I went on a trip to Freiburg to one of my oldest girlfriends, Almut, last weekend. We had so much fun - we always do. It really is a shame we are living that far apart from each other... Anyway, on the way there (which is like 5 1/2 hours with weekend traffic) we were stuck in traffic on the Autobahn and suddenly everyone had to go to the toilet. I had no other choice than to sit them down on their potties, which looked so funny that I got out of the car and had to take a picture through the open trunk. My kids thought it was all hillarious - you can tell by their faces. We went to a soccer game of Almuts younger son Justus, so you can see my very happy little boy (soccer, what else to say...) and my daughter Lis who is admiring her daughter Carlotta (who again is my fabulous godchild). What a blast. Everyone was so enjoying their time together, I just had to post these. Oh, and by the way: Almut, thanks for the fantastic reciepes. We are eating your food ever since. Yummie!

Girls, girls, girls

I know, the time my daughter loves pink is soon coming to an end. Almost five, she will soon love greys, blacks and turquoises. Which means I am going to wear a lot of pink again, so that we don't look alike all the time. Anyway, this soon to be history love of pink made me sort through my pictures and look for things I made for her and other girls lately, who love pink, too. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Love Svenja

Pirate Pat

I know that I am not the only pirate obsessed Mum in the world. It is hard not to be as soon as your boy goes pirate crazy. I posted this guy on flickr and found out about a new group by revoluzzza called "The monthly craft challenge" which features pirates as Septembers' theme. What a great idea!
Isn't his back fun? I just had to do it this way, as I think the more detailed, the easier to love.
See yah
Svenja

Stitch a girl

Did a late night shift and now the new pillows are done. I put them in flickr and my shops already, those girls just love going out! Now I am off to gymnastics with my little girl and whish you a fun afternoon!

Love Svenja

Stitchin' hot

I have to admit that I have been into stitching for a long time and I thought that it was time to freshen up the craft a little bit. As I have a little girl that loves girlish stuff I stitched away to create some pillows and a doll and I like the designs so much, that I just had to do some work in progress shots. What do you think and how do you like them?
As our house is pretty much overcrowded with pillows and I treated myself to some of the old drawing room and the new garden party fabric by Anna Maria Horner I might sell them on etsy and dawanda, though. Inspired by the stitching process I designed a new pillow for my daughter for her kindergarden nap. They all snuggle in the gym around a quarter past one until two, so this will be where she lies her head. Sorry, no ironing done so far.

Talk soon,

Svenja

The big day

We started the day quiet as always, but everyone was already looking forward to the big event.

Therefore the choice of shoes was especially hard to make this morning. Is it Moms' black stilettos or Cinderellas' blue plastic high heels? Finally it was there: the start of kindergarden year.
I am still trying to take it all in. My little man is going off to kindergarden. So when I dressed him and his sister this morning and took the "first day of kindergarden" pictures, I had to hold back pretty much. Guess I have to have another baby sooner or later, as this better isn't the last time I buy a new backpack and am so proud of my kids. Best feeling in the world! My husband was here to come with us, so this was extra special and I loved to share it with him.

Let the adventure begin. And off they went.

I liked it how Lis was really supportive.

Back home they were in the best of moods and sat down with Jumpys and grapes. What a way to end an exciting brother and sister day.

Love
Svenja

Sharks and other water animals

It has been so hot in Munich lately that I am surprised to wake up to an all cloudy morning. A good moment to share some summer sharks and a splashing moment with you.

The big shark has ended up in Ludwigs (my son) bed and is mainly used for hitting his sister while fighting.
The little ones are now arranged as a mobile in his room. And for you to finally see what Ludwig looks and is like I am attaching a picture which pretty much says it all.

This summer was very rewarding so far as I can just go to the lake, let the kids run around and think about all my projects. Last year I was busy watching that nobody drowns. Those days are not really gone, but it is so much easier. So for all you Moms that think this will never end and you will never be able to just lie down: It does end, and sooner than you think you will be stretched out on a blanket, a book in your hands. Just keep the faith!

Fairy tale all over

Well, if I wouldn't love life this much I would probably like to be a fairy. A pair of wings come in handy from time to time, I guess. I will post more tomorrow, I found some girl sketches and had a crazy bunting and birds session today I have to fill you in on. Now, as my little ones are finally asleep I will try to read some more pages of a movie script I've been trying to finish since Friday. Movies and writing being another one of my creative obsessions this seems way too long. See , again the wings would come in handy. I could fly to a different timezone and have another day there. Well, sleep will get me soon, as always. Still hoping for quieter times at the sleepfront here. No nonsense.
Love Svenja

All my little girls

Spring

Summer

Autumn

Friendship

I am one of those moms who always wanted a girl. Good for me my first child was a girl, so I could relax with the second - the most incredible little boy in the world. Did I say I only wanted girls? Neeeeeeh! With painting it is different. Maybe it is because little girls wear dresses, I have no idea, just love to paint them. Here are some of the girls I have painted this year - and I think there will be more to come.

6 months later

Six months ago I started to paint an ABC picture for my sons' bedroom. The idea was to paint an ABC and some animal outlines. The more I got going the more I knew that it couldn't be only outlines, but it had to be real animals. As I got all creative I started some other nice projects and suddenly there was no more progress. The picture came to an halt. But then, one Monday I said to myself: This is what got you all started, you better finish your very first project now. And I did. It took all of my discipline to start again, but I was rewarded with some wonderful painting time with my son, who was painting right next to me. Today I went to a professional photographer who turned this picture into a tif for me to be able to do reprints. Now I will soon be able to sell it on etsy and dawanda. I am excited - again.

Shops are open!

Pictures had to be taken, words to be found - let alone all the sewing prior to that - the result is, what counts. YES, I DID IT. My shops at etsy

and the German equivalent dawanda

are open. I can't believe I even kept my self-set deadline, which was today. I am so excited about this new beginning, especially as I am now starting to be part of a community including so many creative people and artists I much admire. I couldn't have done this without the help of Phuong (graphic design), Alex (pictures) and Julia (everything, from researching, having an opinion, serving coffee and helping me all the way), Megan (for encouraging me all the time and always being there) and my husband (who always believes in me. Period.) I cannot believe how much enthusiasm you guys put into lilukids, that once started as a little project and now is finally going somewhere. I hope you'll all be there to see what's happening next. Thanks. A lot.

Getting ready for etsy and dawanda

How exciting the next week is going to be. I set my own deadline: My etsy and dawanda shops will open on Juli the 31st. Meanwhile I am busy sewing, writing profiles and product descriptions and taking pictures. Figuring out everything from shipping costs to pricing takes some time as well. I guess some of you went through this a long time ago and probably know exactly what I am talking about. I have to say that I haven't been looking forward to something as much since the birth of my children and maybe some lovebird weekends with no kids and just my fabulous husband. Here are some sneak previews of what to expect:

Holidays are over

Wow, that was nice. My husband Uwe and I went on a family holiday with our two kids and our Irish friends Ger and Grett and their 4 children. So all in all it was 6 children under 6 - and you wouldn't believe the fun we had. Uwe and I spent some time in Ireland on a short Valentines Day vacation and knew just then that we HAD TO show the kids. It was very inspiring - I just love Irish landscape and houses. Ger took us to see a house a friend is building right now. He is almost done and it looks really great - especially the views out of each single window are amazing.

We took the children to see Muckross House and the traditional farms and they loved it. There is something about traditional places and buildings children and animals seem to understand lots better than grown ups. They were falling for the myths and you could tell that they were amazed by the spirit as well as loving the unbelievable parks surrounding everything.

Although Ireland is said not to have any sun we had some beach days and my daughter started surfing. I took like a hundred pictures in case she is going to be world champion one day. You never know.