Design Inspiration. Planet Stencil Library.

Snow and apples

As the coldest August night in Northumberland...ever has just been recorded I am reminded of the year the snow fell early in our orchard. Here are some of the pictures that we took.

and here are some links to some apple themed stencils.

Autumn fruit basket  is a pretty stencil of apples and blackberries designed by Hilary one of our original staff members. She designed Autumn fruit border too, a splendid apple blossom border can be found at the same link.

Another stencil of an apple basket can be found in the Folk Art section along with a fab apple tree. One of our customers had this tree enlarged to fit under a chair rail and it looked wonderful. There are all sorts of apple themed stencils. Just type apples into the search on our Stencil Library home page to see them.

Helen.

Fabulous Funghi

Why was I hanging around under this tree ?

Because I found a funghi to be with!!! Ok, I wanted to make a bad joke but I also wanted to show you this amazing funghi and see whether any of you can tell me what it is or anything about it.

I took many more pictures ....but there's not mushroom left on this post to show them.

Helen

PS. Rachel has just told me that she cut some MS81 mushroom stencils in error so if you want one they are £3.50 each instead of  £6.35 until the stock is cleared. Follow the link or find them in the Budget Collection.

Dressed up at Delaval

One of the most absorbing spectacles that I have enjoyed for a long while was the 'Dressed up at Delaval' event.

Couturier and costumier Paul Shriek and his lab coated team delighted the audience with a fashion show of stunning outfits created for the dressing up box at Delaval Hall.  Yes, if you visit Seaton Delaval Hall you may get to wear one.  Get in line behind me, these are no ordinary dress up pieces.  The costumes have been designed to fit over the clothes of an average sized visitor and will contribute to the experience of immersing oneself in imagining 18th century life at Delaval Hall.

Mr Shriek dressed the models on stage. Each started with the hoop crinolines over which he layered skirts then over-skirts, then belts, hats and more hats.

There were jackets, waistcoats, collars and cuffs. Modernity was introduced with belts, studs and vertiginous, spiky heels. Paul was inspired by the fun loving and occasionally outrageous Delaval family of the mid 1700's.  I think that he imagined the Delaval ladies and their wardrobes transported to the 21st century, after a day at the mall.

Seaton Delaval Hall was designed by playwright and architect John Vanburgh and is now in the ownership of The National Trust. You will find it near Whitley Bay on the North East Coast.

The Dressed Up At Delaval Project has been several months in the making. Helped with funding from The National Lottery it has involved the revival of heritage skills and community groups. The clothes are for the general delight of visitors to Delaval Hall, wearing one may contribute to the Delaval experience. I don't think they could could fail to lift a persons spirit.

I modelled for Paul Shriek early in his (and my) career. He designed exquiste wedding gowns for two of my friends, had a couture line, designed for TV and theatre and a retail concession in Top Shop that broke all sales records. I still have a few pieces from those days and wore one of them to the Delaval show. He has gone from strength to strength but still recognised my early Shriek...then me. I suggested that he might like to experiment with stencilled fabrics!

That man works hard, there were more than fifty outfits in that show and everyone a delight. Now, I just want a day out at Delaval with my girl friends to visit the dress up box. I was too far from the stage to photograph the detail in the clothes...but I will return.

Helen

 

Oooops!

Sorry!! Computer troubles at the office mean that you can only contact Rachel and I by phone, fax, mail or pigeon until Tuesday at the earliest.The web site is still working, but no blog, facebook, twitter, or email.

Helen

Additions to editions

Our book Stencil It just became a tad European.

Editions of the book are now available in both German and Finnish. Their titles are Schablonen-Dekor which  translates as Stencil Decor and Koristele kotisi kuvioilla which means Decorate with patterns. It is interesting to see that there are three different covers for Finland, Germany and the USA. I expect that they are for sale on Amazon as well as book stores I am not sure whether anymore translations are in the pipeline but I'll let you know if I find one. Looking for a copy? The author is Helen Morris.

 

Another stencilled bath

In addition to the 5, fabulous, stenciled bath tubs that I posted earlier this month. Here is another. The stencil is CS58r 8 point star repeat from the Cover Story Collection. It is a repeating design of evenly spaced 4 inch stars.  I ignored the given spacing and measured by eye to accomodate the curves of the tub.

Art Deco Cars On The Wall

Bright young things, fans of vintage cars, Art Deco and whimsy might like this DE309 repeat stencil from the Art Deco Collection at The Stencil Library. The design looks great as a monochrome scheme or painted in tone on tone shades. In this picture we added colour for a child's room. The floor was stencilled with MD41 Splatter, a dribbled paint design.

Indulge your inner boy racer!

Helen.

More decoration inspired by butterflies.

Just when I think I can not possibly be inspired by another butterfly project...I AM!

Here's a pretty and unusual idea from Carolyn Blahosky of Stencilwerks, Allentown, PA. She stencilled onto Roc-Lon fray proof canvas with SIB15-S  butterfly stencil from my book Stencil It by Helen Morris (also available from Amazon) She then cut around the shapes, stapled them to the painted canvas and pushed the wings into position. If applying directly to a wall instead of canvas use a suitable adhesive.

J'adore this waxed and painted butterfly table. Realisation : Eve-Marie Briolat, Céline Dupuy for Marie Clare Idees Issue 61. Via The Daily Basics via Leaf. 

Finally this is a detail from a bed cover that I stencilled last week. I used a stencil of willow in a vertical stripe and some of the butterfly stencils in our new variety pack. I'll post the full story when I have the pics edited.

Helen

 

five, fabulous stencilled baths

 

 

Stencil DE67 from Arts & Crafts Collection at The Stencil Library. Via Housetohome

Stencil GR38 from Garden Room Collection at The Stencil Library via Housetohome

Stencil JA25 Carp no 2 from Japanese Collection at The Stencil Library via Housetohome

Stencil CS58R 8 point star From The Stencil Library. Furniture stencil BB1 Gothic. Floor stencil BB1 Gothic Border stencil at 200%.(special order) All from the Budget Collection at The Stencil Library.

Paisley stencils on fabric IN47 from the Indian Collection at The Stencil Library.

 

photo Period Living & Traditional Homes.

Last photo has two bonus baths! The pewter finish is by Annie Sloan. Maggie Colvin models her turquoise bath featuring monogram stencil and garland from The Stencil Library.  'Take the time to smell the roses' is one of the proverbs offered in the Lettering Collection from The Stencil Library.  The rose stencil is code CA14 stenciled with Liquitex acrylic paint. All these stencilled tubs are roll top baths. A boxed in bath with a paintable panel is even easier to decorate.

PS.  The bath with the roses kept toppling because the feet were not yet attached to it. The photographer's assistant was placed in the bath to weigh it down... I'm sitting on him.  The things that we do to get a good photo.

Helen.