Fab Advice – Edition #16

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QUESTION #1:  Fitted mesh is finally here and it’s awesome! The issue is I’m seeing only a few designers offering quality clothes for it, and even less for free/cheap. Does FabFree have a list of current goodies?!

Love Says:  Fitted Mesh is something that I admit I haven’t explored yet.  I am still on an older version of Firestorm that doesn’t allow me to even view it, so all I see are giant boxes lol.  I will brave the upgrade soon, so I can try it out…  I am just afraid to upgrade because I have to re-do all of my photography settings again lmao.  I will make note of your question and see if I can’t find some fitted mesh gifts to show soon.

Pru Says:  I wish I did! Hopefully some of the other FabFree Staff/Readers maybe have some information on where to find some great deals on the new fitted mesh. One thing I will say is that it took a little while for me to start seeing real quality regular mesh items back when mesh was still new. So with that in mind, it may be a little bit before we start to really see awesome examples of fitted mesh gifts/freebies.

Xiu Says:  Hi and great question!  I don’t think we have a list yet…it is still pretty new to us as well…but it is and excellent idea to start keeping a list of places that do offer it.  I’ve only tried a few Fitted Mesh items on and was not crazy about the pointed hips, however I did just pick up the Fitted Mesh avatar and it shows tremendous promise.  I haven’t yet tried any Fitted Mesh items on it yet…but I am interested to see how it all works (or not) together.  If you are interested in the Fitted Mesh avatar, it is called the Wowmeh – Mesh Body and you can find it on the Marketplace.  It is really well done!  Thanks for asking and if you find any places to start our list off, or just to share with the other FF readers, please send us the information! ❤ ❤

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QUESTION #2:  After reading the FF blog lately, it has come to my attention that I should have some mesh Slink feet.  I am about to purchase one pair of slink feet.  I can’t afford more than that right now.  Which ones do you get the most wear out of, and where are your fave places to get add-on shoes?

Love Says:  I have all three of the mesh feet (flat, mid and high) and I would say that I have probably worn my flat feet the most, but recently with all of the new slink-add on heels I have been wearing my mid shoes more.  I only have a couple pairs of shoes that work with the high feet.  If you are a more casual sandal type person, go with the flat feet and check out Pure Poison for a great selection of summer sandals.  If you prefer a heels, go for the mid – and check out Essenz.  I am a bit of a slink add-on shoe addict these days.  I can’t control myself!  I am just so excited that there is no more colour matching and fat ankles (cankles!!).  Keep your eyes on the blog to find more great shops in SL offering slink-add ons 😉

Pru Says:  I only have the “mid” level, cause like a lot of people, I can’t really afford to have more. I will say I often wish I had a pair of the “high” Slink feet as well, simply because I see cute high heels and platform style shoes that are for the “high” feet. Still, I feel like I have good use out of my “mid” feet as well. I honestly like them bare, I run around sl in my bare feet a lot! lol I don’t own many pairs of slink shoes, but the ones I have from a store called Scrub are my favorite so far. Here’s the LM – http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/SCRUB/143/61/30

Xiu Says:  Congratulations on deciding to go with the Slink mesh feet!  It took me a while to get them and I would have to say it is a toss up which I use more.  I use the flat feet more and more because a lot of stores are creating adorable sandals for the upcoming Summer Season…but I can’t resist a sexy heel that requires the high Slink feet.  Right now my favorite place to get the flat feet sandals is Pure Poison and for the high feet heels, ieQED makes drop dead sexy, ultra feminine heels.  Both designers are very generous…Pure Poison with her group members (still free to join) and ieQED with their subscrib-o members…so they are both worth checking out!  Good luck and enjoy your new feet! ❤ ❤

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QUESTION #3:  I am curious if you keep all the colors of hair in your fatpacks or if you delete to reduce inventory counts.  I have hard time deleting, but I will never wear most of these colors.  Maybe it best to delete them?

Love Says:  I hope you weren’t counting on me to say it’s ok to delete the colours you don’t usually wear lol, because I just can’t bring myself to delete good hair!  I love that most of the newer styles come with a HUD that only takes up a few items in your inventory instead of 25.  The only reason I delete any hair in my inventory is if I find that it has outdated and I know I won’t wear it again.  I never delete hair on account of colour because who knows when I will change my mind and decide to go red or black or pink even, and then I will be kicking myself for deleting it all.  If you are looking to reduce your inventory, look first for old landmarks, notecards and delivery scripts.  I find that I always have way too many of those in my inventory.  SAVE THE HAIR!

Pru Says:  I have boxed up the hairs I don’t wear but can’t bring myself to delete. I feel like I am constantly “organizing” or cleaning out my inventory. I hate to have it cluttered. I do have a rule however, that if it’s been 6 months to a year since I wore it last, it is probably safe to delete.

Xiu Says:  Fabulous question!  I don’t buy a lot of fatpacked hair…because I usually stick with black, white blond or pink.  However, even in those packs, there are colors in that spectrum I won’t likely wear.  I never delete them though…fo no other reason except I just don’t do it.  Someday I might…goodness knows…my inventory would thank me for it!
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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

 

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Fab Advice – Edition #15

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QUESTION #1:  Hello : i would like 1st to thank you for your FABFREE store and blog its really a big help for me cause i just joined SL.  My question is, can you give me a list of all the Implants (  Boobs & Butts ) where i can find them and wihat is your personal favorite ? I see so many appliers in the clothes folders i get and i dont know what should i get, i dont wanna spend money which i dont have atm to something that is bad.
Thank you

Love Says: Hi!  Thank you for your kind words 🙂  We are so glad we could help you in your introduction to SL.   I wish I could help you out by answering your question, but I don’t wear the implants…  I do have a pair of Lola Tangos, which are getting dusty in my inventory lol because I prefer my basic boobs.  Perhaps the other bloggers will have more info for you!

Xiu Says:  Thank you for the kind words about the FabFree Headquarters and blog…so glad they are places for you to go and find great quality free and low cost items…and WELCOME to SL!
I must bow out of this question with an apology.  I have so many attachments on my body already…I don’t think my poor abie could handle breast or butt implants…I might fall over!  Seriously though…I have no clue what is out there good or bad…and I am sorry I cannot be more helpful.  ❤ ❤

Pru Says:  I only have Lolas Tango, and unfortunately they do not offer demos. (That I am aware of)  I like them pretty well for certain things, but I don’t wear mine all the time. Even sized smaller they make your chest quite large. Mostly I think they are great for pictures, and look good in things like bikinis and lingerie.
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Lolas/176/199/605

Skyler Says:  I can do one better even! http://www.bigboobiebabes.com/ The big boobies babes is another freebie group dedicated completely to the crowd who loves mesh boobs and butts. On their website the have a running list of the current mesh implants (for your top and bottom), a review, and a pro/con list for each! I personally prefer the lolas tangos breasts for functionality, but I prefer the shape of the violet studios vString X_X pack, which works with lolas tangos appliers, and has way more features than any other breasts i’ve seen so far. As far as butts go, I only have the luck inc Cute azz so far, but while I love the cute little bum on it, the thigh gap really bothers me, so I think I’m going to switch to the Ghetto Booty!

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QUESTION #2:  Thank you for your blog.  I read it every day before I log into my pixel minion.  My question for you is – how do hunts work?  I read your posts, and I go to find the item and buy it but how do I do the whole hunt?  I don’t know where to go.

Love Says: 🙂  Thank you for reading FabFree!!  We are honoured to be a part of your daily SL routine.  I think almost all of your hunt questions can be answered on our SL Hunts Page, which you can always find in the tabs at the top of the blog… or at this link – https://fabfree.wordpress.com/sl-hunts-advents/.  Hunts are a whole lot of fun!  It’s a great way to find new stores, and try new things – sometimes absolutely free!  Happy hunting!

Xiu Says:  Lol, thank you for the compliment on the blog and I think I might have to “borrow” your “pixel minion” label for my avie!
Hmmmm this is a bit of a tricky question to answer.  There are so many hunts out on the grid and each one operates a bit differently.  My best advice is to follow Xia Nishi’s blog posts, here on the FabFree blog.  He always provides links to the various hunts.  When you follow those links you will find further information on how to specifically participate in each hunt.  You’ll also find things such as the dates for each hunt and further links to the individual hunt sites…where you will find hints, photos and SLURLS to each designer/creator participating in the hunt.  I hope this helps and happy hunting!

Pru Says:  All hunts are a little different. Usually there will be a landmark to the next location in the gift. So for example, you find gift number one at the “starting” location, there would be a landmark to the next location in the gift from the first/starting location. If it’s a larger hunt, there will usually be a website dedicated to the hunt as well. Generally speaking the websites will have a list usually with surls to the participating hunt locations. Some will even include hints and pictures of the the hunt gifts. There may also be an in world group that is dedicated to the hunt where you can get help and ask questions. When there is a specific hunt I want to do I often will do a “Google” search with the name of the hunt and “Second Life” to try and find a website about the hunt. Another great resource is the Hunt page on the FabFree site. https://fabfree.wordpress.com/sl-hunts-advents/ Fab Free also posts a regular “Hunts” post with a list of most if not all the major hunts going on in SL currently. You can get website information there as well.

Skyler Says:   Hunts are a super fun way to find freebies, and sometimes cheapies. The easiest way to figure out how a hunt works, because hunts can be run in a variety of ways, is to check out an informational website, find one you think sounds interesting, read up on how it works, and then go for it! Most of the time hunts in SL are as simple as finding a prize in a certain store, and then using the LM in the prize folder to get to the next location, and so on, but sometimes it’s more complicated, so make sure to check it out!

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

 

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Fab Advice – Edition #14

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QUESTION #1:  I am a new resident in SecondLife or a “newb” as I have been called and I would like to know how I can get people to speak to me???  Most that I approach see my rez in date and run for the hills. 😦 Thank you for this blog.  I’m sexy this early on in the game  ~ thanks to you.

Love Says:  It’s hard being the new girl/guy in most types of places, and Second Life is no different.  Everything is foreign in this world and it will take time to learn the ropes, and meet your friends and family.  My advice is to just explore different sims, join groups you find interest in and be friendly  but respectful :).  If you IM someone and they don’t respond, just move on.  Not everyone is in SL to meet people.  Some come to escape for peace and quiet!   Thank you for your kind words regarding the FabFree Blog – we are glad to help!

Xiu Says:  First, welcome to SL!  I would suggest finding things that you enjoy…such as music, art, books, poetry, education, building etc.  Then look for groups to join that focus on those activities…for example Builder’s Brewery has been around forever and it is a fantastic place to meet people while exploring the amazing plethora of FREE classes they offer.  You can find a directory of their classes, like photography, jewelry making, clothing design etc., right at their landing point.  Join Facebook and start chatting people up there or start following blogs that feature posts about activities and places to see around the grid.  Daniel Voyager, Quan Lavender and Eddi Haskell all have fantastic blogs that feature an amazing array of activities and places to visit on their blogs; you can also friend them on Facebook to help get you started with making connections there. If you’re into photography, there is a HUGE presence and a ton of SL groups you can join on Flickr; where you can meet fellow SLers and establish connections there. I’m not covering dance clubs, though it is a great place to see people, I think there are better places to truly meet people and make friends.  You can also find lots of opportunities, through reading the Linden Labs updates on the SL dashboard, to volunteer for events…where you will be helping others AND making friends!  Good luck and have fun! ❤ ❤

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QUESTION #2:  what are some fun and free activities to do in SL?

Love Says:  Almost everything in Second Life is free!  There are of course some things that cost money… like shopping and there are fees to enter a small amount of sims, but many, many fun activities are free!  Freebie shopping of course is one of my favourites, but you can also visit events, attend live shows, visit clubs, go to poetry readings, and open mic nights!  There are also amusement parks and RP sims if you are into that kind of thing!

Xiu Says:  My favorite activities are exploring and sailing…well shopping also, but that isn’t always free lol.  For sailing…look for Sailor’s Cove or Fisher’s Island Yacht Club…both are public places connected to the Bake Sea.  You will be able to find a lot of information on sailing, classes for sailing, racing, and various sailing groups you can join to become more involved with sailing.  You can also get a free starter boat at those locations.  As for exploring…there is the SL Destination Guide where you can find great places to explore; many also have great interactive things to do, at their location, as well.  You can also do a search for Quan Lavender and Eddi Haskell…both individuals have really great SL travel blogs; where you will find so many great places to explore and activities to enjoy!  If you like RP (Role Play), there are TONS of places you can explore and often you will be able to get started for free.  If you’d like to try flying in SL…do a search for airfields…they will often have temp rezzers where you can rez a plane or helicopter and fly around the Blake Sea.  There are also a ton of Art Galleries, Exhibits, Museums, Educational Centers and Live Music venues…use your search option and enter those key words/phrases into it…you’ll be surprised how many places there are to have FREE fun! ❤ ❤

 

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #13

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QUESTION #1:  What is your succession for best environment setting that its bright but doesnt alter my feet skin.  Atm i am using firestorm and the problem is with mesh shoes/feet. Even tho im using the hud for skin much the skin doesnt look same in all the places ( only shoes it doesnt effect my slink hands ).  I have to have environments setting – Default – midday to see the skin same everywhere but  this setting its 2 dark for me.

Love Says: The first thing I would address is… Are you using a face or body light?  Those can effect how your skin matches up with prim add-ons. If you have a face or body light, my suggestion is to take it off.  Also check to see if the environment you are standing in has any extra lighting that may interfere.  All the lighting you’ll ever need is in your windlight settings!  My personal favourite for day to day is Brees Appleblossom because it is really bright and takes away most of the shading.  Everything I need to see is crisp and clear, and everything matches on my screen, at least.  For photography, I am no help.  I use a wide range of settings for pictures, and will flip through them endlessly for an hour before I decide on the right one!

Serena Says:  For just wandering around SL, I use a custom windlight I call No Shadows, which removes all the ugly shadows and let’s me see everything better. It doesn’t always display skin colors well, so I never use it for photographs. For good skin color, I recommend Annan Adored Optimal Skin. I use this one a lot for skin photos.

Pru Says:  I would suggest just trying a few settings out. One thing about computer screens is that things look a little different from one screen to the next. I personally like to use Clawl a lot. I feel like it makes a big difference. A friend of  mine however prefers Annan Adored Optimal Skin. I hope that helps! 🙂

Skyler Says:  I use CALWL or nam’s optimal skin & prim as my WL setting when I need things to match. You can also try playing with the day slider at the bottom of the quick preferences box, it will move the sun around and help with the darkness, although on midday the sun is directly overhead, and the slider doesn’t do too much. Also, make sure you have your shaders enabled, as that effects the way the slink hands and feet look, and the way they match up.

Xiu Says:  I use Firestorm also, but without knowing how you actually have your preference set up…it is difficult to advise you as to what windlight is best for skin.  There are several wonderful windlights in the Firestorm Viewer that show skin and clothing beautifully…but it starts with how you set up your graphics preferences.  From what you have mentioned, it sounds like you may need to enable a few things in your graphics preferences before you choose which windlight you want to use.  On the menu at the top of your screen choose “avatar”, then in the drop box choose “preferences”.  Once you have the preferences box open go to “graphics”, in the graphics box, under the “general” tab, I keep my Performance slider set halfway between mid and high on the slider.  Make sure under the “shaders” you have all boxes ticked except for “advanced lighting model” (I only use that when I am taking high rez photos…it uses a lot of your system resources and can create a lot of lag for you).  You especially want to make sure you have the “Atmospheric” and “Basic” shaders boxes ticked…this is usually where people encounter issues with their skin not matching with their “add on” feet, hands and shoes.  If you don’t have the shaders enabled…it can make the add-on items not look as blended as they should.  Once you have checked to make sure you have all those boxes ticked…make sure you hit the “apply” button at the bottom of the graphics box and then hit the ok button.  If you forget to do this…your graphics will revert to the previous settings you had before you made the changes.  Now, as to my favorite windlights…for skin…I like StrawberrySingh.com Closeups ( I usually have this on most of the time)…I also like Anan Adored Optimal Skin no shadows and Nam’s Optimal skin and Prim.  To keep the windlights from changing every time you teleport, you can go back to you preferences and under the “Firestorm” tab…go to “Windlight” and un-tick the box that says “Automatically change environment to use region/parcel settings”.  Once you do this, make sure you hit the apply button at the bottom of the preferences panel and then hit ok.  Now your chosen windlight setting should stay the same no matter where you teleport to.  You can also quickly change your windlight settings under the “quick preferences” button on the bottom menu bar…located all the way over in the corner to YOUR right…it has the Firestorm symbol on it.  Click it and you sill see that you can change your windlights from that box…just make sure you un-tick the “Use Region Windlight” box first. Hope this helps ❤

 

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QUESTION #2: I’m curious how much you photo shop your pictures to make them look so pretty.  Sometimes I pick up gifts I see on your blog and then they don’t look as good to me as they do in the picture. Thank you.

Love Says:  I don’t even own photoshop!  I use a free online program called Picmonkey to crop, add my name, and very small lighting adjustments if they are required.  On occasion I might touch up a harsh line or add a little focus blur to feature a particular item, but the free version of Picmonkey doesn’t allow for much lol.  I think it might be  a fun hobby to d/l photoshop and play around with some photos adding those cute little sun spots and bits of stray hair etc, and I may in the future for fun but on FabFree, I think it’s more important to show the items as they are presented inworld.  If an item looks way different on me than it does on you, there could be a zillion factors, but I am guessing that the difference is probably lighting.  When you get dressed, not only do you need to find a hot outfit, but you also need to pick out a windlight that allows you to see it in it’s best “light” 😉  Hope that helps.

Serena Says:  I’ll admit that I do a bit of Photoshopping, but how much I do depends on a) what I’m showing, and b) how much time I have. I really hate the jagged body lines that SL photos always seem to have, especially on non-mesh body parts, so I always smooth those out, no matter what. If I’m showing a skin, I don’t alter its appearance except maybe to fix an ugly shadow or a tile line that wound up in the middle of my face. I don’t ‘shop the clothes I’m showing. I think a lot of times windlight has something to do with how an avatar looks, so you might try playing with your windlight settings to see what looks best.

Pru Says:  I really only use photoshop for cropping, and combining multiple photos into one when it comes to my FabFree photos. I do not alter the appearance of the items at all. Once in a while I like to get creative with lighting and backgrounds, but then I also try to include a “plain” photo as well in those instances. One thing I will say is that windlight settings can make a huge difference in how things look. I always adjust my windlight sky settings before taking pictures.

Skyler Says: The only photoshop I do to my photos is resizing and adding my little sig at the bottom. Once in a great while, I’ll have to fix a bit of hair or something silly like that, but it’s not often, and it never effects the look of the featured products. All of my photos are taken inworld with either Niran’s viewer, or the most updated firestorm, both with the graphics set as high as they will go. Your graphics setting can have a huge effect on how things look!

Xiu Says:  Great question…one I ask myself every time I buy clothing in First Life that I see modeled in a magazine.  In all seriousness…I mention the magazine comparison because it is valid.  Keep in mind that what you are seeing on our posts is hours of styling, setting up windlight and lighting, choosing a complimentary location, and poses that show off the clothing. Then there are also other factors such as skin, shape, hair and the angles at which we shoot our photos.  98% of what you see in my posts comes from everything I do BEFORE I even snap one photo.  I have CS6 but do not even have it loaded t my desk top or even set up. I actually know very little about CS6; it intimidates me lol.  I’m a lazy post process person…I’d rather put all my energy into setting up a shot and then all I do is crop, resize and adjust the contrast to make sure the lighting in the photo is balanced.  Always DEMO everything you can before buying it…it is the only way to tell if it is going to look good on YOU…our photos are only there to show a “sample” of what the item is.

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #12

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QUESTION #1:  Hey my question is about mesh skirts and dresses.  When i wear them on the leg area it always shows empty ( its like a piece of my leg is missing )  bcs of the Alpha is there a way i can make it show more normal ? thank you 🙂

Love Says:  I know exactly what you are talking about and I have had that problem in the past too.  My suggestion is to make sure you try a demo first.  With any logic, the same alpha layer was included with the demo that would go in the pack with the purchased skirt/dress.  It sounds to me like the items are already in your inventory though, so I was a little late with that advice!   I don’t have a smartypants technical answer for this one (hopefully the other bloggers will lol), but my best guess is that the model it was designed on was a completely different shape than your own. You could try sliding your shape around a bit to see if you can get it to disappear, but make sure you save a copy of your shape first!  I would also recommend contacting the designer with a snapshot.  I’m sure they’ll know what to do!

Serena Says:  My understanding is that mesh cannot be changed or altered. If you’re talented enough, I think there is a way to change an alpha in PhotoShop, but I’ve never tried it, and I don’t know that for a fact. If it’s a serious problem, you could try contacting the designer… perhaps it was an oversight on their part. Otherwise, I don’t think there is anything that can be done, sorry!

Xiu Says:  I’ve had that happen with mesh skirts and dresses also.  It has to do with the way the alpha, for the mesh item, was made.  Unfortunately, some creators/designers create the alpha in a way that it is too close to the edge of the skirt/dress hemline.  So when you wear the mesh over the alpha layer…you see a gap.  With a mesh dress/skirt you will usually see a “hole” under the dress/skirt…where the top of your thighs would normally be…but you shouldn’t see a gap between the hemline of the mesh skirt/dress hemline and your leg.  If you see the gap you can send a notecard, with a photo, to the designer/creator to let them know about the issue.  Hopefully, they will rectify the situation by making a new alpha that is done correctly for that mesh item.  If, however, you are just speaking of the “hole” under the skirt/dress…there isn’t much you can do except wear a pair of system panties with the dress/skirt…it won’t fill in the area where part of your leg is missing but it will at least give you some modest coverage for other areas.  I have seen some designers provide little system shorts to cover the leg “holes” but not many of them do it and it can also present challenges with the shorts showing below the hemline of the skirt/dress.  See if you have a pair of system shorts in your inventory and if they are modify…try them on with your dress/skirt and color them to match the mesh item…perhaps that will work.  Good luck! ❤

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QUESTION #2:  This is more a request than a question but I have to ask.  Why do you show so many full priced items in your posts?  I appreciate your hard work in showing us the best places to find free gifts but mostly  you accessorise your free gift feature with non-free items.  Since I dont buy any linden in SL, I am  unable to achieve the look you do.  I wear free skin, free shoes, free hair.  I go and pick up the gifts and follow your fashion advice best I can but it never looks as good.

Love Says:  That is a very vaild question, thank you for asking it!  There are plenty of free items to put looks together with and we could indeed show 100% completely free looks here on FabFree, but we each have our unique reasons for blogging the way we do.  I am really interested to see the responses from the other bloggers, because there are so many different views on this.  My personal reasoning for mixing up free with non-free items is mainly because I think it is important to support the designers and the SL economy with purchases.   As much as I like to show off fabulous free items, I like to encourage our readers to make purchases at the stores that offer us such wonderful gifts too.  When we do so, we keep them in business and in a financial position to continue gifting.  I understand that some residents choose not to purchase lindens and that is their choice, of course.  If you are unable to purchase lindens, and would like to make purchases inworld to complete the looks we put together, there are options!  There are tons of linden paying jobs in Second Life to apply for.

Serena Says:  Our rule here at FabFree is that we will always show at least one item that is 75L or less in each post. Sometimes we are able to show a completely free look; sometimes we’re not. Personally, I try to show at least one completely free item in each post whenever possible. That being said, I often choose to show full-priced items in my posts because I believe in supporting SL designers. The simple truth is that if we do not support them financially by buying their products, they are not able to be so generous with their gifts. Remember, even freebies cost a designer in time, effort, and money. If I really like a store’s gift, I will often purchase a product from them as a sort of thank you. And, sometimes if I just really like a product, free or not free, I will want to share it with our readers, since many of our readers do purchase Lindens.

Xiu Says:  Great question!  Speaking for myself, it is about balance.  I love being able to find quality free items to feature in my posts but I also don’t wear ALL free items in my everyday SL life.  I do buy lindens, but I am also on a very limited income in First Life…so I must budget and save to buy the items that are not free.  I also join groups that might have a higher join fee up front but provide amazing, high quality FREE group gifts…so budgeting the linden to join the group actually saves me a lot of linden from otherwise buying all those items full price!  We may not show ALL free items in each of our posts…but I do know we show free items from EVERY fashion category collectively.  So, instead of trying to re-create one particular look we are showing, you can take the free jewelry from one post and coordinate it with a free outfit from another post and free shoes, hair, eyes etc from other posts.  This way you can be really creative and put your own fashion stamp on your look! Also, check out our weekly Hunt report from Xia Nishi…you will find a TON of free items in the Hunts…in just about every fashion category you could desire. ❤ ❤

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QUESTION #3:  I LOVE the FabFree blog.  Reading it is a fun part of my day.  I would like to learn about Machinima.  How would I do that?  I have read information on several websites, but it seems very complicated and I think I need a class.  I can read it over and over, but I need to do it to learn it. Any suggestions?

Love Says:  I really enjoy watching SL machinima, however I have no idea how to do it or where to point you for information.  I hope that one of our staff bloggers or readers can help!  Thank you for your kind comments regarding the blog.  Reading wonderful things like that, inspires us to keep on blogging!

Serena Says:   I’ve only made one machinima in my whole SL life, and that is posted here: https://fabfree.wordpress.com/2014/01/25/gavin-plays-the-guitar. I had never tried it before, so to figure it out I finally had to Google “How to make Second Life machinima.” I found a wiki here http://wiki.secondlife.com/wiki/Movie_Recording that listed several different types of third-party machinima-making software. I wound up going with the free version of Fraps, which you can download at http://www.fraps.com/. If I ever decide to do this again – which I probably will! – I will likely upgrade to the full version, but since this was just an experiment, I used the freeware. After making the recording, I imported the video into Microsoft Movie Maker (another freebie) to add the credits and effects. Adobe Premier is also a very good editing program, but has a bit of a learning curve, and is not free (although I think you can get a trial version).

Xiu Says:  I LOVE Machinima!  I don’t really know the technical aspects of how to do it and I have only halfheartedly researched it.  What I found was predominantly tutorials through youtube videos.  What I would suggest is searching specifically for Machinima on youtube and, once you find a machinima artist whose work you like, contact them.  Many people are more than happy to help…because they were once exactly where you are.  How exciting that you want to learn this…I wish you all the luck and hopefully we will soon be enjoying YOUR Machinima work!  Good luck! ❤ ❤

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #11

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QUESTION #1: Do you have any tips or tricks on keeping your inventory sorted?  It is starting to look like a tornado in a trailer park over here.

Love Says:  My inventory is currently sitting at about 40,000, and that I guess is not as bad as some that I have heard of lol, but still seems like far too many items to me!  I wouldn’t say that my inventory is the pillar of organization but I do sort my items by folders and sub folders.  I try to delete the unpacker scripts, old LMs and notecards that I no longer need when I have a slow day.  I suppose it is time for a “Spring Cleaning”.  Thank you for the reminder! 😉

Serena Says:  Unfortunately, my inventory also looks like a tornado in a trailer park, so I’m afraid I’m not the one to ask. Hopefully one of the other ladies will have some helpful advice because I could use it, as well!

Pru Says:  Mine is quite a mess right now, to be honest. There was a point in time however when it was semi organized. The best way for me was to utilize the ability to open more than one inventory window. Then I went in one and created new folders, one for furniture, one for shoes, whatever you want, then I went through a little bit each day. I brought up the “organized shoes” folder in one inventory window and would shift shoes over from  the other inventory window and so on. It took a while. Then each  time I bought something new, I’d try to remember to shift it into the proper folder. Also, I find I have a lot of skins and hair that I rarely ever wear, but couldn’t bring myself to get rid of, those items I boxed up so they don’t take up so much space.

Xiu Says:  I wish I could say my inventory is amazingly organized…sadly, it isn’t.  I did invest in one of those closet organizers…where you take photos of your items and store them in an off-site location…when you want to look for an outfit, you open the closet and can view your inventory photos from the comfort of your own SL home.  Unfortunately, I have just never put the effort it takes into actually “organizing” and taking “photos” of all my inventory items.  I also tried putting things in boxes…but then I can’t find things and don’t remember putting them in the boxes.  The most successful thing I ever did for getting my inventory under control was deleting massive amounts of old clothing and other itmes by systematically going through my inventory using key words…such as colors (red, blue, yellow etc.), eliminating a ton of note cards and land marks.  I was able to get my inventory from 27K down to 9K…that didn’t last long either…I’m back up to over 40K…lol.  Guess I’m not much help. ❤

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QUESTION #2:  My SL bestie and I have been friends since the first day we both rezzed in at the Welcome Hub about maybe six months ago.  I have made great strides to improve my avatar and build up my avatar and my friend is still on ‘day 1’ if you know what I mean. She is still walking like a duck without an AO in her starter avatar with helmet hair.  She is frustrated because men don’t find her attractive enough to approach.  I don’t want to hurt her feelings and tell her that the reason she can’t find a date is because her avatar is horrid.  How would you bring up a sensitive subject like that? Or would you?

Love Says:  That is a very SLensitive issue.  The duck walk would probably drive me crazy lol, but it could be that your friend is trying to attract a guy that can look past physical appearances and become attracted to her personality instead.  I think it really depends on your friend and how you think she would react.  I might start with sending her a couple gifts that of course she will feel obligated to wear, and see where it goes from there.  Good luck!

Serena Says:  Well… that’s a tough one. I have several SL friends who still look like “day one,” but I never say anything unless I’m asked for help. I think you need to consider what a person’s purpose is in playing SL. Some people like to explore. Some like to build. Others like fashion. However, since you mention that your friend is looking for a date and is disappointed because the SL men don’t find her attractive, then perhaps you might want to gently suggest a makeover (point her towards FabFree, if she’s short on Lindens!). If she doesn’t respond well to your suggestion, then I would drop it and never bring it up again, if you want to keep her as a friend. If she wants your advice in the future, chances are she’ll ask for it. If not… let it go.

Pru Says:  Make-over! Make it fun, like a girl day you spend together, use the blog to find free or almost free items if you can’t or don’t wish to spend lindens. Then it’s more like a fun shopping day with your bestie rather than an intervention. I would just tell your friend you  want to spend time with her, that you know she’s been down cause she isn’t meeting the people she wants to meet, and so maybe it’s time for a new dress and a new do’. Something to that affect.

Xiu Says:  I guess it depends on the friend.  My male friends don’t mind me being a bit bossy and dragging them around the grid to update their look.  My female friends are all pretty fashionable or at least up-to-date.  If I did have a female friend who was a bit behind…I’d suggest we go shopping together as a way to hang out (no need to let her know it is to encourage her to update her look) or I might just keep telling her about this store or that blog…that is showing something she might like, that is within her own personal style; but updated.  There are tons of fairs, gatchas, and great places to score free or relatively low cost skins, clothing, shoes and accessories…so if price is a concern, you can focus her attention on those places and events.  Most of all, try to make it something that is part of a fun time together and not just focusing on what she needs to do.  If she doesn’t want to schlep around the grid to go shopping…don’t forget, you can always give her the link to the FabFree blog; so she can make a list of things she wants to get or shop from the comfort of her SL chair.  In the end, be prepared…she may not want to change her look…despite the fact she is frustrated that men don’t find her attractive.  She may be very comfortable in the “look” she has and it can sometimes be impossible to break someone out of their comfort zone.  Good luck! ❤

For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #10

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QUESTION #1:  I have a question for your new fashion advice column. I am interested in the Slink nail system for hands and feet, but I am unsure how they work.  I have seen free and low cost Slink nail appliers, but I suppose you need to buy a Slink system first.  Can you please explain for me and other readers what you need to use the appliers and how/when they can be used?  Most sandals/open shoes that I purchase already have HUD’s to change toe color, etc. and alpha masks to wear the open shoes.  If I purchase Slink feet or Slink hands, do I attach them like an alpha mask, and can I wear them with items I purchase or freebies I receive, or do I need to buy special shoes/nails that work with the Slink system?  Thanks for any info.

Serena Says:  Slink hands and feet are mesh body parts which you attach pretty much like any other mesh item: wear the item and the alpha. You won’t be able to wear “regular” shoes or sandals with the feet already attached, so you will need to start shopping for shoes made especially for Slink feet (there are lots now!). There are 3 different shapes of feet now: flat, medium, and high, so be sure you have the right feet for the shoes you want. Slink hands and feet do come with a HUD containing some very basic “mani/pedis.” But you’re right, if you want something different, you will need to buy it. We try to show free/cheap nail appliers whenever possible, so you should find lots from which to choose here at FabFree! If you don’t want to purchase hands, but you like the nail appliers, you can purchase the Slink mesh nails which you wear much like prim nails right on your regular hands. Appliers will work on these nails.

Pru Says:  Slink nail appliers work with any Slink hand or foot to change the color/pattern on the toenails or fingernails only just like nail polish. The applier works like most other HUDs. You simply wear the applier while wearing your Slink hands or  feet then click the pattern/color icon on the applier (it will show on your screen as long as you  are wearing it) to change the color of your nails. Then once you’ve changed your nail color you  can remove the applier and just keep it in your inventory for next time. As long as you are wearing clothing that shows your nails, you’ll see the applied nail color/pattern! 🙂 As for shoes, only “Slink” compatible shoes work with Slink feet. Look for the red Slink logo when buying shoes if you want to wear them with your slink feet.

Satu Says: I am very new to these also, so am only just now learning. The hands and feet come with an alpha layer and attach just like any other prim attachment. There are different sizes provided in the box so you can choose the size that is right for your avatar. (I wear small hands and Xsmall feet)

Regular shoes will not work with the feet, you must purchase shoes made to be worn with them, and there are different styles of the feet based on the height of the shoes they are meant to be worn with. (flat, medium and high) You need to make sure you have the right style of foot to match the shoes you are buying.

Tons of skin designers make appliers for their skins, but if yours doesn’t not to worry. The hands and feet come with a hud that can help you fairly easily match them to whatever skins you most enjoy wearing, and tattoo layers for your wrists and ankles to help the colors blend together if they are close but not exact.

Each set of hands and feet can work with two different kinds of appliers, skin appliers, but also nail appliers. They work fairly independent of one another. Many designers who make fingernail appliers, also make matching nail appliers for toenails, for use with open toed shoes.

Hope this helps, this is only what I’ve learned in the couple of weeks I have owned these things myself.

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QUESTION #2:  I have just learned about The Dressing Room Fusion and I wonder if there are more sale houses like this in Second Life?  If so, which ones do you visit?

Love Says:  The Dressing Room Fusion is a must visit shop, but I also visit the following, Collabor88, The Chapter Four, FaMESHed, Designer Circle, Designer’s Showcase, Cosmopolitan Sales Room, Kustom 9, Fashion Wardrobe, and.. hmmm I am sure there are more.  I’ll probably think of them in my sleep tonight!  In addition to these sales rooms, there are also weekly sales such as Fifty Linden Friday, 60L Weekends, 55L Thursdays, and Secret Wednesdays where you can join their groups, and be informed of which stores are participating in their sales by a listing they send out.

Serena Says:  I love TDRF, but I also enjoy the Liaison Collaborative, Collabor88, Kustom9, The Chapter Four, Cosmopolitan Sales Room, and various other discount collaborations among designers. Prices vary at these events, but you can usually find a good deal.

Pru Says:  There are many events like The Dressing Room Fusion. Some I frequent are Collabor88, Designer Circle, and Bewbapalooza! There are really tons, it just depends on what you’re looking for. Try searching through the Second Life Groups, you may find more there. 🙂

Satu Says: I visit plenty of sale houses here in SL, however most aren’t specifically geared toward “bargains” the way that Dressing Room Fusion is, so keep this in mind.

I am also big fan of Collabor88, and Fameshed, and visit these the most often. I do like to look at others when I hear of them, but these two are the ones I shop at most frequently. I rarely miss a month visiting these.

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QUESTION #3:  Sometimes I put on a mesh clothing and body parts are sticking out.  I wear the alpha layer it comes with but still parts stick out.  How do I fix? Thank you for your hard work.  I read your blog two times in a day I love so much.

Love Says:  I have read the responses from the others already, and they have offered you some great advice.  The only thing I could add would be that if none of their advice helps, to try contacting the designer.  Sometimes it is a designer error, and they are quite happy to rectify the situation or offer their advice.

Serena Says:  Thank you for the kind words about the blog! 🙂 Well… you’re right, sometimes the alphas don’t cover everything, especially in certain poses, or with an AO running. However, most seem to keep the “important” parts covered. If it’s a serious problem that isn’t fixed by moving to a different pose, I’ll usually alter my shape as needed. For mesh clothing, I wear a standard size XS, but even with a standard size, there can be some sizing differences.

Pru Says:  First, thank you so much for the kind words! Aside from temporarily adjusting your shape, one way to “fix” this issue is to adjust the alpha layers to better fit your shape. A lot of designers have started including modify-able alpha layers with their clothing. This allows the wearer to make minor  adjustments to the alpha layer.

Satu Says: You may need to make slight adjustments to your body shape, or possibly try the next larger size of the clothing item you are trying on. Small tweaks to your shape are not as difficult as they may seem at first, but of course the most important first step is to make sure you are wearing a modifiable shape. Personally I would prefer a shape that has mod/copy permissions. First thing to do is make a copy of the shape, and leave the original untouched, so you can always make another copy and start over if you think you “messed up” or even just to have one for mesh and non-mesh wear.

I find the area that I most frequently have to adjust is my bust, with the second being my hind end / belly area. The key is usually to do only small tweaks.

There are three sliders that effect the bust area: Breast size, breast buoyancy, and breast cleavage. How are the areas poking out? To the front, the top or the sides, or a combination of these? If you are sticking out the front, lower size, the top, move the slider a bit higher on buoyancy, if its the sides, move the slider a bit higher on cleavage. In a lot of cases even a small tweak to all three can make a world of difference in how mesh outfits fit.

The most important thing is to pay attention to which sliders the body part “sticking out” is controlled by and practice making those small adjustments, with practice, I’m sure you will be able to do your own adjustments with confidence in no time.

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #9

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QUESTION #1: Where would you suggest I look for long, natural looking curly hair?

Love Says:  I think my favourite go-to for curly hairstyles in SL is probably Analog Dog, but Truth Hair, has a couple curly/wavy styles.  Wasabi Pills makes some adorable ringlet styles and Damselfly is one to check out as well.

Serena Says:  I’ve found some of my favorite curly hairs at Analog Dog, so definitely check there. Milk has also started doing a line of curly hair, so be sure to try them out, too.

Pru Says:  Curly hair is notoriously hard to find in SL! I personally like Analog dog for curly hair.

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QUESTION #2:  I have been invited to a wedding inworld and I’ve no idea what to wear.  Normally I would wear a smart dress to a real life wedding but here in SL I have seen pictures of weddings and the guests are all dressed very formal.  What exactly is appropriate attire for a SL wedding? Do I bring a gift?

Love Says:  I have been to a handful of SL weddings over the years of my residency and I think that every wedding I have attended was unique in it’s own way, requiring attire suitable for that particular event.  I think most importantly it’s not what you are wearing, but how many prims or scripts are in it lol.  Most weddings have lag issues, and it helps make it a nicer experience for everyone if they can see what is going on in real time instead of slow motion.  My suggestion is to ask the bride what is appropriate attire to wear.  As for gift giving, it’s a hard question, and I am curious to hear what others think!  It’s not like you can buy your wedding couple a china place setting or a set of champagne flutes lol.  Good luck.

Serena Says:  Having only been to one SL wedding, I can’t offer a lot of perspective. However, I think, like RL weddings, it depends on where and when the wedding will be held. You would probably not wear the same thing to a church wedding as you would to an outdoor wedding on the beach. As for bringing a gift, I have absolutely no idea. You might consider asking one of the other wedding guests, or possibly someone from the wedding party?

Pru Says: I’ve attended several SL weddings, and I think you’re right, they are generally speaking a little more formal than usual. If the wedding is during the day, I would suggest lighter colors, and more subtle jewelry. Evening weddings can allow for more dramatic gowns, darker colors, and fancier jewelry. One bit of advice, try to stay away from “ball gown” type dresses with big skirts. They can be super laggy and tend to “float” longer than usual in situations like a wedding where there are a large number of people. As for gifts, unless otherwise noted, they generally aren’t a big deal in my experience. If you are very close to the bride and or groom or simply wish to get them something, I’d just pass them a gift after the ceremony.

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #7

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QUESTION #1:  I am blogger too and I like to know how you find sim locations to take your pictures.  I can never find such pretty areas as you do.

Love Says:  Thank you for your question.  I love taking inworld shots and visiting new locations, and I find that the best place for me to find good photo locations is to look on The Second Life Destination Guide.  I also make a note of sims that are pretty that I stumble upon throughout my shopping journeys.

Pru Says: Honestly, I am really bad about finding places! lol Sometimes I set up scenery myself. Once in a while I stumble across cool places and take a picture. I’m actually really interested in what the others have to say!

QUESTION #2:  I was wondering if there happen to be any followers that are Toddledoos or have kids that are toddledoos, and can offer some of your favorite places for someone kinda new to the kid scene.
thank you 🙂

Love Says:  I apoligize that we didn’t have any bloggers step up with an answer for this question, however I am going to post your question up here, so that our readers are able to weigh in with their answers via comment.  I hope someone can help!

QUESTION #3: I have heard many residents call SL a game.  Do you consider it a game, and if so – what are the goals?  I am curious because I enjoy SL but I think it is more an outlet for chat than a game.

Love Says:  Second Life classifies it as a “3D Virtual Community” on their website, although I suppose Second Life is different for everyone.  All residents come for their own personal reasons and it is up to them whether they choose to make it a game or not.  I personally feel it is more of an “alternate world” than a game.  In “my” world, the goal is an escape, relaxation, creation, and socialization.  If this is a game,  I am miserably failing because the only numbers I see for XP are lindens and mine only ever disappear lmao.

Pru Says:  My personal experience is that I also considered it a game, a strange social game. I am really not sure what I thought the goals were. Maybe just character development, or learning and exploring. I was still learning and figuring things out. However, that was before I got really involved in it. Now I see it like you said as more of a social and  creative outlet.

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.

Fab Advice – Edition #5

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QUESTION #1:  I have another question that involves MESH items, as I am still fairly new to it all.  Since my avatar is oddly shaped, I find great difficulty in wearing the clothes that are available. But what Mesh items I -do- indulge in are body parts and hair. Now.. I purchase my hair from a very well known provider, and I’ve noticed that with the long hair, it doesn’t fall properly on her shoulders. Instead it hovers right above her breast. Now, I know that Mesh items cannot be resized at all, but, is there a way that I can make this hair sit more realistically on my girl WITHOUT modding her shape more than I should?  Thank you!

Love Says:  I have noticed that some hair makers have started adding a “big boobs” (of course they are all calling it something different) option in their packs.  While this doesn’t help with the ones we have all previously purchased, it is good news for the future 🙂

Serena Says:  My understanding is that mesh cannot be modded, period. So other than changing your shape, I don’t know of any other way to make the hair fit better. If you don’t want to do that, then you might find that flexi hair better meets your needs.

Pru Says:  You might look in the package the hair came with and make sure there isn’t a second copy of the hair. Some designers include a hair that rests higher for those who wear prim/mesh breasts. Otherwise, in my experience, you unfortunately can’t really adjust where or how a mesh item sits on your avatar.

Satu Says:  Outside of modding your shape I don’t have much in the way of suggestions. I always have to make slight tweaks to my shape for almost every different mesh outfit. I think the extra wiggle room on the hairs is to allow for them to be worn with mesh clothes, and avatars with a larger bust.. Not everyone fits into the small and extra small category. As with people, beautiful avis come in all shapes and sizes.

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QUESTION #2:  What Fabulous advice can you give on managing groups? There are so many great group gifts, but only 42 coveted spaces. I’ve been hovering at 41 groups, and wish I could join more.

Love Says:  *Sighs*  I wish there was a way to get more groups, but what it all comes down to is prioritizing which groups you need to keep.  I am constantly rotating.  I wish we could have 100!  Are you listening Linden Labs????  We need more group space! 😉

Serena Says:  Gosh, this is one I’m sure we’d all like to know the secret to! My 42 groups have been full since shortly after I learned to shop in SL, and most are either blogger groups that I need to stay in, or groups that I have paid to join. I *try* to keep at least 1 or 2 spots open so I can go in and out of groups to pick up gifts to show. I will say that if you’ve been in a “pay” group for a long time, and you no longer find it worth your while to be a member, you might need to make the difficult decision to leave, especially if there is another group that might be more beneficial to your needs. It’s tough, I know… and I sure do wish LL would up the groups limit!

Pru Says:  As much as I frown upon “group-hoping” or joining and leaving groups that are free to join, as a blogger I find I am forced to do that often. One thing I have found myself doing is leaving “family/friend” groups that are inactive. For a long time I stayed part of some of those type groups for sentimental reasons. I finally decided that if the group hadn’t been active in 6+ months, I left it. Unless of course, the group is required for your home space or something.

Satu Says: I am also always riding right at the limit on groups myself. Sometimes I have to seriously prioritize which groups I really want to stay in, and which I don’t. Obviously I almost always keep groups I have paid a lot of lindens to be in, especially if they are for a store I really like. Other groups such as those related to work and my land groups also take priority. The last small handful of groups I find myself constantly juggling, especially to get items to show in my blog posts.

I wish Linden Labs would allow us to have a lot more group spaces than what we do, but we do have many more than when I first began here years ago. I think an even 100 groups would be great, but the limit isn’t likely to go up unless enough residents unite behind the cause of having it raised like they have done successfully in the past. As this virtual world grows and expands it is only logical that the needs and interests of the players will also, groups are a natural extension of that.

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QUESTION #3: Hello! First of all, let me tell you I love FabFree – I check your blog multiple times a day (blush)!  I know some SL residents are against it, but I have decided to ask something about this subject anyway. My partner and I want to get a baby in SL, and we want the pregnancy to be as realistic as possible. Do you have any product recommendations? Tummy talkers, prim babies, anything! Thanks in advance 🙂

Love Says:  I am afraid I don’t have any SL baby advice to offer, but I wanted to thank you for your compliments and thank you for reading.

Serena Says:  Thank you for the kind words about the FF blog! I’m very glad that you enjoy reading it. 🙂 Ok, about your baby… I always tell people that your SL should be what YOU want it to be. If you and your partner want a baby, then have a baby, and don’t worry about what other people think. Having only had a baby in RL, I can’t really recommend any maternity or baby products for you. The only SL babies I have seen are the Zooby Babies, which you can learn more about at http://www.zoobys.com/babies/. I also found an interesting article at http://thetorchslguide.com/2012/06/03/having-a-family-in-second-life-the-babies, and a guide book (free!) at https://marketplace.secondlife.com/p/Having-a-Baby-in-Second-Life-Guidebook/1550151. Both are at least a year or so old, so be sure you check for updated information. Good luck to you both!

Satu Says:   A lot of people either seem to love prim babies or hate them. I will admit that before our RL son was born, my Partner (also rl hubby) and I got a set of twin prim baby girls. Their names are Luna and Matilda. I think it’s natural to want to be part of a family in SL as much as it is in the real world.

There are wonderful makers of prim babies in world, it’s great to do research on them to know exactly what type of baby you’d like to have, because they can be expensive to purchase. Some can even be “adopted” used after being given up by people who have decided to no longer keep them, and purchased from re-sellers for a greatly reduced price, but be careful if you go this route that they are being sold by a reputable business and are not copybotted versions. You can always check this by examining the baby in edit mode and checking the name of the maker against the full priced version. (Always report any copybotted items to the original maker so they can be removed from the grid)

Tummy talkers are something I would never suggest, as I and a lot of other people find them a little un-nerving. If you are going for realism I don’t think tummy talkers are the way to go, my belly surely never uttered a single syllable. There are wonderful makers of pregnancy shapes out there, but if you would like to keep your own shape, pregnancy shapes are very easy to do yourself by slowly increasing your belly size.

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For more information – see THIS POST.

How to send in a request:  Name your Notecard “Fab Advice Request”, and send it to LOVE TRILL (who will never share your personal details, promise!)

** Note – Names have been XXXed out, and small edits were made to protect privacy.