If you don’t already know me…
I’m Heather Connolly and I ROCK!  No.  Srsly.  Fukmi told me so!

But really…  I am Fukmi’s partner in crime, and while she spends her time slaving away in Photoshop, I spend mine ’prim torturing’.  When I’m not hard at work making shoes, belts, bags, etc., I like to shoot giant cooties at random people, drop balls on shoppers eclaiming that they’re winners and then giving them free flip flops, and educating sl’ers on the dangers of SL VD.  (yes, SL VD is a very serious thing.  I have a free VD booth with lots of pamphlets, IM me in world if you need more info!)

Anyyyyyyyyway.  I’ve also been hard at work with a new skin line thats slowly but surely starting to shape up quite nicely!  :D  I decided to whip up a preview 4th of July skin to give away in the store, and apparently Fukmi thought it was a great idea.  So great that she decided to make a freebie outfit for ya’ll too!  (she also left a puddle on the floor…  it’s very hard to get pee smell out of hard wood…)  

So without furthur ado…  The Fukmi 4th of July Freebie Set!! Hooray!  Come and get yours now, because after July 11th its gone foreverrrrrrrr!! 
 

This week the store has been unusually busy. We are participating in the Keys Hunt and are #3 on the hit parade. We’ve been giving out hints and occasional freebies when we’ve been in the store. In some instances, ball drops and flaming cooties were involved. (If you don’t know, may be safer not to ask.) I have been looking forward to this particular hunt - not only as a participating store but also as a hunter. Yessir, I paid for and donned a VIP pass/HUD (200L…I’ve spent more on hair). From the hunter standpoint, I really enjoyed it and was really pleased with the prizes.

As a store owner, I have been happy with how well things have gone. Kenzie (hunt organizer) has been unfailingly sweet and attentive considering she did nearly all of the organization herself. There have been some hiccups as should be expected when you are trying to do something new. But she has quickly adapted and moved forward. What could have been an unmitigated failure in other hands (especially given some of the obstacles), turned out to be a bigger success than anticipated. If you haven’t had a chance to do the hunt and are interested, passes are still for sale in the store.

While this hunt has been gratifying on some levels, I am fairly sure the Looking Glass hunt (coming up next) will be the last hunt I do for a while.

There has been some drama swirling around regarding hunts and freebies on the ole intrawebz. Some stores are rethinking their participation in hunts and are considering changing how they do freebies. I figured this was bound to happen eventually. Making a giveaway item, takes a lot of effort. Most hunts want you to design something unique. Freebies should reflect you as a designer. The market is flooded with freebies and hunts. At some point, you need to weigh the time investment against the return.

I’m not one to make a new freebie every week. There is a dollarbie in the store, a Midnight Mania board, a Lucky Chair, and a RiotVend. There are gifts given to members of our subscriber group from time to time (usually when I’m not participating in a hunt). And well, when we are in the store, HC seems to like to throw flip flops at people.

We love doing things for you folks because you so thoroughly rock our socks. Amanda, HC, and I are touched by your loyalty. I must admit that we are still a little mystified that people just want to hang out in the store with us but it is so very amazingly cool. Nothing brightens my day more than seeing one of you sitting on the pillows chatting it up or tping friends in to show them our store or dodging giant cooties. It makes the work on the store all the more worthwhile. We are your fans as much as you are ours.

I guess what I’m saying (in my long winded convoluted way) is I know you are the reason we are in business. And we’d rather focus more on doing things for you. We’ll still do some hunts and events here and there. We’re just going to be more selective about our participation. So, if you are a fan of our work, we’ve got our subscription dealio in the store. Give it a slap and you’ll get some lovely prizes. We’re also going to start randomly sending out 100L gift certificates to people who have us in their picks. And if you happen to be in the store when HC and I are, um…duck. She may throw a gift box at you!

Before I go…I’d like to thank from the bottom of my heart, the people participating in the Keys Hunt who took the time to write a thank you note. Having read some really really ugly anti-designer blog posts/comments, it meant more than words can express.

Pez and fez,

Fukmi

My only standard almost acceptable excuse for not updating is that I get really busy and distracted. All good distractions, mind you. But still. I’m not doing my job and updating you folks like I should. Sorry folks! Per usual, I’ll promise to be better.

Before I get to store openings and new product, I’d like to announce that Heather Connolly (aka HC) has officially joined the Fukmi team and will continue to make fabulous accessories for our store. If you aren’t sure if you’ve seen her work, come see the Starry Eyed Hoodies set. Her eye for detail is tremendous. We will continue to carry Shinji Accessories. In fact, we have had two new releases from Amanda - LoveNDeath heels and Skully Plaid Skate Sneaks.

We have opened some new store fronts - a new main store at Fropville (not to worry - the Third Life one is staying), Sassy City, NuRepublik, Fusion Crossing, Crecoeur, and a small store in the Psycho Circus Asylum Club. (The latter is somewhat funny given that both HC and I are terrified of clowns.) I am so excited that these sims thought enough of our store to invite us. Means a helluva lot!

I want to thank everyone who participated in our recent group survey! 15 participants chosen at random will receive a 50L gift certificate this weekend. Based on the terrific feedback we received, we have added a Midnight Mania board, a Lucky “Chair” board, and a RiotVend at the Fropville store. I have placed the green version of the Starry Eyed Hoodies set in the MM, the blue Non-toxic Set in the RiotVend and a few non-released colors/items in the Lucky Board. If you haven’t hit up any of these boards, come on down!

By the way, if you haven’t checked out the Non-Toxic set, it is chock full of Fukmi and HC goodness. Not mentioned in the graphic above, the tops are available on several layers to give you maximum mix’n'matchability (that’s a word I swear).

Starting with our Fusion Crossing store, we will be offering exclusive store releases. Our two new separates - Blossoming Half Halters and Blossoming Jeans - are available in Fusion Purple at our Fusion Crossing store. That’s right my purpletastic fans…purple. Just for you. Cuz we love you. We’ll add limited edition purple items if they prove popular (no pressure). See here for future announcements!

Let me wrap this up with a new release that will be in the main store by 6 PM SLT. In celebration of spring, I’m breaking out the shorts with Casual Friday. Each set comes with two long sleeved tees and a novelty baby doll tee wearable layered, separately, tucked and untucked; two pairs of camo shorts with sculpty pockets, two punky belts with novelty buttons and pockets, and a pair of flippity flops. All yours for only 200L!

Alright, so what else? I’m teaching some classes in SL and we’ve got two gridwide hunts scheduled for May. Look here for more information! I promise I will update soon!!!

Love and peanut butter,

Fukmi

From my awesome friends at Prefabulous:

Hi there, thanks for reading this.

LL just announced the 1st annual ”Residents Choice Awards”,  this is obviously a huge honor in the SL community and we need your support.

For almost 2 years now Amo and I have been building and selling homes in SL,  During this time we have never once said  “good enough”, and have always pushed the envelope of what the customer should expect in a home.

While others are are usually nowhere to be found, Amo and I have always been right at the front door, wherever our store happened to be,  to saying hello to new friends and welcome back to old ones.  While others may charge double or more for an empty home, the most humble of avatars  has always been able to get a great home, of uncompromising quality, with a house full of  furniture for just a few thousand lindens, right here at Pre Fabulous.

The day we opened we hung a sign, it read “Build the very best… Serve the customer”.  Those words are on every listing of all our products and we truly live by them every day.  Our commitment to service, which is all to sadly not expected in SL, has earned your trust, and and made a life of creating beautiful art possible for both Amo and myself.  For that we will never be able to thank you enough.

So we call on you for your support.  If you know our products, and have had the chance to experience our service, please vote for us in the “Residents Choice Awards”, and encourage your friends to do so as well.

While we generally fly under the radar, now is the one time to offer a reminder of why we need your support:

Despite having a fraction of the number of products, Pre fabulous has scored over 600 5 star ratings on Xstreet SL, with just the handful of items we offer.  For perspective, if you were to add up all the ratings, of all the products, of all the other premium builders, you will have a bout as many stars as just our one single best selling product.  But our most proud accomplishment as SL merchants is the unheard of 120+ reviews, thanking us as much or more for our service, as for the products we delivered

This success can not be achieved with just the occasional random home run, but only as the result of a full time commitment to our mission to  “Build the very best… Serve the customer”.

We are not the biggest and probably never will be, but we believe that for the care we put into our products, and the care we give to our incredible customers, we are the best, and this is why we need your support! Please vote your heart, but if you agree, vote for Amo Lambeau or Fornicola Butuzova in the builder category, and most importantly, vote Pre Fabulous in the “Best Place To Buy Stuff” category.

Please vote!

Links to the voting site:
http://secondlife.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_a8XKNUS93nAwJtW&SVID=Prod

Links to our products:
https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=36995
https://www.xstreetsl.com/modules.php?name=Marketplace&MerchantID=38276

It seems as though I’ve been buried in Photoshop. I lose track of time as I make new clothes, new vendor graphics, new ads. Maybe it’s time to lift my head up and say hello.

Hello!!

There have been a lot of exciting things happening in my little corner of the virtual world. Todd of PrettyNPunk Place is taking a little step back from Second Life sim management and has handed over the reigns to Lawra Fredrickson (formerly Nekorifik now Frop!). This means PrettyNPunk Place and Pounded Flounder are melding into one to become Voltron…errrr Fropville. The new sim (slurl on the side there) is shaping up to be a really fun and colorful place. In addition to shop rentals, there are some lovely homes…a few of which I actually built!! Yay me!!  Please stop by and take a look around. If you see Lawra, let her know I sent you!

With some upcoming hunts - the Bunny Hop and Through the Looking Glass - I really needed to make some new faboo items to giveaway. I am especially proud of the new Starry Eyed Hoodies sets. Half hoodies with star spangled jeans, tanks, belts, bangles, zipper pulls! Sooooooo cute if I do say so myself (and…I do). In addition to the normal sets, we’ve put together an extras pack that contains all of the accessories plus a black half hoodie!

But that’s not all…

I’ve made a special purple version for the Bunny Hop! Included in the prize are matching unisex skate shoes and the male version of the Uncle Skully long sleeved tee. Be sure to stop by the main store between March 27th and April 19th to snag yours!!

Hmmm…so what else…We’ve got new beanies, scarves, armwarmers, and legwarmers fro the incredible Shinji Accessories line, the fun Skully Argyle cardigan sets, and tons more!! Stop by and take a gander!

French fried hugs,

Fukmi

All work and no play makes Fookzilla a dull girl. Amo and Forni of Pre-fabulous to the rescue! We spent an evening raising hamster hell! Racing around a track they made in their latest build project on motorbikes (ramps and all). Then the hamster version of chicken at a race track - synchronized dancing dodging race cars. There were hamsters flying EVERYWHERE. It was madness. It was mayhem.

It was awesome!

Ah but you don’t want to hear about my time as a hamster. You want to know about the store and all the new haps! And believe me, we’ve been very very busy. I’ve got some new cardigans and some nifty Zebra zZz Pants. Seeing is believing! Check them out at the main store!

I’m also very excited to report the opening of two new locations! One at the incredible Steam Isle sim where I have the bestest neighbors - Kenzie of Urban Dysfunction and Ivey of that little-known boutique Sn@tch. I am also really amazingly/spaztically/insanely excited about our largest store location on the soon-to-be-open Sn@tch City. Oh.My.Gawd. You have to see it to believe it. It’s almost perfect.

Almost.

There is only one thing missing from Sn@tch City. She has not put a saddle on the octopus in the moat outside her store. This is an appalling oversight that I dearly hope will be rectified soon. Because I wanna ride the octopus.

What do you say, Ivey?

Some upcoming Fukmi type events! I’ll be doing a show’n'tell presentation at the Third Life sim this Friday. And a week from next Tuesday, I will be offering my popular Avatar Basics (101) class also at Third Life. Bring a noob or an avatar impaired individual and join in the fun! I’ll send times and landmarks as we get closer to the dates. Oh and I’ve added links to the stores over there in the linky-linky section!

Amanda has had a busy week in second life AND real life. She has been hard at work on our new Shinji line of accessories. Poor girl was knackered so she went to bed early. That means I am unsupervised. Madness, you say? Me??? Mad????

<Insert evil laugh here.>

So here’s a little preview of the new Shinji line. They are the cutest little ballet slippers with plaid bows. Say it with me folks. Awwwwwwwww. AWWWWWWWWWWW. I happen to have this pink pair on my person. If you IM me in world the following phrase, I may just give you a pair: “Don’t you know…we’re all light.” If you know where this phrase is from and are the first to tell me, I may even have another freebie for you.

Better hurry before the wife finds out.

Penguins in hawaiian shirts,

Fukmi

Time seems to pass pretty damn quickly. Seems like only yesterday, we were promising to update the site. Several months later and I am finally getting around to adding some pizzazz to the site (see??? cool new theme!!).

Better late than never right? Right? RIGHT?!!!!???

It’s not like I haven’t been a busy girl. If you’ve been by any of the store locations lately (Third Life Books, Pounded Flounder, or our new store at Pretty N’ Punk), you’ll notice new inventory and some new displays. Including, the very impressive Fookzilla!!! Grrrrrrrr arrrrrggggghhh!!!!

Aaaaaahhhh!!!! Fookzilla!!!!!

Just today, I added Skully Wears Plaid set, corduroy pants, Kiss of the Skully halter, and plaid panties. I’ve also added a dollarbie set and a very special, super secret freebie for my blog readers at my Pounded Flounder location. First to find the freebie, drop me a notecard with a pic of you wearing the freebie. I’ll send you the entire collection of Kiss of the Skully halters!

Skully Wears Plaid in Red

So what’s up next, kidz? Well, next week we will be having a fashion show with the lovely Lawra of Nekorifik. Plus we’ll be adding the Shinji accessories collection to our stores! Deets will be posted here!

Pardon the rather blank look at the moment, we’re still unpacking all the boxes from the move and haven’t come across the banners n’ stuff yet. I’m not sure where she packed them, but I can tell you they’ll be safely smothered in bubblewrap and as soon as we find them, we’ll have the place looking hotter than a big bag of hot things.

I can say however that the Fall Collection is coming along nicely and with the mixture of new lines and revamped old favourites, there will be a great selection coming soon to the flagship store on Kara Zor Isle as well as our other stores. A full location guide will be posted soon.

Bye for now, Amanda x