Why I Relay - Fantasy Faire 2020

The rumours were true.

The Unweaver had been at work in the world again. Rarely sighted, particularly in these lands where all the beings were so aware, so vigilant. Actions and reactions, events and occurances in the wider world rippled and echoed even here. To Saya, these whispers and rumbles were more tangible. Awaking one morning, a pinprick of light danced across her eyes with the movement of the sun. Light, where there should only have been the comforting regularity of shade, her wings blocking the morning glare. Over the years this pin prick had grown, the threads around it fraying, loosening, coming apart.

Patching and darning had helped for a long time, kept Saya aloft, able to soar across their skies. Each repair took time, some worked better than others. She had long since stopped sewing and embroidering herself, finding each needling created myriad new holes, each capable in turn of damaging her fabric further. Secure in the knowledge that others were working hard, day and night, all over the worlds to find new methods of truly mending what had been damaged, Saya was free to hunt The Unweaver itself. Walking paths well trodden, flying over rough ground, ever searching, ever seeking. Across strange lands she talked with beings, read their reseach, followed their maps. She met those touched by The Unweaver, who had found ways of reworking and remaking, revoking its effects completely. She wept and celebrated with those whose loved ones had been lost. Each encounter was draining. Each encounter was rejuvenating. Each encounter confirmed her understanding and belief, even when she was alone, there were countless souls with her.

Each year, this is the Blogger Challenge that gets to me. The Fantasy Faire is such a big deal for me, I'm proud and blessed to be part of it. It's a visual delight, the people are kind, talented and fun. Running around an ever increasing number of sims, frantically clicking, shopping, listing, landmarking, oohing, aahing etc etc... It's a riot. SO much fun. Then along comes this challenge. Why I Relay. It all just stops. It forces me to refocus, not on the beauty and the shiny, but on the reason behind it all. That's what, without fail every year, makes me cry. Crying is not a bad thing! Feeling the sadness of loss is a conduit to other memories. The sadness is mine. The joys, experiences and love are things shared with those I've lost. Life is hectic, and taking the time to remember can be hard.

So I will do this. Every year. I will take the time to remember, I'll focus on the loss, tears will fall. It is a small small price to pay for the chance to truly remember the people, the joys, experiences and love we shared. I will remember and relive times with Marion, with Helen, with Lesleigh. I will think of those who have beaten, or are living with cancer. I will text. I will make calls. I will reach out. I will be there. And just like that, knowing and feeling all of these things, I can type these words. I'll dry my eyes, and, more likely than not, I'll do another round of the Faire and shop some more.

Doing a little bit, alongside everyone else, we make change. We raise real money to further research into beating cancer. We move forward, and we will do this until there is no Unweaver. No cancer that can't be cured. And then, we'll do it again anyway. Coz like I said... it is SO much fun.

Vyl x

Items shown are 100% donation to Relay for Life.

Hair : AnalogDog - Yoli - Variety
Cassiopeia
Hair Stick : *Naminoke*Torii HairStick #B-FF2020
Auxentios’ Pass
Skin : Ab.Fab skins&Fantasy  - Eir Nightshade Skin
Elemaria
Eyes :  A.D.D.Andel! Galaxy Eyes- RFL
Zodiac
Tattoo : Ab.Fab Lumeria tattoo
Elemaria
Jewellery : CHIMAERA - Fantasy Fair Necklace and Earrings - Gold
Spirit Valley of Kuruk
Outfit : [The Forge]  - Evelyn, Brown
Lamented Fens
Gloves : CKit Falconry  - Leather Riding Gloves_Female_512
Agra Adara
Wings : ::Static:: DaVinci Faewing {Icharus}
Auxentios’ Pass
Poses : Astalianda - Zodiac Fire Signs and Water Signs Pose Sets
Zodiac

Strange seas - Fantasy Faire 2020

"Come sail away, come sail away, come sail away with me..."

Signing on to sail the seven seas had had no such siren's call. Neither had it been the Queen's shilling slipped into her flagon of ale, nor the cosh, bind and drag of the press-gang. It had been stranger than that. Twelve moons past, she frowned at the memory, had it been twelve moons, or twenty four? Elora span the novelty globe slowly, not wanting to disturb the bottles hidden within. There had been trading calls at so many markets since that she had begun to lose track, despite their incredible differences. One had flown aloft, higher than the crow's nest of any vessel, powered by some strange crackling blue aurora. Another had been deep, deep within the earth, caverns and caves lit sparsely by flaming torches and in places by an unearthly glow from banks of twisting toadstools. It had been in one, both, or more of these that she had met The Mooshki, and heard their tales of lands more distant than any she had visited to date.

The search had begun following those meetings. Strange seas, with stranger tides. Exploration had taken the ship to lands more bizarre than those on the ship's novelty globe. New charts were plotted, those areas which had once held nought but dragons were sketched, mapped and defined. There was a sadness to this, the loss of mystery. There was excitement, the discovery of the new. They had found so much, and shared their treasures with the world. They hadn't found what they were searching for yet, but with each journey they were getting closer. It was time again to set sail.

More goodies from the fabulous Fantasy Faire! Stop by and shop - get some of these goodies! All items listed are 100% donation to Relay for Life, raising money for cancer research. Where's the downside? Don't waste time looking for one, you have shopping to do!

Hair : AnalogDog - Sinai - Variety
Cassiopeia
Skin :  Ab.Fab skins&Fantasy - Eir Amethyst Skin-Cleavage-BOM
Elemaria
Eyes :  !TLB - Lyric Eyes/Green
Autumnium
Tattoo : Stardust - Elora - Purple Tattoo 100%
Elemaria
Outfit : Belle Epoque - Anne - FF20 (Maitreya)
Sirens Lore
Boots : lassitude & ennui  - Reverie boots - purple (Maitreya)
Zodiac

Fantasy Faire 2017 - DragonFish

Dragons live in the sky. Mermaids live in the water. Everybody knew that in the Land of Infinite Magic... except for Chilrideoss The Brave, a majestic green dragon, and Muirgheal, a dreamy mermaid with the loveliest purple scales ever seen in the deep quiet waters of the Land of Infinite Magic.

One day Chilrideoss The Brave felt very thirsty (spitting fire for an entire day easily dries the throat of even the most heroic dragon, you know...) and he descended from the skies to the seashore. Dragons can drink saltwater; actually it is their preferred thirst quencher, as salt makes their skin thicker and shinier. Muirgheal was playing in the shallow water exactly at the time Chilrideoss arrived.

The rest is history in the Land of Infinite Magic. Love at first sight between two very different creatures with lovely scales, a secret wedding, and the birth of a little girl, majestically green and silkily purple, the proof that sometimes love indeed conquers all.

IMPORTANT! FANTASY FAIRE IS PROLONGED! You may visit the sims and spend your Lindens until the 4^th of May!

Fantasy Faire items:

Green top with collar: “Dragonborne” by Vengeful Threads - 449 L$. Vixn Dagger already stunned me at last year’s Faire with her Ancient Egyptian gown “Anubis Bride”, and she didn’t disappoint this year either... ”Dragonborne” is a vivid green outfit made of smartly combined mesh and Omega parts with spectacular detailing; a must have for a spunky and defiant dragonesse! Vengeful Threads isat The Rose, and the shop is more than worth visiting, also because there you can find many other recent works by Vixn including some dramatic makeup sets.

Crown/mask: “Masks of Decadence: The Pietist” in Emerald by VengefulThreads – RFL Donation Gacha, 50 L$ per play (16 commons, 3 rare) at The Rose. You have the chance to win two other masks, “Phantom” and “Wyvern”, both harsh and beautiful, in various colours.

Lipstick: “Gaia” by Vengeful Threads – 99 L$, that comes with a beautiful leafy eye makeup I’m not showing here. The makeup set is also available in Vixn’s shop at The Rose.

Horns: “Aleh Horns” Pierced Style by :Soul: - 199 L$. These wonderful and elaborated horns (better to say an entire system of carefully composed horns...) are also a RFL donation item, a steal deal, as you will get horns in two styles with a texture HUD and including 14 ring textures, and they are also resize scripted. Charlie’s (Lerochelle Destiny) shop is in Mudrana... check out his dramatic and very beautiful skins too!

Mermaid tail: “Dawne” by Living the FantaSea - 75 L$. This elegant mermaid tail is also a RFL donation item, so it’s high time you grew some fins! The shop is close to Charlie's in Mudrana.

Hair: “Petula” by Analog Dog. All right, I’m cheating a bit with this hairdo, as it was last year’s FF item... but the “Merida” tresses offered by Queue at this year’s Faire are equally beautiful - 375 L$. Visit Queue at The Hill!

Skin: “Opal” Black Brows by 7 Deadly S(K)ins – 299 L$. “Opal” is a beautiful pearly white skin; you can choose from four packages with different eyebrow tones in the shop of Izara Zuta at San Mora, and they are also a RFL donation item, so again... your money is spent really well!

Other items:

Ears: Simple Short Unisex Elf Ears by Mandala – 227 L$.

Head: Catwa Kimberly (shown with a lipstick included in the master HUD).

Body: Maitreya Lara (shown with a nail polish included in the master HUD).

Trident: part of the “Mer Warrior” avatar, a free group gift from Alpha Tribe – heavily modded (retextured and resized). It’s free to join the group, and you receive more than a dozen amazing avatars with your membership, so hop over to Alpha Tribe Island for some more lovelies to have! Alpha Tribe is also at the Fantasy Faire, in The Rose sim.

Pose: "Mermaid" by Mysterika - 25 L$ from the marketplace.

The picture was taken at Opal Flight, the arts and entertainment sim of the Faire.

Fantasy Faire 2017 - The Well

The Well was always there. Its sweet cool water was the source of life, and no inhabitant in Faireville had ever questioned the fact... until Lothoellan Flowerfields arrived. Nobody knew where she came from: one day she just walked into the marketplace, greeted the shoppers and vendors with a smile, then moved into a dilapidated cottage at the end of the lane leading to the pastures.

“How deep is the Well, exactly?” – Lothoellan asked the bystanders one day, while she was weighing a juicy apple in her hand at a stall in the market. Nobody knew the answer. Nobody ever tried to measure how deep The Well was, or find out how the water from it tasted.

Lothoellan laughed when she found out how ignorant the inhabitants of Faireville were. She quickly walked to The Well, dropped a small bronze coin into it, and waited for the splashing sound that meant the coin reached the water... only that there was no “splash”, not after a minute, not after five minutes, not even after an hour.

For many years thereafter the inhabitants of Faireville took turns in bringing food to the ragged beggar woman who never left the brim of The Well and was standing there day and night, leaning towards the depth, listening and murmuring, “Now how deep is this well, exactly...?”.

Fantasy Faire items:

Hair: “Umbreon” in Light Blondes by Analog Dog – 375 L$ for a fatpack. The Blondes/Reds and Browns/Blacks fatpacks are both a RFL donation item, so there’s no reason why you shouldn’t wear Queue Marlowe’s beautiful hairdo with the thick tresses during the Faire and thereafter! Queue’s shop is at The Hill, visit it, you won’t regret the trip.

Skin: “Opal” Black Brows by 7 Deadly S(K)ins – 299 L$. “Opal” is a beautiful pearly white skin that softly shimmers in the twilight... the ideal choice for the Fae Folk! You can choose from four packages with different eyebrow tones in the shop of Izara Zuta at San Mora, and they are also a RFL donation item, so again... your money is spent really well!

Tiara and bracelets: “Kira” by Bliensen + MaiTai – 399 L$ (tiara/crown), 150 L$ (bracelets). The “Kira” set is a delicate masterpiece... but which jewellery set created by Plurabelle Laszlo is not like this? You can buy these pretties at The Spirit Pool, and the bracelets are also a RFL donation item!

Dress: “Seasons Fae” Spring by Gypsy Wolf Creations – 275 L$. This pastel dress is so pretty that I would be quite happy to wear it in RL, too! In addition to being lovely it’s also a donation item, so visit Chaddul Ro quickly, and buy your own copy!

Wings: “Wings of Illusion” by Moondrops – 500 L$. This pair of softly fluttering jewel wings also has a HUD with several metal and wing colour options, a “must have” for the fashionable fae! You find Moondrops at Raven’s Perch, and you can be quite sure your money will be well spent because the wings are a RFL donation item.

Other items:

Ears: Simple Short Unisex Elf Ears by Mandala – 227 L$.

Head: Catwa Kimberly (shown with a lipstick included in the master HUD).

Body: Maitreya Lara (shown with a nail polish included in the master HUD).

The picture was taken at Luane’s Magical World, and I used one of the built-in animated poses of the “Blooming Spring” Fountain found there.

It was all going swimmingly... Fantasy Faire 2016

Adrienne had had it. Had it up to the gills. It had started slowly, centuries earlier, or so the tales caved into the sacred story rocks told. A new shadow on the surface, on the barrier between their world, and the dry suffocating world above. A new creature, that's all. So they had thought.

It was carved, it had become part of their history. Just a new creature, a new predator. One day there would be no fish, where there had been fish before. Another, there would be a slick of blood and oil marring the surface; bones cracked and burned fell through the water to pile on sands. No predator hunted so indiscriminately, none took so much, sweeping vast swathes of the sea clear.

This night she would rest. They all would. They needed to. Come the morning, with the turn of the tide, the seas would change. Shoals of fish swept away would reform. Bones had always carpeted the deep. The clog of plastic, however, was stifling the ocean. The world above had contaminated the seas for too long. Tomorrow they were going to give it all back. The stones would be carved anew.

Hair : Analog Dog - omega - SPLASH - from omega - blacks/ splash L$ 350 Relay for Life item
Skin : .:Soul:. Gen2 F - Ranitomeya - [F6] - Fade - TT-FB - Brow  Complete Package L$ 1299  Relay for Life item
Top : [ SAKIDE ] Kethya Glow Top Sheer - from full Kethya outfit - L$ 150 Relay for Life item
Mer Tail, Belt and Arm Shields : TempT Mishell Relay for Life item

Swim on down to the Fairelands!
The Fairelands Junction

Fantasy Faire 2015 - Midnight Sakura

Cherry trees usually blossom in the daytime. Ordinary cherry trees, and ordinary flowers, maybe... but not the mythical Nightshadow Sakura, the admired and treasured plant that maybe two dozen adventurers have ever witnessed to turn into a bouquet of splendid silky flowers for one night only, promptly fading away at the next dawn. For the Nightshadow Sakura is a messenger of great and important tidings... whether good or bad, however, the flowers cannot foretell. They only glow in a soft silky mysterious light, as if smiling, and observe the world with majestic grace...

Outfit and accessories: "K'aalogii" by -AZUL-. This fabulous kimono set is a RFL donation item (850 L$), created in the true and authentic -AZUL- style, which is a synonym for "grandiose" and "regal". :) You can find their shop in the YoZakura sim, so don't hesitate to pay a visit.

Skin: "Oceanica Atlantic Eclipse" by Fallen Gods Inc. - a RFL donation item (1.100 L$) The skin package includes a complete set of mermaid fins and some jewellery, too, so you actually get an avatar for a very reasonable price. Fallen Gods is at Odyssey... where else? :D

Ears: Uni Ears "High Elf" by Soul (399 L$). The ears are not a current RFL donation item, but they are available in Charlie's booth at Ichi-Go Ichi-E.

Hair: "Petula" by Analog Dog - a RFL donation item (350L$) available at Tangleshimmer Grove.

Eyes: Perspective Eyes in "Oxidation" by IKON - an old group gift now available for 150 L$.

Necklace: Oceanica Necklace in "Ivory Shell" by Fallen Gods - included in the Oceanica Skin packages.

Cherry blossom petals with several built-in poses: Runo Runo - 200 L$.

The picture was taken at YoZakura.

Riding the rails

 

It was the era of speed. The twenties roared with shining engines and sparkled with modernity. The horrors of the Great War were not forgotten, they were just that bit harder to see when eyes were dazzled by movement, chrome and sequins. Spitfire welcomed this change, along with all others of her age. The nights were long, free to be enjoyed. Beerhalls stayed open until the dawn, jazz spilled from windows and doorways. She rode the rails between nightclubs, a buccaneer in each carriage, one eye ever open for thrills to come. In the darkest hours of night, she sailed her landbound ship alone, wheels trundling along tracks, wearing to a brilliant shine in the moonlight. Her cabin aglow, sliding through the shadows of the city, the cobbled hills her own high seas. The Fantasy Gacha Carnival is something of a treasure trove. Ok ok I'll stop with the pirate references 

- just such the vibe I get from this dress! 

YumYums have these beautiful items in the Carnival in this round which begins on August 8th. 

Dress, shoes, eye-patch and hat are available in a range of colours, red, green, purple blue, from commons to ULTRA RARE pink. All for just L$ 50!

Spitfire wears:
Hair : Analog Dog - PopScotch - Blacks L$ 275
Analog Dog
Skin : Deetalez Skin Shanice No.4 eyeliner (Skin retirement sale)
Deetalez
Eyes :  Chus! Poppet Lens in Spawn L$ FREE
Chus! Marketplace
Dress, Eyepatch, Hat and Shoes :  .{yumyums}. Miss Captain Heart
Amazing texture on the dress, the shading is perfect. The shoes are for SLink High Mesh feet. Love this!
Available at the Fantasy Gacha Carnival here from 08/08/2014:

Acerbus Silva

The sim where the pictures were taken is a current favourite of mine. A beautiful rendering of Stuttgart.

Marienplatz

Booey Halloween!

There was silence in the Evil Enchanted Forest. Ominous silence. Every poisonous plant, every bat and snake was ready to pounce on anyone who dared wander around among the bushes on Halloween Night.

Yet, all of a sudden, the guardian of the Evil Enchanted Forest, an ancient oak, couldn’t believe his… well, his ears, had he had anything similar to a human ear on his trunk at all. Someone was happily singing and hopping along the narrow path, that lead to the very centre of the forest, a stinky black swamp. 

A little girl, carrying a bunch of orange balloons that looked like jack-o’lanterns. “The itsy bitsy spider climbed up the water spout…” – sang the silvery high-pitched voice. “At least she is stylish… let her through!” – whispered the Guardian and the poisonous plants, the bats and snakes remained withdrawn among the shadows.

If you’re an innocent little girl and you want to walk around at dangerous places at night, pick up the Halloween balloons at Vita’s Boudoir, the Halloween dress and skin at Dimbula Rose, and the colourful hair on Analog Dog Island. Booey Halloween! :-)

Dress: “Alice’s Summer Dress” (Halloween Version) by Dimbula Rose, free gift in the shop (0 L$).

Shoes: “Classic Ballet Flats” in Gold by Baby Monkey - free gift bag in the shop (0 L$).

Skin: Halloween Doll by Dimbula Rose - lucky board prize (0 L$). The board is for group members only, but it’s free to join. If you don’t have any free slots or you don’t have time, you can buy the skin for 50 L$.

Hair: “Fablespoon” by Analog Dog - free gift in the shop (0 L$).

Eyes: “Feral Eyes” in Brandy by Sterling Artistry – 85 L$.

Balloons: “Halloween Balloons” by Vita’s Boudoir - Halloween Lucky Chair prize (0 L$). You can also buy the balloons and many other lovely Halloween prizes for 50 L$ if you’re too eager to party and won’t wait for your letter to show up.

The Huntress And Her Prey

Adira was an experienced huntress, but she was a ranger above everything. She loved the woods, be it Winter or Summer... every season held some unique charm for her. In Winter she enjoyed the soft duvet of white snow that covered the ground, the silence and the sharp sunlight twinkling on the frozen pond. Spring was the season of rebirth, with the birds chirping and singing, and the fresh, crispy smell of the wet earth under her boots. Summer was bountiful, offering her berries and mushrooms... and Autumn was golden, sleepy decay.

Whenever hunger and necessity called for it, though, Adira became a killer. Armed with her sharp knives and accompanied by her pet raven who served as her scout, she dived into the forest... and did not leave until she had her prey. A rabbit, usually, or a pheasant... and very, very seldom even something bigger, like a young deer.

And today Adira was walking the hunting path again. Her pantry was empty, so was her stomach... and it looked like Black Claw, the raven, smelled something as he was hopping on the shoulder of his mistress quite impatiently. “Shhhh.... let’s go and see what it is, shall we, Clawie?” – whispered Adira, and sprung forward...

... and tomorrow morning I’m telling you what she found.

Outfit: Black Cat Bones „Storm” that also includes the boots – Lucky Cage prize for this week (0 L$). The outfit is very well done, and I particularly like the small elaborate details, such as the hand stitching on the riveted belt, the soft paisley pattern of the underskirt, the coil of rope hanging on the belt and the second knife half hidden in the left boot.

Necklace: Fallen Leafs „Spiritweaver” – Lucky Chair prize (0 L$).

Hair accessory: Caverna Obscura „Elven Hair Sticks” – gift in the shop (0 L$).

Shoulder pet: Montagne Noire. It was part of a previous Twisted Hunt prize, and it’s not available any more. However, if you’d like to have your own pet raven, drop me a line, because it’s copy/trans. :)

Skin: Rockberry „Megan” A Natural – Lucky Chair prize (0 L$).

Hair: Alice Project „Persuasion SE” in Brown – Lucky Board prize (0 L$). The hair is rigged mesh, the giftbox contains three sizes and two alpha layers, plus the hairtips are tintable.

Hairbase: Analog Dog „Black” – free gift package available in the shop (0 L$).

Eyes: Sterling Artistry „February Caramel” – former monthly freebie, but I’m sure you’ll find something quite similar in the shop. :)

Poses: CS Shapes „Gentle Poses” – former Womenstuff Hunt prize, not available any more.

The pictures were made at the Skerry of Einar, a Gorean RP sim. 

[roma aeterna est]

Rome is eternal - and so is its beautiful style of clothing that still influences nowadays RL- and SL-fashion world. Vigo's 'Atia' dress uses those days' rather simple and figure-hugging cuts in combination with opulent fabrics and sumptuous accessories. The outfit comes in a wide range of colours and includes, along with the dress, a diadem, a pair of bracelets for the upper arms and cork sandals with prim feet (not shown). As you can see in the picture, the different pieces of clothing allow you to create several styles, no matter if you're going to use the outfit for roleplay or a masquerade ball.

On Raven:

Hair: Analog Dog - Lua
Skin: -Glam Affair- - Gio Light
Eyes: ::UH:: - Doll Eye (lightblue)

Outfit: ViGo - Atia (sky)

Miss bargain hunter

There are so many hunts on the go at the moment that I've been so busy doing them and not finding the time to blog them. Today I managed to sort out my sock drawer of an inventory, so todays post is a little collection of a few of my favourite pieces from various hunts, for 3 different looks.

 Hair: L$280 LOK255 > Boon

Top: Free Kawaii hunt item for SMS  ( all pieces of a puzzle must be complete before gifts can be collected) start point here > Alberto Kawaai hunt

Necklace: Free hunt item for the Kawaii hunt > Deco

Shorts: L$2190m high waist shorts > Shampooo

Shoes: Free luckyboard item - purple flats > Honey kitty

Hair: Free inside the bubbles on the beach > Analog dog

Dress: Free  Euphoria hunt item ( looking for a teal letter E group tag required)   > SYS

Shoes: L$ Cheyenne boots black ( group members get 50% discount on fridays) > Skifija

Hair: L$280 - GIC128 > Boon

Dress: L$5 Sonia dress - silver > KKBB

Scarf: L$75 for pack of 31 floret ties  - charcoal > Jane

Shoes: Free smiley face hunt item ( you are looking for a smiley face icon ) > Skifija

[with or without you]

Since natural tones always remind me of the countryside, I took the bus to Mikrokosmos to find a matching background for my picture for Luna's blogger challenge - whose colour is ecru this week. Mikrokosmos is a beautiful, little spot out in the green, reminding me pretty much in the Mediterranean area with its garden and fields and the beautiful architecture, a place of golden sunlight, silence and solitude. A place that invites you to dangle your legs on one of the wooden fences and stare down the dusty road, waiting for your lost love to return...


Skin: .:Hermony:. - Kriz ST1 - Goatee
Hair: Analog Dog - Kia
Eyes: Poetic Colours - Spring Meadow
Beard: -dD- Beards - Leon

Belt: { Kari } - Classic Ink Belt
Shirt: *Connors* - CountryBoy
Pants: ::LikeA:: - Denim Camouflage
Tattoo: **Dr.Ink** - Lily (store closed, IM Gargoyle Gloom for stuff)
Necklace: A:S:S - Dawn Necklace

Inspiring song: Embrio - With or without you (cover)

i❤hair.....

Iam a hairholic, so everytime i can i bough new hair.
Last week i went all the way over to Analog Dog, looking for something new and i find out that they has some new hair on the bubbles that you find in the beach....
So Run to analog and grab this gift, amazing quality, great style and all for FREE...

here is your taxi....

Kisses.... Ania