Breathing a sigh of relief + progress report

[strangetomato]

I finally finished off my GoS Secret Santa gift and sent it off. It was a little late, but I notified my giftee and they were very nice about it. I kept running into snags (I started over one of the items about a billions times! *mild exaggeration*) and finding flaws in the work. It was fun to be involved, but I also found it pretty stressful, wondering if I was creating enough, if the person would really like it, and if it was well made. In the end, I was happy enough with it. I hope my giftee feels the same way. 

I'd also to thank the person who posted the nice simsecret about Strangetown, Here We Come this week. It's very heartening to hear that people are still interested and waiting to read more, even after such a long gap in posting. Now that I've gotten my frantic cc creation clued up, I can continue with my work on the next post. Thanks to everyone who has been reading the story in the meantime!

I'll leave you with this sneak peak of a scene from the next installment.
 

Comments

[will-o-whisper.livejournal.com]

The Calientes?

Yessssss.

Everything you make is amazing, so I don't think you need to worry too much about your gift being well received. I don't doubt they'll love it. :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Soon there will be much weaving together of plot threads. ;) And yes to Calientes! (I have some some fun things lined up for these two.)

Aww, thanks! That's nice of you to say. I'm still pretty much a newb at cc creation, though, so I worry abou keeping pace with everyone else there. And then there's perfectionism, the enemy of "good enough" and actually getting things done. It was great to have this deadline to live up to, in some ways, because I actually struggled through it instead of abandoning it halfway (like I usually do).

I'll post a link here on the journal if they decide to share it.

[will-o-whisper.livejournal.com]

Well, I'm not just being nice; I mean it :P. I love your stuff.

"If it's not done perfectly, it not worth doing" isn't a bad attitude to have; it pushes us to do better. But don't beat yourself up, either. You rock too much for that! :)

I feel you about having a deadline. I'm not usually a fan of them because they stress me out, but sometime I need one to force myself to get stuff done.

I'll post a link here on the journal if they decide to share it.

:D

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Thank you. ^_^

In moderation, it can help us to improve, for sure. I'm really trying to temper it and work with it, these days. In the worst case scenario, it can prevent someone from doing anything at all for fear that it'll never live up to their own expectations (mostly their own, since the expectations of other are rarely as precise or harsh).

Deadlines can be good. Stressful, maybe, but they push you to get things done.

[simsinthecity.livejournal.com]

Ooh, the Calientes. It'll be fun to see what you've got planned for them next.

I agree with your comment on perfectionism. It's hard for me not to get caught up with all the little bad things about my work, but when I like it enough, it's good to put up and give to others. I acknowledge my little struggles privately, but I don't try to emphasize them to others, and that really helps me have confidence that they'll understand that it wouldn't be perfect, or maybe they just wouldn't even notice ;)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I have some big plans for them, but they're fairly long-term, so I need to get the story moving along again. It'll be fun to start back at it.

It seems like a joke to talk about perfectionism being a character flaw ("Oh hai — I'm perfect! It's so HARD!" :P), but I think it really is a terrible trait to have. It gets in the way a lot more than it actually pushes you to be better in any useful way. And you're completely right about other people not seeing the flaws if you don't point them out. I try not to do it either, for that very reason.

[will-o-whisper.livejournal.com]

It gets in the way a lot more than it actually pushes you to be better in any useful way.

Ooooh. I posted my comment before I saw this. :(

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

That's in a more extreme case. I think it can be a positive force, but only if you keep it reigned-in, and keep things in perspective. :)

[simsinthecity.livejournal.com]

It's always fun to see what others do with all the premades. I'm still looking at them to see how I can use them in my story, and I think yours would provide some good inspiration.

It really would be hard to be affected by something like that. I completely agree with you there.

I was once asked if I was a perfectionist by a classmate. Once I said "no", she started apologizing profusely for even asking. It just goes to show how bad it can be.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

Haha. Goes to show what a loaded term it can be, I suppose. :P

[a-gates.livejournal.com]

I'll wait for as long as I have to :D

It's worth it, you're my favorite Sim Story Teller <3 :D

[muslemura.livejournal.com]

Ooo, the Calientes? Looking forward to it ^^;

[skellington7d.livejournal.com]

Awesome, I've been playing the Calientes lately and can't wait to see what you do with them!

[sophie10.livejournal.com]

It's the Calientes in the Goth house!

*is intrigued*

[sneebsey.livejournal.com]

I loved it!

You had no worry there, it was an absolutely fantastic gift and there was so darned ~much~ of it. I felt utterly spoiled!

I did share in the appropriate thread (http://www.digitalperversion.net/gardenofshadows/index.php?topic=19649.msg509130#msg509130) over at GoS.

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad to hear that! ^_^ I definitely erred on the side of too much stuff, because it seems like people give more and more stuff all the time (and if I missed the mark with any of the items, then at least you'd have a lot to pick from)! I hope you'll have a lot of fun with it. I love your taste in colours, so I'll be getting a lot of use out of those recolours, too.

And thanks again for your patience! I was having a hell of a time with a couple of the items. :P

That's great! CC is meant to be shared. Thanks for letting me know.

[timberwolfoz.livejournal.com]

The Calientes at Chez Goth? Eeeeeeeeee.

[petchy-14.livejournal.com]

NINADINADRAMAZ

[cindyanne1.livejournal.com]

They look very pretty! Nothing like the Calliente sisters for drama, that's for sure! :D

Might I ask what default replacement skins you're using (if any?) It might just be the picture, but they look very soft and natural. :)

[strange-tomato.livejournal.com]

I'm using aledstrange's Maxis Improved skins, which I love. I think the lighting is also pretty flattering in that pic.

The Calientes are all about the drama! ^_^ They're the perfect opportunity to use some super long cc hair, too.