ECLIPSE Magazine November 2018

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Contents

32.

72.

Through the Lens

Taylor Wassep and Trouble Dethly team up to showcase their favorite holiday. And they brought a few friends too!

At Home With...

Blair Lockhearst & June Fallon collaborate on this months feature, showcasing “Autumnal Equinox.”

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94.

110.

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The Proust Spotlight

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Trending Now

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The Art Perspective

Teaming up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, we shine the spotlight on Tiffany Parkin

AJ Arabello

From the 2018 Bloggies, we interview the ever stylish AJ Arabello, the winner of Best Male Fashion Blogger.

Geena Carminucci

ECLIPSE Magazine showcases the fashionable, Geena Carminucci, the winner of Best Female Fashion Blogger.

The ECLIPSE stylists put together outfits with the best of cold weather fashion!

Oema reviews If the Mind is Absent 2 “Rising from Mud”

by Kerupa Flow.

s

ECLIPSE Magazine is dedicated to not only offering an aesthetically pleasing publication, but to also be considered a platform that offers rich and relevant content. Each month, we showcase residents and groups that have taken the concept of “your world, your imagination� to such great heights that they have impacted the culture and lifestyle of the Second Life community.

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Cover Story Autumn Rose Cover Photographer Lessthen Zero

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Voices from the Grid

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Artist Highlight

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The Wayfarer

n!

Writer Cajsa Lilliehook

Each issue ECLIPSE Magazine asks residents a question, see what they have to say.

ECLIPSE Magazine sits down with talented live singer, Cryptic Harmony!

Join the Wayfarer on a journey exploring the sim, Somewhere in Time.

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executive team

Trouble dethly

cajsa lilliehook

Taylor Wassep

carley benazzi

Publisher

Copy Editor

Creative Director

Lead Stylist

jessyca teardrop Assistant Editor

the c

writers

photographers

Briony Writer Cajsa Lilliehook Grayden Foxe Novaleigh Freng Oema Synful Aeon Taylor Wassep

Autumn Rose Blair Lockhearst Carley Benazzi June Fallon Lessthen Zero Taylor Wassep Tempest Rosca Wicca Merlin

stylists Anderson Davenport Autumn Rose Blair Lockhearst Caesar Langer June Fallon Misoindite Romano Saian Samuel Wicca Merlin

guest stylist & photographer Taylor Wassep & Trouble Dethly

interested in advertising with eclipse? have an idea for a great story? looking to start a new career in second life? email eclipse.magazinesl@gmail.com

contributors

Happy Thanksgiving! I would like to pretend that I 100% planned on releasing the magazine today, but I won’t lie to you. This month I’ve been insanely busy between real life work, and this super cool project I did with a few friends. A Harry Potter Coffee Table Book was something we planned while waiting for the Crimes of Grindelwald to come out. We wanted to publish it to coincide with the release of the movie, and we did! Definitely check it out. We were fortunate to be able to collaborate with some incredible photographers who helped us bring some of the most iconic scenes from the Harry Potter series to life with their own creative twist, of course!

For the cover, I feature Autumn Rose who won the award “Blogger of the Year” in the 2018 Bloggies Awards. I should preface that neither I nor Kess were part of the panel of judges who decided it. She is an extraordinarily talented blogger and photographer who also happens to be the brightest part of my day. We also feature articles on AJ Arabello (Best Male Fashion Blogger) and Geena Carminucci (Best Female Fashion Blogger), and their work is truly astounding.

It is Thanksgiving, and I’m actually in between cooking as I type this. As cliche as it may sound, this is the time of the year where I pause and reflect on the past twelve months and what I am most grateful for in my life. I want to say thank you to our advertisers because the reality is if it were not for their support, I would not be able to publish this magazine every month.

And another thank you to my contributors for lending their time, hard work ethic and talents to this publication — each and every month. Lastly, to our readers, I am so incredibly grateful that you all tune in each publication.

Thank you.

We have a total of 11 pieces this month, and I do hope you enjoy them.

Happy Readings!

letter from the publi

isher

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through the lens

styling & photography by taylor wassep & troub

s

Each issue, ECLIPSE Magazine invites one of the many talented photographers from Second Life to collaborate.

With this piece, they style, create and share a glimpse through their lens.

Taylor Wassep and Trouble Dethly gather a few friends for a festive fall get together...

ble dethly.

Tha Page 34 | ECLIPSE November 2018

anksgiving 2018 ECLIPSE November 2018 | Page 35

Featuring: Trouble, Autumn, Ary, T Grayden, Luna, Anderson, Novaleigh, Moxie Page 36 | ECLIPSE November 2018

Taylor, Absi, e & Barbie ECLIPSE November 2018 | Page 37

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Apple & Pumpkin Picking...

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Bake a Gluten-Free Pie...

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Getting Some “Fresh Air”

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Photograph by Lessthen Zero.

rejoice because thorns ha

written by cajsa lilliehook. photography by autumn rose & Less

ave roses

sthen Zero.

“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.”

– George Bernard Shaw

No one was more surprised than Autumn Rose [CandyGunpowder] when she recently was recognized as “Blogger of the Year” at the Blogger and Vlogger Network annual awards event, “The Bloggies.”

Relatively new to blogging, she admits she really doesn’t know what qualities caught the judges’ eyes. “There are so many talented bloggers in SL and just as many styles.

However, as a community I feel like we have all taken inspiration from each other as we create and find our own way of blogging...So I kind of feel like, different pieces of the community have helped shaped my blog into what it is today.”

Pushed for an answer, she listed what she holds as core focuses of her blog and aspects she strives to maintain. First, there is photography, a passion in her first and her Second Life. Nearly all blogs have photos, but she means she tries to focus on interesting angles and elements and she prioritizes the artistic effect of the photo over fulfilling requirements. Then there is emotion.

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Rose has an aesthetic approach to emotion. She seeks to create it through writing, poetry, and her photography. If a photo produces a flat affect, she will find a new approach in order to instill emotion.

Then there is storytelling. This is of particular importance, perhaps because it took her a long time to realize its importance. She emphasized the importance of story, remarking, “If my photos don’t have a artsy angle, or are not speaking some inner emotion of mine - then they must at least be telling a story.”

No matter how surprised or selfeffacing, Rose won the highly competitive Blogger of the Year so we must insist she share her insights on successful blogging. In Rose’s opinion, the most important thing is knowing why you are blogging. She suggests bloggers ask themselves

“

what they find enjoyable about it, what are their reasons for blogging, and are they happy blogging?

She also advises bloggers avoid committing to too many events and brands. “After my blog really began to take off I started receiving invitations to blog for various designers and events. I took them while also still applying for other brands and events.

Blogging suddenly became a job.” For Rose, this was untenable and made her unhappy. That’s why she is so insistent bloggers know their reason for blogging.

Blogging first and foremost should be fun. If you’re not having fun then something is wrong and I feel like you need to take a step back to try and figure that out. That is how she pulled herself out a funk a few months ago.

I had to figure out my reason for blogging — or rather I had to remember it. Photography, emotion, and storytelling — those are my main reasons and you might say those reasons don’t really have anything to do with blogging.

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”

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Rose could probably do just photography, posting her pictures on Flickr™ but she thinks there is a serendipity in receiving items from creators. “Some of my greatest images come because of my sponsors.

Because they give me something that I might not have chosen to buy myself or maybe couldn’t have.” There is a freshness to inspiration that comes from unexpected pieces.

She is careful now to limit her obligations to designers and events and to make sure their requirements do not conflict with her blog. No matter how much you love a store, she reminds us, if you cannot meet their commitment demands, you should not try to blog for them and stress yourself. Instead, keep loving their work, buy it when you really want to blog it, and focus on your needs. “Your happiness is first and just because you don’t blog for a store doesn’t mean that you can’t support them. I blog many things from different stores that I don’t officially blog for.”

Rose is impatient with the idea of “real bloggers” and the competitive judgment that can seep into the blogging community. To her, it does not matter whether you blog for no stores or for 30. It doesn’t matter if you blog once a week, once a month, or four times a day.

If you blog, you’re a blogger. She used to think to be a real blogger, she needed to use the WordPress®

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“

Everyone is differen and everyone moves a different speeds and p different effort into different things.” The she added with a laug “So I give all of this adv and yet I still self-dou myself and compare mys to other bloggers.

nt at puts o en gh, vice ubt self .

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platform, but she has decided to free herself, moving to Tumblr® which feels so much more comfortable to her. She renamed her blog to Wild and Free as a reminder to embrace that life. She stopped limiting the orientation and size of her photos. She stopped trying to make her photos look like each other with similar processes, lighting and angles.

“I don’t need to have continuity.

I don’t need to force chains on myself. My mind is chaotic and untamed. I need to try to embrace this. This is more advice for myself,” she added wryly.

She also rejects the idea that photos should not be photoshopped or processed.

Of course, she has no objection to designers who have no processing as a rule for their bloggers. That’s their right. Her idea, however, is that items get shown in different ways by different bloggers. Some will show it as is in default lighting. Others will make an artistic and highly processed photo that captures the idea as well as the form of the item. Design has an emotional affect and she seeks to capture that through lighting and other processing techniques.

Remember, her goals are photography, emotion, and storytelling. Default lighting is light the flat affect of the

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avatar’s resting face. She wants more. Of course, she respects the work of others who see a more formalistic approach and respect their reasons. Not only does she think the blogging community is big enough for all kinds, it’s better for it, too.

Rose came to blogging through her love of fashion. One of the first things she did in SL® was start dressing up, though just as in her first life, shopping cost real money. Blogging seemed a perfect partnership of mutual advantage. Designers would give items to fashion loving-photographers to enthuse about them on a blog.

Of course, blogging is not all roses and roses for this Rose. There are challenges, particularly when you begin. When you start, you have to rely on what you have in your inventory or buy new things when you can afford them. Of course, there’s a good side to not having obligations to creators. There’s no deadlines and no obligation to blog multiple pieces in one picture. You have the freedom to follow your own aesthetic.

“Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.”

(The perfect is the enemy of the good.)

Voltaire

Rose finds that her biggest challenge is herself and her search for perfection.

Someone needs to introduce this woman to Voltaire who wisely advised us “The perfect is the enemy of the good.” She also has conflicting impulses — a desire for order and a chaotic nature. She works in bursts of emotional energy rebelling against restrictions while looking for continuity and balance.

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Photograph by Lessthen Zero.

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“

The more that I restricted myself the more I fought back against these metaphorical chains.

These conflicting drives have led her to give up, quitting blogging and photography. Self-doubt and comparing herself pejoratively to others left her so frustrated she quit.

This is actually a common strand for people who excel. Many people may be familiar with the DunningKruger Effect that suggests the more incompetent a person is, the more they will overestimate their competence. They lack the ability to evaluate how little they know. This explanations many American Idol auditions. There is a lesser-known corollary that claims the more competent people are the more likely they are to underestimate their skill and the more self-critical they are. They know so well what is needed, they are hypercritical of their worth.

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorns have roses.”

Alphonse Karr

After a hiatus, Rose came back to photography by doing photos with

”

a friend just for fun. He suggested she try blogging again and she did.

With the confidence boost of being accepted by brands she respected, she got to working wildly and freely.

The rest, as they say, is Bloggies history.

Rose found Second Life through her aunt who had seen something on the news and questioned her.

She was already familiar with virtual worlds, playing Coke music, Neopets and even IMVU. Then there was the Sims, her love. So why not?

The same reason why many new residents leave almost as quickly as they arrive, it turns out. Rose logged in and was overwhelmed. She didn’t understand how to rez and with her inadequate internet, it was slow. She thought the game was broken and quit after a few hours.

Months later, needing a distraction after a breakup, she tried again with a new account, this time without her first life name. She was also more patient.

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“

I’m pretty sure that I walked around with a box attached to my head for a least a week while I tried to figure out how to change my shoes. After I sorted that out, I began to think that Second Life was rather cool (if a bit weird.) I still think Second Life is cool. And definitely crazy...

But that’s life in either world.

”

Second Life has enriched Autumn Rose’s life in many ways. Looking back on her early days recalls fond memories of riding from sim to sim on the Linden Road on the back of a motorcycle with a guy she met. They went everywhere, even breaking into people’s houses and hanging out until evicted. “I remember just feeling so free —I was getting to do things in Second Life that I always wanted to do but couldn’t in Real Life. It was beautiful... Yeah, we crashed a lot and half of the time we just kind of lagged through the ground across Sims... But it was still beautiful”.

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SL also brought her most crushing heartbreak which she views from the eyes of a true Rose, “You’re going to be pricked by the thorns in the world — virtual or not. But sometimes you need to bleed in order to live.” She prefers not to dwell and immediately turns to focus on beauty. She says, “Heartbreak can be found in any life...just as beauty can. I think that’s something that we need to remember. See the beauty in life no matter what world. Cherish it and soak it into your skin.

Relish it.” The beauty that is Second Life has helped to nurture her creativity, transported her around the world and to worlds unimagined, introduced her to colorful characters who she feels lucky to count as friends.

Second Life’s ability to foster relationships inevitably leads to the ultimate SL question, is it a game or a social network. Rose resists labeling, insisting it is different things to different people. “The possibilities of it are so open and endless that I don’t think that one label can really be put onto it. Second Life is what you make it. For me it’s always been a place to go wild and be free.” For her, it’s a place to do things she can’t do in her first life as well as a creative outlet and a social network where she has found new friends and relationships.

Rose is enthusiastic about SL’s future and her own life. She has found new love in her life and is looking forward to creating memories.

She has long been fascinated by family roleplay and will be starting that for the first time around the holidays, a perfect family time. She has a new home to decorate and, of course, she added, “I’ll be continuing with my blogging and photography as well. My goal is to get better — I think that’s always my goal. But maybe somewhere in there I can learn to be confident in my work?”

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do things not possible in real life. It has also given her experiences she never imagined like winning an award and being interviewed for a magazine. She added, “For that I am so very grateful to this platform and its community. I’m also trying to avoid being too mushy, but I would not be being honest if I didn’t mention the fact that I owe Second Life for meeting my amazing boyfriend.”

Not only does she have a new Scarlet Creative home to decorate in SL, she just moved in first life. She’s been driving around and exploring her new home,

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discovering wild animals, even deer, her favorite animals. She’s eagerly anticipating the Bambis of spring.

Her first life is enriched by her dogs, whom you may encounter populating her Flickr feed. “Some of my Flickr followers may be familiar with my beautiful chocolate lab Faith, who had an admirable battle with lymphoma. I posted pictures to my stream and was overwhelmed by the heartfelt comments left by people in the Second Life community. Sadly, on June 30 my sweet Faith passed away.” She posted a memory collage on Flickr and shot a photo in SL to express

her grief and honor Faith’s memory. She will be soon adding a silver lab puppy born November 5th. Her name is Grace and Rose will be picking her up shortly before Christmas. You can look for pictures on her Flickr in the near future and for the story of how she is connected to Faith.

“There is no light without shadows, just as there is no happiness without pain.”

Isabel Allende, Portrait in Sepia

Rose, Bambis, puppies, all wild and free might give you the impression that Rose is the personification of a unicorn latte,

but she has a few more grim interests. “I really don’t want to come across as creepy but I have a huge fascination with serial killers and psychopaths. I love reading books about them.” She is fascinated by the psychology, what makes them tick and how it is expressed through violence. She has considered studying psychology and pursuing a degree. “Despite being a Disney fan and having a collection of Build-a-Bear reindeer, I love darker themes. I think this is often expressed in my photography. It’s also something that annoys me about myself — the fact that I have such contrasting interests.”

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Getting to Know Autumn Rose How would someone else describe you?

With my interest in psychology I’ve read up on and taken the Myers-Briggs personality test. I always type as an ENTP - however a friend of mine types me as an ISFP. While I can see myself in aspects of both personalities, I find that the best description of me is my Zodiac sign which is Gemini.

What does the name you chose say about you?

My Second Life legacy name ‘CandyGunpowder’ was actually inspired by a quote in The Last Unicorn by Peter S. Beagle - “Her voice left a flavor of honey and gunpowder on the air.”

If you could teach everyone in the world one concept, what concept would have the biggest positive impact on humanity?

When I’m going through a difficult time in life I always try to remind myself of how it could be worse. When you are down it can be easiest to focus on what could be better or what you wish was different. But if you remind yourself of what you have that someone else might not then I think it humbles you and can ease whatever pain that you are feeling.

I think so many people take so much in life for granted. There might be something that you do in your life every day that to you is so insignificant and meaningless, even mundane — but just try to imagine what it might be like if you couldn’t do that thing anymore or you never could — how would you feel?

What makes you feel most fully alive?

One of the things that makes me feel most fully alive is dancing to Lana Del Rey, Bad Suns, Glass Animals or — I have to admit Taylor Swift!

She can make me feel wild and crazy or just cozy and Christmasy. I also love to take road

trips with the radio on and windows down — drinking something with lots of caffeine. Caffe really makes me feel alive but I think that’s for everyone. I do love Starbucks.

What two questions would you ask to get t most information about who a person truly is?

If it wasn’t obvious by now, I’m a huge animal lover. Dogs are my favorite, followed by horse So normally when I’m talking to someone and trying to get a better feel for who they are, I w typically ask if they have any pets - even if the don’t, the question generally reveals how they feel about them, which will tell me how I feel about them haha.

What do you want people to know about yo My favorite Second Life memory so far has be every moment that I’ve spent with Trouble Dethly (so much for not being mushy) Anyway, I just want to end this article somewhere by saying thank you.

Thank you to the stores and events that have supported me throughout my blogging journ Without each and every one of you I would not be here. Even if I was unable to continue blogging for you, you were still a part of what got me here. Thank you to the community tha supports my blog, thank you to those who support my Flickr and leave me comments — I know that I’m really bad about replying (I think my New Year’s resolution is going to be to get better at responding haha) but I read each and every one and they mean so much to me. Thank you to everyone that nominated me to even have a chance of being here. Than you to my friend who encouraged me to try blogging again. And lastly, thank you to my amazing boyfriend who supports me every da in everything that I do.

Check out Autumn on Flickr, her Blog and on Facebook.

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at home with...

STYLING BY blair lockhearst & June fallon. photography by blair lo

Alternating each issue between the talents of Blair Lockhearst and June Fallon, ECLIPSE Magazine explores the long underappreciated and overlooked world of home and garden design. The flourishing diversity and abundance of choice since the mesh revolution has led to a bold new world of world creation.

For this month’s feature, prepare to be inspired as Blair and June showcase “Autumnal Equinox.”

ockhearst.

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Crate. Sese - Autumn Flower - Orange with box Pumpkins. Apple Fall - Pumpkins Assortment Pumpkin. Dahlia - Plymouth - Pumpkin Tan Lantern. Zerkalo - Autumn Warmth Lantern Candle Haybale. Dust bunny - Harvest Haybale Milkcan. Cheeky Pea - Martha Milk Can Sunflowers. Dust Bunny - Harvest Jug of Sunflowers Lantern. Apple Fall - Feuilles Lantern Wreath. Apple Fall - Pumpkin Harvest Wreath Wreath. Apple Fall - Magnolia Leaf Wreath Wooden sign. What Next - Harvest Sign Garland. Mudhoney - Fall Leaves Garland Bell. Granola - Maggie’s Bell Deco Pinecones. Granola - Maggie’s Pinecones and Acorns Leaves. Kalopsia - Hazel’s Leaves *fuschia* Pouffe. Cheeky Pea - Free Spirit Mandala Pouffe Pillow. Ariskea - Wild - Boho Pillow Plates. The Loft - Casolare Place Setting Teal Bowl. Fancy Decor - Flora Bowl Utensils. Apple Fall - Autumn Place Setting Placemat. Chez Moi - Alexandria Placemat Bench. Apple Fall - Rustic Storage Bench Pillow. Dahlia - November - Accent Pillows Shoes. Apple Fall - Leather Moccasins Flats. Nutmeg - Not too shabby flats Tote. Nutmeg - Rattan Tote Carry Florals. LODE - Philadelphus Vase Granola. Carolyn’s Festive Coat Rack.

Frame. Apple Fall Original Artwork - Pine Cone Study Frame. Apple Fall Original Artwork - Crocosmia Study Cabinet. Zigana - Apothecary cabinet Rug. ACORN - Duo Rug - Malvern Cat prints. Apple Fall - Cat Prints Entryway hanger. Dust Bunny - stay awhile entryway hanger Jar. Keke - autumn bell jar Wellies. What Next - Hello There Wellies Decor Boots. Kunst - Rain boots Vase. Apple Fall - Cotton Cluster Basket. Kalopsia - Iron Basket Coat rack. Dust Bunny - branch coat rack Books. Fancy Decor - Antiquarian Books Wreath. Apple Fall - Blossom Wreath Books. Nutmeg - Pile of Vintage books Buffet table. Apple Fall Robin Buffet Table RARE Cheeseboard. Tres Blah - Soiree - Cheese Tray RARE Cheeseboard. Tres Blah- Soiree - Lemonade RARE Cheeseboard. Apple Fall - Cheeseboard Drink dispenser. What Next - Hot Apple Cider Jar Dispense Drink dispenser. What Next - Hot Chocolate Jar Dispenser Marshmallows. What Next - Colonna Beverage Extras (marshmallows) Syrup bottles. What Next - Colonna Syrup Bottles Frame. Apple Fall - Verdant Oil Painting Apples. Apple Fall - Apple Sprig w/ Branch Sconce. Fancy Decor - Crystal Sconce (gold) Candle. MudHoney - Artichoke Candle Cake. Apple Fall - Fall Harvest Cake Cake. Dust Bunny - Berry Cake Cheesecake. Apple Fall - Kiwi & Blueberry Cheesecake Candles. Artisan Fantasy - Hacienda Candles Page 90 | ECLIPSE November 2018

Table. Nutmeg - Rustic Industrial Table Brown Rug. SAYO - Fallen Autumn Set - Jute Runner Table runner. Unkindness - Autumn’s Hall Table Runner Pie. O.M.E.N - Family Dinner - Sweet Cherry Pie Pie. Dust Bunny - harvest feast . pumpkin pie Food. O.M.E.N - Family Dinner - Salad Food. O.M.E.N - Family Dinner - Glazed Carrots Food. O.M.E.N - Family Dinner Pineapple Kiwi Glazed Ham Platter. Apple Fall - Treats Platter Candles. Apple Fall - Plaster Candles Decanter. Apple Fall - Whisky Decanter Wine bottle. Apple Fall - Argentinian Malbec

Pinecones. Apple Fall - Pinecones & Hazelnuts Food. Dust Bunny . harvest feast . turkey . fullset exclusive Food. Dust Bunny . harvest feast . sweet potato casserole Food. Dust Bunny . harvest feast . mashed potatoes Candle. Random Matter - Hartley Deer Candle - Silver Food. Dust Bunny . harvest feast . green beans Armchair. Nutmeg - Romanov’s Golden Armchair White Chair. Apple Fall - Fairfax Chair (Sunflowers) Pillow. Apple Fall Cushion - Tudor Trellis, Blue Small Candlesticks. Nutmeg - Brass Candlesticks

Shelf. Foxwood - The Arist - Shelf Ceramic dog. Apple Fall - Pug Ceramic Decor Decorative boxes. Dahlia - Plymouth - Stackable Boxes (Silver) Trinket box. Dahlia - Newport - Distressed Trinket Box Cloche. Apple Fall - Snowdrops in Cloche Clock. Fancy Decor - Carriage Clock (Brass) Feathers. Apple Fall - Pheasant Feathers Decorative birds. Dahlia - Plymouth - Love Birds (Silver) Books. Apple Fall - Books Bowls. Apple Fall - Hand Painted Scandinavian Bowls Horse bust. Apple Fall - Horse Bust Fragment Artwork. Apple Fall - Pine Cone Study Books. Dahlia - Newport - Vintage - Books - Assorted Colors Plant. Dust Bunny - Potted rubber tree Pumpkin. Apple Fall - Pumpkin Pillow. Dahlia - November - Accent Pillow (Brown) Books. Nutmeg - Pile of Vintage books Sideboard. Apple Fall - His Sideboard RARE Bottles. Apple Fall - Ceramic Bottles Blankets. Dust Bunny - Blanket Stool Rug. Foxwood - The Artist - Rug Frames. Apple Fall - Rope Suspended Gallery Plant. Dust Bunny - Potted sago palm Deer. Apple Fall - Woodland deer Lamp. Junk - Kitsch bird lamp Poppies. Apple Fall - Preserved Poppies Books. Apple Fall - Book Arrangements Deco box. Fancy Decor - Antique Tea Caddy Rabbit. Apple Fall - Silver Antiqued Rabbit Bottles. Apple Fall - Stoneware Vessels Clonch. Apple Fall - Pumpkin Clonch Pinecones. Apple Fall - Pinecones & Hazelnuts Frame. Ariskea - Dakota - Hello Autumn frame Framed sketch. Apple Fall - American Flag Sketch ECLIPSE November 2018 | Page 91

best male fashion b

WRITTEN BY SYNFUL AEON. pHOTOGRAPHY provided by aj

blogger

j arabello.

After reading about Second LifeÂŽ in 2009, AJ Arabello decided to venture into it. At first, he explored as a noob and dabbled in role-play but nothing really seemed to capture his interest.

Two years later he came back after his real life circumstances changed and he had more time on his hands.

When Arabello returned to Second Life, he decided he wanted to pursue something creative. He learned from tutorials and other people around him different techniques and tricks for taking photos in Second Life. Once he decided he had a good understanding of Second Life photography, he began his blog in April 2017.

His blog started off small with him taking fashion photos in different destinations around SL.

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As he progressed in his creativity Arabello decided to also pursue his interest in interior decorating. He started by adding bits and pieces of decor items that captured his interest to the varied backgrounds he bought bringing forth a different narrative to every photo he took. As an established photographer/blogger, sometimes the concept for a photo would come to him quickly but other times it took him a bit of trial and error to grasp the concept he wanted for a photo. When he would brainstorm for a photo he would set up different scenes on his platform using many home and decor items from different events; he tries not to include too many items in a photo because it could cause him to lose the focus of the photo. “I sometimes go through dry spells, even though I have gorgeous items to blog and I can’t seem to come up with any ideas,” Arabello confesses.

Having no formal artistic background Arabello’s eye for detail and his drive to learn are what make his photos unique and create their powerful narrative. When the photo needs a bit of editing Arabello turns to Photoshop™ for his post-processing needs. Lately he has been using the Black Dragon viewer and that has helped cut down some post-process editing in Photoshop.

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While learning about blogging and Second Life photography Arabello came across many bloggers that he admires greatly for their visionary aesthetics. “I’m in awe of home and decor bloggers like EXIS, I honestly don’t understand how they create such amazing scenes. One of my favorite male bloggers is Scar Requiem — I love his use of light and dark. Grant Valeska is an inspiration for the boldness and vibrancy of his pictures,” replied Arabello.

After he felt confident in his work, he started putting in applications to creators events that interested him. Despite at first not obtaining sponsorship from some of the designers he was interested in he didn’t take it personally.

“Blog managers, event managers and designers have hundreds of applications to wade through — sometimes you get lucky, sometimes you don’t,” he explained. After blogging for a few months Arabello applied to a new pose store, Animosity, who became his first sponsor. He has been able to watch Animosity grow as a store from the start and that is a good feeling.

When Arabello started being recognized for his blogging by

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more designers it validated his sense of accomplishment that others enjoyed his work. He loves it when a designer or event manager approaches him and asks him to join their team. He would describe his fashion sense on his blog as casual because most of the menswear in SL is casual. His sense of style and eye for detail got him noticed by brands such as Stray Dog and Stealthic and he was chosen to represent them.

While putting in applications for big events Arabello noticed that there aren’t many male bloggers out there. So getting accepted to events is a bit easier because there isn’t that much competition for male bloggers.

Blogging for Arabello is a hobby he thoroughly enjoys and to keep it that way he doesn’t use a spreadsheet or any methodical way to keeping himself organized and on task. Instead, he works through a folder he has labeled stuff to blog with sub folders for the stores and the events he blogs. He also only takes on a limited number of blogging commitments so that he doesn’t burn out and because of real life obligations.

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When Arabello found out he was nominated for the Bloggies he was chuffed to have that sort of recognition from his fellow bloggers. ”The category I was nominated for was a really strong category and I loved the work of the other nominees, so I was thrilled. It’s particularly nice that it was voted for by a panel made up of people I really respect,” said Arabello.

Arabello attributes his success as a blogger to the details he works out in putting together the narratives for his photos. “I think the picture is absolutely key. I spent a lot of time watching tutorials and practicing with images to get that part right. I also think it’s important to be consistent and reliable,” explained Arabello. When promoting his blog he mainly uses Flickr® and Facebook® with most hits for his blog coming from Facebook.

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When new to blogging Arabello suggests using the Blogger and Vlogger Network’s resources and tutorials, getting out to meet other bloggers, and learning to collaborate with others. “When collaborating with other bloggers go armed with an idea for the photo. Then ask them if they would like to pose with you in this?

Don’t expect them to do all the set up,” said Arabello.

When Arabello isn’t blogging he is putting together scenes on his platform or helping out with Dress to Impress. A timed game challenge where contestants need to dress up in under ten minutes in their dressing rooms in an outfit that matches the theme declared. “Dress to Impress is really fun and has introduced me to many new bloggers. I’d recommend anyone to apply as it’s a great way to get yourself out there, and we have some amazing sponsors,” replied Arabello.

Check out AJ’s Blog and Flickr.

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best female fashion

written by taylor wassep. Photography provided by geena c

blogger

carminucci.

Most people, when they come across Second Life™ may have no idea the potential realities this virtual space can give them Be they a content creator, business owner, entertainer or even a photographer each pathway they forge is uniquely their own. They find these journeys through trial and error with just a Page 112 | ECLIPSE November 2018

touch of passion. I for newbies in Sec know what they w in this game, and would sum up Gee introduction to th

Coming from a no world game, “Ther

It’s very common cond Life to not want to be or do that, for sure, ena Carminucci’s he grid as well.

ow defunct, openre,” Geena decided

she should check out Second Life considering its many similarities to that of her previous life in a virtual space. At first, she was kind of unsure of Second Life, due to the lack of options. It wasn’t until she was introduced to created content by another avatar that she knew she had found a new home in Second Life.

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“

Avies in “There” flowed/animated better. So at first I thought it was awful, and I didn’t like how I was standing or walking! But then once i was introduced to an AO [animation overrides], things got better. – Geena Carminucci

”

Overtime, Geena would find treasures, of sorts, she was able to use in creating her avatar. Believe it or not, this wasn’t the lead up to Geena becoming a blogger or photographer. That passion wasn’t found until years later when she found herself doing photography for a few brands in-world. One such company was a part of the Virtual Football League in Second Life. Geena made the players’ cards and took live-actions shots from the various football games.

Eventually, that chapter of her life came to a close and she was off finding something new to satisfy her creative itch.

2017 is when Geena really started to get into blogging, not just taking photos by commission, but actually creating scenes and telling stories through her photography. At first, it was just simple snapshots of her avatar and posting it to Flickr for her friends and others to enjoy. After a while though, she started to put credits with the photos since more and more people would contact her to ask what she was wearing.

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Soon after starting to take take photos for herself, a few brands reached out to her to see if she would be interested in blogging their items. The first person to contact her about sponsoring her blog was Harry Hyx of ISON. Geena was certainly shocked and gratified because she loved and respected t this brandas a shopper.

“

Like anyone who has found themselves doing something they love, but in a new way, the more she learned, the more she wanted to learn.. So, like any good student of life, Geena continued and still continues to this day to research and find better ways to process her photographs.

It all stemmed from doing SL photography.

I loved the process, and since I work with numbers all day in RL, this was my creative outlet. – Geena Carminucci

With all this new found inspiration and love from total strangers, Geena knew she would have to take the next step with her newfound career in Second Life as a blogger.

Crating that first blog post was something special for her, it solidified her as a blogger and created a singular source for those who followed her to be exposed to more and more of her work.

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In addition to mentorship by her friend Maia, Geena would watch tutorials on YouTube from great photographers like Katey Coppola and Anya Ohmai. She would watch what they do and tailor it to her own style of rendering photos on Photoshop, for example. Over time she has pick up tips here and there to create her own personal style which is why so many people love to see what she does.

”

a

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“

I had dabbled in Photoshop before Second Life. However, I do credit my initial crash course in SL photography to my good friend Maia.

She laughs every time I say that, but it’s true. – Geena Carminucci

”

Like anything that thrusts people into some sort of spotlight, be it in the real or virtual world, stress comes into play at every turn, no matter how knowledgeable someone might be about something. The straining pull of stress weighs people down, even Geena who confessed to finding challenges when doing her blog posts.

Stress though, can have a positive effect on people.

The only people with no stress are dead. The pressure of expectation can cause some people to excel. With Geena, that pressure is there doing her blog photos, no matter what. But that pressure also focuses her on the challenge of blogging and makes it fun for her. It’s all about finding that balance of stress and passion; straddling the line, sort of speak.

One way that Geena is able to toe that line is to keep her sponsors around a reasonable level for herself and for them. Grabbing every sponsor out there might not work out so well for everyone.

Constant deadlines can make it difficult to create cohesive stories through the pictures.

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“

I find myself paying attention more in movies and music videos too...

I’ll see a scene and think, oh wouldn’t that be awesome to try and create in SL. Music is a huge inspiration too... sets your mood for creating a scene. – Geena Carminucci

”

Geena confessed to spending hours, maybe even days, on a single photo for her blog. She starts with figuring out the items she may need to blog and how they could meld together to make a concept that makes sense. Then she moves on to find or create the scene she thinks will work best for the image she has in her head.

Next, Geena will style her avatar and find the angles that gives the effect she is looking for — a conceptual image that was started with a handful of sponsor items.

This might sound quite familiar to those who are reading this. And you would be right.

Geena is no different than you or the person next to you. What makes Geena stand apart is

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the dedication she has put into her craft, the time spend honing her skills and creating her own style for which she was gained quite the following. And for that, she won Best Female Fashion Blogger at this year’s Bloggies.

When asked about what this award means to her, Geena touched on the support and the outpouring of love from the Second Life community as a whole. The love has been so overwhelming and beautiful to her. She appreciates that fact that there is a place for all of us to come together and enjoy each other’s creations, be it photography, art, fashion, decor, really whatever is created; there is a community here who will love it.

In closing, Geena wanted to be sure this included one additional idea. Second Life is an amazing creative outlet for so many people in the world; really unlike anything out there.

We have limitless possibilities in Second Life and the great thing is that you can use your imagination and let it run wild. So, if you have a passion, just go for it, work hard and don’t be afraid to fail or ask for help. Learn new and exciting things, dive into tutorials, but always have fun.

Check out Geena’s Flickr & Blog.

“

It’s special to me because it makes me feel like I’m part of a community. – Geena Carminucci

”

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the proust spotli

photography by TIFFA

The Proust Spotlight is our monthly feature where we highlight one of the many creative residents of Second Life®. Utilizing the Proust Questionnaire, whose namesake comes from the late 19th century French writer, we will offer a glimpse into what makes them tick.

ECLIPSE Magazine has teamed up with the Blogger & Vlogger Network, so each month the blogger we showcase on the Proust Spotlight is a group member. The group member we feature this month is the talented Tiffany Parkin. When asked to share something about herself, she tells us, “After 12 years in SL, I have finally found a “job” that I love in blogging. I love showcasing the work of these creators and, hopefully, I give their products a life and a story.

Blogging, for me, is about artistic expression of myself and how I interact with the world. While it can be challenging to come up with new scenes and themes, its so rewarding when you pull it off. When I started blogging in May of this year, I never thought I would grow to love it so much but I have...and I can’t imagine a day in SL without it being a part of my place in the community. ”

ght

ANY PARKIN.

What is your ideal of perfect happiness?

Being able to walk down the street or into a store, being seen by the world as the woman I have always been inside my mind and heart, without fear or regret. No one should have to fear leaving their home, or encountering judgment or discrimination.

Which words or phrases do you most overuse?

WTF??? It’s a miracle no one has placed a swear jar on my desk at work.

The only reason I don’t have a swear jar at home is because I live alone.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

I am going to have to list two things here. First, accepting who I am inside, learning to love myself and finding the strength to be me regardless of what others think. Ok...maybe that’s 3 things. But I also have to say going back to school in my 40’s to get my Masters in Counseling...while working full time. Graduation is in less than two months!

What do you most value in your friends?

Sincere honesty. We can be honest and blunt without being mean and I appreciate those people who can do that and being told by them when I am wrong or could improve. We are all human, none of us are perfect and we all need to be called out by those who care about us.

What is your greatest regret?

Not accepting myself and learning to love myself sooner in life. I spent so much of my life afraid, confused and trying to live up to everyone else’s expectations. Accepting myself, loving myself and being me has, despite all the fears and worries, brought me serenity for the first time in my life.

What is your motto?

“Its about progress, not perfection.”

What is your most marked characteristic?

Wanting to help those who are struggling to help themselves in their time of need. I have been a medic, a hospital administrator and will soon be moving into mental health care. I have seen people at their lowest points in life. They were scared, struggling and wanted to be better. Often times they had no control over what was happening to them. I hope I gave them some sense of hope in that past and want to continue that as I move into mental health care.

Connect with Tiffany on her Flickr, Blog, Instagram and Facebook.

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Trending now

photography by wic

Trending Now is a monthly piece dedicated to showcasing some of the best ready-to-wear fashion found on Second Life®.

It’s too early for snow pants and winter coats, but it’s the perfect weather for ECLIPSE Stylists to show off some cooler fashion trends!

cca merlin.

Anderson Davenport in Denim Trucker Jackets Hair: Modulus - Sam Jacket: Deadwool - Genoa Jeans: Deadwool - Broberry Shoes: Semller - Slip On Page 140 | ECLIPSE November 2018

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Autumn Rose in the 1960’s Hair: Stealthic - Fleeting & Bangs Outfit: Zenith - Cozy Weather with Belt Skirt Stockings: Imbue - Lace Thigh Hi Socks Shoes: Imbue - Leather Bow Plats Accessories: Zenith - Leather Bag

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Caesar Langer in Suede Jacket Jacket: Taikou - Suede Bomber Pants: Invictus - Street Jeans Boots: Not So Bad - Chelsea Boots Ring (r): Kunst - Nuts Ring Ring (l): Kunst - Stapled Ring

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Misoindite Romano in Fake Fur Hair: *barberyumyum*85 Necklaces: Swallow - Magic Dress: David Heather - Micuh Fur Coat: Ryvolter - Zira Shoulder Coat: Coco Boots: Mutresse - Nikki

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SaianSamuel in Corduroy Top : Sugar Baby Design - Corduroy stars shirt Pants : Blankline - Ripped jeans Beanie : Noir - Niko Watch : Heartsdale Jewellery - Adonis Cigarette : SA - red Pack Shoes : CA - Sneakers

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Wicca Merlin in Accessories Top: Gizza - Oversize Knit Top Pants: Lassitude & Ennui - Hisa Leather Leggings Shoes: Livalle - Hax Combat Boots Hair: no.match - No.Commission Makeup: alaskametro - Mariposa Eyeshadow Lipstick: alaskametro - London Lipstick Bag 1: LaGyo - The Desperado Bag Bag 2: GizzA - Gathered Tote Bag Bag 3: THE OAK - Phynto Bag Bag 4: Indyra - Last Call Tote London Calling

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the art perspect written by oema. photograph

Oema curates the ECLIPSE Magazine art column. Each piece, she discovers, reviews and highlights the work of some of the most creative and talented artists on the grid. She offers a fresh perspective in the vibrant and vast world of the arts.

For this month’s feature, Oema showcases the art exhibition If the Mind is Absent 2 “Rising from Mud” by Kerupa Flow.

tive y by oema.

Kerupa Flow has opened an artistic installation entitled If the Mind is Absent 2 “Rising from Mud” that I think deserves attention in the list of exhibitions available in November.

In particular, it is an initiative hosted

by Linden Endowment for the Arts at LEA9.

Kerupa’s installation immediately reminded me of Claudia222 Jewell and her way of conveying thoughts and emotions. In fact, in both artists, the fantasy setting is the one for a dramatic context, where the painful experiences of existence offer important food for thought and transmutation.

On the occasion of my visit, I had the opportunity to talk to Kerupa, whom I asked if she had made available an informational notecard about the artistic event to visitors. The artist gave me a brief notecard which, at the time of my visit, was not publicly available. For this reason, I will include the text of the notecard itself, which, although brief, offers a better understanding of what is intended to be communicated by Flow. The text is as follows: “The anger of the dragon, the sorrow of the sea. All still there but I can see the world and feel it. Here is such a world.

Let’s meet on lotus leaves.”

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As we read, the meaning of the installation can be summarized in “going beyond” the painful experiences of earthly existence. Indeed, more than a “going beyond,” we could talk about “crossing” Life, living every experience with intensity and attention. We live in a world where suffering, in different forms, is offered up to us daily.

Even when pain is not the protagonist of our life, it is presented to us through the experiences and narratives of others. It is difficult not to feel compassion for it and to remain indifferent. Yet, despite everything, we continue to live, feeling and seeing the world, perceiving it in all its facets, even the most seemingly insignificant.

Kerupa Flow, as she herself says in the short notecard she offered me, has metaphorically reproduced the World in which each of us lives by transforming suffering into awareness. In fact, Flow’s suggestive installation metaphorically expresses suffering in various ways, including hands that seem to seek help and emerge from a kind of muddy lava, faces thrown on the lava-like abandoned masks and images of various types projected on prims of different features.

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On the other hand, the lotus flowers, which Flow suggests as a meeting point for visitors represent observation, an attentive eye on Life and the experiences it offers. As soon as you click on the lotus flowers, you find yourself sitting in a mouselook mode that offers a privileged vantage point for this type of art installation. Another effective way to visit the Flow project is the 3D mouse (like the Space Navigator, for example).

In different points of the region, you can see suggestions on how to set the lights: the artist suggests the night mode (night). Personally, after having appreciated the installation following the artist’s instructions, I wanted to explore other alternatives and I dwelt on the [TOR] NIGHT Moony setting, which enhances the setting while keeping the right brightness on the avatar.

Looking at the environment from the lotus flower seat, I appreciate the bittersweet taste of Flow’s art installation. Drama, pain, and confusion coexist with high energies symbolically represented by the fantasy elements present on the region. In particular, the lotus flower seems to be, besides being an excellent observation point, also a “bridge” between Reality and Spirituality. It almost seems that Flow means that it is through Life in all its drama that we come to enhance the soul part of ourselves. She seems to mean, in short, that it is by walking exposed to the storms of emotions that we come to understand who we are and to appreciate ourselves beyond the (false) identity that we are forced to simulate to live in the social context that we know.

I recommend a visit to Flow’s installation because, in the artistic panorama, she represents a successful expression of our inner conflicts.

Visit If the Mind is Absent 2 “Rising from Mud.”

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Voices from the g

Voices From the Grid is a monthly survey of opinions and ideas of Second LifeÂŽ residents on the salient issues of the day.

For this issue, ECLIPSE Magazine asked residents within the kid community what they wished other people understood.

grid

Photograph provided by Roula Laville.

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R

ROULA LAVILLE

oula Laville is the founder and creator of Tiny Trinkets toddler store since 2013. Her love to create and her passion to keep improving of what she is doing is the reason Tiny Trinkets-Toddler store exists. She is originally existed to this amazing pixel world on 2008 having a few stores back then with her originally first avatar, when were all so primmy, yet she enjoyed the creativity so much she never quit creating once.

Rou is a person who will be always be there to help you no matter what, down to earth and hates to be at front in any compliment are for her as she is trying to be as much as is that even possible a “low profile Person.” She is a social person and she likes to shares smiles and love. Her priorities are her SL Family as she is very attached with them for many years now as this comes for RL and SL. Her friends also are her safe bubble to be, and she is always enjoys to tease them and have fun with them in any way. She loves watching movies with them online and chat. She also loves to work with her SL mom as she is the person she inspires her and her best friend. Her sisters are her safe place to run and escape from any stressful situation, she will always be there for them too. Smiles and happy moments are what makes her moving on no matter the struggles life might bring, she will always manage to go through everything every time.

I am in Kid Community since 2008. This wasn’t my main avatar, this originally was made by my RL best friend who dropped it 3 days after she made it and I took it over. I made it a child avatar in the right next second and since then I remain as is nowdays :) It is not easy to be a kid avatar in Second Life. It is not easy to be a creator in Second Life and not easy at all to hold a store alive all these years!

People will judge you and will take you all wrong sometimes because you choose to play a child avatar, they cannot “understand” the reasons each one of us have to be something different in this Pixel World. My reason is that I wanted to stay out of the Adult world drama experienced with my originally avi. So I decided to be a child avatar to avoid any dramatic situation, yet this community as I said isn’t easy either, but IF you find a way to enjoy it, you will stay out of any weird situation and enjoy the Magic :) I love this community and I will never drop it.

My store will never stop existing here and I will never give up on trying to be there for the people I care. I have made friends I hold dear and close to my heart all these years now, and I cannot imagine myself not saying a “Good Morning” to them or a “Good Night” as they are part of my RL life too :) I admire people who stay original in their opinions and strong fighting for it! This community is awesome and no matter the kid avatars we are all adults behind it . Enjoy your SL as you like, never judge anyone and always be better and not bitter Y “shares few ice creams with all of you” Check out her Store.

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Photograph provided by Annalisa.

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A

nnalisa (Lisa to her friends) has been in Second Life since 2005. She may sometimes look human, but she’s properly understood as a faun, a magical forest being. Her passion in-world is photography.

annalisa

Everybody’s been a kid. Even grownups can think back to what being a kid was like. I think some part of everyone will always be a kid. And I think in a place like Second Life, we’re all trying to find things our first lives haven’t given us. That’s the beauty of the place.

I think those of us who find ourselves being children in Second Life are looking for things our first life childhoods didn’t give us. That varies from kid to kid.

Maybe our childhoods were unhappy. Or maybe not, just...missing something.

Or, maybe the problem with childhood was that it ended too soon. Maybe our adult lives are what’s imperfect, and at the end of the day it helps us to return to a less troubled time. But I think we’re like the rest of you. We’re trying to be happier, more complete people.

My journey as a kid in Second Life took me to some places I didn’t really expect to go. I started out with a family, a suburban home. I went to school. I celebrated holidays. I had some family outings. My RL childhood was kinda flawed, so that was healing.

And then I met some fauns in the woods, and found my inner magic forest person, and went on an amazing magical journey. I stretched my imagination to new places, with magical fae friends. I didn’t expect that to happen at all. I didn’t know that was even what I was looking for. It was glorious.

You know that saying, “it’s never too late to have a happy childhood”? Well, it’s true. Happy, scary, crazy. Beyond anything you ever expected. Because that’s what childhood is. It’s a journey of learning and discovery. And in the end, what you discover is the full range of who and what you can be.

People who keep learning and exploring and growing never really stop being children. We’re the ones who take that a bit literally.

Check out her Flickr.

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Photograph provided by Abigail Prescott.

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abigail prescott

A

bigail Prescott [squishiess] joined Second Life in 2017. She is a super sweet young girl who is always looking to make new friends! She recently started a Flickr and a childrens fashion blog.

The one thing I want people to realize about Second Life kids is that were just like everyone else! I personally like being a virtual kid because I think the fashion and toys are extremely cute! I want people to know that just because we are kids, doesn’t mean were any different. I enjoy meeting all kinds of people, it doesn’t matter if they’re kids, teens, or adults!

Check out her Blog and Flickr.

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Photograph by Tempest Rosca.

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marianne mccann

M

arianne McCann has been a Resident of Second Life since 2007. A long time member of the child avatar community, Marianne has fought to increase awareness of child avatars for more than a decade. As well as running a toy store and a coffee shop in Bay City in Second Life, she also helps run the Bay City Alliance, assists on Livingtree island, works for Collabor88 and The Arcade Gacha Events, and serves as the assistant to Draxtor Despres on The Drax Files: World Makers.

It’s really simple: the majority of people who are playing kids in SL are in Second Life to have fun, just like you are. Their idea of “fun” may be different. They may be here to enjoy a family life, or to just adventure and explore, or whatever -- but it’s all about enjoyment.

For most, though, the people who choose more adult things to do with a child avatar are just as much of a concern of ours as they are to others in SL. Maybe even more so. We don’t want them here, and in many cases, have spent a lot of time abuse reporting and trying to get rid of them. They get in the way of our fun. They help validate the fears of other that all kid avatars are here to do some sort of creepy stuff with and as kids.

Oh, and one other thing, you might find that the kid avatars in SL are some of the most imaginative, creative folks in Second Life. The kids look at the world a little differently, and see magic that you might miss otherwise. It’s really worth getting past the prejudices and befriending some child avatars. You might be surprised by them.

Check out her Flickr.

Teleport to You Know, For Kids store and The Pen, A Beatnik Hangout.

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Photograph by Tempest Rosca.

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may fawn belle

M

ay Fawn Belle [RaidenRose] has been in Second Life since 2013 but originally since 2009 as Jessi Mowadeng. May has a small blog called Little Wonders. May is the creator and founder at {MayBerry} which has been in the community in and out since 2016. During May’s free time, May attends Oceanside Elementary and Carrousel Riding Academy! May has also been active in the Relay for Life Community as well during free time..

I think the one thing I would like people to know about the Kid Community is that we are one big family in the end. We support each other and build each other up.

I think we all strive to be the best at something but in the end, all we want to do is support each other and be friends and try to push past our differences because, in the end, we choose to be kids in Second Life for one reason or another.

I choose to be a kid in Second Life because it makes me happy and helps me out of my bubble. I have Autism (Asperger’s) in real life and being a Second Life kid has helped me do things I wouldn’t be able to do in real life. That is one reason I believe our community is a big family who supports each other because there are many Second Life kids with autism who work hard and show their talents in Second Life whereas they can’t in real life because of their disability. I also think this applies to those in the adult world too.

Check out her Blog, Flickr and Store.

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Photograph by Tempest Rosca.

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J

jenna langer

enna Langer started in SL 9 years ago. She stayed as an adult avatar only for six months before trying out being a kid avatar for a week. She simply loved it! Jenna is an introverted 4-year-old kid avatar. She started as a kid going to school, camp, ballet class and having an active family rp in SL. She became part of a blogger family. They were established bloggers for one of the first blogs in the Spanish language. She started as blogger assistant, helping her parents find new products to blog. Then she began blogging for her parent’s blog and suddenly she got three more invitations to blog for others and a travel blog named Bitacora Viajera. She likes to take landscape photographs. The blog work increased with the time and experience she was getting. With an advice of another blogger she started her own blog called Little Friends in SL on May 4th, 2012. She has been a blogger and a stage manager at some Second Life Birthday events and she also likes to participate in Relay for Life.

Right now Jenna is a group moderator and administrator of some Flickr groups, she took a break from blogging because she got a good opportunity in RL to continue her intellectual and professional studies and she needed a break as she said: “I need to be me again.” She also needed to rest and recover from some health issues. Jenna spends time with some friends and also with her SL mom who cheers her up. Sometimes blog readers write to her for an advice how to update their avatars and she takes the time to help them and suggest what options are available for them.

We are ordinary people who likes to be happy, friendly, supportive and creative and surrounded by others we care about and appreciate. I feel lucky to be part of the kid community. You don’t need to live in the same neighborhood to know others. You can meet them in social media, through Flickr, events, mutual friends, or just because some of them are in the creative part of our community as designers. In our world we like to spend our time with other people with similar interests. Events, celebrations and RP allow people to be part of something.

You are not alone and you can make new friends. When you go to a store (big or little avatars) SL kids greets each other, that’s one of the things that I like from our community, I don’t need to know all the people but we say Hi! That’s not common with adult avatars.

Not everything is soft and sweet as candy cotton; some people claim we are crazy for being kid avatars and behind our pc we are adults. SL is a melting podge with diversity of options inside this virtual world furries, pets, adults playing in combat systems, vampires and SL kids. I think people need time to meet, learn, and spend time with us so they can see that we are as normal as everybody else.

When people have hate in their hearts, it’s because they won’t look through another’s eyes.

They only want to believe their own truth not the real one. Others hate things we do: RP and baby talk, but not all of us like to do baby talk, personally I don’t like it, I like to communicate my own ideas expressing myself with a normal language in both languages (English and Spanish).

But going back to the things that gather us as a kid community and make us one of the strongest communities in SL is that we support charitable causes like Relay for Life, many of us don’t live in USA but we have had a family member or friend who struggles with cancer. We supported other events in the past: to fight autism or to feed the kids in Africa. Buying a product or donating is part of each event. It’s wonderful to have the opportunity to contribute, not just with our money, but with out time and creativity to different charities.

Friendship is another thing to make the difference, we meet people from around the world with different backgrounds with something in common (we like to make new friends). We have fun in other activities like RP at school, camp, extracurricular classes, family gatherings and events. Sometimes special moments like Christmas, Hanukkah or Easter, the changing of the seasons give us more reasons to gather and celebrate our friendships.

Check out her Flickr and Blog.

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Photograph provided by Joker Ghoul-Yifu.

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joker ghoul-yifu

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oker (Jo) Ghoul-Yifu [Joker Menna] started creating for the kid community back in 2016. She started out meshing outfits for the Toddleedoo and Bebe bodies, and has since moved into making toys and accessories. At the beginning of 2018, she co-founded Wonder Kids Recreation Center with her mother Kenzlee, a superhero/villain themed afterschool program for ages 2-12 where anyone is welcome and accepted. Although Wonder Kids has been on a short hiatus due to RL, it is scheduled to return in February of next year!

I have been in Second Life for over a decade, and in that time I traveled around to various communities and tried several things. I finally found my home in the kid community in 2016, and I can honestly say that the kid community has been the kindest and most welcoming of all. The kids that I have met are some of the most genuinely caring people that I have ever known.

Creating for the kid community brings me so much joy. Everyone is always so positive and encouraging, I’ve never felt more supported by a community than I do here. I have gotten to know so many wonderful people over the last couple of years, it truly warms my heart when I think about it.

I want people to understand that kids in SL just want to make friends and have good times together. Unlike other parts of Second Life, the community isn’t driven by commercialism or personal gain. A majority of the events that are hosted are done by volunteers and are typically free to participate in. They put so much hard work and passion into their projects, it’s truly inspiring to witness. You won’t find another community that cares so deeply about creating positive experiences for everyone to enjoy!

Check out her Flickr, Store and Wonder Kids Recreation Center.

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Photograph provided by Nivaya Barbosa.

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nivaya barbosa

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ivaya Barbosa has been resident in Second Life since 2007, and has aged steadily backwards, having been a dancer, a model, a blogger, a vlogger, and has been a child avatar 3 years now. She owns a messy little store called Nivlet, which specializes in lovingly hand-textured clothes for the Tweenster mesh avatar and is half mermaid, half elf, and half someone who isn’t good at math.

While there are many, many things I would like people to understand about child avatars in Second Life, because we are generally a misunderstood bunch, something that is very close to my heart is “We come in more than one size”.

When I first became a child avatar in 2015, encouraged by friends on Plurk who seemed to be having a good time with it, I bought what was at the time, and still marginally is, the most popular mesh body for children, the Toddleedoo. As the name would suggest, the focus is on a toddler size, which didn’t really resonate with me, I didn’t want to RP being a baby, so I made my avatar taller, chunkier, more the size of a 6 year old, and oh my gosh, I was twice the height of almost everyone around me!

I stayed this size for about a year, clothes fitting me, but not styled towards what a 6 year old might wear, always being the biggest kid in dance class, feeling included but at the same time out-of-place for not wanting to pretend to be 3 years old. A friend suggested I try a bigger kids body, the one he used, it was not nearly as widely used as the Toddleedoo and had a certain stigma about it, but I thought it was time to grow up a little, and reworked my shape and character from being 6 years old to 10, and immediately, I felt so liberated.

Even though now I was more like three times the height of my fellows, and clothes to fit this new avatar were a really tricky proposition, I had never felt more like myself, this new form really chimed with how I viewed the world as a child avatar so much more truthfully and genuinely than when I was trying to pretend to act as a 6 year old surrounded by 3 year olds! To be able to act dorky and perhaps a little bit clever, and adventurous and just the beginnings of independence - It was a revelation!

These days I use the Tweenster mesh body, which is a more up-to-date version (made by a different creator, but the same idea) of that body I tried out back then, clothing to fit this body is much easier to find, and I’ve been able to find pockets of others who use the same avatar, RP around the same age, it’s nice, people are welcoming, people are genuine.

But most of the kids community is still set up, both in terms of expectation and in terms of theming, for toddler avatars, be it the Toddleedoo avatar or the newer rival, the Bebe. Even for people within the community, they don’t seem to realize that there’s other ways to be a child avatar than to be a baby, and even that it might suit their own play styles better.

I’ve had a number of friends try being my size, from being a toddler size, and say “this is so much better!” - that’s not to say it’s for everyone, and occasionally, even I will age down a little, when it feels right.

I think if more people understood there was a range of sizes and different “ways” to be a child avatar, that there are so many different motivations and feelings and wishes behind it, perhaps people would be able to be more true to themselves, which is ultimately what I think being a child avatar is about: giving your inner-child someplace to come out and play.

Check out her Store.

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artist highlight

The “Artist Highlight” is a monthly feature showcasing one of the many talented live singers in Second Life®.

For this issue, ECLIPSE Magazine shines a bright spotlight on Cryptic Harmony and her incredible voice!

Cryptic Harmony is one of the many talented artists who performs throughout the grid. Initially, she began participating in open mics and hanging out at karaoke venues, going so far as to even manage an open mic night. Her career as an SL musician began when she dated an SL live musician who heard her sing on a laptop mic — he advised her to get a mic mixer, mic stand and some programs. And so it began. “I started singing at any open mic or karaoke venue and I was eventually booked at a few places for tips only and from there I began to build up my fan base singing at approximately 230 Venues within the last 5 years.”

Her musical inspiration comes from the people who go to her shows, as many of the songs she learns are requested by fans.

While she began with only jazz, it is through these requests that she learned her, “[…] voice does some crazy things!” She does love rock and anything with a good beat, but she does enjoy her “jazzy old cabaret sounding songs.” When asked to describe her sound, she shares, “I would describe myself as jazzy rocker chick if that makes sense others have described my voice as powerful, unique, versatile, and Holy Crap <--- actually said by many.”

The most meaningful song she has sung is “Fight Song” by Rachel Platten. She explains, “I learned that song during a very tough time during my time on the grid I had some things happen in RL. I was running from a scary situation and that was the song that helped me keep going. It’s been my ‘fight’ song ever since.” And for anyone looking to start out in the SL music scene, she offers this advice, “It will be hard work you will want to quit give up scream cry and laugh hysterically but keep it up because the memories and friendships you make will be worth it. As for the technical side of things keep up to date make sure you have good equipment that makes you sound the best you can be and learn songs you enjoy a lot. Don’t learn whats popular learn. What you love people will follow that more often.”

When she is not busy singing, Cryptic does own her own pose store and enjoys photography. She is also learning how to build mesh and loving every minute of it. If you want to book her, message her directly!

Listen to her on SoundCloud and Youtube.

Check out her schedule.

Follow her on Facebook.

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THE wayfarer...

photography by taylo

“The Wayfarer” is a monthly feature by Taylor Wassep showcasing some of the most aesthetic places in Second Life®.

For this issue, the Wayfarer sought a colder climate with snow covered hills and worn roads and paths. Somewhere in Time was where his journey brought him to re-discover the joys of winter. December will have fun-filled family activities and their are even rentals available!

Immerse yourself with Somewhere in Time and maybe you might just stumble upon Santa.

or wassep.

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