Halp!

Do not try this at home. Professional reenactment.

So, I log in tonight, figuring I would take some pictures of the new dresses I made. Yay! That was the plan anyway... but... What the heck! Did Betty eat too many Pop Rocks while I was at work?! Taste the explosion alright... I AM the explosion!

I did upload the latest version of the viewer a couple of days ago (I wanted pretty clouds in one of my pictures...) and everything was just peachy... until tonight. How do I make this stop?! Will I die? Will I be scarred for life once I stop popping?!

Needless to say, taking pictures tonight is out of the question. Blast! For once, I had both time and the motivation to work on something happen at the same time! Oh well...

I definitely have to figure out how to fix this because 1) it is way annoying, 2) I don't want to end up having a seizure from all that flashing goin' on on my screen. *twitch* 3) while seeing my friends deformed by this glitch is highly amusing... it is so not funny when it happens to me!

Retrology celebrates its 1st anniversary

Available for free until August 3rd. Yay!

Retrology is turning one on Sunday, August 3rd! To celebrate, participating vendors will have freebies available in their Retrology stores all week long. That's right! Free stuff!

Here is my little contribution! It's brand new, not in stores yet. So it's like...a pre-release... like... for free.

*Petits Pois* party dress in red includes:

1-top
1- pair of glitch pants
2- flexi skirts with black tulle (one with the skirt sitter script and one without)
1- scupltie bow for the waist

Copy/Mod/No Trans. Multiple layer options.

Grab it quick before Sunday. It will be available at regular price after that.

I plan on releasing other colours soon (ie. next time I find some time to package stuff) as well as some other stuff I have laying around my inventory (like the Dentelle and Stardust dresses in "non Relay" colours). My "new releases" wall is looking pretty bare now that all the Relay vendors have poofed.

Slurl to Total Betty's Retrology location

Find out more about this week's events on the Retrology Blog

Good news! A few extra days to get the RFL items!

We can keep our vendors out a bit longer until everything gets deleted on Wednesday. Yay! Let's see if we can't raise a bit more money!

Don't forget, all these Relay for Life items will not be available for purchase after July 22nd.

Also take this opportunity to visit the 30+ Heroes sims and check out the amazing builds all the team created for this year's Relay.

Here is a slurl to my store. You can check out my RFL items there. Make sure you also grab a landmark for the Designers in Seclusion Relay site on the Heroes 9 sim. You will find a ton of exclusive Relay designs by many many talented designers (located inside the while, circular tent). Then, put on your new purchases and go for a stroll around the Relay sims! Yay!

Thank you to everyone who participated and supported Relay this year. This year's teams have raised over 52 million L$ so far and we have a couple of extra days left! *claps*

Thank you to my Designers in Seclusion team mates. You all did an amazing job. *more clapping*

Enough rambling. I need some serious sleep! Get shopping!

Relay is here!

The final Relay weekend is already here! What does that mean?

Well, for one, it means the end of a very successful fund raising campaign for the American Cancer Society. The stats are simple amazing this year. Go check out the total! Right now, the total stands at L$43,513,379 and we still have really big days left to go! Outstanding!

It also means that you only have a couple of days left to get all those Relay edition items! I decided to forgo sleep to make some last RFL items for this weekend. These will be available for today and tomorrow only! All the other RFL items will also be gone. So quick, get your shoppin' on guilt free! 100% the proceeds from RFL items go to the ACS. Raise that total y'all!

Here is the newness for the weekend:


First up: *Opposites Attract* Summery Cocktail Dress. Offered in black or white, with contrasting lace details. Multiple layer options. Flexi skirt. Available in COPY or TRANSFER versions. Only 250L$ each but by all means, feel free to donate more.



Secondly, we have the Dentelle dresses in monocromatic tones. These colours will only be available this weekend. You have a choice of Silver, Slate or Black. Each dress comes on a variety of layers for the top, and two flexi skirts (one with lace and one with a full, straight prim -no alpha)

Also available in COPY or TRANSFER versions and 250L$ each.

And least but not last, a skin! Another lf0 mod, this time with more dramatic makeup and painted hand and toe nails. Wooo! 250L, COPY only. Only available this weekend!


Voila!

Hope you like the new stuff.

Everything is available at Total Betty's main shop located here (on the Plush Rho sim)

Have a great weekend everyone! Come visit the team members and supporters from Designers in Seclusion (exceptionally out of seclusion for the occasion) on the Heroes 9 sim during this Relay weekend! Lots and lots of things to buy and lots and lots of fun to be had!

Betty

The return of the Poodle

Finally! Here they are. After selling them from the trunk of my car for the past few months, I finally got motivated enough to package them and put them in the store! (thanks to Jhuzen Ketsugo from Retrology who keep organizing sim events that force me to finish stuff!)

The occasion this time is a sim wide sidewalk sale for Canada Day/ US Independance Day. Lots of deals on the Retrology sim!

Poodles is back, revamped, refreshed, and now in more vibrant colours.

Just like last year's version, it comes with a fun, flexi Poodle skirt complete with white tulle under the skirt, a short sleeved polo with matching poodle detail, glitch shorts for sock hopping "sans flashing" , matching neck scarf and white ankle socks.

COPY/MOD/NO TRANS






Available at Total Betty's main store in Plush Rho and at the Retrology location.

Relay for Life: Halfway Fair! June 1st!

Quick snapshot of the Designers in Seclusion Fair Grounds

The Relay for Life in SL fundraising campaign has already reached its halfway point! And you know what that means... the Halfway Fair is BACKkkk! Yeahhhhh! It starts at 6am SLT on Sunday June 1st and goes on until evening.

SIX sims, a billion teams (rounded off to the nearest billion for convenience), a ton of activities, exclusive RFL items for sale (all to raise funds for the American Cancer Society), lots of dancing, singing, kissing... ohhhhh my! It is a day you do not want to miss!

Drop by the Designers in Seclusion High School on the HalfwayThere 3 sim. Various basic designing classes will be offered throughout the day. If classes make you ill, don't fret! We also have plenty of exclusive relay items for sale on the school grounds, from gorgeous hairstyles to sexy jewelery and hot fashions! 100% of the proceeds from the sales go to Relay for Life. Yay! So, drop buy, learn something new, buy something pretty or just come hang out on the school grounds! I'll be the one sneaking a cig in the bushes. *shhhhhhhhh*

Clicky here for the slurl >> Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

******Detention sucks...

Speaking of school... Maybe pretending to be back in HS is not your cup o' tea but what if we skipped the school part and went straight to the prom? Relive the best moments of HS at the Designers in Seclusion prom on June 14th-15th. It's the perfect chance to do it all again and make things right.

-Didn't like your date at your HS prom? Forget about that loser and make new memories with your charming and sexy SL date!

-Your mom would only buy you that horrible polyester puke green "gown" that was 50% off? Bleach those memories away and deck yourself with the hottest, latest fashions at a fraction of what a RL gown would've cost! You will be the queen of the ball darlin'!

-You were blessed with two left feet and no one would dance with you? Now is your time to shine! Move over Dancing with the Stars... we got dance balls and we know how to use them! 10/10 guaranteed, every time.

Buy your tickets at the Fair or at the Relay for Life store on Callatropia. Pick your day (Saturday or Sunday... or both! why not?! twice the fun!), buy yourself a sexy dress, get someone to agree to be your date and you are set! I'll even spike the orange punch if you promise not to tell!

100% of the tickets sales go to benefit Relay for Life. Hope to see you there!



****

Oh and yeah! I'm alive, just busy as hell! Don't ever get sick and then go on vacation...cause work just piles up while you're away and it takes forever to catch up! I have a lot of new stuffs, I just need to find the time for the %$!!&*$ packaging part. I do check my messages regularly and sneak into SL to take care of things, so if you tried contacting me and I haven't replied, try again because that means I didn't get/see the message. Thanks! I'll be at the fair for a large part of the day so do stop by and say hello!

Betty :)

Tata for now!

Please note that I will be away for a couple of weeks! Technically, I coming back around the 22nd, but seeing that I have just spent the week from hell with the flu, I might take a couple of extra rest days and switch the dates around a little to come back a little later like the 28th or around there. I don't want my snot to ooze through my eyes in the plane or something equally gross. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I have heard too many horror stories from people in the past few days about traveling when sick. I do not wish to check the facts for myself!

I had planned a bunch of releases but my body betrayed me for the first time in like forever and gave me a serious beating. *wheeze* *cough* Sooo, it will all have to wait until my return.

If you need to leave me a message, send me a notecard with all the relevant information and I will reply as soon as I get back. Check my picks for more information.

Thanks! Back soon, hopefully cough free and fully refreshed!

Betty

More hunting! Retrology and Fashion Mode Egg Hunts

Yep! Another hunt with more goodies. Retrology vendors have scattered their eggs all over the Retrology sim for you to find! Hidden all over, some easy to find, some not so much. I have a couple of them hidden away...but I am not saying where! :) Click the eggs to get the contents (some are set for 0L$ or 1L$) Clicky here for the slurl!

*******

Also! Fashion Mode on the San Leandros sim is having two Easter Egg Hunts for Easter Sunday. You gotta be quick with that one though! Once the eggs are found, it's over baby! I gave two "free outfit" vouchers as prizes. Weeee! Sorry no slurl... I'm too sleepy to log back in. Just search for Fashion Mode (San Leandros sim) or look on my profile picks.

*******

Good luck, have fun...and Happy Easter!

Gris Wide Easter Hunt (one of em!) starts today

The Easter Bunny is going to be very busy this weekend! Lots of grid wide Easter hunts taking place this weekend/tomorrow and that is not counting all the Easter hunts that are planned in several stores/malls/sims. Oy! I hope you have big baskets to carry all the stuff! I actually had to pass on a few hunt invites because I didn't have enough time to make things for them, and who the heck wants to hunt the same items over and over again all over the grid? Now that would be fun...not!

One of the hunts I am participating in started today. I hid three eggs inside the store. Just buy them for 1L$ to get the contents. Clicky here for the slurl to the starting point. Good luck and have fun! Oh! and drop a few L$ in the Relay for Life kiosk while you are there. 1L$, 50L$, 100000000L$, it's all good! lol


More hunting goodness coming up tomorrow!

New releases SLRFL Part 3 - Dresses!

Whew! Two more RFL releases (last ones for now! I need to finish boxing up the other dresses/lingerie for the store before I make something else!)


First up, we have Dentelle in purple. This shade will only be available during the RFL in SL fundraising campaign.

Dentelle includes:
A lovely cami adorned with a lace sash at the waist, and more lacy goodness along the neckline and the back. It comes in multiple layer options and also includes the cami by itself so you can wear it with other skirts/pants etc.

Glitch pants (also in multiple layer options)

Two flexi skirts. One skirt is "fully textured" with a straight hem. That means it has no alpha, which is nice if you happen to be dancing on a transparent floor and you don't want your skirt to magically disappear as soon as you step on the glass floor. The other skirt has a more intricate hem line with nice lace detail.

Also included are the "bottom parts" of the top on undies and pants layer, in case you want to layer other things on top without losing the length of the cami. Nudity alert! Just don't mistake the Bottom only! parts for the glitch pants...

COPY/MOD/NO TRANS. 250L$.

***************


Next up, we have Stardust in pink, a shimmery, glittery party dress full of sparkly fun. (no worries, it doesn't actually bling! it just looks sparkly!) This shade will only be available during the RFL in SL fundraising campaign.


Stardust includes:
A cami with silver glittery straps in several layer options. Also included is a longer version of the top so you can wear the cami with other skirs/pants etc. You also get the "longer bottom part" of the cami on the pants and undies layer, in case you want to tuck your top into your pants etc. Just don't mistake the Bottom Only! parts for the glitch pants or you will be giving everyone a free show. Woo!

Glitch pants, on pants and undies layers.

A flexi, flowy skirt with silver glittery detail at the bottom.

Everything is COPY/MOD, NO TRANS. 250L$.

***************

Get both dresses at the Clothing Fair on the Winter Sim, (Rezzable Discover 64,195,28) or at Total Betty Boutique on Plush Rho. 100% of the proceeds from these two dresses go to raise money for the American Cancer Society.


That's it, that's all folks! Hope you like the new releases! Other colours will be available in the store shortly.

As always, your comments and suggestions are always welcomed.

Toodles!

New releases SLRFL Part 2 - Skins!

When I decided to try my hand at modding Eloh's skins for Another Fundraiser, I never imagined the response would be so positive. I still get inquiries about the skins to this day, asking if there will be more skins in the future or if I can sell the Another Fundraiser ones. Well, your wishes have been granted! (sorta). I am releasing two new makeups based on the lf0 mod I made last January.

Both makeups are subtle, very much in the same line as the Clover skin which was the skin that seemed to get the biggest response.

They don't really have a name. haha. I finished them pretty late, so I was like...hmmm errrr... Skin... hehe


The first makeup is called Naturelle. It has very discreet eye makeup in shades of taupe and pink, with just a hint of colour on the lips and cheeks.


The second makeup is called Delicate Rose. The eye makeup is "slightly" more pronounced on this one with a burst of pink right on the eyelid, and subtle smoky mauve/pink eyeshadow above the eye crease. The lips have a nice deep rose tint to them and the cheeks have a little bit of blush for a healthy look.


Both skins will only be available during the RFL in SL. No worries though, that doesn't end until July so you will have plenty of time to buy them.

Only 100L$ each and 100% of the proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society.

Available during the Clothing Fair on the Winter Sim vendor area (Rezzable Discover 64,195,28), not too far from the stage. And of course, at Total Betty Boutique on Plush Rho.

Btw, if you have any suggestions for makeup, let me know. I would be happy to release more options during RFL. So don't be shy! It might even get your name if I release your makeup idea!

New releases SLRFL Part 1 -- Undies!

Behold! This year's first RFL release by Total Betty!

Lovely is a simple lingerie set that includes a bra and matching panties. This black and purple version will only be sold as part of the RFL fundraiser. 100% of proceeds benefit the American Cancer Society. Everything comes on multiple layers to accommodate tattoo layers etc. COPY/MOD. Donate 100L$ (or more!) to the Lovely RFL vendor to receive the item.

Available at the Clothing Fair on the Winter Sim (Rezzable Discover, 64,195,28) or at Total Betty Boutique on Plush Rho.

SLRFL 2008.

Yay! Relay is here again and this year is getting off to a really great start! Donations are already pouring in and I am very confident that the teams will beat new records again this year. The number of teams has almost doubled for this year. That means 80, yes 80 teams will participate in the 2008 SLRFL. Woo! Go Relay!

Last year was my first time participating in Relay and it was a blast (Dixie Rebels hooo!!!). Sadly, the 2007 team won't be participating this year but that doesn't mean the ex rebels have stopped caring about the cause. No way jose! If anything, we are all busier than ever! Some started new teams, some joined the organizing comity (uh uh!), and some, like me, have joined new teams. I'd like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to all the Rebels for welcoming me and allowing me to take part in Relay last year. It meant a lot to me and it was an honor to be part of your team.

This year, I am part of the Designers in Seclusion (DiS for short) RFL Team. Expect a lot of Relay editions to hit the grid. Hair, shoes, clothes, skins, shapes, accessories and many many other cool things. Yay! The girls (and hmm I think there's a boy in there somewhere haha) have already started releasing items. Drop by the RFL Clothing Fair and check out all the vendors! 100% of the proceeds from the official RFL vendors go to benefit the American Cancer Association.

The Clothing Fair is hosted on the Rezzable sims by the Relay Raiders. Four sims of shopping fun! Rezzable Design (Summer), Rezzable Discover (Winter), Rezzable Create (Fall), Rezzable Explore (Spring)

Look out for posts about my first RFL releases very soon!

Total Betty Boutique has moved!

We moved! The new shop is now open for business. Official "opening" will be a little later on. I need time to finish the new releases that were put on hold while I was building.

While I was sad when I heard that my former landlord was selling his sim, in the end, it all turned out for the best. I found a gorgeous, clean, sunny place on Plush Rho. It is four times the floor space of my old shop, surrounding neighbors have nice shops, 24/7 service is lightning fast and rent is wayyy cheaper. Jackpot!

Since I had a bit of time before getting the boot, I decided to try my hand at building. Oy! I must be the world slowest builder but.... I DID IT! Yay! Sure, it's not the best technical build, I don't know all the tricks to optimize prim use, and aligning prims is a biatch... but I think it came out pretty well!

The new shop is spacious and airy. It has a lot of room to grow. No more playing vendor-Tetris for a while. Yay! Everything now has its own little corner. Sleepwear, fun silly outfits and items on sale are on one side of the shop. New releases, dresses and casuals are on the other side. The lobby in the middle has some bean bags to chill on if you need to rest your feet, or if your boyfriend doesn't feel like following you around while you shop.

I will be adding live models very soon. I am also working on adding a subscription system for goodies and store notices. Oh! And I added a shiny new mailbox at the entrance so you can now leave me comments, suggestions or even hate mail *sad* via note card right there on the spot. Weee!

Update your landmarks and drop by for a look see. Comments and suggestions are welcomed. Make my day and say it looks oh so awesome. Shatter my confidence and tell me the new place sucks beans. Whatever. I like hearing from you guys!

Slurly thingie for the new shop
Plush Rho (122,180,22)

See you there!

BettyB :)

Photoshop tutorials on the weeb

Most excellent example of what can be achieved with Photoshop

I often get random IMs with questions about how to do things in Photoshop. While I like trying to help, it is sometimes difficult to try and explain things in chat, especially when someone is just starting out and is not too familiar with the program.

It often ends up sounding like this:

Me: use the burn tool
Pupil: ...
Me: Burn tool, it's on your Tools bar
Pupil: ...
Me: the Tools bar, it's like a long thin rectangular thing with lots of icons?
Pupil: ...
Me: Ok? do you see it?
Pupil: ...
Me: It looks like... hmmm... a little pinchy hand.
Pupil: ...
Me: Yeah a pinchy hand, yanno, like if you touch the tip of your index finger with the tip of your thumb?
Pupil: ...
Me: No, like...with the fingers of the same hand, like..taking a pinch of salt...
Pupil: ...
Me: Ok. Forget that. Press shift+o until you see the pinchy hand on top the screen, under File.
Pupil: ...
Me: No. Don't open the File menu. I'm talking about the icon underneath the "word" File...
Pupil: ...
Me: So, press Shift+o...
Pupil: ...
Me: don't need to press the + key, just shift and the o at the same time.
Pupil: ...
Me: the letter O, not zero"
Pupil: ...
Me: Ermm.. brb
*Betty Barracuda has logged off*

So, sometimes, I like to refer people to some video tutorials. It is much easier (and faster!) to understand things when you can watch someone else do it. Plus, you can follow along while watching the video and actually use the tools and see what they do first hand.

In the spirit of sharing, I thought I'd post a link to some basic Photoshop tutorials I like. I hope these will help you achieve the results you are seeking.

Here is the first of a series of six (so far). New ones are added on a regular basis.



Enjoy! ;)

Valentine's Day Auction

Happy Valentine's Day everyone! Wishing everyone a great day with your loved ones, whether it be with that special someone, that "just friends" someone, or that "love to hate" someone haha.

The Cafe Society is having another auction for Valentine's. (those dames are like the fund raising queens of SL!) This time, all the money donated will go to the Heart Association. Lots of items up for auction. It's a silent auction, you just have to go and place your bid on the items you want. Easy peasy! Some one of a kind items, some limited editions and other cool things.


Here is my contribution.

Click on picture to see larger size

*Mon Coeur* is a lovely gown (if I may say so myself) in burgundy with black lace detail. This color will only be available at the auction and will not be sold in stores. It also comes with extras as such as different skirt options and a skin.

Included with this special set:

-One cami trimmed with lace, lace detail on the waist and more lace trim just above the hips.

-Glitch pants. Nothing much to say here.

-Two different skirt versions. One is a slimmer fit which sits lower on the hips and is narrower. The second version has more volume and sits higher on the hips. I like both, I couldn't decide, so I decided to include both for the auction. You also get a lace trimmed option or a full prim option for both skirts. So you get four skirts total. Yay!

- A skin with matching makeup. Smokey eyes, luscious burgundy lipstick, a hint of glitter on the cheeks and temples, and burgundy nail polish on your hands and feet.

Auction ends Valentines day at 8pm SLT on the 14th.
There will also be a Valentine's Day Dance and Bachelor Auction 7pm SLT.

Bid on the dress, bid on something else, make a small donation or just come dance. It's for a good cause!

See you there! Click here for the slurl! (Masterpiece Island 221, 187, 43)

Grid Wide Treasure Hunt

Here is my contribution to the grid-wide treasure hunt for VDay. Yay!

What started out as bra and panties turned into a full lingerie set with lots and lots of layer options.

My gift is #39 and it is hidden somewhere inside Total Betty Boutique on Son.


Over 40 designers are participating! Hurry! It ends February 11th at 11pm SLT. You don't want to miss it!


Here is the starting point for the hunt Calla Gardens, Sweet Sorrow (219,37,369)

BettyB Skin - Another Fundraiser

Last day to get your fabulous skins! 50L$ each, over 150 skins to choose from. Go! Goooo! http://slurl.com/secondlife/Masterpiece%20Island/219/190/43

I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone for their kind words. I am sooo happy with the positive response the skins have gotten. Yay! Thank you all. Your notes and IMs meant a lot to me.

<3

Another Fundraiser event. Skins!

Here are the four skins I submitted for Another Fundraiser. Weeee! People from all over Second Life have been busy modding Eloh Eliot's skins for the fundraiser.

Over 150 skins for only 50L$ each! All the proceeds from the sale of the skins will go to UNICEF.

The event ends February 3rd so hurry! Make yourself pretty and support a great cause at the same time!

More info here: http://anotherfundraiser.blogspot.com

Buy the skins here: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Masterpiece%20Island/172/210/73

Edit: The shape used on the posters is just my own little old shape. It is not for sale, and while I feel bad saying no to people who asked me if they could get it, I just can't bring myself to share it. Can't really explain it. It's like...part of me and I am not ready to run into Betty twins just yet. Thank you for the kind words though :)

The leaf bikini on the posters is from the Chiquita costume.

Yay!

Woohoo! I have been enjoying my stay at Le Cadre and it looks like I get to stay a little bit longer. Yay! Thank you to Sensual Casanova :D

Le Cadre

Check out the new designers moving in soon!

edit: Le Cadre is now called Sensual Productions y'all. New name, same great stuff!

Happy New Year!

This would be a good time to reflect on the events that marked 2007 and on all the wonderful people I have had the chance to meet during the past year. But this would be an even greater time to get myself a nice cold glass of water and crash on my couch for a bit...

Just wanted to drop by and wish everyone a wonderful new year. May 2008 bring you much love, health and happiness.