Typically, this blog is focused on recounting the adventures of a master builder and SL architect, Ando Joubert, and his newbie builder apprentice . . . me! As well as reviewing texture and other providers of the tools for building, offering tips for new builders and so forth.
However, today is a special day for those of us who love Second Life’s high quality content creators. Today is the day we honor one of our greats – Neferia Abel.
True to form, I will focus on what this blog is all about . . . building . . . because Neferia is a consummate builder . . . of clothing and of a well remembered beautiful sim, a tribute to her Norwegian homeland. Sadly, I have no pictures of the old sim, but many fond memories of chilling out in the little Norwegian town at the edge of the sim, or flitting about the Viking ship moored there. Perhaps you remember it as well. And then there were the hunts. Nef is famous for them and for the very high quality treasures she gave away. I think the first hunt I participated in as a new player was one of hers. One designer offering as many items as some of the collaborative hunts do now. Amazing! Generous!
With that in mind, I decided to model one of the goodies from this past Easter hunt. It illustrates two things that in my estimation make Nef not only a distinguished clothes designer, but also a really great builder: fantastic texturing and the building of arguably some of the best prim skirts in Second Life. When you’ve moved in an Ivalde skirt, you don’t settle for anything less ever again. Quite simply, they are fluid, graceful and beautifully constructed.

Summer in Ivalde at Symphony
The texture of this lovely dress is subtle and understated, with a lovely old fashioned quality. The skirt . . . sorry this is a still photo . . . moves with exactly the right feminine sway. In this dress, there is eternal summer, when girls of all ages indulge their romantic fantasies. A dress like this makes that possible. No, it makes that inevitable!
There are other gowns of hers I love . . . her Marilyn Monroe dresses are to die for, especially the famous Wiggle dress in black, and I have a lovely pale green Edwardian number of hers that makes me feel like Katherine Hepburn in the African Queen. But you can see, that even in a simple freebie, everything Neferia Abel does is executed with love and painstaking care. And, novice builders, take note, this is exactly how it should be. It’s all in the details. The great builders give painstaking attention to them.
I was sad to hear of Nef’s real life circumstances that would subtract her considerable talent and great kindness from this world of ours and absolutely thrilled to hear that friends had rallied, so that we would all still be able to indulge our Ivalde habit while she is away . . . hopefully to return in the fall. Kudos to everyone involved in making that happen.
Now, if only someone would do the same for Miriel Enfield. Her extraordinary sim is soon to vanish as well, along with the best eyes, beautifully constructed jewelry, genius vendors, a stunning forest complete with bracket funghi growing on some of the most realistic trees in all of Second Life. And Miriel made all of it . . . textures, objects, scripts. That will sadly all be gone soon too. This is the point in chat where I would type “/me sighs.”

Saying Goodbye at Miriel
We can only wish both remarkable and talented women the very best and hope that they will return to share their talents with new generations of Second Lifers. Ladies, you will be missed in your absence.
~ Cacie
I am wearing
Dress: Ivalde, Juliette, Lavenderros, Easter Egg 5 from 2009 hunt
Necklace: Miriel, Limited Edition Heart, Rose Gold (made to support an ill friend)
Eyes: Miriel, Standard Eyes, Mossy Rock (free)
Shoes: Pixel Mode, Leeza Stilettos, white
Hair: Damselfly, Verena, Cinnamon Warm
Skin: Belleza, Belle Medium Smokey Mocha
Nails: Kunglers, Pearl
Shape: my own
Poses: Torrid Midnight
Photos taken on Symphony and on Miriel