GARDENS UNDER GLASS 

by Rose_Blossom

 

Like most Therians, one of my favorite things to do…besides going to yard sales …..er…. besides racing buggies …. ummm ….. besides hoverboating above Comet …. well …. after dropping off the 13^th Floor Skypaz… THEN my most favorite thing that I enjoy doing in There, is exploring and seeing new things.  I love nothing more than taking off on my buggy, or hoverboard, riding around, looking at unique sights, unusual paz’s, and meeting all kinds of avies.  The other day, I was very lucky enough to get to experience IT ALL! 

My ride, this particular fateful day, brought me to the island of Comet on the Northern coastline.  As I came closer, there were suddenly outbursts of vivid color, and multitudes of people, gathering about …what was it…it was…. a building?  A big… beautiful…. bubble-like… building made of…. GLASS!  I was amazed and captivated!  It shined and sparkled like a diamond.. all the faceted windows reflecting the sun with vibrant rainbows of color on the ground and the trees circling the structure.  Hypnotized, I went for a closer view.  I was not disappointed. 

THIS was the Botanical Gardens greenhouse that everyone had been talking about for weeks!  Once I took a look around the gardens, both inside and outside the greenhouse, as well as all of the surrounding gardens contributed by friends and fans, alike, I seriously searched out the man of the hour.  Xedos, himself.    I knew I wanted to get an exclusive interview with the infamous designer, but I had to make it fast.  Fortunately for me, I was able to corner Xedos before he left after what was, most certainly, a very exhausting first day of the exhibition!  

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Excuse me…Mr. Xedos?  Would you be able to answer some questions for our readers about your GORGEOUS greenhouse and about you and your designs in general? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  I’d be happy to. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  First, if you don’t mind reminiscing a bit, please tell our readers, when was your arrival in There, and who did you first meet upon spawning? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  My first experience in There was in early 2003 and I landed in Karuna Plaza and thought wow! The place had a warm friendly feeling.  Pretty soon my mentor Icedoll IM'd me and showed me the ropes. I did meet some friends who I had met in other games that showed me round. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  How did you hear about our little community 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  I heard about There whilst in another game someone mentioned that you could sign up for beta testing, I put my name down and eventually I was invited to join the beta. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  (“Whilst?”  Cool!) 

You seemed to really enjoy There and everything it had to offer.  So what made you decide that you could offer it more by designing? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  I knew as soon as I joined the game I wanted to learn how to design and create my own things; I had seen some wonderful things created by others that I wanted to emulate. The thought of doing so did daunt me at first.  When I first downloaded Gmax I thought OMG.. there is no way I can use this.  I haven't had any formal graphics art training although I've dabbled in painting and photography; I have had some experience with paint programs before which was a big help. Basically I'm self-taught when it comes to designing learning as I go a long. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  What would YOU say is the phrase that closest describes your expression with your designs and what you hope they bring to our world? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  The ideal is to make things that enhance the beauty of there  and to provide other members with objects that they can use to be creative in making attractive spaces. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  I own several pieces of your clothing, Xedos, and I can assure you…the beauty IS enhanced! *bluesteel* 

What was the first item you ever designed for Therians? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  My first design I sold was a buggy, It was so exiting waiting for it to be approved and as soon as I had my first item I knew I was hooked and wanted to do more. The main problem was like all new designers, money, and the cost of submissions. Fortunately I managed to pick up some commission work and made a few t$ for more submissions. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  What was your favorite design or designs? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  My favorite designs are probably the 5-seater animated campfire and the animated fountain, I learnt a lot about modeling doing those. The ability to submit animated items fascinated me and I wanted to learn how to do it.

Trying to create a realistic looking flame was a challenge but that's one of the reasons I enjoy designing. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Did you ever design something, have it approved, released it into World, then thought "WHAT was I thinking???" 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  I have made my fair share of turkeys, my first attempt at using gmax I made a hedge for the garden, the color screamed at me when I took it out for the first time. Other things like the bench that the avie sat with wood sticking out their legs was not my finest hour. Sometimes these never see the light of day consigned my failure list, oh well you have to learn somehow. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  The greenhouse in the Botanical Gardens is so incredibly beautiful...like nothing I've ever seen in There.  How long did it take you to design it? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  The Botanical garden greenhouse took me about 4 weeks to design, the beautiful palm house at Kew Gardens in London was my inspiration, I used to live quite close to Kew and always remembered that striking construction. I couldn't quite match the detail of that Victorian building but I tried to emulate the form and use of the glass.  

*Reporters Note:  If the readers will please draw their attention to the photograph on the left, which is the REAL Palm House at Kew Gardens in London, and then please take a look at the picture on the right, the Botanical Gardens Greenhouse in There.  My observation is…..it’s pretty darn close!* 

 

It nearly didn't make it into world, I made it again and again and nearly gave up with it, and many designers will tell you working with opacity maps can be enough to drive you to drink!  Fortunately I read up about other designer's experiences and eventually found a way to make it. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  How did you get the idea for it? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  The idea for a glasshouse came from the first meeting we had for the Botanical society, Corbeau who had the vision for the gardens suggested a that we needed a biodome as center piece, as I'm always up for a challenge I set about making it. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  How many drops is it? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  The dome is one drop and the plaza, which was built to accompany it, is also one drop. We needed to make sure we had enough drops for all the plants. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Will the greenhouse go on auction?  If so, how much will it sell for? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  There are no plans to release the dome into auctions as we wanted a unique piece for the site of the Botanical gardens, as it as built as shop builder 5 then I guess the pricing if released would be similar to the large one drop houses. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  How do you know what you're going to design next?  Do you get requests from fans, or other avies?  Or do you simply think of things you would like to see in-world? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:   My ideas come from many places, I keep a pad close by my pc to jot down idea as they occur, a lot of ideas come from friends who say wouldn't it be nice to have such and such. Friends such as Kiralouise have given me a lot of support and sound advice. I also get emails from other members who make suggestions as to what they would like to see in world. My list of things to make generally exceeds the time I have available to make them. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Tell us a little bit about your creative process?  What happens as soon as an idea pops into your head? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  When I have an idea for a model, the first thing I do is to do some research, say I was making a daffodil, I've seen many daffs in real but its not until you look closely do you understand how one is put together. The next thing is to make some trial models to try to understand the best way to make it. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Where do you get your inspiration...magazines?  TV?   on the Street? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  Inspiration mainly comes from the real world, I must admit I've become more observant since I started to make models, I will walk through a park and see something and rush home to try to model it. When I had a go at making women' s tops I became very observant I know I shouldn't stare but it is in the name of research. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  You have a large amount of items for sale!   That amounts to quite a bit of fees and income.  How do you feel about the changes to the submission guidelines and developer fee schedule ? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  The new pricing and submission costs did cause me some problems at first, mainly with my animated items that dramatically increased in cost. I did change my design practices a bit but that was mainly due to the larger menu of options you have to make more things. I broadly welcome the new cost structure as it is based on resource use, and this with the greater variety of models we can use has given designers more choices to make a better range of products. I'm glad that There listened to the members and kept the one free model as this to me is vital to encourage new designers. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Your club, Xedos Designs has quite a few members!  Its been in existence for about a year now.  Do you hold any special events with the members at all? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  Xedos designs club has grown steadily and in the past we have had events such as fashion shows and displays, I admit that I've not had many events lately but I have a number of members who like to be kept up to date with new releases. The feedback I get from members of my club is extremely valuable in deciding what to do next. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Do you have any other interests in There besides designing?  Sports? Racing?  Cards?  What does Xedos like to do in his  spare (???) time? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  When I have spare time I do like to buggy race and party with friends, fortunately my avie is a better dancer than me. I love music and sometimes do play my guitar and sing (earplugs required) to friends, Kiralouise has been trying to teach me to sing for a while now. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  What advice would you give to a young Therian just starting out, who maybe was thinking about designing? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  The best piece of advice I can give to a new designer when you make something is to make it for yourself and most of all do it because you enjoy it. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  What are your hopes and dreams for There and its future. 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  My hope for There is that it keeps its uniqueness and remains that warm friendly place I remember when I first logged on. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  Do you have any other comments or stories you would like to share with our readers? 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  There are a few places on there that have been created by members, areas such as Thereorleans which deserve to be permanent fixtures, I hope that There in the future will help support these initiatives which can only serve to enhance everyone's experience. We aspire to having the Botanical Gardens as a permanent fixture to stir people's imagination to create better and more attractive spaces. 

Rosey, the nosey newsgal:  How would you complete this sentence:  I love There because... 

Xedos, Designer Extraordinaire:  I love There because of its beauty. 

After talking with Xedos about his designs, the Botanical Gardens Greenhouse, and his viewpoint about the community he lives in, and so obviously loves, I left the magical gardens with a sense of fantasy, and yet, natural beauty as well, surrounding me.  It made me want to go home and light my incense and burn my freesia-ginger oils! 

For those of you who wish to purchase any of Xedos’ designs, you can go to his auctions link. 

If you would like to join the Xedos Design Club, click on this link.   

You might also contact Xedos with suggestions about what YOU would like to see in-world.  You never know, YOU’RE dream design might become a REAL design!