Fantasy Faire is coming!

Every year, one of the BIG events that I do is Fantasy Faire. The faire has grown even over the past five years that I have done it, and there is constant effort to improve each year.

If you've never been to Fantasy Faire in SecondLife, let me explain a little (or a lot?). The event will include multiple sims (numbering 12 or more) that are linked together to create a circle. There is a pathway that winds through the sims such that as long as you stay on it and keep walking the same direction you will circle back around to where you began. The sims are designed by World Builders who develop one fantastical idea or mini story into a landscape that becomes the home for several businesses for the length of the fair. Past builders include the designers behind Fallen Gods, The Looking Glass, DRD, Ravenwood, Epic Toy Factory, Merchant Dreams and far more than I can come up with off the top of my head. Merchants are each assigned a shop, so that as you walk the main path, you can look through hundreds of stores. Each store has at minimum two items that are exclusive for the event. The sims also are home for at least part of an event wide hunt (normally there is part one in the faire grounds, and part two on its own sim) that has a treasure room filled with items donated by the merchants that are participating in the event -- if you can make it through the entire hunt. There is a silent auction, a live auction, 'Jail n Bail' events, performances, roleplaying, and much more in terms of activities and entertainment.

But the Faire has a purpose, and a reason so many merchants flock to it each year, and why it has grown so large over it's 12 year span. All of the event is done as a fundraiser for Relay For Life. Exclusive items, donation kiosks, even the hunt HUD and auctions are all there to raise funds. The event has been incredibly successful, to put it mildly.

Really, it's one of those things you simply have to experience. And if you enjoy doing photography in SL? Then this will be the most amazing playground you will find for the two weeks that it is up.


Now, all of that said, I bring it back to my part in this. I've participated in the event for the past five years. When I was able to join, I was thrilled. Being a Fantasy tattoo creator, this was my element. I was with some of the biggest names that I'd admired for years, and finally able to show up as well. It was an amazing feeling of accomplishment.

Each year since, I try to have at least one completely new design to release. Sometimes I succeed at this better than others. But I also make special releases of past designs that are ONLY released at the fair. While normally purple or pink or rainbow versions, occasionally gold or silver or opal, sometimes it'll be a little different such as a gradient or ombre style. Sometimes it'll have 'glitter'. But I also tend to hold at least one version of any new creation through the year back specifically so that I can have it for Fantasy Faire. It means I don't have to scramble to make something new. It also means that each year I can offer past releases that can't be found at any other time of the year.

Soon I will present to you some Works In Progress of this years special versions and releases. I'm currently developing and designing not only the special versions of this years releases, but also debating an auction piece and a hunt prize to add to the collection. For me, I can always see the wide range of possibilities of using a tattoo, and I want to give as many options as I can to others. But lets be real; that isn't practical. So narrowing down choices takes a host of mental energy and agonizing.

Bakes On Mesh (BoM), Recent Releases, and RL

Hello, hello!

It has been a bit. Part of this is that I have not been creating much, but also that this blog does not get much attention. The easiest way to remain up to date on recent :[Even~Tide]: releases is through Flickr ( https://www.flickr.com/photos/evegaelyth/ ) and subscribing in-world for updates ( http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Novazeit/244/8/2801 ). I will occasionally also send group gifts out through the subscriber. It does not take any precious group slots.

Bakes On Mesh

If you haven't yet heard, SecondLife has released 'Bakes on Mesh'. This is a feature that allows you to wear SL system layers and they will show up on your mesh body attachment -- if your mesh is updated for BoM, and your viewer is as well. Firestorm and the main SL viewer are both capable, as well as others that I am not familiar with. I do not know what bodies are currently updated except Slink and Maitreya has a temporary relay HUD that can be used until they make their full BoM release. 

When I make products for release in SL, I normally include the system layer, Omega applier, Slink applier and Maitreya applier. This is to give the widest range I reasonably can. However, because Slink and Maitreya now both do BoM, there is no longer a need for separate appliers unless I am including materials. The only exception to this is tattoos that I wish to give left arm and right arm options to. That is something that I will do for Slink (as that is an option for that body) and in Omega Evolved appliers. 

One of the wonderful things about BoM is if you are a long time SL user, you may still have in your inventory past skins and tattoos that you could no longer use when you switched to a mesh body, and now those can be used once more! I have always included system layers in my tattoo sets where I was reasonably able, to continue the accessibility for as many as possible.

Summary:

-Slink and Maitreya allow for Bakes On Mesh so you can wear system layer tattoos.

-I will only make Slink and Maitreya appliers when using materials or need a right and left option (Slink).

-Past tattoos already include system layers.

-I will continue to make system layer and Omega appliers. 

And do not even get me started on TheMeshProject (#TMP). They have new bodies out, but due to their policies and methods, I do not have a way to make tattoos for them. 

Recent Releases

As I mentioned, the best way to keep track of newer releases is to follow on Flickr or in-world. However, to show what's available since the last blog post, look below!

There were releases for Fantasy Faire, but as they are not available now, I won't tease you with them. I expect them to be in my Fantasy Faire shop in 2020 however, as I often include past exclusive releases.

Real Life

With SecondLife, we don't often share a lot about our Real Life or First Life. However, I will share that I have a major life change coming up within the week, and do not expect to have a lot of time online. I intend to continue creating and participating in events as I am able, such as Fantasy Faire in the spring, and a few rounds of We <3 RolePlay! (WLRP). I am, in fact, working on all things needed at this moment to attempt to be in the December round of the event. 

I hope the upcoming winter finds you all well!

~Eve

New Release!

Out for the month of February (2019) at We <3 RP!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Riverhunt/137/126/1503

'Strings of Gold' is a new tattoo with two versions - A and B. Materials enabled, so you can play and get that perfect bit of shine. Single set (A or B), 90L. Double set (A&B) 150L. 25% discount for their release! 

And, if you like them, but gold isn't your color? Worry not! I've already had a request for silver, and will release it at the latest at Fantasy Faire (whenever that is). I will also have other versions/styles that will be along this same idea, and release those with the silver, and possibly copper or bronze. And yes, faces will also be coming. 

Out this month at the Underdog Event... http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle%20RFyre/84/124/22

I know, I know, not exactly new, but the color is! For the Underdog Event I was a last minute fill in, and have out a number of items that I have made in the past, with the one detail of they are currently on sale for half off. Yes, yes, my Cyber Lines series and Colored Fades are ONLY 35L. There's a lot of Sci-Fi looks out there right now, so this would be a great time, and place, to pick some up!