Brand new silkscreen print: "Picnic"

Introducing my newest hand pulled silkscreen print, "Picnic". How ironic that I'm listing this during a raging snow storm outside!

Dining al fresco in the park on a red plaid sheet with a basket full of fresh French bagels, jam, a selection of cheeses and a few glasses of vino: The simple pleasures! "Picnic" is one of my orginal illustrations, drawn by hand and silkscreen printed in my studio in bright red and black on crisp white 220gsm Daler Rowney paper (made in the UK). Available to purchase in my Etsy shop, Folksy shop and The Mengsel shop. Hope you like it?

"Picnic" original silkscreen print

"Picnic" original silkscreen print

"Picnic" original silkscreen print

Christmas comes early

Hope everybody had a great weekend, despite the icy cold? I have a little GIFT for you: With every "i heart robot" pillowcase set or tea towel set (Moka Express or Retro Roosters) purchased online, I will include a pack of silkscreen printed gift tags as a little gift to you. Worth $8.00 a pack, you will receive a free pack of 5 gift tags from a selection of the Moka Express design (bright red and wedgewood blue) and Retro Roosters design (chartreuse). Add something special to your gift wrapping this Christmas from Mengsel.  Also available to purchase from my Etsy shop. This special promotion is available until the last shipping day for Christmas and until stocks last. Be quick!

Moka Express set of 5 gift tags in bright red

Moka Express set of 5 gift tags in wedgewood blue

Retro Roosters set of 5 gift tags in chartreuse

Mengsel's shipping dates from the UK for Christmas 2010!

England Post Office Letter Box - London. Photo by Rebecca Plotnick at Etsy

Hope everybody is ready for the festive season? Here in London, they are already predicting snow for this weekend and yesterday I sampled the delicious Eggnog Latte at Starbucks. Yum! The shops are all very festive and the lights are on and everything is very magical.

I hope that you will be buying something handmade and special for your beloved friends and family this season. Just a little information about the very latest shipping dates for Mengsel's hand pulled silkscreen prints, tea towels, cushion covers and pillowcase sets: All items are shipped from London with the United Kingdom's very trusty Royal Mail. I will be doing my very best to get all your Christmas post to you as soon as I can, but there are certain time limits for shipping abroad. Please see the dates below for the last dates for shipping in order for you Christmas present to arrive in each part of the world:

Monday 6 December 2010:       Australia, New Zealand and South Central America
Thursday 9 December 2010:        United States, Canada and everywhere else
Monday 13 December 2010:     Europe
Tuesday 21 December 2010:    United Kingdom

Please don't hesitate to contact me directly at mengseldesign@gmail.com if you need any further information.

birdies + wood = pretty

My favourite wooden birdies from Etsy this week...

Bonjour Birdie Brooch laser Cut Wood by Shara Lambeth.

Wooden Birdhead Cup by Naturedesign

Little Sparrow Pin by Littlesparrows

Screenprinted Wooden Chickadee Brooch by Genevieve Jodouin

Wooden Singing Finch Bird Necklace by Lucie Ellen

Winter Wonderland

It is getting really frosty over here in England. This will be my 6th Winter in London, since arriving here with my  friend and small suitcase from Cape Town. Since then, I've had amazing experiences and I definitely feel like a proper Londoner by now. I love this town! Rather strange, but I've grown quite fond of the Winter here, especially November and December and the run-up to Christmas, when London really comes to life. I've found some beautiful images of that time of the year in London. Enjoy with a cup of hot chocolate (or mulled wine).

Ice skating at Somerset House - image from The Guardian

London Eye - image from Hospitality Line

A wintery St. Paul's Cathedral from the South Bank - image from Eventa

Mini Minis

I have received SO MANY requests from customers for a smaller version of my bestselling "Moka Express" silkscreen print. Most people would love to have one of these in their kitchen, but with limited space in urban kitchens (especially in London!), sometimes the 70x50cm size is just too big for teeny tiny cooking/dining/living spaces.

So I have created a "Mini Moka" handpulled print just in time for Christmas! Coffee lovers (I'm one of them) will love this print, which is based on my original illustration of classic Italian Moka Express coffee makers. Each tiny coffeemaker measures about 4.5 x 2cm each and there are 42 of them on the print.

Silksreen printed in bright red and wedgewood blue and available in The Mengsel Shop and my Etsy shop. What's your favourite colour? Happy shopping!

Librarian Friday

I always feel like I'm dressing like a librarian.  A complete geek, I have to confess that I'm very happy when hanging out in a library and love the smell of old books and especially the peace and quiet. Some cute finds from Etsy and more. Happy weekend!

Library Card Notebook from crabappledesign at Etsy

Studio Julie skirt at Kate Spade

Vintage Black Buddy Holly Eyeglasses from comeuppances at Etsy

Prada Fall/Winter 2010 at Milan (image from famespy.com)

Trio of vintage self help books, mid-century classics by SunnyDay Vintage at Etsy

Colour of the day: neon pink

I just printed a special edition of my popular graphic "Toucans" print in a gorgeous neon pink and dark grey. Tropical and 80's: How much more colourful can it get? I discovered some brilliant pieces in the same hue. Hope this post fills your day with colour in this dreadful London weather. Available to purchase in The Mengsel Shop and my Etsy shop.

"Toucans" handpulled silkscreen print from Mengsel

Detail of "Toucans" silkscreen print in neon pink and dark grey.

Love this colour pop of a classic Panton chair at an antique desk. (Image from elementsofstyleblog.com)

Sign in a shop in New York (snapped by me on my trip to NYC last year)

Geometria Landscape 2 - painting on wood by Neawear at Etsy

"Hot Pink Neon Wayfarer on the sreet - Williamsburg, Brooklyn", photograph by BrooklynorBust at Etsy