hello hiki!

Looking Up, Looking Down and Looking Back

2010-12-22T17:13:00.005+01:00

How are you Ulrika, have you and the little one finally met I wonder? It was last winter when we started this blog and we've reached another winter already. I've enjoyed seeing the change of season through our photos we've posted for our project here. I think we did pretty well, no?

To those who have come by and left lovely comments, we've decided to take a break from here for a while as it has become difficult to keep this place nice and neat with regular posts for the both of us. It was really lovely to know that there were quite a few of you who enjoyed this place other than us Ulrika and hiki. Your support meant a lot for us, so thank you!

Here is all our looking up and down shots we posted here in the year of our project. I just love it, and I hope you do too.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Stay warm,

hiki
xxx

Shadows / November

2010-11-10T20:34:00.000+01:00

Shadows is probably my favourite theme, just love them :)

I agree with you, time is really flying by. This fall has gone by so fast, we're soon in winter time here with the first snow on the way. But I look forward to this Christmas alot (feels strange to talk about it, but it's not far away!).

Stay warm Hiki!
Hugs Ulrika

Black x White * October

2010-10-31T11:08:00.000+01:00

I thought things started to slow down a bit in October but it's already gone! I don't know what is happening but you must be feeling the same Ulrika especially while waiting for the baby to pop out! I am really getting excited about the arrival of your must-be-gorgeous little one!!

lots of love from tokyo,
hiki

xx

Flowers / October

2010-10-25T19:58:00.000+02:00

Hello hiki! October has been a good one, don't you think? I'm still considering what to send you for your wedding gift. But something will show up, some day :) Until then, I dedicate those flowers to you.
Only one week left to go of October, I hope November will be just as good and as quick, my countdown until baby arrival has begun and I'm longing to meet the little one.

Happy end of October everyone!

Looking Up, Looking Down - October

2010-10-19T16:56:00.004+02:00

Hello Ulrika,
What lovely autumn shots and hello there little one! I can almost hear the sound of you walking on the fallen leaves... We are still a little bit far from that in Tokyo, but yes shadows are surely getting longer. This time I took my two shots in my living room while enjoying a nice cup of tea with my new cup in the beautiful morning yesterday.

I hope you are enjoying the week!

Hiki
xx

Shadows, October

2010-10-09T22:05:00.000+02:00

Hiki's amazing wedding shoes on the top picture!! I hope your wedding was all you wanted it to be, it does look like a perfect day on your photos. Wish you and your husband all the best for the future, and that I had a picture to better go with yours :)
Love, Ulrika

Black x White * September

2010-10-05T16:50:00.002+02:00

This time it's me who is late on doing the post. Things are (hopefully) going to quiet down around here, so I should be able to spend more time and energy on blogging.

How are you dear Ulrika? Hope you are doing well.
Autumn has settled here in Tokyo and the weather has been really pleasant.

xx

Flowers, september

2010-09-24T17:35:00.000+02:00

Sorry I'm so late on the post. Time flies, and we are both having a lot on our minds these days.

We have a beautiful September day here, warm, clear and fresh. I hope your September is beautiful too.

Looking Up, Looking Down - September

2010-09-07T12:15:00.003+02:00

Hello Ulrika, it looks like autumn has really taken over summer in Helsinborg and it makes me jealous. Tokyo's summer this year has been the worst I've known and there is no sign of autumn to be seen yet. Surely the day is getting shorter and the shadows in the late afternoon are getting longer though.

Your photos taken inside home, mine outside in the sun, but you see the connections - lines, shadows and knit balls! I love these together ;)

Hope you will enjoy September, I think it's going to be really tough on me but I will try to enjoy.

Stay calm and take care my friend.

xx

Summer, August

2010-08-26T20:00:00.000+02:00

Summer theme from Marion, thank you! :)

I very rarely take standing pictures, but I had to this time. To many obstacles on the sides :)
Summer actually feels over in south Sweden, only some sunny mornings to remind of summer. This was one of them.

Top photo is Hikis window in hot Tokyo!

Stripes * August

2010-08-13T07:32:00.003+02:00

I hope you are enjoying your summer! Tokyo's been seriously too hot.

Another post responding to our lovely readers' theme request, this time "stripes" thanks to Melanie!!

mailboxes / August

2010-08-04T14:57:00.003+02:00

Wee, it's August. Time really flies.
Thank you Ida for this weeks theme!

Your mailboxes are really cute hiki. I decided to shoot my own mailbox, finding the public Swedish mail boxes really ugly, plastic and clumpsy. Anyway, happy Wednesday to everybody!

Flowers

2010-07-26T13:10:00.002+02:00

I had a joy of receiving this lovely photograph of beautiful flowers - I'm wondering if they are silk flowers? I love how it shows some reflections too, such a great shot Ulrika!

Requested theme series "Flowers", thanks to Tabitha!

Night

2010-07-21T17:50:00.001+02:00

Thanks you Elisabelle for this weeks theme!
Hiki, we had the same perfect half moon a couple of days ago. Stay cool in warm Tokyo!

Windows

2010-07-15T10:27:00.005+02:00

So, this is our first theme responding to our readers' requests. The first one "windows", requested by Ida Nielsen (thank you Ida!).

Top photo by Ulrika from Berlin, bottom photo by hiki from Tokyo.

Is that from a printing museum? I'd love to visit there!!!!!!

Patterns / June

2010-06-29T17:38:00.002+02:00

This is part of my granny square blanket that I've been working on for a while, and still am :) But it's starting to look like a blanket now, which is inspiring.

Your picture is very Japanese to me! And I'm not sure I match it very well with my blanket.
Our summers seems a bit different too, it's dry but still green, sunny and actually perfect here now, the humidity you're having sounds exhausting, I hope it improves for you soon.

Happy end of June and soon July!

Oh, just an idea; how about some request themes? I think we could use a challenge, what do you think Hiki? If anyone has a theme they want us to photograph, please let us know! To differentiate from the food, patterns and so on that we are repeating.

Lovely Postcard from Ulrika

2010-06-25T18:33:00.005+02:00

Hello Hiki!
I'm sorry, I must be the worst or anyway slowest postcard-writer ever!
I hope June is beautiful in Japan, so far Sweden is a bit too chilly but it's all green and nice.
Gosh your Japanese Stamps are so pretty! I'm impressed every time.
I've had a calm and nice weekend, made some more granny squares. Malte thinks it's boring though and when he wants the attention he puts himself on top of all the yarn and stare me in the eyes. Then it's time for a break & some cuddle. Love that dog :)
Cheers! Ulrika♥

* * *

What a lovely postcard to receive! You made it look so pretty with the matching stamps! It was so perfect that I pretended I had the beautiful peony you painted in my potted garden :)

I hope your inspirations will be back. But don't you worry it will come back so just take it easy!

Postcard in the mailbox!

2010-06-22T19:33:00.002+02:00

Hi Ulrika!
Hope you're doing well and enjoying the flowering season... which I'm sure you are! I'm loving your spring shots at your lovely blog + flickr so much! :)
Keep posting fabulous photos and I want to tell you I'm really enjoying our project!!
Lots of love from Tokyo.
hiki

------

Thank you so much for your support Hiki. I hope I find my inspiration again soon.
I still love our project though! :)

f o o d * j u n e

2010-06-21T03:09:00.003+02:00

Peony, I LOVE peonies! They are everywhere to be seen right now in Tokyo too. And yes, I do recognise it - from your postcard (which I will share it here very soon)!!

My food shot doesn't really match yours, but it's from my Japanese lunch :)

Have a lovely week!

Looking Up, Looking Down / June

2010-06-15T19:27:00.002+02:00

Summery pictures, no 1 and 3 from Tokyo, no 2 and 4 from Helsingborg.
I hope the sun is shining on you!

Early Summer Lime Green - June

2010-06-08T02:22:00.002+02:00

It looks like summer is arriving in Helsingborg too. I love the colour of fresh green leaves seen at this time of year. It always amazes me how trees were all empty and sad looking just a couple of months ago and now they're all full of lives. So lovely.
Enjoy the beautiful season!

Top photo: Fresh green leaves by Ulrika,
Bottom photo: Moss carpet from Kyoto by hiki.

On the street, May

2010-05-31T19:00:00.000+02:00

Hikis picture is the first one, mine is the second one.
I'm struggling with inspiration but your Tokyo photo book kind of inspires me even though I don't have it in my hands but have seen it only on your blog. But it looks so good, and I'm so impressed. I hope I get to do a photo book one day.

Happy JUNE, can you beleive it? I really can't. What happened to May!?

Pattern - May

2010-05-24T02:53:00.003+02:00

Waking up to a rainy Monday morning makes me sigh, but finding an email from you with a lovely photo attached makes me smile :) What a beautiful wallpaper (or that's what I'm guessing it is)! I shot mine just then, hoping it will make a good combo together with your gorgeous shot.
Have a cheerful new week!!

Top photo by ulrika, bottom by hiki.

Food, May

2010-05-16T18:15:00.002+02:00

You put a smile on my face when I got your picture, we both went for lemons! Promise I had already chosen my pic before I got yours! :) Or, at a second glance, maybe it is not a lemon in your photo? Anyhow we both went for yellow citrus fruits, right?

And oh, that's the Little My mug!? :)

Happy new week!

first by hiki, second by ulrika

Looking Up/Down * May

2010-05-10T16:32:00.004+02:00

Yes it's already May and I'm loving it!!
Blossoms and flowers everywhere and it's all green and beautiful.
Hope you are enjoying the early summer season!

Photos:01&03 by Ulrika, 02&04 by hiki (04 is a tribute to your wonderful shadow collection!)

Turquoise May

2010-05-03T14:05:00.005+02:00

May, already! But May is great isn't it?
Hope you're having a great "golden week"! :)

top by hiki, second by ulrika, third by hiki and last one by ulrika

on the street :: april

2010-04-26T17:26:00.003+02:00

So, we both were away on mini holidays during the same weekend - you in Athens, me in Okinawa. I missed reading your posts while I was away and had no idea how you got stuck in Athens and had to take a looong journey back home, it must have been so tiring but your photos from your weekend (and plus extra days) look marvelous and I really enjoyed them.

The roofs - round and pointy, do they make you smile?
Have a wonderful new week dear my friend Ulrika!!

Top photo by Ulrika, bottom by hiki.

bonus food and patterns

2010-04-15T23:32:00.008+02:00

Hiki is on the way to Okinawa for a well deserved mini holiday and I am in Athens for work. This week is actually "pattern-week" here and I didn't notice when I got your photo, that it was a food pic, but when I had a look here I realized. And I thought, this girl is too sweet, she thought of our project and sent me the picture before going on the trip. Maybe a little bit in a hurry, but still, she did. I think it's cute. I don't mind it's another food photo. And I was just as confused, not noticing the theme was wrong :)
I think though with some good will, you can actually find both food AND patterns, in both pictures!

Have a sweet time in Okinawa! And cross your fingers that the ashes from the eruption of Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajökul will clear up so I can return home tomorrow. Nothing wrong with Athens at all, but I've done what I came here to do and now I want to go home.

hiki's picture to the right, ulrika's to the left.

Food / April

2010-04-11T18:58:00.007+02:00

As I do every time I receive a photo from you for the new post, I had to smile. Though mine is not a proper breakfast at all (I never have a proper breakfast at home) and a lot simpler and blander (and probably unhealthier) than yours, it indeed is one of my naughty but favourable breakfasts. I love your cute mug, the one I normally drink my tea with is the "Little My" one, I regret that I didn't use that mug for this shot! But from tomorrow morning when I drink my tea from my Littly My mug, I will think of you Ulrika ;)

Have a wonderful new week!

**

Top photo by Ulrika, bottom by hiki.

Looking up/down, April

2010-04-05T14:11:00.002+02:00

I'm guessing Tokyo is one of the best places to be right now, during sakura!
I long for Japan and I long for flowering trees looking at your pictures this week.
I'm kind of obsessed with reflections on puddles for the moment, well you have to do the best of the conditions you have at your disposal, right? Trees will flower in Sweden too, eventually!

Happy April everyone! And if you are somewhere where the trees are flowering, please take the time to sit down and enjoy it!

top left by hiki, top right by ulrika
no. 2 by ulrika and no. 3 by hiki.

Cheerful Yellow.

2010-03-28T13:38:00.003+02:00

Isn't yellow such a cheerful colour! And to me it is the sign of spring.
Your photo -the top one, looks very Japanese to me, it looks like it's on a bamboo mat or is that what it is?? Mine -the bottom photo is mimosa. I am totally crazy about it!

pretty, pretty postcard from hiki

2010-03-27T18:25:00.009+01:00

Hello Ulrika!
What a slow reply, I hope you forgive me... February has gone and I'm remembering ways to relax and enjoy life now thanks goodness!
The photos you sent to me for my b'day surely helped me going through the hard times and a good frame for my favourite photograph (SO BEAUTIFUL!!) is still being hunt.
Happy March Ulrika!
Spring is almost here :)
xx hiki

//

hiki my friend! I love this photograph. And your Japanese stamps are so much prettier than my Swedish ones.
Pretty photo, pretty stamp.

YES, I forgive you ;)

Lovely Surprise from Ulrika.

2010-03-26T16:01:00.003+01:00

Hello Hiki!
Congratulations on your birthday, way too late!
I hope your day was good! I send you an extra photo (that I know you like) as a very small birthday gift :)
We got another 20cm of snow last night and there's a 1m pile of snow right outside our garage so I had to work from home today, but I don't mind.
I kind of long for spring now though... :)
Have a very good February and stay warm!
All the best from Ulrika.

--
OK, I know this is far too late to finally post this I apologise. I received this wonderful mail from Ulrika for my birthday (in February! I know March is about to end now, it's terrible), a sweet envelope filled with a beautiful set of photographs taken by herself. When I took out a pile of photographs, the pink rose one was on top of it and it was so amazing like as if I received a beautiful bouquet it put a huge smile on my face! It was such a lovely surprise and what a sweetheart Ulrika is! I have got to find a good frame to put my very favourite picture, yes I still haven't found one. (I hope you are not rolling your eyes Ulrika.)

on the street - March

2010-03-21T13:33:00.002+01:00

I hope the storm has passed and left your Tokyo calm again, ready for a new week to begin.
We have beautiful spring weather in Sweden today. I stay in mostly, due to a cold, but it's so nice to know that the sun is warming the streets, aweakening the grass and bringing the colors and shadows back. I've really missed them.

top photo by hiki,
bottom by ulrika.

Happy new week our friends!

Patterns - March.

2010-03-14T14:21:00.004+01:00

OK, maybe I cheated a bit this time, but when I saw this photo of yours I thought this could be a good match. Beautiful patterned stone wall from my favourite towel shop.
I really love your stone collection! Happy new week to you Ulrika :)

Top photo by Ulrika, second by hiki.

Food, March

2010-03-07T20:04:00.012+01:00

You know you always amaze me with your beautiful Japan shots. I feel more and more like visiting Japan every time I see your photos or visit your blog.

There is so much Japan in this shot! Which is great :)

I've just finished a raspberry/cardamon muffin while crocheting. It turned into a small blanket for Malte.

Happy new week!

And oh, top photo by hiki and bottom by ulrika, but I'm guessing it's quite obvious :)

Looking Up, Looking Down / February

2010-02-28T15:27:00.002+01:00

So this is the last set for February, "Looking Up / Looking Down". Are they both your creations Ulrika? Both your wire bird and crochet look amazing! That made me realise I haven't been doing any creative work that are non-digital for so long. At least I'm shooting film.... oh well.

Photo 2&3 by Ulrika, 1&4 by hiki.

pink it is!

2010-02-21T12:01:00.014+01:00

I like your choice of color. I found alot of pinks in my library but chose the sunset view. I could probably find any color in the different moods and sunsets this view offers me, this time pink.

Your caviar can is so pretty! How was the caviar?! Looks very exclusive :)

I wish you a great new Tokyo week.

left by hiki, right by ulrika.

On the Street * February

2010-02-14T11:53:00.004+01:00

Ah yes, I see the smiley in your photo, that is so cute! ;)
We had our first snow this winter the other day in Tokyo, but there is no more trace of it left now. It's been freezing but I managed a sunny shot on the street just some blocks from my home.
Happy Valentines to you too Ulrika!

Top : Helsinbourg On the Street by Ulrika.
Bottom: Tokyo On the Street by hiki.

Patterns, February

2010-02-07T18:28:00.005+01:00

Animals creating patterns, I love the idea. Must admit that I chose my photo after having received yours :) The theme was too good to brake.

Fishes by hiki, birds by ulrika.

///

Have a happy new week everyone!

Food {January}

2010-02-01T01:19:00.010+01:00

At the very end of January, I received a lemon yellow coloured post card from someone and that made me smile.
I received a little net of lemon the next day which I had ordered earlier and that made me smile again :)
And when I received this month's food theme photograph from Ulrika for this post, you can imagine how big it made me smile? Very big, indeed.
I love lemon yellow. But of course I didn't plan all this.

Top lemon (and garlic) by Ulrika, bottom lemons by hiki.

Looking Up, Looking Down / January

2010-01-23T23:43:00.011+01:00

I love matching our photos together and most of all I like opening your e-mails and to find your photos for the next post. I am always happy when I see them.
Sweden is still very cold, but today has been a sunny day. Sun means so much these days.
Stay warm, I think the blanket will help you. Still can't believe you have got a blanket that was made 30 km from me, without anyone of us knowing until I saw your picture of it. I love that.

*

Photos no. 1 and 3 from hiki, no. 2 and 4 from ulrika.

Blue is Everywhere.

2010-01-18T01:18:00.008+01:00

++
When you said "blue" for this month's colour theme post, I thought "what blue photos can I shoot, the sky is not really blue at this time of year..." (yes as you sensed it in my email), but once I got outside holding my camera thinking "blue" I was actually so amazed to see how many "blues" I see just about everywhere! Even the sky was really blue that day as if laughing at my silly thought!
Anyway, this one was my favourite "blue" shot out of so many which I ended up with. That blue trolley was accidental, but yes blue IS everywhere.

P.S. I love your blue pen collection, Ulrika!

new postcard and more coincidences

2010-01-17T12:55:00.009+01:00

hello ulrika! this is the Japanese style new years greeting card "nengajo", it's in Japanese but thought I'd send you one.

Yes my feet are always cold even in summer and I wear double socks and need a blanket too :) Speaking of blankets, I've just got a beautiful new blanket that was made in Sweden! So many of my favourite things are swedish and I feel Sweden closer and closer by doing our blog :) I hope you had a great holidays and wish you all the best for a fabulous New Year!

gott nytt ar!

Love from Tokyo

hiki

***

hiki! I instantly recognised the blanket in your picture below! those blankets are manufactured about 30 kilometers from where I live!! Have a look here. I found your blanket in the collection page. Amazing. You've put a smile on my face, again :)

From Ulrika#02 / January

2010-01-14T14:57:00.007+01:00

HELLO HIKI.
This is how it normally looks this time of the year where I live, this year is different, we've got snow! Love it, it makes everything lighter. Although it's cold.
I read on your blog that your feet are always cold - so are mine! I've been wearing double socks for weeks, we have 18C indoors and I need blankets and tea to stay warm. Christmas is coming up, I wish you all the best for the Holidays. HAPPY 2010!
Mata-ne! Ulrika

* * * *

Ulrika, in my old stamp book I have many stamps that say "SVERIGE" on them and I always wondered where they came from when I was a child. I kept forgetting about it, but when I saw that stamp on your postcard -bang! my long-lost mystery was solved! If internet was around back then I would've found out so easily but this was such a wonderful way to find out :)

On the street / January

2010-01-12T20:20:00.007+01:00

Sweden is all covered in white, japan seems warmer, at least your pictures are warm.

The nice and warm photos from hiki and tokyo, the snowy ones from ulrika and jukkasjärvi.

stay warm everyone!

Patterns / January

2010-01-02T14:17:00.003+01:00

gott nytt ar!
akemashite omedeto!
happy new year!

with lots and lots of love, from sweden and japan.
ulrika and hiki :)

photo 1&2 by ulrika / 3&4 by hiki

Food / December

2009-12-27T13:51:00.015+01:00

Mandarines and persimmons from Japan.
Frozen cheesecake with gingerbread cookie bottom and pomegranate from Sweden.
I hope your Christmas has been everything you wished for.

Looking Up, Looking Down / December

2009-12-20T15:50:00.014+01:00

Leaves are still falling in Tokyo.
The air is getting colder and nights are getting longer.
Probably not as much as where you are though.
I don't live close to the water, but my "looking down" photograph was also wet.
Just another coincidence that makes me smile.

hiki+ulrika=hibika

2009-12-16T19:27:00.014+01:00

we proudly introduce "hello hiki" which is a photo and postcard project by hiki from jollygoo and ulrika where we hope to show you photos from Japan and Sweden in sweet harmony. We intend to get to know each other by exchanging postcards and those will also be posted here.

welcome and enjoy!

first postcard from hiki!

2009-12-10T19:26:00.076+01:00

Hello Ulrika!
Here it is - the first postcard from me! It's Tokyo - past and present all mixed up. Not real but Tokyo is pretty much a mixed up city of everything. I know how you said NY was wonderful and terrible at the same time and Tokyo is also like that and yes the two cities share the craziness of people being everywhere! And that is probably one of the reasons I adore visiting your blog to see beautiful photos you take of unseen land full of wonderful nature!
Cheers, hiki

hello from ulrika.

2009-12-08T04:10:00.008+01:00

Hello Hiki!
I wanted to send you the first postcard from NY, I figure it to be a good place to start. The picture is from NY at least! New York is wonderful and terrible at the same time. So many people, impressions and things to do. Imagine arriving from a country of 9 milion people, to a fairly small island with the same population. But, I guess Tokyo is more like NY than Helsingborg! :) Hope you can read my handwriting, you will experience it changes a lot from day to day, this being the first of hopefully many postcards to you! I hope you are perfectly fine! Hugs Ulrika.

P.S. Did I mention NY is wonderful?