Designing Worlds looks back to … a longstanding roleplay estate in Second Life – Avilion!

Avilion in 2012, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

You can watch it on this blog, and you can also see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo Archive channel at: https://vimeo.com/516465206. And you can join the special Watch Party (at 2pm SLT, Monday 25th February) in our studio on Garden of Dreams.

#DW152 Exploring Avilion Feb 13th 2012 from Saffia Widdershins on Vimeo.

Originally a special Designing Worlds for Valentine’s Day Eve, Saffia and Elrik visit the extensive regions of Avilion in Second Life, a complex of mediaeval-themed roleplay, residential and communal areas with an extremely strong sense of community.

Avilion in 2012, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

The regions date back to 2006, and are home to the famous and extremely romantic Avilion Ballroom. Saffia and Elrik also explore combat areas, visit a gypsy encampment and elf circle, and discover the Avilion Library, where the history of the community is maintained.

And, of course, no visit to Avilion would be complete without a visit to the famous ballroom – something that our Prim Perfect readers voted to see included in their favourite Valentine locations.

Avilion in 2012, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Thankfully, unlike many other locations we have visited, Avilion is still with us – an estate of seven associated regions. You can visit the information point on Avilion here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Avilion/248/128/22

It makes for a fascinating and beautiful show – so do come and join us at 2pm or watch online!

Avilion in 2012, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

 

 

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Designing Worlds visits the Home and Garden Expo – Part 2!

Designing Worlds Cafe at the Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

In our new episode of Designing Worlds, we are paying a second visit to the Home and Garden Expo. The Expo ran from 27th February to 21st March, and was a fabulous event with amazing displays of homes and furnishings, gardens and landscaping, and a range of art displays.

Join us at 2pm today Monday 29th March  when you can see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo channel at: https://vimeo.com/channels/dworlds. Or join us for our Watch Party in the Designing Worlds studios in the Garden of Dreams at 2pm SLT.

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

In this show, we explore the beautiful Designing Worlds cafe, in a building created by Danny Bourne, and landscaped and decorated for us by undercoverlady, visit the fun location of Waffleville (created for tiny.dinkie/petite designers and shoppers) with Kaerri Rae, organiser of the Expo, and talk to Stingray Raymaker, Ambassador for the American Cancer Society in Second Life.

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

And we also take a look at the Home Decorating Contest, talking to four of the contestants: Prokofy Neva, Terra Tepper, Madison Granger and Corvi Ashdene. Wildstar Beaumont has also supplied one of his wonderful slideshows of the decorated homes too! To find out the results … see this post!

Houses in the Decorating Contest at the Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Finally, we take part in the beautiful lantern ceremony.

It makes for a gorgeous show, so do tune in or join us at 2pm SLT at the Watch Party in Garden of Dreams!

And if you missed last week’s show – which was the first part of our visit to the Home and Garden Expo, you can see it here:

DW431 – Home & Garden Expo 2021 – I from Richard Elen on Vimeo.

To find out more about the Home and Garden Expo, visit the website: https://slhomeandgardenexpo.wordpress.com/ – and discover how you can be part of it next year!

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

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Designing Worlds visits the Home and Garden Expo Part 1

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

In our new episode of Designing Worlds, we visit the Home and Garden Expo which ran from 27th February to 21st March, and was a fabulous event with amazing displays of homes and furnishings, gardens and landscaping, and a range of art displays.

Join us at 2pm today Monday 22nd March  when you can see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo channel at: https://vimeo.com/channels/dworlds. Or join us for our Watch Party in the Designing Worlds studios in the Garden of Dreams at 2pm SLT.

In this show, we talk to Kaerri, the organiser of the Expo, talk to Danny Bourne or reBourne prefabs, a popular designer who has returned to Second Life after a long hiatus (and who could be seen on last week’s archive show), and see a range of exhibits, talking to some of their designers – Christiana of Needful Prims, silkiss of oobidoo, and Mizou Vavoom of Carpe Diem Design.

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

We also have a whistlestop tour of some of the places that really caught Saffia’s eye as she raced around the Expo very early each morning performing rolling restarts on the regions (or, as she referred to it, taking the regions for their early morning showers!), and, of course, a glorious slideshow from Wildstar Beaumont. Finally, we end with the traditional lantern ceremony that marks each day of the Expo – as it has done since 2012.

It makes for a fun-filled and well-packed show, so do tune in or join us at 2pm SLT at the Watch Party in Garden of Dreams!

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

To find out more about the Home and Garden Expo, visit the website: https://slhomeandgardenexpo.wordpress.com/ – and discover how you can be part of it next year!

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Next week, in Part 2, we’ll be looking at the Designing Worlds cafe, created by undercoverlady, exploring the role of the tinies in their own village of Waffleville, looking at the beautiful houses decorated for the Home Decorating contest (and talking to some of the contestants), and talking to Stingray Raymaker, Ambassador for the American Cancer Society.

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Another show not to miss!

Home and Garden Expo, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

 

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Designing Worlds looks back to … the early work of Pitsch Parx and Danny Bourne!

Danny Bourne’s House, with the interior design by Pitsch Parx

Join Designing Worlds at 2pm SLT Monday 15th March for this week’s show from the archives which goes right back to January 2011. The Second Life Home and Garden Expo is happening at present (running until March 21st – see more here: https://slhomeandgardenexpo.wordpress.com/) and some notable designers from the past have returned, including Pitsch Parx and Danny Bourne. This show is a salute to a beautiful house and terrific interior design that the two of them created.

#113 Designing a Second life Home with Pitsch Parx – 31st January 2011 from Saffia Widdershins on Vimeo.

You can watch it on this blog, and you can also see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo Archive channel at: https://vimeo.com/373065980. And you can join the special Watch Party (at 2pm SLT, Monday 25th February) in our studio on Garden of Dreams. Note that since US clocks have gone forward, this will be an hour earlier for everyone else!

Danny Bourne’s House, with the interior design by Pitsch Parx

We met pitsch Parx of UrbanizeD, whose interior design concept this beautiful home was, and he gave us a guided tour of the house. We will also met Danny Bourne, the creator of the building, and Charlene Trudeau, owner and manager of SkyBeam Estates.

The house attracted attention in the blogsphere at the time, and you can read more about it here on Chic at Phil’s Place, but today viewers will have a chance to see it in detail! Incidentally, Chic Aeon, the writer of that blog post, is one of the contestants in the Home and Garden Decoration Contest at this year’s Expo – you can go and discover all fourteen houses here!

Danny Bourne’s House, with the interior design by Pitsch Parx

All in all, I think you will see from this show why the Home and Garden Expo, and all of us here on Designing Worlds, are so excited to welcome the return of Pitsch Parx and Danny Bourne! So do tune in or join us at 2pm SLT at the Watch Party in Garden of Dreams!

Photographs by PJ Trenton and Alaex Aeon

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Designing Worlds looks back to … the second Home and Garden Expo in 2009!

Home and Garden Expo – May 2009!

Join Designing Worlds at 2pm SLT Monday 8th March for this week’s show from the archives which goes right back to May 2009. The Second Life Home and Garden Expo is happening at present (running until March 21st – see more here: https://slhomeandgardenexpo.wordpress.com/) but we have our show from the SECOND Home and Garden Expo, way back in 2009.

You can watch it on this blog, and you can also see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo Archive channel at: https://vimeo.com/371353284. And you can join the special Watch Party (at 2pm SLT, Monday 25th February) in our studio on Garden of Dreams.

#041 The second Home, Garden and Patio Expo – and the very first Designing Worlds show! 6th May 2009 from Saffia Widdershins on Vimeo.

This was the first episode of Designing Worlds, the rebranding of MetaMakeover, as our partners SLCN changed over to being Treet TV. Appropriately enough, this episode saw a visit to the opening of the second Home, Garden and Patio Expo which that year covered four sims – twice the size of the 2008 Expo. Our sister publication Prim Perfect had a pavilion at the show where they’ll be showcasing new designers as part of their Prim Perfect Pathfinders project – and you can read about the show in much more detail here: http://bit.ly/32lAidp

Home and Garden Expo – May 2009!

There are quite a few changes from that show to the Expo this year – as you’ll be able to see in future episodes, as we are broadcasting two shows from this year’s Expo later this season. But, for now, relax and enjoy The Way We Were!

 

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Designing Worlds explores One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021

Poetry and Prose Area, One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

In our new episode of Designing Worlds, we visit the fantastic event that was One Billion Rising 2021, held on February 14th. For the ninth year, men and women in Second Life joined activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and people across the world to Rise, Resist and Unite as a show of unity, individual strength, and the need for change – to confront the devastating statistic that 1 in 3 women around the world will be raped or beaten in her lifetime – that’s One Billion Women and Girls.

Art Installation by Jaz, One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Join us at 2pm today Monday 1st March  when you can see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo channel at: https://vimeo.com/channels/dworlds. Or join us for our Watch Party in the Designing Worlds studios in the Garden of Dreams at 2pm SLT.

Landscape designed by Eclair Martinel, One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

We talk to the organisers of the event (and Saffia was one of them!), Briony Writer, Dawny Daviau, Kess Crystal, Adele Ward and AvaJean Westland. We learn about the vital role of volunteers, the role of dance and music, and the importance of the landscaping – including the #MeToo Forest and the regions, decorated by Krystali Rabeni, Eclair Martinek, Dawny Daviau and Kess Crystal. And we look at the beautiful stage, created by Kilik Lekvoda, all following the special theme of this year’s OBR, Rising Gardens.

Hall for Heroes, One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

We discuss the art installations, and we take a look at these, talking to Jaz, one of the creators, as well as visit the moving “I Rise” photo installation and the amazing Heroes’ Pavilion with its contents created and curated by AvaJean Westland.

“I Rise” Photo Installation, One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

It’s a very impressive show, so do tune in or join us at 2pm SLT at the Watch Party in Garden of Dreams!

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Art Installation crated by Lampithaler, One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

To find out more about One Billion Rising in Second Life, visit the website.

On the Stage at One Billion Rising in Second Life 2021, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

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Designing Worlds looks back to … the wonderful cyberpunk world of Insilico!

Insilico

Join Designing Worlds at 2pm SLT Monday 15th February for this week’s show from the archives which goes right back to October 2011, as we explore the beauty and mysteries of the cyberpunk city of Insilico!

#DW140 Exploring the mysteries of Insilico – Oct 27th 2011 from Saffia Widdershins on Vimeo.

You can watch it on this blog, and you can also see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo Archive channel at: https://vimeo.com/382965949. And you can join the special Watch Party (at 2pm SLT, Monday 25th February) in our studio on Garden of Dreams.

We’ll be exploring some of the dark and mysterious areas of this city and asking … “Is it safe?”

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Designing Worlds explores the Wonders of Winter in Second Life!

A Wizard’s Winter

In our new episode of Designing Worlds, Elrik and Saffia set out to explore some of the wonderful winter regions that you can find on the Second Life grid this winter! And we have news of the fabulous Designing Worlds Ball, too!

Join us at 2pm today Monday 14th December  when you can see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo channel at: https://vimeo.com/channels/dworlds. Or join us for our Watch Party in the Designing Worlds studios in the Garden of Dreams at 2pm SLT.

Angel Manor

We talk to Kaya Angel of Angel Manor about the special winter landscapes he has created for his region, with a host of activities and events, and Saffia visits the special winter region created by Tymus Tenk and Truck Meredith of Calas Galadhon, which has a gorgeous pavilion, activities and events – and a whole fantasy wonderland in the sky!

Calas Galadhon Christmas

We also travel around the grid to encounter The Land of Snowflakes, created by Xanthe Firehawk, a traditional Christmas environment; the very wintery and beautiful Distant Edge, landscaped by Bridget Twig and Remuera Seetan. We explore A Wizard’s Winter, where you can ride on broomsticks and explore a stunning beautiful village, and we explore a stunning four-region winter Mountain complex, created by Conte Alchemi – and even try to come back down again …

And Wildstar Beaumont has some beautiful images to share of the Christmas Expo, now sadly finished.

Christmas Expo 2020, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

It’s a fabulous show, so do tune in at 2pm, or join us in the Designing Worlds studio on Garden of Dreams!

Here are the places we visited:
The Land of Snowflakes:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Haven%20Woods/59/211/2001
Distant Edge:  https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Dreamworld%20Mermaid/158/71/22/
A Wizard’s Winter:  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Coral%20Cape/25/50/28
Angel Manor: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Angel%20Manor/9/184/21
The Mountain: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Homewood/42/203/32
Callas Galadhon’s Winter Region: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sincere%20Estates/117/117/27

Distant Edge

And don’t forget …
Linden Labs Winter Wonderland (which we visited on our last show): https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Winter Wonderland 5/113/7/30/
and
The Dickens Project, featured here on the Prom Perfect blog: https://primperfect.net/2020/12/14/explore-the-world-of-the-christmas-carol-with-the-dickens-project/

 

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Designing Worlds looks back to … the dieselpunk magnificence of Seraph City!

Seraph City, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Join Designing Worlds at 2pmSLT Monday 7th December for this week’s show from the archives which goes right back to March 2014, when we we paid a final visit to the beautiful dieselpunk region of Seraph City.

#DW224 The Dieselpunk World of Seraph City – March 3rd 2014 from Saffia Widdershins on Vimeo. You can watch it on this blog, and you can also see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo Archive channel at: https://vimeo.com/382965949. And you can join the special Watch Party (at 2pm SLT, Monday 7th December) in our studio on Garden of Dreams.

Seraph City, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

We tour some of the beautiful builds in the city – and also talk about how episodes of The Blackened Mirror were filmed there – and were the basis of some popular games during the first season of the show.

Seraph City, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Sadly, a few days after we filmed here, the owner announced his intention of converting the sim into a private region. Already the name has been changed and many of the iconic buildings have gone (including the Hawkesmoor Apartment buildings which we visit). Obviously, we had no idea that this was going to happen when we filmed the show – and nor did the Estate Manager, Edward Pearse, who was our escort.

Seraph City, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

At the time, we thought long and hard about broadcasting this, but decided to go ahead, even though the show was more an elegy to Seraph City than an invitation to become part of a community. Of course, six years later, we have a lot of elegies in our Archives!

Seraph City, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

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Designing Worlds talks to the Lindens about Stilt Homes, Special Designs, uplifting to the Cloud … and more (including a forthcoming snowfight)

Futuristic – one of Linden Labs turnkey designs, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

In our new episode of Designing Worlds, we sit down for a chat with Patch and Brett Linden, about recent happenings in and future plans for Second Life. And we cover a wide range of topics – with some interesting side trips!

Patch and Brett Linden, in conversation with Saffia and Elrik, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Join us at 2pm today Monday 30th November  when you can see the show on the Designing Worlds Vimeo channel at: https://vimeo.com/channels/dworlds. Or join us for our Watch Party in the Designing Worlds studios in the Garden of Dreams at 2pm SLT.

Patch and Brett Linden, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

We talk to Brett Linden, VP of Marketing for Linden Lab and Patch Linden, Vice President of Product Operations for Linden Lab in a wide ranging discussion that covers the Uplift to the Cloud, now largely completed, and – now that new land is once again an option – the forthcoming Linden Homes release of Stilt Homes.

The Stilt Homes, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

We also discuss the impact of the pandemic on Second Life and how the Lab has handled the significant influx of new and returning residents as the virtual environment has become increasingly important, including the availability of “turnkey” educational and conference environments that users can adapt and configure from a range of available designs.

Academic Campus 4 – one of Linden Labs turnkey designs, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

Wildstar Beaumont gives us a look around Rosehaven in the autumn and finally, we look ahead to winter treats the Linden have planned, with a visit to Winter Wonderland … and news of a planned snowfight. Linden Lab versus the Residents – bring it on!

The Dino – one of Linden Labs turnkey designs, photographed by Wildstar Beaumont

It’s a really interesting discussion – with peeks at parts of the grid you may not have seen – so do tune in or join us at 2pm SLT at the Watch Party in Garden of Dreams!

 

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