Tess Falworth

It is not about protecting the creator as much as giving the customer a chance to "try it before you buy it". Just like in RL, you want to try on clothes to be sure they fit, same in SL. I prefer people try a demo before they purchase so that they are sure they want the item. Better for them, better for me. But I know what you mean about the timed demo thing.. although I personally don't mind it at all.

I don't mind timed demos, but I rarely see them. I like them really, so I can see what the actual texture looks like. I don't think this is being paranoid at all. I probably have purchased the same demo a few times because I forgot I had it already!

The new LOGO Chelsea head with a shape I made for it, using Lara Hurley's Mandi skin for LOGO. I believe LOGO still has it out for free by joining their group, which is also free to join, but I don't think it will last much longer. Honestly, this head is lovely! Between this one and my Lelutka, I am pretty much set

If there is one constant in SL is change.. just like in RL I suppose! The posts above gave you some good advice. Best thing to do is take it slow, demo everything first and don't assume that expensive means best. I'd suggest joining some shopping event groups as you can get some good info on sales, etc. Flickr is a good way to find some good looks, follow those you like. Good luck!

New look for the last days of summer... the group gift skin from MILA is lovely, comes in versions for Lelutka Evolution and Genus. I used my Maitreya body though the BOM skins are suggested for the legacy body, it worked okay, except for the toes, but that's fine with me. The hair is from AnalogDog, the shape is made by me. xo

I understand your frustration, and honestly, before starting my store,I thought about how much time I would have to respond to customers with issues, and made myself a promise that I would do my best to live up to my own customer service standards. We need to consider many factors in this, including 1. language differences 2. cultural differences 3. business acumen ... three that come to mind. I might even add education level and basic communication skills. To start a business with a store front in the "real world" you need have a basic level of understanding of business practices, often creating Profit & Loss (P&L) reports, projections, and applying for loans from banks or investors. In contrast, to start an SL Store, be it in-world or in the marketplace, you need a product to sell, but not much else. There is little investment, pennies to the dollar really, and many people go into it with out the basic communication skills to really be able to run a business. I have been lucky that I haven't had many customer service related issues, and the ones I have had I can fix almost immediately. My store is relatively small, so my inventory is not large nor do I have a manager etc because I can still handle all of it on my own. Anytime a customer reaches out, I look for the lesson in the issue. For example, someone pointed out that when they purchased an eye set from an event I was in (I make eye appliers/bom) they didn't get mesh eyes in the pack (no where in the ad did it say there were mesh eyes) and they made the assumption that my eye "sets" included a pair of mesh eyes. Was this just quibbling with words? maybe, but honestly, it was not an issue to me to change how I label my ads. I now write that they contain appliers and BOM only to prevent confusion. By the way they wrote, I realized that English was not their first language, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I did explain to them that my ads do not state that they come with mesh eyes, but thanked them for pointing that out as a potential point of confusion for customers. I actually refunded the customer, not because they asked, but because I felt that was the right thing to do. They were happy, I was happy. In my RL life work, I've been lucky that I have received training on management, accounting, and customer service. I apply those to my little SL store as best as I can. Not everyone has, and in fact, SL can really equalize things by allowing people without these skills the chance to make a few L by selling things. As a customer, if I don't receive good service, I simply do not shop there again. As a business owner, I try as hard as possible to make sure my customers have a good experience. In the end, good communication is the basis for all good business practices.

It has been a while since I posted... I've been enjoying using the Petite add on and really enjoying the look of it. This was taken at Hazardous, one of my favorite long-time SL sims.

If I was not allowed to change how I look on the daily, I'd leave SL. The creativity that a virtual world allows is probably one of the biggest draws for me. And, as one person already said, when we are friends, I am friends with the person, not the avatar, and could care less what the avi looked like that day. My friends always comment on "we never know what we are going to get with you" regarding my looks. When I didn't change, they asked if I was feeling ok Something someone said to me though clicked.. that regardless of the look of my avi, I was always "me". In other words, that attachment to the visual didn't matter because our energy always showed through.

I have really enjoyed using the Petite Ad On for Maitreya.. and found this cute top from Erratic that was too darn cute to pass up.. and since Amara Beauty was having a great sale on their skins I had to get a new one.

Raw...

I make poses, but still shop for poses when I can't make what I want or am too lazy.. cos.. yea.. lazy happens. Marketplace can be intimidating as it is just sooo full of stuff! I have an MP store and even I am overwhelmed sometimes. Still poses can range from simple to "kinetic", and it all depends on what picture you want to make. I'd be on the lookout for oddly twisted limbs (especially the shoulders) and "stiff" poses, which can happen when creators don't look at the little details like the hands and feet and how they are turned.. or how the head is positioned. I make my poses for me first, then use them in photos, and only if I like how it turns out do I sell them in packs (as in the image attached). For kinetic poses, I would recommend Poseidon. I'd also look at Reve Obscura poses (both are on MP). The price point on them can vary, but RO poses are some of my fave bc they usually have props as well for a super low price and maximum quality. Lyrium is also one of my faves. And, while it might be weird that as a pose maker I am reccomending other's poses, its because I recognize their quality and I want to support other creators too I also don't just make poses so its honestly not an issue.

Just me.. and this shirt ...

Tess Falworth: She is a character I created, originally a hybrid vampire/human who became a Hunter...she would go after naughty vampires (as well as weres, etc) and brought them back to stand trial for their crimes. Tess is a short, sweet and easy to remember name, and also easy to type. Falworth was suggested, amongst others, when I first joined SL. I wanted something that sounded a bit on the British side, so Tess Falworth was it

I really miss the warmer beaches where I can be in the water... sighs... California Dreamin'....

This one is the Lelutka Nova mesh head . There are a variety of heads out there, each one has pros and cons as usual. For me, the top three heads I generally use are 1. Catwa (Catya) 2. Lelutka Evolution (Nova) 3. Vista. I am sad that Vista has not gotten the love it deserves, because honestly its a really amazing head for the price (I believe its still priced at 2000L vs the upwards of 5000 L that most mesh heads are sold for these days). LOGO is a close tie for third, but I find their HUDs a bit more complex and their overall design a bit more limiting to edit. That being said, LOGO was the first mesh head I got when mesh heads first came out, and I loved my Alex LOGO head. Mae is my fave of their new ones that have come out for Bento. I am not really a fan of Genus for various reasons, but I think they are lovely in shape and do look super pretty with so many skins and makeup made for them, but since they currently have a DMCA that was brought against them, am cautiously waiting to see what the outcome is. I'd recommend taking some time to demo each head you are interested in and then look around to see how much is created for them, etc. With Catwa, you are assured that there is ALOT and I mean, ALOT made for them. Items for the new Lelutka heads have just been booming, and since both Catwa and Lelutka are Bake On Mesh optimized, you will have a lot of makeup, skins, etc available for them, with more coming out as time goes on. I'm adding a collage of the heads I mentioned with shapes I made for them ( I never use the shapes out of the box, ever) so you can have some reference. One thing to keep in mind is that the skin you choose will make a HUGE difference in the overall look. The combo of shape AND skin is really what will make the look complete. Some of my fave skin makers are Lara Hurley, Glam Affair, Amara Beauty, Enfer Sombre, Deetalez, and Pumec. If you ever need any in-world help with heads, skins or shapes, let me know!

Well, nothing new really, except my usual back and forth between my Catwa head and my Lelutka head. Not really using a new skin, as I have been in love with this Amara Beauty skin since I got it. The alabaster tone is delicious. Once I added my freckles and blush that I wear on the daily I just didn't really want to take it off! The hair is new.. from Doux and I believe its at Equal10, or was as of yesterday. Doux hair has quickly started to become one of go-tos for lots of things due to its lovely textures and built in hairbase. I am glad to see more hair creators using it as well. The eyes are new too, and I just released them for 35L Sundays. Well, Happy Saturday!

I probably should have cropped this.. my OCD is kicking in but its too late lol. Oh wells! Just me, with my Lelutka Nova head. Thank goodness for being able to save outfits considering how often I change my looks! I was in world and someone asked me where I got my shape and skin, and I gladly shared. She was over the moon since she said she'd been told some nasty things when she asked other people where they found their outfits, etc. She was relatively new and still learning. I thought that was such a sad thing that people were rude to her when she asked. I will always let people know where I get anything I am wearing if they ask me. Kindness... its a thing! In case anyone wants to know: Hair- Tram, skin - Amara Beauty, earrings- e.marie, eyes -made by me freckles and blush as well made by me.

Yes, this is Lelutka Nova, and that skin I think it is Glam Affair from the current round of the Arcade.