It's here... Hair Fair 2011

Yes - it's that time of year once more. So without further ado - the reveal:

Lola - based loosely on Lulu from Final Fantasy X - A set of flexible braids on our new Urchin hairbase

Charlie - a ponytail with braided sides and floppy front - a softer variant on Stampede. Intended to be male, but works well on the girls - to the point that its the one I've been wearing for weeks :$

The original Urchin style that gave rise to the rest - Lotta is a short-ish, braided pony in the style of our old Laetitia do. This one, like the others, incorporates a few flexi braids for added life

Lilith - longer and fuller than Lotta - with the falls on the chest attach so that they don't spend their lives clipping through your shoulders. Really happy with this one, although a little disappointed that the animation of the pec attach points doesn't seem to allow hair to be mounted to it and still move with the body reliably... oh well... I'll keep trying... (sorry Jeela!)

In the words of Monty Python - And now for something completely different. Yes - this is inspired by Michelle Laine's headdress from the Katy Perry ET video. Somebody had to, and since it's braided, who better than me? Skin and face gems available from Nuuna's. She put it together especially for me - Thanks girl - you rock! :))

Discord Designs can be found on the Osmium sim (Hair Fair 4). Best way to find us, land anywhere and head South West. We're the last booth you hit before landing up in the water...

Doors open to the public on the 2nd of July, and demos going out to the -dDx- subscribeo and Hair Fair Demo group later today.

See you at Hair Fair!

Kalli

Lax or sorely lacking...?

OK - I suck and have left this WAY too long. Yes I have been working, and updates have been coming, but I've not blogged them because I either simply couldn't log into Blogger or I was otherwise predisposed.

Anyway, I'm posting now as there's a new one out today - Celene


This one features a mix of sculpted and flexi braids for what I believe is the first time. If it sells I'll look at developing more along these lines - so do come by and give it a try. It's on the practically-ubiquitous Turtle base again... but recent releases haven't been.







So these half dozen are on the new Skunk hairbase - allowing for some fun with straight cornrows - we've got Freija, a Jordan replacement and featuring a long loose drop and a bandana (colour-change, of course), Stampede - a mohawk with braids up the sides, Briannon - a Paige replacement with a little flick, Devon - a set of cornrows with tails (to replace Deshaun), Anansi, a set of rows without the tails (as a Sol replacement) and Mackenzie - like Shelly but braided instead of just tied.

And if that wasn't enough, finally there's Karina - initially built for the Little Big Shop event, that's now for sale in the main store and is a loose floaty ponytail.


...and by popular demand, a prim version of the turtle hairbase for those who want to use the tatt layer for something else:


OK... so that's you guys up to speed on the last seven weeks of releases. I *promise* it won't be so long next time, because if it is, I'll be announcing my Hair Fair releases on the last day of the show... don't want that now, do we...?

Anyway,

Until next time,

Kalli

One more sleep...

Yes ladies and gentlemen - Hair Fair 2010 is as good as upon us. The designers' party wrapped about four hours ago, the bloggers are touring the booths today (in fact one has already blogged a new style of mine - Thanks Phoenix, you beat me to it!) and as of tomorrow it all goes live...


This year the fair is supporting Wigs For Kids, an organisation that provides hairpieces free to children undergoing chemotherapy, or who suffer from conditions (such as alopecia or trichotillomania) that result in hair loss. More details of the work they do can be found on their website - linked above.

This year, -dD- is throwing up three styles (a drop on the usual five I've managed before - but RL is as RL does and I have recently taken a close to three week hiatus from SL to actually go on a reasonable length holiday for the first time in nigh on seven years... mea culpa :S

First off is Ariadne - a braided ponytail style unlike any other I have instore:


It makes use of the new style braids I flashed earlier with the releases of Astrid and Trine, is available in braids only and "hair in between" (as shown in the picture). More of this sort of thing will be following soon, I imagine.

Next up is Jeela - an anime-inspired short style that a long time collaborator, Jeela Juran, wanted to get her hands on. As such, I capitulated, built it and let her model it for me... :D


She seems to like it at least... so that's all that matters(!) It makes use of some rather novel sculpts to create some whacky lines, but it works... Don't believe me? Try the demo!

Last up - the men's offering (and yes initially I was aiming for some more beards as well, but they've been pipelined due to time constraints)... a new-style dreaded affair - Don.


This baby is Rush on steroids... I reworked the dread textures to give them a little more life with this one so it should be more appealing and look a little less flat than Sawyer and Aeshna - which I will probably go back and retexture now... The thick locks are tied at the back by a couple of long knotted locks to create an elaborate pony. There's some flex in there too and some loose strands where required to break up the lines. I like it, and I hope the model (Ahmad 'Don' Hosho) does too... Got to say, he looks good in it.

Seeing as the three styles are so disparate, I was hard pressed to select one to make the charity style this year - so they ALL are. What's more, the charity cut on the larger packs is greater than the smaller ones - just to tempt you to donate more for what is a worthy cause. 4-packs are 50% cut to Wigs For Kids, the tonepacks are 60% and the fatpacks are 75%. Furthermore, the dollarbie throws all proceeds into the charity pot.

Now - I know some of you may think this a little pointless; but last year I did the same thing and raised close to $10 from dollarbie sales alone - that's close to 2500 of them sold during the run of the fair, which all added to the grand total. Every little helps, no matter *how* little that may be. I know that many in my group (and so therefore many of you reading this) do not have payment info on file and you don't buy in currency. I also know that earning money to spend in SL takes a hell of a long time to amass the sum needed to to buy a full price item, particularly a fatpack - so here's an avenue to contribute without having to spend what in some cases is six hours or more to earn the cash to get a colour pack. Not that I'll be stopping you from doing that either, of course... Also last year's script accepted overpayments for items - not tried it with this year's yet, but that's always another idea!

So there you have it. Hair Fair 2010 and the stuff I'm throwing out for it (with a sprinkle of soapboxing). I hope there's something there to tickle your fancy and get you going!

Until next time,

Kalli

Third iteration...

Greetings once again from Kalli Land...

OK - last post I mentioned that I was working on some new braids; and that I wasn't going to save the big releases for September the 4th this year (as so much of it gets lost in the crush of Hair Fair - and let's be serious, how am I ever going to compete for attention with the likes of Truth, Exile, Ploom, Fri.day and 120+ other designers dropping on average 4.3 styles apiece (plus freebies) on the one day?) So like I said then, I'm throwing evidence of progression out here.

The textures on the braids themselves are still to be refined - so doubtlessly they'll look a little different come release; but for now here are some shots of two forerunners to the 3.0 braid line.



OK... what you see here I've tentatively called Trine (the top one) and Astrid. One is a traditional (for me at least) whole head braid - but this differs from anything that's gone before insofar as the braids themselves are now infinitely more bendy than they ever have been. They're a joy to work with as a result, and allow for more complicated twists, twirls and so forth without looking forced or awkward.

One positive bonus of the new braided sculpties are they allow me to create workable braided buns for the first time, as can be seen in Astrid. It's basically a "double Bavarian knot" (or as a rather crass friend of mine once said "Danish Pastry hair" - I slapped him for that one...)

I hope to have the time to create a few more mixed braided and non-braided styles. I've done it before to limited success, but I think I've got the kit to actually do it reliably now...

Either way - expect these, and the previously mentioned dreaded style Aeshna, live shortly... certainly in advance of Hair Fair.

Until next time,

Kalli

Poorly kept secrets...

So here we are... once again.

September the 4th 2010 marks the opening of this year's Hair Fair, and I - like doubtlessly dozens, if not hundreds of other hair designers - am in the process of deciding what the heck to build for this year.... Well five styles... and I have five dedicated sections in store. The logic is obvious... you'd think...

Last year I tried to run a big simultaneous release to go along with Hair Fair, throwing out... erm... can't remember exactly; but I think it was sixteen styles - 5 at HF, the rest in store to see if that would trigger some business - but basically it fell flat - lost in the furore of the 'big reveal' from 124 other designers.

So anyway - here I am trying to think of how to best drum up some sales without actually telling you anything ahead of time about what it is precisely I'm actually building.

...its frustrating, believe you me.

Anyway... speaking of drumming up business; The second Crazy Arse Hair Hunt is under way - and I thought it was about time I flashed the style I've thrown in. Its another new sculpted dread - Aeshna - Which for the event is featured in snakeskin. The regular dreaded textures will be out in a few days when I've had a chance to clone and box them. The snakeskin texture used here is a wonderful seamless one available from Rose English on Deviant Art. She's been really kind and made it available for use for anything... All she wants is a credit, so credit where credit's due...


More pics and details as and when its live...

And regarding Hair Fair? Well... details when the moritorium's lifted... ;)

Until next time,

Kalli

The big Hair Fair reveal - Part 4 of 4

OK... it's technically tomorrow, and I have a busy day in RL... so without further ado... the last in my installments of new stuff for Hair Fair and instore.

Ladies and Gentlemen... the forerunners of braids 2.0

Yes; I've had this in the back of my mind for over six months now; and yes, I could have got to it sooner (in fact I first broke out the sculptor to make a start in December...) but things got in the way... blah blah blah... and to be honest, I re-evaluated how to make the braids from the ground up.

Ok... I'm waffling... Pics...





Now, you can all thank Alice Hoyer for looking at the first attempts at these and making the very valid point that they needed their own designated textures... three banks, or 219 images in total... but you have to concede, it's worth it... She is, as I call her, and evil genius; which is of course meant as a compliment! ;)

Yolanda is the Hair Fair one... and the ONLY female hair I'm presenting this year... while Ryu and DeShaun go into the store.

Furthermore, Faery Sola at Studio Sidhe as done a set of beads to fit Yolanda due for release as soon as Hair Fair opens! Thanks!

So that's it for Hair Fair... All we need to do now is finish loading them all and get the booth set up...

Until next time,

Kalli

The big Hair Fair reveal - Part 3 of 4

OK... now here's something I've been asked a couple of times... can I get an undercut?

Given the way it's been previously, the limitations of prim size has been an issue; unless you want a textured one that alphas. I tried a texture undercut with Anthony last year and wasn't overly convinced that it did what I wanted it to - and seeing as my texturing skills aren't the greatest on the face of the metaverse; I've thought about these from a prim perspective. Using the multis I featured yesterday I've gone and created three... Aiodhan, Judy and Kele





Aiodhan's going into Hair Fair... the other two go in store. Couldn't resis making Kele... using both the microdreads and the multis... and yes; it IS named after the lead singer in Bloc Party (hence the shirt) who sports something similar.

More tomorrow... and by now I think you can guess what I've been saving for last...

Kalli

The big Hair Fair reveal - part 2 of 4

Part two... hmm...

OK... I always get complaints that men's hair in Sl simply isn't short enough. And it comes down to one simple reason - there are a limited number of prims you can tie together to build hair... and wide short prims look naff... unless you're VERY good at texturing them. So back I went to the sculptor and had another bash with something to get more points to the prim - resulting, hopefully in really short, spikey hair. I trialled a couple - experimented with using the new tech to make beards and ran a couple of updates... so I give you Desmond, Marshall and the Geometrics collection:





So many people have told me that while Dexter, my current MPB style is good it's too long... so using the new tech it seemed more than appropriate to build a tighter, shorter style. Marshall is basically at the limits of what these allow me to do (right now... hehe) - comprising over close to 1000 points for 252 prims as a whole head style. The Geometrics are some fun and modern short cropped beard styles that I'm supplying as a block for HF09 (Yes... I'm entering beards into hair fair) and might break up some (much as I did with the multiway goatee) once it's all blown over. I'll be adding Desmond to the shop stock; and submitting Marshall into the Hair Fair lineup also.

Watch this space for more info...

Kalli

The Big Reveal - Part 1 of 4

Oh thank goodness - the Hair Fair blackout's been lifted and I can finally start to share what it is that's kept me away from blogging and releasing stuff for the last two months.

Well... Here goes...

For Hair Fair this year I've been trying new things... UTTERLY new that hopefully you won't see anywhere else. The first thing I've been up to is to bulk out the new dreads section. While Flexi dreads are OK, we can't ignore the obvious "squareness" of the individual prims.... And what's more the numbers of prims required to make an effective short style are way too high for a single attach point... hmm... engage brain... fire up in-woirld sculptor and present... Chad, Niobe and Clint.





Chad features as one of my five at Hair Fair, the other two will be added to the dreads section on or soon before the 20th of June. Chad comprises over 600 dreads, but doesn't burst the 255 prim ceiling for a single attach point. They're mostly sculpted but with some highlight flexis to give it a little life. Clint is a 'hawk version for those who wish to partake; while Niobe is a LOT of fun... sculpted dreads pulled up into bunches with loose strands, tufts on the neck and all-round 'cute!'

More tomorrow...

Kalli

Four weeks since the last release....

You know the most painful thing about doing Hair Fair? The long gap that always seems to happen with respect to releases - but let me tell you, the waiting's nearly over now. The media blackout regarding Hair Fair styles ends this weekend,. so I'll start showing you what's up for grabs come Monday... three styles at a time... ;)

'Three?' I hear you ask...

Yup... three. I've got 5 new for Hair Fair; and another 7 to launch concurently instore. I'll be adding to the range at Admicile and replacing the styles in Hairspray too.... So come Thursday you'll know what's out there; Friday I'll load the stores and add demos to XStreet... and then Saturday, Hair Fair goes Live. Look for us just to the left of the landing point of the North East section, by Deviant Kitties and Bryce.

Until Monday,

Kalli

19 days and counting...

*Sighs*

I know it doesn't look like it... but I have been working my delicate fingers to the bone here developing new stuff. It's just I can't tell you about it... or show you... and why? Because if I do you'll know what to expect of me when Hair Fair strikes on the 20th... and seeing as there's a semi-enforced media blackout till the 14th... I'm just going to have to sit on my thumbs a while longer... Gah!

Suffice to say, the last few weeks have been fruitful...

Until next time,

Kalli

I heard Ramona sing...

...and I heard everything

Well slightly grandiose a statement; but I'm taking a short break from Hair Fair panic to work on the 4th in the hood line of hair reworks. Basically I'm still prototyping, because with 237 wonky prims this one is a swine to texture reliably. Either way, the name Mona flew through my head for it, but it didn't seem right... Ramona (from the title of a Frank Black song from his eponymous debut album) did... so without further ado... a shot of the new work in progress...


I'm also going to add it in 12 colors to the group subscribeo when it's finished as the fifth free hair of the year... So look out for it...

You may notice that this differs from my usual routine again by being the first curly style I've thrown out since Joss in July 2007... or arguably Edea in April 2008. I see now why people resort to texture planes for curly hair... but I cannot be doing with the alpha troubles there... That and it would require me learning to use a graphics package... :S

Anyway... not going there again... especially not at this time of night...

Until next time,

Kalli

Sir! News from the underground...

Hair Fair... yes... plans are under way here, as you can probably expect with me being fixated and a little OCD. What's this going to mean for you?

In short, a protracted delay when it comes to new releases because although I only have to present 5 styles at the event itself, I'm holding out to drop companion styles at the main store at the same time... meaning that there's going to be a raft of new stuff at the Hair Fair sim, and an equally large raft of it at the main store. It'll all be coming out on the same day because... well... what I'm doing this year is doubtlessly going to raise requests for similar styles. The first prototype is already in the bag, and I'm half mad with a twitchy desire to flash it... but I can't. The surprise'll be lost otherwise.

The requests happened early with the braids last year, and it took me a fair while to get organised; which I'm sure caused me to lose a little momentum and several sales after Hair Fair. So this year I want to be set... and what I will say is this - If you've every bought something from my store, there's going to be something there for you this time out.

Sorry, but I have to be a little vague here for now, but look out on the 15th of June for the first reveal; followed by one a day until the 19th. The doors of Hair Fair open on the 20th and the new stuff will be in the store at the same time.

The logistics are making me wince, especially with the work involved... but I'll get there.

Until next time,

Kalli

Hair Fair dates announced...

It's happened... the dates for HF09 have surfaced; and I was signed up for it within a couple of hours of the notification going live...

Mark your calendars people... it's the 20th of June to the 4th of July... This means I have just 10 weeks to get my act together and get some hair made. Furthermore, the organising committee have requested this year that there is a blanket media blackout of whatever we're launching at Hair fair until mere days before the event itself... so I guess that means I'm going to have to shut up for once.

I'll be back with more news nearer the time, but until then, I got a sculpt lab to abuse... Be back soon...

Kalli

Stay tuned for further developments

Sometimes it strikes you... the time has come for some development work... so right now things are a little slow on the actual creation front. Not to say that I haven't built anything... oh no... I've got three new dreaded styles waiting to come out of prototyping and hit the shelves; but what I'm REALLY up to is a little more special.

I've gone back to the in-world sculptie maker, and am flexing my muscles in that department; working on component parts for three new lines of hairdo... which, had you asked me just 6 months ago, I would have told you were not possible.

I'm always up for a challenge... The braided stuff is testiment to that as it stands... but I'm not leaving it there. I've never been truly happy with my braids as the sculpts are not actually braided... just approximating being braided. There's work in progress to up the ante, and satiate my perfectionism a touch... and it's weird that work with Katja and the Boingo Valkirie hood (using regular prims, just for the record) gave me the insight I was looking for when it came to how to improve. Still... I'm psyching myself up for another stab at braided sculpt making... the fourth attempt in fact after the first one to create the formers for Jordan, Layla and Kaiba... the second to make Roni (which I actually thought was a backward step on further examination) and the third to make the sets that went into Taylor, Nox and so on. we'll see what kind of mess I get myself into doing set #4...

The second and third lines? Well... you're going to have to wait for Hair Fair to see what's going on there.

Ah yes... Hair Fair. We have approximate dates in that respect - the end of June - which naturally means that I've got just 12 weeks to bring these plans to fruition. Those who've been here a while will know how far back I started planning for HF08... and this year is no different. I have 5 styles in mind... 4 of which are already named... and I hope against hope to create something from each arm of the business... One braid - ideally using improved sculpties; a masculine one, one feminine, one most probably unisex dreaded (seeing as by then I'll have a dreads arm open... whatch this space) and a beard. Slightly untoward, maybe... but since when did I ever come across as normal?

Well... more news and associated imagery as and when I've taken some decent ones...

BANDANA DAY - September 7th 2008

As a culmination of the events at Hair Fair, Bandana day is a reminder of what it's all about. We're out to raise money for Locks of Love.

On this day way ask that rather than prance about in your usual hair, you pick up a bandana from any one of the hair fair sims instead. Each are priced at 50L and 100% of all proceeds go straight to the charity...

Take off your hair to show you care...

Until next time,

Kalli

Hair Fair is GO...

Come on over...!

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Rezzable%20Design/118/165/22

Until next time,

Kalli

Hair fair opens in a little under four hours...

Onrez is back up... after we managed to kill it yesterday with too much traffic... even so my demos are up and on sale for free... Over 30 people have taken advantage so far, which is pretty cool... even with the speed issues overnight.

I atteneded the designers' pyjama party (which for me started at a somewhat dubious 3am...) and managed to cobble together around 3 hours' sleep... so if I don't check my spelling that's... um... what am I talking about... I NEVER check my spelling... Still; it was a long wait up so I got to work, and on the back of a request, I created a little something... another mustache that's not huge for once... This is Ed:



Not a lot of him, I freely admit... but it's a nice 'tache nonetheless... and yours for 30L.

I'll post the Hair Fair URL here as soon as the sims are open... ;)

you know what... It's thursday

The day that us hair people are scheduled to release full details of our hair fair styles... So here we go... Demos go live on Onrez when SLT hits Thursday... but I'm not ON SLT... So here we go...


You've seen this one before... Thanks for the hat Josey!


I started this one two months ago it transpires... it'll have to do... ;)


Something of a departure for me... an updo that's not got piggies... :D


The most prim heavy hair that I've made... and you can tell... or not... ;)


Y'see? It's an improvement!

Note that two styles donate 75% of thier sales revenue to Locks of Love; the Hair fair charity of choice; so please dig deep. These styles go live in the purple zone Friday and remain live till the 7th of September... Look for the bulldozer...

Until next time,

Kalli

Let it be known...

And may it be lauded from the rooftops, Discord Designs is set for Hair Fair...

Stall now populated and fully loaded... so here we are people... not long to go now!