I am always amazed how the Second Life community can come together to support another community in need. This weekend brings you the opportunity not once, but twice to reach into your pockets and give for a greater cause. Not only will your avatar look fantastic, but the person behind the screen will also feel great about themselves. Project Donate and Hair Fair both officially open on September 4th.

First lets talk in detail about the project that is very near and dear to my heart. Project Donate is an endeavor started by everyone’s favorite hair stylist, Mr. Truth Hawks himself. Over 150 content creators have come together to make a difference. All items on the sim during this event will have from 50% to 100% of the proceeds going directly to the UNICEF Pakistan Flood Crisis. Project Donate will run from Sept 4th to 19th.

Hair Fair also starts tomorrow and runs from Sept 4th to 19th. The charity for Hair Fair is Wigs for Kids. Before hitting the fair, you might want to take the time to join the Hair Fair Demo group where all of the designers involved are sending their demos so you have the option to try on the hair in the comfort of your own lag-free homes before hitting up the fair.

A big thank you to all those who organized and contributed items to both these events, making it not only a fun-filled shopping weekend, but a fulfilling one as well!

Credits:
*Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::AmbeR:: Ebony – Eagle by Iki Ikarus
*Hair: booN QPT129 hair by boo Nakamura (FOR HAIR FAIR)
*Dress: Prelude – Epine Bleue by Polaire Aeghin
*Tattoo: [HUZ TATS]-Henna Reborn by Hunain Bellic (FOR PROJECT DONATE)
Jewels: Sigma Jewels by Sofi Trenkins (FOR PROJECT DONATE)
*Pose: .:StoRin:. Something Cute by Annah Whitfield (FOR PROJECT DONATE)

*Promotional copies

Hair Fair begins in just a few days and the excitement is overwhelming. Unfortunately RL work has been kicking my ass so I haven’t had the time to really open all the boxes or even begin to sort. However, when I tried this flapper do on by Plurabelle Laszlo of Bliensen + MaiTai Hair, I was reminded of the roaring twenties. This is my quick tribute to the stylish, carefree and adventurous women of that era!

Credits:
*Skin: []::Tuli::[] Audrey (tone 1/br/fr) :: 02 by Tuli Asturias
*Hair: Bliensen + MaiTai Hair – Flashmans – Opium/DarkChocolate with Flapper Hair Corsage by Plurabelle Laszlo (FOR HAIR FAIR)
*Jewels: Dark Mouse by Mouse Mimistrobell
Dress: *Casa Del Shai* White Flamingo Fluff by Shai Delacroix
*Shoes: Maitreya Gold * Hana All Leathers by Onyx LeShelle
Cigarette: JCNY – Madame Couture, Cigarette and Holder ( Size – Long ) by JD Hansen
*Pose: Olive Juice by IsabellaGrace Baroque

*Promotional copies

Over the past few years I’ve taken quite a number of pictures of my avatar with her eyes closed and I’ve always gotten a lot of questions asking how I go about doing that. I’ve tried my best to explain it to everyone that has asked, but I’m not sure if I was clear enough so I thought I would just bite the bullet and go ahead and make a video tutorial outlining the procedure I use.

Here it is, if you have trouble viewing it here you can visit my youtube page:

This was my first time doing a video tutorial so I would love some feedback. Please let me know if I went too fast or didn’t give enough details because I am planning to do more video tutorials in the future so your feedback will be very helpful. After listening to myself I’ve already discovered that I say ummmmm a lot and plurked about it! LOL So definitely going to try not to do that in future tutorials.

This procedure that I use I actually learned from a video tutorial by Ryker Beck a few years ago which you can view here. I encourage you to do that because she has a lot more detail in her video that might be helpful.

EDIT: I just realized that it may be difficult for some people to either view or hear the video and I deeply apologize about that. I did not think of it before and I promise I will do my best to also write out the steps in my blog posts as well.

This is what I do when taking a picture with my eyes closed:

1. Remove any prim lashes.
2. Choose an eye makeup that has a lighter lid so when the eyes are closed they don’t look all black.
3. Hit the snapshot button and look for the freeze frame option (and select it) at the bottom of the snapshot preview box.
4. Reposition your image by using your mouse while you are still in freeze frame mode.
5. Select and deselect the freeze frame option continuously by using your mouse (or the space-bar on the keyboard) until you catch yourself in the middle of a blink. It takes a lot of patience but most of the time I get it within the first few tries.
6. Hit save to save your snapshot to disk :)

» You can view all of my current tutorials on my tutorials page.

Credits:
*Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::Yri:: Coffee – Dreamy HBBrown CL1 by Iki Ikarus
Hair: !lamb. Lost – Kit Kat by Lamb Bellic
Top: MichaMi: Kat (top) in Golden Brown by Milla Michinaga
Ring: MIEL MIA RING by Mika Nieuport
*Pose: Diesel Works by Rogan Diesel (From the Berrylicious Pose Set) :D

*Promotional copies

Also because I am SURE someone will ask me HOW I did this video tutorial, I used Camtasia Studio 7. :P

A big thank you to Mr. Truth Hawks for taking the time to organize this. If you are a blogger or designer and would like to take part in this event, please read the Project Donate blog for more information and add them as a contact on flickr! Thank you! <3

Project Donate – UNICEF Pakistan Flood Crisis Fund

Dear lovely SL merchant! <3

I know this is very short notice but this may be something we can do on a regular and ongoing basis. UNICEF are currently raising funds for the Pakistan Flood Crisis. Millions of people have been affected and thousands are without homes.

If you’d like to be part of this fund raising effort you could donate all or part of the proceeds of an item/s (I’d like to request at least 50% of your item/s – can be exclusive, existing, discounted whatever you like!) The point is to raise as much money as we can in the 2 week period.

I will be donating 100% of the proceeds of one hairstyle and doubling the amount raised off my item to go towards this cause. I’ll advertise the fund through my update group and list all the merchants involved. I have ordered a sim “Project Donate” from which you will vend your items (in addition to your own locations). You are free to landmark to your own stores from this location which will be entirely removed from my own sim.

I’ve created an account “Unicef Rainfall” which will collect the proceeds. Once you confirm you’d like to participate I’ll send out all necessary split scripts etc. You will also need a group space available to place your item/s.

Thank you for considering and hope to have you on board!

If you’d like to move forward just send Unicef Rainfall a notecard with your name, store, landmark…sorry this is all a bit informal at the moment :P

<3
Truth Hawks

UNICEF Project Application (Designers)

Your name:
Your brands name:
Your mainstore lm:
Any other designers within the brand:
How many items would you like to donate:
At what percentage (going to the charity:
Any other notes:

Please be warned you will need a group space!

UNICEF Project Application (Bloggers)

Your name:
Your blogs url:
How long has your blog been active:
Will you be available on the 3rd of September for pre-event access?:
Have you blogged about this event already?:

Please be warned you will need a group space!

The skin I am wearing in this post is free from Dutch Touch if you are in the VIP group. Iki Ikarus is currently developing this skin and would love to get some feedback. Read the Dutch Touch blog for more information.

Credits:
Skin: Dutch Touch
*Hair: Tiny Bird
*Eyes: LeLutka

Promotional copies

“The essence of existence is the magic of being needed and helping others in their time of need.”

Please give generously, your assistance is needed.
Severe flooding in Pakistan
How to help Pakistan’s Flood Victims
Project Donate – For SL residents that want to help!

Thank you. ♥

Credits:
*Skin: !Imabee: Roots – Serene – Untouched / DKbrow / by Brendon Papp
Eyes: Poetic Color Eyes – quicksilver – by Lano Ling
*Hair: Exile Roselle/brownsugar by Kavar Cleanslate
Necklace: *GJK*Strawberry choker by Ginza Kohime (Thank you Mr. Jefferson <3)
*Top: *SiSSi* Moxy Midriff Tank Red by Sissi String
*Pose: !BANG by Trieste Minuet

*Promotional copies

Location: Sol Mananero

Although Rogan Diesel is a big huge brat and threatens me in IMs quite often, I find him to be one of the most talented posers on the grid. Diesel Works poses are by far my most favorite and usually the first ones I look for when starting a new blog post. They are very well done, stylish, versatile, fit me just perfectly and most important: he makes them so convenient by putting a fancy pose stand with the poses in each set. I usually end up just rezzing his pose stands from his most current sets and using those for my pictures. So when I accumulated images of poses I would like to see inworld, I knew just the poser to harass to make them!

Ad by Rogan Diesel

I gotta admit, I am very happy with the results. These are just the right mix of stylishness and sexyness I was looking for. But best of all, some of them are absolutely perfect for more of my shameless ass shots! YAY!

I hope you have the chance to check them out! I adore them, thank you so much for doing such a great job Rogan! <3

Credits:
For the picture Sol Mananero:
*Skin: -Glam Affair- SofiaV2- Dark – 02 by aida Ewing
*Hair: >TRUTH< Kami - espresso by Truth Hawks (There’s a sale @ Truth till September 3rd!)
Swimsuit: MichaMi: Yolanda Swimsuit in Gray by Milla Michinaga
*Bangles: *BOOM* Bangled Mess Platinum by Aranel Ah
Earrings: [MANDALA] Milky Way Earring/Polly White by kikunosuke Eel
Shoes: [Gos] Flip Flop – Khaki size 0 by Gospel Voom

For the Berrylicious Ad by Rogan Diesel:
*Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::Yri:: Coffee – Eagle HBBrown CL1 by Iki Ikarus
Hair: W&Y AGATA Model 05 by yukitan Farrjones
Outfit: :bijou: Lioness [white]
*Jewels: {Zaara} by Zaara Kohime
Prim feet: SLink Jolie Pied Barefeet Flat by Siddean Munro

*Poses: Diesel Works by Rogan Diesel! :P

*Promotional Copies

I am loving my new hair from Vanity Hair. They have big and outrageous styles that can really add drama to your outfit.

Credits:
*Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::Yri:: Coffee – Smokey HBBrown CL1 by Iki Ikarus
Hair: !VANITY Hair! Zingara! Afro Black by Tabata Jewell
*Dress: boho – Anya Baby Doll – Noir by redsoledrea GossipGirl
*Shoes: [[[ SWANSONG ]]] Mina Stud Sandal – Driftwood by AtomicSparkle Skytower
*Bangles: *BOOM* Bangled Mess Platinum by Aranel Ah
*Earrings: *BOOM* Ion Earrings -Black by Aranel Ah
*Poses: {.:exposeur:.} by RubyStarlight Writer

*Promotional copies

There is nothing like the look and feel of a delicious new Maitreya Gold shoe. This new release, Hana, is exceptional. It comes in animal skin, leather and patent with a variety of colors in each style to choose from. Take a look at Vega’s gorgeous post with these shoes. I am wearing brown leather in this post, you’ll see more of these shoes in different colors and prints on my blog shortly!

Recently I’ve gotten a lot of IMs from you guys asking me about my latest images with all the shadows. I just wanted you to know that these are SL shadows, I am not photoshopping them in. To find out how to turn on SL shadows, check out Banana Vella’s detailed post here.

Credits:
*Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::Yri:: Coffee – Eagle HBBrown CL1 by Iki Ikarus
Hair: !VANITY Hair! Samsara! Soil by Tabata Jewell
Earrings: Kraftika Earring No131 by Anuitka Barthelmess
*Tattoo: [HUZ TATS]-D’jango-White-NoFace by Hunain Bellic
*Skirt: *BOOM* Verie Mini Skirt (Red) by Aranel Ah
Jacket: [LeL.Ultra]-Postal_Jacket_beige by Azufr3 Catteneo
*Shoes: Maitreya Gold * Hana All Leathers by Onyx LeShelle
*Poses: !BANG by Trieste Minuet

*Promotional copies

Every time there is a new skin release from Dutch Touch I get so excited, but can you blame me? This is the latest from Dutch Touch, Yri. Yri was just released today and Iki Ikarus has also set out a little group gift for the lucky ones in the VIP group.

This morning I saw this sexy Elate dress on the LE.LOOK! blog and I ran over there to get it. It’s fun and sexy all at the same time and I think champagne is slowly becoming one of my favorite colors. It seems to go well on just about any skin tone.

This is also my last day of summer vacation, tomorrow is the first day of school. This summer has been interesting and fun but I am looking forward to the new school year and for the weather to finally cool off a bit! I hope you guys are having a great weekend, enjoy the rest of it! <3

Credits:
*Skin: :: DUTCH TOUCH ::Yri:: Coffee – BasicPlus HBBrown CL2 by Iki Ikarus
Prim eyes: Fusemelon Mist by Aemilia Case
Hair: >TRUTH< Penny - mocha by Truth Hawks
Dress: (Elate!) Eva Champagne Dress by Kellie Iwish
Jewels: [gisele] pearl necklace, bracelet and ring by Pecorine Vita
*Poses: !BANG by Trieste Minuet

*Promotional copies

“Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see life with a clearer view again.”
Alex Tan

Credits:
Skin: (FFX Hibiscus) Isabella – what sarah said by London Dailey (House of London SOM gift, skin will be released August 27th)
Hair: !lamb. I’m a romantic – Honeycomb by Lamb Bellic
Necklace: (luc) Fashion Jewelry Heart Key Locket “Sweet Memories” by Lucas Lameth
Top: Kyoot – Beneath My Bones by Saeya Nyanda