Fantasy Faire: Flower Fairies Dancing in the Mists

The additional days that Fantasy Faire has been left open means I'm getting a chance to revisit different sims wearing more lovely things I picked up while at the faire, and Lumenaria was high on my returning list - this time to focus on the central display area, around the fountain. I've also begun playing with the windlights; overall, the default windlights have all been gorgeous, but it's always fun to add my own twist - like the rich misty oranges added to Lumenaria. I love how the candy-colored sim is softened by the mistiness, anything in the distance faded out warmly and sweetly. The brightly colored flowers are easily reflected in my homemade crown of lollypop flowers from Sax Sheperd Designs. I linked them together myself, placing them somewhat haphazardly upon my brow, and the effect is amazing - like I'm becoming a rather outre garden. I tucked them well into another lovely Wasabi Pills hair (not a Fantasy Faire release), this one in orchid to match my purplish flowery look. I usually wear gold, but now and then I like to break out the more obscure colors she releases, all of them wonderful.

My cosmetics are one of the special Fantasy Faire releases from Pin Me Down; I'm wearing the whole look, but it's available in pieces, too - just the eyes, or just the lips. I always love hearts on lips. My gown, complete with matching accessories on the arms and brow, is from a fantastic store called The Library, released in the Relay for Life colors of white and purple. It's a cute empire waisted, rigged mesh sheath with metallic accents; diamonds rendered in silver with small balls on the top and bottom mark the neck and waist, as well as the arms and brow, making it a complete look in one. It fit me well, and was opaque for most of the dress except for the hem, which is sheer for the bottom foot and a half, or so, allowing whatever lovely shoes one is wearing to shine without losing the elegance of a floor length gown. Speaking of shoes, I'm wearing some fantastic add-ons to SLink's mesh feet that I picked up thanks to the sale going on at SLink until May 5th. They work with her rigged mesh feet, the flat ones; to wear the heels you have to pick up the rigged medium feet, and believe me I'm seriously considering it. Some of her shoes are absolutely fantastic, and you have the added bonus now of a perfect match for your feet as well, and customizable nails.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Cosmetics: Pin Me Down, Myst 1 (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Nikki (promotional item)
Flowers: Sax Sheperd Designs, Lolly Flowers (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: The Library, Circe Dress (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Luster Ombre
Shoes: SLink, Ilena Sandals

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Lumenaria
Light Settings: Nacon's Dawn
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday Meme: My Three SL Wishes

Strawberry is at it again, this time with asking about our three wishes. I'm finding this unexpectedly difficult, because most of my wishes seem to have more to do with my offline limitations than limitations in Second Life per se. I'm not sure how well that plays into the whole meme - I imagine I'll read other peoples' posts and wish I'd waited and stolen - but here I go in any case.

1. I wish I had more money. I would love to have my own sim or two, invite in artists I particularly liked, or just build a dreamy and beautiful place gradually without any fear of paying for it. I'd love to be able to buy all the things I have my eyes on, and to pass out a little money to people who I think need it or would use it well. Being able to do all of that without worrying about making the payments would be a dream for me. Being able to have a string of art sims would be a blessing.


2. I wish I had more time. There is so much in Second Life, so much always going on and in different places. There's so much I'd like to do as well. It really does sometimes feel like a Second Life, with it's own pressures and desires. If I had more time - to organize, to make art openings, to make musicals and plays, to organize my inventory - would also be a dream. I suppose I sound an awful dilettante, but it's undeniably true I have more things I'd like to do than the time to do it.


3. I wish it was easier to share and receive information. It often feels like all of the communication means in Second Life are so circuitous and difficult that it's a wonder any of us know anything. I'm a notecard lover, but even I admit they are less than ideal for passing on information. There is no way to do pop up windows or mark things to be easily seen like in a video game for in-world games. Alerts from groups often don't arrive, or get lost when one crashes. I've often thought I would love it if the Second Life profile system on the web allowed us to "follow" different groups to get alerts, keeping track of what we have and have not seen, keeping a record in case we think later we'd like to know something, all linkable to a creator and a location if the person wishes. I'm not sure we'll ever see it, though.

If Wishes were Fishes we'd Walk on the Sea.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Musa, Tarja 3 (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional)
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Betty (promotional item)
Flowers: Elysium, Maenad Crown (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Elysium, Purple/Blue Maenad Gown (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Necklace: House of Ruin, As Darkness Falls (Fantasy Faire Freebie)
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Luster Ombre
Shoes: G Field, Knot Wedge Sandles

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Titans Hollow
Light Settings: Places Betham
Water Settings: Glassy

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Magnificat

I have such good news! Such good news I can barely contain myself!! The Fantasy Faire has been extended - again - this time into Tuesday! Isn't that amazing? It's always such a rush to try to get around everything, see everything, photograph everything, wring every little drop of beauty out of the faire and leave it panting and exhausted, and now we have another day. With this extra time, you absolutely have to come by Magnificat, the glorious, dreamy, watery stone city over a canal with ever-present ships going out to an eternal sunset.This was a year of many favorite sims, and Magnificat is near the top - reminding me so strongly of my attraction to Venice that I find myself dreaming without even meaning to.Another note - there is a story contest for what happens in the different sims after the stores go home and their usual inhabitants return, to be printed in the August Prim Perfect Magazine (details here). I have already written one story, and I have a few more thoughts that may find themselves shared in other venues since they're shorter than the thousand word minimum, but I really encourage everyone to take part and keep the fair lands alive.

I went for something a little more muted and sweet for this look, augmented by a few splashes of brilliant azure. The first bit of sky comes in the form of these daisies, one or the head and a second for the mouth, from the Panda Express. The flowers and butterflies are color changable through a variety of styles, from clean white to this rather vibrant shade of blue. Covering the growth spot of my headflower is a lovely hair from Secrets with gentle waves and a soft shade; this isn't a Fantasy Faire release like the rest, but it's still fantastic rigged mesh. On my shoulder is a chameleon dragon from the Dragonspire sim, one of the prizes from the Fantasy Faire Hunt by MadPea; most of the prizes are world items, but this one actually hatches out of a HUD egg you wear for an hour - so fun. The creator also owns Star Fire Point, and I feel quite inspired to go there hunting for more eggs, or other amazing attachments. I'm wearing Eclectica's newest release again, this time the turquoise instead of the ivory - isn't that color sublime? My dress is from Fatewear, which I understand usually does mens clothing, and I am so glad he branched out to give we ladies some love, because htis dress is gorgeous and well rigged. The bits of ruffle and two-tone design is simply fantastic; my only wish could be for brighter colors - the ones available at the Fantasy Faire are all muted shades that are very different from my usual style. Yes, Mr. Creatorman - dance to my whims! Make me everything I could ever dre--*falls over dead, an arrow through her throat* Finally, the boots decorating my beautiful corpse are from Lassitude & Ennui, and are as fantastic in gray and gold as they were in black and silver. Now, I have to go find a priest to resurrect me... so see you later!

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Hair: Secrets, Lippy (promotional item)
Flowers: Panda Express, Mouth Daisy and Head Sprout
Dragon: Dragonspire, SPECIAL Chameleon (Fantasy Faire Hunt Prize)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Fatewear, Rochon - Emerald (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional)
Necklace: Eclectica, Solaria - Turquoise (promotional item)
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Luster Ombre
Boots: Lassitude & Ennui, Edenion boots (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Magnificat
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Ravenshard

Ravenshard is am amazing candyland sim with curving, flowing paths that arch up and down and turn unexpectedly, landing me in the drink (which is often made of chocolate). I can't say it's en entirely bad cycle, but it definitely could be disconcerting. I got lost on this sim more often than any of the ones this faire. I really don't feel like my pictures did it justice; once I've finished up the final two sims today with some Relay for Life items, I'm hoping to have some time to take pure landscape pictures before the sims close. The faire ends - very sadly - tonight around midnight, so hurry to see it all in person; pictures are always a shadow of the beauty of the Faire. Once more I'm decked out nearly head to toe in Fantasy Faire donation items from a variety of stores - most of them are not exclusives, but all of them are gorgeous. My horns, for example, are form a new-to-me store called Europa, which have the added bonus of coming not only fully modifiable, but also with a copy of the texture map for the horn texture, in case you want to take the shape and make it something truly amazing; this appears to be a consistent part of Europa's store, as the crown I also picked up came with the same thing, meaning someone can really take these products and customize them. I'm seriously considering trying to make rainbow horns, because that's just how I roll. I also bought these for an alt who is a demon, to replace her chainy horns; Deoridhe is normally not this obviously horny, but I figured Fantasy Faire was a good excuse to add to my fantastical horns.

My skin is another shade from De La Soul's special Fantasy Faire release - this time in gold and shown with a light tattoo over it. I also made sure to get a close up on her matching nails - all of which come standard with every skin. They have the same tentaclely pattern on them in the same colors, but since you get every skin tone in the nails with every skin, you can actually mix and match. I'm wearing the included Goldrush eyes, too, though they're a little small for my eyes - I have freakishly huge eyes. My hair is an amazing, ankle length braid from Lupoaica which cascades over the shoulders and butt in a way even Rapunzel would envy. The one downside is that it falls almost straight back from the rear, so it works better with pants or a short, tight skirt than with the clothes I usually wear. The color HUD is also really kind of neat - where you can buy different sets and load them in the same HUD, which means it's relatively easy to add more hair and accessory textures to existing hair HUDs. My necklace is another donation item, this time from coLLisions, an intricately woven necklace honoring Thoth with purple enamel in front. Finally, my gorgeous, stylish, unique dress is from The Muses, another new-to-me store which simply entranced me with it's offerings. I love how it combined texture layers with mesh layers, and the unique silhouette. The sleeves in particular are a testiment to using the best of tech in Second Life - the tops are simply sculpted prims, editable to fit ones upper arm; the length of the arm is a texture glove; the wrist and end covering the bulk of the hand is rigged mesh, allowing it to cover either the standard hand or my special SLink rigged mesh hands. They even took care to line a little way inside the dress, so where it gapes it looks like fabric might look gaping. I also really like the patchwork quality of the texturing, something fluid and lovely and yet not too blocky or busy.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace Ceredil - Light Gold (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Goldrush (promotional item)
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Hair: Lupoaica, Evita (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional item)
Horns: Europa, Lokyli Horns (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: The Muses, Starfall (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Necklace: coLLision, Harmony of Thoth (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Feet: SLink, Mesh Enhanced

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Ravenshard
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Lotus Valley Dream

Lotus Valley Dream is a complete and total gorgeous sim, where from the tiniest details to the largest structures is perfectly poised and balanced. It's Chinese themed, with delicate cranes walking around, and an enormous dragon swirling around a perfect lotus flower brimming with light. There are these lovely little gardens and contemplative spots here and there, as well as a major and impressive build in the middle. What I found most impressive is that it is just as lovely in detail and lit, as backlit and in silhouette - the default windlight of dark, purple, and gold really served as a gorgeous backdrop for the landscapes. Once more, I'm dressed in Fantasy Faire Donation items almost from head to toe, all of them really fun. My hair is from my old favorite Wasabi Pills, a great ear-curving style with a drippy from and back, available in both boobtastic rigged mesh, and mesh for our less endowed sisters. My skin is a gorgeous snakie release from Fallen Gods, the texturing fading from light to dark depending on where on the body, and available with several different face tints, including yellow and red.

My dress is another limited edition from Falln Angel Creations, a swirling and sparkly quasi-silks design with fun loops over the hips and a fantastic collar. I found this one very easy to fit, just a little resizing to fit from and back and I could swish my way out into the world. I added some gorgeous jewelry from Lemon Tea, a set of blown crystal bottles that almost vanished against a lighter skin but which show up gorgeously against this darker blue of my Fallen Gods skin. I added some nails from Musa, a celtic design with jewels on them, with recolorable nails in about ten colors; I rarely wear nails, but these were really fun and very easy to fit - they use a HUD based resize which means they're very inventory-friendly. Finally, I added these fantastic boots from Sakide, which have a Chinese Dragon motif near the top which I completely fell in love with. They're velvet platforms, which is really fun and different from all of my other thigh high boots.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: Falln Gods, Draco Moonlight/Mithril  (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow Mesh Eyes (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Erika (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Nails: Musa, Celtic Nails (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional item)
Dress: Falln Angel Creations, Satiya Dress (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional item)
Jewelry: Lemon Tea, Elixir Jewelry (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Boots: Sakide, Appeal Velvet Boots (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Lotus Valley Dream
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Lumenaria

Lumenaria is a gorgeous sim in the style of an old English town, complete with windy roads and fountains, rich grasses and beautiful flowers on either side. The colors are muted and gold, and the standard windlight really maintains the tone throughout. I almost accidentally ended up in this gorgeous dress from Sparkle Skye Designs, a new-to-me store. Originally, the flower additions were full bright, but since these adorable accessories are modifyable, I was able to dull them down to match the rest of my look.I really love their shape - clean and precise in their loveliness. I paired this rather traditional, handkerchief hem dress with a really innovative ponytail from Analog Dog - complete with bouffant top and architectural support for the tail part. You can see how the Sparkle Skye Designs daisies perfectly fit along the hairline - isn't that amazing? The eyeshadow is another one of the releases from Musa, shades of gold and green which I thought perfectly offset the almost continuous gold of my appearance. I paired it with a lovely gloss from Mock which faded almost into my skin - which was the effect I wanted.

The jewelry is a completely amazing new release from Eclectica, released in a variety of colors but shown here in ivory. There's a delicate three part chain holding the necklace up - in some of the more distant pictures it becomes a little blotchy but up close you can see how gorgeously it's put together. It comes with two rings as well as the earrings, all with the same solar design on them. My hands and feet are both courtesy of SLink, and are both her new Enhanced Design, which means I can color the nails and make them longer, and all kinds of fun things. My nails are the long ones, though not pointed, and I tinted them using one of my increasing number of Nail HUDs from A:S:S, the Spring set, which is a series of pastels with a delicate lighter pattern and lighter nail tips. I splurged on a ton from there and a few other amazing stores, and I'll make sure to share my favorites as time goes on. They really finish the SLink hands even more than I thought possible, though, adding just that extra bit of polish to them. Truly, I'm a classy faerie on the town this Fantasy Faire.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow Mesh Eyes (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Musa, Tarja 3 (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Lipstick: Mock, Glasside Lip Coralista
Hair: Analog Dog, ism - creamsicle (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Spring
Dress: Sparkle Skye Designs, Iris Fairy Mesh Dress - Golden (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Jewelry: Eclectica, Solaria (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Feet: SLink, Mesh Feet

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Lumenaria
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Key of Hope Hunt - Part One (MadPea)

For a thousand years and more, the demon prince Val’baan ruled over the land with fear. Then, a child was born who would grow to be his nemesis. This had happened before, but Val’baan was possessed of enough brains to maintain an intelligence network that alerted him to possible threats before they were too great to crush.  This time, however, the girl was raised in secret by people ready for the time, and when she grew to womanhood the demon’s fate was inevitable. A quest, a battle, an overcoming followed, and the sun rose over the world once more. Kiana and her companions fought for three days to drive Val’baan first back into the valley, then to the temple which had been the seat of Val’baan’s power – his final redoubt. Two hundred men and women began that fight, ninety reached the entrance to the valley and only eight were alive to see Val’baan trapped as Kiana read from the scroll and completed the ritual of binding. Each of these took their place at one of the eight outer seals, with Kiana herself bringing them together in the centre. The heroes’ strength was thus combined to forge a lock that could never be opened again, from within or without.

However…

Fuzz the Unyielding,  who had stood with Kiana from almost the very beginning, held a secret – he was wounded. The Demon Prince’s ice-blade had caught him a glancing blow, so slight it went unnoticed in the chaos, and it festered within him. For all his purity of purpose and his resolve, the wound was enough corruption to weaken the Western seal that was his responsibility, and that weakness was taken by the ritual of binding into the great seal itself. The door was cracked, and Fuzz suddenly succumbed to his wound less than a day after the heroes finally parted to return to their homes.

The Bard Queen, however, could feel the darkness rising once again. She passed word to the kings of men and elves, and gave orders to her storytellers to ensure that all would know danger loomed once more.

“Find us our champions,” she said, “That we may remain safe another century. Call those of heart, and courage, and strength. Send to me those who would stand for what is right, and who do not fear the labour and the pain of that standing.

“Send me heroes.”

The call was raised, and those of such a stature answered. They came to the Fairelands, to the Junction, and set out upon their quest…

Written by David Abbot
Valley of Ish'Nar Sim Design by rynn Verwood

  .: Welcome to the Key of Hope Hunt, dear adventurer.

This is a quest in two parts. The first part will have you exploring the Fairelands as you collect items needed to create a Talisman that will grant you safe passage into the Valley of Ish'Nar. Once you have created your Talisman you will receive further instructions from the Bard Queen as to the task she has set for you. For now, be content knowing that your actions start you on a journey that will, if successful, save the Fairelands from certain darkness.

 .: Before you can begin with the hunt, you must read a letter from the Bard Queen advising you of the items you need to collect to forge the Talisman. Explore the Bard Queen's camp located in the ruins just north of Lumenaria to start your introduction to the game.

Your goal is to find 8 items scattered throughout the Fairelands. Completion of this assignment will reward you well with memories and mementos of your travels as well as allow you to come into possession of the Talisman that will grant you admittance to the Valley of Ish'Nar where even greater treasures await the successful hero.

 .: Once you click an ingredient named on the HUD, it will give you a hint and a SLURL in local chat to the Faire sim on which that ingredient must be retrieved. Remember the sims are large and it is often the case that when you stray off the path you are likely to find interesting things, including those elusive ingredients. Once you have located an ingredient from the list it will be crossed out for you. Please note, the hunt items do not give out prizes. You must collect all of them to complete your task and gain your end reward. When you have found all the hunt items follow the instructions given you in chat to learn what you must do next.

 .: For extra help ask in FFC Fantasy Faire group chat. You can also IM Elizabeth Tinsley with technical issues. For help with finding items ask in the group.

Game begins at: Valley of IshNar (31,24,22)

 .: It is good that you came. Thank you. This task is one I cannot complete myself, for if I become involved then so will the Unweaver and that would doom us all.

But you cannot enter the valley unprotected. You will need a talisman to keep you safe. Search the Fairelands and you will find the things you need. Take this list, go swiftly, and return here when you are done, for even now the messenger carrying the scroll and key that you will need to reach Val´baan approaches.

.: To mix the ingredients, we shall need a bowl; the shell of a dragon´s egg. The dragon guards her eggs well, and you find them at the centre of the Spire´s maze. The DragonSpire (186,128,39)



.: A rose. Symbol of purity, symbol of secrets. Take a petal from the Crimson Fields, but be sure it has been steeped in the sacred waters first. Crimson Fields (63,128,29)



.: Where once the smith Albrecht forged his tools against the sunset, the flames still burn today. A pinch of this ash will protect you from the demon´s fire. Titans Hollow (128,112,102)



.: The song of making is a powerful part of the talisman.. The sailors know this, and have kept it safe in a dark and secret place. Magnificat (61,128,42)



.: To help the mix, a little water. Take some from the temple. Not too much, mind. Lotus Valley Dream (128,181,36)



.: Of all the trees in Evensong Woods, the highest is unique. A leaf from here will bring a piece of this place's power with you. Evensong Woods (128,84,68)



.: The Lorax is our faithful friend, and he guards the seed that represents the hope of new life once the demon-prince is defeated. Ravenshard (123,191,23)



.: This is not as planned. I entrusted a single gold coin from Shal-Tathar to a hobbit and he spent it on a mango! Lumenaria (155,128,28)

Endgame: Congratulations. You have collected all the ingredients. It is time to return to the Bard Queen´s camp outside the Valley of Ish´Nar for further instructions. Visit the Bard Queen @ Valley of IshNar (31,24,22) [When you arrive make sure to find her and click the treasure chest on your HUD to continue the story and receive your reward.]

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow Mesh Eyes (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Musa, Tarja 8
Hair: Analog Dog, Scene - cotton candy (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Natural Glitter
Dress: Elvenbreath, Paenya (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Jewelry: Eclectica, Solaria (Fantasy Faire Donation Item)
Shoes: Falln Angel Creations, Airlia Boots (Fantasy Faire Donation Item, promotional)

Pose: Glitterati

Location: Lotus Valley Dream
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Epic Toy Factory and Sax Sheperd Designs

I'm not normally a decorator - I don't own a sim and I don't have much land - but I got a chance to play with some offerings from Epic Toy Factory and Sax Sheperd Designs, and I really had a lot of fun making a small diorama. First, Sax Sheperd Designs, which is a very new to me store that I'm so glad I'm now aware of. These adorable Loly flowers, in a variety of colors and styles, are really cute and make me wish I could lick the screen and have it taste as good as they look. I was able to make a small field of them, of all varieties and types. I also arranged all the types of gumdrop trees around some of them with only one drop, and some of them two-drop trees. I really like the bright, candy-like effects, and I'm seriously tempted to try to walk around with a Loly flower in hand, or make a crown out of them. That would be so cute. I also rezzed the cutest little dragon that came along with the rest of the Sax Sheperd Designs stuff he's just hovering in place in front of the clocks, waiting to be loved.

Epic Toy Factory is really the centerpoint of my diorama, though, with this amazingly textured ruins and the gorgeous texture on the base. I really fell in love with the watercolor effect - an effect all too rare in Second Life. The minute and second hand are completely gorgeous, and the fade of purple out from the clock numbers is simply sublime. I also like how everything was woven together when I rezzed it - I just had to add in the Truffula Trees and the enormous watercolor tree in the back - purple and green and gorgeous. The Truffula Trees are also a lot of fun, with a watercolor aesthetic like the books had; big poofs on top of spindly trunks.

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Epic Toy Factory: Ruins, Purple and Green leafed Tree, and Truffula Trees

Sax Sheperd Designs: Drakyn Pet, Gumdrop Trees, and Loly Flowers

Fantasy Faire: The Dragonspire

Ironically, The Dragonspire leads you downward into the depths, through a rabbit warren of stores to a central area, then down and under to a mysterious door leading to deep caves filled with mysterious crystals. The spire part is actually hidden on top behind vast rocks, but you have to really work to get up there and see the treasure which is worth a hundred peoples' lives to try to steal a single gem. Better to stay below the ground, far from where the dragon might see you and decide you look like hor d'oeuvres. I stuck to the lower chambers, feeling like a Petite even though I was a full sized avatar, aiming myself at giant crystals and snapping pictures as I went. I was guaranteed to match any of those crystals, too, in my absolutely gorgeous, completely rainbowtastic, fan-freaking amazing rainbow gown from Falln Angel Creations. This is not just a rainbow dress - it's a rainbow dress whose component parts cycle gently through the entire spectrum, giving you an everchanging panoply of rainbows and roses. The roses are of two parts, which means their middles change a hair before the edges, leaving you with some truly incredible combinations. I actually ended up taking the chest piece, shifting it around a little, and turning it into this really fun, rainbowtastic hairpiece as well; just call me the great modifyer. I'm also wearing color-changing boots, but unfortunately they're hidden under my voluminous skirts. Never fear, they will show up soon.

The eyeshadow and poses both come from the same store - a creation divide of intense proportions - Musa. There are a ton of eyeshadows being released, in single colors and fades both, with some really vibrant shades. They're very clean and bright, and the poses were a lot of fun. It's harder for me to review poses - by and large I love them all - but these seemed really nice, with some novel hand positions and, um... I'm all pretty and stuff? Something, something, I didn't even end up with my hand in my head much (I have proportional arms, which means for a lot of poses I end up with hands in faces). Look, pretty floaty hands. My hair is another from Wasabi Pills, and I really love the curls and wisps, and how well it fits my ears. *wiggles fingers* Jazzhands you've been entertained and now you want to buy things.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow Mesh Eyes (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Eyeshadow: Musa, Tarja 3
Mask: Illusions, Chickadee Mask
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Selene Mesh Hair (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Falln Angel Creations, Calena Gown Rainbow
Shoes: Falln Angel Creations, Airlia Boots

Poses: Musa

Location: The Dragonspire
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Evensong Woods

Evensong Woods is a gorgeous, snowy sim with peaceful, quiet areas interspersed with narrow rivers. All of the colors are muted and quiet, what hues there are remain dusty and chilly. Pale icy pinks and dull milky blues with the rich dark green of moss cluster around and cling against dark gray stone buildings and wide, dark wooden pathways. Most of the sim is above the ground, leaving room for strange flowers to bloom, but a few flank the entrance and exit, shielding the enormous mushrooms which pop out of the frigid ground. It really fit my mood of the last few days; a variety of personal and professional events have coalesced into a sort of dull ache in my heart, one well met with the peace of Evensong Woods at night. I'm hoping I'll be able to cheer myself up gradually, but something I've learned - hard won - is that often the best response to any emotion is to embrace it, feel it fully, and then let it go; the bright and sparkling days of our lives can be rooted in long, dark quiets and the dull ache reminding us of so many paths not taken.

My amazing, striking, and appropriate mask is of a spring chickadee from Illusions, a gorgeously textured and fitting mask. It is fully editable, which meant that when it was a little too narrow for my face, it was the work of a few moments to get it broadened out. I love the line along the beak, and how the white is gently textured into its surrounding black, and when I saw it in Evensong Woods on my way to finding places for pictures I couldn't resist picking it up. My hair is one of the latest releases from Wasabi Pills, also available at the Fantasy Faire. I love that it's asymmetrical, with a gentle curve over one shoulder, and the best eartuck I've seen on the other side - it perfectly fit behind my ear. The drippy front of the hair reaches almost my waist, and there's a large poof of hair in the back, largely unseen in these pictures. I really love how natural it looks on me. Lassitude & Ennui (last seen in boots) also released this amazing dress with a removable jacket. I mix and matched two different combinations of colors - one black and white for the jacket and the other black and gray for the dress. It's a heavily corseted dress worked in shades of velvet richness. I particularly like the band of see-through fabric at the bottom of the skirt, which adds a really classy edge to the entire look. Finally, the only color in my outfit is this amazing jewelry set from AZE Designs, specially colored for the Fantasy Faire. In her release, she said she made the shells when she couldn't find any to suit her in mesh, and they are really striking designs and beautifully textured - simply a treat to wear.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Rainbow Mesh Eyes (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie Ears
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Cosmetics: Mock, Layla's Lilac Maurea Mod
Mask: Illusions, Chickadee Mask
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Erika Mesh Hair (promotional item)
 Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Lassitude & Ennui, Gothic Doll (promotional item)
Jewelry: AZE Designs, RFL Limpet Set (promotional item)
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Spring (SLink Nail System)
Stockings: Vetra Messing, Sheer Stockings white
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Phoebe Mesh lace-up boots

Pose: !bang

Location: Evensong Woods
Light Settings: Sim Default
Water Settings: Sim Default

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Monday Meme: Why Do I Blog?

Strawberry has some questions for all of our bloggers out there, which boils down to the whys and whats of what we all do. I'm an inveterate navel gazer, so I'll cling to any excuse to blather on ad nauseam about what, why, and how I do things. I hope you enjoy!

1. How long have you been blogging? I am about to hit my forth anniversary, though I never actually remember to mark it, on this blog. Before this blog, I had a brief journal on my Gaia Online account which detailed regular arguments I made in the Morality and Religion Forum, and before that I had journals on Journalfen and Livejournal - four on the latter - each for various purposes. My first Lifejournal post was on May 4, 2003, which seems an awfully long time ago now, so that means I'm coming up on my ten-year, non-location-consistent anniversary.


2. Why did you start blogging? All my friends were. A whole bunch of us offline friends began on Livejournal to keep in touch and share news. At that point I had an office-based job, so it was a lot easier to post several times a week. Now I do all of my pictures and blogging in the evening, often after long days, so I blog less frequently.


3. How many times a week do you post an entry? Probably - times a week, though for special events - like the current Fantasy Faire - I will blog as often as several times a day. When I combine Fantasy Faire, two challenges, and memes like this, I end up being a very busy girl.


4. How many different blogs do you read on a regular basis? Tons. I have all of the Second Life related ones on my blogroll, and I have a ton more blogs on my Smartphone which I read during the day when I have snatches of time. My interests are eclectic, but they tend toward the social justice and geeky side of things.


5. Do you comment on other people’s blogs? Depends on the blog. I have a few I comment on semi-regularly, but I don't feel like a "regular" anywhere. I often feel at a loss to comment on Second Life Fashion blogs; I'm more of an ideas person, so I'll respond to ideas and things. I have a tendency to be sort of flighty and switch between focusing on different things on a given day, so I think that impairs my ability to settle anywhere. 


6. Do you keep track of how many visitors you have? Obsessively. Well, not obsessively, but when I publish a blogpost it's really easy to check views, and so I often do and lament the scarcity of three digit numbers. 


7. Did you ever regret a post that you wrote? Not really. I ended up changing how I do my How NOT to... series after some responses from tertiary people in the Asshole Chronicles at the bottom, including usually giving people pseudonyms, but I can't say I regret making those things public, or the loss of acquaintanceship which resulted. 




8. Do you think your readers have a true sense of who you are based on your blog? Probably. I feel like I'm pretty consistent, even over time. Reading some of my initial Livejournal posts, I have a lot of the same tics, the same obsession with understanding things and picking them apart, and the same sometimes nasty sense of fairplay. I would suspect I see myself less clearly than other people see me, though; like most people, I imagine I focus on the details I particularly like or dislike and miss the forest for the trees.


9. Do you blog under your real name? No, and I never have. I have a consistent and longstanding online identity, and I do everything online under that. I have recently been considering beginning a second persistent pseudonym for a specific purpose (not related to Second Life) but I've been dragging my feet because I feel a very real connection to Deoridhe, and it would be weird to go by any other name online.


10. Are there topics that you would never blog about? I try to be as obscure as I can about my physical location, and I have some interests that I would tend to be less than forthcoming about. I've also had a fairly strict no nudity tradition both on the blog and on my flickr, and I doubt that will ever change. I also tend to not blog about things I simply dislike; everything on this blog is something I like at least part of, even if I might have critiques. 


11. What is the theme/topic of your blog? Second Life photography and experiences, peppered with occasional extra-Second Life themes. I don't consider myself a fashion blog, but I do receive reviews from people who like my pictures of their stuff. 


12. Do you have more than one blog? If so, why? Not really. I have a few different places still open, but I don't have time for regular posting to more than one place. If I had a low-demand office job it might be easier to keep up with multiple blogs, but as it is I often feel like I don't even keep up with this one.


13. What have you found to be the benefits of blogging? Getting free stuff has actually helped me broaden out what I can buy; I still spend a lot in Second Life, but it's expanded by the gifts from wonderful people. I also sometimes get feedback on my pictures and thoughts, which I find very valuable. I have discovered I'm unexpectedly sensitive to critique on it which seems tangential, though; I have cried on a few occasions as a result of blog-related things. I think I'm getting better at pictures as a result of taking more of them, and I'm finding watching myself want things and respond emotionally as a result of the blog very interesting in terms of learning about all my secret dark crannies and personality flaws. 


14. So, why do you continue to blog? I really like the growing sense that I'm getting to know people better through it. I'm learning a lot, and that's very valuable. Also, it's nice to have a place to comment on pictures or just brain dump some of the things I think about during the day. It's also a place for me to try to focus as much as I can on the positive and on beauty, and to try to make a little beauty of my own. 

( More pictures here. )

Credits:

Skin: De La Soul, Candace - Ceredil (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Realism Eyes - FlamingCircuits (promotional item)
Ears: De La Soul, MESHear - Animale Long (promotional item)
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Lipstick: Adore & Abhor, Silent Star - Shine Rose
Hair: Analog Dog, Culprit
Butterflies: Boom, Metamorphisis
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Blue Blood, Tears
Jewelry 1: Primalot, Fairy Dust
Jewelry 2: Ginza, Slice of Summer
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Nails: A:S:S, Lustre
Shoes: Eclectica, Hollywood Shoes

Poses: Adorkable Poses

Location: Betty Tureauds - The 9 At Planets
Light Settings: Phototools - Dead End
Water Settings: Mirror Glass

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Crimson Fields

 Crimson Fields is based around aspects of the Dark Tower series, which I've never read but I've looked up on Wikipedia. It's a dark sim, with the only color (outside of the stores) being fields of crimson roses and a small pile of glinting yellow candles. I felt the simplicity of the sim really set off the rich color of my skin, a new release for Fantasy Faire by De La Soul. I've actually been taunted by this skin for a while before the Faire, and I had a devil of a time picking out which of the colors I'd blog (I'm seriously considering picking up a second shade for some vague plans with shoes, but we'll see how the rest of the week goes), but this red was so rich and vibrant that in the end I couldn't resist. The skin itself has a tattoo of gleaming tentacles over it, available in both light and dark shades, and the tentacles are also available as a tattoo to put over other skin and, if you wish, tint.I'm showing off the dark option, with rich red tentacles and a striking gold heart on the chest. I really like how feral and wild the skin looks, and it goes a treat with the included eyes (one of four), and for the elfin among us there are three varieties of De La Soul ears included, pre-textured to match. There are also Lola and Lush appliers, which I haven't used, and SLink appliers, which I have, and a gorgeous set of tentaclely SLink nails for the hands and feet. Really, it's so packed with goodness I'm blown away. Only a dark hair would stand up against all the red, so I pulled out this gorgeous braide and curled hair from Wasabi Pills, also a new release for Fantasy Faire. The second I saw this hair I fell in love with it, so this will not be the last time you see it. I love how it cascades across the chest so naturally, like it's just tumbled down after a run.

These amazing new boots, for men and women, are also a new release for Fantasy Faire, from Lassitude & Ennui. I'm used to squeeing over their tasteful and elegant ladies wear, but these astonishing, embroidered boots really took me by surprise. I was particularly struck by how the embroidery on them really looked like embroidery, not like it was painted on. I'm not quite sure how they pulled it off, but I am completely astonished and amazed by how natural they look, as if they could walk out of Second Life and onto my feet. The jewelry set I'm wearing is from a new-to-me store called Sax Sheperd Designs, which was sent my way earlier in the week. It's a crown, belt, earrings, and nipple cover set (the last not shown) in a shade of red that so perfectly matched the rest of my look that I simply couldn't resist. If you look closely at the top picture, you can see how cleanly the crown fits into the braid in my hair, almost as if I know I'm going to be busy, so this has to stay tight. The earrings are lovely little hoops, but what really blew me away was the belt - made of chain, cloth, and gems, it really stands out and seemed like the perfect topper to finish off my lingerie. I had to resize it a little - it's modify ok - to fit my belly in, but once I did it was smooth sailing. This is definitely a store to keep an eye on. Finally, the only thing I'm wearing not associated with the Fantasy Faire, besides my wings, is this amazing recent release from Sn@tch. It was the drippy marks on the stockings which inspired me in particular to pick up this set, since it would also let me show off more of the amazing De La Soul skin while maintaining at least a semblance of dignity. Finally, my hands from SLink I really feel like I need to single out - because the skin is now so seamless from body to hands that they fade into the background yet keep my hands from looking like mittens or bits of ham. I can't say enough good things about her newest additions to the SLink mesh hands; I've become an overnight nail addict!

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: De La Soul, Candace - Ceredil (promotional item)
Eyes: De La Soul, Realism Eyes - FlamingCircuits (promotional item)
Ears: De La Soul, MESHear - Animale Long (promotional item)
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Hair: Wasabi Pills, Selene Mesh (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Lingerie: Sn@tch, Desire Latex Lingerie
Jewelry: Sax Sheperd Designs, Frills - Temptress Swag (promotional item)
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Shoes: Lassitude & Ennui, Edenion boots (promotional item)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Crimson Fields
Light Settings: Phototools - Dead End
Water Settings: Mirror Glass

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only

Fantasy Faire: Dwarfins

Edit: The Dwarfins Website  is the best place to get accurate information on the product.

While I have some history with breedable creatures, I had little experience with Dwarfins (Main Store Link) outside of running across a group of them on one of my hunts and snapping a picture. I was struck at the time by how detailed they were (only ten land impact each) and also how they could interact with different things in their environment, like a chair they could sit on. As part of the fantasy faire, I got one of their special starting packs of male and female enchantor Dwarfins, and I really think their look is fantastic; all purple and blue with a special staff on their back. There is also a special release of a magical book they can interact with, a stone outcropping they worship, and mushrooms for them to eat. Sometimes when they're walking around, they also pull some mushrooms out of heir pocket to peer at - I'm not sure whether I should trust them near my food or not.

I have to admit, the more I watched them the more I felt a weird ethical dilemma. Keep in mind, I know these are scripted things, I know they have neither sentience nor sapience, but I'm somehow deeply troubled by raising and breeding bipedal creatures that sit on chairs and read books. Even through Meeroos and other breedables had sentience, somehow the bipedal seems different to me. I did end up greatly enjoying watching them move, and interact with the different things which came along with them, it was just weird watching what I think of as "people" as puppets. I suppose it's more similar to the Sims game, where you make people, but it somehow feels different - don't ask me to explain. I do really like them, though - from the big glow when they are "born" to watching them wander around and do things.

There are also two object releases for the Dwarfins, one which is part of an ongoing storyline involving the Dwarfins and the god they worship, and one book of magic they can read and cast spells at. The stone offers four approaches; at each one they can sit and contemplate the stone, or set down their wand and engage in worship. It's a really neat effect to watch them sort of wander around, pausing every now and then at their phallic god. The magical book has Norse Runes in it, and someone can pause and look at the book, as if reading, or actually cast spells which causes a particle effect. The one distracting aspect of the objects is that each of them have large red arrows pointing toward the access points of the object; I'm sure there's a way to turn it off, but I have to admit after the initial confusion I kind of liked it. Strange me, I know.

One other thing available for Dwarfins, which is completely awesome, are actual rigged mesh avatars so that one can become one of the Dwarfins.I haven't yet gotten into it and wandered around - I've been really caught up in a lot of different things - but I'm looking forward to doing so. You can't breed as an avatar, of course, but you can fool people into thinking you aren't actually there when you are - so awesome. Both these special RFL Enchantor Dwarfins are available, and the special single-release Dwarfins below are also available as an avatar - the Auctioned Dwarfins are unique starter Dwarfins which makes them very special and awesome for all who embrace this truly unique breedable.

Head on over to the Dwarfin store on Luminaria to check out everything available at the Fantasy Faire.

Fantasy Faire: Titan's Hollow

Titan's Hollow is an absolutely amazing sim, and everyone should go and marvel.It's set up as a verdant valley with jewel-like buildings floating in the air above the water, with these stark, dark-leaved trees here and there, and I absolutely fell in love with it the second I landed - even if it wasn't the underwater environment I was originally seeking.It was an easy modification, though; I took off the fins I was trying to fit and put on this absolutely gorgeous gown from Falln Angel Creations, which is a Fantasy Faire exclusive release. I adore the sculpted roses swarming both over the bodice and at the hip, and the heavy fabric around the waist in an offset color. This is only one of many releases - I'll show off the remainder sometime soon, I promise. The skin I'm wearing is an astonishing new release from Plastik that came crammed with eyes, skin variations, and cosmetic additions. I ended up using the slightly reptilian face, but I also really liked the teardrop marks on the cheeks and I wish I could have combined them. Some of the eyes are in complementary colors, others in matching, and I ended up focusing on the latter for my look. A wide variety of colors are available from Plastik this Fantasy Faire - pretty much anything you can imagine - and I really recommend you swing by and take a look.

Pretty much the rest of my accessories, except for the ears and eyelashes, come from Bliensen + MaiTai, which I've already focused on once, but now I'm showing in the wild. You can see more the effect of the flexi-tendrils in my hair in these pictures, I think, and also how they change under different lights. I found as I wore the hair I got more and more used to it, almost not noticing that I have half an ocean in my locks. I ended up picking the shade of my Plastik skin to match my hair, and the forehead eye to also match my hair, and the dress... just because I really liked it. It's the sort of thing which happens when one has a folder full of things and starts mixing and matching and then gets distracted by a completely incredibly, gorgeous sim like Titan's Hollow. Seriously, go and check it out yourself - it is completely mind blowing.

( More pictures here. )

Credits: 

Skin: Plastik, Arkasia - bras Kin (promotional item)
Eyes: Plastik, Bloodless - Gold (promotional item)
Ears: Illusions, Seelie
Eyelashes 1: SLink, Mesh Lashes
Eyelashes 2: Flugeln Brise, 05-A
Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai, Undine (promotional item)
Wings: Fancy Fairy, Azarelle
Dress: Falln Angel Creations, Calena Gown (FF Exclusive; promotional item)
Jewelry: Bliensen + MaiTai, Mine (promotional item)
Hands: SLink, Mesh Hands
Shoes: Bliensen + MaiTai, Pixie (promotional item)

Poses: Glitterati

Location: Titans Hollow
Light Settings: Phototools - Horizon Building Light
Water Settings: Mirror Glass

Photographed by Deoridhe Quandry
Post processing: Cropping, only