Christmas Treasures

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Second Life, everywhere I go. And I’ve been working like an elf to decorate my home for the season. Like any child hunting for hidden presents, I’ve been tracking down a few special items for my house. I thought I’d share these treasures as my gift to you.

Naturalistic trees, sparkling with twinkling lights or candles, are available at Tesh Gardens (slurl). The lights are touch activated, and the trees come in a variety of sizes, including a charming tabletop version. The addition of matching wreaths and evergreen swags tie the elements of a room together or just add great accents. Scattered around the store are several other decorative items, such as brass trees and amaryllis topiaries, that look great on mantles, hearths and tabletops. Hamish Stuart, the owner, also has some lovely freebies – decorative gift boxes and bags that can be copied (right click the item, select “more” from the wheel, and then “take a copy”).

Another garden center, Keep It Green (slurl), has Western Red Cedar trees and wreaths. I love this texture because it reminds me the trees around the house where I grew up. Creator Teizus Miles says this cedar is fast growing, so she doesn’t feel bad cutting them down. Also available are packages of Christmas ornaments, which you can use to decorate your own trees. These ornaments are transferable, which can be fun when hosting a tree decorating party (guests’ abilities to place items depend on the property’s permissions).

While my main focus is on interiors today, I did want to mention the gnarled sweetheart arches that line the Christmas walkway at Keep It Green. The branches are so heavy with snow, I expect it to feel a plop on my head as I walk under them. If the detailing weren’t so well done, they’d be sappy (sorry, bad pun). Instead they are so crisply rendered, they are simply charming.

More ornaments can be found at Christmas Bliss (slurl), but these are a bit more unusual – they are musical. Each ornament is loaded with a different holiday classic, ranging from Bing Crosby’s “White Christmas” to Nat King Cole’s “The Christmas Song” to Jose Feliciano’s “Feliz Navidad.” The ornaments come in a variety of textures, so you can find something that suits your taste both musically and visually. The majority of items at Christmas Bliss are musical, including bouquets of Christmas roses, Faberge-inspired eggs. and even sailing ships.

Serendipity Studios (slurl) has a gorgeous Christmas tree as well, featuring delicate foliage and lights. Tucked under the tree are Christmas-themed music boxes, which, of course, play carols. If you are looking for something a bit more unusual, you might find the Pere Noël Grandfather Clocks appealing. They are customizable, so you can tweak the look to your heart’s content.

Finally, we come to my favorite treasure – the personalized Christmas stockings from Beck’s Christmas Decorations (slurl). Make the purchase from the dozen or so available styles, send the notecard off to Miles Beck, and within 24 hours, a stocking with the desired name stitched onto it is delivered. And they are transferable, so you can give them as gifts. He will also personalize flags and tree skirts. You can also buy the items without the personalization.

The new issue of Prim Perfect is now out. It contains lots of Christmas decorating ideas and tips.

Happy Holidays and enjoy your shopping.