My Elven Bloom Doll

There's a new rage all over Second Life, it's called BLOOM DOLLS by Emma Gilmour! These cute little avies have won the hearts of just about everyone. So many Second Lifers already have one or more of the dolls in their ballooning or overabundant inventories, I being one of them, hehe :) They are based on the real life Blythe dolls that are also all the rage. The dolls come in 6 girls skins and 2 boy skins with hair, clothing and accessories being separate. They do come with a few cute poses, which is nice. Their cost is 600L, so very reasonable. Here is the link to the store, which is called Sand and Surf Co: http://slurl.com/secondlife/artilleri/132/198/27 .

I've had so much fun with mine and the nice thing is, they can wear the clothes you already have in inventory if you don't want to have to buy new ones. As far as hair, I found that hair from Elikatira and most styles from Tukinowaguma work well with them. You have to fit them to your normal avie's head first, stretch them, and then resize them for your Bloom Doll's head. I decided I wanted to make my Bloom Doll an elf, imagine that! lol I also had to resize some elf ears for her. Just make sure that anything you resize and want to keep in its original size too, that you copy it before you resize (it's nice when the objects are both copyable and modifiable if you're using them for the dolls). It's so much fun to see what people have come up with when styling their dolls. Here is the Bloom Doll group in Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/groups/bloomdolls/ . There is also a Photo Contest you can enter and is judged based on best styling. Please visit the store link above for detailed guidelines. Now, I know you're going to go out and buy one if you haven't already, so enjoy!

Clothes: Anariel Armor and Gown set by Elvina Ewing of Caverna Obscura
Skin and Shape: Ume Bloom Doll avatar by Emma Gilmour of Surf and Sand Co
Hair: Itsuki in White by KateForster Akina of Tukinowaguma
Elf Ears: Kawaii For Me Elf Ears by Kioko Kumaki of Panda Express

Location: Enchanted of Elven Realm

This lovely Caverna Obscura set comes with so many versatile pieces, including this short skirt

...a long cape

Visiting my pixie friends at the Dreamy Fae Lodge by Tamrielle Halderman

One of my dear forest friends, the HPMD Sleepy Rabbit with cuddle AO (s) by Sasaya Kayo
...standing in front of the Cozy Gnomey Homey by Tamrielle Halderman

Visiting my other friends, the Enchanted gnomes (by Tamrielle Halderman)
while showing off the long skirt that goes with the Anariel set

Colors of the Elements: The White Armory

I love The White Armory and had a hard time deciding which gown to blog about, so I decided to choose four and do a blog representing four "elements" of nature. I chose a white gown for "air", a blue gown for "water", a green/brown/neutral gown for "earth", and a red gown for "fire". Bee Dumpling, the designer/owner of The White Armory, actually has an Elemental set of her own, however, I wanted to be able to showcase four completely different styles. Bee's element collection (the Elemental gowns) are the same style, but different colors. I've pictured each style below with different views at a location in Second Life I thought was absolutely gorgeous. The sim's name is Majesterium and houses an estate called Cheval de Mer. This sim was nominated at the BOSL (Best of Second Life) awards for "Best Overall Sim". I can see why, it's so detailed, classy and simply stunning! The sim is owned by Addison Hax. I know this is a longer blog than normal, so I've broken it down in sections for each element. Enjoy!

CHEVAL DE MER OF MAJESTERIUM
Sim Owner: Addison Hax

AIR: ETERNALLY YOURS

A gentle breath upon my skin.
Your whimsical giggles underpin.
A gentle breeze commands the day
a soft song upon the waterway

Upon the moor from dusk til dawn.
You blow a gale and leap and fawn.
Does your passage conceal a plight?
Whilst you frolic from noon til night.

The mighty storm that you command
It broke the banks and swept the sand
An orchestra you're akin to
with power etched and notated through,

Your time with us upon this earth
is strecthed across our shallow mirth.
And even though u stand presented
We seem content to remain dessented

the truth ignored, a plea misheard
the callowness of man preferred
an echo through the generation
Air still waits for veneration....

by Fire Phoenix

Eternally Yours gown set by Bee Dumpling of The White Armory
Skin: Eva Natural # 7 by Aida Ewing of Glam Affair
Hair: Early in Light Blonde # 5 by Elika Tiramasu of Elikatira
Elf Ears: ICED elf ears with triple loops by Scarlet Chandrayaan

WATER: PEARL OF THE SEA

Silent waves drifting over me

Cool and gentle, engulfing my body in a motherly embrace

Refreshing droplets rolling down my smiling face.

Pearl of the Sea gown by Bee Dumpling of The White Armory
Skin: Eva Natural # 7 by Aida Ewing of Glam Affair
Hair: Kay Blue in Blue/Silver by KateForster Akina of Tukinowaguma
Elf Ears: ICED elf ears with triple loops by Scarlet Chandrayaan

EARTH: FORGOTTEN REALMS

Earth, The mother, the container
The container of life, future
Materialism, Sensuality
Fertility, Humor

Different names, in different philosophies
Balance of both yin and yang
The feminine and masculine together
Primal spirit, the yellow dragon

Pentacle the weapon,
Uriel the archangel
Phorlakh the angel
Kerub the ruler
Ghob the king

Taurus, Capricorn, Virgo
Children of earth
Calm, practical, pragmatic,
Responsible and cautious
Stubborn, intolerable and inflexible

Earth, Gaia, Prithvi,
The mother, the container
The prison, the solace

by Anand Dixit

Forgotten Realms gown set by Bee Dumpling of The White Armory
Skin: Eva Natural # 7 by Aida Ewing of Glam Affair
Hair: Itika in SH Platinum by KateForster Akina of Tukinowaguma
Elf Ears: ICED elf ears with triple loops by Scarlet Chandrayaan

FIRE: HEAVENLY BODY

The element of fire
Constructive, destructive
The bright light of fire
The slight of fire
The all consuming fire

Does not exist
In its natural form
Exists by consuming
Another form
It transforms from one
Form to another form

Fuels our passion
Leaves everything ashen
Duels the darkness
Heaves on compassion

Fire, constructively destructive
Fire, destructively constructive
Fire, living death
Fire, dying life

Anand Dixit

Heavenly Body gown set by Bee Dumpling of The White Armory
Skin: Eva Natural # 7 by Aida Ewing of Glam Affair
Hair: Margo in Gold Platinum by KateForster Akina of Tukinowaguma
Elf Ears: ICED elf ears with triple hoops by Scarlet Chandrayaan

The Four Elements, by Anne Bradstreet

The Fire, Air, Earth and water did contest
Which was the strongest, noblest and the best,
Who was of greatest use and might'est force;
In placide Terms they thought now to discourse,
That in due order each her turn should speak;
But enmity this amity did break
All would be chief, and all scorn'd to be under
Whence issu'd winds & rains, lightning & thunder
The quaking earth did groan, the Sky lookt black
The Fire, the forced Air, in sunder crack;
The sea did threat the heav'ns, the heavn's the earth,
All looked like a Chaos or new birth:
Fire broyled Earth, & scorched Earth it choaked
Both by their darings, water so provoked
That roaring in it came, and with its source
Soon made the Combatants abate their force
The rumbling hissing, puffing was so great
The worlds confusion, it did seem to threat
Till gentle Air, Contention so abated
That betwixt hot and cold, she arbitrated
The others difference, being less did cease
All storms now laid, and they in perfect peace
That Fire should first begin, the rest consent,
The noblest and most active Element.

Tribute to Forest and Fauna All Over the World

To all the beautiful and majestic forests of this earth, and the creatures that make their homes there....

Picture by Magissa Denver

The Forest
by Leonard C. Mayer

The trees stand tall and stately,
surveying their domain-----
The first to glimpse the sunrise;
the first to feel the rain.

The flowers add some color
to mostly brown and green.
Their fragrance bathes the air
and makes it smell pristine.

The wind sets all in motion
and makes things come alive.
It brings the rain and pollen
that lets this world survive.

The sun lends warmth and comfort
to all the things that grow.
It's perfect for their needs,
high noon or evening glow.

The earth provides nutrition
and serves the mother role-----
Even the air that's needed
comes from her heart and soul.


Bless the Beasts and the Children
Song by the Carpenters

Bless the beasts and the children
For in this world they have no voice
They have no choice

Bless the beasts and the children
For the world can never be
The world they see

Light their way when the darkness surrounds them
And give them love, let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from the storm
Keep them safe, keep them warm

Light their way when the darkness surrounds them
And give them love, let it shine all around them

Bless the beasts and the children
Give them shelter from the storm
Keep them safe, keep them warm

(the children)
(the children)
(the children)

Happily Ever After Faun

Haunched like a faun, he hooed
From grove of moon-glint and fen-frost
Until all owls in the twigged forest
Flapped black to look and brood
On the call this man made.

No sound but a drunken coot
Lurching home along river bank.
Stars hung water-sunk, so a rank
Of double star-eyes lit
Boughs where those owls sat.

An arena of yellow eyes
Watched the changing shape he cut,
Saw hoof harden from foot, saw sprout
Goat-horns. Marked how god rose
And galloped woodward in that guise.

...Sylvia Plath

I just had to blog about an adorable gift I received from a wonderful friend who's like a sister to me, SeleneLily Galicia. One day I logged into Second Life and found I had received a surprise purchased at Fantasy Faire! I opened the box and inside was a lovely, white faun outfit! The detail and quality were impeccable and the fit is great :) I loved the fact the legs were white, matching my beloved unicorns on Enchanted. This outfit came with two horns and white ears, but I knew I could mix and match and also use a unicorn horn I'd purchased at Illusions, too. I love the faun components, as they are very simple to wear...not a ton of little "pieces" to decide on and try. The set is called Happily Ever After Spring Faun in white by Ravenlynn Templar. Such a befitting name, because the little white faun did live happily ever after in her lovely, enchanted forest among the unicorns.

Clothes: Happily Ever After Spring Faun in white by Ravenlynn Templar
Skin: Jadis Yuki Edition 02 E by Aida Ewing of Glam Affair
Makeup: Les Makeups by Monica Outlander of Miamai #13
Hair: Early in Blonde 5 by Elikapeka Tiramisu of Elikatira
Unicorn Horn: by Siyu Suen of Illusions
Backdrop: Snow White Forest Scene Backdrop by Faery Sola of Studio Sidhe and Serenade Studio Backdrop
Unicorns: The Unicorn pose prop by Faery Sola of Studio Sidhe and "rearing" unicorn by Kim Lefavre of Sang Fori Designs
Bird: by Sasayo Kayo of HPMD

Enter the Forest of Light 'n Dark Photo Contest!

FOREST OF LIGHT 'N DARK PHOTO CONTEST
=========================

We are celebrating the opening of the new Fantasy Kaleidosope Gallery with a fun photo contest! Please submit a picture you took at either Enchanted (light) or Bewitched (dark), or you can submit one from each! We will be giving away prizes for each sim individually. They are:

FIRST PLACE: 5000L
SECOND PLACE: 3000L
THIRD PLACE: 1000L

Yes, that's right, you have the opportunity to win up to 10,000L if you enter pictures from both sims :) The winners will also be displayed in the gallery entrance for a while, then moved into the gallery as art on exhibit.
============================

You may submit as many pictures as you'd like. We are not judging based on how well your pictures are edited or processed, because we realize not everyone has the means to do that. We are looking more for originality, most magical, and most interesting.

Please submit the pictures either here in SL in a notecard labelled "Photo Contest Entry" as the title to Natalie Montagne (Nat Enchanted) OR to the Flickr Enchanted and Bewitched group:

http://www.flickr.com/groups/enchantedelvenrealm/

Please be sure and label ALL entries "Photo Contest Entry" as the title either way you submit them. Also, don't forget to list your avie's full name. You may put a title or description with the photo if you'd like.
==========================

We will accept contest submissions from now until Sunday, May 8. We will take a day or two to decide and announce the winners on Wednesday, May 11.

Please let Natalie Montagne know if you have any questions. Otherwise, enjoy!!

Official Fantasy Kaleidoscope Gallery Opening!

ka·lei·do·scope [kuh-lahy-duh-skohp] A continually changing pattern of shapes and colors.  /kəˈlaɪdəˌskoʊp/ Show Spelle

First, I'd like to apologize for being rather quiet for a while! There's been alot of excitement going on at Enchanted and the new sim, Bewitched, as you can imagine. Along with the addition of the new haunted sim, and with the help of Andrek Lowell, I was also working on a gallery exhibiting Second Life artists' work above Enchanted. I had mentioned this in a past blog, but have never officially introduced it as being open. Well, this is the official announcement of the opening of the Fantasy Kaleidoscope Gallery above Enchanted! Andrek has done a beautiful job seeing that it blends well with the forest below, all the way from the scenery to the frames around the pictures. In keeping with its purpose, the gallery is truly its own piece of art! It is something that will always be in the works and continuously updated, as we have new art we want to recognize all the time. That is the main purpose of the gallery, to show off/exhibit fantasy art created within game and to give it the recognition it deserves. For a while I was recognizing a piece of art from Enchanted and a piece from the Finest of Fantasy Art group in Flickr each week. After I left it on the sim for that week, I'd move and place it in the gallery. I still plan to do something similar, but instead of just two pieces of work each time, it will be a variety each time and go along with a particular theme. For example, this week I will recognize art having to do with the theme, "Light and Dark". We are having a photo contest with this theme, so thought it would be perfect. I will display the artwork within the theme at the entrance to the gallery each time and depending on the event or what is going on, it could be displayed for a while, not necessarily just a week. In order to visit the gallery, please use the tp door at the landing point entrance to Enchanted.

There will be a post following this one explaining a photo contest meant to kick off the gallery opening, so please be sure and watch for this and enter the contest! I've posted some pictures from within the gallery in keeping with the light and dark theme, but please come by and visit, you'll be glad you did!

Teleport landing point

Nat standing in front of one of the gallery sections

Closeup of the frames used for this natural setting

Beautiful bridges and walkways to each section of the gallery

One of the four sections of the gallery, each with its own central fantasy statue

Another gallery area

Gallery lit up at night

New Sim Joins the Enchanted Family!

I have some exciting news! Some of you may already know about the new addition to Enchanted, but I'd like to go ahead and make the announcement official :) We now have a new sim adjoined on the north side of Enchanted where the dark forest is located. The sim itelf is Elven Mist and it contains another wonderful forest built by Andrek Lowell called, Bewitched, formerly known as Bentham Forest. Lauren Bentham, who integrated her creations with Andrek's build, was the original owner of the sim. She decided to sell it and contacted me to see if I might be interested in purchasing it...and here we are :) If you've never visited this sim before, you are truly missing out! It is a haunted, dark forest full of beauty, whimsy, spooks and frights! In order to get the full effect of the sim, you need to put your environment to midnight at the entrance. I did a blog about Bentham Forest a while back, here is the link: http://nataliemontagne.blogspot.com/2010/09/bentham-forest-spooky-and-fun.html There is also a great youtube video about the sim: I hope you all are able to visit soon. When you arrive at the entrance, you'll be offered a landmark, notecard, url to the sim blog and a group invitation. Please come and enjoy!