FREE worldwide shipping this weekend at Mengsel

Get some spring in your step. Click on the link to go shopping and to redeem your voucher.. ends Monday 13 May 12pm GMT

a little break

And I'm back! I recently visited South Africa with my husband, who was competing in Ironman South Africa in Port Elizabeth. Had a wonderful time catching up with family and friends in Cape Town too.

Port Elizabeth pier ready for Ironman South Africa

Chapman's Peak

Kommetjie

playful patterns at Oh My!

Thanks for the mention OH MY! We love playful triangly patterns as much as you do. 

Mengsel's Mountain Cabin print is available HERE at the Mengsel Shop...

Mengsel's Swans print in new moodboard at the Baba Souk blog

Thanks for the mention Baba Souk ;-) Our Swans limited edition silkscreen print (printed by hand in the studio!) is available at the Mengsel shop in 3 colour options in an A3 size and is ON SALE at the moment. 

Introducing new print "Vintage Coffee"

A brand new giclee print in the Mengsel Shop this Easter weekend called "Vintage Coffee" 

I've always loved spending time in the Victoria & Albert Museum drawing in my sketchbook, marvelling at al the beautiful objects from around the world. "Vintage Coffee" is an illustrated print based on my sketchbook drawings of coffee pots from all the different styles in the silver rooms, including Art Nouveau, Art Deco and Bauhaus. 

Available in 3 colours: cherry red, slate grey and retro mint. Hope you like it? 

Mengsel is also offering FREE WORLDWIDE SHIPPING this Easter weekend until Tuesday 2 April 2013. No need to enter a code, the reduction has already been made. 

Happy Easter everybody!

NEW print: "Katjies"

Brand new print in the Mengsel shop called "Katjies" (kittens in Afrikaans). Giclee print available in A3 size. The colours are really soft and this print would look so sweet in a child's room or nursery.

Go have a look at "Katjies" in the Mengsel shop...

Mengsel at the V&A

Mengsel's sweet little "Whale" and "Bigger Boat" cushions and "Fish & Chips" silkscreen print made it all the way to the Victoria and Albert Museum's Shop! So excited about this, because the V&A has always been my favourite place to go with my sketchbook with an abundance of inspiration and beautiful things on display.

The cushions and prints join a collection of seaside inspired goods to form a British Seaside collection at the V&A.

Might have to make a little trip down to South Kensington this week to go spot them in the shop. Absolutely thrilled!

You can also buy these seaside inspired items directly from the Mengsel Shop. Here's to a fabulously sunny and colourful British Summer!

love where I live

One of the great things of living in Raynes Park: It's a stone's throw from beautiful Richmond Park and Wimbledon Common. Last Sunday, the sun was shining, everybody was out and about and for the first time in months, it felt like Spring is not such a silly idea. Boy was I wrong! A week later and temperatures have plummeted below zero again with icy flurries in the air.

Well, when the sun was out a week ago, I captured my beloved Wimbledon Common and Village with a few instagram shots.

Happy Birthday to Me!

Just for fun, I've assembled a whole load of "fantasy" birthday cakes for moi for today - it's my birthday! Thanks for following my blog and hope 2013 will be a wonderful year for Mengsel.

I'll just imagine tucking into these beauties. Yum!

Chocolate fudge cake with raspberries and amaretto cream

-receipe from What Katie Ate

Whisky and Dark Chocolate "Beautiful and the Damned" Cake

- recipe from Poires au Chocolat

Mascarpone Meringue Cake

-recipe from Sweetapolita

Darkest Choclate Crepe Cake

- recipe from Martha Stewart

The best cherry & chocolate cheesecake

-recipe from Jamie Oliver

Are you picking up on the chocolate trend? Hehe

marie antoinette colours

Over here at Mengsel, I'm always inspired by colour trends. With Spring coming up, I've been looking at some sugary hues. One of my favourite films (stylistically), is Marie Antoinette by Sofia Coppola. The decadence of the era with a bit of an edge is so beautiful.

A colour palette...

Featured in The Simple Things

Mengsel's colourful "Toucans"cushion made an appearance in The Simple Things Issue 03. I just love this magazine! Beautiful photography, yummy recipes and pretty things for the home.

Shop the "Toucans" cushion HERE

Yearning for Spring

Today is only the first day of the second month of this year, but I seriously cannot wait for Spring this year. Usually, I visit my family in South Africa with my husband around Christmas, New Years and early January, but we didn't this year. Going in April when hubby's competing in Ironman South Africa - Yay!

We spent Christmas and NY in frosty London, bundled up inside watching the 1st and 2nd series of Homeland and drinking red wine in front of the fireplace to keep warm. Not an entirely bad way to spend a holiday, but I miss sunshine and flowers!

These beautiful blooms on My Pinterest Board made me anticipate Spring even more. I think I might even make it to the Chelsea Flower Show this year. I've never been. Is it worth it?

Valentine's Day 2013 at Mengsel

Looking for a non-cheesy Valentine's Day gift for your special someone that will look great in his/her home for years and years? Then look no further than the brand new LOVE print.

A great gift especially for graphic design an typography fans. This print is simple, bold and bright. Designed by Luzelle van der Westhuizen and printed in London on fine art quality papers. The quality of this print is really high and the colours are amazing.

Four different colour options: 
- duck egg blue
- rose blush
- lemon
- red

Two size options: 
A3 - £25
A2 - £35

Last order date for Valentine's Day delivery is Monday 11 February for the United Kingdom and Thursday 7 February 2013 for Everywhere Else (and by Everywhere Else, I mean worldwide!)

Buy the LOVE print HERE at the Mengsel Shop.

(p.s. would make a great wedding pressie for a friend too!)