June 22, 2020June 22, 2020 by Three Knots

Storm’s Coming

Dear Richard,

I got your email. I mean, obviously I got it; else I wouldn’t be replying to it. You can probably see your email at the bottom of my email or something. I don’t know. I guess it depends on your client and your preferences, but yeah. Hi.

It’s morning here

It’s morning here, or I guess it is since I haven’t been up all that long and I’m still in my jammies. My jammies have unicorns. I have matching slippers. If I had to do all this myself, I’d never be organised enough to find my jammies, much less matching slippers, but there you have it. You say you’re lucky. I certainly have had a lot of luck over the past several years. Sometimes good luck, sometimes bad luck, but luck I have had.

The family balcony

This is the family residence balcony, though I do have guests here from time to time: everywhere else is so formal. It’s comfortable this time of year, even though that sky’s beginning to darken somewhat so I’ll have to keep a look out for Weather. I’m a lot less bothered about weather than I used to be, though. There’s a daytime moon here, because I like the moon so I put one there. It just makes me smile.

Two paragraphs in and I’m rambling already. I don’t know what to say to you, if I’m honest. The answer is no; I haven’t Googled you. At first, it was because I was afraid to. If you can see back to the very beginning of the blog, when I first came away, you’ll see that I went to a place where I was discouraged from checking anything about my own potentially contemporary life out. So I left it, and so much was happening it just seemed the right thing to do, to let it all happen as it happened. I didn’t want to see my own funeral notices. I didn’t want to know if that life had ended completely, and where I was there seemed such a lot going on. The more I talk, the more I realise there’s no excused. I should have tried to find you.

You are welcome

Of course, you are welcome to come to Awenia. If you coordinate with me ahead of time, I can offer you a place to stay. There’s space for guests in the Residence, but I don’t know if you’d like it. I’m thinking of one of the floating guesthouses; we have a few that are broken up into nice flats. I can’t put you in the Treehouse, because visiting Fae dignitaries get all puffy if they think that residence isn’t reserved for them.

Floating

Yes, I think the sky is definitely darkening. Behind me here you can see the steps to the Treehouse, and just the edge of one of the floating guesthouses. They’re quite nice. I can’t concentrate on my book. I don’t know why I brought it out here. Something about floating in the lagoon on a nice day, even if there’s a storm coming, makes me feel peaceful and I need a bit of peace right now. You’ve probably seen the statue on some of our literature: lots of people are referring to it as the Awenia Statue, but really he’s called The Last Hope. He’s a symbol of our Realm, I guess, even though he came from somewhere very far away.

You seem very far away, even though I’m looking at photographs of you now on my iPad, and thank you for the link to your author site: I’ll start reading the first one tonight.

Dabbling

I’m so pleased you embraced writing. I’ve always been such a dabbler in things I never could choose a path to follow that wasn’t the one I stumbled on to while dabbling. And you’ve had a journey that I hope we can talk about when you come to visit Awenia.

“When” is such a funny word, isn’t it? You will have heard that time flows differently in different Realms, but it’s an odd concept until it smacks you in the face, I think. And there’s no easy way to say this, so I’m going to smack you in the face, I reckon. You say it’s been thirty years, where you are. For me, by my counting anyway, it’s just coming up on eight years since the last time we saw one another. That sounds like dancing about. It’s just coming up on eight years since the accident that led me to cross the river into Jasper and begin to discover myself as I was born and not as I was made. As for why I didn’t reveal my Fae nature back then, the truth is I didn’t know it, and that’s a conversation we can have over dinner or coffee or whatever you fancy, but it’s not something I can write down because it will make no sense written down.

Now, I am going to pop off the Rosé floatie and get myself a cup of coffee at the portal café before the rain comes. Then, I think I’ll settle down with a nice ebook I’ve just downloaded. After all, it’s nearly sundown and I’m still in my jammies.

A hope

Our statue is called The Last Hope, but I have many hopes. One of them is that when you cross through our portal and into Awenia that you’ll find many things to like here, and that you and I will find many things to talk about. Probably I’ll wear something a bit more presentable than pyjamas, though.

Notes & Credits:
My jammies: 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Flannels & Halter (Get them at the 1313 Mockinbird Lane Main Store!)
My slippers: 1313 Mockingbird Lane, Flannel Slippers (Get them at the 1313 Mockingbird Lane Main Store!)
My Hair: Wasabi, Summer (Get it at Summerfest!)
My Skin: Ritual, Elspeth in T1 (Because NOBODY does pale and luminous like Ritual! You can get this and other Ritual skins at the Ritual Main Store. Elspeth comes in a host of tones, including some beautiful fantasy colours.)
My Eyes: S0ng, Marina Eyes
My Eyelashes: Shiny Stuffs, Bouquet Of Lashes
My Lipstick: theMARS, Sanity Lip
My Body: Maitreya
My Head: Lelutka, Lake Evolution Mesh Head
My Ears: Swallow, Elf Ears High Definition

Other Cool Stuff in these photos:
My Castle: Rivendale, Dreamy Castle (best contemporary faerie castle on the grid)
My Deck Furniture: Artisan Fantasy, Gazebo
The Visible Floating Guest House: 22769 / bauwerk, Somewhere Only We Know House
The Awenia Statue: Death Row Designs, Last Hope Statue
Lotus Flowers and Lily Pads: Rivendale
Partially Visible Treehouse: LAQ, Serene Tree & Windmill Home
Rosé Floatie: Granola, Salt Water Rosé Float (At Summerfest!)

October 23, 2018October 26, 2018 by Three Knots

Small World, Part 2

Another day, another breakfast. I get the feeling the weather may be about to turn; there’s a generous bowl of porridge this morning, a pot of coffee in addition to the usual orange juice. I wish once again that I could have coffee every day.

Halfway through, it starts to rain. Great. This means I will spend at least part of the day inside. So. Not. Thrilled.

Down the stairs I come

And yet, down the stairs I come, because there’s even less to do up there. I’ll try reading for a while, and I might or might not just give up since I’ve read them all (well, almost all of them: there is this huge and bloody dry one called The Silmarillion that I’ve given up on more times than I’ve read most of the others).

This is my nap face.

Maybe I’ll spend the morning napping on the couch on trying not to think about things too much. I don’t really like napping. This is my nap face, though. It’s a good nap face.

But there’s that damn beeping noise again. Beep-beep; beep-beep; beep-beep. Am I crazy, or is it more frequent today? I’m probably crazy. Or perhaps it’s the sound of an approaching Prince. Let’s go with that.

No luck.

Aaand.. that-was an abysmal failure. Super. The windows are still rain-streaked, and I’m sure this break in the rain is only temporary.

I hear laughter in the distance. Perhaps the gods or goddesses of fate are laughing at my stupidity, thinking I could get a nap on a rainy day in my lonely little world.

The music-box shelf

I wander over to the music-box Shelf. Sure, I’ve heard them all before, multiple times. But somehow, even though I know in my heart there must be more music then I can imagine Out There…the familiar tunes are comforting.

What does this stuff do?

What does this stuff do? I have no freaking idea. But I’m sure if I explored the much more dry books that reside in the cabinet below these shelves, I could figure something out. Of course, there’s no point in learning to make poisons if I’ve nobody to poison. Maybe this is all stock knowledge for the future. I could come away from this place with a stockpile of poisons, in case my Prince doesn’t turn out to be my perfect match. Then I’d be a widow with a really big dowry. This shelf is a relatively new addition to the tower, so I haven’t really explored it yet— but some of those bottles contain things that smell right nasty.

Too much tea!

When I make my way back over to the bookshelf, possibly to read Gossamer Axe one more time, I see that someone or something has placed yet another tea service on the table. What’s with all this tea? No sandwiches, no biscuits, just tea. Obviously it’s not lunch time yet, but do they really expect me to drink all this tea? Three pots full? Perhaps it is some kind of tea test. What sort of test could you take with tea?

Beep-beep; beep-beep; beep-beep. Murmuring voices. A different series of beeps. Are they (whoever they are) trying to drive me round the bend?

I know: I shall ask the Wishing Fairy to take all these noises away.

My closest companion.

Sure, she’s a silver cast statue— but she’s the closest thing to a full-size companion I have in this place of weirdness. “Hey,” I say, “Wishing Fairy.” (I don’t know if that’s her real name but I’ve called her that since I’ve been here and she’s never objected) “Can you make those noises go away? I’m really tired of them.” And suddenly I have a coughing fit. I don’t know why. Great. My handkerchiefs are upstairs.

I go up to retrieve the handkerchief, and I feel dizzy on the stairs: that’s unusual. On the way back down, handkerchief in hand, I have to use the handrail. Still a bit dizzy, and the fall would be pretty bad, I assume.

At the bottom of the stairs, I take a few deep breaths and look out the window. The rain appears to have stopped, so I can get out of this stuffy tower, at least for a little while.

The reading bench

So, back to my favourite reading bench I go, copy of Gossamer Axe in hand. It’s one of my favourites, even though I don’t know the first thing about the kinds of music they talk about in the book. It’s my favourite first line ever, though.

“Chick with a harp.”

Style Card:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Catwa Keme Bento Mesh Head
Skin: Lumae, Catwa Cinnamon, Tone (All current skin lines are available at the Lumae Main Store!)
Hair: Truth, Yuko
Ears: Swallow, Shiny Elf Ears
Eyes: S0ng, Demi Eyes
Makeup: Cazimi, Flushed Blush cheeks, Tempting eyeshadow, Pastel Petals lips and nails
Circlet: Ersch, Bethany Headband
Necklace: RealEvil Industries, Noelle Necklace
Gown: Silvan Moon Designs, Moonlight Dance Gown (Moonlight Dance is available at The Trunk Show until 18 November)

Environment:
Indoors
Tower: Poetica, Willow Tower
Stopped Clock: The Plastik, Waine Clock
Lights: Lucas Lameth, Glimmer of Hope and Crawling Lotus lamps
Ottoman with Crown: Nutmeg, Old Story Ottoman with Crown (at Shiny Shabby)
Couch: Trompe Loeil, Noelle Sofa
Music Box Shelf: The Looking Glass, Knick Knack Hutch
Top Shelf: The Looking Glass, Dawn’s Promise Music Box
Middle Shelf: HEXtraordinary, Rapunzel Music Box
Bottom Shelf: HEXtraordinary, Captured Faerie Light Lanterns, Absinthe and Rose
Creepy Potion Shelf: 22769, Witch Shelf Nature (At Salem)
Coffee Table: Silas Merlin, The Haze Metal Table
Teapots: The Secret Store, Folk Teapot (at The Epiphany), THOR, Teapot with herb tea, and 8f8, La Petite Joie, Tea Order
Bookshelf: 22769, Bookshelf (common)
Angel Statue (on wall): Quasi, Angels Wept
Fairy Statue: Lucas Lameth, Autumn Fairy, Female, Hover
Outdoors
Statues: By Nacht, Proserpina (L), and Brigid (R)
Bench, Topiary, and Walls: Rivendale, Fairy Labyrinth and Gothic Garden gacha sets
Yellow Brick Road: The Roawenwood, Yellow Brick Road

Poses: All from An Lar (An Lar Poses is sadly closing its doors after several years of offering some of the most subtle, and most versatile poses in Second Life (in my opinion). Everything at the An Lar Main Store is 50% off through the 31st of October.)

September 16, 2017November 25, 2018 by Three Knots

Revisiting the Book Forest

Would you go?

Would you go? Would you walk into the wardrobe and take your winter coat and travel to Narnia in winter?

Entering the Book Forest makes me ask such questions of myself.

Entering the Book Forest makes me ask such questions of myself. It is a place where there are no limits to the imagination. As small as it is, it seems dense and immense when you’re inside it. And it brings so many lovely things back into my head. Although my duties in Faerie are many, particularly now that we are having such an influx of people who are a bit afraid of being on the Island. I’m beginning to wonder if I shouldn’t try to separate it from the contemporary Realm it lies in and try to rewrite history.

Then again, rewriting history is a dangerous practice. Dyisi would surely warn against it.

Is it running away, if you are recreating?

Is it running away, if you are recreating? Again, Dyisi would probably say yes. But then she thinks I run from everything.

And, OK, maybe I’ve been prone to do that… in the past. But I love this Realm, this little town, these whimsical shops and pathways. And the Book Forest, more than anything, is the centre of the whole idea. You can put anything together. Everything can be juxtaposed. You can have a bakery next door to a magic shop. You can have an Amsterdam canal front in sight of a princess tower. You get what I mean.

I was always fascinated by juxtaposition.

Even in London, I was always fascinated by juxtaposition. And I guess it’s no surprise: London’s sense of history rams gracefully (yes, really!) up against its boldness, its newness. The reflection of society and history, the calling-out of the ages, many ages all together, is nowhere more apparent than in London.

And of course it’s true that nowhere looks less like London than the Book Forest.

And of course it’s true that nowhere looks less like London than the Book Forest. But there are books about London here, I’m sure of it. Somewhere along the book paths or in the book stacks. They must be here, because there’s always a book about London.

It’s funny. When I was a little girl, I used to imagine that I could turn a corner in St. Martin’s Passage and find myself somehow in a magical realm.

It’s funny. When I was a little girl, I used to imagine that I could turn a corner in St. Martin’s Passage and find myself somehow in a magical realm. That mindset, that life, that me seems so far away now. As far away as a story. As far away as a book. A character. Something I just read about. Even my (adoptive) parents are a faded memory now. It’s so much like a store that I wonder if I should write it one day, get it published in a mundane Realm without obvious magic, where people long for stories like mine. But there are many stories to live, I think, before it’s time to tell mine properly.

And then, from the Paradise Lost statue, pages fly as if escaping the book.

And then, from the Paradise Lost statue, pages fly as if escaping the book. Should I return them? Or are they going somewhere special?

I decide to follow.

I decide to follow them, and they lead me past the book hourglass as if they’re searching for something.

Chasing book pages is every bit as fun as you think it is.

Chasing book pages is every bit as fun as you think it is, which is to say it isn’t fun at all, unless you like chasing things. Now would be a good time to have a dog, I guess. We run past a replica of the Doors of During that appeared here last week, and the pages pause, as if considering whether to enter. I hope they don’t: I haven’t been through that door myself yet.

They pause and turn toward the book steps.

They pause and turn toward the book steps. There are other fluttering pages here: maybe they long to be with their own kind? Oh, great; I’m now ascribing sentience to a bunch of floating pages. Perhaps Faerie has finally driven me mad? That bitchy little Demifae queen would be so happy.

Make up your minds little pages!

Maybe I should just accept the fact that they’re not going anywhere.

Maybe I should just accept the fact that they’re not going anywhere. Stand here, juggle them a bit, look cool. I look cool, right? I mean, here I am juggling papers. Because that’s a cool thing to do on a Friday night. It’s not like there could ever be anything better to do. I’ll bet they just want to stay here. I take a deep breath and try to give in to the pages, stay still with them.

But then, they’re off again, and of course I’m compelled to chase them.

They fly over to the door of a house that’s made from a tree.

They fly over to the door of a house that’s made from a tree. Wait– when did that appear? Faerie changes so rapidly. I know it’s a mirror of my mind, but am I so flighty? Maybe I am.

Under the door of the house they all go, but there’s a light on in the window, and I swear I smell pipe smoke. I don’t think now’s a good time. Hopefully the inhabitant, if there is one, will be able to find a place for the pages.

As for me, I wander back toward the front of the forest.

And there I find… a wardrobe.

And there I find… a wardrobe. Again. And it brings us full circle. I’ve been so many places, but will I go here? will I just walk through?

It’s a portal like any other.

All I have to do is step through.

But… not today.

But… not today. Today I’ll just curl up with a book and a kitten. Books and kittens. There’s no better way to end a day in the book forest. And maybe tomorrow I’ll see what’s behind those doors. Both of them.

Style Card:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Catwa, Lona Bento Mesh Head
Hair: No Match, No Again (Available NOW at Hairology!)
Circlet: Venge, Anisa Head Adornment
Eyes: Mesange, Artic Eyes (Available NOW at On9!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Skin: 7 Deadly s[K]ins, Vyra, in a NEW SKIN TONE, Dew, which is lovely on Gwyneth! Poster with more information below!
Tattoo: Misschievous, Chandelier Tattoo (faded)
Nails: Cazimi, Whimsy Nails (Maitreya Appliers)
Dress: The Muses, Daphne (Available NOW at We ❤ RP!)
Collar: Footpaw Industries Celtic Filigree Amythest Collar (attached rose from Footpaw Industries AeLan necklace)
Boots: !go!, Fay Brown Boots

Props:
Wishing Well and Bridge: Raindale/Maplemoor
Paper Books with cardboard pop-ups: Sepia book with castle: BananaN, Story Book Gacha
Paradise Lost Statue: by Nacht: Paradise Lost (Available NOW at The Liaison Collaborative!)
House made from a Tree Trunk: Since 1975, Fairytale Garden House
Book with Floating Letters: Violatility, La Literature Surrealiste Light
Hourglass and Book with Steps and Pages: Disorderly, Timed Literary
Ruins: Ionic, Sacred Ruins
Doors of Durin: Spell, Lord of the Rings Gacha, Doors of Durin (Chap4)
Book Paths: Book Forest Door, Una, Book Gacha
Wardrobe: 22769, Imaginarium (Available NOW at The Liaison Collaborative!)

Poses:
Poses with Pages: Elephante, Story of Love (Available NOW at The Liaison Collaborative!)
Pic with Cat: Le Poppycock, Book Lovers (Available NOW at The Liaison Collaborative!)
Standing Poses: An Lar, the Bronte Series (Available NOW at The Liaison Collaborative!)

Many of the new Book Forest items are from the current round of The Liaison Collaborative, which has a literary theme! The wardrobe in particular is worth a mention: it’s 22769‘s Imaginarium.

As always, thanks for reading. I love you guys.

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I’d never visit the Book Forest without it!

POSTER-September-2017-NEW-SKIN-TONES

September 8, 2017September 8, 2017 by Three Knots

Fae Real Estate Secrets

One thing I can tell you: I am no fan of complex puzzles, games that delight in making you lose (obviously gachas are an exception), So the truth is, I don’t do a lot of scavenger hunts.But when my friend (and I’m so honoured to call her that) Riven (yes, that Riven, of the whimsical and magical Rivendale), told me she had some items for the Twisted Hunt, and would I be interested in blogging them, I said, “Sure” without hesitation, because Riven‘s items are always wonderful to see and play with.

Gwyneth also has some homes to get ready for the influx of people into Faerie.

Gwyneth also has some homes to get ready for the influx of people into Faerie. This is one of those homes. It’s from the current round of The Arcade (mumble, mumble, gachas, mumble mumble, see above), made by 22769, a lovely little Victorian number that she thought would look great out on the edge of town, not far from the Book Forest.

Of course, Faeries are attracted to beauty, whether it be dark or light.

Of course, Faeries are attracted to beauty, whether it be dark or light. So there had to be a few accents to make the place attractive from the outside, before anyone ever passed the threshold.

That’s where these rose trellises come in!

That’s where these rose trellises come in! Riven did such a lovely job with them, and the wood textures on them matched so well with the wood accents on the house that I knew at once where I wanted to put them.

And, as the Fae world moves into Autumn, splashes of colour become more and more important. It’s one reason why I chose these !go! boots from a past Fantasy Gacha Carnival for Gwneth; their green makes her happy against an otherwise quiet ensemble, colour-wise, for her. It’s also why I chose this lush hair from the talented mind of Truth Hawks (Natalie, currently at Uber), so that she’d have a little bit of summertime lingering around her.

The trellis set includes an arch, a wide trellis, and a narrow one.

The trellis set includes an arch, a wide trellis, and a narrow one, and it’s all copy/mod, so you could put together a whole country garden based around this hunt prize.

The narrow arches perfectly balance the wider side of the house.

Of course, just grass and rose trellises were looking a little empty….

…so Gwyneth had Bran and Kern lug some of The Plastik’s Dragon Benches into the front garden.

…so Gwyneth had Bran and Kern lug some of The Plastik‘s Dragon Benches into the front garden, as well. It makes this house look more like a home, somewhere any contemporary Faerie would want to put down their own roots in.

All in all, the house exterior now looks so much more complete!

All in all, the house exterior now looks so much more complete! Gwyneth can get on to more fascinating things and move about her day.

But who can resist the pull of Fae Roses after dark?

But who can resist the pull of Fae Roses after dark? It’s as if little Wisps come to float around them, giving the garden that special, magical glow that makes for the perfect home.

And then of course there’s the beauty of the individual flower.

And then of course, there’s the beauty of the individual flower. Worth contemplating, touching (but not plucking!), losing oneself in.

Ah, if only Gwyneth didn’t have so much more to do. I know she could contemplate these roses for hours if there weren’t so many things pulling her in so many directions.

Oh, well. Some lucky Faerie will get to live in this house and enjoy these roses every single day. And that’s enough to call Gwyneth’s work here finished.

Style Card:
Body: Maitreya
Head: Catwa, Lona Bento Mesh Head
Hair: Truth, Natalie (Available NOW at Uber!)
Circlet: Spell, Galadriel Tiara (Available NOW at The Chapter 4!)
Eyes: Mesange, Byzantium Eyes (Available NOW at We ❤ RP!)
Ears: Lumae, Leevi Long Ears
Skin: 7 Deadly s[K]ins, Calamity (all-in-one Omega applier!) (Available NOW at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main Store!)
Tattoo: Misschievous, Chandelier Tattoo (faded)
Nails: Cazimi, Whimsy Nails (Maitreya Appliers)
Necklace: Spell, Evenstar (Available NOW at The Chapter 4!)
Top: Senzafine, Myrina
Jeans, Legal Insanity, Nita Blue Capris
Collar: Footpaw Industries Celtic Filigree Amythest Collar (attached rose from Footpaw Industries AeLan necklace)
Boots: !go!, Fay Green Ankle Boots

Rose Trellises: Rivendale, Victorian Rose Garden Trellis (Available NOW as part of The Twisted Hunt!)*
House: 22769, The Secluded House (Available NOW at The Arcade Gacha Event!)

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I’d never decorate gardens without it!

Location: White Owl Island Faerie. If you’re looking for a great contemporary fantasy roleplaying sim, why not check us out? White Owl Island, Where Everybody Knows Your Shape.

*Remember the part where I said I wasn’t very good at hunts? Let’s just say my friend Syeira and I gave up on the Twisted Hunt after about 30 seconds. If you love hunts, you’ll love it!

SaveSave

August 18, 2016 by Three Knots

IC Office Decoration!

Nope, this is not an IC post about decorating.

Nope, this is not an IC post about decorating. It is an OOC post about decorating an IC space. Clear as mud? Great!

I also thought I’d answer a couple of questions here that I keep getting asked about my blog.

So basically, don’t expect great art here; we’re mostly talking presentation. And of course, there are a couple of amazing things I want to show you!

First off, the blog has been quiet for a couple of days because I’m finally going back to work after my knee surgery and it’s been a bit tiring, as you might imagine. But enough about my petty life….

There’s nothing like an empty room to get you feeling creative!

So, there’s nothing like an empty room to get you feeling creative! This is the upstairs of the truly lovely Trompe Loeil Josette Boutique. There are four of these in different colours on the White Owl Island High Street, and as shops for rp, they’re some of the nicest SL has to offer. Like most two-level SL structures, the upstairs can seem a bit small and cramped. However, the upstairs at Codex, the White Owl Island (sometimes abbreviated as WOI) book shop, is meant to be sort of an occult study group spot, so I needed to make the space both work-space for Gwyneth and cosy space for others.

If you’re using Phototools in Firestorm, you know how I’m making it possible for you to see most of this room. I’m doing it by widening the view angle in the Depth of Field (DOF/Glow) tab in Phototools. This is really useful, particularly if you’ve already got your focus set but you realise there’s more you need to show.

Gwyneth’s wearing things I picked up at The Forest. If you don’t know about The Forest, it’s a members-only event that you join by paying a fee to join an in-world group. Then, when all the designers are ready, you head over to an absolutely beautiful sim and just pick up all the loot! I’ve done this for the last couple of months, and it’s a really lovely event. Anyway, the dress is from u.f.o (ur.favorite.one), the Ruffle Blouse & Denim Skirt. The shoes are from Breathe, the Amely Flats, which come in a good array of colours.

This skin is from DeeTaleZ, featured at Enchantment.

This skin is from DeeTaleZ, the Dorothy skin. It’s featured at this months’ Enchantment. And I can’t talk enough about how much I love this round of Enchantment: It is full of Wizard Of Oz goodness! DeeTaleZ also did a special edition of this skin, but I wanted the lighter tone on Gwyneth, and the special edition isn’t available in their Celtic tone, which is my favourite for her.

And this hair! It’s from the current round of Hairology, from Stealthic. It’s called Sanctuary. I discovered Stealthic at an event a few months back, and they burst on the scene at this years’ Hair Fair; people couldn’t stop talking about them. I like this style because it’s long but also controlled, a bit out of character for Gwyneth, but hey. She’s the Faery Queen; she can wear what she likes!

Right! On to talking about decorating this room IC.

Every room needs a corner accent table somewhere, right?

Every room needs a corner accent table somewhere, right? This one is from Pastiche, part of the lovely set of stuff they have at the Fable event this month. I particularly like the hourglass, but I would like that. You can also see some more details of Gwyneth’s outfit in this picture, particularly the lovely texturing on the socks from Breathe.

Another Pastiche offering!

Another Pastiche offering! This is the Woodlands Shelf, which I like both because of the cool decor on it and the fact that it’s obviously made out of a tree! Gwyneth loves stuff made out of trees, because duh, Seelie Fae and all. The beautiful shelf above it is from On A Lark, the Remembrance Shelf, from the 2015 Fantasy Faire. I think it’s still available at their main store. Again, the Woodlands Shelf is available at Fable.

Fae Queens are like cats….

Fae Queens are like cats. They have quirky little traits that might seem really weird and possibly a bit amoral to other people. One of Gwyneth’s quirky traits is that she loves to keep demifae (tiny little faeries) as pets. Or in a collection. She deludes herself into thinking they want to be there, and they of course are too scared of their Queen to say, “Gosh, I’d really rather not be caged up like this”. Once on a rp sim I had a collection of faeries in little terrariums in Gwyneth’s kitchen. This prompted interesting questions from visitors. Once again, this adorable little thing is from Pastiche, who really hit it out of the park for the Fable event. This is Seasons of the Fairy—Mother Nature, and it has some fun effects: you can make it rain or snow in the cage, which is amusing but difficult to catch properly on camera.

Here’s a view of the fireplace end of the room.

Here’s a view of the fireplace end of the room, again shot with a wide angle using Phototools. On the mantelpiece are two of Hextraordinary‘s gorgeous Pegasus Ponies, Buttercream and Amethyst. These came from an Arcade or two ago, but the dacha machine is probably up at their Main Store if you, like me, are totally in love with things that are so cute they make other people want to cry. The fireplace is built in to Trompe Loeil‘s Josette Boutique.

Coffee? Pick your flavour!

Coffee? Pick your flavour! Gwyneth could not survive in a world without coffee. I can’t remember which Arcade this was at, but it’s one of my favourite things, from Standby Inc, and it’s called Instant Coffee, but I prefer to pretend that it’s proper ground coffee, because Gwyneth would never drink Instant, and I think instant coffee is illegal in the Pacific Northwest or something. The shelf is one of the rates, the Sunrise Shelf.

One of the great things that decorating an office or personal space gives me a chance to do is show off some of the cool things I’ve collected over years of gacha (I’m not addicted!) shopping.

Here’s a corner of Gwyneth’s desk!

Here’s a corner of Gwyneth’s desk, adorned by Pastiche‘s other Seasons of the Fairy from Fable, Fire/Summer. The effect on this one is a glowing hot rock that gives off little sparks. And the little faery’s eyes glow red. The desk is also from On A Lark, the Velazquez Desk. The shelf behind the desk is the companion Rare to the Instant Coffee set, the Midnight Shelf.

And there you have it!

And there you have it! Gwyneth seems pretty proud of her space. Behind her is an offering from 22769 from an event that centred around Neil Gaimon and Terry Pratchett’s Good Omens, the Book of Accurate Prophecies.

Another wide-angle shot, this time so you can see the comfy couch!

Here’s a final wide-angle shot: this time you can see the comfy couch, from Trompe Loeil, the Chesterfield Couch that’s available at the current Liaison Collaborative. And of course the whole space is watched over by those beautiful Pegasus Ponies. Because Ponies!

I’m often asked how I get my pictures so big. It’s because I take them at a 6016 width, which you can set in the “custom” settings of the SL snapshot camera. I like to take the photos at a much greater size than my display is showing, mostly so that when I go back to edit details I can focus in on even the smallest thing. This makes for very large images, but they can be cropped down, which is great for photo composition and balance.

As usual, Gwyneth is in the Maitreya Lara body. The mesh head is from Catwa; it’s the Destiny head. Ears are Lumae‘s Leevi Long Ears, and the glasses are from Earthstones, The Countess.

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I never ramble on about SL Decorating without it!

November 22, 2015 by Three Knots

Bad Faerie

Gwyneth:

Everyone is handling the aftermath of our little war (please let it be over!) differently. Dyisi, though depleted in strength, has continued selflessly to do things for the Realm. Her loyalty, strength, and grace under pressure are unmatched. Drysi continues to bug me about going to London on a shopping trip, and we will, we will, just as soon as I have my shit together. Which could be… yeah. Wulfrich is training new recruits to make up for our losses during the battles, Bran is helping out in the infirmary when he can, and Nathaniel is spending a lot of time in his office going over notes and figures and whatever else he does in there. I’d say Internet porn, but, you know. No Internet in Faerie. Arahaelon is healing up nicely, and I’m looking forward to spending some time with him once he’s better. Maric and Aoibheann are missing, presumed in some other realm or in mutual comas. But, you know. That’s how those two always react to a crisis.

Me? Heh.

It’s funny you should ask that….

It’s funny you should ask that…. You see,

I’ll admit it: I found myself feeling rather self-destructive after all was said and done.

I’ll admit it: I found myself feeling rather self-destruct after all was said and done.

Why? I have no idea. I’m still not much of a drinker, so I hopped to a nearby realm and bought a pack of cigarettes and just about fucking killed myself trying to smoke for the first time in years (I’d quit ages before the accident).

But while I was there, I discovered the coolest thing!

But while I was there, I discovered the coolest thing! OK, I was in Shoreditch, where everything is cool: I walked down from the Box Park toward Liverpool Street Station, figured I’d get a bite to eat somewhere in tragically hep Shoreditch and environs. My bus dumped me before Liverpool Street, so I got out to wait for the next one and tried to smoke again, with absolutely no results. This guy was watching me and he pointed across the street to a place called House Of Vapes. OK… So I went in to this place and discovered there is such a thing as an electronic cigarette.

Now of course, it won’t last long in the Wylds.

Now, of course, it won’t last long in the Wylds.

But I love this little thing!

But I love this little thing! Never mind that I have to realm-hop to recharge it and it’s going to disintegrate on me probably before the week is out: I can always get another one, and they’re not too expensive unless you really get in to them the way people in Shoreditch are in to things.

How fun, to be smoking, but not coughing, not inhaling burning paper!

How fun, to be smoking, but not coughing, not inhaling burning paper! And the guys in the shop were all activists; they pointed me to places I could ring so I could tell my MP that e-cigarette bans (omg what a funny word, e-cig!) were bad and wrong, and pointed me to a dozen health studies underwritten by the NHS and other reputable agencies, which prove that electronic cigarettes are far less dangerous than their “analog” (omg what another funny word!) cigarettes. I nodded politely and smiled. They gave me a cylinder of liquid nicotine that tastes like blackcurrant preserves and another one that tastes like a gin and tonic!

So I suppose you could say I’m wasting time on whatever will take my mind away.

So I suppose you could say I’m wasting time on whatever will take my mind away from it all.

Of course, in the near future, I have a Yule Ball to plan and dozens of holiday parties to attend, but I’m just not going to think about that right now.

Right now, I’m going to try not to think, at all.

Style Card:

Head: Catwa Jessica
Body: Maitreya Lara
Skin: DeeTaleZ, “Amanda” Catwa applier in Celtic, Maitreya and SLink appliers in the same shade for body, hands, and feet.
Lipstick: Modish
Eyes: IKON, Sovereign Eyes, Electric
Ears: BentBox Sylvan Ears, Medium (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Hair: Analog Dog (natch!) Rae (New at the Analog Dog Main Store)
Dress: Evie’s Closet, Ysara in Red for 20 Twenty and available at Evie’s Closet Main Store
Wings: Astralia, Warrior Wings (rare)
Tattoo: White Widow, Neverland (Available at Enchantment)
Arm and Leg Vines: Candy Cyanide, Eva
Boots: 22769, Jika-Tabi Red Leather
E-Cig: NikotiN, Grenade Vape
Stone Circle: Gor Con, Menhir Circle
Flower Field: The Looking Glass, Ichi Fields
Forest: Studio Skye, Enchanted Woods

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I never leave home without it!

November 14, 2015March 16, 2017 by Three Knots

Faewatch: The Goblin War!

Presented by Cherish Gelato

The Goblin War

[Theme Music, Fade up, and….]

Voiceover: Welcome to the Faewatch radio programme, with your presenter, Cherish Gelato!

[Glissando]

CG: Good morning, all you Faewatch listeners! As you know, we’ve had a lot of secondhand news lately about a war being fought between the combined courts of the Wylds and what we estimated to be an immense goblin force, tens of thousands of them.

CG: Of course, we hear so much about what happens in the Wylds of Faerie secondhand that we sometimes don’t know what’s true and what’s a fabrication. But you know Faewatch always tries to give quality information, the best quality we can get, so we’ve gathered together four individuals who were actually involved in the war and put them in to the same room to give us a run-down of what occurred from several points of view. On my left here, we have The Gypsy Davey, who helped prepare the Queen’s Bower to receive the all-important Sithen Rose. On my right, we have Tac, who is an archer in the Seelie forces and was present at the battle. Next to Tac, here’s Princess Drysi, one of the three Royal Children, and the first time we’ve had the chance to interview one of these enigmatic Fae. Next to The Gypsy Davey is seated Dyisi, Seer to the Wylds. And of course, seated just down at the end of the table, Seelie Queen Gwyneth herself. Thank you all for coming.

CG: Your Majesty, you’re looking radiant today. Your beauty eclipses the sun. I’m honoured to be in your presence. Can you tell us a little bit about the conflict and how it all played out.

SQG: For most of the major battle, I was in our makeshift infirmary, tending to the wounded. We were unprepared for the number of wounded we’d have during the first wave of the battle. However, some of the other people here were there, so I’d like to direct this question to Dyisi, who has been invaluable in the war effort. I also understand you have one of my archers here as well, so she might be able to answer a little better than I could.

Gwyneth in the infirmary

CG: Thank you, Your Majesty. Let’s redirect that question to Dyisi, and Tac, if you feel the need to put in any details, just let me know.

D: It was a war, nai. Noht unlike other wars that I have seen. Though I can noht say that I had as much of a hand as others may choose to see it. There was those who sought to bring such unbalance, and thus I lent what I could to correct such being a thing. Ah.. nai.. But it was just as any other war that has existed as long as such unbalances are too exist.

CG: I understand all wars have similarities. Can you give us an idea of whether the goblins were vanquished? My listeners are very interested in how the Fae of the Wylds are faring.

D: I would guess they had been, nai.. we are still here are we noht? I would think that had a different outcome have been met, this ah.. interview.. would noht be within this parallel. Though had this been another parallel, I would noht be here. As for Fae, I would think asking they who are fae would be.. ah as they say.. better down payment?

T: If I can answer that, at least partly, I can tell you that at the end of the battle the goblins retreated back into their hold, their numbers much diminished. Commander Wulfrich did a good job of making sure that our forces were where they needed to be at the right times.

Here’s a reference photograph of Tac, dressed for archery.

CG: That’s excellent news. Thank you, Dyisi, and thank you as well, Tac. Princess Drysi, what was your role in the conflict?

PD: Due to my youth and inexperience, and so as to not put myself or anyone else in danger, I was not able to participate in the battle. I instead worked to hone my fighting skills so I may be better prepared for any future attack on my people.

CG: You show a real flair for leadership, Your Highness. I hope I’ll be able to speak with you and your siblings at length sometime soon! But let’s get back to the conflict. Your Majesty, you said there were many wounded. Can you give us an idea of numbers?

SQG: I’m afraid I can’t at this time. We have only a few beds in our infirmary, so it was reserved for the more serious cases, while those who could be moved were patched up and sent back to their families for convalescence. Our healers will be looking in on all the wounded over the days and weeks to come. Numbers in Faerie, as you know Cherish, are always subject to change.

CG: I understand there were some fantastic beasts helping out during the battles. Oracle Dyisi, can you tell us a little bit about the Jabberwock?

D: Aahh nai nai.. One who I have summoned from Tulgey Woods. I had sent him to help Maric and those of his command. I have been told that Jabberwock had ..mn.. what was said.. melted faces? Nai… Did as he would. From what had others also gave told of, he frightened goblins to flee. Which, according to many.. is hard to do. He has returned though to his home.

SQG: I didn’t see the Jabberwock, but Dyisi nearly scared me to death when she showed up in my Bower with the Bandersnatch.

Gwyneth reacts to the Bandersnatch.

CG: The Bandersnatch? Dyisi, are you in command of every character from Wonderland?

D: Last I was aware, two beasts do noht an entire land of Wonder. Mmmn.. excuse.. three. However, Bandersnatch and Jabberwock were given to me as summons to help during another.. war. One I shall noht go within details of. If that is of mind to you. Nai? But, they protect White Bishop and who I ask of them to.

CG: Of course; my journalistic integrity is impeccable, and I shall never question you about things you don’t want to talk about. Well, listeners, it seems that even Satyrs have secrets they’d rather not reveal, and Dyisi’s revolve around a little girl named Alice! Now, let’s take a quick break and I’ll see you all back here in a moment.

[Glissando]

CG: And welcome back to the Faewatch Radio Programme, a very special panel interview with key players in the Goblin War: Seelie Queen Gwyneth, her daughter Princess Drysi, the Seer of the Wylds, Dyisi, Tac, an archer in the Seelie forces, and The Gypsy Davey, who has been preparing the way for the Sithen Rose to be replanted in the Queen’s Bower.

CG: It looks like most of the major players on the side of the Seelie Forces have survived the war. Your Majesty, how is King Maric faring?

SQG: My Lord King has retired to another realm to rest and recuperate.

CG: That sounds ominous. Let’s move on.

CG: Tac, you’re the only foot soldier here: can you give us a glimpse of your view of the battle?

Tac: Well, it was like most other wars I’ve been in: I guess I agree with Dyisi on this point. As an archer, I wasn’t in the midst of the fray, but rather above watching it. There were some beautiful moments, like when Princess Thalia threw this massive ball of water at the goblin forces with her trident, and then the Jabberwock just came and mowed them all down and the rest of them went running. We were picking them off like rabbits at that point. [she laughs] Honestly, unless it had been a complete rout with the goblins winning, there was no way any of our forces could have been overrun. We had too much protection on the ground with warriors like King Maric and Arahaelon and Commander Wulfrich fighting for all they were worth, and the little guys like me up in the trees taking care of oncoming onslaughts.

CG: Tac, thank you for a brief and informative overview. How is it a clever girl like you is stuck in the archery forces and not commanding a regiment of your own?

PD: Good question.

Tac: [after a brief pause] Well, I’m sort of not from the Wylds. I landed here and have been held here against my will, for something I have no idea about what I did, and I can’t go home until I have a conversation with Her Majesty, and she never has time for me. They’re not about to let me command a regiment, even if I’m smarter than half their section commanders. They don’t want anybody who can realm-walk getting out of their realm. All I want to do is go home to my house and get started on my work again.

[A strangled chuckle can be heard]

CG: Princess Drysi, did you have something add to that? And, Your Majesty, we try to have an open forum here; perhaps you could have your conversation with Tac right here on our radio programme!

[Audible laughter and an air of amusement permeate the room]

PD: No, no thank you; I’m all right.

SQG: While it’s true that I did intend to have a conversation with Tac, I’m afraid my schedule has been very full and….

Tac: Your Majesty, I’ve been here since Midsummer, and it’s now past Samhain and heading toward Yule. I would really like to get the hell out of this backwater realm and get back home.

SQG: I’m sure we can arrange a meeting very soon. [a brief pause] You know, you look very familiar. Are you sure we haven’t met face to face before?

Tac: Your Majesty, if we’d ever met face to face, I would already have asked you about my incarceration in your Realm and I would have asked you to let me go home.

CG: Well! It seems you two have a lot to talk about, but that’s not really the subject of our discussion today. I am sure, Tac, that Her Majesty will meet with you just as soon as she has a little time in her schedule. Princess Drysi, your hair keeps changing colour! Is that something that happens to you when you get anxious?

PD: I, well… on top of the combat training my mother has also taken a moment to teach me a little about glamouring; so far i’ve only really figured out how to change my hair. I guess I’m so used to it now it just happens without me thinking.

CG: That’s a good trick and a great skill! No doubt many of our mortal ladies would love to be able to accomplish this. Your Majesty, how easy is for a fae to change your hair colour with a glamour?

SQG: Due to a curse I sustained years ago, I’m unable to change my hair colour. But the concept is very simple for the Fae. As we are made of magic, magic course through us. And Drysi, I remember when I first learned how to glamour clothes and nail colours and things like that: for several weeks I just kept changing them, but there was a point where it became so normal to me that stuff just kept changing on its own.

Tac: I had to learn glamour in a hurry, because when I left my home Realm, I ended up as a being who was illegal in that world, and my housemates had to teach me very quickly how to become anybody I wanted to be. [she laughs] Can you believe I went from being a massage therapy student to an archer in the Seelie Army?

SQG: Wait. A massage therapy student?

Tac: Yeah.

[There are 5 seconds of complete silence.]

CG: Davey, what can you tell us about the Sithen Rose?

TGD: The Sithen Rose is traditionally the heart of any Fae Sithin that exists within a larger Realm. The Wylds Sithen Rose needs some tender loving care, so I was summoned by Dyisi to come and create a place for it, then help get it planted in the ground.

Davey with the Sithen Rose

SQG: Fenella. Fenella Wallin.

Tac: How the *censored* do you know that?

CG: Why don’t we take a quick break, and we’ll be back in a moment.

[Glissando]

CG: Welcome back, listeners! Well, it seems we have a few revelations today! I will look forward to getting you all back on to the show to answer some more questions and talk more about your lives in the Wylds. But for now, that’s all the time we have! Thanks so much to our guests, especially Her Majesty Seelie Queen Gwyneth, who was so kind as to come across to our studios today and bring these lovely people with her.

[Theme music]

Style Cards:

Gwyneth in the Infirmary:
Head: Catwa Jessica
Skin: Pink Fuel Morgana Catwa Applier in Porcelain, Maitreya and SLink appliers for body and hands
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Body: Maitreya Lara
Hands and Feet: SLink
Eyes: IKON, Triumph Eyes, Nymph
Corset: Cila, Shara Elf of Luna, Silver *rare* (Available at the Fantasy Gacha Carnival)
Hair: Emo-tions, Tariel
Crown: The Annex, Snow Queen Crown *rare*
Necklace: Aisling, Lavi Necklace
Wings: Remarkable Oblivion, Eternity Wings, Innocence
Boots: Schadenfreude, Amargosa Boots
Tattoo: Things, Airell
Apothecary Cupboard & Contents: Artisan Fantasy Apothecary Gacha (Available at the Artisan Fantasy Main Store)
Apothecary Chest of Drawers: PPK, Healer Small Cabinet
Apothecary Box: Artisan Fantasy, Portable Apothecary
Infirmary Beds: PPK, Healer Exam Bed

Gwyneth Meeting Dyisi and the Bandersnatch in the Bower:
Head: Catwa Jessica
Skin: Izzie’s, Catwa Taleah Applier, Frost, Maitreya and SLink appliers, Frost
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Body: Maitreya Lara
Hands and Feet: SLink
Eyes: IKON, Triumph Eyes, Nymph
Circlet: Junbug, The Sabrina Circlet
Hair: Analog Dog, Gwen
Necklace, Cae, Cernunnos
Leggings and Sweater: M.BIRDIEstory, Loozy (Available at Uber)
Boots: 22769, Jika-Tabi Red Leather
Flower Circle: The Looking Glass, Dream Fields Circle (New from The Looking Glass)
Trees: Studio Skye, Enchanted Wood

The Amazing Catwoman:
Body, Hands, & Feet: SLink Physique (original)
Hair: Elikatira, Brenna
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins, November Girls’ Group Gift (Available at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main Store, SLink and other appliers also available there)
Ears: Gauze, High Elf Ears
Eyes: Mayfly, Luminous Mesh Eye, Deep Paris
Necklace, Otherskin, Selene
Boots: 22769, Jika-Tabi Blue Leather
Clothing: Azuchi Archer, Shirt Pants and Vest (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Bow: Gauze, Huntsman Bow & Quiver
Forest: Studio Skye, Enchanted Wood

The Gypsy Davey:
Body, Hands, & Feet: SLink Physique (original)
Hair: EMO-tions, Michael
Skin: 7 Deadly s{K}ins, Damien Box 5, Smoked (Available at the 7 Deadly s{K}ins Main Store, SLink and other appliers also available there)
Ears: BentBox, Sylvan Ears (Available at We Love Roleplay)
Eyes: IKON, Sovereign Eyes, Electric
Sweater: Body Factory, Schott Sweater, (Available at Sad November)
Jeans: Ar2 Style, Biker Jeans
Necklace: Earthstones Celtic Claddagh Necklace
Boots: 22769, Jika-Tabi Black Leather
Rose Wall: Artisan Fantasy Wall Building Kit
Sithen Rose: The Looking Glass, Hearts Like China Roses
Surrounding Roses: {anc} Sugar Rose Field

Spiffy photos taken with the indispensible aid of my LumiPro. I never leave home without it!

Three Twisted Knots

Not all those who wander are lost.

Tag / 22769

Storm’s Coming

Small World, Part 2

Revisiting the Book Forest

Fae Real Estate Secrets

IC Office Decoration!

Bad Faerie

Faewatch: The Goblin War!

The Goblin War