something sweet for my dinner table/kitchen

Just ordered this adorable cloud bread board form German designers Snug at Etsy. Can't wait to get it!

black swan

When I was designing my Swan graphic pattern, I didn't really think about the Black Swan movie. But these graphic movie posters really compliment the feel of the design. The Swan throw pillow covers are available in black and coral reef and can be purchased online in the Mengsel shop.

a week of interviews

August started off great for Mengsel, with two interviews on two fantastic blogs. If you've ever wondered what makes this head of mine tick, this is the best way to find out. The first interview was for my favourite South African interior magazine VISI's blog. You can read the VISI interview HERE.

The second interview was for my wonderful UK stockist, Heal's. The iconic store's blog has a section called Heal's Reveals which has featured amazing designers including Lisa Stickley, Donna Wilson and Rob Ryan . You can view the Heal's interview HERE.

angles

It's gone all angular at Supermarket!

Polyhedron vases from Revisions Design Studio at Supermarket

Wooden geometric candle holders from Revisions Design Studio at Supermarket. 

Salt & Pepper Shaker "icosa" by TaiDesign at Supermarket

Cube octahedron ring from Bandada at Supermarket

WIN a limited edition "fish & chips" print by Mengsel

Hey y'all. Yes, you've guessed it: one of my favourite things - GIVEAWAY TIME!!! Yay!

My precious London town had a rough week, with all the riots going on. So I decided that it would only be appropriate to give away one of my limited edition "fish & chips" hand pulled silkscreen prints. As you all know, fish and chips is a rather English delicacy and enjoyed best in a cosy London pub with an ice cold pint of beer.

To win one of these colourful prints, you need to leave a comment below, describing your favourite spot in London or what you love about London. If you've never been, you can tell me why you would love to visit and what you would do.

Looking forward to all your comments! Entries will close on Wednesday 17 August at 12pm GMT. I will pick my favourite comment and send a lovely silkscreen print your way.

Good luck!

P.S. The "fish & chips" silkscreen print is available to purchase HERE in the Mengsel Shop and retails for £40.00. The print's size is A3 {42cm x 29.5cm} and will be sent unframed.

"Fish & Chips" by Mengsel

Computer Arts magazine Summer 2011

Yay! I am one happy designer today. My "Bigger Boat" cushion and "Moka Express" tea towel in cherry red are in Computer Arts magazine this month! Computer Arts is the best selling magazine for digital creatives. It showcases the best illustration, graphic design, typography and web design along with advice from agencies and digital artists.

You can buy the "Bigger Boat" cushion cover and other throw pillows here and the Moka Express tea towels here. The Moka Express tea towel is also available in black and in mixed sets of 2. Visit the Mengsel Shop to find out more.

Bigger Boat cushion

Bigger Boat cushion 

Moka Express tea towel in cherry red

Retro Roosters in Home/Tuis magazine

Mengsel's "Retro Roosters" silkscreen print in buttercup yellow is featured in a beautiful grey and yellow inspired interior shoot in the special edition DIY issue of Home Magazine South Africa (the Afrikaans version is called Tuis). These colours just compliment each other beautifully and I LOVE the Skinny Laminx upholstered chair. Gorgeous!

The Retro Roosters silkscreen print is available here from the Mengsel Shop. Available in A3 and A2 sizes as well as different colour options (buttercup yellow, apple green and bright red). Also printed on tea towels...

memory card memories

As a child, my sister and I had this Memory Game. I've always loved the images on the cards and couldn't believe my luck when I tracked down this image on Flickr! Apparently it is a vintage German memory game from the late fifties or early sixties, but I distinctly remember the cover of the box as being very 80s. Bizarre. I asked my Mom in Cape Town if the cards are still lurking around somewhere at the back of the garage (of the house that I grew up in from birth and my parents stil live in) and she said yes, it is still there. The box cover is in Afrikaans (Geheue Spel = Memory Game) and it is registered to a company called Waddington House of Games in London.

I think this card game is probably one of the big reasons for my love of simple, colourful illustrations with a mid century modern feel. Thanks Mom! Brings back a lot of memories...

image from veloopity's Flickr photostream

obsessed with: ray eames

As a jewellery design student in Cape Town (a long time ago), my favourite book in the very cool Technikon library was a very big and heavy one about the work and lives of Charles and Ray Eames. Quite an old book, well thumbed and read by many. I can't even tell you how many times I borrowed the book from the library, only to go back to renew it for another week or two. Think I must have booked it out for a couple of months at least.

I fell in love with the designs of this formidable duo and I was particularly fascinated by the quirky, tiny, pinafore-wearing Mrs Eames. She was such an odd little thing in a time when women either stayed at home with babies or worked as secretaries.

Charles & Ray Eames (image from vitra.com)

Ray holding Dot Pattern Fabric Design, circa 1947 (image from eamesoffice.com)

Ray's Desk, 1976 (image from eamesoffice.com)

Ray with model of the Eames House. Photograph by Peter Stackpole for LIFE magazine, 1950. (image from Ordinary Finds) 

fancy some fish & chips by the seaside?

Say hello to my brand new silkscreen print showing Britain's favourite dish: Fish & Chips! 


Although, mine is a much more graphic representation of the classic dish with bright red ketchup, buttercup yellow chips, cobalt blue fish and emerald green (very dotty) mushy peas in true Mengsel style. This print has a touch of Mid Century Modern and Scandinavian style to it and would be absolutely lovely in your kitchen.


This A3 sized limited edition original illustration is hand printed onto 220gsm paper and consists of 50 signed prints. Available here in the Mengsel Shop. 

"Fish & Chips" silkscreen print

"Fish & Chips" silkscreen print

Bigger Boat silkscreen print in ELLE Decoration UK

Oh my goodness, I don't quite know how this happened - I haven't blogged in WEEKS! A bit out of touch after spending more time on my new designs and products and I've kind of been in this weird groove. Time to snap out of it!

Something that made me snap out of it: spotting my "Bigger Boat" silkscreen print in sunny yellow in the August issue of ELLE Decoration. It is only a tiny little picture in the magazine (hope you can spot it!), but it means the world to me.  I just absolutely love having a subscription to my favourite interiors magazine and when I hear that magazine going through my front door post box, I literally run down the stairs and devour every single page.

Author Josie Curran lives on a gorgeous houseboat in Surrey and bought the print from me last year and it now resides in the main bedroom. I really love seeing my prints in my customers' homes and how it becomes part of their own unique style.

More about Josie Curran, her work and home at her website. The "Bigger Boat" silkscreen print in yellow costs £40.00 plus p&p and is available here from the Mengsel Shop.

P.S. Mengsel customers out there - I would LOVE it if you send in pictures of my prints displayed in your home to mengseldesign@gmail.com

"Bigger Boat" silkscreen print in yellow. 

in case you missed it last time...

... my limited edition beach towels made exclusively for One Kings Lane are available in their online shop until Thursday 30 June 2011 only. So be quick if you want to get your hands on a couple of these perfect beach items for Summer. This time around another sweet little canvas tote with my "Whale" print was added to the one off event on the wonderful One Kings Lane site. Better get them while you can! Go here to register at One Kings Lane and shop. (You have to be a member to view items)

More info at this previous blog post: 

reversible "Whale" beach towel

reversible "Bigger Boat" beach towel

"Whale" canvas beach tote

"Whale" canvas beach tote

.

"hotel londres" limited edition print in clementine & patina

Ever wondered where birds stay when they go on vacation? Hotel Londres! The luxury London hotel for birdies on holiday. Bright and colourful, just how I like it. Limited edition of 50 in a A3 size printed by hand in bright clementine and patina on 200gsm acid free Fabriano paper.


Available here in the Mengsel Shop...

yay! time for wimbledon tennis again!

One of the best things of living in Wimbledon is the tennis at the Lawn Tennis Club every year. Wimbledon village is buzzing with Londoners and visitors from almost everywhere. The pubs are overflowing and the Pimms are flowing! Who do you think will lift the trophy this year? Will Nadal hang on to the coveted silverware?

JFK and Jackie playing tennis. Image via aspiringkennedy.com

Tennis Matches. Image via piccsy.com

Wimbledon tennis poster from Vintage Fine Art Prints

Legends: Bjorn Borg & John McEnroe. Image via dailymail.co.uk

friday loves

In true rainy weekend style, there's a 15% discount offer in The Mengsel Shop all weekend. I'm sure you'll find something bright and colourful to cheer yourself up, even when it is grey and wet outside. To receive 15% discount, enter the coupon code RAINYWEEKEND at the checkout. Click HERE to go shopping.
Friday loves for a rainy London weekend...

1. Kate Spade Flicker Bon Shopper
2) Thomas Paul reversible aqua banner pillow
3) Hatty 2 Bow Sandles from Topshop
4) Relight Candle Holder Range from Heal's
5) Double breasted raincoat from Zara
6) Modern Vintage Style at Anthropologie
7) Lemon Meringue cupcake - recipe from Martha Stewart

in the press: visi no.55

I've been a fan of South African interior magazine Visi for years and years. Was so happy when my South African stockist, Paula van Niekerk from Vamp Furniture in Cape Town let me know that my "Retro Roosters" silkscreen print in buttercup yellow made a little cameo in an article about their fabulous shop! I can't tell you how fantastic it is for me to get all the best magazines (total junkie!) on my ipad via Zinio. Just amazing. This whole issue of Visi focused on wood and is a great read.

The "Retro Roosters" silkscreen print in buttercup yellow is also available here from the Mengsel Shop in an A3 size and A2 size. Also available apple green and bright red. Retro love!

Retro Roosters silkscreen print in buttercup yellow.

Freshly printed Retro Roosters drying in my studio.

woodbridge, suffolk

Last weekend, we went to a beautiful wedding just outside of the seaside town of Woodbridge, Suffolk. We had a wonderful stay at The Quay House and I spotted lots of cool boats (I know I'm obsessed).