Congratulations again to our Home Hotshot Final Round contestants, and all the contestants who participated along the way! As previously announced, the final round of the Home Hotshot contest was this past Saturday, ending with judging to select our Grand Prize, Second Place, and Third Place winners!

The challenge for this final round was bigger than before. Each contestant was given a copy of an exclusive prefab from [SPRY], the ragged wood cabin, as well as the gorgeous Kervern Sofa from The Loft. They had 2.5 hours, 270 prims, and their design had to use the sofa. Otherwise, their own creativity was the driver! At the end of the event, each entry was judged on the following:

  • Use of Inspiration Items
  • Creativity
  • Color Scheme
  • Overall Aesthetic

Each of the judges was given a scoring sheet and independently scored each entry on those criteria. All the scores were then totaled to give us our winner placement!

Many, many thanks to my esteemed judges for the Final Round:

  • Colleen Desmoulins, The Loft
  • Saffia Widdershins, Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds
  • Pitsch Parx, UrbanizeD
  • Rayvn Hynes, MudHoney

Keep reading, after the cut, to see all the designs submitted for the Final Round! Be sure to congratulate our winners, and check out the amazing prize packages they're enjoying!

The Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is sponsored by these awesome SL designers:

Ambiance • [ba] Barnesworth Anubis • Belle Belle • Insight Designs • La’Licious • LISP Bazaar • MudHoney • Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds • RC Cluster • [SPRY] • The Loft • UrbanizeD • {what next}

Here's the [SPRY] ragged wood cabin that each contestant was asked to decorate:

Samantha Hellmann - Grand Prize:

RubyStarlight Writer - Second Place:

Amelie Knelstrom - Third Place:

Great job, everyone!

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests
4 CommentsPost a comment

 

Congratulations to our newly chosen Second Spaces Home Hotshot --Samantha Hellmann!!!!

Second Place was awarded to RubyStarlight Writer, and Third Place to Amelie Knelstrom!

Great job to everyone - I'll get pics posted of the final round entries in the next day or two!

See the amazing prize packages here, and be sure to congratulate our winners!!!

Great job, hotshots!!!

Samantha Hellmann
Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests

The final round of the Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is today! Everyone is welcome to join us today at 2PM SLT – we’ll have music and dancing while our contestants make magic happen! They will have 2.5 hours to decorate their space, and judging will be completed immediately after. At the end of today’s contest, we will identify our grand prize Home Hotshot winner, along with 2nd and 3rd place winners, too! Don't miss it!!

Hope to see you there!

Home Hotshot contest site [SLurl]

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests

As previously announced, the second round of the Home Hotshot contest was this past Saturday! Once again, we were treated to some wonderful design work. Great job, everyone!!

The challenge for Round 2 was another easy one: Bedrooms. Each contestant randomly picked a number that decided which Inspiration Box they received. With that Inspiration Box, they had the items around which to build their room. In addition, each contestant received a box of textures (the same for each contestant), and their challenge was to use at least 3 of those textures in their designs. At the end of the event, each entry was judged on the following:

  • Use of Inspiration Items
  • Creativity
  • Color Scheme
  • Overall Aesthetic

Each of the judges was given a scoring sheet and independently scored each entry on those criteria. All the scores were then totaled and the top 3 scores gave us our finalists!

Many, many thanks to my esteemed judges for Round 2:

  • Colleen Desmoulins, The Loft
  • Saffia Widdershins, Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds
  • Pitsch Parx, UrbanizeD
  • Rayvn Hynes, MudHoney
  • Amaliscious Destiny, La’Licious Designs

Keep reading, after the cut, to see all the designs submitted in Round 2! The Final Round will take place on Saturday, December 4, at 2pm SLT. Our three finalists will be back to take on the final design challenge and win some awesome prizes!

The Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is sponsored by these awesome SL designers:

Ambiance • [ba] Barnesworth Anubis • Belle Belle • Insight Designs • La’Licious • LISP Bazaar • MudHoney • Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds • RC Cluster • [SPRY] • The Loft • UrbanizeD • {what next}

Each contestant received these textures from Insight Designs and were required to use at least 3 in their designs.

Contestant #1 – Samantha Hellmann (finalist) – Inspiration Box from {what next}

Contestant #2 – RubyStarlight Writer (finalist) – Inspiration Box from UrbanizeD

Contestant #3 – octagons Yazimoto – Inspiration Box from Ambiance

Contestant #4 – Chic Aeon – Inspiration Box from La'Licious

Contestant #5 – Amelie Knelstrom (finalist) – Inspiration Box from MudHoney

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests

 

Great job to all of the Home Hotshot Round 2 contestants – once again, everyone did an amazing job and we saw some gorgeous designs! Check back here in the next day or 2 to see pics of all the awesome entries!

Please join me in congratulating our Round 2 finalists – these 3 contestants will move on to the Final Round on December 4!!

RubyStarlight Writer

Amelie Knelstrom

Samantha Hellmann

Congratulations!!

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests

Round 2 of the Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is today! Everyone is welcome to join us today at 2PM SLT – we’ll have music and dancing while our contestants make magic happen! They will have 2 hours to decorate their space, and judging will be completed immediately after. At the end of today’s contest, we will identify the 3 awesome decorators who will move on to the Final Round!

Hope to see you there!

Home Hotshot contest site [SLurl]

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests

As previously announced, the first round of the Home Hotshot contest was this past Saturday! It was a great party, and the contestants all did amazing work!! It was very exciting to see the process each contestant used to bring their room together, and to watch their progress over the 2 hours. Great job, everyone!!

The challenge for Round 1 was simple: Living Rooms. Each contestant randomly picked a number from 1-10, and that decided which Inspiration Box they received. With that Inspiration Box, they had the items around which to build their room. At the end of the event, each entry was judged on the following:

  • Use of Inspiration Items
  • Creativity
  • Color Scheme
  • Overall Aesthetic

Each of the judges was given a scoring sheet and independently scored each entry on those criteria. All the scores were then totaled and the top 5 scores gave us our finalists!

Many, many thanks to my esteemed judges for Round 1:

  • Colleen Desmoulins, The Loft
  • Saffia Widdershins, Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds
  • Stacie Pryor, [SPRY]
  • Pitsch Parx, UrbanizeD
  • Rayvn Hynes, MudHoney
  • Amaliscious Destiny, La'Licious Designs

Keep reading, after the cut, to see all the designs submitted in Round 1! Round 2 will take place this Saturday, November 20, at 2pm SLT. Our five finalists will be back to take on the next design challenge!

The Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is sponsored by these awesome SL designers:

Ambiance • [ba] Barnesworth Anubis • Belle Belle • Insight Designs • La’Licious • LISP Bazaar • MudHoney • Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds • RC Cluster • [SPRY] • The Loft • UrbanizeD • {what next}

Contestant #1 - RubyStarlight Writer (finalist) - Inspiration Box from La'Licious

Contestant #2 - Samantha Hellmann (finalist) - Inspiration Box from MudHoney

Contestant #3 - octagons Yazimoto (finalist) - Inspiration Box from [ba] Barnesworth Anubis

Contestant #4 - Valletta Gossipgirl - Inspiration Box from Second Spaces

Contestant #5 - Chic Aeon (finalist) - Inspiration Box from The Loft

Contestant #6 - Hallie Galli - Inspiration Box from Ambiance Interactive

Contestant #7 - Carlotta Ceawlin - Inspiration Box from UrbanizeD

Contestant #8 - Amelie Knelstrom (finalist) - Inspiration Box from {what next}

Contestant #9 - Hela Azalee - Inspiration Box from LISP Bazaar

Contestant #10 - Devon Zepp - Inspiration Box from -RC- Cluster

Posted
Authorelle kirshner

 

Great job to all of the Home Hotshot Round 1 contestants - everyone did an amazing job and we saw some gorgeous designs! We had a lot of fun, too. :) I'll get pics of all the entries posted here in the next day or two.

Please join me in congratulating our Round 1 finalists - these 5 contestants will move on to Round 2 on November 20!!

RubyStarlight Writer

octagons Yazimoto

Chic Aeon

Amelie Knelstrom

Samantha Hellmann

Congratulations!!

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
3 CommentsPost a comment

Round 1 of the Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is today! Everyone is welcome to join us today at 2PM SLT - we'll have music and dancing while our contestants make magic happen! They will have 2 hours to decorate their space, and judging will be completed immediately after. At the end of today's contest, we will identify the 5 awesome decorators who will move on to Round 2!

Hope to see you there!

Home Hotshot contest site [SLurl]

Posted
Authorelle kirshner

We have our Hotshots!

(Please see the original post here for all the scoop on the contest!)

Congratulations to our 10 contestants:

Chic Aeon • Devon Zepp • octagons Yazimoto • Hallie Galli • Valletta Gossipgirl

RubyStarlight Writer • Amelie Knelstrom • Carlotta Ceawlin • Hela Azalee • Samantha Hellmann

Round 1 of the contest is this Saturday (November 13) at 2pm SLT - everyone is invited to come hang out during the event to cheer on our hotshots - keep your eye on this blog for more info about the contest party!

Speaking of party...check out the amazing prize packages that I've got lined up for our Round 3 winners!!

GRAND PRIZE:

L$7500 cash from Second Spaces!

L$7500 gift card from MudHoney!

L$5000 gift card from The Loft!

L$2000 cash from RC Cluster!

Featured in a Prim Perfect magazine article AND a special appearance on a Designing Worlds episode!

Free shop space at Rue d'Antibes for 3 months OR L$2000 cash (for non-creators), courtesy of Barnesworth Anubis!

3 complete boxed sets (winner's choice) from LISP Bazaar!

2 full Bliss Boxes (San Francisco and Naughtylus) from Belle Belle!

5 items (winner's choice) from Insight Designs!

All items in one color group from UrbanizeD (over 40 items)!

Laurel Living Room Collection, Bear Canyon Big Camping Set, AND Lazy Weekend Country Garden Collection from {what next}!

1 complete set (winner's choice) from Ambiance Interactive!

Exclusive home release from [SPRY] AND a home bundle of current homes!

SECOND PLACE:

L$5000 cash from Second Spaces!

L$5000 gift card from MudHoney!

L$2500 gift card from The Loft!

L$1000 cash from RC Cluster!

Featured in a Prim Perfect magazine article!

4 items (winner's choice) from Insight Designs!

Firefly Dream Bliss Box from Belle Belle!

2 complete boxed sets (winner's choice) from LISP Bazaar!

Exclusive home release from [SPRY]!

1 complete set (winner's choice) from Ambiance Interactive!

10 items from the UrbanizeD collection (winner's choice)!

Laurel Living Room collection from {what next}!

THIRD PLACE:

L$2500 cash from Second Spaces!

L$1500 gift card from MudHoney!

L$1000 gift card from The Loft!

L$500 cash from RC Cluster!

Featured in a Prim Perfect magazine article!

3 items (winner's choice) from Insight Designs!

Calypso Cave Bliss Box from Belle Belle!

Exclusive home release from [SPRY]!

1 complete set (winner's choice) from Ambiance Interactive!

1 complete boxed set (winner's choice) from LISP Bazaar!

5 items from the UrbanizeD collection (winner's choice)!

Bear Canyon Big Camping set from {what next}!

*Prizes will not be awarded until Round 3 of the contest (scheduled for December 4)*

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
4 CommentsPost a comment

UPDATE Sunday 11/7 at 5:00PM SLT: Registration is closed - we have our 10 contestants! Keep checking here for updates and info as the contest progresses!

Home Hotshot Contest site [SLurl]

I'm only accepting 10 contestants, and it's first come, first served! At the contest site you'll find 10 rental boxes. Just right-click and pay an available box (it's just 1L, only because the box can't be set to 0L) and then bam! You're in!

I hope to have the prize packages finalized and posted by tonight, and registration is open until Thursday, November 11. See the original post for all the contest info!

**Please note: by registering for the contest, you are in effect agreeing to be present for each round of the contest until you are eliminated. The contest schedule is as follows:

  • Round 1 – November 13 at 2PM SLT
  • Round 2 – November 20 at 2PM SLT
  • Final Round – December 4 at 2PM SLT

Have fun!!

Posted
Authorelle kirshner

Announcing the Second Spaces "Home Hotshot" Design Contest!

Do you enjoy decorating in SL? Do you thrive under pressure? Do you dream of fame and glory and amazing free stuff from some of SL's most awesome furniture/decor designers?? Then keep reading!

Home Hotshot is actually a series of time challenges. Contestants will not know what the challenge is beforehand; it will be given to them at the start of each mini-contest. Here's the breakdown:

  • Contestant Registration - registration will be open for a limited time, and only 10 contestants can join - first come, first serve!
  • Round 1 - The 10 contestants will come to the contest site at the scheduled date/time, and just before the challenge starts, they will receive the instructions and will select an Inspiration Box (items that must be used as the inspiration for the design).
  • Each contestant will have a space to decorate according to the rules of the challenge, and using the items in their Inspiration Box. They will have 2 hours decorating time (starting as soon as the challenge and Inspiration Boxes are given) and 200 prims. There is no spend limit. They will be allowed to leave the contest site for shopping, or use anything they have in their inventory - they just have to have the space completed in that 2 hour time period.
  • At the end of that 2 hour window, contestants will have to step away from their designs, and the judges will evaluate all the spaces to select the contestants who will move to the next round.

The judges will select 5 contestants who will move on to round 2. Round 2 will be the same process as Round 1, and 3 contestants will be selected to move to the final round. The final round will be the same process, but with a few more challenges thrown in! At the end of the final round, our judges will select a Grand Prize winner, and 2nd and 3rd place winners.

*Prizes will be announced at a later date*

Here's the contest schedule:

  • Round 1 - November 13 at 2PM SLT
  • Round 2 - November 20 at 2PM SLT
  • Final Round - December 4 at 2PM SLT

Contest registration will open on NOVEMBER 7 AT 9AM SLT and will close on NOVEMBER 11 AT 9AM SLT. Check back right here on the morning of the 7th for the LM to the contest site!

Please contact Elle Kirshner in-world or at elle.kirshner@gmail.com with any questions!

The Second Spaces Home Hotshot Design Contest is sponsored by these awesome SL designers:

Ambiance • [ba] Barnesworth Anubis • Belle Belle • Insight Designs • La'Licious • LISP Bazaar • MudHoney • Prim Perfect/Designing Worlds • RC Cluster • [SPRY] • The Loft • UrbanizeD • {what next}

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests
14 CommentsPost a comment

Congratulations again to the winners of the Santa's Escape Design Contest! I promised I would post pics of all the entries, and here I finally am to do that! I'll show you the winners again, too, with some additional detail this time. Really, all the entries were great!! I am continually amazed at the creativity abounding within SL!

Grand Prize winners: Tymmerie Thorne & Jerremy Darwin - Santa's New Orleans Man Cave

This room was packed full of so many funny little details and touches --  be sure to check out who's calling on that fancy office phone! ;)

Second Place: Trash Wahwah - Santa's Hotel Hangover

If you can't read it - the note on the mirror says "For a good time call 555-555-55516 - Ask for Wahwah" - that number isn't valid, though. So I've heard.

Third Place: Stacie Pryor - Santa Saves the Environment

We can all learn from Santa!

Fourth Place: Chloe Thirdborn - Trailer Park Santa

I love Santa's motivational posters in the weight room. :) His resolutions list on the refrigerator is precious, too: Lose 15 pounds, Ride my bike more, Work less at night, Eat more meals at home, Drive less!

Sevenstar Amat:

SarahTheRed Aurbierre:

Aisuru Rieko:

Salvia Homewood:

Aruba DeCuir:

Ona Stenvaag:

Jazzmyn Criss:

Lia Littlething:

Thanks again to all the contestants - you all did an amazing job! Also, tons and tons of thanks again to my awesome sponsors!

[ba] Barnesworth Anubis // The Loft // Ambiance // MudHoney // Belle  Belle

New Trails // Heart Garden

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests
2 CommentsPost a comment

I will post lots and lots of pictures soon, but first I want to recognize and congratulate our winners!! The party was great fun, and all of the entries were just fabulous! So fabulous, in fact, that my esteemed judges donated more prizes so that we could have a fourth place winner, too! Congratulations to:

Grand Prize: Tymmerie Thorne & Jerremy Darwin, Santa's New Orleans Man Cave

Second Place: Trash Wahwah, Santa's Hotel Hangover

Third Place: Stacie Pryor, Santa Saves the Environment

Fourth Place: Chloe Thirdborn, Trailer Park Santa

Look for additional posts in the next few days with a lot more pics of all the fantastic details in these displays, as well as pics of all the entries! You can also still swing by the contest grounds to see the displays yourself - they'll be up for a few more days!

Second Spaces Contestgrounds

A million thanks again to my judges: Leyla Firefly, Rayvn Hynes, and Colleen Desmoulins! <3

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests

The Second Spaces Santa's Escape Design Contest comes to a close this Saturday!

We'll be partying at the contest grounds this Saturday, December 19, from 1-3pm SLT! There will be a live DJ, lots of great music and dancing, and door prizes for the crowd! All the contest entries will be open for display, and the judges will be making their rounds and making their decisions on the winners! Everyone is invited!!

Our contestants are:

  • Tymmerie Thorne & Jerremy Darwin
  • Sevenstar Amat
  • Ina Centaur
  • Aisuru Rieko
  • moo Money
  • Stacie Pryor
  • Salvia Homewood
  • Trash Wahwah
  • SarahTheRed Aurbierre
  • Lia Littlething
  • Ona Stenvaag
  • Jazzmyne Criss
  • Chloe Thirdborn
  • Aruba DeCuir
  • Tallulah Bourjade

Our awesome prize packages are as follows:

Grand Prize:

  • Free shop space in Rue D'Antibes for 2 months, courtesy of [ba] Barnesworth Anubis (or cash equivalent if winner does not have a shop)
  • $5000L gift card from The Loft
  • $5000L gift card from Belle Belle
  • $1000L gift card from MudHoney
  • 1 complete boxed set, of the winner's choosing, from Ambiance
  • 3 Landscaping Packs from Heart Garden
  • Pack of assorted fir trees from New Trails
  • Spotlight article on Second Spaces design blog

Second Place:

  • $3000L gift card from Belle Belle
  • $2500L gift card from The Loft
  • Holiday Dinner Set from MudHoney
  • Regency Dining Room Collection from Ambiance
  • 3 Landscaping Packs from Heart Garden
  • Pack of assorted Gloo trees from New Trails

Third Place:

  • $1000L gift card from The Loft
  • Ashley Cuddle Lounge Room from MudHoney
  • Sienna Gazebo, Amore Hot Tub and Tiki Torches from Ambiance
  • 3 Landscaping Packs from Heart Garden
  • $3000L gift card from Belle Belle
  • Pack of assorted trees and items from New Trails

Hope to see you there!!

salvia homewood
Posted
Authorelle kirshner
2 CommentsPost a comment

Oh, it was bound to happen again, eventually. :) I am ecstatic to announce another Second Spaces Design Contest: Santa's Escape!

Everyone needs to get away for the holidays - even Santa! What would his escape look like? On the day after Christmas, is he at a luxury spa? Is he going on a TV and junk food binge? Is it time to enjoy that basement sex den? Does he finally get a chance to play with all those toys in the workshop? It's up to you!!

Prizes provided by these awesome designers:

The Loft // Belle Belle  // Ambiance  // MudHoney // [ba] Barnesworth Anubis // Heart Garden // Another Man's Treasure

Here's how it works: each contestant gets a Second Spaces shadowbox in which to create their vision of Santa's escape. We have an expert panel of designer judges who will select our winners - we'll be looking for creativity, clever aesthetics, smart use of prims, and an overall sense of design. The contest will run for approximately 2 weeks, during which the contestants can organize their shadowboxes. We'll wrap it up with an event on December 19th when the boxes are ready for viewing -- we'll have a live DJ and festivities, the judges will make their selections and we'll announce the winners at the end of the event! It'll be a party, so everyone is invited!

Here's what you need to know: - There are only 15 shadowboxes available.*UPDATE as of Dec 9, there are only 2 boxes left!* To enter the contest, head over to the Second Spaces contest grounds, select an available shadowbox and claim it as yours. To claim it, you need to do three things:

  1. You'll see a rent box in front of the shadowbox; right click and pay $1L to rent the space. (You only have to do this for a 1 week period, and that will reserve the box for you until the contest is over.)
  2. Right-click and Buy the shadowbox for $0L. Do NOT take the shadowbox into your inventory; when you buy it, you're buying the original, so leave it sitting right where it is. Buying it will allow you to retexture the inside of the box as needed.
  3. Send an IM to Elle Kirshner to let her know you've entered the contest!

- Only 200 prims are allowed in your design! That includes furniture, accessories, plants -- whatever you use. 200 prims is all you get! - No more than $1000L can be spent on your design! That's right -- Santa has to be budget-conscious, too!  On the day of the contest event, you'll be asked to provide a notecard detailing all objects purchased and their Linden value. - Your design elements can be purchased OR built by you! Now's your chance to show off your building skills! - Only the INSIDE of the shadowbox can be re-textured. The outside must remain textured with the Second Spaces background. - You may place items just outside the shadowbox on the platform, if needed.

IM Elle Kirshner with any questions! Good Luck!

Santa's Escape Design Contest

Posted
Authorelle kirshner
Categoriescontests
2 CommentsPost a comment

This is Pulling Strings, reporting live from the scene - the invasion has begun. Our forces are fighting valiantly, but at this point, it's anyone's guess who will emerge victorious. The first pictures of this historic event are arriving as we speak...

promo poster

The Pulling Strings INVASION photo contest is open! We want you to bring this historic event to life using poses from Pulling Strings and your creativity and imagination!

Here's what you need to know!

When: starts August 22nd, ends September 19th! Winners will be announced September 25th!

Where: Join the Flickr group at http://www.flickr.com/groups/pullingstringsinvasion/

What: Your pictures of the INVASION! Make them silly, creative, fun, abstract - let your imagination run wild! "Invasion" can mean lots of things...

PRIZES: Grand Prize: $1000L cash and $500L Pulling Strings gift card! Second Prize: $750L cash and $250L Pulling Strings gift card! Third Prize: $500L cash and $150L Pulling Strings gift card!

The Flickr group will be closed for submissions at midnight SLT on September 19th. Winners will be chosen by Elle Kirshner and a super secret panel of judges - the judges' names will be released when the winners are announced!

Rules & Guidelines: - Each picture must include ONLY poses from Pulling Strings; all Pulling Strings poses are eligible for use. - Photos can use as many poses as you like, again ONLY from Pulling Strings. - Only THREE submissions allowed per person. - By submitting the photo, both the model(s) and photographer are granting Pulling Strings full permission to use the photo in promotional pieces (store display, blog posts, magazine ads, etc). - Post-processing is encouraged, but not required. - Please upload your picture(s) to the Pulling Strings INVASION Photo Contest Flickr group, as follows:

  • Label the photo "Pulling Strings Invasion"
  • Give the photo an official title; i.e. Invasion of the Sculpty Snatchers (whatever fits your pic!)
  • List the names of all poses used in the photo (remember, only Pulling Strings poses!!)
  • List the photographer name and model name(s)
  • Provide a brief description or blurb, if needed/wanted, to accompany your photo. If it speaks for itself, then no words needed. :)

- Pulling Strings reserves the right to omit and remove any non-qualifying images from the Flickr pool.

Contact Elle Kirshner in-world or at ellekirshner@aol.com with any questions! Have fun!!

Posted
Authorelle kirshner

Congrats again to Maerok for winning the Second Spaces Exotic Getaway Shadowbox Design Contest! I met up with Maerok a few days after the contest, just to chat a bit about his contest experience, what else he's doing in SL right now, and that I plan to take full credit as the inspiration for his contest entry. :)

You'll notice Maerok's super-cool flame eyes in the pic; he's the designer/owner of Custom Eyes where you can find some great...well, custom eyes...some a bit on the fantasy side, and all very well done. If you read Maerok's in-world profile, you'll also see that he mentions nano sculpties. Nano sculpties are teeny tiny (scientific term) sculpted prims that Maerok is using in jewelry - great for realistic gems, as seen below (thanks, Maerok!). That's a diamond choker and diamond bracelet next to the nano sculpties, and then a closeup of the nano spheres just to show you how truly tiny and wee they are!

Elle Kirshner: What attracted you to the Second Spaces Design Contest? Maerok Westland: a friend of of mine , Belle, is always looking for stuff for me,sent me the info , and I just though it was a perfect platform to try lots of new things Maerok Westland: new design ideas, scripts Elle Kirshner: cool - thanks to belle :) Elle Kirshner: What was the most fun part of the contest? Maerok Westland: :) Maerok Westland: most fun and frustrating..... Elle Kirshner: haha Maerok Westland: coming up with a good idea Maerok Westland: went through several before i landed on the final one Elle Kirshner: which leads to my next question..... Elle Kirshner: What was the inspiration for your design? Maerok Westland: well, a big part thanks to that little conversation we had at the begining Maerok Westland: but I wanted to create a space that went beyond the walls, and open it up as much as possible Maerok Westland: this seemed perfect Elle Kirshner: very nice :) i dont remember our conversation.... Maerok Westland: existentialism Elle Kirshner: oh right :) Maerok Westland: you lost your book on it.. Maerok Westland: lol Elle Kirshner: hahahahah right Elle Kirshner: just for the record, i'm totally just gonna say that I was your inspiration ;) Maerok Westland: :) Maerok Westland: absolutely fine Elle Kirshner: Any advice for blossoming designers out there? Maerok Westland: well, I'm one myself, and wouldnt like to start giving advice as a relative sl fledgling, but only to say that sl is the perfect place to let your imagination run wild, you really can develop any idea without restraint Elle Kirshner: i like that :) Elle Kirshner: now the tough question.... Elle Kirshner: What are you gonna do with all your prizes?? Maerok Westland: well, good question.... Maerok Westland: i really dont know... Maerok Westland: lol

Maerok has his shadowbox set up here for now, so if you have experienced it firsthand yet, hop over there and try it out. He is planning to release a revised version for purchase, something a little easier to set up -- so if you've been looking for your own personal planetarium, then stay tuned!

Well! I hereby officially declare success for the first ever Second Spaces Design Contest!!! We had the contest party yesterday, and it was a great time! The shadowboxes are still up for display, and I'm going to leave them for a few days - so get over there and check them out, pictures just don't do justice!

I want to extend another huge thank you to my sponsors!! Thanks to them for providing such awesome prize packages -- as well as some pretty sweet prize giveaways for the crowd! Special thanks to Colleen Desmoulins of The Loft, and to Susan and xTrojan Ramos of Ramos Designs for acting as judges for the contest! These were tough decisions to make, and I appreciate their time, their support, and their willingness to make those tough decisions! :)

Sponsors:

The Loft

Ramos Designs

Heart Garden Centre

Avenue Four

Melino Style

Second Spaces (self promotion - I love it!)

Okay, on to the really good stuff! Check this post to see what the prize packages were -- and say congrats to our winners!

Grand Prize: Maerok Westland - this one has to be experienced firsthand, so get over there. :) With a flip of a switch, we go from pleasant beachside bedroom...

...to out of this world. :)

Second Place: Jerremy Darwin - again, this has to be experienced in person. You have to get inside the box and go into Mouselook to really appreciate this one! Amazing!

Third Place: Ariadne Korda - the mood lighting used here was my favorite part - so soft and so complementary with the textures used. This one is great when set to Midnight.

As I said, all the entries were magnificent! I applaud all the contestants for their great work, their hard work, and their creativity!!

Salvia Homewood

Fidella Faulds

Kryptonia Paperdoll

Tymmerie Thorne

Kami Singh

Mea Carnell

Thanks again to my sponsors, my judges, the contestants, and all the folks who showed up to party with us yesterday!! I definitely want to make contests something that Second Spaces does on a regular basis, so stay tuned for more! I've always got some evil plan hatching! Muahaha and all that! ;)