Browsing through the Showcase tab in Searc, I spotted the Engine Room. The blurb read "Engine Room is a biannual Steampunk/Aetherpunk/Dieselpunk themed shopping event brought to you by Second Life Syndicate. Running from April 20th to May 20th, the Engine Room features some of the best designers on the grid housed in a unique custom build by Walton F. Wainwright (faust.steamer) of [ContraptioN]."
I love steampunk and Walton F. Wainwright (faust.steamer) was one of the Worldbuilders at Fantasy Faire 2020. He created Auxentios’ Pass, which I loved wandering the streets of as if I was in some steampunk novel.
I had to go and check it out and it certainly didn't disappoint. The build is Victorian, deco, Gothic - spacious, dark, neon, sumptuously accented in gold detailing. Water flows down the walls in to pools. The central ceiling is supported by columns with a golden halo framework radiating out of a triangle. The chandeliers are (of course) suitable industrial.
There are a range of interesting vendors there such as Violent Seduction, [ContraptioN], Wicca's Originals, toksik, The Forge, Schadenfreude and many more.
Visit the Engine Room.
Over the past couple of weeks, I have spent time at Fantasy Faire 2020. A lot of time. Most of the time I have been logged in to Second Life, I have roamed the regions of the Faire. It took me a couple of days to get my bearings and work my way around the 18 regions. It then took me a few days to check out every store. Added to that were the parties and coffee mornings and the other events such as roleplay classes and poetry readings.
I definitely had favourite regions (Spirit Valley of Kuruk, Elemaria, Lunafae, Queensgarden, Autumnium, Auxentios Pass, Zodiac) but every one of them was beautiful in its own way. I loved the serenity of Spirit Valley or Kuruk and Lunafae, the open feeling of Zodiac, the roleplay feel of Auxentios Pass and the beauty of Queensgarden. One afternoon I was so drawn in to the feel of Lunafae whilst riding my Teegle Mythos through it, that I realised I was visualising the feel of the sun on my skin and the smell of the grass under hoof.
I cannot imagine where to start to build an entire themed region, let alone how to put it together in such incredible detail. The world builders of the Faire did an amazing job, not just with putting the regions together, but also with the elements they used from textures, to rocks, to flowers, to blades of grass. The scale of the task is enormous - and then to put it all together with all of the other regions to allow a smooth transition from one to the other. I am in awe of their imaginations, creativity and skill.
Wandering the Faire, even for someone like me, there was a sense of a community coming together to celebrate. Having BPD makes it difficult for me to make connections. I am the safe friend in your list - I will never IM you or send TP requests; I am in the background - there when you need a chat or want someone to visit an event with. When I am not required, I wander alone. Yet even whilst wandering alone at the Faire, I felt part of something.
In a time when the world is in such an unsettled state, I found myself able to leave it behind and become immersed in the regions of the Faire. I was human, elf, mer, faun, fae, centaur. I explored. I took pics. I miss it already.
The Relay For Life event is coming. Second Pride is coming. I am sure there are plenty more events planned in the virtual world, but the sheer scale and beauty of Fantasy Faire 2020 will be hard to beat.
Today I paid a visit to Healthinfo Island. It covers a myriad of issues and support services.
The region features:-
- a Path of Support with links to inworld groups dealing with everything from disabilities to mental health issues
- Health exhibits dealing with Borderline Personality Disorder, Maintaining Mental Health, Dementia, Depression, Minority Mental Health Equity and information about different types of mental health
- An area containing research including information about clinical trials
- A library with resources
- A reading room
- A gym so your avatar can have a work out
- A cute little herb garden with details about different herbs
If you or a loved ones has any health issues, give it a look. Visit Healthinfo Island here.
Today I was browsing through the Secret Sale Sundays HUD and saw some Rainbow Cupcakes by Breux Willow that I thought might come in handy for a Pride display. I TPd to WillowVale which is home to Breaux Willow , Granola, BoWillow & Breaux. It isn't the sort of place I would usually visit as it is geared towards items for families and child avatars - all things I don't have.
It's a beachfront parcel surrounded by cliffs. The stores are all in their own separate buildings around the parcel. I love the layout! I landed on the beach by some market stalls and wandered in to the first shop which is a building accessed through a mine tunnel. There are vendors selling clothing for Bebe Toddler, Youth and Chonk, along with some Halloween decor items, cupcakes, furnishings suitable for children and some Gachas.
Up the ladder outside is a shop with some poses. Up more ladders are more shops - one is dug in to the ground (a range of cute Gachas as well as more children's clothing), one is a rustic tree house style building on a pond and the last is in a barn.
I just love the look of the area; it is a departure from sellers who have a line up of identikit booths.
Find WillowVale here.
