Just Fiddlin' Around
November 13th, 2006
Edited 11.14.06:
Aikea Guinea has kindly allowed me to include her old Triple Choker mesh in my necklace downloads until I have time to refit them to her new mesh. Thanks, Aikea. I really appreciate it. So, it's once again possible to download (and use) my necklaces.
I'm not sure if you've noticed but I've been tinkering around the site a bit for the last couple of weeks changing things here and there. In anticipation of the new chapter that I'm working on (yay! My muse has returned and I'm finally writing again!), the previously published chapters have been renamed Prologue 01 and Prologue 02, which means that I'm currently writing Chapter 01. Confused? Yeah, me too. To make finding all the Worlds Apart chapters easier, I've added a "Chapters" section to the above navigation menu. You'll be able to find the chapter outtakes in that section as well.
I also have added a new "Fan Art" section. Right now it's mostly displaying art by the talented Kiwi. I'm greatly honored that she has taken the time to draw my characters and send them to me. It's a lot of fun to see other people's interpretation of my guys and gals.
Let's see, what else…
I was informed by Azrielle, one of my readers, that the mesh for the two sets of necklaces I made a while ago is no longer available for download. I've tried to contact the creator of the mesh to see if I could offer it for download with my necklaces, but so far I've not been successful.
I found out over the weekend that the creator has another necklace mesh available at a pay site and it looks similar to the mesh I used for the necklaces. However, according to the creator, that the mesh is completely different so it will not work with my necklaces unless I refit them to that mesh. I'm hesitant to do that for a few reasons: 1) I don't like making textures for meshes that can only be obtained if you subscribe to a pay site (I want everyone to be able to download and use my textures if they desire), 2) I'd really rather not spend my time remaking necklaces that I've already made (I have too many other things I'd rather concentrate my energies on), and 3) even if I ignored #2, because of a bug in Pets, anything created with the Pets version of Body Shop is unusable by people who don't have the expansion installed so I'm unable to see her necklaces or mesh to remake my necklaces anyway.
I've been kind of frustrated about this and am uncertain about what to do for now. I've been considering removing my necklaces from MTS2 as I'm not able to support them any more. I don't know…I'll let you know when I come to a decision.
Edited 11.14.06:
I've decided that, for now, I will include Aikea's old mesh in my downloads (which she gave me permission to do) until I have a chance to redo my textures for her new mesh. I also decided to redo them eventually as she is happier with her newer mesh.
But enough of that depressing stuff. I gave Alec another makeover. I've never been completely happy with him—he's always seemed not-quite-finished to me. Also, I decided his face looked a little too gaunt (for comparison's sake, you can check out a some recent pics of him before his makeover). So, I sent him to the spa where he gained some weight in the face (I wish I could selectively gain and lose weight), got an eye job, a hair cut and color, and his eyebrows done. I think he's still recognizable as Alec, but I think he's much handsomer as well as healthier-looking.
Now I just need to decide if I'm going to going to keep the piercings. I think the piercings make him look edgy, which I really like. But, I also like him without. Hmm…I have to decide soon as he is appearing in the next chapter. What do you think?
20 Responses to “Just Fiddlin' Around”
November 14th, 2006 at 3:24 am
Hi! I found the new necklaces by Aikea Guinea on TSR and they are in the free section. So at least my Sim guys have some necklaces now. Also are those piercings on Alec meshes? If so where do you get them? I looked for the silver hoops on SimsTV and couldn't find them. I got some other earrings from TSR but they aren't as cool-looking.
November 14th, 2006 at 8:04 am
Yes, aikea_guinea's content on TSR is currently free. ^_^
Alec looks great! I think I like him better with the piercings, but a lot of my sim-men have piercings so I MIGHT be biased…
November 14th, 2006 at 8:40 am
Alec! Alec! Alec! Woooo! You rock no matter how you look…and you're especially, superbly gorgeous now that Kara has given you a makeover! 🙂
I got Aikea Guinea's TSR stuff the day it came out (yes, I stalk other Simmers, too. Mwhahaha!)
But most exciting of all…your muse has returned! Huzzah! Now all I have to do is sit-tight and wait for the next chapter. Yay! 🙂
November 14th, 2006 at 8:43 am
Ah! Thank you for the information about Aikea's mesh being free, Azrielle and Alicia. I have a subscription to TSR so I'm not always sure what's free and what's pay. And, as noted in my edit, I now have permission to include the old mesh with my textures, but when I have some time I plan on refitting my textures to the new mesh (which I hope stays free).
Azrielle: I got the piercings that Alec is wearing from Temptress at MTS2. She has a number of sets to download. Both Jason and Hale wear her piercings too.
Alicia: hehe Thanks for your vote! 😉 I also found some new piercings that are a bit more subtle that I want Alec to try out. I'll post a picture with them later today.
Amalinaball: Alec thanks your for your strong support!
November 14th, 2006 at 12:54 pm
I always felt a little sheepish commenting here, but I figured it is about time to get over that… because wow; your ability to create characters in The Sims 2 blows me away. I've had characters in my head for seven years and I still can't get them to look right/how I want them to… and you just seem to have this innate ability to make even the cartoonish reality of The Sims 2 realistic and amazing! It doesn't even look like the same game.
With that said, Alec looks awesome. I like the changes you made, and I like how he still retains his own unique 'look' about him. Personally, I like him without the piercings… because the other characters seem to have them and it helps differentiate him. Either way, he's smokin hot… though I must admit that Jason is my personal favorite.
November 14th, 2006 at 2:24 pm
Kara, with the changes TSR has made, all featured artists' items are pay (unless they choose to make certain items free). All artists with the gold, silver, and bronze cups are free. They also have the diskette icon w/ the checkmark. The pay items have a goldish-orangish background behind the name of the item and they have the color palette icon as the, um, icon. 😉
November 15th, 2006 at 9:32 am
Mao: Well, I'm very glad you commented…in fact, I'm honored since I've been greatly enjoying your Knock It Down story. And thank you for your compliments on my Sims! I really appreciate it as it's taken a lot of time and effort to get them to look as they do now.
I agree with you that Alec should go sans piercings. I like them on him but, you're right, almost all my other male characters have piercings of some sort and I rather he look different. He can always get pierced in the future if I change my mind.
Daysies: Oh! I think I understand. So only featured artists' items are pay now and everyone else's are free. It's hard to keep on top of all the changes that sites seem to be going through lately. Well, it's hard for me any way. 😆
November 16th, 2006 at 3:43 pm
"takes Alec and run away!" He is mine mine mine! 😛 really I like him without the piercings, he is just YUMMY!
November 16th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
Lornaly: hehe
I'm really glad you like Alec's new makeover. I love it too. I'm finally happy with how he looks! Also, Alec wants you to know that he'll be appearing in Chapter 02 and not Chapter O1 as I previously thought. Chapter 01 turned out to be so long that I decided to divide it into two chapters. He's a bit upset with me for postponing his "screen" debut but I promised that I'd include him in some future chapters that I orginally hadn't planned on having him in. So…something to look forward too!
November 17th, 2006 at 3:42 am
First comment on this blog: just to tell you that I'm glad you got your creativity back (for you as a writer, and for me as a reader ;)). Those blocks can be so frustrating. Good luck on chapter 1!
As for Alex, it's the only one I wasn't "conviced" about. But now, he is as handsome as the rest of your gorgeous boys (and I agree with Mao on the non-pierced look). He looks better fed now too.
November 17th, 2006 at 1:14 pm
Well, first off, I can't BELIEVE that i haven't commented yet. I'm so busy with college applications that I'm lucky to get some free time now. But i digress. Alec is freaking sexy. I thought he was sexy before (particularly when married to Brandee in your little 'hood) but now he is..well you know. I like him with and without piercings. I think I'm going through this phase now where I believe that weird piercings and tatoos are freakin' sexy, so that's just me. And that unshaven face thing.. I guess turning 17 made me wake up to the other sex even more and its kinda funny.Actually really funny because I know i would never date those people. But yes, all off subject..i believe that in this story setting..(even though it pains me to say this) he should go sans piercings. But only because if he was sexier than Tahlvin( me thinks i spelled that wrong), I might go crazy. Either way, he's hot. And finally, I CAN'T wait 'till the next chapter…or should I say first chapter. Either way, I'm confused about the whole prelude thing, even though i think I get it. But it doesn't matter because the story isn't affected either way, its gonna remain aweswome. Well ok, bye. Long comment again..
November 18th, 2006 at 9:58 am
Dektora: Thank you! And, yes, I had the same feelings as you about Alec—there was just something about him before that wasn't clicking with me. I'm really glad I just kept working on him. I'm quite pleased with the results now.
Eva: Have fun filling out the college apps. and I hope you get into the one of your choice!
And, Eva…you're still getting Alec and Jason mixed up. hehe 😉 Here, side-by-side picture for comparison:
Jason: Brandee's husband in my alt. hood. I think he's the one you like so much, right? And he does have piercings. 😉
Alec: the guy who just got the makeover.
hehe Sorry for teasing you. Actually, I'm horrible with names too. I'm sure it will all click for you as soon as you see them in the story and are able to identify with them better.
As for the prelude/prologue thing, since the new chapters that I'm writing take place about nineteen years after the previous ones I wrote, I decided to rename the original chapters as Prologue 01 and Prologue 02. They're important to the story as they establish the characters backgrounds, but they're kind of a prelude to everything else that happens from now on. Does that make any sense? I suck at explaining things. 😆
November 18th, 2006 at 2:30 pm
OMG…i'm so sorry. I'm so stupid..i feel like an idiot. 🙁 Sorry. Well, to redeem myself…Jason and Alec are sexy…and yes, Alec looks a lot better after you fattened him up. I'm stupid. Again, with my stupidity, I'll never get into the college of my choice haha. Oh well, thanks for clearing it up for me. And you were probably thinking, "Eva, that idiot, Brandee is married to Jason." Haha, well, that's me.
November 18th, 2006 at 3:27 pm
Eva: Aw! No need to feel badly. As I mentioned above, I have trouble keeping names straight too. So you're not alone! 🙂
November 18th, 2006 at 6:12 pm
…Jason makes me happy in places that have no business being happy over pixels.
Sheeeesh! /fans self
November 19th, 2006 at 10:27 am
Mao: Welcome to my world. 😉
November 20th, 2006 at 4:11 am
im only 8 and i even think they are hot!
November 21st, 2006 at 2:33 am
I love love love Alec's new look! He was amazing before but he's even ore so now. You did a fantastic job, as you always do. 😀
November 26th, 2006 at 11:41 pm
Hi Kara. I've been following your story for some time now. I thought I'd make a comment and ask a question if you don't mind. First, I'd like to say that Alec came out really nice. I have to admit, though, that I had already become accustomed to seeing him as a blond. I know I'll get used to the shorter brown hair, especially since I'll be seeing more of it in the story. But he looks really good. His face still has that chiseled quality and I love that his eyes are still blue-ish. =)
Secondly, I was wondering about the necklaces you made. I have an idea about creating some pendants from Aikea's mesh as well. I was wondering though, if there was a specific tutorial you used to make your own set or did you figure it out on your own? I would have tried myself but I figured I'd ask someone who knows what they're doing. Thanks in advance.
November 29th, 2006 at 11:21 am
Choco: Hi! Thanks so much for commenting! And I'm glad you like Alec's new look. I went back and forth on whether I wanted to keep his blond hair or go for the light brown hair. It's really hard to find good blond hairstyles so I settled on the light brown style with heavy highlights. 🙂
About the necklaces: I didn't follow a tutorial. I just bumbled around until I figured it out for my self. 😆 Have you ever recolored anything using Body Shop before? If not, I suggest taking a look at some of the tips/tutorials at the MTS2 forum. It should at least give you a starting point. The necklaces are very easy to recolor.
I'm sorry it took me so long to get back to you. It's hard getting caught up with everything after a vacation.