During our stay here in Vingåker, Sweden, we have found this great hideaway that we come back to over and over. Not far from our house is an old chapel which has been transformed into a beautiful cafe and art gallery. Here you can get great coffee and a home-baked cakes Different artists are exhibiting their work in this beautiful room. Also different events are held here such as yoga, Argentinian tango courses and concerts. The chapel was originally built in 1873 and not only used for for religious services but also a local meeting point for the people in the area for over hundred years. I am so impressed of the people who saw the potential in this old building and was brave enough to create this cultural cafe far out in the Swedish countryside. We have been here quiet a few times this summer and it is always a lot of people. It is so great to have this close by when we feel like having a coffee and getting inspired by all the great art and the atmosphere. Check it out:  Berga ...

  He is not only inspiration to my illustrations he is also the cutest and wildest pensioner I know. Nantwich Lad aka Spot came from England to Sweden as a birthday present for my sister 16 December 2004, 10 years ago!! It was a cold and snowy winter that year and he was acting as if he had never seen or experienced cold, snow and ice before. I lived in England at the time and I was helping Family Smith to ride their young horses. They had this very furry pony that was not doing a great lot. He was old already back then and had had an injury to one of his front tendon "Why don't you send Spot to you sister?" Cheryl asked me one day. I thought why to send that hairy old thing with bad legs all the way to Sweden. As I got to hear his history I realized that this pony is just not any old pony he is a very special pony with a extra big heart.  According to his passport Spot is born 1981 and I have heard that he was bought on Beston cattle market as a young pony...

Saturday was sunny and warm, like spring in the air. On a nice long Prague walk me and a friend paid the John Lennon wall a visit. I love street art and especially this wall. This wall was once upon a time a normal wall in Prague, but since the 80th it has been filled with graffiti inspired by John Lennon. Here you can find quotes, pictures, words and a lot of young tourists. The wall is a symbol of freedom against the communistic regime and was created by youth in Prague. Follow the death of John Lennon they wanted a place to come to to remember the man they admired for his fight for peace, freedom and equality. It became a place to grieve and also to express their opinions about the regime. This was of course forbidden and so the art was created during the nights. Even when the wall was over and over repainted by authorities, the next day it would be full of colorful lyrics, flowers and hearts by the next day. The original paintings are long gone and every time I go here the wa...

Today I found great illustration inspiration in my friends kitchen. Sweet explanatory illustrations from her Japanese cook book for young children caught my attention. I love it.   Oh yeah and I also ( as discrete as I could) looked through her food cupboard and found interesting products and cans. Especially this silver shiny can that I just had to check out a little closer. Sorry Miki for sticking my nose in your cupboards but it is just so exotic for a Swede like me and it brings me for a little moment a little closer to Japan.  

Sometimes I find great inspiration in the most unexpected places or is it the inspiration that finds me.. For example the other day in this pretty dirty kids play-corner where the bacterias and cold viruses are hanging out with dolls, teddy-bears and mini tractors ( petrified every-time of what we will bring with us home as I let down my wild one year old who likes to put things in her mouth..) I looked up and find the walls nicely and cutely decorated by hand on the coffee and cake theme. What do you think? Ibland hittas inspirationen eller inspirationen hittar dig på oväntade platser. Som här omdagen i den smutsiga lekhörnan där dockor, bilar, bitringar och bakterier trängs ( lika rädd varje gång för dessa bakterier när jag släpper ner vild ett-åring som har myror i brallan och som gillar att stoppa allt i munnen..) På väggarna dessa söta små målningar på kaffe och kak teamat.