snowtato

[snowtato]

So... this is my book. I wrote it.

It's a buddy horror mystery with a queer, chaotic heart. The stakes are high, the banter is playful, and does anyone remember where I parked the car? After two years, I've got the manuscript to the point where I'm ready to share with beta readers.

Send a message if you're interested. Heck, send a message if you're not.

30 Covers, 30 Days 2023: Day 9

To represent Day 9 of NaNo, we have another community feature! Give it up for Four People Can't Save the World by Christy Ogawa, a Fantasy novel! This cover was chosen because of the cover perfectly conveying the title. The contrast of the regular stick figures with the ones that represent the characters are very fun. Even though they're stick figures, you get a glimpse of their personalities, and it leaves you wanting to open up the book for more.

Four People Can't Save the World

A bull named Fleidermaus rises from the dead and attacks a cowboy. The new owner of a sushi restaurant shows signs of anemia. Mysterious disappearances in a small town tempt some plucky twins to return to the business of sleuthing. When these bizarre happenings collide, the fate of the world hangs in the balance. And by "hangs," we mean it awkwardly hovers there like a party guest who does not get the hint that it's time to go home.

About the Author/Artist

Christy Ogawa sneaks in writing time between chasing after identical twin toddlers that are already much smarter than she is. The universe has gifted her with them and also with basically the best dog ever. She'd like to humbly request it also give her a bungalow with a private beach and a full-time writing career. And maybe a gig guest-judging a reality TV show where people bake things under unrealistic time limits. She is a rule-follower who has put aside writing her memoir, The Customer Service in Hell, because it's not NaMeWriMo. She has no socials to link, so would the universe please also give her a brilliant Instagram (or whatever is cool now) that makes her seem immensely creative yet humble and relatable. Amen.

Cover Design Process:

The title makes an argument about just how much power a few people have in the wide, wide, world. I felt that a crowd of generic human symbols could convey just how small the characters are in the grand scheme of things. The four stick figures who have broken out of the rigid pose also promise the reader that this is a story about four people who have "broken the mold" in some way, and I wanted their poses to convey that they are looking for each other in the crowd.

[snowtato]

Look what I found! This tool is so good.

Found it through github, it produces all types of maps. Haven't seen it being mentioned anywhere... I used a Maxis floor as an example. It produced very nice results on images of floors I got online.

[snowtato]

Pretend I'm not here. Or say hi. I missed y'all.

Ghosts: The Button House Archives | Audiobook + PDF on my Drive

For those without the means to access them otherwise, the Ghosts audiobook and PDF are now available to listen to/download from my Drive, with the files courtesy of @historicalsnail!

For the audiobook, the M3U file should be downloaded along with the individual files - the M3U file, when opened, will allow all the files to play as a playlist. Or you can just listen one by one, up to you. I'm not a tech whizz so apologies if you run into issues, but it's all there for you!

Enjoy:

[snowtato]

I do love a good farm.

Sims 3 Farm and Garden Stuff

Its no an expansion, but I’m trying to compile lists of things that are farm related from both custom content and Sims 3 Store sets.

Sims 3 Store Content for Farming:

Grandpa’s Grove (venue) which contains Grandpa’s Grove Tractor (premium content)- the tractor is needed to be able to grow oranges.

Farm Fresh Folk Set (set) which contains Milkin’ It Dairy Corral (premium content) - allows you to get milk from cows.

Fowl and Feathers Chicken Coop (premium content) now found in April 2013 Compilation (set) - allows you to get eggs from chickens.

SwiftGro Gardening Station (premium content) from Stones Throw Greenhouse (venue) 

Humble Harvest Stands (premium content) from Al Fresco Street Market (venue)

Bohemian Fruits and Nuts (premium content) harvestable plants from Bohemian Garden (set)

Grandma’s Canning Station (premium content) comes with two hidden harvestable plants - corn and cucumbers- from Brunch At The Old Mill (set)

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In order to cook some of those things you might want to consider getting additional store content:

Baker’s Station (premium content) from Deliciously Indulgent Bakery (venue)

Wood Fire Oven (premium content) - which is required to make some of the recipes from the baking set- from Monte Vista (world)

It’s Business Time Industrial Oven (premium content) from the Business as Usual Bistro (venue)

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Custom Content:

Farm Conversion by Infusorian- decorative animals: pig, piglet, cow, hen, and chick

Various decorative animals, furniture made from hay, barrels of apples, ducks, donkeys, etc from rebecah on TSR.

Shed and Rabbit by Helen at Sims New- decorative rabbits and a hutch for them.

Garden Decor at Around The Sims - rakes, wheelbarrows, watering cans, etc

JDS3~Farmers’ Market Signs by Dropsi1986 at TSR

Sleeping Fields - Grass and Wheat by aikea_guinea at Club_Crimsyn

Garden Clutter 001 - Crop Wheat by apple at TSR

Bunk Bed Hay Loft by beo2010 at TSR

Hay Bale and Hitching Post by Syren at The 13th Sim

Fresh Country Farm House (lot) by ruthless_kk at MTS

The Farmer’s House (lot) by -Shady- at MTS

Industrial Tanks and Silos (decor set) by Cyclonesue at TSR- has grain silos and such

Tractor (vehicle) by ruhrpottbobo at TSR - I think it is a working vehicle but am not certain

Pumpkin Patch (decor set) by sim_man123 at TSR- it includes a pitchfork and jack-o-lanterns.

Country Cottage Decor Milk Can (decor) by wofspryte at TSR- part of the Country Cottage Bedroom set

Farm Wheat (decor) by carlosfilipepedro at TSR 

Happy Halloween Apple Barrel (decor) by Apple at TSR

Farm Hay Wagon (decor) by carlosfilipepedro at TSR - hay bales can be put inside of it so it is sort of a surface as well.

Farm Hay Bales for Wagon (decor) by carlosfilipepedro at TSR

Farm Old Water Tower (decor) by carlosfilipepedro at TSR

Simple Wooden Slatted Gate for Large Fences by sim_man123 at TSR

Oil drums (decor) by BlooMbLURR at TSR - cloned from garden gnome so they can be kicked over

MajikGoldys Barrel Cart (decor) by MajikGoldy at TSR

Patrick Bedroom Tractor (decor) by Living Dead Girl at TSR - looks like a wooden toy

Folk Art Animal Collection 2 by jezebel_the_nun at TSR - wall art of chickens, sheep, cows, and a pig

S66 - Farmhouse Chicken Painting Set by shadow66 at TSR

Animal Collection - Horses (decor) by jadepanther198303 at TSR - paintings

Harvest Terrain Set (terrain paint) by apple at TSR

Farming clutter set (decor) by AnoeskaB at TSR

Redbud Show Grounds from Cloudwalkersims- lot, poses, decor, furniture, and clothing. Includes decor horse trailers. 

Barbed and Chickenwire Fences by Cyclonesue at TSR

Temporary Unlock for Corn Plant (hack) by douglasveiga at MTS - unlocks hidden corn plant that came with Grandpa’s Grove

Community Farm Lot by kateoverend’s son. Includes many premium content store sets.

Small Barn Door by dorosimfan1 at Sims Marktplatz. Normal Sim sized door that allows horses to walk through.

[snowtato]

Well, I guess that’s that.

My computer has decided to completely retire. Can’t run anything.

That’s fine. I was honestly finding myself feeling depressed and anxious at the prospect of creating stuff in time for Simblreen.

[snowtato]

I’ve got this cybernoir/punk story in my head in which the protagonists are sapphic, blue-collar nobodies who get trapped into smuggling contraband for the corrupt city elites.

[snowtato]

I made a seamlessly tiling knit pattern.

Would anyone be interested in me making and releasing more of these patterns for their own creative use?

[snowtato]

No Simblreen for me... but I’ll still release CC

I just realized will be traveling on both weekends, so I can’t “answer the door” like the tradition dictates. Still, I’ll queue some things to post on those days. Stay tuned!

It’s tempting to release the Record Store set as a Simblreen CC, but I won’t make you all wait much longer, promise.

A Visual Guide to Simblreen (2022 edition)

It’s that time again and we’ve prepared a new spooky guide for those who want to participate in Simblreen 2022!

Google Slides edition - Click here to view a slide presentation. We love our decks, babyyyy.

PDF version - please use a screen reader (comes with acrobat reader) if you’re visually impaired

PNGs - Click through images available on google drive. If you have issues accessing google drive, try this ALTERNATE LINK

_________________________________________________________

Grab your brooms, Simblreen is coming!

2022 dates: Weekend 1: October 21st to October 23rd // Weekend 2: October 28th to October 30th

Want to participate? Make sure to sign-up!

This year’s participants’ list

You have any questions? Write to us here! We only bite if asked to!

And don’t forget to have FUN! 👻

Guide images under the cut

Keep reading

[snowtato]

Free Hugs Proclamations of Your Inherent Worth as a Human

I believe that compassion isn’t a sign of ignorance, but a sign that you’re able to hold in your mind the horribleness of the world and the grace that it needs.

I believe that acting inhumanely toward a person to punish the person’s inhumane actions doesn’t really solve the problem of acts of inhumanity.

Mad, hurt, sad, scared, right, wrong, happy, productive, resting, alive, dead... Someone out there believes that you matter and are worthy. And that belief stems from understanding, not ignorance.

I wish good things for you.

[snowtato]

UPDATE: The grill stopped functioning at some point. It’s fixed now, but I had to remove the deco slots on the grilling surface.

Also added: improved bump maps, more deco slots on the “shelf” part.

Redownload and put in your mods folder. Delete the old file.

Clay Oven Grill

I’m very surprised that no one has made something like this yet. This little beauty is cloned from the base game grill and works in just the same way! Now your ancient Sims can brew herbal remedies or grill up kebabs or whatever else your little heart desires! The design combines elements of clay ovens from all over the world (mostly those found in ancient Greece and Peru), so it can fit in nicely with whatever civilization you play. Enjoy!

I’ve tested this pretty extensively, but please let me know if you find any problems. Note that anything you grill will clip into any items placed on top of the oven. Those slots are more there for those who only plan to brew herbal remedies. ^_^

Verts/Faces (High): 838/1325 Verts/Faces (Medium): 685/645 Made with S4S.

Download

Snowtato’s Ever-Lovin’ TOU 

 Since Sims 4 doesn’t have CASt, I feel strongly about making recolors available. Feel free to recolor my CC, but please send people back to this post to download the mesh. You MAY NOT redistribute my CC on your own site. Please feel free to tag me (snowtato or simsnowato) if you use this for anything. It will feed my tender ego and I will reblog you. ^_^

[snowtato]

Hey! I love your work and use your loom computer especially very extensively. I love the look of the clay grill, but I can't get it to work in-game. I can place it, but it's not a functional object. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks so much!

Thank you for the lovely message and for letting me know about the issue.

Everything is fixed! Delete the old file and use this one instead.

[snowtato]

Hi everyone! The original clay oven grill seems to be broken. I’m almost done with the fixed version...

[snowtato]

Freeeeeeeeeee.

Modern Teen Room (CC Pack for The Sims 4)

As I promise here is the CC Pack many of you were waiting for: Modern Teen Room CC Pack. In a poll about my future custom content, teens were surprisingly popular, and of course this was before HSY EP.

Free download here

[snowtato]

I was in high school in 2006. Why didn't my English teacher make  us do this?!

Beautiful sentiment, and wildly applicable in the age of side-hustles and patreons.

[snowtato]

WIP

You can choose the design of every album on the wall shelves and in every compartment of the display. Slots, woo. I think there are something like 86 different album covers to choose from.

There’s a ts3 version coming, too.

[snowtato]

Please send love to the CC creators out there who are still giving you bumloads of time and talent for free.

Also, if you get a time machine, set it to 2015 to enjoy the full range of TS4 community awesomeness.

I was too irritated not to make memes about it

[snowtato]

The color-picking is so cool! Thank you!

Keep ‘em coming, folks!

some album art I whipped up for @simsnowtato! it’s been too long since ive had a good excuse to enter photoshop so this was a lot of fun!! this is a sim I made ages ago and unfortunately lost, but still had a good screenshot of. I’m happy with how it turned out!