Witchy Wednesday: Witch Season is Approaching!

August 23, 2017 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

I haven’t done a Witchy Wednesday in an age, but it’s back with great news to share. Guys, I am so excited to tell you about an event that is still a few months away but offers so much promise and potential. It’s called ‘Season Of The Witch’ and promises a ‘Dark Bohemian’ event experience, and if that doesn’t get those witchy juices flowing for you then I don’t know what will! I’ve been longing for something like this in-world for what feels like forever. Pinch me, am I dreaming?!

In fact, I’ll tell you what’s seriously impressed me about this event so far though, and it’s not just the theme. It’s the fact that it’s being so perfectly planned even at these early stages. So much is already going on behind the scenes to ensure the best experience possible, there’s already a Facebook page and a website to get you into the spirit of the event. There’s even a Pinterest board and oh my days, it’s a veritable banquet upon a stick of witchy aesthetic goodness! Wanna know what’s even better? MEN ARE INCLUDED. Now, if you’re of a Pagan persuasion then you’ll probably realise that Witches can be male or female, it’s not a gender specific term. However, a lot of people outside of our kind don’t realise this at all, they assume that a male witch is a warlock (erm, no, not unless they want to use that term) or even worse adopt a ‘Men can’t be witches’ attitude. That’s not the case and it’s so refreshing to see that this is going to be reinforced at ‘Season Of The Witch’.

You know what else has got me frenzied with anticipation about this event? There’s even a wonderful in-world office to go and visit, and if you’re anything like me you’ll want to live there. Plus, if you join the group you’ll receive an information pack containing a wearable spellbook and a gorgeous pentacle to wear. There is even a Spotify playlist too, see what I mean about planning? Hot damn, this is how you make an event a success in-world!

Have I already said how excited I am? Yes, yes I have haven’t I, but to be fair they had me at ‘Dark Bohemian’. I mean, just look at this list of ideas and possibilities for designers to choose from, doesn’t it make you drool? (And look at the list of names who have already signed up..I’m going to burst with happiness!)

Anyway, if you want to know more then check out the website and I urge you to look at the Pinterest board too. Trust me when I say it is darkly magical in the very best way! IS IT OCTOBER YET?!!!! (No, Kitty, it isn’t)

WITCHY WEEK: ‘Bia’ by Baiastice

September 13, 2015September 13, 2015 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

Make no mistake guys, this latest round of COLLABOR88 has been an absolute winner. Of course I’m bound to say that I suppose, seeing as the blog is called Kittywitchin’, I’m ‘The Kittywitch’, and the theme for C88 this month is ‘Muted Coven’, but even if I hadn’t been of a Pagan persuasion I genuinely feel it would have been a runaway success owing to the quality of the items.

In fact, I get the feeling that the COLLABOR88 team have taken some time out to think and assess what works and what doesn’t about the event. For a start, the majority of the items this month are bang on target with regards to the brief. I didn’t spot any startling faux pas as I have in previous months (Oh the theme is this month is flowery sparkles? I know, let’s have latex underwear, that works! (Said no-one ever)) The content itself including all the clothing, accessories and builds are astonishing which probably explains why it has taken me days to get in. It’s absolutely rammed (you stand a better chance of getting into THE ARCADE than C88!) C88 doesn’t do duff stuff but this month it’s in another league.

So because it’s all things witchy, and it’s all things bloody fabulous as far as this blog is concerned, AND it’s my RL birthday tomorrow (13th) I’ve decided to celebrate with WITCHY WEEK!

I’m not even an official C88 blogger (and they sure as hell don’t need the publicity!) BUT when you find things that are so far up your street as to be in your pantry pinching your crisps then YES I’m going to blog about them. (Edit: I do sometimes wonder what people who aren’t from the UK and/or used to my sense of humour actually think about the nonsense I write upon these pages; for that I apologise but what can I say, when I’m enthusiastic I verbalise drivel by the bucket load. You’ve probably noticed!)

So let’s begin ‘Witchy Week’ with something absolutely stonking, the ‘Bia’ collar and dress from Sissy Pessoa, the creative Goddess behind BAIASTICE.

To be honest, I don’t know what I can write about Sissy and her label that I haven’t said before. Her work is consistently outstanding and she’s been a right little trailblazer carving out her own niche in the SECOND LIFE fashion world with her consistently breath-taking designs. Sissy makes some of the best high-end fashion on the grid, and each release is as satisfying as the last. She uses the best textures, applies the most exquisite details and shapes each creation with style and panache that is only mastered by a handful of creators on the grid.

Her latest release, ‘Bia’, has all the hallmarks of a SECOND LIFE classic. This gown and accompanying collar scream haute couture with a twisted edge, yet are so adaptable that they could be worn at a Christmas Ball, a Yuletide extravaganza or a Halloween party. The paler versions of the gown lend themselves perfectly to weddings, and because this is ‘Witchy Week’ let me draw attention to the fact that any of the colours of the dresses could be worn by High Priestesses at Sabbat gatherings. Imagine casting a circle wearing this ensemble, oosh!

Here I am wearing two examples of the gown. I’ve chosen the brown version for my main shot because it feels very ‘Mabonesque’; by that I mean that we’re approaching Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, and it struck me that this ensemble would be perfect for that. The red would be wonderful for Yule, although I feel it would actually be more appropriate to a Pagan fire festival such as Beltane.You can wear these gowns without the long skirt, which adds a nifty twist to an already near perfect ensemble, and the matching collars with their feather embellishment really finish off the look.

To further enhance this beautiful ensemble I decided to add my ‘Moonriver’ hair by VANITY HAIR, along with the latest skin from ZOUL CREATIONS. This is ‘Brianna’ and by gum she’s gorgeous. As always, not only has SHANTIA SOULSTAR created a perfect base-skin, but the makeups are sublime, whichever lipstick and eyeshadow you choose to compliment your appearance. I really love the brows on this skin as well; they’re not overly thin and have a delicate arch which really sets the whole eye area off. The lipsticks really enhance the pout as well and each one is a real treat to wear.

I don’t think this is the last time you’ll see me wearing this particular outfit during ‘Witchy Week’, and I hope you’ve been inspired to try to get into COLLABOR88 and pick up this glorious gown. I promise you won’t regret it.

Kitty wears:

BODY: Maitreya ‘Lara’ V3.4

SKIN: Zoul Creations ‘Brianna’ SK3 Dk Brows chA

(First pic: Bronze 03 eyeshadow, Orangey 3 lip)

(Second Pic: Black 03 eyeshadow, Red 03 lip)

EYES: IKON ‘Triumph Eyes’ Armor / ‘Hope Eyes’ Crimson

LASHES: Hush ‘Flirt’

EARS: Mandala ‘Steking’ Series 5 (Pixie)

HAIR: Vanity Hair ‘Moonriver’ (Materials Ombres) (Crown worn with red ensemble was a free gift at the Vintage & Cool Event)

DRESS/COLLAR: Baiastice ‘Bia’ Dress and Collar (available in ten colours; Kitty wears Choco and Red in these shots) COLLABOR88

Witchy Wednesdays: Twig Star Light Group Gift From Tarte

December 18, 2014July 13, 2015 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

As symbols go I’m probably right in saying that there’s nothing more prominent than a Pentagram for declaring your witchy inclinations.

Of course, a Pentagram doubles up as a star too and oftentimes you can use star shapes as a way of subtly declaring your beliefs. This Group Gift from Tarte is, of course, completely fitting for the festive season, but once Yule has ended you could keep this light glowing as a focal point in your virtual home. It’s really lovely isn’t it? The group is free to join too, so it’s a proper treat (as are most things from Tarte) It’s difficult to find inspired mesh pieces to decorate your witchy abode in Second Life, but I think this is an absolute must-have and the fact that it’s made from twigs adds an extra bit of elemental oomph.

Be sure that you don’t miss out on this! Click HERE to visit Tarte, join the group and check the notices for this fabulous gift.

Witchy Wednesdays: A Kitty Rant…

November 5, 2014 by Lisa Millar ♥ 0 Leave a Comment

For today’s Witchy Wednesday I was going to feature a couple of nice items that I’d spotted at quite a well-known Wiccan store, but instead I’m going to talk about IP infringement and copyright theft, because it is pretty rampant amongst the in-world Pagan community, and no one seems to be addressing it.

Seek out a Pagan/Witchy store in Second Life and you will probably find some textures there being used on posters, pictures and even rugs that shouldn’t be. Some of the most recognisable names in esoteric art are being ripped off, probably unbeknownst to them, and I’m sick of it.

Last night I received a notecard from a store to announce some new items for sale, and off I trotted to take a look. Within seconds I’d found texture rips of images by artists like Anne Stokes and Lisa Parker. There were other images too by artists I am not familiar with, but you can bet your bottom dollar that none of these people had given permission for their work to be used in this way. They may not even be aware that it can be.

As long as I’ve been in Second Life I’ve seen textures used upon items for sale that aren’t legitimately sourced. It’s nothing new sadly, and is a difficult issue to fight, as I am sure we all know by now. But visit areas of interest particular to those of us of a Pagan/Wiccan persuasion and the volume seems to increase tenfold. It seems that the stores aimed at our demographic just can’t exist without ripping off someone else’s work.

It seems strange to me that the in-world Pagan community hasn’t been more strident in insisting that people take a stand against this, and yet many of the well-known markets and meeting places are drowning in stolen imagery. It’s incredibly depressing. There are content creators in-world who are Pagan and create original content for sale, for example Robin Sojourner, so if she can do it, why can’t everybody else?

And therein lies the rub; despite the spiritual beliefs that we as a community hold so dear, there is always someone trying to make a fast buck. Or in this case a fast Linden. And for that we should be ashamed.

Please, don’t buy from such places. As tempting as it may be, it’s not right that someone can profit from someone elses artistic creations. Even if it is just a few Lindens, it doesn’t matter. Making money from someone else’s hard work is unethical, plain and simple. I’m also mindful of the Wiccan Rede applying to this situation too.

I don’t want to name and shame, that’s not really my style, but I do think we should take action. Therefore I’m asking that as a reader of this blog, if you spot textures and artwork being abused in this way challenge it. Often people don’t think that they’re doing any harm by reproducing works without permission, and feel embarrassed when you point it out to them. But there are some people that just don’t care, and it’s only by standing together and making a point about these actions that we can make a difference. It’s my firm belief that our sacred in-world communities will not suffer through this, but become stronger.

Think of all the original mesh creations and textures that should be used instead, and how they can enrich the virtual world that we call home. A tantalising prospect indeed…let’s make it happen.