Steps and Stairs appreciation society

Let's go places. Let's climb up, up, up and see where that gets us. Every image is a gateway. A way to get on the eternal staircase. And while you are traversing the steps, pause and look around you. See azure bays from the windows of whitewashed island villas. Explore the backrooms and underbelly of an auditorium. Overgrown steps of stone. Quaint porch gardens. Ancient places where you would have to watch where you go, lest you stumble. Staircases that lead to little pockets of wonder. If you hear the call to adventure, step outside yourself. You'll never know where it might lead. Thanks to the creator of this Facebook group for opening the door to thousands of steps that lead anywhere. 

Members: 11.7k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: None

Go here to visit or join.

Image credit: NakNakNak on Pixabay. 

Retro Horror Paperback Art

 Horror is not everyone's cup of blood. Even though I do read horror, I have to admit that I am also rightly cautious of it. But scrolling through the media of this Facebook group, which focuses on the retro cover art of horror paperbacks, was immensely interesting. The covers feature household names along with great unknowns. There are anthologies, pulp magazines, foreign-langeuage covers of well-known titles, franchises such as the Friday the 13th series and also rarities by authors better known for other fields (musician Serge Tankian) or other genres (George RR Martin). Although some are definitely cringe, I found it really interesting to look at the sheer diversity of the artwork - and to enjoy the viceral realness of the depictions. With many images you can see very clearly that someone drew this. Of particular interest, was the frequent use of surrealism, an art form that blends seamlessly with horror elements. If you have an appreciation for visual horror or are simply looking for obscure book recommendations in the genre, this group might be well worth your time.

Members: 59.5k, at the time of writing

Trigger warnings: Disturbing and/or violent images.

Go here to visit or join. 

Susan Seddon Boulet

 Born of ex-pat British parents in Brazil, Susan Seddon Boulet brought a rich fusion of influences and inspirations to her art. Her early paintings are infused with a warm light that embodies the whimsy of exploration. Interacting with the divine, through all its incarnations and the disguises it wears. Later paintings shifted to the dubious denizens of the underworld as the artist struggled with her own mortality, but also included the promise of rebirth as personified by mythic figures such as Pegasus, born from the demise of the monstrous (and tragic) maiden Medusa. Compositions are dynamic and shimmer with strong emotional engagement. This Facebook Group shares and celebrates the uniqueness of her art. 

Members: 3.6k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None

Go here to visit or join. 

Stranded Knits

According to the description, stranded knits can be termed as any work that included at least two colors. It's that simple. Projects range from beanies, dog sweaters and doll garments, to cardigans, mittens, and socks. Great if you could persuade a loved one to play model, but that's not required. Post works in progress or yarn combos for inspiration. It's great to see how crafters blend their colors, but also what patterns they employ. If you love handcraft, this Facebook group is sure to give you plenty of good ideas for your wool stash.

Members: 81.9k, at the time of writing.

Trigger warnings: None.

Go here to visit or join. 

Footplate Memories

A few years ago, I did the University of Strathclyde's really excellent MOOC on the history of the railways in the UK, and remembering how the rich histories told in the comment section enhanced the overall experience, I'm really happy to discover that this group exists. The group is dedicated the people, places and above all, the engines of South Africa's railway service. If trainspotting is your thing, you will be most welcome to share your pictures of trains on the move, but there are also tributes to train drivers and stokers, historical photographs, memorabilia, custom locomotives and rail related events. A tribute to the magic of travelling by rail. 

Members: 53.4k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: A few posts (not many) are in Afrikaans.

Go here to visit or join. 

Haunted dolls, teddys and more

Oh, cool, I thought when I spotted this one. A niche paranormal rabbit hole. Probably full of stories. And yes, this did turn out to be really interesting. A few posts featured super-creepy stories about thrift store finds, and there are horror themed dolls that will put Chucky to shame. I'm talking about that ultra realistic, fanged baby doll with the red eyes of course. Some dolls are hauntingly beautiful, but there are also unexpected rarities I've never seen before, such as the vintage magic skin baby doll and the grandpa and grandma doll that seemed to attract a lot of bad karma. There were also one-eyed franken-teddies that were surprisingly cute anyway. There are a few links to other haunted media, and also a few horror themed dolls and jewelry items posted for sale. 

Members: 12.4k, at the time of writing.

Trigger Warnings: horror themed media

Go here to visit or join. 

The Mythic Café, with Charles de Lint & Company

 Earlier this month, the co-founder of one of my favorite Facebook groups passed away. Charles de Lint and MaryAnne Harris created Mythic cafe to draw together fans of his books and through her active role in this space, MaryAnn became the heart and soul of a community of fantasists looking for tiny pieces of magic in our mostly mundane world. It was a place to share art, talk about books, share mythic tales and find those places that could be gateways to urban magic and beyond. At those time, when Facebook seemed to be stuck in its more toxic moments, this group became a balm and a refuge. While it is currently infused with a sweet sadness, it still remains one of the most special online spaces I know and it has exerted no small influence on what continues to motivate my quest to find Facebook's best online communities. My heart-felt condolences to Charles (who is one of my favorite authors) and to everyone who loved her. Unlike most of the groups I have featured since reviving the blog, this is a private group.

Members: 8.4k, at the time of writing

Trigger Warnings: None.

Go here to request access.