirrel in Victoriana Lakeside.

I know several friends who have homes in Victoriana who will be much disappointed by this turn of events. Apart from being one of the best builds in SL, a community had developed that included tinies (the slightly less manic ones), and lovers of Victorian style. Victoriana was unusual in that it was probably one of the few 19th century sims that did not have steampunk or vampires wandering the streets. Floating castles were strictly forbidden and the sims were much nicer for it.

I wish LBD all the best on whatever future endeavours he attempts and hope that he may find a way to recreate this idea in some other form.

You'll be missed sir.

Most amazing sculpt ever

Miss Emilly brought my attention to a sculpt display called the Grand Odalisque.

Possibly the most impressive sculpt I have seen in SL. For the most part sculpts are a mystery to me though the Aviatrix of Loch Avie is making them less so. I'm sure if I invested copious quantities of cash in various software applications I could do them with ease, or struggle through with free stuff like Wings for something more labour intensive.

However I don't think I'd ever be able to come up with something as impressive as this no matter how hard I tried.









I recommend visiting it in person. Damned impressive.

The shiny end of steampunk

So many people have this idea that steampunk needs to be dirty and sooty and grubby. But no! There is hope!

Having admired the interior of the Crossness Pumping Station for so long, when I was asked to build a Ballroom for the Edison sim I decided to bite the bullet and use the photos from the Station to make some wonderful textures.



Shiny!

Under the sea...

The undersea section of Argylle is finished for the most part. There's some things that need tweeking, like the airlock, but it's presentable for the moment. I wanted to make sure there were no plywood blocks sitting around before Tuesday night.

Worth1000 Steampunk competition

If you're not aware of Worth1000 you should have a look. They host themed photoshop competitions.

Starting 28th of March is their steampunk theme.

Can't wait.

Building post No. 2

When Radio Riel opened its doors in Caledon Penzance I was asked by Her Grace to make a n office, after she'd seen my work on my new shop.. It's been a while but between RL, other commissions and events I've finally finished my own newest building. Some are other's textures, some are modified textures and some are created the whole cloth by myself.

It should receive an official opening tomorrow.


External view


Front façade


Ground floor


New Broadcaster's Booth


First Floor offices


Our own broadcast tower (you'll have to look behind the stairs for the power source).

Building post No. 1

I'm rather picky when it comes to building. Good texturing can often be let down by poor prim alignment, or a nice layout can be ruined by someone with no sense of scale (even after allowing for the 7' avatars that about in SL). So it's nice when I see someone who has accomplished both wonderful textures and put them on a great build.

Just north west of the hub in Caledon II used to be a series of townhouses based on some in existence in RL Sydney. While the wrecking ball had been taken to them, the replacement buildings more than make up for any disappointment I might feel.

My main focus of this collection of buildings is The Golden Harp.


No. 1 Penny Lane, an impressive collection of late 19th century architecture.



The Outside of the Golden Harp.


Inside the foyer, the pub's namesake.


The main bar, including some very comfy looking lounge chairs, as well as a collection of booths.


Up to the first floor is the games room, featureing En Guard, draughts, chess, backgammon...

... a pool table...

... and even a dart board. (My aim is terrible)


Up to the second floor has an outside beer garden for those evenings where the weather is warm.

Tartan Delights from Pearse'd & Cut

In addition to our recent expansion of the available tartan range in out mens kilts, we have received requests for a companion piece for the ladies.

So just in time for St Andrew's Day, Pearse'd & Cut is proud to announce it's ladies Bustled Tartan Skirt. Based on the design commissioned by the Duchess of Loch Avie, this skirt also comes with a matching sash. Ideal for Balls and Country Dances.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20VictoriaCity/53/55/23

AM Radio' "Wheat Fields" exhibition

Last week I finally managed to get myself over to Dreamworld North and have a look first hand at the Wheat Fields creation by AM Radio.


Long shot of the exhibit








The man himself

It's quite an impressive collection with textures foe shadows and lots of little details. The wheat itself is quite well done. Have a look first hand if you can.