News

ME LIKEY!

2010-09-27T09:16:00.000-07:00

Another fabulous round-up of nice stuff :-)

(1) My very clever friend Miriam Elia is a comedian and she's so talented that BBC Radio 4 not only let her have her own show, but they paid her too! It's entitled A Series of Psychotic Episodes and it begins tonight, Radio 4, 11:15pm (but will be on iplayer for, like, ever). Here is Edward The Hamster, a quick glimpse into the mind of Miriam, do have a listen tonight won't you?

(2) A/W (autumn/winter for those of you who don't follow the fashion calendar) is upon us, and whilst I utterly detest cold, dark days, sallow complexions, everyone being ill, gardens looking dull and crap, cars breaking down and so on and so on, I have had to think of some A/W positives to stop myself sinking into a deep and dark depression. So here goes: (i) I can wear black opaque tights and don't have to arse about shaving my legs (ii) it's dark when I go to bed (iii) I can sell lots of stuff in the run up to Christmas (iv) I can go shopping for a new winter coat... and maybe boots (v) "I can create a nice, cosey atmosphere with lamps", I say, clutching at straws (vi) One of my most favourite pastimes (drinking tea and eating cakes) seems more apt (vii) X Factor is on. That's your lot... do please let me know if you can think of any others, it would really cheer me up.

(3) I'm sorry but I love XFactor and I have to mention it again (I will stop doing this at Christmas when I the whole XFactor number one single debate is getting on my nerves again and I am left questioning the winner's chances of having a long lasting career ahead of them). On Saturday night I fell in love with Matt Cardle, a painter and decorator who seems a little bit thick but is so adorable that I want to keep him in a cupboard and get him out for a cuddle now and then, and here's why...

(4) Rare Photos of Famous People is a site that features rare photos of famous people believe it or not, and very interesting viewing it is too. Here are a couple of my favourites from there...

Alfred Hitchcock with his kids

and George Clooney

(5) As anyone who knows me well will know, I love tape. Masking tape, magic tape, duct tape, parcel tape and even tape that says 'FRAGILE' all over it. Well papermash sells some of the loveliest tape I have ever seen. Here's just some of it (but they do many different and beautiful designs perfect for pressie wrapping)

(6) Talking of pressies, Chrimbo is coming up and my brilliant stockists, Things We Love have some new I Love Mel goodies that may tempt you.

My ABC print comes in A1 (594x840mm) and A2 (420x594mm) and was designed to put in Pearl's room (not that she appreciates it).

That's all for now. Please make sure to listen to Miriam's show tonight on Radio 4 and keep me informed of any winter positives you can think of.

Love Mel xx

ME LIKEY

2010-09-07T09:23:00.000-07:00

Yes, another one, which makes me wonder if I like too much stuff and if I should be a bit grumpier and more hating (I shall try and think of something I *hate* whilst writing this).

This one's a bit different though, it's less sophisticated and if you're a bit of an art and design snob, stop reading before you get to my first entry which is...

(1) THE 99p SHOP.

Wow! What can I say? Up until yesterday morning I was a 99p shop virgin but now my eyes have been opened to the wonder that is 'Everything is 99p', I think I may just become their most valued customer.

A couple of weeks ago it was my husband's birthday and I bought him a Ped-Egg by JML (he complains about his rough feet although to be honest he has the softest feet out of all the men I have ever encountered... and by the way, I did buy him some other stuff too). I bought this foot smoothing device from Boots for £9.99 - imagine my annoyance when I saw it in the 99p Shop priced at... you guessed it... 99p! I was so astounded by all the quality stuff they claimed to be 99p that I honestly thought they were kidding and didn't buy most of it. Last night, in bed, I woke my husband up about 3am and said "Dulux paint! 99!!!".

(2) This is hilarious. It's the story of World War II told as though all the participating countries are facebook friends/enemies. I don't want to say to much about it, just read it and you'll see what I mean. OMG WWII

(3) The Wilderness Downtown is an interactive Arcade Fire music video by Chris Milk. It's lovely, eerie and wondrous. It asks you to type in the address where you were brought up and then later asks you to write some words of advice for the kids growing up there at the moment. Try it.

(4) 27bslash6 is a great website belonging to David, a graphic designer who likes pissing people off. The page I'm sending you to is details of his interaction with Shannon, a colleague who's cat has gone missing... while you're on there though, have a look around and do check out Simon's Pie Chart and According To My Supervisor, There Are No Such Thing As Portals. David is very funny but I would hate to be on his receiving end.

(5) This is a great interactive ad for Tipex, it has limited choices but have a go, it's fun and clever.

(6) Youtube. If I didn't have a million other things to do, I could spend all day on youtube and never get bored. Here's a clip from last Saturday's XFactor featuring two obnoxious girls... watch until the end for the best bit. Youtube.

(7) Whilst I'm celebrating the internet (I still find it difficult to imagine what we ever did without it), i'll ask you to follow me here on Twitter I also recomend that you follow Paris Hilton who's latest tweet is "I love horses, such beautiful animals :)", befriend me here on facebook, join me here on Spotify (my user name is Mellyelliott), and ask me some creepy, anonymous questions here on Formspring and visit my website ilovemel.me

We have the internet, let's embrace it!... along with the 99p shop.

love Mel x

ps. *footballers*

ME LIKEY!

2010-09-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

Hello again, it's been a while and lots as happened which leads me straight onto my first choice of things I'm liking at the moment...

(1) Getting married!

Yes, after countless Mishaps, I finally became a Missus and it was great fun. We only invited immediate family and kept it very low key (to the point where I didn't even get a new dress!). Best of all were the brill presents we got! Including this one...

(2) How cute and cool is this Lego Alarm Clock!? It can be bought here on amazon

Thanks Andie and Paul!

(3) Mimi Leung. Mimi currently lives in Alice Springs but she studied with me at the RCA and she has an exhibition in Bristol 9th Sept until 9th October. I have her paintings and prints upon my own precious walls and everyone who comes round mentions them (in a good way). She's illustrated for The Guardian, Nike, Vice and tons of other stuff. She's cool. Try and get along.

(4) I love this Le Corbusier-esque fish hotel so much that I may get a fish.

It's from the balcony gardener and it's stackable too so you can build your fish a tower block if that takes their fancy.

(5) bblinks.blogspot.com/ is another great blog that draws our attention to quirky and wondrous designs of the moment...

including this paper guitar kit as seen here

(6) The X Factor. Ok, ok so no one's happy about voice-tuning-machine-gate and wotnot but it's still easily one of the most entertaining pieces of telly that I've ever had the privilege to watch. Watch this clip including Mary's emotional response at her standing ovation and tell me I'm wrong if you dare...

(7) London Design Week is almost upon us and Things We Love will be showing and selling some of my wares as well as launching my new ABC poster.

they'll be at:

The Outside World Gallery,

44 Redchurch Street

London E2

Opening: Thursday September 16th 6-9pm

Then 11am-8pm each day until the 26th Sept.

Hope to see you there!

Love Mel x

CROPPED AT THE HIP

2010-07-22T07:33:00.000-07:00

I recently and accidently cropped my Tavi painting in photoshop like so...

.. and I kind of liked it and it made me want to do a series of paintings that are cropped at the hip. I like that a fair few of you won't know the subject matter, what and who is going on above the crop line.

Here's the first one...

Here's the second one...

...and here's the next one having just been drawn.

Do you know who any of them are? They're all very famous people.

If you'd like any of them upon your wall, please ask me for prices.

love Mel x

ME LIKEY

2010-07-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

Another small list of things that are bringing cheer and joy to my life at the moment...

(1) I don't know about you but I always chew my pen lids (not those belonging to my expensive felt-tips though of course), which is why I absolutely love these sterling silver necklaces/pendants by Chewed By Tuesday,

they're handmade in Melbourne and they cost $250 (I presume that's Australian dollars) and I think they're an absolute delight. However, if you're not one, prone to chewing pen lids, here's a more perfect version for you.

(2) For quite sometime now, I have been wishing that there was a 'dislike' button underneath friends' status updates on Facebook (I would also like there to be a 'please sort out your spelling and grammar' button too but that's just my pedantic side getting the better of me). Well now, thanks to the design studio that is NATION, you can buy a LIKE and DISLIKE stamp and go around stamping everything from your post, to your TV screen or even family members, depending on how much they're annoying you at the time.

You can buy them from NATION'S SHOP right here and would make a brilliant gift for a hardened facebooker... like me.

(3) Two painting entries now, the first artist is Gerard Schlosser, he's French, born in 1931 so is well into his Autumn years now. I don't know an awful lot about him as all his online biographies are in French and I'm too lazy to have them translated, but what I can gather is that he uses acrylics and started out quite late with his art career, a bit like myself. I've always been a sucker for realism but I especially love the composition and nonchalant-ness (yes I did make that word up) of Schlosser's work.

(4) The next one is another example of realism, but this time from Yigal Ozeri, an Israeli artist who lives and works in New York. He is represented by the Mike Weiss gallery there where he also recently had an exhibition entitled 'Desire for Anima' which was a tribute to Carl Yung's idea of the true, inner-self as an individual. In layman's terms, he paints pictures of coming-of-age girls with their nipples out.

(5) Hands up who like biscuits!

Hands up who likes cushions!

Well do I have a treat for you!? It's only a cushion based on the delicious NICE biscuits! I don't know how much is costs or where you can buy it but I saw it here and liked it.

(6) This Isn't Happiness is yet another image-based blog that I check out most days for a bit of relaxation/inspiration. If, like me, you could look at picture after picture, hour after hour after hour, you should give some of these sites a few moments of your time.

(7) 'The Counterfeiters' is a Concentration Camp based film about a particular bunch of Jewish men who are ordered to work for the Nazis in their forgery department. I really enjoyed it and I recommend you watch it. It is on iplayer HERE and is available to watch until 11:34pm tomorrow so soz for the short notice, you'll have to watch it tonight, or in the morning.

That's all for now.

Love Mel x

ME LIKEY!

2010-06-22T07:49:00.000-07:00

Here's what I'm loving at the mo'...

(1) I remember my little sister getting a paper-quilling set for Christmas once and I think she gave in after a couple of rubbish petals. Thankfully, Yula Brodskaya conquered the art and produces some amazing illustrations...

(2) The Outside World Gallery in Shoreditch is hosting a Things We Love exhibition including work by myself as well as lots of other artists and designers. The opening is This Thursday 24th June 6pm-10pm so try and come along, i'll see you there!
The Outside World gallery
44 Redchurch Street
London E2 7DP (nearest tube, Liverpool Street or Old Street)

(3) Letraset Promarkers - I treated myself to another twenty at the weekend making a total of around 60 now (lucky me!). If you like drawing or colouring in, I urge you to try them and they're half price in Hobbycraft right now!

Here's my pic of Kate Moss from one of my Colour Me Good books coloured in with them. Felt tips have never been so much fun!

(4) LOVE this fire lamp by 5.5 designers, available at SKITSCH, 270 Brompton Rd, London...

(5) Suicide Blonde has fantastic taste in images and is a great tmblr featuring pics of fashion, photography, art and all round style, I spotted it when I came across this uncanny likeness to my daughter, Pearl (needless to say that Pearl and will recreate this photograph when I get her sit still).

BTW the photo is of Shirely MacClaine and her daughter Sachi.

(6) OMG how cute are these knitted Nikes!? They were commissioned by Nike and are by This Is Studio. Absolutely brilliant.

(7) SUNSHINE! (because it's lovely and warm) NETBOOKS! (because they allow me to do things like write blogs from the comfort of my sunlounger in the garden) BEER! (because it's the perfect accompaniament) and The Sartorialist (because, if you're like me and love sitting by streetside cafes, people watching, you can leaf through this book whilst sitting in your own back yard and pretend you're in Milan or something!) available from amazon.

That's it for now, enjoy the sunshine and I hope to see you at the Outside World Gallery this Thursday!

Love Mel xx

LONDON CALLING EXHIBITION, MUNICH

2010-06-21T02:54:00.001-07:00

Currently parading themselves at a Things We Love exhibition in a posh gallery in Munich are four fairly recent paintings (along with my usual products).

'Fair Ilse' gouache on paper 50x70cm framed

'Vacuous' gouache on paper 50x50cm framed

'The New Kid In Town (Tavi)' gouache on paper 50x40cm framed

'Bobble Hat' gouache on paper 50x70cm framed

The exhibition is on until the 25th July and if you are around the Munich/Germany area at all, do try and pop along! BUT I think you can also buy my original paintings here

love Mel xx
ps. you may have noticed that people appear to be favourite subject, do contact me with any portrait commission enquiries mel@ilovemel.me

McASLAN & PARTNERS/THINGS WE LOVE

2010-06-18T08:28:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I shaved my legs, put on my favourite TK Maxx dress and hopped on the train into London carrying some pens and pencils and a box that was as tall (or should that be short?)as I am!

In my box there were two giant rolls of paper on which to draw a giant colouring-in picture for the people at McAslan & Partners to enhance with their felt tips.

McAslan & Partners are the architects responsible for revamping King's Cross St Pancras and their new King's Cross design was the focus of the evening's colouring-in party (there were also some AMAZING architectural models of the project which were like the coolest doll's houses you've ever seen!).

My colouring-in picture featured an architects desktop, consisting of desk-lamp, stationery, tea & biscuits and a half eaten sandwich. Large drawings of the King's Cross project also adorned the desktop...

...and faces of the project's contributors featured on a digital camera screen, on an ipod, and iphone, in polaroids scattered amongst other desk items and staff also could be seen dotted amongst the crowds in the station drawings.

There's something really great about seeing proper serious grown-ups embarking in a bit of colouring in and when they did have a go, they appeared to put all of their concentration into it.

A fun project all round so cheers to McAslan & Partners and Carola, Ulrike and Miheala of THINGS WE LOVE for making it happen. If you fancy a spot of Colouring-In yourself, get yourselves one of my Colour Me Good books, available in my online shop and at THINGS WE LOVE.

love Mel x

NEW PAINTING

2010-05-27T07:08:00.000-07:00

I'm doing a series of paintings entitled Vacuous. Here's the first one of them. My fave bit is her tattoo...

Love Mel xx

TATTY BUY!

2010-05-19T08:10:00.000-07:00

My very talented friend Mimi Leung asked me if I could print tattoos (what with my fiance being a printer and all that) and I said, "I don't know, i'll look into it". So I did and now Mimi is having some temp tats made and so am I! They'll be available in my online shop shortly as they're still a bit Work In Progress at the moment but here's a sneaky peek...

I'll let you know when they're ready so you TOO can look cool!

love Mel x

GRAZIA SPREAD

2010-05-18T01:57:00.000-07:00

The lovely people at Australian Grazia asked me to portray some of their favourite front row ladies for a special paper doll feature they were doing to celebrate Australian Fashion Week. They wanted to feature Rachel Zoe, Victoria Beckham, Anna Wintour, Natalia Vordionova and Carine Roitfeld.

The issue was out last week I think, here are the results:

My paper dolls including: Kate Moss, Lily Allen, Cheryl Cole, Erin Wasson, Jordan Dunn, Gemma Ward and Jessica Stam are available HERE

love Mel x

ME LIKEY

2010-05-13T02:22:00.000-07:00

Art, Design & Illustration Special

Since my other half will only talk about sport or politics and flatly refuses to get into Gossip Girl, I was left with no choice other than to take an interest in one of his subjects and so I chose politics. Needless to say that, as with most things, my addictive personality got the better of me and so it's all I've been thinking about day and night. But now, it's time to put my ambitions to be the next female Prime Minister on the back burner for a while and look at pretty aesthetics instead... and I hope you will join me.

(1) I spotted Owen Gildersleeve's design/illustration work on the Ffffound! website (a brilliant site for wonderful images including art, graphics, interiors, fashion, photography and all round inspiration).

I absolutely love this type of cut out, tactile work and Owen does it with aplomb. For more inspiring work of this nature, I suggest you invest in the books, Tactile and Tangible, both available on here on amazon.

(2) London Unlocked is a city guide book aimed directly at kids and a fantastic idea. It's by Emily Kerr, Joshua Perry and is brilliantly illustrated by my good friend and RCA graduate, Katherine Hardy. One amazon reviewer writes "This has to be the best guide book for kids, not because it has tons of kid centered activities but because it's actually a kids book. Whereas most city tour books are written for parents though about child friendly activities, this book is written for school aged children which not only makes it unique, but lots of fun!" and I don't think you can argue with that.

Other titles include 'Edinburgh' and... that's it for now so hurry up and do some more you three, the world's your oyster!

Available on amazon, here for a mere £5.38 but also available in all good book shops.

(3) These coloured pencil drawings by Julie Randall are simply breathtaking. That's all I have to say on the matter, other than I am a bit jealous and that I bought myself some new coloured pencils yesterday.

see many more of Julie Randall's mouth drawings here on BOOOOOOOM

(4) RED is a new gallery and shop in East London OF ALL PLACES! hehem
It's a huge space and as well as regular exhibitions, they sell a fabulous variety of art prints, books, zines, T-shirts and bags etc. Basically, some really cool stuff. Get yourselves along this Friday (14th May) at 6:30 for their big SHOP-FEST where besides all their usual goodies, they'll also be selling some amazing vintage finds by the likes of McQueen, Chanel and Ossie Clark. Take some money so as not to go home disappointed!

RED Gallery and Shop, 1-3 Rivington Street, London

(5) As an artist, James Roper is a really good all-rounder but I particularly like his paintings that I are a veritable frenzy of vibrant colour and movement. Like swirling drapes of fabric entwined with thick, billowing smoke. I don't know why, but it works.

James Roper's website
James Roper's blog including news of future exhibitions
James Roper's shop where he is currently selling signed and numbered giclee prints for a bargainous fifty quid!

(6) Less of the art now, because I AM NOT AN ARTIST is a concept thought up by Elisava School of Design in Barcelona. Johnny Kelly and Matthew Cooper have created simple animated gifs based on the designers' never ending torment. Unfortunately I can't get the gifs up on here but please take my word for it and have a look HERE.

Hope you gained something from this creative feast, whether it be visual inspiration or just a "wow, what talent!" moment. I never tire of looking at other people's work (apart from the crap stuff) and hope you enjoyed me sharing some of it with you.

Love Mel x
www.ilovemel.me

COLOUR IN LONDON

2010-04-21T07:15:00.000-07:00

The fabulous Carola and Ulrike of THINGS WE LOVE have organised for me to draw a huge London type thing for all you lot to come along and colour in as part of London Architecture Week! I'll be drawing "LIVE" (eek!) and I haven't the foggiest what yet but it will involve London and architecture and maybe a few celebs or something. Whatever I draw though, it will be fun and colour-less, longing and wanting for you lot to come and embrace it with felt-tips.

Details are HERE and you have plenty of notice but i'll be sure to remind you nearer to the time.

In the meantime, please feel free to pop along to the I LOVE MEL SHOP or THINGS WE LOVE and purchase a 'Colour Me Good' book to practice on!

love Mel x

ME LIKEY

2010-04-15T06:05:00.000-07:00

(1) PATTERNITY

The brilliantly fun Anna Murray who I worked with briefly on WK Side a couple of years ago has, like myself decided that a career in advertising isn't for her, and, along with Grace Winteringham, has started up PATTERNITY, a unique company that sources, exhibits, sells, but most of all celebrates pattern.

On Friday the 23rd April (7-10pm), PATTERNITY will be hosting an exhibition at The Print House Gallery in Dalston, the UV lit exhibition will celebrate the textures and patterns of the area and I for one will be popping along.

The Print House Gallery

18 Arshwin Street

Dalston

London E8 3DL

Above is PATTERNITY's wall feature for Supermarket Sarah (including the Georgina Bacchus costume as worn by Tinie Temphur in his recent video), all of which is for sale here

(left to right: Grace Winteringham, Sarah Bagner, Anna Murray)

(2) Speaking of Supermarket Sarah, please go and see her pop-up shop/wall display in Selfridges. It is there until the 28th April and is home to a whole host of goodies, old and new but staying true to the Supermarket Sarah brand. Worth a trip into the West End for some market-type shopping of the super variety!

(3) MUCKROCK! is the only thing you should be worried about attending this Summer.
From 2pm until midnight on Sunday 16th May at The Brickhouse on Brick Lane, a veritable feast of DJs, live acts and crazy revellers will be raising money and showing the East End a good time to raise money for innovational Multiple Scleroris treatment. Please do get yourself some tickets HERE if you are able to make it, but if not you can still contribute to a very worthwhile cause by buying raffle tickets HERE, prizes are unique and outstanding, one of which being a portrait commission by yours truly (example below), worth tones of money!

(4) Cable & Cotton sell these really cool lights, and there's nothing fairy about them. I spotted them when I was looking for some to fill a huge container. You can have them made to various lengths and even chose your own colour combinations. I think they're priced really reasonably too. Gorgeous!

(5) Great website for art/design inspiration I LOVE DUST

(6) Last time, I featured M&S White Chocolate and Lemon Mini Muffins, so I thought it only fair to mention more food... this time though, it's homemade and they are the most delicious Coconut Slices you have ever tasted!

Here's what to do:
Mix together 100g butter
200g self raising flour
2 egg YOLKS and 2 tablespoons of cold water. I t should form a thick brown mess. Press this down fairly evenly into the bottom of a greased tray (approximately 17cm x 24cm)

Put a layer of jam (I prefer strawberry) on top of this, you'll need about 7 table spoons.

Then in a seperate bowl, whisk 3 egg WHITES until they form soft peaks, add 100g caster sugar and 150g desicated coconut and fold in gently with a metal spoon. Put this mixture on top of the jam layer and put in a preheated oven, 160 degrees, for 20-23 minutes (until the top looks brown and crispy).

I'm sorry but patience really is a virtue with this and you ruin it if you try and cut it before it's cooled... trust me, I tried.

Serve with boiling water and your finest teabags.
NB: makes lots of crumbs if eaten in bed.

Enjoy!

Love Mel xxx
ps. It is also delicious, warmed slightly and served with custard.

New Painting

2010-03-25T06:57:00.000-07:00

I'm into retro knitting patterns at the moment... so I did a painting of one.

The ART section on my website will be completed soon so watch this space but until then, please feel free to persuse all the other goodies on there www.ilovemel.me

Have a nice day

Love Mel x

ME LIKEY

2010-03-18T07:34:00.000-07:00

Each week, here on my NEWS blog, I'm going to tell you what I like. I'll be recommending some of my favourite things of the moment, be it a food product, a book, film, anything! (1) because I think you deserve to know about them and (2) because, they're so good that I just want to shout about them.

So here goes...

(1)

I'm going to start with this as it's this Monday and you may have to make arrangements or something. Adam Simpson studied at The Royal College of Art in the year above me and he is so polite that one evening he helped me get home all the way from South Kensington to Shoreditch (I think I had eaten something funny or something). However, Adam's chivalrous ways aren't the only thing to shout about, he is also one of most talented illustrators I have come across and on Monday evening he is doing a talk about his work at the Apple Store on Regent Street, (Monday 22nd March 7pm-8.30pm). Try and get along if you're into that sort of thing, he really is superb, take a look at some of his work here and tell me I'm wrong if you dare.

Below, is a project he did for Sir Terence Conran's Boundary Hotel.

(2)

Makin Jan Ma shared a flat with my friend Sofi, he makes films and designs clothes for the characters in his films and he ended up being a proper fashion designer and now has a blumming collection in Topshop! Here it is in all it's cool, edgy, glory . One of my favourites is his stick together magnetic top that you can create different shapes with... clever stuff Makin.

Cool and comfy don't often go hand in hand but I think Swedish Hasbeens have hit the nail on the head with these summer-perfect sandals. They are £59 from yoox.com

Thanks to Mademoiselle Robot for the tip off!

(3)

M&S White Chocolate and lemon mini muffins. Divine. Get some. Enough said.

(4)

Things We Love is a brilliant, recently relaunched website that sells a wide variety of goods including ceramics, prints and textiles to name a few. Every single product is passionately hand picked by it's founders Carola and Ulrike and their ethos is simple, they are all things that they love. It's the ideal place to search for unique gifts... oh and they also sell some really cool colouring books and other I Love Mel products!

(5)

'Restoration Man' on the telly (C4 Sundays 9pm)

George Clark, the brilliant architect from Channel Four's The Home Show has a new show where, kind of Grand Designs stylee, he follows people as they renovate old, decrepit, yet unique properties using tiny budgets. George is a great, no frills presenter who knows his stuff. Makes a great change from all the idiots on TV.

(6)

Formspring, the site that's becoming quite fashionable. It enables you to ask anyone on there, anything. Anonymously if you so wish. It's a bit creepy but fun. You can use it to ask me anything here or use the little box, top right on this blog. Simples.

What to miss

Anything with Vampires, please don't encourage any more vampire shenanigans, I can't bare it.

A Single Man, I wasted two hours of my life on this pile of pretentious drivel, all because of this super stylish film still...

... please don't make the same mistake.

For more Mel stuff go here

Until next time

Love Mel

NEW PAINTING

2010-02-25T05:05:00.000-08:00

After far too long designing, I finally managed to get the paints out again and now aim to produce a series of paintings to exhibit in London.

I started with every fashionista's yoof-of-the-moment, 'Tavi'.

Gouache on paper 450mmx400mm

Love Mel x

ALL NEW I LOVE MEL WEBSITE LAUNCH

2010-02-19T01:52:00.000-08:00

I have now been promoted from messy blogger to proper website owner thanks to Andy.

Not that there's anything wrong with blogs, they're very useful and I'm still using them for competitions etc, but sometimes you just need a more organised station for all your stuff and www.ilovemel.me is now that.

To celebrate the launch of my website there's a competition which I urge you all to enter, there are top prizes to be won so get your felt tips out and pop along here.

Please have a good look around me site and feel free to get your wallets out if the urge takes you!

Love Mel x

COLOUR ME GOOD "ART"

2010-02-12T03:03:00.000-08:00

IT'S ALL YOU NEED FOR AN ARTY FARTY FELT-TIP PARTY!

Colour Me Good Art is the fifth title in my series of colouring books (and my favourite one I must admit).
It features iconic works of art by Tracey Emin, Sarah Lucas, Michael Landy, Jake & Dinos Chapman and many more.

You can buy it here

And here are some pics...

Love Mel x

FASH PACK PAPER DOLLS NOW ON SALE

2010-02-12T02:10:00.001-08:00

My Fash Pack paper dolls are finally finish, done, dusted and packaged and are currently for sale.
Dolls include Jessica Stam (my fave), Jourdan Dunn (my second fave), Erin Wasson and Gemma Ward and they feature outfits by Marc Jacobs, Luella, Balmain, Alexander McQueen, Matthew Williamson,Vivienne Westwood, Christopher Kane and loads more.

Unlike the Kate, Lily and Cheryl paper dolls, these ones concentrate on fashion not fame so if you're a serious fashionista then these are for you. You can buy them here

Here are some lovely pics of them 'in the making'...

Drawing Gemma

Gemma and Jessica

Painting Jourdan Dunn's body

Jourdan's painted face

Testing Jessica's clothes fit

and the finished articles, upon my untidy desk.

Hope you like 'em!

Love Mel x

YOU ARE MY WORLD

2009-11-13T08:01:00.000-08:00

Boys like maps, girls like romance - FACT.
So why not get your other half a print of an accurate, hand-drawn world map with a soppy message subtly emblazoned all over it? It's a win win situation.

I did this for my boyfriend's birthday present and he adores it, so I thought I'd spread the joy.

Before drawing the map in pencil, I cut out the lettering using bits of masking tape. Then, on completion, the masking tape was removed...

...to reveal the clean white paper beneath it. In some places, the text is almost invisible which is what makes this print so lovely.

I

Poor Cow

2009-11-12T06:45:00.000-08:00

Since being unable to find a nice beef print to hang in our kitchen (I like to know what I'm eating), I had to make my own... and guess what? They're available to buy here. So now you too can know your ribs from your rump before you head down the butchers.

Green...

or black

Love Mel x

PAPER DOLLS

2009-07-09T03:10:00.001-07:00

Make Kate, Aggy, Cheryl and Lily dress to impress with these uber stylish paper dolls, each doll comes complete with a whole wardrobe, befitting their own, unique style. Each paper doll has been lovingly created by myself after tonnes of drawings and researching suitable outfits. Dress Cheryl in all her XFactor clobber or cover up Kate in her collection for TOPSHOP...hours of fun for any fashionista or celeb-junkie!

TO BUY THE DOLLS GO HERE

Love Mel x

COLOUR ME GOOD!

2009-06-24T07:59:00.000-07:00

I don't know about you, but I can sit, colouring-in for hours. It's more therapeutic than knitting, watching TV and stroking furry pets!

So, I made my own range of Colouring Books consisting of my favourite fashion model 'Kate Moss', my favourite passtime besides colouring-in, 'Magazines', 'London' and the new addition, 'Record Sleeves' where you can colour-in Blur, Britney, the Boss and much more.

COLOUR ME GOOD 'Kate' includes images from various magazine shoots and is brimming with beautifulness:

COLOUR ME GOOD 'Magazines' features covers from some of my favourite mags including Vogue, Grazia, Elle Decoration and erm... Take A Break:

COLOUR ME GOOD 'London' depicts the great and not so great sights of London and includes Boris Johnson, a pigeon and some fish & chips:

COLOUR ME GOOD 'Record 'Sleeves' is brand new and looks like a 7" single. It includes album favourites such as Lily Allen, KLF, Chas & Dave and Oasis:

TO BUY THE BOOKS GO HERE

Love Mel x

FELT TIPS AT THE READY?

2009-05-07T14:32:00.000-07:00

Colour Me Good RECORD SLEEVES is hot on the press and will be ready very shortly.

Here's a sneak preview...

Besides Lily Allen, Chas & Dave, Blur and The Boss, it also features Blondie, KLF, The Sex Pistols, The Picadilly Pops Orchestra Plays Simon & Garfunkel and tonnes more smash hits!

What could be a better gift for the music lover in your life? (other than cds, a new guitar or a kazoo)

I'm not putting the BUY button on just yet but just let me know if you want one...

love Mel xx

PS. see also COLOUR ME GOOD KATE MOSS, MAGAZINES and LONDON here

my ever popular range of CELEBRITY PAPER DOLLS are available to buy here

BETTER KATE THAN NEVER

2008-11-21T02:33:00.000-08:00

The Kate Moss Paper Doll is finally ready and features 17 'typically Kate' outfits.

Buy this, on it's own for £13.50 or if you're a real Kate fan, buy along with the Kate 'Colour Me Good' Colouring book and felt tips for just £20!

CHERYL'S READY!

2008-11-19T04:31:00.000-08:00

As promised, the exquisite Cheryl Cole Paper Doll is now ready and available to buy on here:

As with the Agyness Deyn Paper Doll shown here, it comes with one cardboard Cheryl Cole, instruction sheet and 5 pages of glamourous outfits.

They make very special yet affordable gifts and can be delivered within 2 days.

Buy one for £13.50 including postage & packaging (within the UK) or buy Cheryl, Aggy and Kate together for just £30.

AGGY AGGY AGGY! OI OI OI!

2008-11-07T09:02:00.003-08:00

When I was a little'un, I loved nothing more than playing with paper dolls.
So much so that I decided to create a range of my own.

So, ready just in time for Christmas pressies is this unique Agyness Deyn Paper Doll.

They really are exquisite and brilliant gifts for little girls or for anyone interested in fashion and can either be chopped up and played with or kept all lovely and pristine.

Within the pack you will get one Aggy doll with stand, instruction sheet, a selection of fashionable outfits to dress her in and an I LOVE MEL badge. Each pack costs £13.50 including postage and packaging (within the UK) on here (that's £3 below RRP).

COMING SOON... Kate Moss Paper Doll!

COLOUR ME GOOD!

2008-11-07T09:02:00.001-08:00

Colour Me Good books are now available to buy. They make great quirky gifts and every purchase comes with 30 free felt-tips and an I LOVE MEL badge.

Colour Me Good 'Kate'

Colour Me Good 'London'

Colour Me Good 'Magazines'

Each book with felt tips is £9.50 including P&P
OR get all three for £20 (1 set of felt tips) or £22 (3 sets of felt tips)