Fantasy Faire - Why I Relay 2023

The soaring towers of the citadel in their sombre granite sheens did not speak of welcome. Their sturdiness and sky piercing grandeur gave the correct air of dependability and beneficent authority, but welcome? No. Thats's where I come in. Follow me, we'll head inside.

 


Come on in, follow me, no need to stand on ceremony here! I know it looks grand, but soon enough these soaring vaults of stone will feel as familiar as your own home. That's the way, follow the path.

You feel like you have been searching for something all this time? Worry not, my dear new friend, that's why you have found yourself here. There's long been the call within to do something, something which struggled to find a place, a name, a focus. Here you can find it, here it's been waiting.

There's a fellowship that's been calling, in voices unmatched. Singing together through wires and bursts of light, across oceans and through the quiet mists, always searching, always reaching, always welcoming. You felt the call, you've suffered, lost, taken action, hoped. You've read and you've listened, and now you are here, whether your path was labyrinthine or direct. Here you have found a family, a home. Voices and hearts, souls caring for one another deeply, though they may never have met, other than here; in this magical, ephemeral place. A society, a people with one goal, of which you are now part. A beautiful goal, one of hope for the world, to rid it of a life changing, life stealing disease. 

Here you are, in fellowship, in hope, in love. You never leave, this place and its people will always be with you, and you with them, all of us doing our part, all of us fighting this fight together.

Each year the Faireland blogger challenge of "Why I Relay" is just that, a challenge. For me, its always like nothing seems enough, no words can encapsulate, no image could convey the depth of feeling, the power of meaning that this event brings. For those we have lost to cancer, for those living with it, and fighting against it. For those who fear it, and what it may mean for themselves or those they love. For those in quiet rooms, in busy labs, in clinics and wards, in homes in workplaces. To fight against this disease is a standard, not moral but intrinsic nontheless. To fight and stand against it with such beauty and fellowship as is demonstrated year on year by the Fantasy Faire, by creators, world builders and shoppers, by dancers, actors, scripters... the list goes on and on. You are all amazing.

If you can, join us at the Fantasy Faire in SecondLife. Meet the people, feel the love. Fight this fight with us. 

Images taken in Faireland SIM Szystrum Synod

Items featured are available at the Fantasy Faire, and are donation items, raising money for Relay for Life.

 
Hovering Whisps : 3rd Eye Perceptions - Shine Whisps ( Light Fantasy )
The Shimmering Fen

Halo : [Cubic Cherry] {Innocence} halo Aether touch
Szystrum Synod

Hair :  KMH - Hair F227 Rigged
Spirits Crossing

Eyes :  [n.a.p] [not a peep] Starburst Eyes - 13
Khumbala

Horns :  Schelm :) FF005 - fantasy sheep horn [FAT]
Giggenwhirl

Tattoo :   *Find the Fish* - The Moon Tattoo Full
Opera

Outfit :  :[P&E]:- [Petrichor] - Saina Short [Lara]
Fungalmire

Sandals : Tentacio - Celestial sandal wings
Opera

The Chrysalis Gardener - Fantasy Faire 2022

It was peaceful in the chrysalis gardens in the quiet of the night...

It could be mistaken, by a casual observer, to be too quiet. Especially should that casual observer have read far too many mystery novels lately, and there had been such, lurking around the gateways, tapping lightly, in varying rhythms on the wooden walkways. More people than ever seemed to be out in the night, looking for something. The regular soundtrack of the gloaming continued, the soft footfall and swish of silk adding familiarity and depth to each novel tap, rattle and voice.

Each step sent familiar vibrations through the trees, the soft scent of flowers spreading, carried on each drift of the warming air. In these gardens, flowers were not the focus, being neither planted nor tended. High on walkways strung between ancient boughs, such scents came only from the gardeners themselves. An odd garden, where nights were often warmer than the day.

This was a place where nature's magic was distilled. Existing almost everywhere, often beaten back by the regulation of concrete and brick, nature flowed like a river. Rivers ran to places such as this. Here, in the world of instars and metamorphoses, change was possible like nowhere else. Light dripped, caught in strands hanging on the air like thread. The most delicate silk turned to armour stronger than steel. Life shifted, changing form so completely that none who hadn't seen it would ever truly believe it was possible, believing instead it to be some clever trick, an act of misdirection.

Wings fluttered, drying in the ever swirling currents of air warmed by their fellows still dancing and fighting free of their protective homes. The chrysalis gardens shimmered, reflected in millions of compound eyes. 

 

The Chrysalis Gardens is just one of the beautiful SIMs making up The Fantasy Faire 2022. It's as dreamy and magical as it looks here, and of course, there are shops aplenty where you can buy amazing items, including those available at each store where 100% of the purchase price is donated directly to Relay for Life, benefitting the American Cancer Society.

 

All items listed below are 100% donation to Relay for Life.

Hair: KMH - Hair F163 Rigged(M)
Bassett Town

Skin : Mindgardens Creations! Star Mesh - Blue
Living Echoes

Tattoo:  [AERTH] Moon Tears Body Tattoo MAGENTA
Atheneum

Butterfly Mask: DREAMCATCHER // Mystic Butterfly 01
Necturn Moon

Necklace:  Poet's Heart - Lunar Necklace
Mythspire Ridge

Ear Cuffs:  Schelm :) FF004 - Wire elf ear cuffs- Fantasy -F
The Chrysalis Gardens

Eyes:  [not.a.peep] Anomalous Eyes - 07
Bassett Town

Dress:  Thimblewytch ~SWD~ Colors of Cancer Gown
The Hunros Mine

Heels:  [Mil*Mil] Lace_up Heels-Peach
Tenpyo

Staff: Bloom Staff - Polearm
Living Echoes

Spring Awakening - Fantasy Faire 2022

There was something in the air...
Something in the earth. Something shifting, from the swirl of magma far below to the patterns traced by skylarks chasing through the twilight sky.

In the caves beneath the pristine surface of Tenpyo the vibrations of the change could be seen in the flickering of the candles, now swaying almost imperceptibly in the ancient lanterns. The ripples of the waters told the tale of the shift, not only the turn of the season, but something deeper, as meaningful as winter melting to spring, fresh signs of life anew.

Selene had held the light of the moon in the palm of her hand, in these days and nights of spring it now warmed, glowed with more than its usual reflected light. This warmth came from the source of the vibration felt throughout nature, the addition to the blossoming of spring which had come and gone for so many years before. Now was the time to emerge into the daylight, to a world rendered anew through the power behind this new feeling. A world summoned, crafted and created by hope.

This was a world much changed of late. A world in which new terrors had overtaken those of old, though the old fears remained, lurking and gnawing at those they could reach. These fears, old and new, were brought to a new light each season, each day, each chime of the clock. Hope remained. Hope grew. Hope filled the worlds and wrought them, changing old patterns, forging new pathways, uncovering the way. The shift came from the people of the world, from those facing the fears. From those who had loved, and lost, and refused to let that be the end. For those fighting, caring, healing, challenging the ways things had always been. Those gnawing teeth would be made to loosen. The bite so dreaded be soothed and heal. Those who were lost will always be remembered, hope carrying their names into the light.

It's here! The Fantasy Faire has returned to bring hope and light to the world once again. We've been through so much since last we met, Covid continues. War rages. We are losing so much while fighting so hard. In these times of uncertainty, fear and dispair, this is a beacon of hope. The Fantasy Faire does what it has always done, it brings light. Something to look forward to, something to enjoy, which actually does you good, in addition to it a c t u a l l y d o i n g g o o d !!! Seriously folks, raising money for Relay for Life, the American Cancer Society, does real tangible good in the world. It brings relief to those suffering, it supports those toiling to find new treatments, it funds the searches for cures. This is a highlight, the heart and soul of my calendar, where not only can I make my life more interesting and fun through the beautiful creations of talented artists, I, and you can make a real difference to those facing, and fighting cancer. So please, take some time and take a break from the negatives of reality if you can. Dip into the light, life and beauty of the Fantasy Faire. Help people you will never meet. You may never know how much you mean to them, but believe it from me, they thank you.

The Fantasy Faire is live and kicking, so many beautiful SIMs, so many amazing creators, so many beautiful things to buy!

All items shown are 100% donation to Relay for Life - American Cancer Society

Halo : Air_Amaho halo_Purple_CM
The Chrysalis Gardens

Hair :  KMH - Hair F195 Rigged(L)
Bassett Town

Skin :   .:S:. [G3] Dantela [F20] Lianna: Standard: Brows
Atheneum

Eyes :  Oiche // Elemental Dragon Eyes [Water]
Living Echoes

Top :  !dM Ines - LARA Collar, Feathers, Harness **FF2022**
Opet

Belt & Skirt : Mishmash Fusion - Grave Dancer Sparkle  - Red -
Aarkenfen

Orb : Jinx : Necturn Moon Hand Orb - Honey -
Necturn Moon

Dragons from the Depths

Down in the caverns you could hear the rumblings of the world above. Over aeons the remains of lives lived in the light worked their way down, their bones finding life anew in the softly phosphorescing flora that bloomed down in the dark.



It was a rare experience to visit the realms above, caught between shock and fascination at seeing bones in their most lifeline form, a giant skeleton resting peacefully, easing its way into the earth.



She kept the fear, bottled around her neck, always within reach should it be needed. Here in these lands she faced the unexpected, searching, following the pull that had enticed her out from the dark. The vital missing component from the depths, life itself. Up here, following the bones, she found it. Powerful. Dangerous. Wonderfully alive.



Once again - apologies for the short story! All items shown are available at the Fantasy Faire - all 100% donation to Relay for Life - the American Cancer Society. Please go, shop, help save lives!

Horns:  *Rainbow Sundae* Forest Horns - Special Edition Purple 1   
Rainbow Sundae (Faire Store in J’adoube)

Hair:  KMH - Hair F163 Rigged
KMH (Faire Store in J’adoube)

Skin:  Stix ~ Inara B CALM [SOYLENT]
Stix (Faire Store in Mithlumen)

Eyes: A.D.D.Andel! Doe Eyes- RFL 3
A.D.D. Andel (Faire Store in A’Dracunas)

Necklace: !TLB - Potion Necklace/Fear
!TLB (Faire Store in Khol Dracys)

Top: [The Forge] Drina Bodice, Black. Maitreya.
[TF] – Tamiron Forge (Faire Store in Tempest Bay)

Skirt:  AtaMe - Maga Skirt Maitreya Black
AtaMe (Faire Store in J’adoube)

Tattoo:  GERMINAL - LAMIA FEET tattoo faded
GERMINAL (Faire Store in Somniatoris Arx)

 

Images taken in Fantasy Faire Sims Adracunas, Ostara and Khol Dracys

Fantasy Faire 2021 - Why I Relay

 

Dawn was breaking in the East.
Shadows slunk before the glow coating the land, slithering a retreat from the unstoppable rise of the sun. Cockerels and Snakes wrought in gold glimmered atop the spires of the city, their feathers and scales the first to feel the warmth of the new day. Before long the bells would ring the hour, the cowelled and masked sentinels of time must, even now, be wrenching their collective gaze from the eternally swinging censer, the heartbeat of the city. The aroma of night still lingered, drifting across the rooftops. This would soon change, the somnolent scent invigorated with the addition of morning's herbs, enticing the population to awaken.

Up high in the city's near countless belfries, the peals and chimes could easily be deafening, only those born to it could brave those halls. It was here that Katja spent her hours, tending to the bells. Throughout the day and night their tones reverberated, the air in the spire thick with it; the ferocity fading with distance, allowing near silence to echo through the lanes far below. Of course, just as the ever changing aroma of the censer permeated each dwelling and workplace, there was never true silence in the city. That was the point.

The resonance of the bells had over the decades first damaged, then shredded the webbing of her wings. Katja's role had cost her the ease of flight. Reaching heights was no longer as simple as stepping out from the spire and looking aloft. Tendrils of smoke still etched the rising thermals as clearly to her as pen ink on parchment, only now their reading took such effort, and there was always work to be done. She supposed it was always so, for those at work in the city. They gave of themselves in order to carry out their tasks. As the hours passed, with each turn of the key usually kept safe round her neck, new music was drawn up the spire. The bell's changes were rung, and the chimes sang out to drift through the windows of buildings nearby.

As night fell, Katja could leave her post and roam the city. Away from the intensity of the bells the thrum of life in the city was more palpable, the heartbeats of thousands following the beat of the swinging censer. Each of the lands had a place like this, or so it was said. Some would be recognisable, following principles which made sense to their understanding, some she knew, were far beyond it, for good or ill. This city was a place of healing. Every part of its design put in place for the benefit of those in need. The architecture held to mathmatical perfection, the golden ratio evident in the layout of the streets. Their censer spread the smoke of healing herbs, vitalizing from the dawn, calming and soothing from the dusk, easing residents into restful slumber. The tone of the bells, those high and low reverberated at frequencies encouraging healing, as though each spire held the power of a powerful cat's purr. Their work took its toll, they had made their choice, and felt the gratitude flowing from the world.

It's that time, and it's that challenge. Why I Relay. 

In all honesty, when writing this, my thoughts have been more with Covid than with cancer. When really, the pandemic, which was still in its infancy when we gathered for the faire last year, is a further layer of toil and hurt existing on top of everything we have been fighting for so long. People are still getting cancer. People are still in need of treatment. People are still frightened to go to the doctor, terror of what might be found paralysing them from action. All that, and a deadly virus on top? Wow. 

Hopefully this post is more upbeat for this challenge than I have managed in the past - and I can hold back from dipping into the cynical side of my nature - to consider this. Covid has happened, it has been the weirdest worldwide experience for decades, and now we have vaccines. Varient strains emerge, and in time working together, we will have vaccines which protect against these too. We have the same hope for the fight against cancer.  That hope. That's why I Relay.

So go, shop. Raise money for this hopeful cause.

Items listed are 100% Donation to Relay for Life

Hair : KMH - Hair F162  

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jadoube/66/31/69

Skin : Ab.Fab Daenerys Amethyst Skin HDPRO-Cleavage-BOM 

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isles%20of%20Tarrin/205/57/126

Tattoo : ArtToo's - Black Dragon Tattoo 

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Adracunas/56/23/65 

Eyes: Not A Peep - [n.a.p] Hoard Eyes - 05 - Amethyst

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Somniatoris%20Arx/135/77/79 

Mask : Air - Maschera a un'ala /C_gold_CM

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jadoube/226/40/73 

Necklace - [+Oblivis+] Gehenna Key Chain Necklace

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Somniatoris%20Arx/35/216/73

Wings : [SpiderProductions] Grim Skeletal Wings RFL

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/The%20Amethyst%20Rift/208/140/30 

Gown : Belle Epoque - Nailah - RFL

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isles%20of%20Tarrin/141/72/145 

Nails : VENGE - Legacy - Stiletto Nails

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FF%20Valhalla/74/41/121

Poses : Pink Moon - Gypsy Soul

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/FF%20Yin%20Yang/69/53/90 

 

Twinkle night bargains

I've barely been in SL this week after a manic home life - still got the builders in causing havoc, I think I have noticed a few items of underwear missing too! and I won't have much left at this rate & i've been looking after 2 teeny tiny apple head babies which has perked me up no end.

Anyway when I have been in SL I have been paid a fair few compliments on this ensemble so it was imperative that I blog it. I've picked up some amazing bargains at the twinkle night bazaar ok yeah I did just about buy everything there! but everyone loves the hair! and 75L for 3 different styles surely that can't be right can it? oh yes it is go grab em quick sez I

Oh Oh and talking of bargains , well Bare sensual is quick becoming my favourite bargain skin store, I've blogged 2 from there now and have lots more to share too, there's also a really nice drow skin out at the moment which is quite a pale grey with lovely pink make up it's much more interesting than most drow skins i've seen.




Hair & Hat: 75L - TNB2011 by KMH @ > Twinkle night bazaar
Skin: 10L - sahara skin > Bare sensual
Eyes: 200L - old moss > Poetic colours
Eyeliner& lashes: 75L > V.E.L
Scarf: sorry since I got this last week the store has changed & scarf has been removed grrr
Dress: 300L - white Dolce dress > Vero Modero
Shoes: 30L - bubble flats by Pink Ribbon @> Twinkle night bazaar
socks: 1L - lace socks by Pink Ribbon @> Twinkle night bazaar
Bag: 0L - luckyboard item > Pesca

Fashion by accident

Well todays post is inspired by a little mishap I had it SL yesterday (see my plurk link for details) and In this post I have overloaded on various textures but I still think it works. For me having everything so colour matched and co-ordinated often doesn't seem right. I love an eclectic mix, so lucky for me that that many styles at the moment embrace that, so what if your footwear doesn't match your handbag? so what if textures and colours clash? it may not work for you but there may be elements of the look that might do.

 If you're confident about what you wear that comes across, if you've heard the statement "it's not what you wear it's how you wear it" then you'll know what I mean. I'm sure you'll all know someone that just seems to be able to throw anything on, even if it does break many fashion rules and still look amazing gah! to them hehe but this is SL so have fun with it! Oh and by the way the top & shorts is a little preview of an amazing outfit you'll be able to pick up in the Depraved summer nights hunt which starts 1st June, but it's a good excuse to check out the cute items in store beforehand.

Skin: 0L luckychair - Lae skin > The oBscene
Hair: 0L - luckyboard > KMH
Hat: Was a previous group gift but other Fedoras can be bought here for a little as 68L > Oompa
Top & shorts: 0L depraved summer nights hunt gift ( hunt starts 1st June)  > AMERICAN BAZAAR
Scarf: 0L pch hunt item > Kucinta
Bracelets : 100L pair of black leather bracelets > Legit
Belt: 185L Deco knot belt - silver > Eclectica
Boots:199L  do se do cowboy boots > Le Poppycock
Doughnut: 0L luckyboard item > DownDownDown

Vero Modero & much more

I'm having a Vero Modero day Oh this store has some lovely items. I must start by saying that in my first 2 pictures, I have split what is actually one outfit, so the trousers on the first pic come in the same package as the top & bolero in the second pic. Hair! you know I have a penchant for it, well this particular one is a luckyboard item , however the hairs in store are a steal at only 80L so get down there and grabs wigs folks!

Hair: 0L group luckyboard item > SyDS
Top: 0L luckyboard > Ribbon
Trousers & Belt: 350L part of the shine set > Vero Modero
Shoes: 0L group luckyboard item > Ah Flou
Table: 0L seasons hunt item > Lisp



Hair & hat: 0L  gift > KMH
Vest & Bolero: 350L part of the shine set > Vero Modero
Shorts: 59L - lace pant - white > Awram Viie
Le warmers: 0L group gift > Salire
Shoes: 0L pink sneakers > Maschienenwerk



OMG I love this outfit! detailing of the top is great and the colours I love too, there is a green one too which is an unusual shade..HAIR! 30L and is one of my favourites to date! oh but the shoes oh how I love shoes, and if you love them as much as I do then J's has got to be one of your top priorities, they are simply amazing. This pair is divine they just look so great n your feet , particularly with the little prim toes, a serious amount of detailing has gone into these, and I love the fact that I can remove the prims that go round the leg for another different style shoe. Oh better just mention too , that these gorgeous shorts come with a prim  red cuff, but i chose not to wear then on this occasion.

Hair: 30L - unbirthday redux - kit kat  > Lamb
Shoes: 400L  - Real toe tassle wedge sandal - Beige > J's
Top:  New vega top > Vero Modero
Shorts: 1L Baggy shorts - denim > Norilicious
Earrings: 0L camping item > U&R dogs
Bracelets: 1L - Breeze - red > Phoenix rising



This hair I've been stalking for days on the luckyboard at kmh, and so I've roped in so many people to help me that just about everyone in SL must now have It  (thank you lovelies xx) but I knew I wanted It to go with this dress. I can't help but adore this dress look at the detail!! oh and the colour! oh which brings me onto the shoes! again. Now I know I've blogged these shoes so many times but I can't stress enough that they're going to be one of the best things you'll ever buy in SL, seriously they go with everything, with the colour change script with 112 options you're never going to be stuck with an outfit with no shoes to match, plus group members get a 50% discount every Friday so in effect you're getting 112 pairs of shoes for 75L ....crazy!

Hair: 0L  luckyboard > KMH
Dress: 600L -  Rome - Vero Modero
Shoes: 149L -  Andromeda heels > Skifija
Jewelry: 0L - Bunnies revenge ( box on the sofa) > Ganked