Talking With Rainbows: 2024

Monday, April 22, 2024

Star Mesh Body at Fantasy Faire

One of my favorite things at this year's Fantasy Faire is the Star Mesh Body. The body is done well, with features one would expect as well as a few innovations. It also comes with two animated mesh heads: Baby and Pro. The extensive HUD contains settings for both the head and body which will help to declutter the viewer. Another surprise is a conformer, which I will say more about below. There is even a fix button for alpha glitches.

The package contains many options. The mesh heads have a button in the HUD to change from EVOX to SLUV mapping so most skins will work. The included heads look great, but if you'd rather use another, it's not a problem. Just take off the SMB head and add the one you want. You may have to redo your shape. I recommend starting with the Star Body shape you like best, and then readjust the head. I got very close to my usual look.

Pro head with edited shape

Left: Lelutka Sugar head on Maitreya LaraX. Right: Same head on Star Body

The body is made in sections, kind of like the Genus Morph head. There are several bust shape options, shoulder options, etc., so you can try them and choose your favorite. There is also a deformer for fine tuning. The body has layers that work with appliers, and there’s also a BOM version that only has one layer. The BOM version has a much lower rendering cost. One wears the conformer, and it basically adjusts the body to whatever clothing you’re wearing. This means that we can still wear clothes rigged for Maitreya and also for many other bodies. This is a great idea! Star Mesh Body has a series of videos on YouTube that explain everything. I watched the one for the conformer and found out that it needs to be enabled in the HUD. I tried on a dress rigged for Maitreya, clicked the HUD and my body popped right into the dress and looked great. Clothes rigged for some bodies fit the Star Body better than others, so do try a demo to make sure it works for you.

LaraX on left. Star Body on right

The Star Mesh Body is offered at half price during Fantasy Faire. Getting a mesh head and a mesh body for under 2500L is a steal, so be sure to grab it while you can. You can also get a Panthorian add-on free with the body. The included HUD has a lot of fantasy colored cat skins and one that has a more natural wildcat face and body. The store has some fun costumes made especially for the Star Mesh Body, including a Steampunk style dress and a retro spacesuit. There is also more information at the store. Star Mesh Body is a Sponsor of Fantasy Faire. Enjoy!

Panthorian option - outfit is included

Credits:

Star Mesh Body BOM

Star Mesh Body - YouTube [BODY] SB_BOM_3.85 [MOD]Chest-Breast-Saggy1Small1 [HAND&FEET] SB_Layered_3.85_Default [MOD]Delicate chest posture [CONFORM] SB_Mesh_S_3.84_SingleLayer HEAD / lel evox / SUGAR 4.0 EARS elf / lel evox / SUGAR (add) 4.0 EYES / Tville perfect eyes Hawker's House - Ladies Mesh Enya Gown Berry [monso] Hoshino Hair in white [DB] Thyria Jewelry

LaraX

Maitreya Mesh Body - LaraX V1.0
HEAD / lel evox / SUGAR 4.0
EYES / Tville perfect eyes
Ladies Mesh Enya Gown Berry Maitreya
BLOOM - SUMPTUOUS NAILS [ALMOND AVERAGE] MAITREYA
^^Swallow^^ Pixie Gauged S Ears (f) 2.0
LIVIA::Moon Rings - Left - Maitreya
Void - Flutter Lashes
Portal: Rana Necklace
[Evelyn] Enchanted Hairstyle in blonde

Panthorian (All included)

[BODY] SB_Layered_3.85
SB - [EARS] Panthoria_3.85
SB - Eyes -UnriggedL 3.84
SB - [TAIL] Rig 3.85
[MOD]Chest-Natural
SB - [HAND&FEET4] Panthoria_Layered_3.85
[MOD]Chest-Breast-Saggy1Small1
SB - [HEAD] Pandoria_Head_3.85_HD +EVOX
MG - SMB Hair Braid
SB - Panthoria Headpiece
SB - Panthoria Knife
SB - Panthoria Feather Necklace
SB - Panthoria Leather Top
SB - Panthoria Leather Skirt
SB - [TAIL] Binds 3.85
SB - Panthoria Hair w/Feathers - Black

Now at Fantasy Faire:

Star Mesh Body http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Wistlyn%20Shallows/35/106/95

Hawker's House - Enya Gown http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Miralume/180/35/76
I've received lots of compliments on this dress. It is available in a range of lovely colors.

Portal - Rana Necklace http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Thunnus%20Bay/201/201/23
This necklace would be appropriate in a variety of time periods. The HUD has 8 metals and 18 gemstones.

Drunken Brokkr - Thyria Jewelry http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FF%20Samsara/96/161/84 The pieces in this set are sold together or separately. They all come with an extensive HUD.

Thursday, March 28, 2024

Return of the Little Panda Pirate

The Little Panda Pirate didn't know how it had happened. Her ship, The Hungry Mariner, was ahead of schedule. The Faire was coming up, and this year the little panda pirate was determined to be there early. The wind was in her favor, and the weather was balmy. Stingrabbits were playfully racing the ship like dolphins. The weather changed suddenly, and she sailed right into a squall that split the ship into pieces. It was pandamonium! Our heroine had managed to cling to the bow and had finally washed up on a small island.

The next morning, she took stock of the situation. What luck! Bamboo was growing on the island, and there was one trunk of waffles, taken from a waffle freighter her crew had boarded a few days ago. At least she would be well fed. She also found a chest of bullion that she was going to donate once she made it to the Faire. Pirates want to stop cancer too! Arrrr!

Our panda pirate really wanted to go to the Faire, but now all she could do was to wait, and wait, and wait.... Well, sometimes she fed bits of waffles to the stingrabbits.

She didn't know how long she'd been shipwrecked, but eventually her luck changed. One day some huge waves went by. Sting rabbits were playing among the white caps. One told her to hop on, they were going to the Faire. She grabbed her sea bag and leapt onto the stingrabbit's back.

Will she make it in time? Will she find her crew? Who are these stingrabbits?

It may seem like a long wait, but it will be worth it.

Fantasy Faire opens April 18, 2024. Fantasy Faire | A RFL of SL Event (wordpress.com)

Credits:

Outfit: *DB* DINKIES PIRATE PRINCESS

Tempest Bay Souvenir - Ladies Tricorn Hat

!!!CHARM Dinkies stylish nails

+Half-Deer+ Bear Tail and ears

[FPI] Bamboo Nom

Hair: AD - ciera

Props: black pearl sim expander, Michigan's Shack

Bamboo garden by Simply Shelby

Pirate chest by Prokofy Neva

Waffles from AleyMart

The Stingrabbit came from a Gacha type machine and was made by Moon Rabbit. The pink one was #11.

The Wave by Hokusai.

Windlight from Jay BattleScars series.

Thursday, March 21, 2024

I'm back!

Welcome back to my blog, gentle readers. My typist has been dealing with a movement disorder and needed some time away to get used to the idea (and get the meds right!)

I'm going to start with a new avatar. This one debuted at The Fantasy Faire last year. Second Life has a big, tiny population, that is, a large number of small avatars. Today we are talking about Dinkies, which are tiny mesh cats. These avatars can be modified, and for years, one of my favorite looks was a tiny panda. I have a new favorite now, a Sphynx cat! I love hairless animals, and my typist has had a few. She has also met some Sphynx cats in real life. Enough rambling. Here's the kitty:

These cats have attitude! This one likes Theosophy, Ouija boards, and just about anything mysterious or magical. She lives in the Victorian era, whether anyone else does or not, and has a collection of teeth that she keeps in a sardine tin under the couch. The energy around standing stones attracts her, so of course she likes Caledon Speirling.

Her favorite place is the HP Blavatsky Memorial Library.

She likes napping amid piles of books, even when they float and spin around, and even when a strange green light comes through the stained glass above her.