Finally it's Friday

This site is down contemporary

2009-06-26T00:43:00.000+02:00

My dear FiF readers! As my closest followers know, technologically I am almost amish. I am connected 9h to pc and internet at work, often more, so I never felt the need to install any lines at my home. I don’t even have cable tv. For private matters I used my office pc – correctly outside of paid hours.
Anyway, my company installed sever filters, which means that I am cut out to the wwworld until I don’t find another way to enter. And thus, FiF is down – contemporary.
I created this side over a year ago while I was in another company. We were a bunch of expat students and my inbox was loaded with the usual “see this on youtube” and “forward this funny pictures” – you get the picture. I found this really annoying but I thought, too, that in some way I had to return all these mails, because in the end, these guys tried to make me laugh during the day and hey, I needed it! So I saved the best I came across in internet during the week and prepared a Finally-its-Friday-email every Friday that shortly after became a blog. The spirit was always the same: make people feel better.
I hope you enjoyed it and come back when I’ll make my comeback. Thanks for everybody who dropped me a line – it always made my day when somebody appreciated my efforts. So, please, if you liked this blog, write an email to someone else’s blog you enjoy (you can send me something, too – but I won’t be able to read it until, well yes, until I have internet access again).
I think I’ll leave you here, now.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend. Belle
p.s. honestly? I will miss you! :* Belle

No air condition at home

2009-06-19T00:50:00.001+02:00

I didn’t go swimming last weekend – which was my first option in the heat. Instead I chose the second option: cinema.
In Italy cinemas often close during summer and the first already do so. Yet some are still open, so it’s the best place to go (after the pool) in the hottest hours of the day. If I really want to indulge I get ice cream – which I did. Hey life is short.

Now, guess the movie. Ha ha! ;-)

The news-stand man makes his ideal woman.

Gumbley's News from Louise Lockhart on Vimeo.

Very interesting turn, ahahahah!

If you have some time to play, try Freerice. It's an on-line knowledge game that claims to donate 10grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program for every right answer. Is this cynical? I am not sure, but I know that I loved the art section. You can freshen up your grammar or foreign language knowledge and many other subjects, too.

And to finish this week: I loved this preview about modern architecture. I am sure all these homes have air condition!

Coast Modern Film Trailer from Coast Modern on Vimeo.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Exceptional Monday post

2009-06-15T11:41:00.004+02:00

I say in speeches that a plausible mission of artists is to make people appreciate being alive at least a little bit. I am then asked if I know of any artists who pulled that off. I reply, 'The Beatles did'.
- Kurt Vonnegut

I just couldn't wait to pass you this.
(Amazing. The Beatles are big.)

Have a good monday - see you on friday! Belle

Did you know? FiF readers enjoy their Fridays.

2009-06-12T00:53:00.000+02:00

TGIF! I hope I'll get some time to go to the local swimming pool. I cannot wait to crawl some lines, really!

Bob Hyland is curing the "Black Thumb Syndrome". I really liked a lot his bottle planter.

Could this be a good idea to get my plants ready for the holidays? Last winter holidays my plants nearly died by freezing, in summer they risk to die of thirst. It's not very kind, I know. Who said life's easy?

I so much liked the "I can teach you"-idea from the creative-mornings people.

I thought all the week over what I could teach. This is what came into my mind.

What could you teach?

It means to enjoy a work-free weekend! If you pass a flower, take two minutes to look at it very close! ;-)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Short post due to tecnical problems

2009-06-05T08:21:00.002+02:00

Today I am late with my Fridaypost, please forgive me. Yesterday night my internet connection broke down and there was no way to make it work again. But now I am back and I typing quickly these lines before starting to work.

Ha! It's Friday again! Isn't that great? Summer is coming nearer and nearer, last week I bought a new Bikini and got some real sunscreen, because you know:

"Put on your sunblock, because it's rays today, raisins tomorrow."
—Fran Drescher in The Beautician and the Beast

I said last week that it's hot, now it's raining, seems as if I always have to complain about the weather right? Weather, like it or not. :-)
But, the taste of summer is here: ice cream, mosquitoes, open windows, barbecues,rice-salads - yes, I made my first rice-salad of this summer last weekend after insistent request. This spring I decided to eat strawberries as much as I could until I got nausea, but even if I tried really hard I didn't have enough. I must repeat this experiment in the next strawberry season.

This little short film is very 'summer' - don't worry, you will understand french.

Gary from Gary on Vimeo.

I have to leave you now, duty is calling - but be sure to get some summer this weekend!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

I had a hot week. You?

2009-05-29T00:11:00.001+02:00

This week there was a heatwave in Italy and we had up to 36° Celsius. I had a hard time to adapt to this temperature and was struggling with headaches. Fortunately after 8 hot days, temperatures are adjusting to normal and some wind is blowing.

I am so happy it is friday and I just hope that every one can start relaxing now. I found this music is soothing.

So nice. This makes me feel better every time I hear it.

This here is geek font humour. I absolutely love the end.

You think you have a good eye? Try the hue test!

And finally - something for next week: Here is how to have more energy.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Gone fishing! See you next week!

2009-05-22T00:44:00.000+02:00

Thanks for dropping by. I am away for some days, taking the time to relax and enjoy the sun.

Wish you all a great weekend! Belle

Good News: it's Friday!

2009-05-15T00:42:00.000+02:00

I think it was one of my brilliant ideas of my life to call this blog "finally it's friday" - seldom these three words have been more true than today.
I had a really hard and harsh week. I thought, I've seen it all, but then there is always someone who can make it worse. Puzzling! :-O
So, hurray to Friday! I need to party.
Here are three songs that I listened all week through - my no-calories tiramisu.
"I love" from a great talented Sam Bennett. I love the rhythm - this song will make your feet move!
"Looking at the sun" by Gramcery Arms is a relaxing smooth song - and we all love the sunshine, right?
And if you really want to rock the clouds away "The drawing board" is the right song for you!

Did I get your attention? :-)

Here a supersweet short film I loved so much. If you are the nervous kind of person ("I don't have the time to see something that needs more than 2 minutes") - use your lunch break to see this. You'll need it!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. I saw Star Trek! Awesome!

It is Star Trek Day

2009-05-08T00:08:00.001+02:00

It's useless to deny it, this week I counted the days until today.
it's been a long time that I haven't felt so much anticipation for a movie.

I have seen the trailer this wednesday in cinema waiting for the main movie (Wolverine) to begin and I was completely enthusiastic for the richness of this movie. That is what cinemas were made for: galactic battles, explosions and men that look significantly in each other's eyes. Wow. I am not certain if I can see it today, but this weekend for sure.

If you are not too much in galactic battles, just remember, is there any place more romantic than space? With all the stars around you? Aaaw!

Parallelostory from impactist on Vimeo.

So, just to completely change subject, here something to laugh at gender roles:

See the whole hilarious book at Emily's blog. She writes: "I love gender roles. I really do. But I just know that this would be like, a lawsuit on every page." Fortunately it is just plain funny (for us; for others it is still bloody reality). Though, I must say, I really relate to that reading girl... if boys what to make things comfortable, just go ahead. Since you're at it, could you fix me a drink, sweetie?

Have a good Friday, a better weekend, live long & prosper! Belle

First of May

2009-05-01T00:30:00.000+02:00

Recently I had some “first times”, which is something that happens as lesser as you age. So I try always to mentally take note every time I have a “first-timer”: first time I had a drink in a mirror-bar (which is mind-blowing); first time I wrote something similar to a “last will” which turned out mind blowing, too, but in a very funny way; first time I told a friend to make her mistakes and not to marry them (she appreciated it, very).
I noticed that every time I do something new it gives me a little happy kick – like the kick I had when I realized that I really ride the bike without safety wheels (do you remember that moment?).

Wednesday I went to a party, which isn’t actually something I did for the first time, but not since a long, long, looong time. And in the middle of the week! :-o How dare you? I got there directly after work without changing and you could divide the party in people like me and people that had the time to change. Lights were low, drinks were free, so I didn’t matter a lot. I wouldn’t have gone, if it weren’t for a good friend and I intended to go home early – but then, against all odds, I had the time of the month. It was amazing! I found myself 10 years younger, talking, laughing, flirting; I was so happy people asked me “Belle, are you drunk??” – I swear I just had lemonade (a first-timer, too).
I left among the last (midnight… everyone was very responsible, times are hard) and when I came home I found the first issue of “wired” – Italian edition. (And I thought they had lost my subscription; I should trust the world more.)
I flipped through it completely, knowing the next morning I would deeply regret it; but hey, never let a “first time” pass unused.

Firekites - AUTUMN STORY - chalk animation from Lucinda Schreiber on Vimeo.

Sitting here and taking the time to write to you out there, where ever / who ever you are, is something that I do hoping it will make at least one person smile and feel better than before. I have a lot of these moments during the day, mood shifts, up and down, so I opt for the up. Unfortunately >up< is much harder than >down<, so this blog is like a little mental gym for me.
I found, that the general "red alert" feeling around me (justified or not) takes (not to say 'sucks') a lot of energy from me, so I found this very helpful.

Leonie Allan made this great poster for free download.
"Work disconnected"?? I wished I could! I tried it several times for 2x3h shifts, but the telephone always gets me. I should insist more. ;-)

Weekend is here, I am already in it - first of may is Holiday.
Don't you dare to use the first may weekend for cleaning the house. Go out and get some pollen! ;-)

Have a good friday and a better weekend, Belle

You need a back-up

2009-04-24T00:36:00.000+02:00

These last days have been very busy (still, again - I don't know, it's fluid) and I am happy for all my back-ups. Happy for my generous friends that don't see me for weeks and call me instead of being disgruntled. Happy for my BF that took over my chores at home(nearly ;-)). And I am very happy for my back-ups at work which are vital in these days, when I overwrote by accident a super-important file back-up was my best friend; and when dead-lines narrowed I was very happy for every helping hand (that was new to me, on my ex-job nobody helped). What is my point? Thanks to all back-ups out there, create them, cherish them, be one!

"When you're in jail, a good friend will be trying to bail you out. A best friend will be in the cell next to you saying, 'Damn, that was fun'."
— Groucho Marx

Have you seen the next Star Trek movie hype everywhere; wow, it's like a global mania. I so hope that this movie is good, being a true classic ST friend.

Wired has published a part of "Spock's ultimate Challenge" - I really liked it.

And, last but not least, again two geekeries united: movies+fonts. Yves Peters has a great eye and a cool taste (though I don't agree on everything).

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Hello, again

2009-04-17T00:52:00.001+02:00

You probably guessed it last week that I am again in time shortage due to a very important dead-line at work. Monday was holiday and I couldn't work, so practically, I am packing 5 days in 4. Basically.
I don't know if you have ever been in that situation, but it happens to me, like 3 to 4 times a year that I only work and sleep. It sounds very hard but in fact it's easy. Anything else becomes irrelevant. Keep up with friends? Make dinner? Go to pay bills? Irrelevant. I have my focus straight on the screen, I feel like a borg-drone, I am second-of-four. My cubicle is my home and I have double daily calories income on kit-kat.
Luckily this are moments that last maximum 10 days, then slowly I come back to real life. Thankfully my BF backs me up in these weeks, so I don't need to fear that the energy company switches off the light due to unpaid bills.

Anyway, I have just two gems for you.

The Different Kinds of People That There Are. I loved it. You know these people. I know a lot of this kind:

People Who Don't Believe in Evolution but Love Antibiotics

People Who Let Their Cat Walk Across Their Kitchen Cutting-Board, Even Though Those Are the Same Fucking Paws That Have Been Tramping Around That Shit-Filled Cat Box and I Don't See a Kitty Foot-Washing Station Around Here, Do You?

And then there is this person who gets your luggage on airport auctions. And tries to find the owner. It's beautiful (and by the way - you can come up with a lot of weird stories just by looking at somebody's clothes.)!

(is this a real nurses uniform? I don't think so...)

Hope you have a good Friday and a better weekend! See you next Friday, Belle

Easter Weekend

2009-04-10T00:46:00.000+02:00

How fast time passes!

This Friday I don't have too much for you, so don't stay in front of the screen but go out, enjoy the sun and the weekend. Don't stay in the house!

Zapping from Aritz Aizpurua on Vimeo.

Two things that made in think this week: a man on crutches (be sure to read the comments, sometimes they are hilarious).
And four people on their run from Brooklyn to Manhattan - awesome!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend! Belle

By the way, you look great today!

2009-04-03T00:49:00.000+02:00

I tried it... it's true! I guess it was very funny to see while I made circles with my hand and my foot. I even tried to invert, like right foot and left hand, but I ended up only making a mirrored "6", haha! It's a funny thing to try with colleagues, they won't do any better, so after laughing do not forget make a compliment. Like these two guys.

Did you know? Paying someone a compliment can actually decrease your own level of anxiety, as Melissa points out.

I am absolutely digging architecture, funnily I rarely speak about it on the blog. I loved this, it's awesome.

Obviously you need a huge property for this kind of house, especially to keep away 'voyeurs'.

Then I have seen this on internet... it is very strange and I am not really sure what I should think about it, but I couldn't get my eyes off it, so judge by yourself.

On a positive message:

The oldest message in my cell phone memory is from 27th November 2004 - I should delete it, but every time I read it, I remember how important it is. I should frame it one day.

See here all the story.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Airport weekend

2009-03-27T00:13:00.000+01:00

This week is short for me; I am already off, probably sitting around in an airport or in a plane while you are reading this. I am going to see my folks, really looking forward to meet them. I phoned my parents and my siblings, everybody cannot wait to meet together again - it will be a 'massacre' of air miles, too much food, wine and laughter and I intend to enjoy it every minute.
So, I hope I can sweeten up your Friday a little bit. I start with this Flickrset from Jason Powell.

Images are made by finding old photographs of places, printing them out, and then holding the print up in the modern day location that the original photograph was taken.

I really loved this idea!

Meanwhile it needed more than 4500 still photographs to make this wonderful film. Is it a dream?

Another little film, but this time it is short. Just a minute. Just one take… and you’ll see Kill Bill 1&2 in a whole! (Awesomeness!)

Back to the weekend... I I weren't traveling I would probably try to assemble something like this.

It would be even more miniature and without a house, because I just have a small apartment, but hey, isn't it just plain wonderful?

If you can, do something artsy this weekend! :-)

So, it's the last march-weekend, bad weather should be over now for a while (come back here in september and you'll read my praise for rain). As nature has renewed itself by now, everyone (me included) feels the want of new, too (that is what fashion business is based upon). These ten women did one tiny new thing every day for a month... inspirational! I am thinking on several things I could do, but I guess I will be very happy if I can just go back on my running schedule (3 times a week). Sunday Summer time starts and with more sunlight I am quiet sure to go back to regular runner! ;-)

Just to finish this friday read this touching/wonderful Photo-Journal "Days with my father" from Philip Toledano.

Have a good friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. how much I liked "I will" - did you hear it?

2009-03-20T00:31:00.002+01:00

It's Friday! You made it, the working week is over. Nearly.. only some other hours to pull. Anyway, I think, since we were all so brave hard working bees this week (I was!), we should celebrate its end, yay!

So, then, I am thinking of dedicating this weekend on spring-cleaning, some sort of it.. I have the urgent need to throw stuff away.
Spring officially starts saturday (hey, Australians; you can start to prepare for autumn)... after this long winter it is a pleasure to be outside and enjoy the sun and frankly, I have no idea how people can go skiing now. :-)
Anyway, since I can open now all windows and get rid of dust and clutter, I can bring in some harmony. All of us already heard about Feng Shui, which is certainly cool but too esoteric for me, but Punk Fui was new to me.

In Punk Fui, like in Feng Shui, decorating is dictated by common sense. The first principle is you should always feel comfortable in your home. It should be a place you love to be. Whatever you need to do to achieve this will create sheng chi. Tsia Carson

Punk Fui will surely do it for me!

The one thing no one will ever be able to throw away is a book.
So, these little companions pile up everywhere, in shelves, next to the bed and on tables and I started to move the piles from one place to the other like tetris blocks, which is a way to remodel your house but doesn't really solve the problem. I was already very, very brave to bring all my old magazines to recycling, but books? Eh-eh, nah, forget it.

See Kylie Stillman's amazing work here.

After the work and the cleaning there should be some play and relax. Regular readers of my blog know that I love super-heroes, so I was superhappy about the Hero Factory..

(now Wolverine will come and play with me?)
I had so much fun choosing my outfit and my weapon and totally agree on my given hero name, which in some way re assumes a skill I developed in the last years in my profession.
When I started as a small agency designer I was always baffled about how precise my boss' eye was. From a distance of a meter he could see the difference of one millimetre. Sceptical I thought he would just fake it and put him on a test... needless to say that he got it all right, owning himself the nickname "eagle-eye".
Recently I started to correct similar small distances, sometimes amazed and taking a ruler to check, but it seems as if you really get a precise eye just by training.

Can I get any geeker? Yes I can: love of type + Star Trek.
(attention: some disturbing type in there)

I am *so* looking forward to the next movie!

So, that's it for this week; I am off!
Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

P.s. some serious stuff here, too. Even if the Italians swear that a glass of wine does wonders for your health and your heart, a million women cannot be wrong.
Ladies, take care.

2009-03-13T00:00:00.001+01:00

I liked this one.

It is a little bit mean, I am not sure which one has my sympathy... ;-)
I am fighting, too - a battle with the papers on my desk. I am sorry, this week I have nothing more to offer you. Will update as soon as I can!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. happy birthday

p.p.s.

“Reality leaves a lot to the imagination.” - John Lennon

2009-03-06T00:00:00.001+01:00

Spring came and left us in three days. Now it is raining again and again and again. Bah!

As I already wrote, daydreaming is one of the best and cheapest ways to escape rainy reality.

A strange man builds a world using holographic tools for the woman he loves.

"This award winning short was created by filmmaker Bruce Branit, widely known as the co-creator of '405'. World Builder was shot in a single day followed by about 2 years of post production."

The next film is talking about a complete different world, has a complete different style and is super-sweet. Exactly what is needed this Friday.

So, I think this is enough with short films. Lately I re-discovered the joys of poetry. What about these first lines of Byron:

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that 's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes...

Isn't this instant dreamland?
Find yours here, thanks to the poetry tool.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Happy to announce first signs of spring

2009-02-27T00:01:00.000+01:00

Last week I was complaining about winter, this week there are already the first signs of spring that'll come. No swallows yet, but some daisies and forget-me-nots and I even saw the first daffodils. Grey sky left us and back is bright blue!
Yet it is a very quiet thing, nothing loud in nature in this moment (spring will get loud in some weeks, I guess). It's more a kind of anticipation of spring which is all around and I cannot help it; I just have to celebrate it! :-)

"On my night time flight back to SF from Amsterdam, I noticed that the lights from cities were making the clouds glow. Really spectacular and ethereal - it was really seeing the impact of urban environments from a different perspective. Each glow or squiggle represents one town or city!" James Leng
The song is wonderful, too.

Via photojojo I just discovered the photographic dictionary . We just needed that!

Would be nice to make my own!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

I guess February is the stupidest month of the year (next to November).

2009-02-20T00:00:00.000+01:00

That may be a reason why it is so short and why mankind needed to insert Valentine in it. It is still winter, but you already had months of winter. It’s terrible cold but shops already sell summer fashion, so you long for warmth. Days are still short, but you cannot stand your sofa anymore, all you want is go out out out (without freezing, obviously).
While our personal world gets faster with every day (you remember analog modems?), you cannot hurry nature. Spring is in march. Period.
So, all we can do is wait. And while we are waiting, let’s try not to get winterblues (even if it is really justified in February).
Best way to fight the blues: dancing!

Ely Kim is a Student at Yale and confesses to love dancing. Now, I know it is a long video and the first minute may seem just funny, but Ely has some really cool moves.
And an awesome track list! Congratulations!

Second best way to fight winter blues: dream of stylish places. I found this set from Tom Palumbo; Paris 1962.

Isn't it just perfect? You'll find all his set here and his personal hompage here, he has great photos!

Third: now use your energy and your imagination to change something. As a woman I tend to remodel the house, but it could be anything you like. If I am not wrong it is a good moment to do some garden work, too.

I wasn't really surprised, that my style is "Scandinavian Urban" - what is yours?

if you still have doubts how to active your creative self, take the test.

Ready to go?

Or make your own list.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

First Lines

2009-02-13T00:00:00.004+01:00

The American Book Review recently published the "100 Best First Lines from Novels", most of them are predictable (like the obvious number 1 or number 6), others are a wonderful re-read.
I personally love number 2:

It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. — Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice (1813)

I think it is equally funny as it is intelligent. Where do you find this in a first line? Then, the first line that had more influence on my life, Mr. Dalloway.

Mrs. Dalloway said she would buy the flowers herself. —Virginia Woolf, Mrs. Dalloway (1925)

First lines are the crucial ones, everywhere. I guess, everybody who is staring at his/her blank Valentine's card in these days, knows what I am talking about. Even when you are not about to write a novel, but a simple e-mail or even when you are not writing, but just looking for a good first sentence to talk to some one; the first line is the most difficult. Recently I had a conversation about leather bound journals, I was full of admiration for them, I love them for their materials, the leather, the paper - everything precious. But then I don't use them, because I feel the urge to fill them with something equally precious. I turned to Moleskines, good companions in my whirlwind daily life. I like the sound when you knock on them.

But still, in every journal I start, I leave the first pages blank, keeping the space for precious thoughts & finds.
Michael Bierut even finds Moleskins too showy: "No fancy Moleskines for me, just standard-issue office supply composition books." He has 26 years in 85 Notebooks. Awesome story!

Now, to something completely weird (only Internet can do this): the Beatles complete on Ukulele! Every time I hear Ukulele I think about Mrs. Monroe.

Roger Greenawalt and David Barratt have this project to "Record & perform on ukulele all 185 original compositions by The Beatles with 185 guest artists." I don't even have words for this, it's fantastic. My favourite so far: While my Guitar gently weeps, maybe because if the world divides in John-people or Paul-people, I am a George-person.

(funnily, even the Beatles had problems with first lines)

And now, Valentine! Yay! Lovers fest. It's tomorrow. I didn't want to write about it, this year, again. But then, I came across some lovely links I want to share with you.

1. For the one who already has a sweetheart:
Please, don't spend money, make by yourself.

I love this kit Derek and Lauren made, in my opinion, it doesn't need more. Aw!

2. For the one who has a crush
You know, that I am Flickrition since 2005, but I never had the idea to use it for dating. But then, I made some lovely friends via Flickr, and there are some who met on Flickr.
So, this Wiki-how-to explains how to turn your Flickr crush into real romance.
An authentic Flickr romance. Now, I do believe again.

3. No, I rather be alone! (aka: Bah! Humbug!)

here you go

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

It's already a week?

2009-02-06T00:00:00.003+01:00

I love the dog. I really feel connected to him.

And I love good advice. Specially when it is so creative like this one:

Thelonius Monk’s advice to saxophonist Steve Lacy (1960) (by swissmiss)

"Always leave them wanting more" - I should try this at work. In this moment I have more the impression that the harder I work, they always expect more and faster, faster, faster. :-o

Several years ago I saw a printed ad with a guy in shirt and jeans painting this bathroom walls with scenes from the Sistine Chapel, I loved the idea. Since then I was always dreaming to transform a bathroom into something special, a place that could be in another country, like Hawaii (would have been pink and cyan, with huge flowers and some hula dolls). I didn't think of this idea for years now, until I saw this illustrator's way to transform his bathroom walls. Awesome!

My Fingers itch now... ;-)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Magic

2009-01-30T00:07:00.002+01:00

Let's start with another beautiful musical video. A Stop-motion film featuring Oren Lavie's "Her Morning Elegance". Made me dream!

(made by them)

Sun been down for days
A pretty flower in a vase
A slipper by the fireplace
A cello lying in its case...

Simple lyrics, very evocative, a masterpiece by itself.

So, uh, how was your week? Mine was quite full of thousand things: in the office we had an important sales meeting which ended in a great dinner, laughing until late about sales stories around the world (loved the australian versions, they more or less included all poisonous animals, haha!). Thursday a colleague asked how to extend his notebook screen to his peripheral wide screen and I completely messed up his settings (because no pc is created equal to another) and nobody knew how to go back.
Best of it; he didn't blame me, but himself and after trying 20 minutes all different combinations of settings, restarting, un-plugging and calling the technician for help, we were still in the same messy position. Frustrated he went to smoke and I went back to my office, deeply in shame for what had happened. There was a skype-message waiting for me. It happened to be an ex-colleague/friend who is a pc head. I told him about my mess and he came up with three different solutions. This was nice, but actually I didn't want to touch anyone's pc any more. Ever.
When I left office for lunch-break I saw my BOSS trying to set up my colleague's pc, which made me feel even worse. Omg, what had I done?
I went to lunch to see my BF in a shopping mall, he saw my worried face and asked "what's wrong?". I was reluctant to tell him; he understands computers even lesser than me and I didn't want to spoil the lunch with my stupid problems. But then I told him anyway. And he said: "in my office, when we connect notebooks to peripherals we do it by pressing this and that - after lunch let's see the pc-shop and I show you how." And this was more or less similar to one of my friend's three conclusions. My crazy mind was like "well: two out of four - you should give it a try!"
Back in the office I passed at my colleague's. "So, uhm, how's it going?" "Still the same!" "Well, would you mind if I try a last thing?" "Well, sure..."
Actually I was really amazed how he handled all the situation. He never blamed me or got nervous with me (I would have been in his position) and he gave me a last try, it was really nice. So, I tried the key-pressing-combination my BF had shown me and it didn't work. What a delusion. We stared in silence at the blank black screen.
"What is this key here?", I wondered.
And - magic - it worked!! I was overwhelmed with relief - he was overjoyed and we cheered like soccer players after a goal!
Lesson learned:
a) I will never touch anybody's pc any more. Never. Ever. Period.
b) Be thankful that a lot of people are much more patient than yourself.
c) Without magic this world would be a very very sad place.

Sam Spencer brings the magic to grey rainy days.

So, finally it's Friday and I cannot wait to chill out the week with beer&book.

Just another thing: I found this interview with Illustrator Frank Chimero very inspiring. He talks about tools, cheap tools. Cheap paper, cheap pens, using scissors and getting started - instead of being paralysed in front of expensive material. Made me think of the days when I made my best drawings on the back of paper-to-recycle.

Have a good Friday and a magic weekend, Belle

Is it just me or did the new year start only this tuesday?

2009-01-23T00:01:00.001+01:00

I have never seen europe so hysterical about an american president. We had live-transmissions in television and radio. What Michelle wore, what the kids wore, what the president did&said, how he awesomely didn't get overwhelmed by the day. It was, wow. Well done, americans!

(by Maya*made)

The guardian published a book with "Messages for Obama", I hope he got a copy!

Here, and here.

So, let's go around on the other side of the globe, Australia, to Artist Emma Hack.
Apparently she has always been interested in body art and several applications and when I saw her pictures (no, let's say "work") on StyleCrave I was completely stunned: it is so, so very beautiful.

Here is the whole series, one is better than the other! More about Emma. Makes me want to get wallpapers all over my place, or at least a new painting for the wall.

Last thing I have seen on the net, which made me dream is this moss carpet.

It "is made of imputrescible foam called plastazote. Each cell welcomes a piece of moss (ball moss, Island moss, forest moss). The humidity of the bathroom and the drops flowing from the body, water the mosses. This vegetable carpet procures a great feeling to your feet." I imagine how it would feel to step out the shower and on this moss carpet and dream myself to a fairy land. I could need a ambience-cd as well. Is this too new age for you? Anyway, I have doubts the plants would survive in my bathroom. :-)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

The Vintage feel

2009-01-16T00:00:00.000+01:00

The new year just started with all the blow of "shiny", "go" and "fresh"; but all I see around me has a Vintage feel. Which is completely ok with me, the real world is filled with new problems, but at least free time is packed with things that are new, but feel like old friends. Obviously a genius marketing trend.

Lets start with a stop-motion film made for 4th Estate by London’s Apt Studio.

(via Crblog)

You can see all the care and love for books in this film! Such a huge work.

more about it here and here.

But I really went nostalgic over Star Trek's 10 Cheesiest Classic Creatures by Wired Magazine.

It lists the greatest alien moments of the Classic Star Trek, with the right mixture of humour and scientific seriousness. I guess my favourites are the tribbles, they were just cute (but I remember that I really felt sad for the Salt Vampire...).

In music, the vintage feel is already well used. One of my latest finds is 'Gin' - These roses. When I saw the video I thought she is far too young for this kind of music, but well - I pretend is as old as she sounds. :-)

You get the song in high quality here, for free.

For more great songs, look at the site of Cloudberry Records. The quantity of cool songs is overwhelming - and I confess that I chose (and judged) by the cover, sooner or later I will go through all of them. Now tell me, mixtapes are dead (we call them "playlists" now).

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Happy New Year!

2009-01-09T00:00:00.000+01:00

Yes, it's coming a little late, but, sorry, I couldn't make it earlier.
Anyway, here we are, 2009. YAY! I have still problems to write the right year. It just looks wrong. And lately I get so used to american style date writing, that I get confused with the european style date. Just to drop a question, do you remember how far away and completely strange "2009" looked in the 80ies?
When "mobile phones" were these things soldiers used in television. The only thing that went near to our current cell phones was the "communicator" that Cpt. Kirk used (that was a pretty cool prediction, wasn't it?).
When computers were still as big as a car? Or even bigger?

(via brother)

So, I was thinking to post deep thought new resolutions for the next (er, current) year, but I just got back to work and into real life and didn't have the time (for deep thoughts yes; but I couldn't translate them into pretty words). Anyway, I am sure you already read about new year resolutions on other blogs, if not; I really like these.

To finish for this Friday; I am not sure if this is new to you, but I discovered Indexed just today.

A blog by Jessica Hagy; I subscribed immediately... plain funny.

So, yet another new year's hug to you, have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

2008-12-29T10:00:00.000+01:00

Flying from Sam Fuller on Vimeo.

I am off for some weeks! See you next year!
Hugs and have good holidays, Belle

The Holiday Cheer - com'on, you can do it!

2008-12-19T00:00:00.001+01:00

Aw, let's face it. It is not such a good time around in the world and it seems as if all the Holiday cheer is out of place more than ever.
And as it looks as if everything around us is falling into pieces it is so easy to let ourselves go, drown and dress black (even if we might be spared yet - it's just the general trend).
I found myself in this situation just in these days, yes, one week before Christmas I found myself slowly slipping into sadness. But, wait! Just one minute before I let myself go a quote popped into my mind:

“Smile, breathe and go slowly.”
Thich Naht Hanh, Vietnamese Zen Buddhist monk

So, I took a deep breath, decided to take it slowly (e.g. sleep over it) and just the next morning I was able to smile. Not that the situation got any better, but I was willing to fight it.

Fortunately, I am not in a bad situation, but others around me are. So, I think it is my job to cheer them up and spread optimism.
Since I am a sucker for "you can do it"-readings, here two of my favourite recent up-beat reads:
Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project is already an online-myth in Happiness and here are her kind words against this year's December blues.

Leonora Epstein writes on msn lifestyle How to Stay Positive at Work. It's nothing new under this sun, but it is good to remember the most simple tricks.

I am not an optimistic person by nature, so "boosting the moral" is one of my personal quests. Just to say the obvious: surrounding yourself with happy things/persons/situations/good vibrations is contagious. I commute 45mins to work, go and return and since my cd-player is broke, but the stereo is kick-butt-awesome, I listen to the radio, switching channel every 3-4 minutes.
The current song that lets me blast the neighbourhood is "shine" by Take That. Yes, I admit it. I didn't get the hype the first time in my teentime (I was way too cool for them), never bought an album, but "shine" makes me sing along and smile. Do I need to ask for more?

Gosh! This is Glam! Just let it shine!

I guess it is as well the Holiday Period that makes me look even harder for good vibrations. There are things that only Christmas can do.
Like bringing together two music icons/idols that couldn't be more opposite.

via Molly (I fancy Bowie's accent. How cute!)

Whatever makes you feel good in this moment, get as much of it as you can, January comes soon enough!

For the new year you'll need a calender, try the one from Mibo, for free download.
It's just beautiful!

So, please spread the cheer, have a good Friday and a better weekend! Belle

via swissmiss

"Help-I-am-single-and-hate-all-the-Holiday-cheer-I-cannot-wait-until-grey-january-is-here-and-EVERYBODY-feels-bad."-section.
Cutie, you are not alone! xox, B

Not yet last-minute shopping weekend is approaching

2008-12-12T00:00:00.000+01:00

aaww, wonderful song. The Band is so generous to offer this song for free here.

So, back to seasonal talk: did you already make all your shopping? I have nearly finished; this year I have grrrreat gifts! Still two people are missing, but my money is out there in the economy now. Doing the contrary to the rest of Europe I spent more than the year before because thanks to my new job there's more money, yay!

Emily Webber likes shop fronts, London. I couldn't agree more. Someone should do this for every major city. (Some awesome lettering out there.) If you are from London or will go there for the Holidays.. do some shop front spotting! :-) If not, Emily's cool site gives us the possibility for some virtual window shopping.

I don't know who is behind 1001 rules for my unborn son, but for sure it is a cool dad.

To most of them agree and some I make my own.

So that's it for this Friday. Oh I forgot: is this the reason why you are here?

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

December is a huge red dot in the forth dimension

2008-12-05T00:00:00.001+01:00

So, November is over (finally), December officially started and we are all in Holiday-gift-rush-stress (see how non-religiously I resolved the topic?!).
I still need to get some, but half of it is done. Just remember: don't give "pratical" gifts!

All I Want For Christmas Is ... from Paul Rayment on Vimeo.

Ah! Ah! This made me so laugh!

Tom Weller has this beautiful web page about Minims, as opposed to maxims: "statement expressed in proverbial or sentential form but having no general application or practical use whatever."

This is too easy for you?

Ok, try this: an explanation about dimensions up to the tenth dimension. I think I lost myself between dimension 6 and 7, but then perfectly understood 8 to 10. I really liked it, I guess I fell in love with dimension four, I caught myself to fantasize over my BF as a "time-snake" (is very useful with my boss, too).

HA! Maybe you want to go back to the Minims? ;-)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Just when you think you've seen it all, Internet suprises you

2008-11-28T00:00:00.001+01:00

I had an uncle who worked for an american company for a while. Every year he got a huge frozen turkey as a gift for thanksgiving and every year he passed it to my family. My mother kept it frozen until Christmas and then made something wonderful stuffing it with a delicious blood-sausage-bread-maroon filling (only way I ever ate blood-sausage).
We kept this turkey eating tradition still after my uncle had changed his job buying our turkey by ourselves.
I remember, particularly, a Christmas several years ago. My mother had send me to a huge supermarket, that has a ridiculous big food section (the kind of big, where you have never seen before half of the fruits they sell) and everywhere I turned I couldn't find turkey. Turkey was out. Funk, what now? It was the pre-cellphone era, it was too far to go back and ask and time was running out. I was sweating. What would my large family eat if I wouldn't bring home a turkey? Could my mother make something else?? Like, what? I had a blank mind.
Then my eye fell on goose...
Oh! Turkey - goose - what is the difference anyway? It's a bird, right? It looks the same (in the frozen version), it probably tastes the same.. so, hey, I just take a goose!
It was a problem to get a goose as huge as my mother asked me the turkey should be, but I came close.
All happy by myself I carried the goose to the cashier like a mother would hold her newborn. Then I noticed the first difference between turkey and goose: goose costs three times more. Argh! But I paid it willingly, thinking how my mother would call me "so clever" by finding such a smart solution.
Oh, that was the second difference.. "mum, there was no turkey anymore. I took a goose." "You. Did. What????"
To make it short. She never made a goose before. Goose is completely different to turkey (seems as if) and anyway it would never be enough for four fully grown men which were my father, my brother and my brothers-in-law.
"I will just eat the filling.." I offered.
"That bloody goose will not have a turkey filling!"

After all I was not so clever. BUT, my mother made a super job and the goose was great. All family members wanted more (but there wasn't) and year after year my mother and I remember this story laughing about the funny parts. I am so grateful for this goose.

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.
— John Fitzgerald Kennedy

A part from the obvious things to be grateful for, remember "the best things in life aren't things."

Aw! wonderful type-job. Great!

To come back to my mother: she is great in nearly every situation you can think of and every time I hear her she says something encouraging. When she writes, it's always a lovin'letter, filled with little treasures. So, it is not the category of Postcards from Yo Momma... but sometimes she comes near to this.

If you don’t respond to Gma about what you want for Christmas, she’s going to get a tshirt made for you that says “Shit Happens.”

Aw! The loving family! It's always a pleasure to come back - I cannot wait!

Welcome Back from ImprovEverywhere on Vimeo.

So, to come to the surprising, stupendous part: I want this lamp. I mean, if I could lay my hands on it, I would totally buy it.

You can program it so that it slowly opens and lights up when you need to get up... wow, that is what I call a good morning!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Update: I love how the Japanese face/solve problems. Funnily I will have sushi tonight..

Happy things

2008-11-21T00:00:00.002+01:00

In my hemisphere winter is coming nearer and nearer, days get darker and darker. And with this, inevitably, my mood gets cold and dark,too. But ALT! Stopp! There are some simple things I do, to escape this winter-melancholic-trap:

First, do what your doc just said so: eat a lot of greens and fruits. Second, get some green around you. Go to your local plant nursery and get some new green friends.
If you are like me, you have grown up with a family to which "green thumps" is a joke: they have green blood! Unfortunately, I have red blood, and most plants to me are exactly this: a plant (except edibles). So, I love buying plants, but sooner or later they die, which is tragic. I changed tactics and made my research in an environment, which I think is the hardest for plants: the office! There they get cold and heat, too less or too much water, too less or too much light and no one really "loves" them. What can survive there, will survive anywhere!

Here is a good list for plants that have exactly this spirit of "survival of the fittest".

I got myself a Spathiphyllum which is a though little friend!

So then, after taking care for our personal happiness, let's start thinking global.
There is this nice global event which takes place once a year around winter Solstice Day: the global orgasm! The darkest day, or to say, the longest night of the year, offers plenty of time to just join the party. The smart organizers of this event list three good reasons to do so: Peace, Gender&Social Justice and Global Warming - I could list some other good reasons, but I guess you get the picture ;)
Next dateline is 21st December 2008, 12.04 UT/GMT - I tell you in advance, so you can plan ahead...

Have good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. if you are still in a dark mood, you might try counting chimneys.

Aw, it's still November

2008-11-14T00:00:00.003+01:00

Yes and it is still raining. Again.
I think November and February are the worst months in a year, I just cannot stand them.

Okay folks, let's have some fun! When I am in a bad mood I tend to be overly judgmental, which means I could be the wrong person to ask for an opinion. (Better not.. hehe)
Get your inner judge out on these book covers: awesome thing and a good way to waste some time.

Just don't forget, "never judge a book by its movie!"

Isn’t it very funny, that I never wrote about the “casual Friday”? The casual Friday was never so important to me, because working in small biz and/or young/creative environment practically everybody dressed casual every day. Even now, working for a bigger, international company I am not bound to a dress code, but there are departments in the company which are and they have the “casual Friday”. Which is kind of funny. I can image that it is a huge relief to take off the tie for a day (even if it is such a great and easy fashion accessory for men, I wished I could wear ties!), be more comfortable and blend in, but – I prefer my boss in suit and tie! I remember the first Fridays I saw the management department walk around in Jeans. Which already were at least 15 years old. Please! No! You want to dress casual? Here you are!

But I tell you, women love ties!

You insist? Okay, get some real Friday wear or if you must, then please sport your inner Tom Selleck! ;-)

For myself I decided to contrast authority (as always) by doing the contrary: they have their casual Friday, I have my "Fashion Friday" - they dress down, I dress up, haha! It's stronger than me, must be some second-middle-child-thing.

Anyway, the weekend is near and you might want to get out of the office for good.

Have a wild ride!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Does your computer reach its full potential?

2008-11-07T00:00:00.001+01:00

Probably not. Do you switch your pc off when you are in meetings? At lunch? No? Do you have any idea what your pc is doing with all its free time and energy?
You don’t? You should! We all know that if you don’t monitor the free time of these little, easily to impress machines, they can turn bad and mean. Can you be sure that your pc isn’t secretly planning to take over the world?
You think you know your pc and it would never do such thing?

Rethink!

Fiction is full of what is called the cybernetic revolt, the first which comes into my mind is the 2001 Hal 9000, but even recently with “I, robot” or “matrix” the theme has been discussed widely.

Anyway, I am writing this little introduction to remember you that you can use your pc for the good.

So, instead of letting your pc waste energy and contribute to global warming and the ozone hole you can join the World Community Grid and do something without actually doing nothing. That’s a deal, isn’t it!? ;-) And you can be sure that your pc is too occupied to take over the world… keep it busy, keep it good!

Now, to happier things: Finally it’s Friday turns 1! Yay!

A year of making your Fridays better! Thank you my precious readers who come from all over the world, Europe, the Americas, Middle East, thanks for being here and share your Friday with me! Have some cake this weekend (I prefer chocolate).

Some music to celebrate! (Actually I am listening to this in endless loop this week, it’s just beautiful, even if I don’t understand a word.)

Have a great Friday and an even better weekend, Belle

All Hallows' Even!

2008-10-31T00:00:00.000+01:00

(Music by Jill Tracy, directed by Bill Domonkos)

I guess, this puts you in right mood :-) ah, the horror.

As a German, Halloween as a very remote part of my cultural background via the Walpurgisnacht, but I welcomed this new holiday and really like it. I think it is a good thing to "make friends with" the dark, the evil&horror for at least one night. It's like laughing into the face of your fears, right?

Here I have a little movie that unites monsters and a passion of mine: lettering. So beautiful!

Following the explosion of Halloween related articles on the web it seems as everybody just waited for the occasion to get out the skeleton!
Here is were you can make your own! Or make a whole spooky house!

Meeting the frightful can end in unusual friendships or insights.

Link:

Personally I feel that November is the month of the spooky things, ghosts, fog, black cats and strange sounds from the stairs.

Back into the chamber turning, all my soul within me burning,
Soon again I heard a tapping somewhat louder than before.
`Surely,' said I, `surely that is something at my window lattice;
Let me see then, what thereat is, and this mystery explore -
Let my heart be still a moment and this mystery explore; -
'Tis the wind and nothing more!'

The perfect month to snuggle under blankets und read before the christmas rush begins.
What about some classics?

The mother of all horror stories:

You still can stand some strange and weird things? Flip through Steven Martin's Set of Vintage Halloween photos. Incredible!

And finally, tomorrow, we can be happy to live in modern times! Thanks to science the witch-hunting is history!

On of the best virals I've seen lately, with genius reference to Monty Python.

Have a good Halloween and a better weekend, Belle

It's getting rainy

2008-10-24T00:00:00.001+02:00

Yes, finally autumn is really here and with it not only hot cocolate, but rain, too.
Weather forcast says that it will rain today in my surroundings, which means an umbrella is a must (if you are not the english type of guy who faces water from above with a hat and a stiff upper lip).
Personally I opt for Umbrella, every year I buy a new one (of low quality, that's why they last just one season), this time I wonder if I should invest some money and get something that screams up to the clouds: "ha! I don't care!"

or more an honest one?

Find your favorit here.

Fortunately Italy isn't really a rainy country, but when it rains it pours. The worst about rain in Italy is that streets aren't really designed to drain away quickly all the water so often you walk in puddles and even when I tried to hop from one spot to the others you always end up with completely soacked shoes and feet. I am thinking about getting wellies, but then you have to carry your "good shoes" with you and that's just what I want to avoid.

My secret dream: galoshes!
"Properly speaking, a galosh is an overshoe made of a weatherproof material to protect a more vulnerable shoe underneath and keep the foot warm and dry. (Wikipedia)" Have you ever seen some? I mean something that goes over your shoes and keeps you dry?

Search no further: they are here!

I think Swims are one of these products that you see and think: how could I live without before? They are genius! (Judging by the pictures. I never had one, never wore one and probably will not in nearer future.)

So, that is all you need for...

or maybe you prefer to stay in?

Have a good Friday and a better weekend! Belle

2008-10-17T00:00:00.002+02:00

Mister Robert Ryan is a paper Artist which makes these beautiful Papercuts. I’ve never seen something similar before, it has an own personal style, romantic, but modern.

I love his work, surfing around on his website is always a pleasure.

Axel Broetje made a whole film with it - very nice and strange!

This is FinallyitsFriday when I put it through wordle.

I really liked the combination of words this little site comes up with. You can enter your own text, your URL or other. What about your favourit poem?

So, have a nice Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Some variations on one theme

2008-10-10T00:00:00.001+02:00

This is a little collection of films that talk about one thing: love and all its different stages.
This collections has grown over the last year and I never knew in which post I should add them, so in the end I put them all together. Maybe this would be a perfect S. Valentine post, but I think in February everything will be rosy and we’ll have a love-overkill. I will make my Halloween post then for S. Valentine, ha ha!

Let’s start with dating:

And if dating goes terrible wrong:

But when you've found your soulmate you'd go through everything for them! Aaaaw!

After a while, a very long while, life gets symbiotic. I know people like this. I hope one day I will be one of them.

Or not. Then you just start over again! :-)

Have a nice Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Jane Austen Season

2008-10-03T00:00:00.003+02:00

It's Friday, please fasten seat belts and relax during our start into the weekend.

See the high quality version here, it's so beautiful!

Autumn is here officially, and in Italy we still have warm and sunny days, perfect to stay outside during the day to enjoy the season. Like every season also Autumn has its own joys: like the return of the tea, related sweets like apple tarts, harvest and extreme couching (read: stay excessive time on your couch/sofa) or do all these things together while reading a book or watching a movie while it’s raining outside. I decided to get some Jane Austen books for my next extreme couching session but this means I at least waiting until November, when weather gets bad even in Tuscany.
Then I stopped in my library and thought why wait?” and got the only Austen book available: Mansfield Park.

Even if it is considered the less romantic book in Austen’s work it still hooked me. And since I cannot have the fine English weather to read it in style I took the book to the park.

I wished I could have even dress up to fit the book’s story.

As I may enjoy reading books in the right ambience, others create the right world for books. Take the virtual tour to Jay Walker's Library.

So, I guess this weekend I will finish Austen and if I have time there will be Apple tart, too!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. still here?

Just watch the sky

2008-09-26T00:00:00.002+02:00

Years ago, when I was still at University, I was collaborating with a team, relaunching an old cinema. It was a painful job, everybody tried to come up with creative ideas, the owner didn’t really know what he wanted, money was lacking and time was lacking, too. After several months of presentations nothing was realized, but in the end they “paid” us with a huge designers party in that cinema. It was wonderful!
After several cocktails we were sitting in the cinema (which at that time was much more decadence, than this)watching old commercials from the 50ies and 60ies (were hilarious). I guess they just taped together every bit of whatever film/movie they had, ending with the newest music clips. And there it was: the first typographic animation of my life. I was stunned, flashed and had goose bumps all over. Since then, every time I was on youtube I tried to find it, but I didn’t remember who it made, the music.. This week the clip crossed my life again, this time on internet (in cinema it was better) – and it is still great. Unfortunately on the tiny screen it is difficult to fully appreciate the work, but for every type geek out there: this is for you.

I don’t know what drives the maker of “just watch the sky” but I really admire the work on this webpage (and the webpage’s name). You’ll find there a really cool music collection and above all the typographic realization of special phrases.

Great work!

And to finish this week with something my office really could need:

EepyBird's Sticky Note experiment from Eepybird on Vimeo.

;-) Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

2008-09-19T00:00:00.004+02:00

I like to start my day with music, work with it and let my mood be guided by it. So I start this post with some music, too :-)

Recently I came across this advertising for bread.. it's so stunning.

Take note of the Titanic posters at 0:12' - the commercial is full of these little footnotes.

Speaking about bread I remembered that the New York Times once wrote about the secret of great bread, with recipe and even a film how to make it. It looks really great, but I haven't had the time yet to try this recipe. I love making brad, but honestly, I wouldn't be able to wait for 12 hours to rise. When I make bread it's already a torture to wait the 4 hours it needs until I can eat the first, still hot slice. Hmmm, best thing on earth! Oh, maybe this is a good project for the weekend.

Since it's still Friday and everybody has at least a day of work to do (lucky who's not working on Saturdays) here something that I found extremely helpful for my daily communications.

It's a copy&past chart you can find here. It includes most ignored characters like n-dash and m-dash and the right multiple sign × …
It doesn’t mean that I use them all the time, but when I want to make things 100% the copy&pasty chart is handy ;-).

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

2008-09-12T00:00:00.000+02:00

It's Friday and it's time to unplug (after work).

Have a good friday and a better weekend, Belle

Buffalo Wisdom

2008-09-05T00:00:00.002+02:00

Here's the right music to start the Friday, a bittersweet melancholy with the hint of far away, wind and adventure. Beautiful!

Moriarty - video "Jimmy"
Caricato da naiverecords

From the band Moriarty, all to discover!

Other things to discover: recently the Guardian published "The 50 greatest arts videos on YouTube" were you can dig yourself through Music, Literature, Film and Art. A wonderful collection which will open your mind and gives you at least 10 good discussions on the next boring party.

My personal favourit is this Pollock Video.

I want to crawl inside and be there! ;-)

Sadly, the Guardian didn't consider Design and Graphics an Art, so I add my personal two videos on this subject.

To close this post with another collection of equal brilliantness: Vanity Fairs's Hitchcock Classics!

They took famous Scenes from Hitcchocks work and set them up again with today-famous actors.

I've chosen stills from my favourit film "North by Northwest"

One of the best dialogues ever (oh, were boring books can lead to..! ;-))!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

New Year

2008-08-29T00:00:00.002+02:00

So, the holidays are over and I am back in the office. Are you?
Coming back from summer holidays is for me like starting a new year. Maybe this is caused by the fact that my school years started after summer and my mother bought new clothes, shoes, pencils and stuff and everything felt new. Every year I started with new resolutions like “this year I will memorize my latin verbs day by day and not the day before the exams” (didn’t work so good). So September felt like a new year, fresh start. And it still does: I still start with new resolutions (this time it’s not latin verbs, but equally annoying stuff), the urge to buy new clothes, shoes and above all pencils.
My desk gets dusted and I try to make the most possible clean start.
I started with a new Avatar: get yours at faceyourmanga. This site makes Avatars with a lot of features like piercings and tattoos, but as well the possibility to make your Avatar look older than 20 years, which a lot of us will appreciate. ;-)

Some weeks ago I was writing about seizing the day by doing something creative every day or on a very regular basis. This idea isn’t really new, Plinius the elder put it in these words: Nulla dies sine linea (no day without line). I am coming back on this subject because after my post I discovered two people who do the same, first is Julianna Parr. She has drawn/painted/collaged postcards since 1998. There is an on-line gallery that lets you browse all the cards and search them by keyword. Awesome! Fun!

Kyle T. Webster has started a daily figure drawing blog, which is outstanding.

I cannot look long enough at his drawings, maybe they are really the best possible realization of Plinius’ “line”.

Just to finish the week with something that made me already laugh out loud three times:

Here you go, geek font humor.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

1.9.08 Update

In Summer Vacation

2008-08-15T00:00:00.000+02:00

next post: 29th of August.
See you then, have some good days, Belle

As is the Gardener...

2008-08-08T00:00:00.003+02:00

Gardening can have as many forms as there are ways of thinking. The range goes from zen gardens made to concentrate and find calm, to gardens that have living purpose.
I am so impressed by the following movie. It's awesome.

“If you have a garden and a library, you have everything you need.” Cicero
[I would add a bottle of good red wine]

If you are without garden, then you must go for your balcony or a park. I recently "discovered" the park next to my office, it is really awesome. I can go there to relax, I even tried to run (will pick this up after the holidays again).

"Our happiness in life can indeed be said to be proportional to the extent and intimacy of our interaction with nature." - Daisaku Ikeda

Just to change subject now, there is as well a good reason to stay inside the house: the Olympics open today. I am not a big sport-watcher, BUT I love Olympic games openings, my earliest memory going back to 1984 when I saw the rocket man.
I doubt I will see the opening today, I will be in the office, working. Aw, sad.

Imagery by Jamie Hewlett, the Tank Girl genius.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

2008-08-01T00:00:00.002+02:00

I start with some music. Just click, let go and read. Enjoy!

Did you ever experienced time flying away? No, I don’t mean the time that passes quickly because you are doing something nice, I mean the time that passes without being noticed. And then I say “oh my! The day/week/month/year is already gone. How?” Well, I heard a nice theory about this: the more your days are similar, the lesser you experience them. Which is, for me and 90% of normal adults the normality: get up, go to work, work a lot, go home. Every day is alike, over and over the same thing. One day equals the other and in our mind they become a blurry single memory: months fly by like days.
I am not the one who jumps to the big-shot conclusion and says: ok – then I’ll just have a world-trip and squeeze out of my day every drop I can. We all know that this is impossible.
But there is another thing I noticed: every day happens something worthy to remember, we just need to notice it.

"Each day provides its own gifts." ~ Marcus Aurelius

More than a year ago I started to make a little scribble for every day. I was far too lazy to write a diary and I found that a little picture about the most important/funniest/saddest moment recalls a whole story. I got addicted to it, I am happy that I started and I am sure I will go on with it for quite a while.

For August I uploaded a template you can use by yourself. Try it! Do whatever you want. If you are one of these persons that cannot draw, try stick figures. Or write - a Haiku maybe?

Every day is a little bit different; I am different every day, even what I like is different every day. One morning, while my pc was heating up I took my Pantone Guide and flipped through it, wondering what color would represent the current moment.
It was pantone 213: a bright Pink. Soon I got into the habit, every day I pick a Pantone Color. The most interesting thing is that normally I don’t like any more the color I picked the previous day. So weird. Summing them up in the last five weeks (only working days) I noticed that somehow I have a pattern. Dark doesn’t mean dark mood and red doesn’t necessarily mean angry or vibrant. I just pick a color. A color that somehow appeals to me in this very single moment, it can be any color, even one I don’t like personally. I should check it out after some months.

I have seen that Pantone had a similar idea, assigning a color to each day. You can check your birthday.

So, I started to value my days, it was more something I didn’t choose, but something that just happened. With my new job I started to write down all the different things I did during the day to monitor my progress. Soon I started to add personal thoughts and ideas and now I have something similar to a work - diary.

Until you value yourself, you won't value your time. Until you value your time, you will not do anything with it. M. Scott Peck

I personally love my little black notebook, that keeps track of everything. If you want you can start with a little pocketmod, which you can personalize as you like. I am very impressed by "Franklin's Virtues" that you can add to your pocket mod. It's a very nice little thing with endless possibilities.

Are you a “lister”? I keep listing everything, specially because I cannot keep all the stuff I need to do in my mind. Lists are helpful and it a personal satisfaction to cross out one task after the other. “Now do this” is the virtual list. Awesome.

This was my wednesday - more or less. I didn't put all the calls and mails and discussions. But it's cool to see how your day evolves.

So, finally it's friday and in Italy a lot of people leave for their holidays this weekend. August is the month you don't work, basta.
If you are leaving, too, keep in mind to fill yourself with happiness. So much that you can make your Happy Book! (via Molly)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Lead Letters rule

2008-07-25T00:00:00.001+02:00

Last week I went to visit a typography and I literally freaked out over e a real Heidelberger Letterpress, which was already very old. The owners were very happy about my joy and sadly admitted that they use the press very rarely, that they even start to throw away lead letters and letter cases. I nearly fainted. How was this possible??

I talked them down to give everything they would ever throw away to me and I left the place as a happy owner of two sets of letters and a real, 70year-old wooden letter case (still have to clean it).
I really admire letterpress art, it is so special.

I know that there is a huge Internet community that shares my love for this art, but it really seems that it is an art doomed to die, or, for the better, will be only for the few. In fact, the typographer I talked to said, that “in these days nobody wants a letterpress work anymore”; so it was a happy coincidence to see the Briar Press: “a community of letterpress printers, book artists, and press enthusiasts. The site is dedicated to the preservation of letterpress-era equipment and the art of fine printing.”

In the Cut&Caps section they offer loads of ornaments free for download – and they are all vectorized! (*oh thank you*)

I remember when I first used something in german is called “typometer” – I really searched for an English translation, I am sorry I couldn’t find it. Anyway, a very technical thing, close to a ruler that you need for typographic work. Normally these things are hard to find and very expensive.. but now you can download one and print it on film. If you are a graphic and read this, here you go.

“Hey, I am not into Typography, you are talking too much about letters!” Am I? Ok, let’s switch to something that I like equally: photography.
Recently I noticed these two websites, that are really photofun:
“DeletedImages brings unsharp, moved, blurry and unfocused pictures back to life.” Fun to see the rejected photos of others, I particularly like this one.

Next is Flickrvision: “Flickrvision uses Google Maps to show Flickr photos as they’re uploaded. You can see what people all over Earth are taking pictures of right now! Amazing.” I love it! Take your five minutes off and get a real virtual trip around the globe. Awesome!

Here you go, have a nice Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Paper is good

2008-07-18T08:30:00.005+02:00

Lately I was running my fingers through paper samples for a project at work. After considering thickness and the kind of finish I was searching for the whitest paper I could find. I said “I need paper which is as white as snow. No, even whiter if I can.” I am deeply in love with paper. I collect it, I keep it in stacks, little collections – my house is full with paper that I just love to have with me and don’t dare to use.
Others instead took the love of paper much farer and higher and create wonderful art with it, like Peter Callesen.

His art is so wonderfully special because he keeps the used papersheet visible.

Find more here.

Su Blackwell instead gets even farer: she animates the paper.

if you check out her homepage you can find a cool making-of for this spot - what an awesome work!

It's obvious, that I must at least make a little nod to Origami here… I just add the classic, the crane.

They are easier to make than it seems. Try one! You'll get hooked!

If you aren't about folding, maybe you should try coloring.
Pixo’s 10,000 page colouring book is already over 600 pages long.

He explains these beautiful line drawings are part of a Buddhist exercise in emptiness, which adds a dimension of profundity to the project.

For my project at work I found a wonderful "extra white" paper, which was so great to touch and to look at. Unfortunately this paper was too expensive for the purpose and I had to waive it. But I still dream of it.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

2008-07-11T08:28:00.005+02:00

If I had to say one word, it'd be "hot". It's hot outside, it's hot inside - there is nothing you can do, except taking cold showers, sip iced tea and waiting for the evening, hoping that it brings a cooler breeze.
I am sleeping with all my windows open, which means that the heat in my house overtook the fear that a thief could take advantage of open windows. Until now a lot of mosquitos gratefully took advantage.

So in this moment "hot" is unavoidable linked to "mosquito" to me. What would be your thought about one word?
Find it out here - don't think. just write.

If you are lucky, you own a garden or a balcony, to sit outside and chill - I am not one of these lucky people, which means that I go out a lot, seeing friends with balconies. In donor I bring some chilled wine or a table lantern (hint, hint).

So, have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. summer holidays are coming! :-)

p.p.s. How can I talk about heat without the classic! Awwww.. Billy Wilder!

Designer's Blues

2008-07-04T08:35:00.003+02:00

Sorry, I had a busy week and I am still on the run.
In the meantime please have a laugh on common reasons for Designer's Blues.

And if y ou have some time know y ourself better with this interesting test.

Advanced Global Personality Test Results

Extraversion	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	54%
Stability	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	62%
Orderliness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	58%
Accommodation	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	46%
Interdependence	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	36%
Intellectual	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	54%
Mystical	\|\|	10%
Artistic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	83%
Religious	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Hedonism	\|\|\|\|\|\|	23%
Materialism	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Narcissism	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Adventurousness	\|\|\|\|	16%
Work ethic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Humanitarian	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	70%
Conflict seeking	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Need to dominate	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%

Romantic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	50%
Avoidant	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Anti-authority	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%
Wealth	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Dependency	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	36%
Change averse	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	70%
Cautiousness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	63%
Individuality	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	50%
Sexuality	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	70%
Peter pan complex	\|\|	10%
Family drive	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	50%
Physical Fitness	\|\|\|\|\|\|	%
Histrionic	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	56%
Paranoia	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Vanity	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	43%
Honor	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	76%
Thriftiness	\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|\|	70%

Take Free Advanced Global Personality Test
personality test by similarminds.com

I wouldn't say this is me 100%, but a lot of things they got right ;-)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Cockaigne \kah-KAYN\, noun: An imaginary land of ease and luxury.

2008-06-27T00:00:00.003+02:00

In Germany we called it “Schlaraffenland” and it was always described as “the land where grilled doves fly directly into your mouth”. Everything was eatable and people just lied down under a gentle sun and everything they desired would come to them.

Pieter Brueghel painted a very nice version.

You can see the original in Munich.

I was wondering what I would desire, how my personal Cockaigne would look like and I started to fill it with design-pieces, colors, music, books, leisure, and peonies. Once my greed is satisfied I add health&love for me and my family and, obviously, the more I think the lesser important appear materialistic things. Considering that I have everything I need to shelter and take care for myself and added to that everyone important to me is in the same condition I really feel fortunate, lucky & happy.

He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. ~Epictetus

looking down. from hrrrthrrr on Vimeo.

Maybe when you die, you come before a big, bearded man on a big throne, and you say, "Is this heaven?" And he says, "Heaven? You just came from there." - Kirk Douglas

If this is not your style and you prefer to be miserable, just read this fine article: Great ways to be miserable! ;-)

Last, but not least, for my technological readers: a very nice, simple add-on for your desktop, the rainlendar – a calendar that allows you to add events and a to-do-list without getting too bulky.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Today a little bit of everything

2008-06-20T08:29:00.000+02:00

So, how was your week? I had a little bit of everything. Some good days, one bad day, and yesterday a wonderful evening in front of the tv watching the German national soccer team winning against the Portuguese.

This post, too, will have a little bit of everything, think of it as a small buffet and you just pick what you like.

I want to start with the mole. It is old Czechoslovakia cartoon movie from famous artist Zdenek Miler. The Mole was part of a very popular german children’s program which I saw every Sunday when I was a kid. Aw, nostalgia!

Are you one of these people that still have the sunblocker from this winter's ski-trip in your bag? Well, it works in summer too, so you are ok. I carry tons of things with me, that one day could be handy, in the meantime my handbag is similar to Mary Poppins handbag: you can find everything inside there.

In Italy, after a rainy rainy may and an awful june (until now) yesterday there has been the first summer day. Today weather forcast said we will have a hot day and I dressed accordingly, but the sky is in heavy clouds...
I start missing hot weather which makes the best background for ice-cream (I cannot eat ice-cream when it's cold) and walks in the night with the one you love, talking and melting away.

Have a good friday and a better weekend, Belle

King of the cube

2008-06-12T09:00:00.000+02:00

Who is following my flickr-page knows that I have recently changed my job and office. The new ambience is really electrifying and stimulating, I am working a lot to dig myself into it. My new working place is really luminous, for the first time I have a real window, yay! I have a nice view on the motorway (haha) and the Tuscan Hills behind it – which is wonderful, every day they are different and they are similar to the hills in Germany where I lived (in fact they call them “the German Tuscany”), so I already feel connected to them.

Obviously I have so much to do, everything is new. My coffee rate rose from 2 a day to three, first because I am tired, second because a lot of coworkers offered me coffee to know me better and I don’t feel to refuse.
That reminds me of another starbucks commercial, which I so love.

I found the text unwillingly funny:
Glen, Glen Glen Glen
Glen Glen Glen
Glen Glen Glen
Glen's the man, going to work
Got his tie, got ambition
Middle management is right in his grasp
It's a dream he will never let die
Glen's the man of the hour
He's the king of his cube
Status call reports have finally met their rival
Burning the candle at both ends on his way to the top
He knows one day he just could become, supervisor

Luckily my new company as a good mensa where I don’t pay a lot for lunch. But I am seriously considering having my lunches in the nearby park in future.

Get instructions here.

But it isn't all roses and fun, hey, it is work. Even if all my superiors and coworkers are very supportive the last days I felt a huge pressure on my shoulders, waking up in the middle of the night caused by all the adrenaline that runs through my body (or maybe it's the coffee ;-)).
After touching a miserable low in self esteem I re-found my peace in focusing on things that matter much more than work, still promising to myself I would do my best to succeed. A day later I found this article, which says it much better than me, so I thought I would share it with you.

Personal Satisfaction
Doing Our Best

We often come into contact with the idea that our best isn’t good enough, as if this were actually possible. If you examine this notion, you will begin to see that it doesn’t make much sense. Your best is always good enough, because it comes from you, and you are always good enough. You may not be able to deliver someone else’s idea of the best, but the good news is that’s not your burden. You only need to fulfill your own potential, and as long as you remain true to that calling, and always do your best to fulfill your purpose, you don’t need to expect anything more from yourself...

Read here

It even helps me to know, that others have bad days, too ;-)

And in the end: celebrate the art of letting go. After all, the weekend is here.

by Marthawrites

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Vintage

2008-06-06T08:58:00.000+02:00

When I was younger old things were used to be called "second hand" and didn't cost anything. Now these things are called "Vintage" and cost twice the price the item did cost originally - wow, that's what I call a good incentive for recycling! :-)

I like things that combine old and something personal, that creates a third different level of meaning.
Wilhelm Staehle does exactly that, playing with our commen memory of old prints and paintings adding silhouettes and witty phrases and voilà: awesomeness!

Get more here and find your personal favourit.

Feeling inspired? See Operina, which offers old illustration books for free download.
I am already thinking about how to use these two beautiful illustrations this weekend!

And a piece from Alice in Wonderland:

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Things I am leaving behind.

2008-05-30T10:19:00.000+02:00

Today is the last day at my current job and the whole week was like a devil’s ride on a roller coaster. Wuau… what a speed!
I am cleaning up my work pc, burning down all my personal files – I didn’t expect they would count up to 13 DVDs and still counting. I packed my personal stuff to bring it home, a typical scene from movies: you put everything in a box and sadly hold it in your arms while moving downwards in the elevator. Not so.. with me it was 4 boxes. Aw! (One box is paper samples, another box is Photostock, no officejunk)
I had to decide, too, what I would leave.
I am leaving behind “my” bone folder – the company paid it. I am leaving a kick-ass Screensaver that I uploaded just some days ago. Actually, I did that for the IT who will have to “check” my pc after I have left.
It’s an awesome geeky screensaver – that works on BOTH of my monitors with different views and has sound.

I don’t know if Screensavers really save screens, but this one at least makes me smile every time I see it.

http://www.mewho.com/system47/

If this is not really your style, there is this one that made me really laugh!

http://technet.microsoft.com/it-it/sysinternals/bb897558(en-us).aspx

I am sure your curious office neighbor will never dare to touch your pc when you are in lunch break, ah ah.

I am leaving as well a pimped up Mozilla Firefox with two really “useful” applications:
First try “MorningCoffee”
It’s an application that add a little button to your browser with which you can organize all your daily bookmarks. Every morning you are going to read the same sites online? MorningCoffee is for you!

The other one I really enjoyed is Add-Art. That is what the makers say about it:
“Add-Art is a free FireFox add-on which replaces advertising on websites with curated art images. The art shows are updated every two weeks and feature contemporary artists and curators.”

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Update:
The IT saw the screensaver already yesterday after I have left the office. He thought it was so cool that he called everybody to see it and an hour ago he asked me to get it for him. So funny. Happy that once in a while I am a step ahead (never happened before, ha!).

Bond is for lovers

2008-05-23T09:50:00.000+02:00

Last year an Italian sport magazine sold all James Bond films, one after the other, on a weekly term. And I got them all (except Casino Royal). Nearly every Friday night it was me and Mr. Bond. First I fell in love with the fascinating Connery but then a witty Moore made it. Call me old-fashioned.

So, you can imagine how delighted I was about this anniversary set of hardback books, published by Penguin U.K., celebrating Ian Fleming’s 100th birthday.

Just for the covers I would buy them. Designed by Michael Gillette, these covers are eye candy, beautifully capturing the spirit and lush of the classic James Bond.

We girls know, Bond is not really a spy. He's a handsome, rich, playful man, who - travelling around the world - sips Martini, drives fast cars and saves the world from the crazy super villain. But the Villain is just a detail. ;-) That's why it's all about style and not about explosions.

Since from the first Bond, producers thought about every detail, specially caring for opening titles, which until today became Design-classics.

Here is a very good collection of Bond openings.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

The secret life of Grafitti

2008-05-16T09:00:00.000+02:00

Some days ago, taking a virtual stroll in the www, I stumbled over “Blu”, an Italian Graffiti/Streetart Artist from Bologna, Italy.
He has an incredible and sometimes creepy drawing style and I really admire his ability with the black line.
His Sketchbooks are awesome!

Apparently he is working all over the world, painting his art on walls of Berlin, London and South America.

The most amazing thing is that he is even animating his Art. And he is doing it on walls. I have never seen something more crazy/beautiful.

MUTO a wall-painted animation by BLU from blu on Vimeo.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Hey Blu, se leggi questo e un giorno passi per Firenze, permettimi di offrirti un drink di tua scelta.

Look, it's different now!

2008-05-09T09:37:00.000+02:00

I am a big fan of things that have a twist. Things that can do different things or change. In fact I love everything that folds like chairs and tables, I would never buy a sofa that cannot open into a bed.

So stunned by this great Ad. When you look at is the first time you would probably see nothing special in it.

But, once you look at it with the help of mirror, it makes sense. Awesome! This made me think of Alice, who saw the Wonderland passing through a Mirror.

I am always surprised how our mind just wipes out “unimportant” things: years ago I had my desk next to the Fire extinguisher. I really noticed that after months working there. For a day I asked everybody that passed my desk “I am sorry, do you know where the Fire extinguisher is in this company?” Nobody knew. Probably everybody walked by it 50 times a day…

This weekend I cannot walk through a mirror, but I will try and live in an impressionistic painting. What about you?

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

May has come

2008-05-02T09:20:00.000+02:00

Just to start off the new shiny month, you may want some change, something new. I found this series of great calendar wallpapers, here my personal favorite.

I was always thinking of creating one by myself, and ta-tah! Here it is!

Click here to download.

Yesterday was Labor Day in Italy (and Germany, too), which is traditionally a day you don’t work. That’s a cool working logic.
I had a wonderful lunch with friends and later we went to a park, see some green and get some sun. And at some point this relaxed atmosphere lead into a hot discussion about how taxes should be spend. This was interesting, because it remembered me that work doesn’t only pay my rent, but pays other things, too, regardless if I agree with it or not. Work produces stuff, that others pay for. It’s a huge global economic cycle you’ve probably already heard about and I don’t want you to bore you with my opinion about all that. But I would like to share with you this extraordinary site made by Annie Leonhard.
The story of stuff.

It made me think a lot and changed my shopping habits. Quiet happy about that! :-)

Have a good Friday (if you didn’t take this day off, as everybody except me) and a better weekend, Belle

I am talking about type again

2008-04-24T09:46:00.000+02:00

I once heard an American surfing champion talking in a local German radio show and the dj asked him what he liked about Germany and what was the main difference with his home country. The surfer said:

In my country I wake up, take a look outside the window and think “wow, it’s the perfect day to go surfing”. In Germany one wakes up, takes a look outside and thinks “wow, it’s the perfect day to print some bibles!”

I loved it. It’s so true. Maybe, if in Germany there would be lesser rainy days, Gutenberg would have gone for a walk instead of inventing the letterpress. Where would we be without his invention? I don’t know. But I am deeply convinced that to teach somebody to read is one of the biggest gift you can give. Everything else you can learn by reading (more or less, but this is the concept). Anyway, I wanted to talk about Gutenberg, because I was born and raised near to Mainz, his home city. The BBC made a beautiful documentary about him and his invention, starring Stephen Fry.
Here the first part (of six).

I am always amazed how profound the type-cosmos is and how much knowledge is spinning around these tiny little letters, that are, yes, images, too!

Here is more.

And to end this week in beauty – get some new fonts. And I mean really beautiful fonts.

Have a good end of the week and a better weekend, Belle
(Friday is Holiday in Italy, it’s Liberation Day)

This weekend try the bohemian life!

2008-04-17T15:58:00.001+02:00

Did you miss me last week? Nobody complained… ;-)
I went for a weekend-trip to Germany to see my parents and family, was great, but I couldn’t send you a FiF-post, I am sorry! So, but this weekend you will *so* thank me. I don’t know how about you, but my last’s week two days off turned into a work overkill this week and I will really need to relax and do something creative. It’s hard to be creative on demand, at least for me.

"You can't help but remember what Faulkner is alleged to have said when asked whether he wrote daily or only when the inspiration hit him. It's said he replied that he wrote only when the inspiration came, but that he made sure it came every morning at ten o'clock sharp when he sat down at his desk." –Rick Bass

Every time I lack in inspiration I pretend to be French. I don’t know why it works, but it does, amazingly I even draw better when I pretend to be a French art student. And, to say, I don’t even speak French.

So to get you in the mood I have this little musical gem for you: lean back, enjoy and dream.

Feeling already more bohemian?? Me for sure! I want to dress some striped shirt, go back smoking French cigarettes and drink a glass of cidre. No kidding, B U T I feel much more stimulated to create something.

It’s about more than a year that I secretly dream about owning a Pinhole camera, I even had a Pinhole kit on my official Christmas list, but nothing, I am still without. But sometimes life just lets you wait to give you things for free.

The good guys at Corbis made Pinhole camera sets for FREE!
AND they are cool!

So, this weekend you know what to do: connect with your creative side, make a pinhole, go for a walk and shoot some old-fashioned film!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. I am posting this on Thursday, because guess what? Tomorrow I am busy! ;-)

2008-04-04T15:12:00.000+02:00

This week I have been to the Bologna Children’s Book Fair, which was huge!
I went there with an American friend, selling ourselves as independent Journalists (“writing about new trends in children’s books illustrations”). Obviously we had so much fun, looking at all the new stuff. Sometimes we spotted books we have read when we were kids and found out that the Caterpillar is the book that unites continents and generations. It’s still there!!

Hurray to Eric Carle!

People asked me, if I could spot a "new trend" this year. Yes, this year Pop-up books are huge. Incredible!

It seems as if there is no limit to the possibilities of Pop-up books. They are not the books they used to be when I was a kid, anymore.

This book opened to a complete wild west city with horses and carriage, its amazing!

Here some more book pop-art.

Eric Carle speaks about following your dreams - Inspiring!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Cheering works! Coffee works even better.

2008-03-28T09:34:00.000+01:00

If there is one thing I love at my job then it's the fact that I have several coffee bars next to it and a nice boss that permits me to go and get some coffee.
It doesn't take long, ten minutes just for me, do a little walk, get some fresh air and a shot of caffeine and come back with a clear(er) mind.
Yet I would never drink my coffee from a can, but I loved this ad right from the beginning:

Cheering works - try it today with yourself and with somebody else.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

It's ufficial! It's Spring!

2008-03-21T09:28:00.000+01:00

I know it might sound silly, but I think it was natures best invention to let winter be followed by spring. I welcome every season and specially love autumn, but nothing opens your heart like spring after the dark and cold winter. After all the whites, grays and browns I welcome back yellow, rose and a bright blue sky.
In Italy a lot of flowers and trees do their best to bloom, but still they are behind my desires. So I really welcomed this new exhibition at the Moma, that everybody can see thanks to Internet and thanks to the generosity of the Moma (hey, European museums! I am talking to YOU!).

Go and see this wonderful exhibition you don't even need to go to New York.

I am in love with this: I need to try it in my house! ;-) ha! Ha!

Even the news come in color, that doesn't make them any better, but well, brighter!

I have tested this site for a week in its italian and german version and I have seen that they use quiet different sources from left to right, so I think everybody can use it.

Speaking about colors.. I guess, i have to return to wear some orange, or, in this special case, dark red, which I actually prefer.

So, you all, have a good Friday and a better weekend (and Happy Easter for who is cristian). I have to go and hug some tree (and show my appreciation)! Belle

What is your monster?

2008-03-13T18:10:00.000+01:00

Stefan Bucher draws a monster every day, which is really hilarious! See his very first drawing here.

Nice little guy, isn't it? Here are more monsters!

Do you have monsters at home? I have one, which is invisible and just leaves crumbs. It's the Crumbmonster.
And my house is infected of Dustballmonsters. Mostly under my bed, I think it's their secret mating place. Every Saturday I do an hoover exorcism, but they come back! Every week it's the "return of the Dustballmonsters". *Sigh* It's easier to coexist with them. Resistance is futile.. :-)

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

In my place it's still freezing!

2008-03-07T08:59:00.000+01:00

Which is not really fair. In Italy they say that march is "crazy", one day it's nice, one day it's cold, one day rain, next day snow. We already had one or two nice days, sun and really warm weather and then, >zabam< cold again, even snow.
I am counting the days until spring, until then all we can do is freeze...

Have a nice Friday and a better weekend, Belle

... more than 1000 words

2008-02-28T16:06:00.000+01:00

They say, that a picture says more than a 1000 words. A picture paired with six words is something so mindblowing beautiful that I tried it myself.

I wasn't able to put my life into six words so I tried with the last month. This is February.

Talking about word I come directly to letters, type and typography. Latetly I wrote a letter by hand and I noticed that my hand had become stiff. I write too many emails. I really envy people that have a nice handwriting and I admire handlettering.

I specially love the unique look.

You say you cannot do this? A four-year-old can. :-)

Go, loose the stiff hand! To know which Fonts suits you best, take the quiz:

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Forcing Spring

2008-02-22T09:51:00.000+01:00

We all know that one swallow doesn't mean springtime is coming, but, as the end of February is coming, I can count the typical Italian signs for spring: sales are nearly over, shops propose summer clothing (a lot of bright colors this year: yellow, pink and lime green), girls starting to eat "salad without dressing, please".
In the same time temperatures are still a little low. I need spring, now!

Josh McKible makes these wonderful birds, you can choose between several types, there is even a pigeon (but no swallow). I, certainly, took the Belmondo-typ, who could ever resist a cool French guy? ;-)

Then, as I said before, spring and summer means to abandon the old, the grey, the dark. Colors! Personally I find it difficult to dress colors and used the “all black” tactic for years. One, because it’s so easy, second, as a Designer you are nearly expected to dress black. But for some time I am trying to add color in my style so I couldn’t be more delighted when I found this. Five New Yorkers who wear only one color all day, every day (and it’s not black).

I cannot decide for which color I should go, maybe the blue.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

2008-02-13T15:28:00.000+01:00

So, did you have a good Valentine? Or did it just pass you without any signs? Well, I want to talk about love for another week.

Obligation without love creates annoyance,
Responsibility without love creates insensitivity,
Justice without love creates harshness,
Truth without love creates fault-finding,
Cleverness without love creates deceit,
Kindness without love creates hypocrisy,
Order without love creates pettiness,
Expertise without love creates obstinacy,
Power without love creates cruelty,
Honour without love creates vanity,
Possession without love creates avarice,
Faith without love creates fanaticism… (Lao-Tse)

I came across these words some months ago and I kept thinking about how values become bad if they lack love. Even more I was fascinated about the turnaround way: if we add love to bad things they can turn into values. This sounds too simple to you? Actually it is that simple. Practicing and turning it into a habit is the difficult part.

Thanks to Eric Prince for this beautiful picture!

Around the world are a lot of people who took the habit to add love to the things they do. Take inspiration!
• Rianna lives slow
• Leo tries to live the golden rule
• The people from “we are what we do” believe that huge amount of tiny actions can create a better world

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Rose period

2008-02-08T17:45:00.000+01:00

So Valentine is coming and you are still thinking about what you should do? Nothing in mind? Keep it simple! Let me say it with your mother's words: the important thing is that it comes from your heart. Really.
So the first thing to do is sit down, relax and think about what you love about your sweetheart, what made you fall in love. Think about how you met.

So, I am sure, you already know what you want to say/give to your sweetheart, right? ;-) Aw, I knew it.

Next: the Card. You hate all the sugarcoated cards that you can buy? So right. Try making one by yourself! This is surely a wonderful way to say "I heart You".

Second: Sweets! This is a tricky one: a lot of Girls love sweets but are on an endless diet. Invest in really, really good chocolate and buy less. Every bite will be a trip to heaven!

Your sweetheart is not a sweet tooth? Skip the chocolate and go for his/her favourit meal. Include the dishwashing in your treat.

Third: Flowers. No doubt, essential. Stay away from roses, they are just cheesy and overrated. More else get some flowers your sweetheart likes or a plant - it will live longer!

Help! I am single! I Hate Valentine!
Being Single at Valentines is hart, I know. But whoever thinks that Valentine is only for couples is wrong: love is everywhere - spread it.
Your Mom will be overwhelmed when she gets your Valentine, have a sister, a brother? When was the last time you told them that you really really love them?
Men: yeah I know, do it in a manly way, it's ok.
Women: you know what you should do :-)

So, have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

I laughed so hard...

2008-02-01T17:40:00.000+01:00

How come that I am nearly always posting films? Because they are funny!
This one is technical a film, but you read and hear it.
And this is funny – you’re gonna laugh, promised.

If you didn’t laugh, complain in the comments!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

What kind of superhero are you?

2008-01-25T16:27:00.000+01:00

I am "shy, intelligent, loving, have great willpower, and have a good sense of humor." I think this describes me very well - my superhero personality is Spiderman/Peter Parker.

So, this weekend I am going to watch out for atomic spiders..

Take the test! Which superhero are you?

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Picture-Poetry

2008-01-18T16:48:00.000+01:00

Each evening two women that live 3191 miles apart make a photo.
They put it together and form something I would call a Picture-Haiku (even if the third line is missing, but it’s ok). It’s visual poetry, every day new, different, there for you.
Follow it!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Type in you life

2008-01-11T14:19:00.000+01:00

Some days ago I came across this little film:

and I thought how wonderful it was that I wanted to share it with you.

Then I made my own experiment. One day, Wednesday 9th of January: I took photos of all significant (for me) type.
Here it is.

Actually this is all my day, from waking up to having breakfast, going to work, lunch, work again and home again. This wednesday was very busy, nearly only work and eat. It's not always like this. :-)

Click here for better descriptions of single pictures.

Have a good friday and a better weekend, Belle

New Year

2008-01-04T09:49:00.000+01:00

So, what about a new Year’s resolution? Do you have your one special list?

I made my first serious list of resolutions 31st of December 2006 and it had three points: Quit smoking, exercise, read better books.
About quitting smoking I thought a long long time. It is so easy to say and think when the actual quitting day is still far. I had already tried and started smoking again, so I knew this would be going to be hard. But this time I had a good start. A friend of mine had quit some months earlier and she was doing fine. So I thought “hey, I can do this, too”.
The real turning point was when my flat mate suddenly got pregnant. She wasn’t able to quit smoking completely (and even found a doctor who told her up to 5 cigarettes a day were ok), and a lot of people around her felt to tell her what would be better for her and her baby. I saw her suffering the fact that everybody took the right to judge her and secretly I did the same. “What if you had to quit smoking one day to the other?” my inner self asked me, “it’s so easy judging her while you still have the cigarette in your hand. Try by yourself and see what she is going through.”
And so I did, I smoked my last cigarette the 6th of January 2007 and never smoked one again.

The effects were amazing. The best thing was a real positive boost for my ego. After some months not smoking I felt as if I had accomplished something really great. I had won. And I knew that I could do everything I wanted. I put other things on my list and started doing them, it really was a great year for me, and everything started with a New Year’s resolutions list.
So, take some time, sit down and think about what you want from your life, for yourself, for others. Think, too, about what you are willing to give. Believe me, this will be a great year!

Some people can really take it far,get inspired here.
Join us fo a great 2008!

Baby, it’s cold outside!

2007-12-28T13:30:00.000+01:00

In my hemisphere it is definitely cold. So what can we do about this?

Women
1. Light a candle (better: light your fireplace if you have one. I am secretly dreaming of this, since I have no fireplace)
2. Friday – Sunday: Open a bottle of red wine
Monday – Thursday: Make yourself a hot tea or chocolate (yumm)
3. Wrap yourself in warm blankets, pullovers.
4. Get a good read or film, that warms your heart
5. Take a hot shower, pamper yourself with spiced bubblebath
6. Pick up your phone, call your best friend/sister/mother and share your thoughts about the cold
7. Think about how cold it would be if you were actually outside
8. If you have a cold home and you feel like freezing despite point 1-7 try another place: go to the movies, to the little local museum (empty, but all people working there will be so glad to have you)
9. Make a surprise visit to your best friend/sister/mother

Men
1. Cut some wood for the fireplace. If you have no fireplace: help out in the house. It’s amazing how cleaning the bathroom or hovering under the bed makes you sweat.
2. Open a bottle of beer
3. Get long warm underwear
4. See a sportsgame in Tv
5. Call your mother/grandmother and tell them how much you enjoyed their home knitted sox when you were a boy. They will get the hint, don’t worry, they are women. You’ll get some new pairs!
6. Pick up the phone and call your best friend/brother/father and complain about the stupid boiler, that doesn’t work
7. Take the dog for a walk. When you come back your house will feel very warm!
8. Go to the pub. Better: a sport pub
9. Make a surprise visit to you mother/sister/aunt: women feel cold all year through, their homes will be hot and be sure you’ll find some hot drink ready to enjoy

Woman & Men:
10. Have warm thoughts! This will help you:

So. This is Christmas.

2007-12-14T15:11:00.000+01:00

I needed to. If you think, christmas is not for you, just skip this post. No worries.
I am a Buddhist and Christmas is still a important day in my life. Like my birthday and Kosen-Rufu-Day, but importance changes based on what day is next.

In my office we come from 6 different countries, three continents and 4 different religions, and guess what, we all celebrate Christmas. So, some days ago I bought a fake tree (quite real, in fact), put on the radio (scroll down, there is the Christmas channel) and had a happy Christmas decoration session. Oh so satisfying.

Here some things you can do, to get the Christmas spirit:
See THE classic:

Make Christmas ornaments.

Bake cookies! Ask your mum or your grandmum a recipe. Best thing to do: give them to your friends, collegues. What a cheer!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle
p.s. Don’t forget: war is over. If you want it.

Fight Aids at home.

2007-11-30T09:10:00.000+01:00

Or the Dengue Fever. Or unfold the human Proteome. How? It’s easy!
Go to the World Community Grid and download their Boinc Manager and this thing will download small portions of projects on your pc and work on it while you are surfing in internet (or working). Probably you will never notice because your pc has a high potential and you use it just to read your email or whatever else. Even my pc, which is quiet rusty and really working a lot has still some disk space I can dedicate to help out for a higher purpose.
The Community Grid helps teams of researches that need supercomputers. For example:

World Community Grid focused on a project key to advancing our knowledge of human disease. By identifying the proteins that make up the Human Proteome, scientists can build the understanding needed for novel and effective treatments for diseases like cancer, HIV/AIDS, SARS, and malaria.

To do so, it needed more than 26,645 years! Yes, years! But in reality they needed lesser than 2 years. Instead of keep thinking on superpc for 26000 years a lot of pcs thought only two years. Isn’t that great?
I am in the project for 3 weeks now and already accomplished several mini-projects, helping to fight aids, dengue fever and other things. Boy, it feels so good! You get this little sympatric window that shows you what your pc is doing and how far you got. It works even when you are offline or at lunch break (before I go to lunch break I put my preferences on 100% processor use – why shouldn’t my pc work while I am off?).

Think about it. Tomorrow is the World Aids Day and Christmas is coming. Get the good feeling of never saying “Yeah, but what can I do?” again!

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

When a princess dreams..

2007-11-23T10:32:00.000+01:00

Every Girl dreams of a prince, that one day, will come on his white horse and marry us. Then you grow older and you learn that there are no princes and no white horses. We would never admit it but deep down our hearts this dream is locked inside. So, once you married the prince, where do you put the horse?

Isn’t that a practical solution? When the prince comes home with the shopping bags, he can just hand them over to you and you can store everything in your lovely kitchen.

More pictures here – attention!
Disturbing Image warning! :-) There is a solution for the modern princess (which favors princes with frog-green cars), too.

Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Everything you need to know about graphic design

2007-11-14T10:10:00.000+01:00

Yes, how could we ignore something as important as Graphic Design, that is all about "gambling and free speech"? I love this line. As a graphic designer I tell you, that it is more true that you can ever imagine.

Now, really, never and then never use "Comic Sans" - it's a mistake not only "americans" do, but humans all over the world. If you want to be original try a Helvetica.

"You can say I love you in Helvetica. You can say it with Helvetica Extra Light if you want to be really fancy." (Veer)

You don't know Paul Rand? You think you screw? I passed five years in Design University and nobody ever told me about Paul Rand. So, I am a superscrew. But, hey, I love Internet: here is real, wonderful introdution to him in his own words.

Now go back to work and delete Comic Sans from your Computer. (If you are a Mac User: shame on you!)

Hopp Hopp

2007-11-02T16:00:00.000+01:00

Do you remember a TV spot where zillions of colored balls bounce down the hills from san francisco? I do.. I remember that I was stunned and I wanted to see it again and again! (And I had to have the soundtrack!)
The Spot was for Sony, advertising their product TV Bravia and the balls were for real, yes they really bounced down the street.

Now there is a new spot which is genius and again I am stunned and want to see it again and again.

Are these rabbits real? Everybody knows how much work it is to make a plasticine animation.. but it is true! It’s amazing what 2.5 tons of play-doh, 40 animators, 3 weeks time and a goal in common can do!
Inspirational!
Have a good Friday and a better weekend, Belle

Palischal

2007-10-30T17:39:00.000+01:00

There are things you do when you are young and you should quit them when you grow older: like wearing shorts or smoking, for example. Another thing is using the palestinese scarf. I had one, black-and-white and I wore it because of two reasons: everybody did and adults seemed to be contrary. This was when I went to school.
Growing older and going to designer college I changed that desert-designed piece of textile with other scarfs and growing more older I started to wonder what on earth drove me to wear it on peace demontrations - because palestine people are role models in the peace movement? Not so.
Why am I talking about this? We all know that germans are no fashion movers, even if they try hard. Berlin is a wonderful city, but it's not New York, so just grow up: stop ripping off their webdesign and you know, a palistinese scarf is not a fashion accessoir, even if you call it "egyptian".

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