1000 Places to See Before You Crash: Skin & Shape Expo 2009

Imagine – a sim full of skins! Designers from across the grid, all gathered in one place to show their latest and sexiest skins!!!! The Skin and Shape Expo 2009 opened its doors Sept 26 and runs thru October 10 at KMADD Events. While of course, this is not inclusive of all skin designers on the grid, it does include dozens of some of the best SL has to offer. You’ll also find many of the top shape designers here if you’re feeling like you’re needing a serious change for the new season.

The Expo is well planned, the lag is minimal, provided you take the usual precautions when attending any event in SL that involves more then a small handful of people. This should be common sense, and I’m not going to go into any of the details here, but a few adjustments to your outfit and your client settings (does not include turning on ARC meter to check other antendee’s ARCs) as well as prepping your computer beforehand really helps in these situations. Sasy Scarborough has painstakingly provided a list of all direct url’s to each store for everyone’s convenience. I’d also suggest if you are walking thru it, to refer to the map as you go so you can keep track of where you’ve been and where you are going.
You can easily visit all the booths in an afternoon or evening, depending on how much time you look at it all and visit along the way. I highly recommend, as I do with all event shopping, and even more so with skin shopping, that you make the rounds and grab the demos. Take them home and try them on in the privacy of your own home. This way you can take your time, check all the bits and make ups as well as trying various lightings and make wise well planned purchases.

Also, you should note while wandering at the Expo, that select skins (and/or shapes) are set for a donation to the Susan G Koman Fund. Each participating designer has agreed to give a portion of their sales of specific items to this charity. This really is a must do event, you can give back to RL a bit, while getting some new skins and shapes for yourself.

The Catty Box: Skins – Shiloh by Exodi (Ryker Beck)

June has been a busy month for me with rl happenings, Hair Fair 2009 preparations etc but finally Thursday I started taking pics for this blog post that has been on my To Do list for too long. Ryker Beck has outdone herself with her newest skin, Shiloh. Shiloh was released earlier this month under the new name Exodi, replacing Genesis as the Ryker Beck label. It is no secret that I am a huge fan of Ryker’s work, and I was fortunate enough to get to beta this skin, and had been sooo anxiously awaiting it since that little peek. I love the previous skins, Eden and Candace, and I knew this was going to be something special. I was not disappointed. I have a feeling Shiloh will be my fave skin for quite a long time, the one I’ll always go back to.

Exodi - Shiloh - Oceania : Gone Wild

Shiloh is available in 4 skin tones, Caramel being my favorite (of all Exodi skin tones in fact), and the one shown here. The initial release of Shiloh included 8 make ups, all very yummy and offering a good selection from the bestest red lip ever, to a soft natural look. Later, Shiloh – Oceania was released, which includes 8 tropical summery make up options. Shiloh offers the same quality of detailing and muscling that Candace offers, but is much more refined. I love the belly button, the nipples…are just nearly perfect, the details on the knees and arms…even the nails! The shadows and detail of the spine and collarbone are simply the best, and of course, the ears! All Shiloh Skins are available at Exodi.

Exodi - Shiloh MakeUps

As I was taking pics for this blog post, rumors began to come of the tragic loss of Michael Jackson. As a long time faithful fan of MJ, I was stunned by this news. Following the wake of this news Ryker Beck did something amazing…she put all of the Shiloh skins, as well as Eden2, the jewelry, clothing, and select other items at Exodi, on sale for 50% off, with 100% of all sales thru July 3 to go to Make a Wish Foundation in memory of Michael Jackson. She has taken a horrible day, and done something great, allowing us all an opportunity to mourn the loss of an exceptional person and artist, while at the same time giving back. This is a perfect opportunity to try the Exodi skins, as well as her other creations. Thank you Ryker for sharing your art and your love.
Michael, may you finally find the peace and love you deserve, and may we all come to understand what a gift your time with us was. As I watch my daughter’s love of music and dance grow to include an appreciation of yours, I know that what you gave us will continue to grow and be appreciated in the years to come.

Exodi - Michael Jackson Sale

The sale is only at Exodi Main Store location.

(Credits:Hair – Audacity (not yet available), Clothes – WoE, (shirt not yet available), Piercings – Deviant Kitties, Shoes – Stiletto Moody, Eyes – Second Skin Labs, Pose – LAP)

The Catty Box : Loco Pocos – Poco Pals

Loco Pocos is a sim that opened Summer of 2008, themed around the cutest lil Tiny AVs you’ve ever seen. Loco Pocos is a fun carefree sim that has brought hours of fun to my SL time. I first visited around Halloween after hearing so much about it thru Plurk, and watching creator Damien Fate’s progress as he expanded his line of avatars and accessories. My daughter and I fell in love with it, and have enjoyed many hours together (with me on my AV, and her sitting with me, just to clarify), wandering the Loco Pocos sim and playing its games, both at Halloween and a few times since.

Poco Pals

Damien has created something new, Poco Pals. Poco Pals are human held versions of his regular Loco Pocos AVs, so if you are not in the mood to “be” your fave little critter, you can carry and cuddle one instead. They are just as adorable, maybe even more so, because you can not only customize them thru their built in menu, to match any fashionable outfit you happen to be wearing today, you can cuddle them too! You can name it, give it transgender switches, and change his or her expressions too!

Poco Pals Up Close

Beginning Wednesday night at Midnight SLT, you’ll now be able to get your very own Poco Pal!!! For the first 24hours, they will be 50% so hurry on in and get all your faves quickly, you’ll only have Thursday to get them at this unbelievable sale price. If you haven’t visited Loco Pocos yet, make sure to put it on your list of things you must do, Human, or Tiny. It’s just too much fun to miss out on, and what better time then during a sale!

(Credits : Skin – Tuli (Hope, not yet available), Hair – Audacity, Clothes – WoE, Necklace – Earthstones, Piercings – Deviant Kitties, Eyes – Second Skin Labs, Tattoo – Artistic Skinpression.)

Girlfriend Gossip- Hot off the presses..

We’ve got your Girlfriend Gossip for May 5, 2008…

I’ve been quite distracted with real life things these past weeks, as well as a new addiction (or perhaps I should say, an expansion of an old one…but more on that later), however, I did manage to gather a few bits. As always, look to the in world group for lots and lots more goodies, as well as some interesting chit chat at times on all kinds of subjects from shopping to frying pan uses. Have a great week!

Freebs (or close enough)

Clothes and related stuffage

• From The Body Politik, a gold and diamond anklet, you’ll find it in their usual freebie spot by the counter, its gorgeous!
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eventide%20Far%20East/138/84/47
• **You’ll find some gifts at Kunglers Designs at the counter, for guys and gals. Also some nice designs here at great prices, so make sure to check it all out.
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Electra/100/107/78
• Dollarbie jeans at TorridWear! I love them, they’re skinny, dark denim and nicely detailed. Also included is a pair of straight leg.
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Chartreuse/153/65/31

Hair, Skin and other such shapes n things

• Hair! Diversity has out a new dollarbie yay! Grab the others while you are there too!! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Eventide%20Far%20East/138/84/47
• More Hair! There is a new hair on the freebie wall at Gurlywood, check them all out while you’re there. It’s a must for all hair fanatics.
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/GuRLyWood/132/61/33

Miscellaneous for those non-fashion related moments

• AnaLu has put out a dollarbie Posing Stand at Mystikal…how cool is that!!! I’ve not played with this yes, I use Tillie’s and my own ball, but I’ll have to give this a try too! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Mystikal/134/171/348
• Lots of freebies from Fatima’s Islands shopowners are located at the main landing of Antique Artistry.
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Art/96/138/27
• Free Wild Daisies at the Incwell Texture Shop. Perfect for your spring garden. This is a brand new texture shop so make sure to check it all out while there.
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Desire/147/174/25
• Next, take a walk thru this gorgeous shopping area, heading East across the sim border, to the home of Cramz (shameless plug) where you’ll find the newest tutorial dollarbie and texture dollarbie pack out.
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Love/64/101/27
• A Free house!! Coco’s Cottages ‘lil Cottage Series is up to #7, don’t miss it if you’ve been collecting! And if you haven’t, don’t miss this chance to start! its adorable and satisfying to your sweet tooth!
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Rosieri/193/168/90
• The teachers at TUi University have put out some freebie classes in TUi’s Edumart if you are looking for some building inspiration….this is a great place to check out! If you’re needing to learn to build, this is the place to go…wander around and check out the great classes being offered, careful tho, you take one class, you’ll go back for more!
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Technical%20User%20interfacing/247/148/21

Groups

Subscribe-O-Matics

• iZa Boutique http://slurl.com/secondlife/Gealain/199/79/117
• Random Industries has put out a subscribemomatic earlier this month, so when you join, make sure to check history for goodies
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Hallgerda/107/46/701

Lucky Chairs

• Cramz has put out a lucky chair with various decorative and household items on it yay!
  http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fatimas%20Love/64/101/27
• Persona has a new lucky chair, with three great items on it, including a gorgeous white dress! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Plush%20Chi/157/94/22

Lost? Got any problems, questions, complaints? Post in-world in the Hey Girlfriend group, and we’ll help.

As always, a great big thank you and group hug to all designers and creators for their talent and generosity from the Hey Girlfriend group.

- Catty Loon