I found some really inspiring photographers the last days and I would love to share them with you

Della Bass
She’s an Australian photographer and lives in New York. She mainly shoots fashion and some travel and portraiture. Her work is full of color and life, I love it!
www.dellabass.com

Norbert Kniat
a Vienna based fashion photographer for international clients.
www.kniat.de -  (website done by myfriendfromberlin.com. also interesting inspirations there )

Anders Bergh
has been working as independent photographer since 1993, with his own studio in Copenhagen. He also worked with several international brands and advertising agencies. I really love his style and cleanliness. Hard contrasts, full HDR power – check it out yourself at:
bergh.dk

Lyndon Wade
is a NYC based commercial photographer, who shoots for world’s most famous ad agencies. Great colors & compositions ideas!
lyndonwade.com

A little shop in the 3rd district of Vienna with lots of accessoires, gifts and well-designed home-stuff. We got in touch with the people there and took some photos of some products with our macro lens. The lightning was low (like in every store) but enough for some good shots:

[View with PicLens]

if you want to get in touch with this lovely two-person crew check out:
www.samtundsonders.co.at

I think my head will explode.
Last night was a horror. We put Koko outside of her cage as usually, everything surrounded by little colorful fences to protect her, but she was so curious about what was going on outside, that nothing could catch her attention.
No food, no towers of towels and books to crawl upon. Not even rucola.

So after a while we decided to put her onto our bed.
Koko was excited! How grand the world can be! But the fast little gnome made her way across our barriers and all of a sudden was under the bed. But there was no need for panic, as Koko is not scared at all and did not use the bed as her hiding place.
Luckily she is also not interested in gnawing on wires or anything. After a while I caught her and put her back into her cage, but that little incident seemed to make things even worse. She behaved a little berserk, gnawing on the bars all the time.
All through the night, it was no stoping her. I used a little spray bottle filled with water to keep her from any further harm (it can´t be good if she hurts her nose and teeth all the time), but no way.
Next try was to lube the bars with ordinary mustard. Still nothing.
At about 7 A.M. I came to the point where I used chili paste. Finally peace. Koko did not even try another attempt, she must have smelled that this substance has to be really HOT!

So she shuffled off, making her bed and letting me have my well-deserved sleep.
Oh please don´t do this again…

This is my brother. Quite cute, huh?

Well, he started drawing Mangas a few days ago, and I have to say I am very impressed by the outcome.
He is 11 years old and if he goes on like this, he will beat me by 18 for sure.

Have a look!

“Hey, you know what? Let´s have an art trade! I pick out one of my pictures and you send me one of yours!”
So that was basically the idea that came up on one of the art chats on Jared´s ning site.
If you know me from facebook, you probably have seen some of his comments on my wall.
He is an artist, a teacher and a philosopher, appart from being very funny and open-hearted.
Check him out here:

http://www.jaredknight.com/
http://twitter.com/jaredknightcom
http://www.youtube.com/user/jaredknightcom
http://www.etsy.com/shop/jaredknight
http://jaredknight.ning.com/ (here you can find his classes!)

So, what about the trade?
I wanted to make a customized illustration, that showed him as my favourite animal: a cat.
It is a mixture between outer appereance (the glasses and the eyecolor) and inner appereance
(the lotusheart and the water lilly).

I found his painting yesterday, stuffed into my mailbox by the mailman. How thoughtful!
It was packed in bubble wrap and as I teared it off, white bits of the canvas showed.
“Holy shit, I ruined it!” I thought, but actually that was part of the painting! (Or Jared? Did I really mess it up? *lol*)

As I flipped it around, I read the name “Internal”, which I think is very suitable, for the colors mostly show black, purple and blue (the latter two being the colors of creativity). Quite interesting also is the fact, that some kind of silhoutte shows on the right, where the color is missing.
(But that is just the human desire to see something in every abstract painting.)
I also like some red points showing through, like something deeper and passionate luring through the darkness.
The composition alltogether is very fiery and driving, like some sandstorm of emotions.

So, what do you think? Comments!!!!

This is a painting I made today for a friend of mine, as she will move into her new flat next week.
It is about 1m x 1m (or 40inches x 40 inches). Used materials are color pigments, acryl and water color.
The colors are soft and her facial expressions are knowing, wise and lush.
Just as I imagine a Buddha to be. I want her to look after my friend and give comfort in hard times.
My boyfriend (who knows her aswell) added some signs at the side.

I have to admit: yes, I am part of the reason why farmville has become the most popular facebook app in 2009.
But to my defense I have to say, that I only do this for decorative reasons, not for making “cash”.
It gives me the opportunity to make pixel art within a game that was designed for other purposes.

Nevertheless I see many friends having large farms full of rice, roses or wheat along with all sorts of animals
(elefants on a farm? Sometimes it does seem as if the developers were taking a lot of colorfull pills…) and trees.
Why a FARMING GAME? Ok, I would not be wondering if we were living in Japan, playing Cooking Mama or Harvest Moon.
But the rest of the world is not known to be a great fan of such kind of games.
Farmville might have opened the gate for them maybe (and I would be grateful for that), but I wonder, if it also is a sign,
that many of us would prefer having an own garden where they could be independet from the (partly horrible) fruits and vegetables from the supermarket? Is there a need for more nature, more green, more fresh air?
Some kind of unconscious thinking, that it would be better if we all became a little more self sufficient?

But then of course everybody falls back into their everyday life, rather spending their time with a virtual tomatoe than a real one.
Maybe some day…
I would like the thought of swaping vegetables with neighbours in reality. Send me a chicken.

Aaaah, what are the tweemees without their obsession for cute animals?
Yes, we´ve been thinking about having a dog. Yes, we´ve been thinking about having a cat.
The first one needs a lot of time and more space and our little flat might really be to small (even for tiny dogs).
The later soaks the rooms with allergens to which my boyfriend probably could react.
And we don´t want to get a cat and then have to give it away again. That would brake my heart, meow!
We still wait for the serum that Reto Cameri will bring out. Only three injections instead of seventy.
That shall be better, but it is still in the test phase, so we gotta wait a little longer.

Anyway, we have a hamster. A teddyhamster to be more precise and her name is Mrs. Koko Ro.
After consulting my friends at the art chat of Jared Knight, we were confronted with about 20 somewhat names,
all referring either to her name or to her temper, which brought us to the idea to choose
a japanese name for her that fits her personality.
The name means “heart, spirit” and quite suitable.
It all together was too long, so we went for Koko as her first name and Ro for her surname.

She is not shy at all. Of course she is not hand tame, but she is not afraid of the hand either and does not bother to be touched.
When we got her she was living in a small terrarium with a house and a wheel, but not much space to run around.
We brought her home, my scarf wrapped around her little transport-box (for it was very cold outside that evening) and put her into her large cage.
She was kind of shocked.
Not by the fact only, that everything was so huge and vast, but also, that she actually somehow was outside and free.
If there weren´t these stupid bars. There had to be a way to get past them.

So the first night she spent her time checking for any gaps. She climbed anywhere (why did we even get those wooden bridges?), even upside-down and giving us a hard time thinking that she might hurt herself somehow.
But she eventually gave up the fight, as for the second night she did not mind the bars anymore.
We got her a wooden wheel too, for the cage is next to the bed and we thought it might actually be quite nice to sleep without listening to “eeek eeek eeek”-sounds all night long. It totally payed off.

Today we bought some small fences that you can stick together. It looks like a small circus arena, very colorful and spacious.
With another wooden bridge she could climb outside and back inside either way she wanted to, but of couse as soon as she was outside, there was no going back. She had a mission: new bars! All of them had to be checked. Again *sigh*.
The fact that we were sitting in the middle of the arena did not make her nervous at all.
Actually, she found out that if she climbed high enough on my shoulder, she might jump over the fence.
Clever lady, but no way.

She also is crazy for arugula and cocos. (with a name like Koko, what else?) We got more fresh vegetables and fruits for her, then we would ever do for ourselves.
We hope to tame her very soon. Little furrrrrball.

Today I got rid of about 20-30 facebook contacts.
Why? Well, mostly it were people that I knew since highschool. That time wasn´t exactly the best time of my life.
So facebook to many is a class reunion on its own. Some may like it, I don´t.
I was never part of that giggly girl group, spending their weekends drinking and smoking and talking behind others back.

I confirmed them a long time ago, thinking that it would be unpolite if I didn´t.
But reading everyday status updates from people that never change and decide to stay in their grumpy life?
Good bye to them!

My life changed so much the last year up to now and even more changes and developements are about to come and I don´t want
any of those people involved there. Not one.
We decide for ourself, whom we want to have around and what kind of energy this people bring to our every day.
I don´t want to be thirty, sitting in a café with a so called “friend” and leading conversations that mostly focus on badmouting others.
What a terrible thought to find yourself surrounded by people, that were always with you, but made you feel bad or unworthy.
And this in a very subtle way, because oneself tends to think, that´s just the way it is.

So I say goodbye to these people and open up space for new and fresh contacts!
Yaay 2010!

Wow, a whole new me!
Since I concidered myself a sincere chocoholicer, I now try to get on the healthier road again.
No cow milk products, no sugar, no wheat products, no meat (but fish). Do you know how hard it is to find things without wheat and sugar added?
Yesterday I felt a little edgy, because it has just become a little habit to eat sweet stuff after dinner. Gnaarrrgh, MUST NOT BE!
MUST…(I want sweets!)…..NOT (come on, just one piece?)…….BE (you party pooper)!!!
*transforming into Hulk and slamming the chocolate out of the window*

Dried fruits by saitowitz

I then instead decided to munch a banana and a kiwi instead.
The satisfaction rather came from the fact that I did not eat sweets, than from the fruit itself, but what the heck, I will get around this time too.
Instead of wheat I will go for amaranth and oat in cerials and rye in bread.

Maybe this will give a little pushup to my skin too, we will see.
Today is much better, lots of energy, where as yesterday was really bad.
Chocolate withdrawal syndrom hopefully over now.

Ok, I think everyone knows the drama. You managed to get to bed at a decent time.
Finally, since on all other days you stay up longer to work or read or play or paint or whatever.
You are acutally pretty proud of yourself. Look! It´s not even midnight!
But now you are in your bed and stare at the wall. Great.
Your head keeps babbeling about this and that. About what amount of work you will have to do tomorrow.
About how silly that comment was that your girl/boyfriend made today. About money matters and how you will survive this month.
About what you shall wear to that meeting. About how much you suck at what you do and that everyone is better than you.
About what to do with your life anyway and what is the reason for things happening the way the do.

And as far as I know it is pretty hard to think in a logic way as soon as it is dark.
Everything seems more dramatic. More daunting. More scary.

Here is what I do when my thoughts drive me nuts:
Now, as illogical as it may seem, but get out of your bed. The energy in your bed will last a very long time and if you like to toss and turn a lot, well then stay where you are, but I hate to waste my time with these kind of aerobics.

1) Make yourself some tea, preferably something with valerian, for it will slow your thoughts and make you tired.
Step away from warm milk with honey, the sugar is just too much and the milk will keep your stomache working—->bad sleep.
2) Take a shower. Get yourself clean. Your body and your thoughts. Try to use some products that contain lavender.
3) Change your bed clothes. Yes, it is annoying. Yes, it is work. But it is so much better to be in your clean bed with yourself being clean aswell.
4) Try some aroma therapy. Use blood orange or tangerine or grapefruit.
They will lighten up your spirits and keep those bad thoughts away.
Plus: the light from the candle is calming too.
5) Get some positive literature. I can recommend “Eat Pray Love” by Elizabeth Gilbert. Always works.
Or you add Bret Angel Dealey on facebook.
He writes wonderful posts about being human and resolutions for all the stuff in my head.
6) Fresh clothes. The happy pyjamas that you love so much. If you don´t have one, get one.

7) Count your blessings. Because you are an awesome person. Because you are healthy.
Because you have 10 fingers and know how to use them.
Because there is this special somebody you like to think about.
Because tomorrow is another perfect day to start the life you want to live.

Oh, hey there! It´s been a while!
Since everything went a little wild lately, I´m trying to get more organized and write here on a more regular schedule.
(Bad Nelly! How dare you leave those readers alone? Grmpf!)

So, what´s new? I am on my way to self-sufficiency, making my way as an illustrator and artists and hoping to make people happy with my stuff.
There has been a developement towards cute cats with ornaments. I think that this brings out the personality of the cat even more and I plan to do customized pictures of people or their pets too. If you are interested in having yourself or your little friend portrayed like this, just write me a message.
There is quite some reading to do before I will know all the wits about opening an etsy store, so I will post all small steps here.
I am curious about making acrylic jewlery too, though I know very little about it by now.

Has anyone else got the feeling that 2010 will be special? I know, I know, the media tells us this every damn year, but I don´t.
(well, there is a point at saying “Hey girl, your blog isn´t even one year old, but you can come back at me, when I do the same at 2011, ok? Deal?)

By the way, we have about 45 guppy babies. From one mother.
I can´t believe it, I wonder how she managed not to burst into pieces.
Can you imagine what this would look like on a human being? A hot-air balloon mama!!!
She seems to be mad about being fat though, for she ate quite a couple of her own babies before we could take her out and into another aquarium.
Still the babies are very cute and clever. I´m curious what color they will be.

Today the PS2 game “Shadow of the Colossus” finally came in and I have to say that this is probably the game with the hugest landscape that I know.
The scenery is beautiful. There is nothing except you, your horse (now I´m getting all girly, but that horse is a cutie! Appart from the fact that the way you have to controll your horse comes very close to how you would have to do it on a real horse…), some lizards and eagles and that´s about it.
Oh, and of course the colossuses. (is that the correct plural? If yes: That word is epic fail. Colossusesesesuses. Uhm, yes.)
But I guess there will have to be an extra post about this, for this is far too good to be handled in a few sentences.

I hope the new year treated you kind so far! Seeya soon!

I´m dreaming of a white christmas. I know, in times of global warming this might stay a dream for a really long time.
But why is it, that every year, just before christmas day, there is snow.
Lovely snow all over the city.

This time it was so very cold, that my fingers went numb within minutes and taking good pictures was a hard thing to do.
(“What ISO? I don´t care, I can´t turn the scroller anyway, my fingers are stiff!”)
People enjoyed their walk in a fast way. Cold cold cold.

And then why why why is it every year, that one day before christmas a rush of a warm weather front takes it all away?
Why? The one day of the year where a winter walk would be so totally different.
Where one could go outside, kiss snowflakes, tell the kids not to eat the yellow snow and come home to open presents in the warmth and be thankful?

I decided to be thankful anyway. We had snow. The time did not matter. In fact, if we as human kind go on like this, I might not be able to take a walk in the snow with my own kids. So at least I have pictures.

A lot of work in the last days, but now we’re free for at least 2 weeks to post some more stuff for you:

Japanese Final Fantasy XIII Launch Line Report
A big party for all the FF XIII – awaiting people. We really want to be there, but just a flight-ticket for a release party would be too crazy

A first original gameplay video found on youtube from Final Fantasy XIII:

also interesting for game-fans like us: the japanese game-blog from andriasang.

Eventually we’d plan a trip to GB / London. Why?

The group called “Bonobo” plays LIVE at London in 2010!
Official Bonobo Website
Official Bonobo Myspace

Finally, We want a Dog!

Since some days we’re searching for a dog. Finally we decided to get a pomeranian or a long haired chihuahua for ourselves

Slumber on Flickr -by iampoohie

Enjoy your christmas time and see you soon!
your tweemee’s

I did not know there was a song for my disease. But apart from really good lyrics, it is also a catchy tune!

Clap your hands for J-Krafty!