SPARK (May 2023)

Publisher’s

NoteThe All New SL20

Iwould like to be the first to welcome you to the inaugural issue of SPARK, a brand new bi-monthly publication brought to you by the SL20 Organization. In February of this year, we began the re-branding of SL20, which included recruiting a whole new team, and as head of the organization, I couldn’t be more thrilled with the talent that we have on board. I’m excited not only for SPARK, but for all of our current and future projects under the SL20 umbrella. Each issue of SPARK will be dedicat-

ed to showcasing the best of the best, whether that be a brand, an up-and-coming designer, an amazing home or even must-see spots for exploration. SPARK will become your go-to guide for everything incredible in our virtual world. I want to thank the team for their serious hard work and dedication in re-launching SL20 over the last few months. Without them, this would not be possible and I know that as a group, we are ready for you to see what is in store this year. Happy reading!

Editor’s Note

All That Glitters

When Editorial Clarity contacted me in February and asked if I’d be interested in a role as Editor-in-Chief for a publication aiming to highlight the most incredible people, places, and opportunities in our virtual world, I could not say no. In recent years, I’ve led a quieter sort of virtual existence as life in the outside world and my career took center stage, but I’ve never been able to stay away from Second Life© for long.

Xandrah Atheria

I passionately, wholeheartedly, and unabashedly love this place.

Exactly sixteen years before this invitation, I landed on the grid in my first incarnation and was instantly bewitched by all of the promise and possibility that made this world sparkle and shine. So many beautiful, captivating people from all walks of life, hailing from all corners of the globe. An unending voyage of discovery taking us from a neon-lit alley in Kowloon, to an enchanted forest with unicorns and magical fae, to a gothic cathedral in the sky, and countless other unforgettable stops along the way. The only limits to artistic expression were those imposed upon us by our own technology. We became business owners, content creators, home interior gurus, vampires, social justice advocates, builders, dancers, equestrians, poets, mentors, pilots, fashion models, friends, parents, lovers, and so much more. In this haven we built with pixels and dreams, we could do anything and be anything, and we have been. Twenty years after the birth of Second Life, we still do, and we still are. As I thought about what I’d include in my first editorial note, I continued to return to all of this when considering my “why.” I love my adopted hometown, and I adore the talent, diversity, and personality of the people here, too. What a second life this has been.

With SPARK, our team is delighted to celebrate our virtual world, our community, and all that makes for a remarkable existence on the grid. Thank you for joining us for what promises to be a new and exciting journey exploring longtime favorites, hidden treasures, and all that glitters in Second Life.

CEO’s Note

Even in my younger SL days, one of the most beautiful things I found about this virtual world was that everything was entirely user created. It is a place where the only limitations placed on a resident are the ones they placed on themselves. It is a blank canvas for a person’s creativity. It could manifest itself through incredible content creation from avatar enhancements, clothing, decor, architecture and everything in between. It could express itself through fan-

SL 20 CEO & SPARK Janitor

tastic places, festivals, communities built, art installments and just anything that someone imagined and turned into a reality on this grid. Then of course, there are the people. They are the creators, the artists, the photographers, the musicians, the visionaries and the everyday residents that have taken the concept of “your world, your imagination” and have turned it into something that is meaningful and resonates with themselves. When Edi brought me on board to join him on this SL20 adventure, I knew that I wanted SPARK to shine a spotlight on as many of these wonderful people, places and things. This is our great endeavor.

And with any great endeavor, there are some very talented people who have joined us. I am thankful and so very appreciative for the dedication of our management team, our writers, our photographers and our marketing team, all of whom have worked tirelessly these past few months. It truly has been a privilege to work alongside Annie, Bars, Edi, Kapree, Steele and Xandrah, without them, we would not have this first issue. On a personal note, I am also very grateful for Sienna, as she has been so supportive as I tackle all my projects and deadlines, especially with this one. She’s also very cute.

I am awful at segues, but it is my sincerest wish that you do enjoy this issue.

Spark Staff

CEO and Owner, Publisher

Editorial Clarity

CEO and Co-Owner

Trouble Dethly

Editor-in-Chief

Xandrah Atheria

Creative Director

Bars Simpson

Marketing Director

Annie Inspired

Fashion Director

Steele Sirnah

Home & Garden Director

Kapree Arliss

Writers

Saki Bunny

Casja Lilliehook

Oriana Yasmine Ramirez

Abel Streeter

Taylor Wassep

Decorators/Photographers

Kapree Arliss

AshaRhia

Editorial Clarity

Loly Hallison

Pippa Malik

Oyé

Callie Jareau Ronin

Wendz Tempest

Landscape Artist/ Photographer

Kaiden Tray

Stylists/Photographers

Carley Benazzi

Honey Bender

Yeriak Boo

Graceiona Noelle

Eyes Kirschtaria

Dia Lacombe

Ren Matsura

Steele Sirnah

Grant Valeska

Taylor Wassep

Abel Jo

Staff

Photographers

Kaw Beck

Hayden Dethly

Faye Nightshade

Taylor Wassep

Marketing Team

Roxy Chronotis

Negly Claremont

Valeria DeLuca

Johanna Frost

Dresden Olsonne-Counterblanc

Oriana Yasmine Ramirez

Social Media Manager

Satan Vyrus Whooligan

Roxy Wendz Saki

Meet some of our awesome staff above!

56 Paper 66 Designer

71 Evolution

78 Layer

44 Current Fashion Trends

52 Designer Spotlight: Cold Ash

56 A Modern Renaissance Ode to Paper Couture

Designer Spotlight: Miss Chelsea

Evolution of the Avatar

Layer on Realism

2023’S

CURRENT FASHION TRENDS

01 02

HAIR: Vango, Carter

SUNGLASSES: REDGRAVE, Sunglasses Maddison

JACKET: [Deadwool], Vinz tracksuit

PANTS: [Dope+Mercy], Deep House Pants

SOCKS: [VERSOV], COMFOV_SOCKS 2.7

SANDALS: [COMPLEX], Cork Sandals

HAIR: Dura, B128

SUNGLASSES: REDGRAVE, Sunglasses Maddison

SCARF: BTTB, hjarta scarf

BLAZER: [Dope+Mercy], Zen Blazer

TURTLENECK: David Heather, Desi Turtleneck

PANTS: Clef de Peau, Pyer Pants

SHOES: [Deadwool], LDN boots 03

HAIR: Dura, B128

SUNGLASSES: REDGRAVE, Sunglasses Maddison

SCARF: BTTB, hjarta scarf

BLAZER: [Dope+Mercy], Zen Blazer

TURTLENECK: David Heather, Desi Turtleneck

PANTS: Clef de Peau, Pyer Pants

SHOES: [Deadwool], LDN boots

TRENDS CARDIGAN CASUAL BOOTS

04 05

INNER: Lera, Cashmere Top Onyx

TOPS: [Traume] ,Smothered Shirt Grey

NECKLACE: [ kunst ] , Claire Set

EARRING: ÄÄQUIXE , Lux Earring

PANTS: [ ERAUQS ] , Blaise Jogger

SHOES: BxC ,Maxi Lace-up Boots - Stone

GLASSES: Rock Fashion,[Mesh] Full Pack

(4 Colors ) Unisex Sunglasses Aviator

SHIRT: FYR, Saul T-Shirt White

PANTS: HEVO -,Ken Strap Jeans - Light B.

JACKET: [Traume] , Agressive Jacket LIGHT

BROWN

SHOES: = REBELLION = , “BONECRUSHER”

BOOTS

GLASSES: [Z O O M], Aviator Glasses 2021

TRENDS

CHAINS COLORS CARGOS 06

07

TOP: amitomo, Touch Croptop

PANTS: fashionable dead, Cargo Pants

TATTOO: DAPPA, Shikyo

SHOES: BTTB, Kanin heels pink

JACKET: amitomo, freely jacket

EARRINGS: FAKEICON, april earrings

BAG: LaGyo, Levie Hat

HAIR: amitomo, make your day

BACKGROUND: FOXCITY, Rude Series Whatever

TOP: Salt&Pepper, Camilla top

DRESS: Dernier, Sequin Dress Pink

BLAZER: FAKEICON, Shoulder blazer

EARRINGS: LaGyo, Rocha Chain

BAG: LaGyo, Deezy Mini Bag

GARTERS: RAWR, Pulse Garters

TIGHTS: Rouly, Tights

HAIR: DOUX, Apple

LIP COLOR: Top1Salon, Glossy

BACKGROUND: FOXCITY, My Runway

Cold Ash

HAIR: Dura, Anime08

SUIT: Cold Ash, ALESSIO Suit: Blue w/WhiteShirt & Black Tie

HAIR: Dura, B110

SHIRT: Cold Ash, RAPHAEL Shirt White (Unbuttoned)

PANTS: Cold Ash, ALESSIO Pants: Black

SHOES: [VERSOV], HUNTOV DERBY

FASHION // designer spotlight

HAIR: Modulus - Atticus Hair

JACKET: Cold Ash, SHERPA Jacket (Mens) Vintage Denim/ White Tee

JEANS: Cold Ash, HOLLOWAY Jeans Black

SHOES: Bleich, The Star

04

HAIR: Tram, L0925

TEE: Cold Ash, LIA Knotted Tee Pink/ White Striped

JEANS: Cold Ash, LIA Boyfriend Jeans Marine Blue

05

HAIR: Dura, Anime08

SUIT: Cold Ash,

ALESSIO Suit: Blue w/ WhiteShirt &; Black Tie

A Modern Renaissance Ode to

By Grant Valeska

Mixed with modern mesh pieces and the magic of ‘bakes on mesh’ technology, I was able to reinvent some of my favorite pieces dating back to my early days as a fashion obsessed resident. Lost through inventories past and lifted deep from the vault of one of my favorite digital couturiers, this editorial is a love letter to my past, present, and future inspiration – Paper Couture.

SLEEVES: Paper Couture, Crimson Sweetheart

CORSET: Dernier, Yonce

Breastplate

SKIRT: David Heather, Scru

Skirt

EARRINGS: Fashionism, Void

Pearl Earrings

BAG: Ryvolter, Sidnie Mini Bag

HEADBAND: Fashionism, Bianca Hair Band

HAIRBASE: Studio Exposure, Be My Valentine

EYELINER: Dotty’s Secret, The Liner Volume One

BLUSH: Minou Minou, Watercolor Blush

TOP: Paper Couture, Gold Puntino Top CORSET: Overhigh, Brasa Corset

PANTS: David Heather, Brock Slacks

GLOVES: Worldwide, Olive Gloves

SHOES: David Heather, Oman Sandals

HAIR: Volkstone, Natan Hairbase

BLUSH: Dotty’s Secret, Roxy Blush

NECKLACE: Paper Couture, Multi-Strand Smokey Quartz Necklace

HAIR: Vorobyev, Twila Hair

EYELINER: Yinn, Glam Eyes Eyeliner

TOP: Paper Couture, Italian Black

DRESS: Paper Couture, Shell Stiched

CORSET: Ison, Elin Bustier

EARRINGS: LaGyo, Round Earrings

SHOES: Neutraltones, Bling Bow Sandals

HAIR: Doux, Madea Hairstyle

EYESHADOW: Jack Spoon, Sato Liner

DRESS: Paper Couture, Charlotte

FUR: Rowne, Aas Fur Coat

SUNGLASSES: Indigo, OS Wire Cat Sunglasses

EARRINGS: Espy, Plastic Stud

Earrings – N/A

SHOES: David Heather, Heat Heels

HAIR: ItGirls, Kim Ponytail

TOP: Paper Couture, Something to Say

CORSET: Rowne, Yana Corset Belt

SKIRT: Indigo, Piobu Sequin Skirt

EARRINGS: Piece of Me, Adrian Earrings

GLOVES: Boys to the Bone, Peka Gloves

HAIR: Studio Exposure, Miu Hair

EYESHADOW: Keikumu, Soda Eyeshadow

Miss Chelsea

SPRING LOOKBOOK

HAT: POISON ROUGE, Ritual

Collar

DRESS: miss chelsea, Siri

BAG: ARNAUD HAUS, Pearl Strap Handbag

HAIR: DOUX, Agora

TIGHTS: Rouly, Tights

HAIRBASE: Nonnative, Rogue

Hairbase

BACKGROUND: FOXCITY, Art Deco

FASHION // designer spotlight

TOP: miss chelsea, Naya

SHORTS: miss chelsea, Naya

SLIPPERS: miss chelsea, Naya

HAIR: VCO, Moco hair

BRACELETS: MICHAN, Hana Armlets

BACKDROP: FOXCITY, Pastel Love Elevator

DRESS: miss chelsea, Elle

TATTOO: LadyBird, Etre Stay Weird, Bolson, Token

HAIR: Wasabi, Saturday

STICKERS: ONEDAYs, Sticker Smile

NECKLACE: POISON ROUGE, Hecate Necklace

BANDS: miss chelsea, Elle Shag

HOLDABLE: hive, hot coffee

BAG: Movement, Mini wizard trunk black

LIPSTICK: TOP1SALON, Scope

EYELINER: LadyBird, Dusk Liners

NAILS: LadyBird, Sugar nails

BACKGROUND: K&S, Class off

BODYSUIT: miss chelsea, BodySuit

CHOKER: miss chelsea, Choker

SHORTS: miss chelsea, Shorts

HAT: POISON ROUGE, Sheryl Cowboy

HAIR: Magika, Addison

BACKGROUND: FOXCITY, Sinking Sands

of the Avatar

By Honey Bender

Iloved this challenge as I am a fashion reporter/historian as well as a fashion collector in both real life and Second Life. This means in SL I have collected so many of my old outfits from when I started modelling in 2006. I must have walked over 1000 fashion shows so my inventory is literally full – but the fave outfits from my fave shows are right there in folders to easily slip on.

It felt literally super weird to log into the Black Dragon viewer with my old default body and face, because no matter how the avatars looked back in 2006-07 they were way more angular and boxy and had strange wrists and ankles. It was hard to choose what to show, but I tried to pick some of the most significant developments for fashion in Second Life: flexiprims – scuplties and mesh.

The old outfits have no SLurls to their shops as none of them are around any more.

When I first signed into SL in august 2006 rockabilly and pinup style was all the rave. And it just so happened that two of the very best designers happened to be norwegian: Antiona Marat who designed the label artilleri and Neferia Abel who had Ivalde and later also L’Abel fashion house.

Both designers became great friends of mine, so much they sent me fat packs of their items regularly and I had many outfits named after me - like the hair in this photo.

It was also Neferia who taught me to make a flexi skirt and both designers encouraged and helped me start my own label Faster Pussycat. Back then people were quite sharing.

This was for a show hosted by the SL tabloid Avastar - the real life german Bild Zeitung’s attemt at representation in the metaverse.. The models chosen for the runway were all from Aspire Agency, they included: Anastase Rosewoood, Summer Deadlight, Webgoddess Mars, Colleen Desmoulins (now designes furniture for The Loft) Princess Pierterson and myself. I was told the designer Digit Darkes wanted all her models to be dark, thin and tall. It made me start experimenting more with shapes.

On Feb. 5th, 2007, iVillage sponsored a fashion show in Second Life:

“The Girls Night Out Show” - the first fashion show ever to be broadcasted live outside of Second Life. All models were cast from Aspire Model Agency, and designers highlighted were Paper Couture, CaLLie CLine, and Simone Stern. Barnesworth Anubis created the lovely set.

This full collection was created by the Lu-sisters, who were behind the now legendary haute couture house Paper Couture. I dare say they were pioneers in Second Life Fashion.

CREDITS

LOOK 1

Hair: artilleri “Honey”

Glasses: artilleri “Paula”

Tattoo: artilleri “Maggie”

Top: artilleri “Clara”

Belt: artilleri “Pyramid studded”

Skirt: Ivalde “Swing”

LOOK 2

Full outfit: Digit Darkes “Dinka”

Hair: Digit Darkes “Malibu”

LOOK 3

Dress, hair, skin/makeup: all Paper Couture “Anemone” collection

There are no landmarks for these looks because the stores do not exist anymore. However you can shop Paper Cou ture on marketplace here.

Hair: Bliss “Retro”

Jacket: House of Fox

Hat: LaGyo

Skirt: Ladies Who Lunch

Collar: Sinistyle

This was my outfit for the Modavia Supermodels Fall 2011 Casting. The theme for this casting was “Inspired by a famous designer”-look and we were asked to browse among the latest Fall collections of real life couture designers to get inspired and create a unique look. The note card read: “We do not want to see your ability in copying or emulating - this casting is about getting inspired by the best in the world and creating unique looks, with a realistic and stylish flavour.”

Not 100% sure exactly when this label debuted in SL but I bought these babies back in 2011.

Stiletto Moody’s shoes were a game changer for SL fashion, as the realism in the sculpties and texturing was magnificent. Their strappy sandals had sculptie feet attached in them that actually looked like beautiful real feet. All you had to do was match the skin tone of your body - which lead to many strange results yet still - the shoes were a dream come true. Some were pricey - up to 1.900 for a pair of heels - but so worth it. It meant byebye to the ugly broken ankle-look and freaky doll-feet.

Boot: Stiletto Moody “Bare Lucille”

FASHION2023

Finally we come full circle – from imperfection – trying to look supermodel perfect – to embracing the perfect imperfection known as reality. The curvaceous body, the petit body, the gender fluent body – all have their place in SL now – helped by some of the best mesh creators out there. There was a while when the first mesh heads came out many swore never to wear them as we would all look the same. And, for a while we did – prettier but very much alike. But then – bento mesh was introduced and frankly – SL has never looked better.

CREDITS

Head: Lelutka Brianna EvoX

Hair: Studio Exposure”Vintage”

Earrings: e.marie “Dani”

Body: eBody Reborn, with Juicy rolls and Juicy boobs attachments

Skin: itGirls & VELOUR x Picasso Babe “Juicy Muse”

Lingerie: Velour “Picasso Babe” (comes with the skin)

Veins, moles and cellulite: Izzie’s body imperfections

Layer On

By Carley Benazzi

HEAD: Lelutka EvoX, Ora

SKIN: Moccino EvoX Visage , Safora

MOLES: Moccino EvoX Visage, Dove

Adored, vamped up beauty marks

Sap, beauty marks

Pout, facial beauty marks

FRECKLES: LeLutka EvoX , freckles

BLUSH: Dernier , mermaid blush

EYES: Lowen Beauty, Natural eyelid

HAIRBASE: Platinum, Maven

HAIR: Platinum , Maven

NAILS: 1990, ombre nude

RINGS: Klubb, nepo baby’s rings

NOSECUFF: Blacque Republic , awaken

BODY - Maitreya Lara

Mesh body V5.3

HEAD - LeLUTKA Irina

TATTOO - HORL - Arm

Orn Tattoo

Izzies - LeLutka Evo - Face

Moles V2 (light)

Sultry Smokey Eyeshadows

black (A) 75%

The Skinnery - Teo Honey - BOM Body - Beauty

Marks

- BOM - Sunkissed Freckles

LIPSTICK - Red MattUsed from LeLutka Head

Hud.

NAILS AND COLOURUsed From Maitreya Body

Hud

HAIR IN ROLLERS - Truth

Hair - Betsy

HAIRBASE - LeLutka BOM

Hairbases

BODY: Maitreya Lara Mesh

body V5.3

HEAD: LeLUTKA Irina

Izzies - Belly Stretch marks

- Cellulite and stretch marks

- Pregnancy Belly

The Skinnery - Teo Honey

- BOM Body - Beauty Marks

- BOM - Sunkissed Freckles

TATTOO - HORL - Arm Orn

Tattoo

Blossoming

Spotlight: Kaiden Tray

Spotlight: Elm

Living

Spotlight: Loly Hallison

Spotlight: Oh Deer!

Home Spotlight: Dahlia

A Spring Blossoming

Landscape By Kaiden Tray

THE GROW UP S

pringtime is here, and there is rejuvenating scenery all over our virtual world. Landscaping artist Kaiden Tray chose to landscape a homestead, featuring items from Fanatik, Heart Garden Center, HPMD, Konoha, Little Branch, and LOVE. A small, tranquil pond features ducks and geese, bringing life to this Spring paradise. Lush grass and greenery reminds us of the liveliness of the season, paths and small bridges produce a sense of exploration, and large trees provide feelings of serenity. The bright colored flowers, growing grass blades and bushes depict the beauty of our blossoming world outside. Welcome to Spring in Second Life!

KAIDEN TRAY

Kaiden Tray started as a landscaper six years ago and has been landscaping professionally for the past four years. Often, he keeps to himself with a small and close-knit group of family or friends and shy away from crowds, public speeches, or social interactions. Kaiden credits his partner for helping him connect his thoughts and words frequently because this can, at times, prove challenging for Kaiden. Kaiden has ADHD, is autistic, and has schizophrenia, so he is very passionate about empathy, compassion, respect, and understanding. Those conditions sometimes present obstacles that Kaiden must overcome, but his passion, determination and work ethic allow him to reach his goals for professionalism. It brings Kaiden Tray great personal happiness to bring his clients’ virtual visions, dreams and ideas to fruition.

Elm

Decor and Photographery

By Wendz Tempest

DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT

The turning of seasons gives new life and welcomed spring activity with Elm’s Outoor series. The Elara Garden Path is alive with whimsy, giving the space between the Antique shop a fun accent. The Nora Water Garden collection frames the Summertime Dock, providing it with the romantic touch it deserves. The Viola Breeze Block Walls are perfect for the backdrop of an afternoon by the pool. What better way to enjoy the warming weather than with a collection of Elm Outdoor Collections.

Click here to Visit Elm to see the items shown here and so much more.

Credits from photo to the left:

Elm - Summertime dock

Elm - Summertime dock

hammock

Elm - Indie summer bare blanket

Elm - Indie summer cushion pile

Elm - Vera pool umbrella

Elm - Madelyn bench & arbour

Elm - Driftwood pergola

Elm - Nora rowboat

Elm - Nora rowboat oars

Elm - Nora waterlilies flowers

Elm - Nora waterlilies lily pads & lights

Teleport to Tarte

Tarte - Garden shrubs,

Tarte - Weeping willow

Teleport to anc

anc - Riverside grass

anc – Cattail

Teleport to Konoha

Konoha - Drinker’s plateau

Konoha - Salix goppi

Teleport to La Petite Vie

La Petite Vie – Cypress

Pixel Mode - Landscape lights

Teleport to Studio Skye

Studio Skye – Water,

Credits from photo above:

Elm - Nora water garden planter

Elm - Nora water feature with lights

Elm - Vera lawn chair

Elm - Vera lawn chair with blanket

Elm - Vera decor side tableplace

Elm - Vera pool

Elm - Vera decor beach ball

Elm - Lane yoga decor lamp

Dahlia - Garden track pavers

Teleport to Cube Republic

Cube Republic – Sedge

Cube Republic - Reed green with flowers

Elm - Iris decor mini vase

Elm - Iris decor foliage vase

Elm - Isobel decor galaxy planter

Elm - Isobel decor succulent

Elm - Beth decor planter

Elm - Viola planter

Cube Republic - Pampas grass

Konoha - Natoma’s boxwood

Dust Bunny - Desert dreams cacti

Heart - Mediterranean cypress

Credits for picture to the left

Elm - Elara garden path long

Elm - Camelia string lights pole

Elm - Lorelei letterbox

Elm - Juniper garden party lantern

Ariskea - Lucky glover hedge topiary

Meadowworks - Vinca groundcover

Frog Garden – Ivy

Teleport to Konoha

Konoha - Salix goppi

Konoha - Oxalis de Bellevue

Elm - Viola outdoor shower

Elm - Viola breeze block wall

Elm - Viola pillars

Elm - The Antique

Elm - The Antique Shop sign

Elm - The Antique Shop shop lantern

Elm - Brick fence gate with light

Konoha - Osteospermum lunita

Konoha - Tulipa mellow

Konoha - Natoma’s boxwood

Konoha - Prunus lanie

Elm - Camelia string lights

Teleport to Dahlia

Dahlia - Wonderful day pavers

Elm - Brick fence medium wall

Elm - Fiona garden decor fence

Elm - Elara mini garden fence walnut

VIVID

LIVING

Decor and Photographery By Callie

VIVID

LIVING

Jareau Ronin and Wendz Tempest

MAXIMALISM

Lucas Lameth (Luc)Orli Chandelier, Copper/ Clear (short)

.Shi - Minimalist Dish set

/PL$H/ - Girly Frame

Teleport to SIIX

SIIX - Doboer Colander

SIIX - Doboer Marble jar

SIIX - Doboer wooden

bowls

SIIX - Doboer Decanter

SIIX - Doboer Silver Vase

SIIX - Doboer box graters

SIIX - Doboer corked pitcher

SIIX - Doboer minimalist pitchers

SIIX - Doboer spouted

pitchers

SIIX - Namn Counter Corner

SIIX - Namn Counter Double

SIIX - Namn Double Glass Cabinet

SIIX - Namn Glass Cabinet Corner

SIIX - Namn Glass Fridge Cabinet

SIIX - Namn Glass Pantry Closet

SIIX - Namn Glass Single Cabinet

SIIX - Namn Wall Oven w/ Microwave

Teleport to Apple Fall

Apple Fall | Fancy Fall | Rowley & Fall | West Village MULTIPLE ITEMS

Apple Fall - ‘Strength’ Fragment

Apple Fall - Copper Pan Stack

Apple Fall - Crane Figure - Tall, Brass

Apple Fall - Female Bust w/ Cloth - Plaster

Apple Fall - Huge Fan Palm

Apple Fall - Hurricane Vase w/ Lemons

Apple Fall - Hurricane Vase w/ Limes

Maximalism in interior design showcases striking patterns, rich colors, graphic artwork, and combines styles to create a bold and memorable living space. SPARK Interior Designers Callie Jareau

Ronin and Wendz Tempest show their spin on maximalism in Vivid Living.

Apple Fall - Joshua Cabinet - Charcoal

Apple Fall - Leather Basket w/ Fabrics

Apple Fall - Lemon & Lime Water

Apple Fall - Lemonade

Apple Fall - Lemonade Pitcher

Apple Fall - Plant Stand, Short - Bronze

Apple Fall - Single Cut Hydrangea - White

Apple Fall - Strewn Lemons

Apple Fall - Fig & Blackberry Cake

Apple Fall - Wireless Gramophone - Brass

Apple Fall - Plaster Vase w/ Beads

Apple Fall - Figs in Bowl - Stone

Apple Fall - Small Batch Gin

Apple Fall - Stoneware Pitcher - Cream

Apple Fall - Copper Tea

Kettle

Apple Fall Books - Arrangement 11

Apple Fall Books - Arrangement 12

Apple Fall Books - Arrangement 13

MAXIMALISM

Avani - Mieiro Collection Stacked

Teleport to Elm

Elm - Zen Lounge

Elm - Ophira coffee table

Elm - Iris decorhouseplant

Elm - Beth decor planter

Teleport to Dust Bunny

Dust Bunny- Hanging plants spider

Dust Bunny -Desert dreams cacti

Dust Bunny -Spotted begonia

Dust Bunny/Consignment- Florence bedroom rug

Dust Bunny -Retro

planters smiley

Dust Bunny -Potted bromeliad

Dust Bunny -Tabletop plants sword leaf

Dahlia - Soulheart planter

Dahlia - Joy lucky kitten planter, Dahlia - Madras ana candles

Artisan Fantasy- Hanging plant pothos

22769 - Hanging plant

Alouette - Medieval candle (STORE CLOSED)

Lagom - Groovyaccent walls

soul2soul -Rustic chic basket

Teleport to MudHoney

Mudhoney - Piper

screen red

Mudhoney - Roman shade

Mudhoney - Calla sunburst mirror

Mudhoney - Throwpillow

Mudhoney - Delilah big pillow

Teleport to Oh Deer!

This ode to modern Maximalism has a minimalistic approach to this aesthetic. I wanted to keep the furnishings eclectic in design and texture but have the framework so to speak, be a modern approach, with subdued colors and muted ornamentals. The addition of a variety of foliage in ceramic pots gives this room a sense of consistency, which I appreciate as it keeps everything from going off of a clean line or tangent.

Oh Deer! - Bird on a wire guitar, Oh Deer! - Kintsugi bonsai

Oh Deer! - The other side of the moon

Teleport to Lode

Lode - Bagatiba golden bottle,

Lode - Diana bottle with grass

Lode - Hello June

Teleport to Hideki

Hideki - Ceramic decor cat

Hideki - Deco elephants

Hideki – Plant

Fourth Wall- ska wood wall panel

Venture - Living Frame Yosemite

Vespertine- Bowl

Kokedama

Trompe Loeil- Kimbra modern ranch

Credits contunued from page 145...

Apple Fall Books w/ Camera

Apple Fall Drip -Glazed

Urn - Cream

Apple Fall - Monkey

Fist Knot

Fancy Fall - Renouveau

Armchair - Adult

Fancy Fall - Renouveau

Sofa - PG

Fancy Fall - Tempo

Sconce - Gold

Fancy Fall - Renouveau

Leaning Art Collection

Fancy Fall - Renouveau

Fancy AF Neon Sign

Fancy Fall - Homalomena Plant

Fancy Fall - Renouveau Floor Lamp - Gold

Rowley & Fall - No. 1

Tea Machine - Steel

West Village - Maynard Paneling, Straight

West Village - Wicker Basket

West Village Rice Milk w/ Carrier

West Village Spring Tulips

Teleport to Architect

Architect - Sanz Bar Stool (bronze, black)

Architect. Fender Candle (bone)

Teleport to Ariskea

Ariskea - [Botania] Buttercup Flowers[Tangy]

Ariskea - [Martine] Antique Phone

Ariskea - [Wiluna] Vase plant - Copper

Ariskea - [Millie] Cabinet Dresser

BLACK NEST - Huvi Multimedia TV

Pixel Wear - Bronze Long Picture Lamp [mesh]

Teleport to DBy

DBy - SMART TV [3DTV]

DBy - Island Range Hood [A] [+ resize]

DBy - Built-in Microwave

DBy - Built-in Oven

DBy - Dishwasher v4 [blue-touch]

DBy - LC Instant Viewer [dark]

DBy - Echo Plus Amazin [black / english]

Teleport to Elm

Elm. - Laurel’s Kitchen Plates #1 to #6 [Gold]

Elm. - Carissa Kitchen Decor ~ Soap Dispenser

Teleport to Fancy Decor

Fancy Decor - Jenkins Lamp

Fancy Decor - Madsen Remote

Fancy Decor - Madsen

Rug

Fancy Decor - NonSlip Mat LI:1

Fancy Decor - Rameau Side Table

Fancy Decor - NonSlip Mat

Fancy Decor - Miles

Catch-All Dish

FD & CommonerModine Nut Dish

KraftWork - Lemton’s Bar . BACKSPLASH

DOUBLE

Little Branch - Bougainvillea{Animated}

Seasons

Teleport to the Loft & Aria

Loft & Aria - Denver Potted Fiddle Leaf Fig

Loft & Aria - Julien Dining Chair

Loft & Aria - Denver Ring Sculpture (Tall)

Loft & Aria - Galina Ottoman Green

Teleport to MADRAS

ARMADA

MADRAS ARMADAChandelier Brass

MADRAS - Ooty Turtle

Tea Pot Seafoam -

MADRAS - Ooty Elephant Tea Cup White

MADRAS - Ooty Elephant Tea Cup Seafoam

Teleport to MINIMAL

MINIMAL - Plant Collection Gacha #10

MINIMAL - Velvet Sofa

Green

Teleport to Onsu

Onsu - “Sienna” Drum Pendant Light - 2.0m

Onsu - “Sienna” Ancient Bust Sculpture -

Teleport to Erfe Design MULTIPLE ITEMS

Erfe Design - Quake Gold Frame

Erfe Design - Woman

Statue gold 3LIErfe Design - Magic Sphere Decorative Set

Teleport to SAYO

SAYO - Parisi DrapesEscobar

SAYO - Parsons PanelWall 02

SAYO - Indio Plant Cluster

Scarlet Creative - Hoxton Ground VersionWood Top Floor

Click to visit on marketplace BH9 MULTIPLE ITEMS

[BH9] - Wine Fridge Black - RARE

[BH9] - Wine Rack Black

FOURTH WALL - Slor Armchair - Mustard

[ID] Big Glass w/ Candle LI:20

Teleport to Merak

[Merak] - Avocado Basket

[Merak] - Baking Preparations

[Merak] - Chestnut Basket

[Merak] - Frying Pan Black

[Merak] - Mortar Set

[Merak] - Pan Variation

Black

[Merak] - Pans Black

[Merak] - Pasta Sauces

[Merak] - Pear Basket

[Merak] - Plates Stack A

[Merak] - Plates Stack

[Merak] - Plates Stack

[Merak] - Pomegranate Basket

[Merak] - Resting

Dough Version 2

[Merak] - Vase Green

V1

[Merak] - Wallnut Basket

[Merak] - Dark Cutting Board

[Merak] - Truffle Sauce and Oil

[Merak] - Pasta Variety

[Merak] - Gas Stove Oven

[Merak] - Meats and Cheese Board

[Merak] - Barman Accessories

[Merak] - Olives

[Merak] - Box of Appetizers

[Merak] - Whiskey Glasses

[Merak] - Bamboo Vase

[Merak] - Decorative Tray

[Merak] - Barman’s Collection

[Merak] - Barman’s Bottles

[Merak] - Athena Console Middle

[Merak] - Pillows and Blanket Wicker B

Click here to visit WAZ (Wazzer Works) on marketplace

[WAZ] - Modern Light Switch

[WAZ] - Modern Power Outlet

Teleport to Andika

andika - [Amelie creme brulee recipe]B

andika - [Amelie creme brulee recipe]Bowl-A

andika - [Amelie creme brulee recipe]Suger

andika - [Amelie creme brulee recipe]plate-b

andika - [Amelie creme brulee recipe]plate-c 1

Teleport to Dust Bunny

dust bunny . harvest . jug of sunflowers LI:3

dust bunny & con .

rosemary kitchen decor . glasses 22

dust bunny & con .

rosemary kitchen decor . glasses

dust bunny & con .

rosemary kitchen decor . glasses 5

dust bunny & con .

rosemary kitchen decor . cups 5

dust bunny & con .

rosemary kitchen . white . ladder long

Teleport to Vespertine

{vespertine} - herb cutting board

{vespertine} - herb drying

{vespertine} - potted bay leaf

{vespertine} - veggie crate

{what next} - Light Wood Blind (wide)

{moss&mink} - Silk Draped Table

INARA - [ID] Big Glass w/ Candle

Teleport to BAZAR

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 01

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 02

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 03

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 04

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 05

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 06

BAZAR~MagnoliaBooks 07

Teleport to North Oak

[North Oak] + Contemporary Arc Vase (white)

[North Oak] + Contemporary Torus Vase (black)

[North Oak] + Contemporary Cylinder Vase (natural)

David Heather - Austri Coffee Table

unKindness - Island Resort Rug v5

LOLY HALLISON

Loly Hallison has been a Deco Blogger for seven years. She also has a small company named LH deco, where she has the luxury of choosing clients to do custom decoration and landscape work. Additionally, Loly works to a lesser extent in premade homes, as her real life work as a pediatrician keeps her quite busy during the week! Second Life allows Loly to express her creative side and use the tools she has been acquiring over the years. In the outside world, Loly has taken many interior decor and landscaping courses, but the virtual canvas is where she is most able to make this knowledge come to life. She is proud to have the opportunity to be included as part of SPARK’s Home and Garden team!

Oh Deer!

Decor and Photographery

By Wendz Tempest

NEW DESIGNER

Oh Deer! is the imaginative and creative brand that is fueled by the musings and whimsy of owner and creator, Bambi (NorahBrent) of Missing Melody. Oh Deer! brings us back to the bygone era of vintage collectibles, keepsakes, and the gathering of treasured things. If this were the town or village boutique and gift shop, it would be an ideal spot to peruse and reminisce while showing utmost care selecting the perfect present. Such fanciful and playful wares await the thoughtful patron. Click here to visit Oh Deer!

All Oh Deer! Items can be found at Oh Deer by click here.

Credits: Everything pictured is from Oh Deer unless otherwise stated.

Town Square Asphalt

Town Square Long Pavement

London Calling Lamp Post

A Little Dream Gate

Haute Couture Dress Form

Haute Couture Hat Stand

Empty

Haute Couture Box 3

Haute Couture Box

Haute Couture Wire Dress Form

Haute Couture Shutter

Long Gone Chair

Long Gone Desk

Be Mine Heart of Butterflies

Bird on a Wire Clef

Bird on a Wire Guitar

Bird on a Wire Ring

Bits and Bobs Green Yellow

Bits and Bobs Wide House

Chicken House

DIY Life Marble Cat

DIY Life Mirror

DIY Life Sewing & Kneeting Box

DIY Zen Suitcase Side Table

Suitcases Shelves Full

From the Cook Book Cheeze Grater

From the Cook Book Mixing Bowl

From the Cook Book Old Strainers

From the Cook Book

Schnitzel Hammer

From the Cook Book

Cast Iron Coaster

From the Cook Book

Meat Grinder

From the Cook Book Oil

Lamp

From the Cook Book Rolling Pin

Happy For You to Meet the 13th Cat

Happy New Years Glass

Dome

Hello Spring

Nailed It Elo Cat

Nailed It Fox Lemon

Nailed It Froughly Bunneh

Nailed It Puffy Harry

Nailed It Pupster

Nailed It Robbie Robin

Nailed It Samuel the Hedgehog

Nailed Wise

Odd Stuff The Wall

Pull Me Up Dino

Pull Me Up Duck Family

Pull Me Up Giraffe

Pull Me Up Piano Blue

Pull Me Up Porcupencil

Pull Me Up Pup

Pull Me Up Rainbow

Peacock

Pull Me Up Round and Round

Pull Me Up Xylophone

Soothing Eden

The Ladybugs Mannequins Jane

The Line Birds

The Line Butterfly

The Line Cheese and Wine Missing Melody

The Line Rabbit

The Other Side of the Moon

Up and Away Balloons

Mobile

Uplifting Boat

Uplifting Kites Mobile

Uplifting Planes

Uplifting Rocket

Used To Be Belt

Used To Be Domino

Clock

Used To Be King Chess

Decor

Used To Be Luck and Brain Backgammon

Used To Be Spinning Renew

Used To Be Swinging Renew

Used To Be Wind Renew

Wetcat Coocoo Fabric 1

Wetcat Coocoo Fabric 3

Other items used:

Apple Fall - Portobello

Corner Store

Apple Fall - Bushmead

Railing Post

Apple Fall - Chelsea

Townhouse

Apple Fall - French Pergola

Apple Fall - Charlotte Cabinet

YumYum

My Linden

Home

By Casja Lilliehook

Photography and Decor

By AshaRhia and Wendz Tempest Hayden Rowley

Premium and Premium Plus Second Life residents have more options than ever when it comes to Linden Living. From houseboats and Hobbit-style homes to chalets and Victorians, there are a variety of home styles to suit anyone’s taste. For ideas on how to make the most of your Linden living space, check out the work of SPARK Interior Designers AshaRhia and Wendz Tempest in the Havana Home, one of Linden Lab’s Stilt Homes, and the Linden Gatewood House, located in Newbrooke.

The Gatewood Home of the Newbrooke

Neighborhood by Wendz

My Linden Home Credits

Gatwood Community:

Credits from previous page photos fromLeft to right:

Photo 1:

Finca - Pond Moss

Studio Skye - Zingiberaceae

Linden Home Newbrooke – Planter

Photo 2:

Konoha - Nanohana

Konoha - Wild Fluffy Natoma Grass

Konoha - Torii Gate

Cube Republic - Sedge

Hextraordinary - Sea Serpent Topiary

Taikou - Toro Stone Lantern

Photo 3:

Yugen - Mysa Tree

Cube Republic - Reed Green

Botanical - Italian Cypress Fastigia

Konoha - Natoma Boxwoods

Studio Skye - Bamboo Palm

Soy - Wall Hanging Moss Ball

Linden Home Newbrooke – Gatewood Home

Linden

Photo 4:

Home Newbrooke – Benches

AshaRhia decorated the Havana Home which is one of the Stilt Homes.

Decor and Photographs

By Kapree Arliss and Editorial Clarity

Dahlia SPOTLIGHT

DAHLIA HALLWAY CABINET SCENE

Mirror: Dahlia – Denmark – Triple Mirror – Gold

Sconces: Dahlia – Heather – Sconce – Gold

Artwork 1: Dahlia – Binx – Man in the Moon Wall

Art - 1

Artwork 2: Dahlia – Binx – Man in the Moon Wall

Art - 2

Pumpkin: Dahlia – Binx –Ceramic Gourd – Orange

Cloche: Dahlia – Binx – Moon Phase Cloche –Gold

Books: Dahlia – Binx –Book Stack – Amuck

Flowers: Dahlia – Heather – Dahlias In Vase

Cabinet: Dahlia – Binx –Filing Cabinet – Navy

CREDITS FROM PREVIOUS PAGE:

DAHLIA BATH VANITY SCENE

Mirror: Dahlia – Lily –Gold

Flowers: Dahlia – Jacqueline – Centerpieces –Peach/Gold

Bathroom Toiletries: Dahlia – Lily – Bathroom Toiletries

Brushes: Dahlia – Heather – Makeup Brushes

Lotion 1: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Beauty Bottle 1 – Gold

Lotion 2: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Beauty Bottle 2 – Gold

Soap, Comb & Toothbrushes: Dahlia – Lily – Soap, Comb & Toothbrushes

Towels: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Towel

Sconces: Dahlia – Lily –Sconce – Copper – Vertical

Vanity: Dahlia – Lily –Bath Vanity – Copper

Rug: Dahlia – Lily – Bath Mat

DAHLIA BATHTUB SCENE

Bathtub: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Bath Tub –

Adult

Faucet: Dahlia x MADRAS

– Ana – Bath Filler - gold

Caddy: Dahlia x MADRAS

– Ana – Bath Caddy –Gold

Candles: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Candles –Gold

Stool & Prosecco: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Prosecco – Dispenser – Gold

Red Petals: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Rose Petals

– Scattered – Red

Pink Petals: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Rose Petals

– Scattered – Pink

Shelving: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Shelf Unit

Towels: Dahlia x MADRAS

– Ana - Towel

Lotion 1: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Beauty Bottle 1 – Gold

Lotion 2: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Beauty Bottle 2 – Gold

Books: Dahlia – Heather

– Queen Book Stack

Lighting: Dahlia x MADRAS – Ana – Pendant –Long – Gold

Paneling: BIGBULLY

– Zelma Wall Panel –Woods

lifestyle

Asian Pacific Heritage Festival

By Abel Streeter

Photography by Taylor Wassep

As soon as you land, your senses are alive with colour, culture and art. The atmosphere is both lively, yet relaxed; a festival vibe indeed! On visiting the festival, SPARK was able to meet with the creators Trouble Dethly and Ella Aurelia in a palm tree lined, tropical beach setting to discuss the inspiration behind the Asian Pacific Heritage Festival and just what makes it unique and a must-see. Festival-goers will notice immediately that the Asian Pacific Heritage Festival is not your average festival, and is, as Trouble describes,” unique.

I am not aware of any other celebration like this for those of Asian and Pacific heritage.” And his co-creator Ella states,”I do agree that it’s unique, even as a concept… Asian culture is often lumped together. But there are so many unique and wonderful distinct cultural groups that can often be overlooked.”

The event is back on the grid for a second year, with new ideas and content. Trouble explains that the festival is, “a celebration of Asians and Pacific Islanders in Second Life. In the month of May (1st-31st), we will come together for this vibrant festival to celebrate and share our vast culture, diversity and history with the entire Second Life community through live music, photography exhibitions, traditional food, the parade of countries, discussion panels and more.” It is, indeed, packed with a whole host of activities for any eager culture vulture, as SPARK soon discovered. On venturing down the wooden walkway, one’s attention may immediately be captivated by the Parade of Countries,

which consists of forty individually crafted boats, each containing thoroughly researched notecards about each country. The forty boats are decorated with symbolic flowers and each country’s flag hangs proudly.

Beyond the parade exists the Floating Market, an absolutely stunning sight, inspired by those “seen in Vietnam, Thailand and Burma. It was something I’d come across in Burma and had stuck with me ever since. It’s something we’ve tried to recreate in Second Life this year and hopefully something people will enjoy,” Ella remarks. Alongside the parade and floating market is a market of another kind, the “Open Market, where content creators will sell an exclusive item reflective of their heritage, plus each will have a free gift for visitors,” as described by Trouble.. The wares available include clothing, decor and accessories.

The open water, wooden stalls and golden sands really do evoke the feeling of the Pacific isles, and as visitors progress under the bunting lined walkway, the senses may soon erupt at the delicious looking Food Market, which displays a whole range of foods from across Asian and the Pacific from Ramyeon, Turon,Wagashi and Sichuan Hot Pot to Hargow, Pho and Pani Puri. These mouth watering dishes are all accompanied with clickable recipe links, to enhance your experience further.

Nestled in between the Food Market is the live discussion area, which will host topics exploring the experiences of Asian creators in Second Life, including artists, designers, and entrepreneurs, and discuss the challenges they face, such as cultural barriers, intellectual property issues, and market access, as well as the opportunities for showcasing their talents, innovating, and achiev-

ing success in the virtual world. Trouble suggests the discussions are “very much in depth and relevant, and will be very informative; a couple of them tie into exploring Asian identity specifically in virtual spaces like Second Life.”

If a visitor can tear themselves away from the Food Market, on the left hand-side they may find the large 3D art and photography exhibition. The exhibition gives a snapshot into the artists’ real lives with photos and narrative exploring; a grandfather’s love of western furniture; tales of Chuseok; the art of Yin-Yang-Do and Thai dance.The 3D art presents amazing black, white and red seemingly moving images including an impressive black dragon. Once the seriousness of the panels are over, you can relax with live Djs, two festival sets of music and a Bollywood party. And if this is not enough, across the water there is yet another set of islands to discover, where festival-goers will behold the formidable presence of a large statue in honour of José Rizal, one of the most revered figures in Philippines history, set in formal gardens. Next to that is found the Javanese Wayang Kulit area complete with pillows to sit on; this is a traditional form of puppet-shadow play originally found in the cultures of Java and Bali.

The Asian Pacific Heritage Festival proves to be a unique, virtual experience which Trouble and his team have worked tirelessly and creatively to bring to our community. Trouble states, “Second Life is such an international platform and brings the world closer to each of us. I feel this festival provides a place for a demographic in Second Life that is rarely truly acknowledged and celebrated. And I hope people can truly enjoy

it and immerse themselves in it.” Ella adds to his thoughts, suggesting, “This is one of those beautiful opportunities that Second Life provides. We’re able to learn so much about places we’ve never been, people we’ve never met, cultures we may never experience in our home towns. This is another chance to do just that - learn more, see more, experience more. It makes these far off places seem so much more real, whether it’s visiting a Paris or Santorini themed sim or meeting someone from New York or Singapore. I can’t speak for anyone else, of course, but for me, that’s always been my favourite thing about Second Life and I hope it’s something that we were able to do for the SL community with this festival.”

SPARK would totally echo their sentiments, The Asian Pacific Heritage Festival truly provides the opportunity to experience this culture in an authentic and immersive way. Click here to see it before it closes on May 31, 2023.

Don’t Him

Songs in the Key of (Second) Life

Listening to Sam King-Slain [dropyour. knickers] singing SL Pride brought tears to my eyes. I have a young relative facing the dilemma of wanting to transition while being held back by social and familial expectations and the conservatism of the rural Midwest. I wondered if they, too, could find strength by living authentically in Second Life©.

Sam was empathetic and encouraging, hoping they may find the safe space he found in SL©. He first came to SL after playing Sims and IMVU with a friend on her computer. He went home and signed up for Second Life. “A few weeks later, someone from Freebie Island had roped me into an SL job at a club called Galaxy and the rest was history!”

Fence In...

By Casja Lilliehook

It was as he got older that Sam realized how large a role Second Life played in helping him find confidence in his gender expression/identity and sexuality. As he explains, “I joined the game quite young, I wasn’t honest about who I was, and I think I didn’t even know at that point. It gave me a platform where I grew into my own,”

There is a painful irony that around the world, the rural areas where people assert their freedom most loudly, the Don’t-Fence-Me-In parts of a country that had 110 years of resistance to Enclosure, have the smallest box for individual expression. They fence themselves in. When you grow up in a fairly conservative silo of experience, living outside the box may feel impossible. Second Life smashes the boxes, though being a responsible company, I am sure it recycles.

Second Life teems with difference. Residents come from two hundred countries. The viewer

Photography by Hayden Rowley

operates in nine languages, but there are many more languages spoken by its residents. The variety of life and culture in Second Life encouraged Sam to follow his heart.

As he explained, “It’s the platform in which I have met whom I believe to be my soulmate and transcend that relationship into the real world. It’s allowed me to be fiercely myself and take that sense of self into real life. For that, I’ll always be thankful and Second Life will always hold a special place in my heart.”

Second Life is always updating itself, most often in response to the needs and demands of its residents. So what would Sam like improved or enhanced? Sam loves how SL has shifted to actively appreciate and promote residents’ contributions to the community, this world built by its residents. Sam would love to see that continue - the promotion of events, blogging, creators, landscapes, and the artists. He would love to see more immersive big music events that can entertain a hundred or more avatars without being lagged out. He added, “I really want people to be able to enjoy the concert experience in-world, so anything that can accommodate that.”

“Empty Skybox” seems to have a real blogger vibe, but what are the real favorites? Sam said, “I would say the fan favorite from the old album was Relog and from the new album it’s Women on Kupra. My personal favourite is Pixel Sex just because I find the reactions every time absolutely hilarious! But I do also

love how emotional it gets with Lonely (AFK) and then SL Pride. It always feels like the room just fills with love, which is why I normally do it as the closing song.”

Sam began writing songs based on Second Life about five or six years ago while hanging around with friends and noodling around in his skybox recording studio. “I was on mic remixing a song to say “tp me, tp me, bring your avatar closer to mine” and then my first single Tp Me was born!” While being a Second Life musician is unconventional, Sam carried on the busking convention, performing around the grid and standing outside stores and singing.

Sam added, “The reception was great, and it motivated me to just keep writing more. It’s crazy to think now I have over 20 songs all about Second Life!”

Sam is looking forward to a few big events, including SL’s 20th birthday and Smokefest. He promises to keep his social media more up-to-date as shows get booked. If you want to check out Sam and his music, just follow him on any of his social media accounts.

Click the links below to follow Sam:

Sam Elliot King | Facebook

Soundcloud

Second Life Flickr

Written and Photography By Taylor Wassep

Through Her Lens

YOONA AND GANADARA GALLERY

Second Life© is such a vast and majestic space that hundreds of thousands of people have flocked to our virtual world over the years. Many who have come here plant roots, having found something special and unique that draws them back. Some find family and build relationships. Some devote their time to charity and social causes. Others uncover creative outlets that allow their form of expression to blossom. It was the latter that appealed to Yoonabae Resident, who did not intend to become a part of the grid’s artist community upon her arrival in 2017 but fell in love with virtual photography and has found various ways to participate as an artist and art aficionado ever since.

One of Yoona’s major contributions to Second Life is the impressive GANADARA Gallery, an independent art gallery created to showcase the work of SL’s talented

photographers. Through GANADARA Gallery, Yoona’s goal is to provide a space for photographers to display their work, celebrating moments in time captured as original digital artwork. GANADARA Gallery has featured countless photographers who continue to master the art of storytelling through virtual photography.

As mentioned, Yoona Kwan did not come to our virtual world with artistic or entrepreneurial pursuits in mind. The person behind the avatar found that SL served as a retreat from the day-to-day stresses of life, offering a place to gather with friends, listen to some good music, and relax after a busy work day. SL provided an opportunity for Yoona, so much like many others, to fully submerge into a virtual landscape that had so much to offer, including the discovery of lasting friendships, a creative outlet, and uncovering a source of inspiration. Each person who lands

here has stories about their first experiences, fun memories adding to the magic of SL. Yoona shared fond memories of her first experiences at the welcome center, finding excitement in learning how to move and early building skills under the mentorship of others. In fact, building and creating are facets of what Yoona enjoys most about Second Life today, years later.The creative freedoms offered on the grid is one of the aspects that led her to the discovery of virtual photography.

In her real life, Yoona was interested in photography, an interest that translated to one in virtual photography soon enough. As a beginner photographer, Yoona mainly took profile photos for herself and her friends, a classic first step for many who are learning to experiment with photography in SL. Not long after, Yoona’s attention was drawn to the blogging community that had been alive and well in SL for a number

of years. Yoona hoped to practice the tools that would allow her to step into a role as a SL blogger, a pastime that would offer her the conveniences of pursuing photographic passions, while still creating some structure and inspiration to flow within her photographs. “[In] 2018 I wanted to be in the Blogger Team so badly, and

one required thing was having a Flickr. I never heard that before, so it was like a whole new world for me too. I buyed [sic] stuff from that store to post some outfits and I luckily made it,” remembered Yoona.

For about four years, Yoona very thoroughly enjoyed her work as a blogger, which enabled her to support brands she dearly loved

completed independent galleries, included galleries taking aspects. and arrangement but there in particular prominent these painting, other galleries photography medium.

completed some independent research about galleries, an endeavor that included exploration of other galleries on the grid and taking note of correlating aspects. She studied layout arrangement of the art, there was something particular she noticed as prominent at the time; while galleries featured painting, sculpture, and sorts of art, many galleries were devoid of SL photography as an artistic medium. As ideas for her

first gallery began to take shape, Yoona’s early goals were to embrace virtual photography and display photographic works in an atmospheric and modern building. Those ideas gave way to the development of themed exhibitions with different groups of artists each cycle. GANADARA Gallery’s first exhibition was entitled, “Then and Now,” and displayed the works of artists who would share one of their first virtual photographs and one of their most recent photographs. The theme’s

purpose was to demonstrate how people can change over a period of time with something like photography. “You didn’t just see the process of their photo skills. You also see the change SL did over the years. And there are people who think they will never be as good as him or her … but they don’t know the photographer is at that point where the viewer is

now,” Yoona explained when describing what she felt was so special about her inaugural exhibition.

Since that first exhibition, Yoona has hosted up to 24 artists each round, including her current exhibition, “Cherry Blossom,” which ends on May 30, 2023. Yoona and her team at GANADARA Gallery are already working on the next

round of the gallery, Fiction,” which will June 2023 and with Second Life’s birthday celebration. theme development works, including exhibition which landscape photography.

Second Life offers chances for its residents, can use introspection

gallery, “Science will begin in will coincide Life’s 20th celebration. Future development is in the including the following which will focus on photography.

offers boundless residents, who introspection and

opportunity to forge a second life most meaningful and fulfilling to them. Yoona took those reins with both hands and held on with all her might, exploring a new space for her creativity to flourish. Creating expressions of art through her virtual photography while joyfully developing lifelong friendships along the way, Yoona is someone who wishes the best for each and every

person she meets. Thank you, Yoona, for what you continue to give to Second Life. The team at SPARK looks forward to enjoying your future contributions to the grid and celebrating your successes.

Click here to visit GANADARA Gallery at or learn about Yoona and the gallery by click here to visit the website.

andering New York (also abbreviated Wandering NY) is a vibrant new city build on the Second Life© grid absolutely filled to the brim with décor, beauty and, above all else, realism. This sim is the creation of talented SL resident Kaiden Tray, one of the grid’s most sought after landscapers and destination makers. Kaiden’s trademark vision for beautiful countryside

By Saki Bunny

Photos

By Faye NightShade

Builder and Landscaper

Kaiden Tray

W KAIDEN TRAY’S WANDERING NY

and forest scenes are found gridwide, but the cityscape of one of the most famous cities in the world was a new endeavor for Kaiden and his partner, Pan-

dora Ceridwen Tray. With Wandering NY, which opened on Friday, March 10th, Kaiden’s goal was to bring the magic of those lesser-known

areas of the city to the forefront with this build. The more practical and residential outer-city areas are, as per his words, “where you can see the most beautiful art, the beauty of people’s lives and practical living that appears magical.”

“The magic and heart of New York is within the more practical areas of the state. That location is where you can see the most beautiful art, the beauty of peoples’ lives and practical living that appears magical.”

When asked about his preferences when building, along with his favourite aspects surrounding Wandering NY, Kaiden replied that the sim’s residential area featuring all of the homes was his favourite part of the entire build to complete; however, coming up with logical and easy-to-follow directions through-

out the sim proved to be quite the challenge for him and his partner. The sim, which is planned to be a permanent build, is open to role-players, nonrole-players, bloggers,

performers, and anyone else who may be interested in visiting. As such, they had to try to make it accommodating for everyone, despite these various groups sometimes having dif-

ferent expectations of what a “role-play sim”, or, opposingly, a “nonrole-playing sim” should be. The sim’s intended purpose is to be a blend of different ideals, with a general fo-

cus to try and bring these different groups of SL players together in one unique location. Wandering NY is fully MyStory compatible, offering a higher level of immersion that sets

pand into the realm of performative plays as well.

An integral part of the sim’s interactive premise is, of course, land rentals. In a discussion about the rentals, Kaiden explains that the sim does, indeed, feature eight rental properties which were all rented and reserved prior to the sim’s opening date. Due to this heavy engagement, the Trays are currently working on building up a second sim where there will be more rentals available.

There is, of course, already a waiting list for these, as well.

As previously stated, Kaiden is a highly in-demand landscaper, who is frequently booked for new customers. Kaiden is a modest scenic artist who describes that his landscaping story started as a mere hobby to fulfil his own interest in the field. At some point, once he had reached a decorative standard that he was personally satisfied with, he naturally progressed to accept-

ing financial compensation for his work, and Kaiden Tray Landscaping was born. His favourite build projects are definitely woodlands, as well as farms and the countryside, rainforests, as well as anything that presents a creatively demanding challenge for him.

Currently, Kaiden does not have any plans to create public sims outside of the Wandering New York sphere, as he is extremely

busy with building up the location’s second sim. He, his partner,

and the growing community at Wandering New York would love for you to come visit, check out the blogger-perfect photogenic sites, and take part in all of the activities this incredible project has to offer.

Pack your bags right this minute and visit Wandering New York by clicking here.

By Oriana Yasmine Ramirez

Ace of Spades

TY ACE ST. PIERCE

In the realm of Second Life©, we’re met with the opportunity to be ourselves while also being granted the freedom of creative expression through fashion and art – all of which our featured blogger, Ty Ace St. Pierce (tyace97), would need for him to step within the threshold that is Second Life. In fact, that and the relationships and friendships that he fostered within the virtual realm solidified his decision to stay along with a few memories to boot!

“Second Life drew me in because of the ability to be creative and represent various parts of me through my avi. I stayed because of the friendships and relationships I’ve been able to find

Spades

through here. There are people I’ve known for years and it’s been fun to basically grow up together.”

Ty’s love for blogging came by the way of both photography and the desire to show off products while also incorporating a sense of humor for viewers and readers alike to enjoy. He describes his blogging style as being “goofy, narrative storytelling” and says that he likes to “bring people together through laughter.” When asked about his fashion aesthetic, he responds, “I’m not the most fashionable, but according to my wife, she says I’m urban streetwear with a twist of country lol.”

When he’s not blogging about fashion, he’s also touching base on social issues that are both personal and hit home for them as he feels that he could add to the conversation in a positive light – highlighting that he’s not only a humorous storyteller with a means to bring joy and laughter to the heart those who

stumble across his beautiful art, but he has also shed light on important issues as a social advocate so that those who feel the same could feel both seen and heard. As with most talented bloggers, our featured blogger discovered that starting out was no easy feat, for it is not uncommon to encounter obstacles and hurdles that can sometimes be disheartening. With these challenges often come lessons that lead to improvement, whether with better photography angles, fine-tuning details, or perfection of other methods to showcase a product in your blog post. When asked about his biggest challenges, Ty explained, “I’d say my biggest challenge is myself because I’m very picky about my work. I can spend hours taking a picture because it doesn’t come out how I envisioned it in my head! You have to learn how to just have fun with the product and show it off in your own way. I don’t think there’s a standard to blogging. It’s just about

having fun.”

In fact, he credits some of his biggest inspirations being video games he has played, inside jokes with his wife, Milk, playtime with his daughter, Monet, and real-world events that have happened in real life – all of whom could be found on his blog via Instagram as he not only showcases products from our talented in-world content creators but also illustrates several beautiful moments of his Second Life with his family, whether they be funny, loving, or even serious.

Outside of his blogging, he describes himself as a huge foodie and advocates for no pineapple on pizza – declaring it an atrocity and that it should be banned for the trauma it has caused in the world, calling it “very reckless if you ask me” - which is a testament to his infectious humor. He does, however, make note that his values are quite simple.

“Be good energy to those around you and don’t

ever let yourself get surrounded with vibes that bring you down. I am an introvert, but with the right people, I’m an extrovert for sure. I’ve been told I have crackhead energy. Sports wise - huge Celtics fan!”

Second Life has not only brought him the ability to be creative and have fun but to also spread love and be loved in return. He notes that being in SL has changed him for the better. He credits the virtual platform for not only grac-

ing him with a community that accepts and loves him as a transman, but also for aiding in his journey of self-love: teaching him the lessons of loving himself in both worlds as life is too short to live for others.

It is because of his family that many different aspects of Second Life roleplay have been introduced into his life, changing his perspective and enjoyment for the better. Ty first began with a love for exploring different sims and commu-

nities. This now includes friends and family joining him for the ride to visit the hidden gems that Second Life has to offer. while also allowing him to discover new avenues of roleplay narratives that may become fun to explore with family and friends near and dear to him.

In fact, Ty even offered encouraging and positive words for new and aspiring bloggers that may want to try their hand at expressing themselves in a creative

light that either tells a story, showcases a product, or addresses important issues: “Honestly I’d like to just give advice because get asked a lot on how others can also become bloggers or improve their pictures. I don’t have the best graphics or computer by any means, but as I’ve said many times - just have fun. I mean it. Don’t try to replicate someone’s style or change who you are to fit in. The best work you can do is your own original.

That’s the truest form of art that people will love!”

Click here to follow Ty Ace St. Pierce on Instagram.

Photography by Taylor

Restaurant and Bar

Le Chateau Country Club: Restaurant

Restaurant Le Pompadour

Fete Restaurant 4.

GREEN ACRES

By Casja Lilliehook

Photography

by Hayden Rowley

The Sims is an appealing game because it keeps players busy and focused on accomplishing tasks while dressing up and decorating their home, making friends, procreating, and perhaps dying to be reincarnated for more adventures. It can be solitary, though. You can’t discuss your favorite designers, sports teams, and tv shows with your neighbors.

Second Life© gives you real people on the other side of those avatars. You can talk about anything. You can form friendships that last for years. People meet up in real life. Some fall in love, marry, and have children. The oldest known child of Second Life is aptly named Linden. It can be overwhelming, though. When you can do anything you like,

it’s hard to know what to do. The psychologist Barry Schwartz wrote “The Paradox of Choice” that talked about how having too many options leads to indecision and dissatisfaction because with so many choices, we always think we didn’t choose the best one. He wrote, “Learning to choose is hard. Learning to choose well is harder. And learning to choose well in a world of unlimited possibilities is harder still, perhaps too hard.”

With The Sims, there are reasonable limits on your choices but the community is artificial.

In Second Life, the community is vitally real but deciding what to do can be hard. We can feel too footloose, too fancy-free, directionless. As a species, we really like to have tasks to do. If

only there were some happy medium.

Welcome to MyStory.

MyStory is a Heads-Up Display (HUD) created by Lifestorii to Simify Second Life by creating work for us to do. It’s easy to get started, just pick up the Starter Kit from Marketplace or the MyStory Sim. It’s only one linden so there are no barriers to entry. You are then responsible for your health and happiness. You’ve got work to do, though you can take a hiatus by pausing the HUD.

Gardening and cooking are the mainstays of MyStory, but your Starter Kit includes a toothbrush, water, and all the goodies you need to survive. But you don’t want to just survive, you want to thrive.

Green acres is the place for me.

Farm living is the life for me.

Land spreading out so far and wide Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside.

Three MyStory community members who thrive generously shared their experiences with SL20. The are Angel A. Genovese [Vanityriich], Sienna King [Sie Cloud], and Wendz [Wendz Tempest.]

Angel is from Brooklyn, New York, and has more than a de-

cade in Second Life. She is a polymath with many passions. Of course, this being Second Life, one of them is shopping. She also loves reading, poetry, and the spoken word. “I love learning and discovering new things. I believe that knowledge is power, so I’m forever wanting to learn something new to expand my knowledge base.” She followed her brother to Second Life from IMVU and has stayed because of the many bonds she has formed with other people.

Sienna is the owner/designer of Bijou, a children’s store with everything from hampers and furnishings to stuffed toys, chalkboards, and even gender reveal cakes that don’t set anyone on fire. She came to SL from IMVU. “I found Second Life and I was sold by “you can walk around”. My SL journey started just as Covid and lockdown took over the world so it was a real blessing to be able to do things even if I couldn’t leave the house. I ended up learning Blender due to boredom and I now work in SL full time!”

Wendz is a blogger with two gorgeous blogs, Cozey in SL that focuses on decor and Cozey Dreams that highlights her travels. She has been here fifteen years and is widely respected for her ability to design interiors and exteriors with panache. “I’ve

stayed mostly because of the very real connections I’ve made with other people around the world, and maybe shopping.. And maybe decorating and landscaping.”

For all three, the learning curve for MyStory was easy and minimal. Of course, they all mastered the SL learning curve so anything will seem easy after that. Angel praised the many resources for users if they run into trouble as well as the roundthe-clock customer service. They want to make sure folks can thrive.

Thinking of describing it to someone who knows nothing about it, Sienna described it simply as The Sims for SL. Angel compares it to a different HUDbased roleplay within Second Life called BeYou. She thinks it is similar, but she loves that in MyStory you can use your own furniture because he provides scripts for your stats. She also appreciates the comprehensive starter kit.

Wendz thinks people who like farming, cooking, and roleplaying games will enjoy MyStory. Intriguingly, it can be used in other roleplay communities. “MyStory is a great way to support whatever kind of Family or Community RP you’re into. The learning curve is not very steep

at all, you can start leveling up with experience points and cooking right away because of the support and gifts they offer to new players.”

New York is where I’d rather stay. I get allergic to smelling hay. I just adore a penthouse view. Dah-ling I love you but give me Park Avenue.

When you think about it, MyStory has the kind of farming and gardening that might have appealed to Eva Gabor. She would not have to change out of her couture dresses and ostrich-feather lined jackets. You can farm all day without getting a spot on your clothes. Just imagine, your carefully styled roleplay outfits will be safe from your labors. So no matter whether you’re an Eddie Albert or an Eva Gabor, your clothes will be spotless. That’s something that might draw people to MyStory. She wanted to understand the community before creating and joined in the roleplay. “I wish I could use it more but honestly most of the time I an up on my platform making baby things. However, I do love how MyStory has brought the community together and sparked some joy and fun back into roleplay for a lot of people.”

Angel joined to spend more

time roleplaying with her fiancé and family. She was a bit dubious at first, thinking it looked like a lot of work. “I’ve changed my mind but I gave it a try and actually enjoyed reaching the different levels.” She spent a lot of time at first, wanting to level up so she can plant new crops and cook new foods. She loves that they can go out for dinner or cook meals and sit down to enjoy it with family and friends. “It’s bringing back some of the aspects I feel we forgot about Second :ife and that’s the role play aspect because honestly who don’t enjoy food and the MyStory food is so realistic, it really adds to whatever type of occasion you are trying to host for your family and friends.”

Wendz admits that she does MyStory on her own a lot of the time. She enjoys the reward of leveling up and gaining experience points by cooking new recipes and making new craft items. “I would say I spend at least an hour a day harvesting, feeding, replanting. The really nice thing is you can always pause your HUD to keep your stats at bay while you might be doing something else in the world.”

Of course, everything can be improved. As a creator, Sienna would make it possible for affiliates to use XP scripts in

their items. “It would be great to be able to have items like toys and books for kids that raise their XP, like they were at school…” Angel would love to see the plants grow, some interim steps between the newly seeded plot and the final harvest. Wendz would like to spend less time on satisfying her hunger and thirst “just a smidgeon.”

Wendz noted that a creator friend is disappointed that the give items cannot have copy or modify permissions, but she noted that many creators now include MyStory versions with their regular items to compensate for that.

Applying the Paradox of Choice to creating, many people find more inspiration when given a framework. When you can make anything, it’s hard to know what to make. When you have a framework, such as a historical era, a color scheme, a kind of crop or recipe, you can go wild within that framework. It’s easier to decide what to do.

Sienna noted that MyStory has inspired a lot of creating. “MyStory has created a need for more roleplay items which is great! It has inspired me to create items that facilitate roleplay. I have seen other brands do this as well and it’s

nice to see!” She added there was a bit of a learning curve to learning to use the scripts but admits to simply hating scripting. She also would like more roleplay classes, activities and functions that involve MyStory items. “I have seen cooking classes and stuff like that but I do think there’s room for so much more!”

...The chores.

...The stores.

...Fresh air.

...Times Square

Turning the conversation to aesthetics, they were asked to offer their thoughts on creativity, art, and craft. Wendz said, “Creativity… is that not the expression of our imaginings via art, music and even the written word? To me creativity gives me permission to share in whatever medium, my innermost thoughts, dreams, visions, worries, fears in a healthy way of course. Creating a pixel version of anything in the real, is a true craft, and I believe when the designer/artist invokes their own personal experience and personality into their craft it becomes art.”

Sienna notes there are plenty of people producing creative things that don’t exist in our real world. She also has seen peo-

ple reimagining real life items to create something new. “I think that even recreating something with your own spin on it is still creative. Not to mention the branding, product design, texturing, etc. Creativity to me is bringing the ideas in your head to life.”

Angel defined creativity as using your imagination or ideas to bring things to life. She said creativity “is a representation of who you are, it’s basically you giving us an insight into your mind and how it works. I feel like it’s giving us a view of how you view the world.” She thinks that we don’t need to worry about whether something is an art or a craft. It can be both.

“You are using your artistic craft to bring that image to life. Art is basically the expression or application of human creative skills and imagination and to craft something you need some type of skill and imagination to bring it to life.”

When we can be anything from wombats to wildebeests and live under the sea or in the vastness of space, why do we gravitate toward the familiar? Here we are, in our Second Life, bipedal and living in houses with tables and chairs. What does that say about us? If we put on a psychologist’s hat for a moment, does the normality of

our second lives reflect dissatisfaction with real life that we try to get right in Second Life or is it simply that we like our real life and recreate it in SL?

Sienna thinks it goes back to our childhood games. “I think for me it goes back to when I used to play house or dollies as a baby. It is almost hardwired into our brains to “practice” via play on how to have a successful home. Some of us carried that into adult life. I know my “gateway” was The Sims game. It gave me endless options to play house because it was all digital and I could delete, redo, restart, pause whenever I wanted. So in a way it is still a fantasy role play because we can’t do those things in real life.”

The idea of getting it right in SL resonates with Wendz. “I’ve always thought that this Virtual World was our ‘second chance’ at expressing our actual ideal selves, and things like malls, shopping, gardening, farming, are all just tertiary in some kind of coping mechanism that we use to ‘hold on to’.” She added that the normalcy of roleplay activities might keep people from detaching completely from real life. “Perhaps being involved in true to life RP communities are actually benefiting those who may not have had the privilege of being born, or raised up in such communities or environments. Escapism means different things to different people, and I like to think that residents who take the time to recreate these kinds of communities would want to do so

out of a kind heart, to ‘minister’ so to speak, and to have a safe and welcoming place that they themselves benefit from, as much as it would benefit other residents.” She added that “having a healthy balance of both realities will benefit your mind, body and soul in both worlds.”

Angel does not believe people are driven by dissatisfaction in real life but perhaps are seeking experiences they cannot have. Her example is gardening. “I consider myself a plant mom in Second Life, but in real life, I can’t keep a cactus alive. I would love to garden in real life but I’m aware that it may not be something I’ll devote myself to because I don’t care for dirt or bugs.” There could be farmers in SL who live in cities where they cannot do that. Maybe they live in a small town too small to support shopping malls and other venues. Second Life allows people to experience a way of life that they would not be able to.

She added that comfort is the main reason SL roleplay so closely conforms to reality. “Comfort, I feel as human beings we all do what’s comfortable for us. We don’t know how other creatures live or how they interact but we know how to be ourselves and expand on what’s provided to make our lives more of what we would like for it to be, more of what we would like to experience but don’t have the ability to.”

So in essence, Second Life is life with more.