By now you may have heard of the model Rosie Mac.

The perfect way to celebrate the beginning of the spring season is the Avalon Spring Faery Fayre and Ball in Glastonbury. The event is organised by Karen Kay, editor of Fae Magazine. Although I have long been a subscriber to this faery tome as it feeds my lighter faery-fantasy side with glitter and gossamer wings, I had only attended one of her events when she held a London Faery Ball. As you’ll see from her event calendar she hosts a number of faery workshops, faery fayres and faery balls (is it just me who can’t say the phrase “faery balls” without imagining with amusement what’s beneath those leaf-hewn breeches?)

You don’t have to be a Thai monk, a Yakuza mafia member or a brave Samoan warrior to get a tattoo now a days. Let’s face it, whether it has to do with religion, power, bravery, belonging to a gang, rank, from China to India, from Egypt to Great Britain, people have always had a passion for marking themselves with symbols that often mean more to them than just a decoration. Tattoos – why do we love them so much? Are they not just a colouring on our skin, a simple visual confection? Or do they mark our souls as well? Perhaps even a little too deep? I’m not so sure about that. That’s why I decided to explore this topic a little further. And what better way to do it than to talk to a professional tattoo artist?

We were transported via a tunnel deep below the sea to another land, one where magical beasts appeared as visions for one night only. Transported back in time amidst the grand chambers and ballroom of Concert Noble in Brussels (a palace of a place commissioned by Leopold II in 1873 and decorated in Louis XVI style), to an age that didn’t exist – the world of The Swan Princess.

Something really exciting has come to London’s V&A Museum. Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty explores the work of one of Britain’s most influential modern Gothic fashion designers and it’s the biggest one so far. What’s more, its been arranged in partnership with Swarovski – the company who create the exquisite stones that accent Alchemy’s sparkling jewellery and glassware ranges.

Solar Eclipse 1999 by Luc Viatour (www.Lucnix.be)

This week people in the UK and parts of Europe will see their most spectacular solar eclipse since August 1999.

The Alchemist interviews Natasha Scharf, author of ‘The Art of Gothic’: Part 2.

In which Natasha, already relaxed and comfortable with her erudite responses to the stimulating, though more rudimentary questions asked of her so far, is taxed a little further for her opinions with some slightly more sensitive enquiries…

The Alchemist interviews Natasha Scharf, author of ‘The Art of Gothic’: Part 1.

Amongst many exceptionally original, talented and inspiring artists, Alchemy Studios are also featured in Natasha’s latest and lavishly illustrated book, ‘The Art Of Gothic’. And reading through the compelling and illuminating narrative provoked several questions, including one or two subjective, philosophical ones.

The Alchemist managed to nail-down Natasha when seen at a public event in London, and Natasha obligingly elucidated:

Q: What inspired you to believe that this subject needed a new book creating for it?

February is the month of love – or so the Hallmark-hijacked Christian festival would have you believe

Fans of Gothic cinema have been left salivating at the prospect of a toothsome new horror film from Guillermo del Toro,