Ulicam

Bright orange acorn socks

2012-02-17T09:44:00.000+01:00

When I rode my bike to ballet class yesterday it was literally raining ice and the streets were so slippery you could DIE. However, we were only 4 girls that showed, so I'm thinking some of the dancers did die on their way to class. Hopefully not.
I've had a lot on my mind lately but when we started dancing I forgot to think about all that. I got so far away from my thoughts that when the teacher said and know we'll do pirouettes across the floor I thought shit I have double pair of socks on me I can't spin. However, I knew that under my black socks I was wearing brightly orange socks with acorns on them. Socks no one is supposed to see. You know, like embarrassing underwear. But I took my black socks of and hid away behind all the other girls. Then the teacher turns around and everyone is looking at me feet and it goes all quite. I'm standing there in my wool long johns feeling uneasy. I forget that I'm 23 and I think I'm 8 years for a moment and I think oh my god everyone is looking at my acorn socks. I put one foot over the other and say quietly I'm ashamed of my socks. My teacher says I was looking at you feet, not your socks. And then everyone is looking at me like what is the matter with you???
And so that pretty much sums up the eventful happenings of my thursday.

Linn Runeson

2012-02-16T16:00:00.000+01:00

Artist Linn Runeson asked me to photograph her exhibition and to shoot a few portraits as well. Since I don't get that many real photo assignments it's fun when I do and to try and understand what my client wants. Sometimes you get it right... and I've had a few times when I really haven't :) But it's often due to a lack of communication.
Linn studies architecture in the building next to my design school. She's really friendly and always spoils me with nice compliments, in other words - a great client :)

Swirly curly

2012-02-15T19:18:00.002+01:00

2012-02-14T19:00:00.000+01:00

I'm lucky enough to have the same valentine for the fourth time now.
I'm also a strong believer in that if you want to give away a card for valentines, you should go all the way. Don't hold back on the sparkles, the pink and the silly. It's a rather silly holiday anyway :)
And remember, if you don't have a valentine, you shouldn't be sad but simply celebrate love instead. Meet your friends, bake some cakes and watch a super cosy movie.

Unicorn/Dream magazine are releasing their looove issue today.

♥ Uli ♥

Nature perfection

2012-02-13T23:39:00.002+01:00

On sunday me and Robert woke up to winter wonderland. The sky was dropping big chunks of snowflakes and everything was quite and white. You almost felt like you where indoors when you where outside. A strange feeling. But exciting. Yet calming.

We went out and photographed birds, unfortunalety I only had my little Canon S90 with me, but I manage to snap some shots. I think I want to come back and take more pictures of the swans with my other camera though. With my ULICAMera :)

Mina dancing

2012-02-10T19:00:00.000+01:00

Ah, look I actually finished. Now it's been wrapped and I'll give it to Mina tonight.
Today I wrote down a list of things I should finish and deadlines I have and I sort of dropped my eyeballs or my pants or whatever it is you say because I didn't know how I would finish any of it in time.
I think I need another arm or a slave or a time machine or something.

I wish all of you a wonderful weekend!

Piranha

2012-02-09T09:48:00.000+01:00

Wow, you guys are really helpful. Thank you for sharing your dreamspaces. I especially like the ones who talked about being under water... because that's one of my absolute strongest dreamspaces. When I'm bathing in the sea, I love to dive under and just "crawl" along the bottom holding on to the sand. I feel like I become one with the sea and that no one could ever find me there. Obviously, if someone came near they would see this pale girl blobbing around in some very shallow water and they'd think what's her problem?. But I wouldn't know that would I? I would be to busy feeling good :)

So I might be introducing illustrations to my bachelor and I'll probably be inspired by some of your dreamspaces. But I'll see. I change my mind every other day. And then when I finally set my mind to something my teachers come along and say "Hello this is fart-ish, do over!".
The Piranha is from my friend Minas room. I love it. But everyone else who visits her complains that it's disgusting. And the sketch is just the beginning of an illustration I'm making for Minas mum. Yes, Mina I know you're reading - I've actually started now, the question is - will I finish as well?

Help Uli

2012-02-07T10:55:00.001+01:00

Gosh, I'm stuck.
I had my bachelor first idea crit yesterday and our head master thinks I'm taking a wrong turn in trying to create creative mind release with creative objects. He thinks I need more contrasts. To clear ones head, the mathematicians does art, the artist does something opposite of art.

Now I'm thinking about smells... and the touch of different surfaces, temperatures, elements.

But all in all, I need to take s step back and ask you:
What do you think of when I say dreamspace? (an existing place, not in your mind)
What is your dreamspace?

Any answer is a good answer!

Ice princess

2012-02-05T16:55:00.000+01:00

I thought playing the ice princess would be fun. But it turned out to be rather cold. Hence the ice princess. Frozen blue. I got my hair cut... is it noticeable? She cut it weirdly. So I had to curl it. So it won't look so weirdly.

Since the Girl with 7 horses mania is starting to fade, I'm feeling a calm tingle through my body. Time for a new dreamy project. But what will it be? I'll have to take some time of and look at other peoples work for a few days. It's been way to much just about my own work lately. I wouldn't mind looking at these silly rabbit photos for a whole day.

And off course, a big hug to everyone who's ordered a horse print. I'm not really making any profits but it's a wonderful feeling knowing that the pictures are getting new homes in places like Brazil, New York, Portugal, United Kingdom, Latvia, Canada, Switzerland and Australia... to mention a few. It's amazing, I've never had such world wide orders before.

Portable TV has written a wonderful feature about me.

PRINT SHOP is OPEN!

2012-02-03T12:53:00.000+01:00

Due to many requests, I've printed two of the pictures from "The Girl with 7 horses" series.

170 gram paper, silk finish.
297 x 420 mm / 11,7 x 16,53 inches
Price 22 EURO
The print is shipped in a protective cardboard tube.
Order HERE

If you have trouble choosing, know that the tones in the winter print are white, blue and sharp while the giant horse print is yellowish, green and more matte in the colors. Think about what will look best with your interior!

I asked Lollo if he could help me promote the print shop. He said that this would best be done with violence. Hence the first picture.

Iceskating

2012-02-01T14:30:00.000+01:00

Remember I said that I saw ice on the lakes and wanted to go skating?
Well, so I did :) I nagged on my dad and then we went together. Like all things me and my dad do together it always ends up in photography somehow. This time we skated for a bit but then it rather quickly ended up with my dad photographing air bubbles in the ice and me filming me feet while skating. Often when we drive off somewhere for a photo excursion, the weather is really bad and we end up at a gadget shop looking at new cameras.

Skating meant a lot of breaks drinking hot coco and afterwards we went to buy groceries and I found this adorable toy horse that has become my new favorite (seen to the left on this picture). Yes. I am indeed like a 8 year old.

Favorite photos

2012-01-31T18:30:00.000+01:00

Photographers unknown

These three are a few of my all time favorite photographs (by others).
I have such a weak spot for old black and white photos of people with dogs and cats.
But I mean... how could you not like these three? Look at his beard, and the kitten!!! What? It's perfect.

I'm trying to read a book for an upcoming class, but my goshiness is it depressing! It's all about how we're all gonna die and we're ruining the planet and all that is bad. Since I'm very considerate of the environment I hate when I read texts that are actually aimed towards people who don't give a flying rats bum about the planet. I give flying rats bums. So I hate reading texts that pretty much say it's actually YOUR fault and YOUR fault only.
I met some friends of a friend a few days ago and some of them asked if I was an environmentalist (because apparently I sounded like one). I sighed and said "No... I study design and therefor I'm doomed to know all about everything created and therefor I panic when I see someone use a plastic object once and then throw it away"

What's awesome on the other hand is that I've got such great followers so thank you a bunch for all the answers on my last post. It was super helpful! I send virtual hugs to you.

Music box

2012-01-30T16:50:00.000+01:00

As some of you might know, I'm doing my bachelor project in design this semester.
My brief for the project is still rather vague, but it's something like creating a creative object that either gets you mind going or makes it stop spinning. It's supposed to be some sort of abstract puzzle, like my composed animal was.
I know I have a lot of creative people reading my blog, so I ask you - if you get stuck, either when studying or while creating, what do you do to clear your head? Do you go for a walk? Sit in front of the computer, see a movie, read a book, clean the house, go shopping?
And also, do you want to do something that will get your mind going so that you know how to continue, or do you want to do something that clears your head completely?
I'm thankful for all thought and ideas!

I got stuck today, so I sat in my bed and listened to my music box that I've had since I was little (see picture above)

Watch out for bears

2012-01-29T12:17:00.000+01:00

Me and Robert went to the forest yesterday... and realized that there was ice on the lakes so now I have to go skating. And there was this beautiful area in the forest were water had frozen under a bunch of trees, so it looked like trees growing out of a lake.

Gosh... it sounds like there is a party on our roof!!! But I'm not invited since it's a crow-party. The crows have been like crazy around our house. I can't believe our cat isn't more bothered about it. Lazy pouchy.

Cat catcher

2012-01-27T13:04:00.002+01:00

I sometimes feel that Lollo thinks I'm a bird and that I'm something he can hunt. Well, just like in the fables were turtles outsmart the hares and sheep outsmart the fox, I thought it was time to dress out as a bird and kidnap Lollo while he was napping.
He got so mad for being forced to model that he ended the session with laying a big frustration-dump in his sandbox. But he was actually a really patient model this time, I had a hard time picking which photos to edit because Lollo was posing so good in many of them.
Next time I'd love a bigger bird disguise. The backfeathers are actually from a crane, me and my boyfriend took them from the birdroom at the zoo (from the floor, not from the ass of an actual crane). Hah.

I'm happy some of you are already interested in the horse prints. As I've told the ones that have emailed me, I'm heading to the printers next week to have preview and then I'll set a price. But it wont be more than 30 EURO, that much I know. I'll give a big shout out when the shop opens.

And thanks to all the people who email me saying nice things, I'll try to respond to all of you.

Which print to choose?

2012-01-26T13:47:00.002+01:00

Hello! I'm considering selling a 30x42 cm print of one of the horses.
I can't really decide which one of these two?
I would love your input!
And, off course, tell me if there's an interest in purchasing prints.
I thought I would do this since I've gotten some emails about it.
Thanks!

UPDATE: Alright, I've decided to print both!
But the prints will first be done at the end of next week.
If you're especially eager to get hold of one you can send a pre-order to info@ulrikakestere.com and I'll hold on to a copy for you!

There's an interview with me over at LOMOGRAPHY

Walk with the ostrich

2012-01-25T22:19:00.003+01:00

Lollo the cat had one of those days. Those days that went by and you never even remembered what you did. He asked his taxi, Olle the ostrich, to take him for a walk. He sat on Olles back, watched the pale landscape and sighed. They went by the berry bushes and Olle the ostrich asked Lollo if he wanted to stop for a little snack. Lollo just tapped his tale on Olles butt and snapped that he should keep walking. Let's hope tomorrow will be a better day for Lollo!
I recognize this feeling. Feeling small, chubby and bored. Sitting on your butt. Haha, don't you?

Larger images from The girl with 7 horses can be seen on C♥HEADS MAGAZINE

Also thanks to some sites that have mentioned the project:
Unicorn/Dream magazine
Ever So Lovely
SNAP! Magazine
AnOther
Trendhunter
COOL & SKULL
Happiness is...

Grumpy cat says hello

2012-01-24T07:00:00.000+01:00

Oh gosh. I saw on my statistics page that someone had found my blog by googling "Bajs i en sjö". Translating "Poop in a lake". I also saw that if you clicked on images there were only three images apearing. Only from my blog.
A little birdie told me that another birdie I met a year ago said that I had matured. I didn't joke about poop all the time. I'm not sure this is true. I seldom think before I talk. Luckily I have found friends and a boyfriend who likes this quality. I'm not so sure my mum likes it though :)

Thank you for all your kind feedback on The girl with 7 horses. I'm happy that the project is complete.

And thanks to all the mentions elsewhere, BOOOOOOOM!, My Love for you, Colossal, PetaPixel, Oitzarisme, Fine little day, Boat People

The girl with 7 horses #7

2012-01-22T18:51:00.000+01:00

Once upon a time there was a girl who had 7 invisible horses.People thought she was crazy and that she in fact had 7 imaginary horses, but this was not the case.When autumn came the girl spent a whole day washing all her clothes. She hung them on a string in her garden to let the gentle autumn sun dry them.Out of nowhere, a terrible storm came and its fiercefull winds grabbed a hold of all her clothes and all seven horses (authors note: since they are invisible they obviously didn't weigh much). The girl was devestated and spent all autumn looking for each horse spread around the country, wrapped in her clothes.

Prints from the story available HERE

Photo project by Ulrika Kestere, from october 2011 to january 2012

Latvian illustrations

2012-01-22T11:00:00.000+01:00

There is something special about how Latvian artists illustrate. Especially back in the day. They all had the same style sort of. I especially like this cartoon, Zaķīšu pirtiņa, which translated into The rabbits sauna. And it's about how rabbits clean themselfes in the sauna... and then there are hedgehogs, a moon runnings around and a super big horse. Can't go wrong!
The book I'm reading on the photos is Tolkiens Bilbo, with illustrations by Latvian Laima Eglite.

Animated Lion Lady gif

2012-01-21T15:54:00.001+01:00

Hmmm.... still trying to figure out how drawing a GIF would work. First try doesn't look so good, but practice makes perfection... höhöhöh... one could hope!
Mr Pouchy (Lollo the cat) keeps insisting on going out (although I keep telling him you don't wanna do thaaat) and then he realizes that it's raining wet snow so he sits under the stairs and farts sourly.
My throat is all slimy and sick-ly so I'm sitting at home with my lemons and garlics.... under the stairs farting. Just kidding.
Or am I?

Lollos crazy time

2012-01-19T13:20:00.003+01:00

I had big plans on leaving the house today, but the sky suddenly turned pitch black and then the rain ate up the house and now I'm not so sure about leaving this dry place anymore. I should be brainstorming for my bachelor but me and Lollo ended up playing family with our plastic animal children. Lollo always want's to play the evil father who beats our children. The game ended quickly. It got to violent.

we♥it inspiration

2012-01-18T15:30:00.000+01:00

All Images from weheartit, from my ulicam heart
Photographers unknown

What would searching for inspiration be without we♥it? If I want to find a supernice supercosy picture of a bunny or a girl with freckles, this is the place I go to. How genius was it to gather all daydreaming people and make them share the photography they like? Only downside is that it is often hard to find the true source of the picture. Most things come from tumblr sites without credit to the artist. That's why I can't credit the pictures above. If anyone knows a photographer please tell me!
It will be interesting to see how long it can stay daydreamy though... and when people are going to start adding uncosy pictures. There is already a bit to much bieber, twilight and emo girl pictures stumbling in at every search. I don't know why someone with dyed hair and piercing sitting in their room have to tag themselves with mermaid.

Little sweet creatures

2012-01-17T16:49:00.002+01:00

First day of school today. People were presenting their bachelor project ideas and I had a hard time defining mine. But I think it's become a sort of "dreamspace" workspace for creative people. A space were you take a break from the creative things you normally do... things that might not feel like a hobby anymore.
I also drew some rabbits. Here they are.
Lollo just put his pouchy over all my pens so I'm going to stop drawing now. It's good to have someone tell you when you should take a break.

Strange desaturations

2012-01-16T19:15:00.004+01:00

There really is quite a difference between black and white and black and white.
Whenever I get the chance to teach photoshop I try to inform people about how to desaturate their photographs correctly. I think the upper picture looks so strange! And that's just by turning the magenta tone a tad wrong. Apart from the BW it's a 4 second exposure... so half my face is on half my face. Hah.

And - it seems that the braid GIF has been re-blogged and re-tumblred and what now over 40 000 times (and counting) - without any directions back to me. Please, please, if you reblog my photos, respect the copyright and link back to me. Thank you!

Fishes

2012-01-15T10:58:00.002+01:00

Here's a few more sketches. The mermaid is actually in colour... but the colours were sorta too much so I killed the saturation.
I'm happy you liked the GIF, time to make some new ones then!

Animated braid gif

2012-01-13T19:49:00.001+01:00

Haha, ok so this is my first try at making an animated gif. I thought I would make something I'm familiar with. Braids.
Showing three strand braid, fishtail, dutch braid, french braid, braid buns etc...
Next time I think I want to try drawing a running animal.

More colour

2012-01-12T13:50:00.000+01:00

Hmm... I'm thinking about making an animated gif... does anyone know some that are really nice and arty? I like those that loop nicely.

I like having weather. But today the weather is too much weather. Rainy.Windy. Grey. Hm, anyone else that feels that the grey skies have been hovering way too long?

Drawing with colour

2012-01-11T11:40:00.000+01:00

Robert gave me this gorgeous moleskin for christmas and some soft aquarelle pens. The moleskin was so beautiful that I for some time didn't dare to draw anything in it. But since I'm trying to stay away from the computer at the moment I thought I could practice drawing with some color since I seem to have gotten a bit tired of the black ink. So I went to the library and picked up some "Mammals in colour" books that I could draw from. I'm such a new beginner with colour that I'll need to copy some pictures before I'll start drawing my own things.

When you have "hobbies" like photography and drawing but somehow don't see them as hobbies anymore, you kinda need new things that you don't take so seriously. That's why I've started to play the piano and yesterday my ballet started up again. I like how both ballet and playing the piano feels graceful... and harmonic somehow. When I danced oriental for a few years I had a teacher that was into weird choreography. So when we had shows she liked the dancer to flip the bird to the audience and yell "I'm not a whore!"... ok not really but almost. My friends have some funny memories from watching our performances at least. And although oriental clothes can be so beautiful my teacher always wanted the dancers to dress so ugly.

Bath

2012-01-09T16:00:00.000+01:00

Hello dear readers!Winter break has been going on for a while now and I'm actually getting rather bored. What to do what to do? I don't feel like drawing and a have no original photo ideas. Maah. I wish it was summer and you could head out to the beach all day and get tanned and sandy between the toes. Mmm....sandy toes.

Oh, by the way, does anyone now some super smart free sites that help you build a homepage? I'm looking for the portfolio homepage type. But preferably not with a completely locked frame but something that's flexible. You who've built with indexhibit, is it easy to understand?
And I really don't want sites were you scroll the pictures from left to right. Every picture should be alone. Any who, if you have any tips I'd be super grateful!

Reach for the stars

2012-01-08T14:32:00.000+01:00

It's a new year and it's time for some new goals.
Don't hold back and reach for the stars.
With a little discipline and a lot of hope you can get anywhere.

I've got one week left from my winter break. I'm heading up to Lofoten in March to teach photography again and I'm trying to gather all the information I'd like to pass on. I want to make the workshop more daydreamy and more Uli this time. I found the funniest text on our photo schools blog. It's from four years back when I was still a student and our fashion photography teacher got sick and I had to jump in. This is what Patrick wrote about the matter (in swedish), so sweet.

"Än en gång blev eleverna utelämnade i det karja, kalla och okärleksfulla vädret. När den store men just nu sjuka gästlärare Siren Lauvdal ställde in sin workshop, men då, som en riddare i skinande rustning ridande på ett vitt arabiskt fullblod över dom stora Lofotfjällen kom Ulrika "Dotter av Uldis" Kestere och med sitt bländande leende och meterlånga hår som svävade i vinden, Sträckte hon sin Wacom Penna i luften o sa.
- Jag ska göra en Workshop för er.
på sjungande skånska. och så blev det. Ulrika lärde oss allt hon kunde, och några timmar senare var vi igång med att fota."

Birdwatching Cat

2012-01-07T14:31:00.000+01:00

I had gone to a horse stable the other week were they had a lot of storks. And since storks are sort of the animal of my home country, Latvia, I thought it was time I included them in an illustration.
What's happened here is that Mr. Cat came up to the roof to get some peace and quite and to look at birds from a distance. Instead all the birds came to him and it wasn't as relaxing anymore.

When all color has gone

2012-01-04T17:23:00.000+01:00

I've been meaning to shoot the last picture for the series with the cloth horses... but the weather has been so difficult (meaning: strong winds and lots of rain) so I haven't found the possibility. Therefor I'm posting some old photos with a lot of juicy color...something I can't find outside at the moment :) Grey is the word here in Sweden! I tried making a red cloth horse the other day... but it doesn't play out well with the grey colors in nature.

I did something nice today, which was to clean out my photo stuff shelf. It has been looking like a hobos crib for a few years now and I found some batteries who had peed themselves (how come they do that when they get old?) so I thought it was time to handle the mess. Found some old walkie talkies as well. Might invite my boyfriend to sit in a bush 3 meters away from a tree were I'd be hiding and talk secret code.

Dog Painting

2012-01-03T15:00:00.000+01:00

A christmas gift from my boyfriend, I think I might be one of the few people who really likes something like this! But you know I have thing for dog photography so off course I like dog paintings as well.

Happy New Year

2012-01-02T19:05:00.000+01:00

Happy new year ulicamers!
I'm looking through my old files since I'm making a new official homepage and I need to change up the pictures a bit. You really realize how much you've learned when you look into the past. In a way I'm happy I was really confident about what I did even when it was really bad, because it encouraged me to keep doing it and to then get better. But also, I really appreciate all the people who were supportive and encouraging back in the day.

If there was a wish I could make for next year it would be that everyone should really start to love the planet more. And I don't mean it in the obvious, stop using your car way, but if everyone just makes small changes it will become a superbig change for the world. Don't let the water pour forever, turn out the lights when you leave the room, use your bike more often, don't shop supercheap things that break after 3 months, don't buy a new cellphone every other month... etc. When studying design you learn everything about the long process from material to product. Don't over-consume on things. If you want to treat yourself something, get a nice massage or buy nice chocolate from the local chocolaterie :)

♥ Uli

Running out of ideas

2011-12-29T14:21:00.005+01:00

Does anyone have an amazing blog to recommend to me? Something with the kind of dreamlike photos that I like? Or something with just really nice, in theater-like locations, fashion photography.
I'm sort of running out of ideas and I can't find something inspiring enough. Maybe I should just make the investment and buy Tim Walkers book after all.

Oh, and how great is it that google decided that 512 px is the best size for blogs... making all my photos on my blog from the past 2 year in low resolution. Not great! I've found some forums discussing this and sort of gotten this weird html-program that I have to figure out how to work...sight... gosh...don't really know how to fix this.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T18:15:00.003+01:00

Merry Christmas all my wonderful followers!
I drew this illustration of a fox family for this occasion since christmas is all about family (and sausages of course)

Have a lovely holiday!
Ho ho ho ho ho
♥ Uli

The girl with 7 horses #6

2011-12-21T19:53:00.001+01:00

Sixth finding on the 21st of December.
The girl sure was happy she found the white horse before the first snow covered the grounds.

Christmas is soon here! I hope all my readers will cuddle up and have a supernice christmas being lazy. While becoming older I'm noticing that the christmas food is a bigger joy than the presents. Hehe.... but if you live in Sweden you know that there is something called prinskorv and that it is in fact AWESOME.

I was in the toy store today, standing in front of the plastic animal shelf, drooling. Then two foreign boys came. They were both a little too old for a toy store (maybe 12 years), so they were trying to make jokes about all the things although I bet they just wanted to play with everything. One of them looked at the plastic whale and said "Why does this exist? I mean, I loved these kind of things when I was small, but now, what do you do with these THINGS?"
Haha. How can one think that a plastic animals are useless?
I think he might appreciate them again when he's older.

Edmund Dulac

2011-12-18T12:18:00.001+01:00

Illustrations by Edmund Dulac

It's kinda impossible not to like Edmunds illustrations for H.C Andersons tales.

Granma's secrets

2011-12-17T11:49:00.000+01:00

My recent project in school was about creating a secret space for grandma to put all her things that she wants to keep a secret even after she's dead. Because when you die everything is pretty much revealed since someone (most likely your children) will clean out your entire apartment. Although, I thought it would be interesting if it would be found maybe 50 years later by grandchildren who perhaps didn't know their grandmother that well. That's why I wanted to interoperate the shape of her cats face in the back piece...so that there would be this funny silhouette that might make the relatives want to keep the chair. It's supposed to be a sofa chair... so that it will not moved around very much... making it harder to discover the secrets.
I'm not really fond of how the chair itself turned out (it's just built in a very small scale) but I like the idea behind it.

Uli in Monki magazine

2011-12-13T17:30:00.000+01:00

Hei, I told you a while ago that I was in the latest issue of Monki magazine (their last paper issue... from here on it's only online ones...boring). And here it is! The last picture is not my photography. Just so you don't give me credit for something I didn't do :)

Ulis winter cold cure

2011-12-12T10:22:00.001+01:00

Heiia, I'm studying for my production exam tomorrow and I'm feeling a little sick. But then, I don't think I'm the only one. So maybe I should share my winter cold cure tips?
I usually always make this:

Lemondrink
Chop up half a lemon.
Peel about 4 cm ginger and chop it up.
Put it in water (approximately 0,5 l) and heat it up until it's boiling.
Put some of your favorite tea in a mug(preferably not teabags) and pour the water with the lemon and ginger bits in.
When the water has cooled somewhat add a BIG LUMP of honey.
Remember, in order to get all the "good" things from honey, the water is actually not supposed to be warmer than 40°C (and that's if you have the good early season honey). And also, if you're adding peppermint tea, don't let the leaves be in the water for more than 2 minutes.

Garlic Bread
Spread butter on two slices of bread.
Press two garlics on each slice.
Cover all garlic with cheese.
Add tomato and oregano or whatever you wish on the top.
Put in the oven at 220°C until it looks nice.

Joyce

2011-12-07T17:35:00.001+01:00

Model: Joyce Moore

Soon Joyce will go back to Germany and our class is going to be short of one really cool girl in the spring. I knew that although we're up to our ears with work this week I had to squeeze in time to photograph Joyce. I kind of think she looks like snow white in these pictures.

And while we're up to our ears in work, Sandra in our class is walking around drawing everybody's ears. It's really interesting seeing the illustrations later. We have such different ears. Like comparing a french ear and an asian ear, so different!

3 years

2011-12-03T15:25:00.001+01:00

Me and Robert turning 3 years on this 3rd of december.
Just like I turned 23 this year on the 23rd.
So funny with numbers.
Sometimes people don't really like numbers though.
Like when the number of age is too big, but also sometimes too small :)
I hope that my readers aren't getting stuck up on age numbers.

Fox making pashmina wool

2011-12-02T14:36:00.001+01:00

Pashmina... cashmere... it's all very nice. I think what differs the two is that pashmina is from a certain Himalayan goat. It takes just about three goats to make one scarf. Think about that. I'm combing Lollo as often as I can in order to collect enough wool for a vest. Haha. I might never get there.
When I'll have a job and be financially stable, I'm going to buy myself a really expensive cashmere sweater... one that I'll have forever... yes yes... that's what I'm dreaming about.
I'm kinda in love with really qualitative wool... like alpaca, merino and the two I just mentioned. Anyone else who's a fan of nice wool?

200

2011-12-01T10:03:00.001+01:00

Yay, I've finally reached 200 followers on blogger (and an additional 171 on bloglovin)!
Thank you guys, you're the best! There is such a great joy in creating things when you know you have support from people from all around the world. It gives you a little kick in the butt to create more.

Thank you a million times.
♥ Uli

Winter sun

2011-11-29T12:20:00.001+01:00

I thought I would get some homework done this morning before class. But somehow I ended up making these pictures instead. I just thought that the blog needed something beautiful and the cold winter sun was shining weakly behind some milky clouds.... oh well, I couldn't resist.
On the first picture... I'm in awe of how powerful and rich the nature looks. So pretty. I'm lucky I don't live in the center of the city.

Last items for sale

2011-11-28T16:41:00.001+01:00

Hello!
I still have a few items left to sell since it was a stormy day during the market and all smart people stayed home :) I'm lucky though that I have such good friends and family, my mum brought me food, my boyfriend brought me cookies, my friends stopped by and held me company, then my dad came by with smoothie and cookies, and finally some more friends kept me company until the day was over.

There are 14 little calendars left, so if you want to give them away for christmas you should buy today!
Also, Hipster Fox and Nervous fox weren't as cool as the intelligent, ballerina and nature fox so they're still for sale. They're a bit smaller than the other ones so I'm selling them for 200 SEK. Email me at info@ulrikakestere.com if you're interested.

NOTE Nervous Fox and Hipster Fox is SOLD

The wooden fox collection

2011-11-26T14:34:00.001+01:00

Tomorrow is our schools annual christmas fair and just as last year I will be selling some wooden foxes. I'm kinda in love with them now (specially the ballerina one) so it stings to sell them :) I put a lot of time in each one of them but I sell them for pretty much the same price as a calendar. Haha, it's rather funny how people don't want to pay more for a wooden object even if it's handmade in Sweden. But I get it, I probably wouldn't either. You compare the prices to the things from asia in your normal store.
However, if you live in Lund, you should definitely come by AF-borgen tomorrow between 10-17! I will be selling the 2012 calendars as well.

Reasons to visit the forest

2011-11-24T16:03:00.001+01:00

These are the reasons, because it's really nice and pretty and cosy and great :)
What's happening to the sun btw? It's four and it feels like nine! Pitch black outside. The streetlights were just tuned on so they're all weak and still charging up and actually you can't see anything outside... if you lost your mitten it would be lost forever. Like in space. By a black hole.

I'm featured in the new issue of Monki magazine, I'm on page 50.
I've had some trouble getting the magazine in paper format (that is, it has been eaten by the postoffice), but new ones are on the way and if they arrive I'll show the interview on the blog.

Uli and Lollo in lokaltidningen

2011-11-23T15:52:00.001+01:00

Hello Ulicamers! Look, I'm in the paper, and Lollo too! I laughed so much when I saw the photo of me and Loo, doesn't it completely look like I'm hitting him happily while he's super sad?
I tried to show the paper to Lollo, but he looked the other way. That's weird don't you think? It's almost as if he's had so many publications that he doesn't care.
The article might be easier to read on their webpage.

"Sagans Slända"

2011-11-22T19:47:00.001+01:00

Me and Robert were walking through town, trying to find a toilet like two kids. Luckily, the toilet was at the same place as a book-sale. I found this one for 10 kronor. Pretty illustrations.
Illustrations by Hans Arnold (Sagan om den riktiga prinsessan & Elddonet) and Ilon Wikland (Den blå skålen)

Project BRAIDS(?)

2011-11-21T19:10:00.001+01:00

I've been thinking a lot about braids lately. Isn't it weird how a lot of girls think that they need help when making braids on themselves? And so many girls don't even know how to make fishtails... or dutch braids. And all the braid books out there are like from the 80s and the hairdos look like old women styles.
Isn't it time for a young fresh book about all the different braids? I'm starting to think that I might just be capable at photographing, illustrating and writing a book like that. It would be a superfun project. Or does it seem fun now and then half way in it'll get tedious?
Huh huh...I'll have to think about it!

The girl with 7 horses #5

2011-11-20T16:34:00.001+01:00

Only two left now!
Number 5, a bigger horse than the others, was found on november 18th.

Something smells burned

2011-11-18T12:40:00.001+01:00

How exciting, a burned car! I went out to this place (St Hans Backar if you live in Lund) to shoot the next picture for the Girl with 7 horses and I couldn't resist making a quick picture by this car as well. So beautiful and ugly at once... like a pug ;) However, I do feel sick when I think about all the crappy things that went out into the air we breath when shit like this is being burned by bored people.

Thank you for all the likes on my facebook page. I get a smile on my face for every like! When you have a blog you keep an active eye open for each follower you get on bloglovin and blogger... sometimes there is a new one and sometimes someone has gone. Haha, that has to be the saddest things, when someone stops following you. It's like having someone break up with you (and yet not at all), like - I don't find you interesting anymore. You get weirdly attached to your blog. Does anyone else feel like their blog is like a pet almost?

Before I end this post I have to thank my boyfriend once again for giving me the self trigger two winters ago. It has been one of the absolutely best toys to bring with my camera, making pictures like this possible.

Finding

2011-11-17T16:02:00.000+01:00

I was walking by the facilities for law studies when I suddenly saw a little thing lying on the street. I picked it up and realized it was a tiny book about bunnies. I knew then and there that I had an angel watching over me. Best find ever.

little deer rider

2011-11-16T17:10:00.001+01:00

Today I actually managed to scribble a picture during class since we had a sleepy teacher who talked super slow, so I felt that if I only listened to him time went slower than what would be perceived normal.
At the moment I'm waiting for UPS to come by with my portfolio...hmm... I've never quit understood the advantage with UPS and Fed-ex... when are you ever home during the day having the possibility to receive packages? Isn't the best thing when your package ends up at the post office and you just pick it up when you've got time? That's the easiest and most nature friendly way I think :)
Also, I want to take a shower really bad but how can I do that when it might ring on the door any second? Should my cat open? I've asked him several times. He simply isn't interested in doing things like that. Door opening things.

Don't mock the flash

2011-11-15T15:15:00.001+01:00

The flash is often ridiculed. Like, haha oh my are you going to use the pop-up flash??
And I mean sure, used the wrong way, it will look like shit. But if you know what you're doing then the flash can be the perfect tool for an awesome picture. That's why I was a little dumbed about the fact that my 5D Mark II doesn't have a pop-up. Sure I have an external flash, but there is a lot I can do with a simple pop-up.
What do you think about the matter?

The girl with 7 horses #4

2011-11-10T21:13:00.002+01:00

Fourth finding: November 10th

Thank you so much for all the response on the last picure. You're the best, I love it when you share your opinions with me!

I went to the sauna out in the sea today so I took the opportunity to make another picture for the series. It was kinda hard to get some work done when there were dogs running around and kids coming by and bothering me (Is that a dead horse? What are you doing? Whaat? EEE?).

Otherwise I've had a really failed day. Dentist... arguing and getting super frustrated at my teachers... forgetting about my ballet class... my ballet class! That was the ONLY fun ting I had going on this week and I forgot! I never forget anything, what is wrong with me? I'm super duper disappointed at Uli.

(isn't it great how the horses tail actually looks like a large pond of diarrhea?)

The girl with 7 horses #3

2011-11-08T16:10:00.001+01:00

Heiia my wonderful readers.
Here's one picture for the horse series that I'm not sure about. Maybe it'll be in the series...maybe not. I'll see. It was such a windy day that the fabrics kept blowing away and the horse never got its proper shape.
I'd love to know what you think too.

The girl with 7 horses #2

2011-11-06T17:41:00.001+01:00

Second finding: November 6th

Pattern

2011-11-04T13:57:00.002+01:00

I had to create a pattern for the cover of my design portfolio.
Here it is.
I wish I had more time for my own projects but school is a time thief :)

Thank you for the 100 likes on facebook!
If you like me but haven't LIKED me, visit
Ulrika Kestere photography & illustration

Jessica Silversaga

2011-11-01T21:32:00.003+01:00

Images By Jessica Silversaga
Gorgeous right?

The weekend is over!

2011-10-31T17:20:00.002+01:00

It's been quite a good weekend, with birthday parties, brunches, other parties and meeting friends. I didn't produce anything artistic during the weekend so I'll just post a picture of my two friends in a food coma after brunch. And as for you wondering about things;

Do you post edit your photos in Photoshop?
Yes, always. I mostly just work with the colors.

Do you ever shoot film?
Yes I have, but I don't today since I lack the patiants. But I admire people who keep at it and an analog picture will always be an analog picture... it's got that little extra. If I would I would shoot with a square format... probably with my holga that gives extra juicy pictures.

If you had the chance to stand up and say something to the whole world, what would it be?
Huh, if I had the chance to say something to everyone it would be about nature. Please don't use as much plastic that isn't recyclable. Use your bike more, it's good for both your body and the planet.
Above all, realize that this is not the planet of humans but the planet of all creatures, show respect for animals and their homes.

What's your favorite name for a baby?
Oo, I have many... for a girl Tove, Freja, Ronja and Mira
For a boy Ludvig, Muskot, Edvin and Vilgot

Cats or dogs?
I think dogs. But I really love cats as well. If you have the time and live at the right place... I think a dog will be a better friend. But for most people a cat is a more suitable pet.

What photographers inspire you?
Camilla Åkrans, Paolo Roversi and Elina Brotherus to mention a few.

How long have you been studying and what's your dream job?
I've studied photography for 2 years and now I'm in my third and last bachelor year in industrial design.

How did you make that photo round?
Heh...with a round marking tool?

What makes you tick?

I'm actually not sure what this question means, I've googles it but I'm still not sure :)

Questions for Uli?

2011-10-28T10:14:00.000+02:00

Hello! I'm gonna try and stay away from the computer this weekend. Heh..try is the word. So I'm leaving the blog open for questions. Since I'm not that personal here, feel free to ask me things you're wondering about! And if you're not wondering anything, great, I'll just keep doing what I'm doing :)

Have a lovely weekend!
♥ Uli

The girl with 7 horses #1

2011-10-26T09:21:00.000+02:00

Once upon a time there was a girl who had 7 invisible horses.

People thought she was crazy and that she in fact had 7 imaginative horses, but this was not the case.

When autumn came the girl spent a whole day washing all her clothes. She hung them on a string in her garden to let the gentle autumn sun dry them.

Out of nowhere, a terrible storm came and its fiercefull wind grabbed a hold of all her clothes and all seven horses (authors note: since they are invisible they didn't weigh much). The girl was devestated and spend all autumn looking for each horse spread around the country, wrapped in her clothes.
First finding: October 23th

There is a really lovely interview with me over at LIGHT MEETS NIGHT.
The author Georgia has said such nice things about me, people can be so kind sometimes. Here's a draft from the start of the interview, no one has ever called me a Latvian princess before!

"Ulrika Kestere is a girl with good taste. Since discovering her blog last year I have not stopped admiring the Latvian illustrator slash photographer’s creative input into the blogging hemisphere.

Childlike illustrations bring a novelty factor whilst her photographs have a certain dream like quality you cannot help but adore.

It is quite stereotypical to say her artistic abilities have a feminine approach, but as Uli herself describes how she is inspired mainly by ‘fairytales, pretty little cottages and animals’, the word feminine fits in quite rightly so.
I thought I would veer away from the high fashion attitude LMN usually adopts, and throw something a bit different into the mix. So it is, my interview with a Latvian princess."

Calm afternoon

2011-10-25T10:00:00.000+02:00

My ballet class is canceled this week so I guess I'll study some positions in a book instead while my plastic animals watch me twirl.

Exploring sunday

2011-10-24T09:30:00.000+02:00

Yesterday was so nice! I felt like a little squirrel bouncing around in nature. Having a little alone time really is underestimated. I actually found wild strawberries... and they were sweat and delicious. I strolled around in a place near to where I live... hoping maybe I could find a new location for a photograph. And I did! But then, I went into some other bushes and I found something that I think might just be were FOXES live. I'm not 100% sure but it sure looked like it. That.... or it was superbig rabbits. I have to come back with Robert... because silly enough I felt a little spooked. What if a big fox came around and was like Hey You! What the hell are you doing here??. When a stone moved next to my foot while I looked at the huge holes in the ground I almost shrieked (like a little girl)... but the thing is that there were these enormous doves everywhere...and they kept scaring me with their panic attacks... birds are so edgy.
Anywho... I kept lurking around and found this big fort/treehouse. It was a little dark in there so I didn't dare to enter... what if it was a residence for hobos? And then I found this little path I've never seen so I walked on that and suddenly I was next to the railroad and there was a roe deer in front of me!

I'm glad I could discover so many new things so close to were I live. Foxes and deers, who knew?

Happy Sister-Birthday

2011-10-23T09:30:00.000+02:00

Yay! Today is my sisters birthday but she is down in Italy as always so the least I could do was draw her a picture.
Happy Birthday!

Bird down

2011-10-22T13:31:00.000+02:00

This was me yesterday. I was bird down for sure.
Sometimes you stock things in a really really high pile and then one day something knocks it down and there is crap all over the floor! Luckily I could talk to my family and above all my sister who is the only one who really gets what goes on in my head when these things happen.
I'm feeling better but I'm still putting a lot of things on the side for a moment now and trying to boost myself a bit. I thought about putting the blog on ice... but the thing is... I love this blog and all the people who follow it... so I simply can't.

Make a hair helmet

2011-10-20T12:12:00.002+02:00

Are you bored on this autumn thursday? Make a hair helmet! And then you can go out and ride your bike and it's fine if you fall because hey I've got a hair helmet.
No I'm just kidding. That wouldn't work. Ooor? No. Ooor? No maybe not.
I think I'm getting a cold, what is up with that? Super duper lame and totally unneccerary. I'm thinking it's because I started working out this week. So what can we learn from that? Never work out!

Thank god I'm older!

2011-10-19T17:18:00.002+02:00

Yesterday when I went through some clothing stores I saw some young girls looking at me weirdly(?) and all of a sudden I remembered what it was like when I was 17-ish. It really was no fun at all. You often say like "Wha, I still feel like I'm 17!". But I mean, do you really? How much did I know about photography and photoshop when I was 17? Not enough at least. I completely sucked at drawing, I am so glad that I actually have somewhat a "style" in the way I draw today. I know when something says me and when something is just trying to say me but actually it's me copying someone else.
In photography I keep learning every year. If I look at what I did during my first year in my photography education it really wasn't very good.
And if I look back at my folders from every month during the past 5 years I can see that I have done quite a lot... both concerning education, travel, photography, illustration, design... etc. And now I have things like a drivers license and...heh... I know how to talk to boys (which I didn't really when I was 17).

People often say that time flies but it's not completely true because time does what we do, walks, it does not fly. We experience so much more than we realize. Imagine a 100 years ago, you pretty much never saw a different country then your own and if you got a cold you died! Appreciate all the wonderful things you're able to experience since you live in the year 2011. In 5 years you'll probably experience as much as people used to do in a whole lifetime.
And I know, there are so many people doing way more cooler things than you and all these young people who are super succefull. But I can guaranty you that they're just flies on the wall because most people have to struggle for a super duper long time to get were they are. And remember, the cooler and happier someones life is, the lonelier they often are. To reach great success and a lot of money there is little time left for family, friendship and relationships. These things take as much time as any cool career.

I'm not sure were I'm going with this, but my cat is eyeballing me looking superhungry so I think he and I will have to nip downstairs and find some liver in a can!
Smell you later and stay positive!

Följ min blogg med Bloglovin

Were should they live?

2011-10-18T10:38:00.000+02:00

I'm thinking that I will never show the finished illustrations for my book on the blog. But I want you to tag along while it's being created so I'll show some startup sketches now and then. Right now I'm focusing on the house for my two main characters. It's supposed to be a little crooked.
Who do you think lives here?

2011-10-17T16:18:00.000+02:00

The weekend is over! Or is it? Not for me! Hehehehe. I'm still in a food coma after me and a couple of friends from my class made a huge brunch with thai-soup, american pancakes, walnut bread, apple pie, warm appledrinks...etc.
Because this week is some what an autumn break... not really...but kinda though.
I have a lot of work to get done but I really hope I'll be able to squeeze in some story book time... because I really need to start drawing on it.
Photos from the forest this saturday.

Sleeping through fog

2011-10-14T21:38:00.001+02:00

The weekend is coming and most of you might take the opportunity to sleep in and dream fogy dreams. I'm quite the morning person so I will probably not be doing this :) These photos are from a very early saturday morning were I woke up around 7ish and was like "Wow!! Look outside!". And then I told Robert that I would head out to photograph... and he thought he would continue sleeping but then rather quickly realized that he wanted to capture the wonderful fairytale morning as well :)

This weekend I'll take some of my schoolmates out to the forest and then I would like to watch some Moomin episodes that I recently lade my hands on. What are you going to do?

Something different

2011-10-14T12:02:00.000+02:00

Well, I thought that I needed to make something different... and then this picture sort of developed. I'm not sure what it is.

I think the most educational part was drawing the clouds.

Hehehe.

Heh.

Thoughts

2011-10-13T09:55:00.003+02:00

Getting som sleep. Worrying about pimple. Packing calendars. Wondering why I haven't started drawing on children's book. Riding my bike. Electronic quizzes. Portfolio assignments. Thinking I have to make a new official website. Trying to pet Lollo. Feeling rejected by Lollo. Making a hasty photograph. Being dissatisfied with photograph. Being frustrated by the fact that my favorite pen is out of ink. Worrying some more about pimples. Riding my bike. Calling Robert. Packing calendars. Looking over economy. Worrying about future. Worrying about money. Looking at puppies. Emailing. Preparing photoshop class. Thinking I should eat some vegetables. End up eating pasta. Watching Lollo sleeping. Scribbling down ideas on a paper. Getting anxiety by the length of the list. Seeing hair looks bad. Thinking about washing hair for a while. Not washing hair. Head out running. Streching. Panic bike over to ballet class. Doing pliés really badly. Riding my bike. Washing hair. Searching inspiration. Envying successful people. Thinking about portfolio that should be done. Thinking about homepage that should be re-newed.

... and so on.

It's getting darker

2011-10-12T09:07:00.000+02:00

Darker. The air is crisper. Autumn is like that hour before you go to bed. You know that something relaxing, dark and cosy is coming. Sleep.

I wonder how the hibernating animals feel. Have they already gone to sleep? When are they going? Anyone who knows? I hope that the badger is staying awake for a while more though... because he's always gone somewhere or sleeping when I go to the zoo, and I really want to see him!! Mr Badger... please stay awake a bit more.

New homes for the Calendar

2011-10-11T09:10:00.000+02:00

How exciting isn't it to see something you've created in other peoples homes? I guess that's how fashion designers feel when they see their garment on someone else!

First gif is by Stefany Alves, blogger of The Public Diary.

And I was thrilled to see that the colorful Elsa Billgren recieved her calendar too. She is such a original person, always dressed in vintage dresses and she has great taste in furniture and animals :)

Almost unwrapped. Calendar at the home of Lovisa Ranta, blogger of Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. She has really lovely hair!

And also the lovely Rebecka Bjurmell got one, her hair is supernice too! She's moving to Paris this week, lets hope that the foxes can tag along.

B-b-b-braid

2011-10-09T22:58:00.003+02:00

Two self-portraits from 2-3 years back.

Why are braids so great?

But they are!

Some girls like hair that is flat flat flat.

I, on the other hand, like braids. In all sorts.

It's like bread in a way. When you travel somewhere, it is said that the smell of freshly baked bread can always make you feel at home. For me, seeing a braid is like being home. Maybe because I have eastern europe farmer genes!

FarmerUli.

Lioncat

2011-10-09T17:15:00.000+02:00

I wanted to make Lollo into a lioncat, like the ones on this picture.

So how has your weekend been so far?

I have to keep cleaning my room now, see you soon!

Tree hugger

2011-10-08T09:26:00.001+02:00

Ugg ugg ugg! I can't chose if this should be in colour or in black and white. What do you think?

The colour one can be seen bigger here.

I like the black and white one best as a whole, but I like how the colour of my hair melts into the the colour of the tree and the 2nd one.

Hey, it's saturday! You better be relaxing and going to the forest or something.

"Hehehehe"

2011-10-07T09:44:00.000+02:00

"Hehehehe" is what Lollo would say if he could.

It's funny, because if a model has her mouth a bit open she might look sexier but Lollo simply looks crazier!

Crazy-cat.

Something is up with the air, because Lollo has been SUPERSOFT lately. I mean... like.. really soft. And he's just laying there being soft and I'm like yay lets cuddle and Lollo is like now I'll shall bite you!

I sometimes wish I was 40 cm tall so that I could spoon with Lollo. Imagine during winter when you're cold and you get cuddled up next to his warm belly :) I guess I have to get a landseer if I want to be able to do that.

Afternoon reading

2011-10-06T09:45:00.000+02:00

When our electronics class was canceled I took the opportunity to do a quick photoshoot in my garden. Lollo was in a bad mood and acted like a real snob the whole time. He's been in a bad mood for some time now, what's up with that? He doesn't even greet me when I come home... rude.

I think this picture is too similar to the one I did previously in my garden. That's the downside with using the same set :(

Fox and Morran

2011-10-05T09:52:00.000+02:00

Good morning!

I'm at school and everyone is trying to manage to finish before the deadline hits and I've found myself being finished with everything already so I'm a tad bored. I think I should put that in my personal letter in my cv "always finishes a few days before deadline".

If you're an artist and a fan of Camilla Engman and Morran you should participate with some morran-art! All the profits go to charity.

Here's my illustration.

I'm building a forest

2011-10-04T09:40:00.002+02:00

If you can't go to the forest, create one of your own!

I might have mentioned that we had a task in school to change a plastic chair to fitting a subculture and I chose scouts. Well, after that we had to team up (I teamed up with Kajsa who worked with backpackers) and make a place that would fit both our subcultures.

We decided to create this treehouse village that would be an adventure finding for the scout and backpacker.

Here it is!

Designstudents

2011-09-30T11:18:00.003+02:00

Hey Ulicamers!

The last year of my bachelor is turning out to be more fun then the last ones since our class has changed a bit and there is a bunch of new fun people added to the group :) The ones standing up are my old friends but the new ones are(from left) Drew from USA, Sasha from Sweden/Canada and Joyce from Germany.

I wanted a cosy "autumny" student-like photo but the sun was so harsh that I didn't really manage. We'll do a new one on a more cloudy day! But this is the best I could do...

And yes, how fun was it to shoot some other people than myself? Superfun!

I'm on facebook now too - Ulrika Kestere Photography and Illustration

Lady Lioncat

2011-09-27T00:26:00.002+02:00

Hello hello!

I see now that I accidentally oversharpened Lady Lioncat...oh well, I'm sitting at my laptop now just about to smush into bed so I'll take care of this image tomorrow on the big screen.

Lady Lioncat was expecting company on this picture, yet no one seems to be showing up. All you can hear is the puttering purrs from the lioncats and the wooden clocks ticking.

Some calendar foxes have already gotten new homes, that makes me really happy.

I hope you've had a good start on the new week!

The 2012 Calendar is here!!

2011-09-23T12:00:00.002+02:00

Finally!

Next years theme will off course be THE FOX!!

These wonderful calendars get sold out pretty fast so make sure you're out in good time to get your copy. All the illustrations in the calendar can be seen here.

The price is the same as last year;

The small calendar (16 x 30 cm)

150 SEK

The big calendar (21 x 42 cm)

250 SEK

GO TO SHOP HERE!

I ship to the whole world, if you have problems ordering, email me at info@ulrikakestere.com

The calendar has a sand brown color and is shipped with a protective cardboard.

The Payment is made via Paypal for a secure transaction. Please note that you do not need to have a Paypal account in order to pay, you can also pay with a credit card (VISA, Mastercard, American Express, etc.)

The old printshop is still open, find it here.

Welcome autumn

2011-09-21T20:38:00.003+02:00

Although the rain is colder when it hits your cheek, the autumn is a wonderful season. Everything starts... school, work, projects... you can feel the air buzzing with people being busy. And I like when people are busy! And also, the air is moving... after standing still and warm during summer it is finally fresh and strong.

That's why I could never live at a place were it's warm year round. I have to have some real weather! And also, I am way to fond of wool to live in a warm place.

So - welcome autumn!

(Also, dear friends, If you reblog my photos, please refer to Ulrika Kestere and link back to my homepage or blog.)

Sami Fox

2011-09-18T11:31:00.000+02:00

Sami Fox with lusekofta is what this will be called. I have something similar to a lusekofta, but like a Latvian version. I got it from my mum and it is one of those garments which would make me heartbroken if it disappeared. When I went to visit the sami people I bought a white reindeer hat from them... samistyle, which I also love very much. I could live without a lot of my clothes... but if I lost my lusekofta or my samihat I would be really sad.

SCHOOL, behind the scenes

2011-09-16T17:06:00.002+02:00

A few of you have asked what I do when I don't blog. Well, like any kid I go to school! I somehow ended up at the bachelor program for Industrial Design in Lund, which isn't ideal for a character like myself, but I would like to think that I'll be able to use my designknowledge in my future career. So I thought I would give you a little sneak peak of were I'm at. In this first picture I'm at my desk... lucky me - got a window seat :)

We had a day full of presentations so this was a golden opportunity for me to draw on my illustrations. It takes such a long time to do all the details so it's great to get it done while people present.

And if I'm really lucky I get one picture done and can start sketching on a new one. Lady fox with cat-lions will be seen soon.

I sneaked into the 2nd year students workrooms and found them working really hard. After I took this picture I discovered that there was a guy sleeping on the floor behind this guy.

Some of the chairs people have made for our current project. We had to transform this ugly plastic chair to fit a subculture. The one on the right with an owl on is mine (duh). I can't really say that anyone managed to get it looking good. This chair is and will always be ugly.

And here we have a shot from the workshop. My little owl had a nose job and that big blob on the right is a bear in the making. I can't seem to find time to finish him.

I finally have my own powertool! This little dremel helps me make all the details on my wooden things. When I use this I usually have a mask on as well (since it get's really dusty) and everyone keeps saying I look like a dentist, especially with the little drilling sound coming from the powertool.

Playing piano for your fish

2011-09-11T10:00:00.004+02:00

Thanks for the great respons about the last photograph. Every time I build up a set with a lot of objects I want to do it again... and again... because it gives the picture so much life. But... with school starting I don't seem to get much time left for playing.

However, during some workshop breaks I have managed to put together this illustration of a fox playing the piano for his pet fish. The piano music did however lure some badgers too.

Next years calendar is finished by the way, it'll soon be in the shop!

Royal brunch

2011-09-04T19:34:00.003+02:00

Hello hello hello!

I felt so bad for not producing a single photo or illustration this week that I thought I had to produce a good one today. So I pimped my garden and then I pimped myself and here is the result. I'm not quite done with the color rendering... but this is a first draft at least. My photos are so big with the new camera that I keep using a feather that's too small... I think.

By the way, have all you scandinavians heard about Terje Hellesø who photoshopped his animal photography? Hah, I thought that was so low. And also really poorly photoshopped, so I kinda think that the people who gave him the "Naturephotographer of the year" award are some what dumb-balls as well. That just shows that getting an award doesn't mean you're the best! And that silly stuff about his wife not knowing anything... haa-haa... yeeah right! If you take a picture of a lynx four feet away from it - I think you're gonna tell your wife about it later! If I manage to shoot something cool I tell my boyfriend at once. Or what? Do I call him and say "Hey, I just photographed a badger in my garden!" and then photoshop a picture together? What a great relationship that would be. I'm honest with my boyfriend when I meet him at the end of the day and say "Hey I'm sorry, but the most exciting thing that happened to me today was that my cat looked really cute yawning".

But just to make things clear - this photo is photoshopped :) It would be hard otherwise to have myself in two places at once.

Cuddle up!

2011-08-29T15:50:00.000+02:00

Cuddle up everyone, autumn is coming!

I have a stuffed ferret at home, but watching live ones were much more fun. They really are characteristic little creatures. So funny and bouncy.

First day of school today, wasn't as bad as I thought.

Things girls like

2011-08-26T17:21:00.002+02:00

I've just recently realized that my photos and illustration mostly speak to girls.

Why did I not know this before? (or rather, how could I not now)

I remember, in photo school, the boys were always so difficult to impress. The type of photography boys liked was very different from what the girls made.

The older you get though... the more you want to please your own senses. And since I'm a girl, I produce things that matches a girls mind.

And also, I think that girls photography often has a lot more feeling to it than boys. It's not so sharp... not so loud. Maybe. Sometimes not. Sometimes it is.

Oh, and I saw Banksys documentary Exit through the gift shop. I had heard of it but but since I'm not that into street art I never bothered to look more closely into it. But my oh my, that was one of the best documentaries I've seen! And although most people might be mostly frustrated about Thierry Guetta making all that money of his non-art, I think it was more fascinating about how the media just ate it up and now he's making album covers for madonna. It just shows how messed up art can be. It's not about the talent. It's just about PR. So it's fascinating how a movie about street art and some weird movie making guy can be so spot on about art. And ok, it's old news. With the right PR you can make anything look good, but I think that this movie particularly showed it in a very good way.

Rubb my belly

2011-08-25T14:08:00.000+02:00

SuperUli in Red

2011-08-23T20:50:00.000+02:00

It seems that our friend SuperUli has left her blue costume at home and gone out with a bloodred one instead. Maybe she's inlove, maybe she's mad... it's hard to tell with superheroes.

This photo was fun to make, but then...everything is extra fun when there is only one week left of summer break.

There is an interview with me at LAND MAGAZINE, check it out and you might learn something new about me :)

Last week of summer

2011-08-22T21:38:00.002+02:00

It seems time has dried out in the sun and that the last week of summer vacation has arrived. My week has started out beautifully. I saw a fox. A fox. Fox fox fox. I was glad.

My calendar with foxes is at the printers.

My children's book about a fox is in production.

My bachelor project about foxes is in my thoughts.

I really like foxes. Did you know?

If you like foxes too, you should see Luc Jacquets movie The child and the Fox

Ellie in bw

2011-08-19T23:10:00.000+02:00

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