kids birthday party ideas

Anya is still in her pink phase, so she would love this kind of party. Her birthday is 2 months away but she is already thinking about the theme. Pink heart balloons and strawberry lollies? I can hear " YES please...". Very cute.

from here

forest friends

Hi it is Petra here today.

We have planned with Hugo for long now that we create a home for paper animals from MiboStudio.
They lived temporarily in the "gamekeeper's house" paper house with a chimney, but came to us better to have a home in the woods.
Yesterday we embarked on a fold-out "forest book" from a cardboard box. After a few hours cutting and gluing arose folding forest set (the book is somewhat overblown expression :)) that can be used when playing by child's fantasy. Eventually we want to expand the book, maybe a page of forest animals tracks, learning about trees by leaves, or we add trees for owl and other birds.
More paper print and cut-out animals not only from the forest can be found here.

See you later!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

Christmas baking

Hi it is Petra here today.

I want to share a few pictures from yesterday's gingerbread baking and making of the cardboard stove for our friends children today. When I made ​​the first stove of Ikea paper box two years ago for Hugo to play in order to "cook" on the floor while I'm cooking dinner I did not expect that it will become his favorite toy and will the last to this day!
If you like the idea for your kids or as a gift for the children of friends, you can find inspiration here. It's really easy. For sticking the box I used black adhesive foil and for the description white gel pen. You can cut through the front of the box and have tilting door for inserting baking sheet. I did not cut the box, because it serves as a box for storing H. kitchen utensils and wicker basket for shopping. I might gave the paper stove supplemented with small spoons, apron, or baking set to all the children of our friends and always brought great joy. Wish you wonderful Christmas time.

+ one inspiration for you here

 

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

Christmas paper decorations

Hi, it is Petra here today.

A small Christmas tree drawing on a wrapping paper by my son has inspired me for creating more decorations and greeting cards over the weekend.

It is really easy. All you need is to cut out the shape of the trees and fish from the paper of your choice and you can create according to your own imagination. If you cut out different sized tree templates and bend them in the middle you can create forest. If you don't bend it you can have greeting cards and from the small ones name tags for gifts or on the Christmas table. When you decorate fish from both sides you can use them as pending decoration. Our “magical“ fish have scales from one side only. On the other one we will write wishes for our loved ones and friends. Wish you much joy in creating.

More inspiration here

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

we love birds

Hi, it is Petra here today.

Last weekend I moved a picture which I like a lot from the hallway and put it above my desk. It is a pleasant memory of last winter when Hugo was often standing by the window and watching birds in the surrounding gardens. He wanted to know their names and where are they hiding when we don't see them. We have a children's folk song "will be cold, will be frost, where you birdie, where you hide?“ So we got an idea of creating our two birds pictures glued onto the remnants of wallpaper and fabrics. Imaginary place where the birds are at home. 

 

more photos here
 

See you next week! 

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss  

autumn birthday

Hi, it is Petra here today.

Autumn is my favourite season. I like autumn colours, conker picking, flying a kite, apple cider, meals from pumpkins. Last five years it is even more beautiful, Hugo celebrates his birthday in October.

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

Time for play

Hi, it is Petra here today.

Kids are amazingly resourceful and creative, great artists, great builders, they are eager to know and learn everything. I love to watch my son in his 'work' (as he says), it's really inspiring, I learned a lot from him.

We spent a few days with friends in London at the beginning of this summer. For Hugo it was a week full of powerful experiences. First flight, he saw London buses and taxi, dinosaurs in the museum and in particular he found a new friend who, like him, enjoys running, climbs everywhere and they both have love for drawing and books! And he also discovered Gruffalo :-)

He loves everything 'English' now. After returning back home ABC song sounds again and again and  he builds London all the time... . One morning I found him in the kitchen copying letters from a book, he also "baked" Gruffalo crumble recently and today I found the "Garage" made of paper wrapping. And he wrote everything  by himself! He will go to school in two years, just celebrated fifth birthday. But more on that next time.

And a bit of inspiration from the faerie world of children. 

See you next week.

photos & styling by H.+P.+V. Weiss

dining with kids

Hi , it's Petra here today....

When I was a child I often used to hear 'don't speak when eating'. Even at nursery school we said before lunch "good tasting without talking". Now at home we do talk at the table, and a lot about all sorts of things and it is a good time. But I found myself that I have one 'rule': no toys, books etc, on the table during dining. But I think the rules are to be changed, or do the exception..... For instance last weekend, I made a surprise for the afternoon tea: I drew a road on the "tablecloth" from wrapping paper and Hugo while eating was dealing with traffic jam, delivering the raspberries, moving traffic signs. ... it was different and fun dining. Try it:-) 

More inspiration for dining with kids here.

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

last holiday weekend

Hi , it's Petra here today....

On the last holiday weekend, we went to visit our friends who live in the countryside near the river. There wasn't enough water to paddle down the river, so we enjoyed a beautiful day chatting and relaxing on their large garden. The kids had fun "fishing" and playing with boats in the pond. I made them sailboats from plastic shampoo bottles, washable wallpaper, cork from the bottle of wine, skewer and rubber bands. The inspiration for the bottle boat here. 

Dinner by the fire reminded me of my childhood with grandmother. Did you enjoy some beautiful summer evenings too? 

See you next week!

photos & styling by P.+V. Weiss

children's bedroom inspiration + I'm moving out

It has been a while since I posted some kids bedroom inspiration. Our house is going through another small change as I'm moving my studio/office out. Decision purely based on practicalities, I don't have enough space for keeping all frames, boxes and everything else in my current room. It's been a tough decision, a bit scary I have to say. It feels like a really big step for me and my business. 

I love working from home and although it can be a bit lonely and do get cabin fever quite lot, it's just so convenient and comfortable. My current studio in our house is not small, but it's just not enough any more. 

I will soon let you know more about it, who I work with, who helps me out and how it's all running. 

But back to kids rooms. Anya will move her room from her tiny English "cupboard" to my current office. So a bit decorating is coming my way. As time will allow...

I especially like displays of children's artwork in some of these rooms, keeping it flexible, easy and happy. 

all images from here

Mummy surprise!

Hi, it's Petra here today. Back in spring my son Hugo discovered gardening and was desperate to grow something himself in our garden. Last year he underwent  a serious operation and we used to put cream from marigold plants to heal his scar. So that's why his choice was the same plant. 

In April he planted the seeds and was patiently observing every week how they grow. Finally last month they were in full bloom and one day he came from the garden with words: " Mummy surprise! That's for you to make you happy and to know I love you..." It was wonderful. 

It was one of the moments when you think you child is just amazing and you are so happy being a mum. 

And then he made me a picture as well.....

See you next week! Petra

photos & styling by P.&V. Weiss

little feet from LA

Toady I'm loving this cool couple with their great place and a small baby ....full story here.

for the little ones

I came across some gorgeous kiddies stuff lately and here are some of my picks:

ever so cute childrens wear from louloueskimo ( photos - 1.2.4 )

cute little dresses from South Africa

pillows - especially this one

babiekins magazine

last time we went to NY we visited this shop which was very nice...

and I bought a dress there for A. from these people ( one of their dresses - photo 3) she loves it

and - this rabbit family - cute

have a great day!