Charleston Stencil Convention

Well, it's that time of year again when I pack my stencilled suitcase, passport and traveler's cheques and head off to America for the annual SALI stencil convention.  This is the last year that the name SALI (Stencil Artisans League Inc) will be used.  A new name for the organisation will be unveiled during the week.  Stencilling is now just one of many, many surface decorations promoted and encouraged by the group.  Anyone can join SALI, hobbyist or professional.  Visit them if you want to know more.  You have to be a member to take part in the classes at the convention, but the expo is open to all.  Where is it?  Well, this year it is in North Charleston, South Carolina at the Embassy Suites from the 21st of this month. Get all details the SALI site.

Our USA distributor Stencilwerks will have a booth there selling our stencils and some of their own brand. 

There are some leading stencil names teaching at convention: Melanie Royals, Sheri Hoeger, Lucretia Moroni, Gary Lord, Lynn Brehm and Carol Van Gerena are just a few of them.  Oh, and there's me too!

I am just teaching two classes this year as I would like to sightsee and hopefully take a class with one of the other teachers.  One of the subjects I am offering is how to create Print Rooms such as these:   We will use stencils and photocopies. I'm also teaching how to use some of the latest stencils techniques such as decorating masks and silhouette stencils.  We have a photo gallery showing the range of masks.  Click here to see more of them, or here for more Print Room pictures.  Some years I have taught up to five classes, demonstrated at the expo and helped man the booth.  Every year I say "next year I'll take it easy".  Well, this is that year.  I want soak in the interiors of historic houses, see Spanish moss on the trees and revel in the heat.  Oh, and look for the nearest branch of Anthropologie of course.

I am excited because I have been invited to view the stencilling and the garden at the Charleston home of one of our customers.  I feel very privileged.  Rachel has been reading about the garden in a delightful book called "Mrs Whaley and her Charleston Garden".  She posted about it recently on this blog.  

There are two internet chapters of the SALI organisation which is handy for people like me as there is no way I would be tripping over the Atlantic for the monthly meetings.  One of the online chapters is holding a wild shoe party and I may wear these:  I made them years ago with a bunch of silk flowers and a glue gun. Their maiden flight was to a fancy restaurant and the host asked whether I'd had my feet in the salad! 

 It should be a week full of friendship, education and parties.  I'll show and tell on my return. Helen