Before I went to Memphis. I told you that my husband had designed an Elvis stencil and suggested that we decorate a rock n roll skirt with it.
He wanted me to wear it when I read my speech at the IDAL convention because he thought it may make the audience laugh. He said if my speech was dull at least the outfit would not be. The skirt was very full, actually it was a complete circle cut from a king size bed sheet. The local sewing club lent me advice and a sewing machine.
Chips and I took a Saurday afternoon between us to apply several stencilled Elvis heads each with six overlays.
We put the date and location of the convention around the base of the skirt and stencilled 'Helen has left the building' on the back of it.
I had been joking with a journalist and photographer about Chip's idea."If you do make this skirt" the photographer said "I'd like a picture for the paper". Two newspapers featured it.
Tony Iley took pictures for The Hexham Courant and the business section of The Journal used Chip's photographs. After the speech I wore the skirt for a television interview that I did along with fellow IDAL artists Susan Mathers and Cathy Napple. We were there to publicise our decorative arts expo in Memphis. IDAL stands for International Decorative Artisans League. IDAL bought the clip and put it on you tube. Watch us here. The skirt did make people laugh and there were many pictures taken of it.....and it moved better than I did on the dance floor.
I think I may well be remembered as " Helen Morris?? Wasn't she the one with the orange hair and the big pink Elvis skirt".
'dancing' pics by Paige Lampson.
Helen
Fabuuuuulous!
Posted by: Liz | September 29, 2009 at 10:58 AM
Well....I loved it! I prefer to think of it as "the odyssey of the Elvis skirt"!
Posted by: Theresa | September 29, 2009 at 03:19 PM
Yes, Theresa that would have been a much better title.
Posted by: stencil helen | September 29, 2009 at 05:29 PM
That skirt should end up in the Smithsonian! Very cute interview on youtube. I cannot wait to come next year and Helen, I just saw a chest you did in the Gallery of the IDAL site, cream with a pink stenciled design on the rounded panels. Can you tell us about that...what stencil etc. It is beautiful! THANKS!!!
Catherine
Posted by: Catherine | September 30, 2009 at 04:28 PM
The stencil on the chest is OTT30 It's in the Ottoman range. Seet huh, I did it for a client who wanted 21st century Marie Antionette.
Posted by: stencil helen | October 01, 2009 at 10:37 AM