I stumbled upon an announcement about this in the Events list, and boy, am I glad I did! Lost among the gazillions of tringo, slingo, yard sales and camping chairs fests, was this gem: the Aotearoa/New Zealand Interactive Pavillion in Uli. I couldn’t go there at first, due to connection problems and the twin power outages that kept the grid down, but Saturday was the day I’d finally get a chance at having a closer look at it. I sure don’t regret it, and I’ll encourage everyone reading this post to take a peek as well.

The first floor is, so to say, the “shopping area”: postcards, Maori artwork and costumes, books, and even a small stage—on which Luthien Unsung performed a traditional dance just for us when we were there yesterday. It’s already pretty interesting in my opinion, although the best is to come.

Up to the second floor I go. First, the Pavillion is beautifully done, that’s the least I can say. Lots of pictures of birds, fishes, NZ currencies and stamps, as well as a slideshow with landscape photographies. Second, it’s also very instructive: with all these pictures, come notecards telling the visitor a little more about what he’s currently looking at. Historical information disputes it to samples of birds’ cries.

The third floor is a reproduction of a meeting house, and of the “Marae”, the sacred courtyard in front of said meeting house. In there are displayed traditional Maori weaponry, pictures and statues. A few panels on the wall marked “Pakiwaitara” also hand out notecards that tell the story of the world’s creation, and more.

One post in one blog wouldn’t be enough to tell of all the wonders shown in this exhibition, so I’ll once again urge you, reader, to go have a look by yourself. It’ll be worth it, and a good use of your time.

new zealand | pictures | second life

I’ve finally met the person who’s building above the Pirate’s Hideaway in Varney!

All by chance, alright: he bumped into me near Blackmore Castle, as I was nodding off, half-AFK. We then visited his little place above Varney’s mountain—both very easy to see and well hidden, a peaceful garden of sorts with lots of trees and beautiful scenery around.

Then we descended into my store, which prims are off-alignment and as such are a curiosity laughs

Idle chit-chat after working on all the catalogs, hair and stuff is really a pleasant thing

second life

Looks like I went crazy on experimenting this past week-end… and here’s what’s gotten out of it…

Hair—No kidding, I had never attempted at making hair with prims before. I didn’t go full-blown prims (although I tried, before deciding against it), I used a normal base as well. I find the result to be, well, not bad at all (meaning I’m wearing it in world right now to test it, and I don’t look stupid, haha). No doubt I’ll peruse this road again and more often in the future. After all, I make traditional Japanese clothing, shouldn’t I make traditional haircuts as well?

The Aozora catalog! (Or catalogue… whatever spelling fits your fancy, since Mr. Webster told me both are okay anyway.)—I discovered the THiNC Book system, combined with the printing press, which has been around for some time, just not under my nose during my extended break. I can say I’ve had much, much fun preparing the textures to upload, and now I’m pretty proud of my little catalog. It’s free, of course. I wouldn’t make my customers or potential customers pay for a catalog, heh.

On the other hand, I’m considering making a book someday—not a novel, something more along the lines of a book about clothing, with historical examples, etc. It could be interesting.

catalog | hair | second life