Nengajyou (年賀状)  style

January wallpaper comes in a Nengajyou style. “Nengajyou” (年賀状) is a Japanese New Year’s greeting card. The little cow in the corner represents the Year of the Cow. And the Japanese text on it saying “Akemashite Omedetou” (あけましておめでとう)means “Happy New Year”.

Enjoy ;)

Resolutions:
Wide: 1920×1200, 1680×1050, 1440×900
Full: 1600×1200, 1280×900

Click on image to enlarge

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Yet another new theme

Sometimes I seriously think I am changing my blog design too frequently. This is the third time since August. That is, 3 times in half a year. Isn’t is too much? Nevertheless, I have had this idea for a long time (still, not so long) but it is a new year, and it needs a new start.

I have been with this blog for half a year and I think I got to have a direction. During this time I got in touch with some designer-bloggers and we agreed that there are many design blogs out there now. Such as… (You can list them!)

I think this is what I want now– A personal gallery-blog. The idea had made me into creating this theme. Instead of bunches of wordy texts I prefer showing my visitors images on the front page like a gallery.

I hope you all like the new look, and here’s a screenshot of the old theme if you missed it!

Any feedback or comment about the new look? Feel free to leave me a comment below.

About the tag line

The new tag line is taken from the title of the song “Hello Another Way〜それぞれの場所〜” by the brilliant green.

Last month I encountered Twitter friend, David Hoang (@davidhoang), who was looking at doing a series of hand-drawn avatars. I sent in my picture and asked him to do one for me. It looks brilliant. Thank you very much.

David is currently finishing other avatars as well. Please check out his website for more avatars!

Have a chat with David if you want, if you are interested to have your avatar drwan, you are also welcome to DM him on Twitter. Just follow @davidhoang.

You are welcome to follow @athenaemily on Twitter too.

The wallpaper comes in 3 custom colours: pink, yellow and green. Inspired by the album artwork of his 2nd studio album “PSYENCE”- the first press limited edition, released on 2/9/1996, which also released in 3 different colours.

The quote “STAY FREE YOUR MISERY” was a line from the lyrics of both “MISERY” and “FLAME”. Both songs are recorded in the album “PSYENCE”.

Click image to enlarge

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External links:
Wikipedia on hide
hide official fan club site hide-city (Japanese)

My inspiration mainly came from the style of his signature guitar model, which was also called “Yellow Heart” (see picture).

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Click image to enlarge

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External links:
Wikipedia on hide
hide official fan club site hide-city (Japanese)

I again thank Smashing Magazine for featuring my wallpaper this month.

Japanese music has always been my favorite genre since I was young. Musicians emphasis on the design of their CD covers as well as their unique package design. Here is a selection of album artworks from dating from 1998 to present which I think are creatively beautiful. (For some of the singles I have included the track of the music.)

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: Every Little Thing
Single Title: “Swimmy” (スイミー)

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Release: 2005
Album Artist: Every Little Thing
Album Title: “ACOUSTIC : LATTE”

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Release: 2007
Album Artist: Mr. Children
Album Title: “HOME”

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Release:2005
Album Artist: CHEMISTRY
Single Title: “Wings of Words”

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: MUCC (ムック)
Single Title: “Gokusai” (極彩)

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: Kiyoharu (清春)
Single Title: “VINNYBEACH ~kakuu no kaigan~”

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: GAKU-MC / Sakurai Kazutoshi (桜井和寿)
Single Title: “Te wo Dasuna!” (手を出すな！)

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Release: 1998
Album Artist: Denki Groove (電気グルーヴ)
Album Title: “recycled A”

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Release: 2007
Album Artist: B’z
Album Title: “ACTION”

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Release: 2007
Album Artist: L’Arc~en~Ciel
Album Title: “KISS”

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Release: 2005
Album Artist: Janne Da Arc
Single Title: “DIAMOND VIRGIN” (ダイヤモンドヴァージン)

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Release: 2003
Album Artist: MUCC (ムック)
Single Title: “Ware, Arubeki Basho” (我、在るべき場所)

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Release: 2004
Album Artist: SHAKALABBITS
Single Title: “CLUTCH”

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Release: 1998
Album Artist: L’Arc~en~Ciel
Single Title: “HONEY”

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: MUCC (ムック)
Single Title: “”Horizont”" (ホリゾント)

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Release: 2007
Album Artist: Remioromen (レミオロメン)
Single Title: “Wonderful & Beautiful”

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Release: 2007

Album Artist: SMAP
Single Title: “Pop Up!”

Limited edition package

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Release: 2007
Album Artist: BENNIE K
Album Title: “THE WORLD”

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Release: 2000

Album Artist: the brilliant green
Album Title: “Hello Another Way -sorezore no basho-”

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Release: 2005
Album Artist: Gackt
Album Title: “Love Letter”

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Release: 2005
Album Artist: Dir en grey
Single Title: “CLEVER SLEAZOID”

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Release: 2008
Album Artist: SAKEROCK
Single Title: “Honyarara” (ホニャララ)

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Release: 2002
Album Artist: Dir en grey
Album Title: “Kisou” (鬼葬)

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Release: 2001
Album Artist: Cocco
Album Title: “Best + Back Best + unreleased songs”

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Release: 2008
Album Artist: Mr. Children
Single Title: “GIFT”

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Release: 2005
Album Artist: Plastic Tree
Single Title: “Ghost”

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Release: 2004
Album Artist: L’Arc~en~Ciel
Album Title: “SMILE”

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Release: 2001
Album Artist: Dir en grey
Single Title: “JESSICA”

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: SMAP
Album Title: “Drink! SMAP!”

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Release: 2005
Album Artist: Mr. Children
Album Title: “I Love U”

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Release: 2004
Album Artist: Orange Range
Single Title: “Hana” (花)

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Release: 2004
Album Artist: Dir en grey
Single Title: “The Final”

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: Kiyoharu (清春)
Single Title: “The Final”

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Release: 2008
Album Artist: Ayumi Hamasaki
Album Title: “ayu-mi-x 6 -GOLD-” and “ayu-mi-x 6 -SILVER-”

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Limited edition

Normal edition

Release: 2008
Album Artist: Orange Range
Album Title: “PANIC FANCY”

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Release: 2006
Album Artist: B’z
Single Title: “Splash!”

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Release: 1998
Album Artist: hide
Single Title: “Pink Spider”

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Release: 2008
Album Artist: MUCC (ムック)
Album Title: “Psychedelic Analysis”

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A sketch I did on my lecture this morning. I was listening to this song too much. “I can hold your hand baby” by the brilliant green. I am just so into the mood of it.

Also, I was entouring an error message. Thanks to Wordpress support forum, I finally got my way out. Check: http://wordpress.org/support/topic/172272

This month I made this wallpaper with a dark bluish color just because I think this is how winter means to me. Dark and cold. It seems that this year’s winter is approaching us earlier than usual. November is the start of winter in the Northern hemisphere. It maybe not the most welcoming month but I hope you enjoy it while waiting for the lovely December!

The Idea:

Recently I am very into a Japanese Rock band called “the brilliant green” (Official site). The composition of this wallpaper is inspired by one of their album cover art -”THE WINTER ALBUM“.

Here I used the quote I remember: “Wisdom comes with winter.” by Irish playwright, Oscar Wilde, arranged with a simple typography. Hoping to make the month pleasanter!

I have made 3 different versions of this, one with the calendar and another one without. Plus a special “HEART” version.

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Click image to enlarge

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After months I decided to use this thing once again. In fact I have been using it all the time but now I finally made my feed redirects to FeedBurner. Then it will be more convenient for you, my readers, to subscribe my RSS with your favorite reader! Email subscription also available from now! Just in case, I will post up my main feed address here (Please note that it is changed): http://feeds.feedburner.com/athenaemily