Reflections

Happy New Year!  As I reflect on 2015 one word springs to mind, expansion!  When I started blogging in late 2012 it served a dual purpose; a creative escape and a personal challenge to hone my first-world skills of marketing, public relations and business development on a virtual reality platform.  Looking back, I can clearly see this was my inception stage for the Hidden Gems/Gloria Silverstone brand.  I’ll let you in on a little secret, in 2012 I was planning on returning to grad school to pursue a MBA in marketing.  However, in the back of my mind, I thought it might be a bonus if I created a business and thoroughly understood the business life cycle.  So, as my blog point of view transitioned from fashion, contests and music, to interior design, I moved into the exploration stage.

2014 was filled with exciting first time adventures from new home & garden sponsors, tons of event blogging, and an interesting proposal…..to decorate a friend’s home.  I finally had THE idea to form a business.  In the spring of 2014, Interior & Spaces Home Design was born.  The new challenge was establishing name recognition and acquiring new clients.  A problem solver at heart, I quickly came up with a solution and hosted numerous open houses, showcasing different styles and started a new blog feature, The ? Room, spotlighting theme rooms based on current trends.  As a Silicon Valley techie, I worked the social networks and gained followers & readers.  Finally, to further position myself as an interior design blogger, I exclusively represented H&G events, discovered emerging 3-D merchants and contributed to leading Second Life publications….the evolvation stage was complete.

In 2015, I vowed to cut back on blogging and focus on Interior & Spaces Design business development.  And, I did.  But to my great surprise, I was nominated as favorite interior designer, home and garden blogger from my peers with the highly regarded Avi Choice Awards.  Establishing name & brand recognition check!  Soon after the nomination, I was asked to guest blog for first-world design companies, further leading to brand development.  Expansion into the commercial sector was next on my list and fortunately my company, Interiors & Spaces, was hired to design My Light Fashion Agency (& in late December BOSL).  As the summer rolled around, I was itching for water and rented a beach parcel.  Memories of past travels and dreams of future adventures led to my only open house of 2015 featuring three beach shacks, all designed in different themes and one large Bali Ha’i getaway.  (Note to self, host more house tours this year).  The later half of 2015 was filled with charity event blogging for notable organizations (American Cancer Society, American Diabetes Association, National Breast Cancer Foundation, and World Food Program) and this is truly one of my favorite parts of the VR gaming community, to come together and support each other.  With a career background ranging from corporate to community event planning, I’m pleased when I can utilized my professional experience for a good cause.

As 2015 has come to a close, I’m proud of my business growth, the partnerships I’ve made, and my entrepreneurial spirit!  In 2016, I look forward to thriving business opportunities, steering a flourishing company to greater success and exciting innovative technology to make VR a more immersive experience.

Top 5 in 2015:

1). With Deepest Gratitude

2). 6 Essentials for the perfect night sleep

3). Interior & Spaces Styles BOSL!

4). East Meets West Open House

5). Act today to change tomorrow!

Deck the Halls!

Windlight Winter Art Show and Showcase opened Monday, December 7th and will run until Sunday, December 13th presented by Team Diabetes of Second Life, an official and authorized team of the American Diabetes Association. This special holiday event brings together Second Life artists and creators on one sim with fun activities and daily entertainment, click here for an event calendar.

The best parts of SL is the creativity of its residents and the Winter Art Show has 20+ artist participating with individual booths displaying their work for sale.  In today’s post, I’m honored to feature Ilyra Chardin Winter Grounds, a beautiful snowy bank landscaping in my winter lodge styling.  Ms. Chardin is an enormously talented designer and digital digital artist, specializing in mixed media storybook and landscape art, creating poetic serene portraits that welcome the viewer.  She’s been featured at The Raglan Shire Art Walk, Builders Brewery Relay for Life Art Auction, Windlight Gallery as a Windlight Fellow, The Cheeky Lady Art Gallery, Creations for Parkinson Gallery, and in Art in the Park (a Gallery that she curates).  Ilyra was featured in the November 15, 2015 issue of SL Enquirer in an article by Dean Lawson, entitled, “The Multiple Layers of Ilyra Chardin.”  She is a Windlight Artist and Feature Contributor for Windlight Magazine.  She is also a feature photographer, artist and writer for Avi Choice Magazine.  Please take time to stop by Ilyra booth at the Winter Art Show and explore her enchanting world…..Taxi please!

Another wonderful part of the Windlight Winter Art Show & Showcase are the merchants who have generously donated 100% of the proceeds of sale to ADA.  Above, I used a number of exclusive releases and 100% donations items from creators at the Showcase including Potomac Signature Homes, Park Place Home Decor, The House of Avro and Kaerri.  Stop by the event and check out all the offerings, participated in the Christmas Tree Ornament Hunt, buy a ticket to the Winter Queen raffle (100% donated), or cheer on your favorite Ginger Bread House builders!  If you prefer to donate directly to the American Diabetes Association, kiosks have been placed at the event or you can give online.  I hope to see you there!

Art Work: Winter Grounds by Ilyra Chardin & Solitude by Richie-Narstrom

• Potomac Signature Homes: Rustic Holiday Living Room {sofa, loveseat, armchair, end table, table lamp, standing lamp & rug} & Dark Green Spruce Christmas Tree
• Potomac Signature Homes: Basset in Bed, Holiday Wreath {not at the Showcase}
• Park Place Home Decor: Winter Garden Ottoman 1, Holiday Rattan Patio Chair {100% donation items}, Holiday Hanging Bag Planter w/Poinsettia,
• The House of Avro: Swag Garland with Baubles, Victorian Planter w/Poinsettia, Poinsettia Arrangement, Planter w/Bauble Poinsettia, Christmas Stocking w/Puppy & Christmas Stocking w/Cat
• Kaerri: Mantle Decor, Filled Xmas Stocking, 2015 Red/Star Xmas Tree

Falling for Art in Hats!

Happy Weekend!  Art in Hats – Hats in Art 2015 charity event wraps up today, Saturday, November 14, 2015.  It’s your last chance to purchase amazing creations, hunt for 10 free hat gifts and donate to Team Diabetes of Second Life benefitting the American Diabetes Association.  Today’s schedule of events includes a closing ceremony with a concluding fashion show, live auction, public hat contest winners announcement and last chance shopping party with trivia and prizes, you don’t want to miss out!  At 4pm today the live auction kicks off and you will have the opportunity to bid on Sascha’s Designs Perpetual Black Hat, I blogged last Saturday and many more.  I had hoped to blog more hats and show you some of the freebie hats but my RL didn’t allow it, so be sure to pop over to the event and check out these wonderful designs.

Today, I’m showcasing a tribute to autumn in Ghee’s Temptation fascinator, an orange maple leaf and green apple.  I paired the headpiece with Indented Reese copper silk wrap dress, Madrid Solo new November group gift Falling make-up and Scrub I sit and think to escape gold necklace to enhance autumnal glow.  Hope to see you at Art in Hats 2015 events later today!

Taxi to Art in Hats – Hats in Art 2015 event please…

Emergence

Happy November!  I hope you had a nice Halloween.  Today, I’m very excited to share with you the 3rd Annual Art in Hats – Hats in Art 2015 charity event benefitting Team Diabetes of Second Life, an official fundraiser for the American Diabetes Association.  The mission of Team Diabetes is to raise awareness, tolerance and funds for diabetes research through the virtual reality game platform of Second Life.  The first fundraising event for Team Diabetes of SL, was the Fall Showcase in October that raised $28,009L.  The second event will be Art in Hats running from November 4th -14th with daily live entertainment performances, hat pin hunt, silent auction, fashion show and styling competition.  For a complete line up of hat designers, performance schedule, creators spotlights and more information, click here.

Art in Hats was founded by SL resident Quan Lavender in 2013 as a way for artists, designers, creators and photographers to express themselves and bring art to more people in Second Life.  In 2014, the event grew to include models and dancers with the addition of more than 100+ hats benefitting Feed A Smile charity {child organization of Live and Learn in Kenya International NGO}.

I have the great pleasure as one of the official blogger for Art in Hats – Hats in Art 2015 to present Perpetual Black Hat, the auction item from Sascha’s Designs.  Bursting baubles surround the black with metallic silver branch headpiece, paired with the (fashionably dead) Wicked Rose gown from the October’s Collabor88 highlighting the hard/soft edge of the fantasy styling.  Sascha’s Perpetual Black is a showstopper that can be worn with an elegant evening gown to a modern space-age vibe, so be sure to mark your calendars for the LIVE auction next Saturday, November 14th at 4pm SLT.  Bid high knowing 100% of the proceeds benefits Team Diabetes of Second Life, an official charity of The American Diabetes Association.

Taxi to Art in Hats – Hats in Art 2015 event please…

Style Card:

• Hat: Sascha’s Designs, Perpetual Black Hat (@ Art in Hats 2015)
• Dress: (fd), Wicked Rose Dress (Black & White)
• Make-up: Zibska, Joss 02
• Jewelry: Zibska, Bodil Earrings (Black & Silver) & Alcmene Cuff
• Shoes: Hucci, Minerva Sandal (Midnight)
• Set: 22769 ~ [bauwerk], Twilight Zone Pack & Scarlet Creative, Cube in a Cube Art

Act today to change tomorrow!

If I said it once, I’ve said it a thousand times, my favorite part of Second Life are the charity fundraisers benefitting first world nonprofits.  I love seeing SL residents come together to support one another and the generosity of SL designers make it possible.  Today, I’m very excited to share with you Team Diabetes of Second Life, a new fundraiser event benefitting American Diabetes Association.

The American Diabetes Association’s mission is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes.  The American Diabetes Association leads the fight against the deadly consequences of diabetes and fights for those affected by diabetes by funding research to prevent, cure, and manage diabetes.  The ADA delivers services to hundreds of communities and provides objective and credible information and resources about diabetes.

With 100% of the proceeds of sales donated to the ADA, Team Diabetes of Second Life has a number of fundraiser events on the schedule including Fall Showcase 2015 & Art in Hat 2015 (in Nov).  The Fall Showcase 2015 will offer a different selection of creators every 3 months.  You can also donate directly on the Team Diabetes website.  This charity strikes a personal chord with me because I recently discovered both of my great-grandmas had diabetes.

Diabetes is a chronic disease that occurs either when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin it produces.  Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar.  Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common effect of uncontrolled diabetes and over time leads to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels.

In 2014, 9% of adults 18 years and older had diabetes.  In 2012 diabetes was the direct cause of 1.5 million deaths.  More than 80% of diabetes deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries.  WHO projects that diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in 2030.

DeAnn Defaux, owner and creator of Park Place Home Decor was also touched by diabetes and has designed a living room collection in honor of her long time friend Connie, who has been living with diabetes since she was 15 years old.  The Connie Set is available until Oct 31, 2015 with 100% of all proceeds going to Team Diabetes of SL.  The set includes a blue love seat (representing the blue circle in the logo for The World Diabetes Day and the official color for the International Diabetes Federation), wooden and glass coffee table with decorative accessories, books and pussy willow vase.  The Connie love seat has male/female animations as well as couple animations.

To complete the styling of the living space, I wanted to enhance the blue color palette by using ancient Chinese blue & white temple jars placed upon a blue tiled antique Spargel & Shine Home white stone Madison Fireplace ($10L on Antique Grid Autumn Hunt) and aged Serenity Style whitewash piano creating a relaxed mood.  Pops of blue are renforced in the mug on the coffee table and handbag scarf on the piano bench.   Softer green rug draws your eyes to Serenity Style Soul Happy Chest Collection (green), discounted 25% at On9 (until 10/28/15).

Lastly, I wanted to give you an update on the Rock Your Rack 2015 event I blogged last week…drumroll please: total raised for the National Breast Cancer Foundation is $658,991L or $2,500 USD.  Please continue your generosity for this very important ADA inaugural charity fundraiser, look for my blog post on Art in Hats 2015 coming soon!

Taxi to Park Place Home Decor please…