Sneak Peak...

I did tell you that I had a few projects I planned on finishing this month, so how am I doing on them? Well, the Urban lot I mentioned (Chrysalis) is now up and has had a surprising reception. I did not think that many people would be interested in a more urban type of home, but I had never done one before, and thought I'd give it a shot. :D So thank you to those who gave it a try. ;) The "Cottagey" home I was working on is now pending. It is called Heatheridge Hollow and will be downloadable on the 23rd. The landscaping on it was a joy, and turned out beautifully. (Modest, ain't I? LOL!) Don't let that stop you from getting the base game only home I created called Sommerset though. That one also has some extensive landscaping and is only one story. I think it is a sweet little home. Last, but not least, my bread and butter...the contemporary lot I told you about. This one will be called LeiAnne and is currently in testing so it should be in my "Pending" area soon. For those who are curious, I did post some pics of it in the Build a Lot forum thread under TSR Showrooms. Here is a quick peak at it though, but just a teaser. ;) I do hope it won't disappoint, and thank you for your interest. --Illiana

I've been Bookmarked?! - Graduation!!

Hello there fellow builders/dreamers/simmers! I just wanted to take a moment to send out a special thank you to those of you who have been so kind as to bookmark me as an artist. I cannot see your names...it doesn't show me who does this...so I can't thank you personally. However, it doesn't change the fact that every time I see that someone has done this it means that they really like something I have created.

I have only recently started uploading to TSR. It is the ONLY site I have ever uploaded anything to, and (as far as I can see) the only one I probably ever will. I didn't think my homes would be good enough to share with anyone, but my eldest son bopped me upside the head and told me to just try it and see. So when someone bookmarks me as an artist I grow a little more confident...a little more sure that people really do like my homes...and I cannot even begin to tell you just how incredible that feels to me. :D So, thank you! Thank you each and every one of you who has bookmarked me, or will do so in the future. You sure make this old builder feel welcome here! (((Hugs!)))

A VERY grateful,
Illiana

Graduation Day!!!!
On a personal note - My eldest son Austin graduated from high school today! *Sniffle* A BIG part of me is so beyond proud of the young man he has become that I could just burst!!! Yet, there is another part of me that longs for the days he would climb up on my lap and want me to read him a story. I just keep asking myself, "Where did the time go?!" Congratulations, my son!!!! I wish you success and happiness as you venture into a new world! :D

Love -
Mom

EPs and Projects...

What do you build anyway?

I recently had someone ask me just how many base game homes I had created. I guess I never really thought about it, so I decided to do a quick check on just what EPs I used, and how often.

With 43 houses currently available for download, here's the skinny on what I used:

Base Game - 15
Uni/NL/OFB - 20
Uni/NL/OFB/Seasons - 1
Uni/NL/OFB/Seasons/BV - 7

Maxis only (No CC) - 41
CC used in lots - 2

Fully decorated - 41
Partially decorated - 1
Unfurnished/exterior decorated - 1

As a builder, base game only can be a real challenge. There are no half-walls, there are no roofing/45 degree angle cheats, there is nothing to really decorate with, and none of the wood tones actually match. No stage tool, so I have to make split levels and stairs the old fashioned CFE way, and the pools are a serious pain in the tuckus! It can be very difficult to build/furnish under these constraints...hence the need for an EP or two just to provide a little variety for my downloaders...and let's be honest, eh? For myself as well. ;) As you can see, I do TRY to keep the EPs to a minimum though, and I really appreciate those of you who have noticed and commented on that.

Notes on Current Projects:

I currently have a few projects I am working on. One is a modern home that looks like it belongs downtown, or at least in a cityscape environment. One is a cottage like home with a nice pond and some extensive landscaping for those of you who like that sort of thing. And the last is an intricate contemporary that may take a little more time as I am very particular about my contemporary homes. There is a fine balance between "modern" and "contemporary" and sometimes it isn't easy walking that thin line...but I shall trudge along and hopefully you will all be happy with the result. LOL!

Thanks to any and all who actually wade through these blogs. I hope this explains a little better what I do and what I try to do for you. I live for attention and acceptance, so making you...the downloader happy...is truly what makes it all worthwhile for me! Thank you, thank you for your continued support, and for building my download numbers up so quickly! TSR has some of the best people in the simming world, and I am genuinely honored to be in any small way associated with it. Happy simming!

--Illiana

Latest Poll Results!

I actually had exactly 100 people participate this time, so here are the results of this latest poll in order of preferred first:

Question 1:
What would you be most interested in downloading?

Modern/Contemporary Homes 32%
Country/Cottage Homes 30%
Base Game Homes 16%
At Home Business Lots 11%
Community Lots 9%

Question 2:
What do you most like to see in your downloaded homes?

Landscaping 39%
Garages 28%
Fireplaces 14%
Pools 13%
Jacuzzis 5%

Thank you to all who participated in this survey! These are answers I will try to keep in mind when building lots for you and your sims. :)

Objects in my homes...

Some downloaders may have noticed that I have a knack for placing objects in odd places. For example...my mirrors are actually centered! *Gasp!* Or they could even be overlapping. So what do you do if you want to move them, and then decide later you want them back where they were? Or perhaps you want to try it yourself with something else?

Well waaaaayyy back...almost a whole month ago now...I wrote a little tutorial about using cheats to create kitchen islands.
Using Boolprop Cheats to Create Kitchen Islands:
Inside that wondrous work of worthy words are the exact cheats I used to place all of those objects in more attractive places, along with the explicit instructions on how to use them.

The two cheats used are:
boolprop snapobjectstogrid false/true (FALSE=ON and TRUE=OFF...turning it OFF is a good idea if you want to actually do anything besides decorate!)
moveobjects on/off

With those two powerful cheats you too can plop a picture in the center of your room...even if it is one tile too short to actually go there!

A little warning though: Some objects do not handle being moved this way well. Desks are not a good candidate, and neither are plants that need care. Bookcases handle it fine and so do most of the other items in the table category. Experiment, test, live a little! This is a game, and it can be a lot of fun to see sims use something you have frankensteined together on a whim. LOL!

Poll Results...

Well, I actually had 104 people fill out the poll instead of the 100 I was aiming for, so please take that into account. ;)

Here are the results of the last published poll:

Poll Question:
If I include some TSRAA CC in a few lots, would you still download them?

Of course! - 52.88% (55)

Nope. I don't download CC. - 7.69% (8)

I might. Let's see the lot! - 31.73% (33)

What's CC? - 8.65% (9)

Please understand that this poll does NOT mean I won't be making anymore Maxis Only lots. It was just to find out the general feel of using TSRAA from those who download/look at my lots. If I do use them it will be very rare, and only if I absolutely need them for a particular style or look that Maxis does not provide. For example: My Cyclone Mountain lot needed special windows...thank you AGAIN Cyclonesue for those FAB windows!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll! Your feedback has certainly given me pause for thought. I shall take it into account when building. :D

--Illiana

Promotion to SA!!!

Oh my goodness!!! I am still in shock. I cannot believe that the wonderful people here at TSR, and Thomas himself, feel that I am good enough at building to be a Select Artist. I cannot thank you all enough for the incredible honor I have been given. Thank you SO much!!!! I will just keep building and learning, and hope that you all continue to enjoy my lots. Thank you, thank you, thank you! I am beyond thrilled right now!!!!!!!!!

---A VERY honored, Illiana

April Projects...

Let's see...it's the end of the month, and how have I done on my little project plans?
------------------------------------
Total Lots
15 Lots
2 lots approved and scheduled for release.
1 lot pending.
1 Tutorial

Breakdown of types:
9 - Modern/Contemporary
1 - Beach (Also Modern)
1 Tudor
4 Traditional
2 French Fancy
1 Starter
1 Tutorial

5 Base Game homes completed.
5 Major House projects (Anemone, Shroffshire, (Excelsius (pending)), Cypress, SoCal)
------------------------------------
So all in all I think I've accomplished what I set out to do. :D YAY! Now, I have to start planning my May projects.

Thank you ALL for your support, wonderful comments and compliments on my lots, and for raising up my download numbers to over 30 thousand! Wow! TSR has some of the best people in the community. :D I do hope you continue to enjoy my homes, and that you will be able to find something to tickle your fancy among the ecclectic collection I tend to present. Happy Simming!

Large Lots...

Some of you may have noticed a tendency for me to build larger lots. This is not an accident. ;) I have only recently gotten a new computer for Christmas and seem to be nearly unable to create smaller ones right now. LOL! This will pass, but in the mean time it is something you should consider when downloading.

The reason I am bringing this up is that I almost always state quite clearly in the description what size lot the home will be on. If it says Large Lot, and the size I list is 5x5, believe me when I tell you that a weaker computer is going to not like it one little bit. 4x4 and smaller should be ok unless there are a lot of plants and floors...things I really don't do often anyway. I would hate for someone to download something of mine only to find out they cannot play it because it is just too big for their computer to handle.

Now, I'm not saying you cannot download anything I have. You go right on and download all you want...I LOVE knowing people love my things! I just want to be honest and fair with the downloaders. Just be aware when you reach for the download button that there is a reason TSR has lot sizes listed.

Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoy my homes! Happy downloading!

--Illiana

Current Projects:

Over 20k in downloads?! You guys and gals are so wonderful! Thank you for your support, and I sure hope you all have a wonderful time playing in these homes! Each home has a special soft spot for me, and it just tickles me to death when someone likes something I built enough to download it. Thank you VERY much!!!

Well now, I've got a bit on my plate this month. Here is the list I've given myself to accomplish:

1 - Get tutorial approved...not gonna tell you what it is until I'm sure it will be uploaded for publication though. ;) It isn't a big "Gasp! No one has EVER done this" serious secret tutorial thing, so don't expect too much. LOL! If it isn't approved...
*mysterious voice*
...you will never know what you missed. Mwahahaha!
2 - Create some more Base Game abodes.
*Whips out calculator...*
Adding in time for testing, tweaking, pictures, graphics...
*Glares at calculator, and throws it out the window.*
Yup, this will be taking up most of the month. :D
3 - I have two more "Grande" projects in the early planning stages as well. These, however, will probably require a few EPs.
(Hey! Come on now! Give me a break! It's TOUGH decorating with "base game/Maxis only" ALL the time. I need a little variety once in a while as well. Plus, I'm getting durn tired of the same blue wallpaper in every single boys room. Argh! I need at least a chance to see some other colors people. LOL! Not to worry...these are to be Maxis Only as well...just more variety of Maxis only.)

Whew! (Well, it's not REALLY like anyone reads these things, but at least I can keep track of my current project list. ;) ) Keep on simming, and thank you again for the wonderful support and comments everyone has sent me.

--Illiana