it's europe week at etsy!

From March 21 through March 27, 2011,  the European art and artists of Etsy will be celebrated. Although, I'm South African, I've been  based in London for the past 5 years. Anyway, to get involved with the celebrations, I will be offering a special discount of 20% off ALL MY ITEMS in my Etsy shop. 


To claim your discount: Enter the code EUROWEEK at the checkout, when making your purchase. This special discount code is only valid from Tuesday 22 March to Friday 25 March. Click here to go shopping!

Large map of Europe in Blues and Greens by englishmuffinshop at Etsy

mengsel in canada

The randomness of this world never fails to amaze me. Lauren, a girl who worked with me in the London jewellery boutique EC One back in the day, stumbled upon my tea towels in Toronto, Canada. She kindly took a few snaps of the shop window, where my black Moka Express tea towel is displayed alongside some pretty cool designs. The shop is Good Egg, my stockist in Canada. Check out their website. Quite an amazing space. Thanks Lauren!

ski bunny

Going on a very last minute ski trip to Meribel, France for one week in a couple of days. I'm definitely not a pro skier. Don't laugh, but I've been looking at ski instructor video clips on YouTube to prepare myself to not actually ski off the side of the mountain and come back with broken bones. I've been once before, so everybody's telling me that the second time will be a major improvement. Fingers crossed. Last time, I was in tears and hiked all the way back to the chalet and stuffed my face with cake to ease the pain. It was only on the last day that I actually found my groove and got the chance to actually look around at the stunning scenery. Very excited! Last year, I loved all the vintage ski posters in the restaurants and bars. Found some great posters at Snow Ski Posters.

heal's spring/summer catalogue

The other day, I took a little stroll down Tottenham Court Road and popped into the Heal's flagship store to go spy on my framed silkscreen prints. When I flipped through the gorgeous Spring/Summer 2011 catalogue, I found my "Bigger Boat" silkscreen print in turquoise on the first page! Almost did a little happy dance in the middle of the shop, but luckily I restrained myself and spared the embarrassment. Love how they tied the story together: "New Wave" and "Live Aquatic". Images from the catalogue:

"bigger boat"

"life aquatic"

front page of catalogue

ELLE Decoration March 2011 issue

Mengsel's "Leafy Heart" silkscreen print in macaroon pink was featured in a beautiful interiors spread in the March 2011 issue of South Africa's ELLE Decoration. Loving these colour combinations. Really makes the pink pop. Always a pleasure seeing my work in magazines that I adore!

This print is also available in duck egg blue and both of these colours are available at Vamp Furniture in Cape Town (for South African buyers) . My prints are shipped worldwide and you can view more details about this hand pulled silkscreen print here in the Mengsel Shop.

NEW print: Introducing "SWANS"

I've been a little bit quiet on the blog front lately. For the past few weeks, I tried to focus solely on design. It is so easy to get side tracked by so many other things like Twitter, other blogs etc. Just wanted to block all of that out and draw for a change! So this is the first in a bunch of new designs. Hoping to get them onto fabric soon for cushion covers, tea towels and more. 

Silkscreen printed by hand on white 220gsm paper in bright red and hot pink water based ink. Graphic repeat pattern of hand drawn geometric style swans. The swan is such an elegant, graceful creature and I love simplifying these shapes to create a balanced, colourful image. I've printed them in two more colourways, so will introduce them later this week. Hope you like my "Swans"!

Available in the Mengsel Shop and my Etsy Shop.

photographer hilda grahnat

Just discovered Swedish photographer and graphic designer Hilda Grahnat's wonderful work via Darling Clementine's Tumblr.  So beautiful. A few of my favourite photographs on her site:

colour of the day: olive green

Freshly printed: an olive green version of my "Whale" hand pulled silkscreen print. The little grey whale is floating on top of a sea of olive green pattern of graphic waves. Also available in delft blue and black.

You can check out this playful, happy print at the Mengsel Shop and Etsy.

Heal's!

A few screen shots of my framed hand pulled silkscreen prints at Heal's. "Bigger Boat", "Tiny Towers", "Toucans" and "Moka Express" in a Nordic White wooden frame. Available online and at the flagship store on Tottenham Court Road.

Guggenheim, Bilbao

For my 30th (still hasn't sunk in) birthday weekend, my husband and I went to the gorgeous San Sebastian in Northern Spain, Basque country. We flew from London to Bilbao, so we had the chance to spend the Sunday at the iconic Guggenheim museum before heading back. The sky was bright and blue all day. Very different to the last couple of months in grey London. Loved every minute. A few snaps taken with my new Canon EOS450D digital SLR...

oh patti

On our weekend away, I read my first book on my brand new Amazon Kindle. It really is a joy to read. I read the legendary Patti Smith's memoir, Just Kids. Such a great story of an artist finding herself in 1970s New York. The book focuses on her relationship with the photographer Robert Mapplethorpe and how they ended up from being practically homeless to successful artists, each in their own right. I love her boyish, bohemian style and she is still making music today.

Horses album cover (image: Electric Ladyland)

Photo: Last FM

Photo: Last FM

Photo: Last FM

Come on Summer!

I seriously can't wait for Summer. Really hoping for a good one this year. Already checking out some Spring/Summer clothes online. Maybe I'm a little over enthusiastic? Love these t-shirts from Zara. The perfect combination of illustration and stripes.

ban.do

ban.do is a very sweet accessories company from sunny Los Angeles, who focuses on "bringing gals around the world cheerful, modern, sparkly accessories that are full of whimsy and all out girlishness." Just love the fresh styling of the photographs and the pieces on offer are really sweet and pretty.

mini ban.do heart dual hair clip/brooch

pinwheel bow

pop flower

pom pom shoe clips

accessories for my dream office/studio

London based Present&Correct is a constantly evolving store, obsessed with stationary. A selection of P&C products mixed up with handmade goods, vintage items and work by designers from all over the world. In a perfect world, I would have a perfectly organised desk and office space with everything in its place. These cool items make it seem less impossible. I want everything from this store!

arrow stencil 

1960s typewriter

desk rubber stamps

french airmail set

to/from arrow labels

letterpress action clips