Another lands you in a world of winter, with an igloo to curl up in.

Yet another, drops you into a ball room, complete with an intan ball for dancing.

Be sure to enter through each door, as each provides a unique experience.

Once back on the ground, also take the time to explore the areas across the water… a campground, an area to have a spot of tea, and a cemetery… all unique and perfect for spending time with a friend, photo opportunities or just some quiet time on your own.

Be sure to visit Wendy’s beautifully serene creation…HuMaNoiD …

While this event takes place in Second Life, there are Relay for Life events all over the world.  The Relay for Life event is the signature fund-raising event for the American Cancer Society and takes place in over 5000 communities in the US and 20 countries world-wide.  During the 24 hour relay, in every RFL event, there are three traditions that take place.  These help participants Celebrate, Remember and Fight Back.  The Celebration is recognized with A Survivor’s Lap, where all those battling and surviving with cancer take a lap while all other participants cheer for them!  Remember is commemorated with the Luminaria Ceremony, during which participants walk the track in silence, remembering all those that have been touched by cancer and those loved ones lost to the disease.  Luminarias (candles lit inside a bag) line the track and each one represents a person being honored or remembered.   Then, Fight Back is a ceremony that allows us all to make a personal commitment to fight back and do what we can to prevent cancer.  During this lap, we make our pledges and encourage all to join us.  The entire Relay for Life in Second Life campaign is a rewarding experience.  The 24 Hours represents that fact that Cancer Never Sleeps…and we all stay on that track as long as we can.

“Spring passes and one remembers one’s innocence. Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance. Autumn passes and one remembers one’s reverence. Winter passes and one remembers one’s perseverance.” – Yoko Ono

The 2011 theme is Seasons of Hope.  The track in Second Life this year is laid out with different sections representing the seasons within a year.  From Winter, to Spring, to Summer and to Autumn… our ever-changing year.  In each section, teams have set up their “campsites” which will be the home base for the weekend.  These campsites should match the seasonal theme and represent the team’s commitment to Relay.  The team campsites are augmented by Designer sims where a known sim creator donates their time and effort to express their creativity and interpretation for Relay.

This will be my fourth Relay in Second Life and while my team, Eternal Beacon, has had a challenging fund-raising year, the core of us stick together through thick and thin and push to make a difference.  In my view, every Linden or Dollar raised, in world or via convio is an important one.  We have been busy building our campsite which is located in the Autumn section.  Our own theme is Harvesting Hope and we have created the Hope Ranch.

We hope that you will join Relay for Life in Second Life this year, and that we see you out on the track!!

Until there is a cure, I Relay!!

~Sunshine

*Hope Ranch is located on the RFL Recovery Sim and will be available to all starting on 7/16/2011 and probably just for a few days.  It was lovingly created by Dys Babii, Pinkie Fellini, Sunshine Zhangsun and Dione Kohime. 

When I received a notice from Nalena Fairey via the SL House & Garden Too group in Second Life telling us that the Zigana sim was open again, I knew that would be one of my first stops when I logged in again.  Nalena’s last sim design was a watery, airy space and so well done.  I had no doubt that her newest build would be good as well.

Well, I have to tell you, this sim is just awesome.  Nalena still used a lot of water in much of the sim but then built up a hilly area with a little village and then paths to other sweet spots. The village sits into the hill with a lovely courtyard and the entry to her shop.

Nalena creates some awesome items for your sim and your homes…I just love her grasses and have used them on our last two sim environments.  Outside the village, you can head down to the little dilapidated pier and get a feel of the breeze coming across the water.  Nalena has placed a tree just off the pier with a swing, such a great place to sit and think for a bit.

Then back to dry land, the path heads up the hill to a camping area with a beautiful view and then on around to a wonderfully huge tree that appears to be a lively party scene.

The sim has such a relaxing, airy feel to it…nearly old world but with a sense of fantasy.  Definitely visit Zigana to see Nalena’s creations but also to explore her beautiful showcase.

~Sunshine

p.s. These are all unedited photos from Second Life with only the borders added…great sim for photo ops!

The sim has two buildings and the rest is open space with areas to have a sit or swing all around.  One building houses the real life art of Cadel Abubakar and Ling Serenity.  The other building is used for Ling’s shop, Bird Next Door.  Bird Next Door (or BND) has some cute items and the prices are amazingly affordable.

This couple displays their love for art and serene spaces in such a loving manner.  I am pleased that I decided to visit Cadeling Garden and recommend that you do too!

The words in the water … such a beautiful idea…are the lyrics from “From the Top of the World” by My Brightest Diamond:

At the end of the sea
There waits my wind
To carry me

Through storms we will sail ahead
Just to gaze at the top of the world

From the bottom of the world
We looked up and saw the moon
And gazing at it then we fell
In love,  in love

So we made up our minds
To arrive smiling
Yet we made up our minds
To touch the height of life
And find out what we felt for it
How we felt for it, How we felt for it

From the top of the world
We looked up and saw the sun
And gazing at it then we fell
In love, in love

..

I hit the teleport button and I was transported, soon finding my avatar rezzing within a creepy world… the description is very accurate.  I accepted the windlight change via my Phoenix viewer and the environment surrounding me became even more mysterious.

As I walked along the path and found the abandoned huts, I realized that there were eyes watching me as well.  A robotic eyeball fluttered about as another larger robot with a huge eye just turned and surveyed the land.   As you walk through the sim, you can imagine  a breeze wrapping around you yet you’d wonder if it were only a breeze.  The sounds will draw you in further as you moved into the dark forested land… what might you find around the corner?

Pandemonium @ Legion was built with wonderful detail by P4NDOR4 Quintessa.  I’d recommend visiting…and immersing yourself into the darkness of this awesome build.

After finding just the right outfit at BlakOpal Designs, I headed right over to Cap Estel to start snapping photos.  Once captured, into Photoshop I went (again).  I added an airplane and completed some editing to enhance the features of the photo…and voila…I was done:

See you soon,

Sunshine

Credits:

• Sim Location:  Cap Estel by Maurice Messmer
• Outfit:  Safari Expedition by BlakOpal Designs
• Boots:  Ziggy by Tesla
• Hair:  Alison by Truth in Sangria
• Pose:  SS-Beach Babe PR4 by [LAP] (edited a tiny bit with Animare HUD)
• Texture:  Heavens by Distressed Jewell
• Airplane:  from here

Putting the photo together presented some challenges… I had the slipper tub from Alchemy’s Attic, but needed to find a pose depicting the pose.  Well I found the table writing animation from Sylva’s Animation Factory and then using Animare Pose HUD, I was able to fit into the tub somewhat naturally.  I wanted hair that looked somewhat combed back and wet…and found that at Boon due to suggestions on Plurk.  I created the writing plank and note along with the floor.  Snapped up some photos and then off to Photoshop.   Here I added the pen and the background textures.  The wall and view from the window are from the Flickr stream of JoesSistah (who has so many awesome textures).  After some additional layering and editing,  I’m fairly happy with how this one came out.  So without further ado… I present the photo for day three, inspired by the movie “Stealing Beauty”:

Until next we meet…

~Sunshine

Recently I was in Glam Affair and found an outfit I liked, and when I tried it on… I realized that it would work as my interpretation of “Cabaret”.  I then had to find hair, and off I went to search finding a suitable version at L’Emporio Di Bru.  The fun part is that this hair comes with the hat and the creator includes the hat alone too!  My stockings are from LaVie, and the shoes are from LeLutka.  As this is my interpretation, I stuck with a freckled skin from Curio and kept the hair in red!

Now… to find a suitable stage in Second Life!  I could have built a stage or bought a set, but I really wanted to go for a location site.  I went to quite a few sites advertised as burlesque or cabaret clubs.  Most did not work…either too modern, too bare, too primitive or just not right.  I finally found Ellie’s Burlesque Club and thought…red curtain, lit stage…yes, this was suitable.  Once there, I flew through poses and found a great one from a burlesque set from Just A Pose.  Then it was snap, snap, snap!   Back to Photoshop and some editing to enhance the photo and give it some depth… and WHEW…. day two’s submission for Week of Movies was done.  I present my interpretation of “Cabaret” here….

“Start by admitting, From cradle to tomb
It isn’t that a long a stay.
Life is a Cabaret, old chum,
It’s only a Cabaret, old chum
And I love a Cabaret.”

Off to the movies…  catch you soon!

~Sunshine

• Outfit:   Casablanca by Glam Affair
• Hair/Hat:  Minny in Red by L’Emporio Di  Bru
• Shoes:  Saffron Pumps in Black by LeLutka
• Stockings/Garter:  Arccidia in Black by LaVie
• Skin:  Lustre Petal Frex (Dark) in Luxe 2 by Curio
• Lashes:  NoAlpha NO6 by Miamai
• Eyes:  Nature in Green Heat by MADesigns
• Location:  Ellie’s Burlesque Club on the Viva La Glam sim
• Pose:  Sketchy’s Burlesque Satin Gloves by Just A Pose

I thought I’d share my submissions here with you starting today.  My Day One photo was fun to put together.  I have had an EVE avatar from the movie “Wall.E” for ages and pull her out now and then for a zip around.  I thought … oh I can do a photo about that movie, but…I need a Wall.E too!  So off I went to search and found one that my alt, Soleil, could use.  My original intent was to do photos of the two characters in world, but I realized that the scale of the avatars was off, so I had to separate them.  So off Eve went to find a crumbling, destroyed city… yeah, that wasn’t easy but I found a backdrop on a role-play sim and then added some effects.  Then for Wall.E, it was off to New York for a city scene for him as well.  Both of these are my takes on scenes from the movie.  Then I put the two of them together for my simple version of another scene… It was definitely fun, and challenged me at the same time!

Now… what will be my next movie to re-create in some way?!?

~Sunshine

Brutus Martinek, an awesome creator in Second Life (owner of Pididdle) sent out a notice a few weeks ago asking for help with a fundraiser she wanted to hold benefiting the Red Cross targeted for the victims of the Tornadoes that swept across Alabama in April. Brutus was suggesting fundraising in the form of an SL yard sale and sales by creators. Because I have RL connections to the areas that were most damaged, I wanted to help out and be involved. I knew that I could find items in my mess of an inventory, so that was one way, but I also wanted to offer something new for sale too. Now, I have never taken part in such an event as a “creator” but thought, what the heck, someone might buy one of my pieces for their SL home and that would benefit this great cause! So…I created four pieces and these are now available along with many other GREAT things at The Alabama Tornado Relief Fundraiser will begins today, May 18th, 2pm slt.

100% of proceeds will go to the mid-Alabama Red Cross Chapter. Receipts will be made public.

Along with content creators donating their items, there will also be a yard sale area, southern style too!

The stores involved include:
.synt.
Shades of October
duh!
Gnarlic Plimpton
LoQ
PIDIDDLE
*deviant girls*
Baffle!
[Acide!]
[ Lucky #7 ]
dfo!
PHRESH
iPOKE
VIVE9
Petal’s Place
* RezIpsa Loc *
WhAtEvR
La Blaq
bellballs
modd.g
A.D.D. Andel!
Rozena
Sol Existence Gallery
Bounce
GiGi’s Attic
Boutique Giada
Epic
Aphotic Gloom
BOOM
Slash Me Poses
Adore&Abhor

Take a moment and stop by the Travis sim…you never know what treasures you might find and at the same time, you will be supporting the Red Cross in their efforts to help the victims of this horrible act of nature.

Thank you <3
Sunshine