Design Inspiration. Planet Stencil Library.

Space age decoration

I should have featured this spaceman stencil with my recent post about the forthcoming sale of Richard Hamilton's Man, Machine, Motion panels. This is VN222 Spaceman from the Vintage Collection at The Stencil Library. I like the way that the design looks both old fashioned and futuristic. Apart from making great wall decoration this spaceman and rocket stencil would look splendid as a decorative ceiling or even a painted floor. Vintage spaceman is a fairly detailed stencil and has three overlays. The stencil has been designed to repeat in all directions. Alternatively the different elements could be isolated and used as motifs. The standard size of the design is offered at 22.2x16.1 inches ( 569x409mm).  To give you an idea of scale the spaceman measures 15.5 x11 inches (393x280mm) but other sizes can be cut. Beam me up Scotty.

Stencil of the week. CO Lily

 

Stencil of the week is CO15 an oversized lily bloom.  You can twist and turn the stencil and paint it in the brightest of colours....or

make it formal, pretty and pastel.

The colour and placement of the stencilled motifs is your choice.

For a denser, regimented, floral pattern try VN153 Lilies from the Vintage Collection. The design is based upon the CO15 Lily stencil but has repeating marks to help form a pattern. This beautiful, stencilled floor was created by Sandy Gunderson of A Visual Feast inc, Alberta, Canada. She used the VN153 lilies stencil. There will be more about Sandy and her amazing stencilled floors in a forthcoming 'Featured Decorative Artist' post.  

There are many stencils of lilies in our collection at The Stencil Library.  They include border stencils, motifs, repeat designs and panels.  To see a selection. Just type lily into the stencil search on the site. The stencils are designed and made in England and sent worldwide.

 

Stencil of the week

Let me show you how to stencil china using a simple technique and introduce you to stencil no 297 rose solo. The rose stencil is a sweet, two layer design based on the traditional folk art roses found on canal barges and narrow boats.

Traditionally they are painted in bright red, yellow and white over a dark base colour similar to the way I have stencilled the wooden storage box. I have chosen to interpret the same design onto crockery using magenta and turquoise china paints. 

I have a draw full of glass and ceramic paint. They are the kind that you fire in a home oven.

I find it easy to use sponges when stencilling this kind of motif onto china. I cut a foam square into four and used a different piece to stencil each colour.

Tape the stencil into position. Not all parts of the stencil will lie flat on a curved surface.  Concentrate on applying paint to the secure area then press the next part into position whilst releasing the area that has just been decorated.

Gather all corners of the sponge square to create a firm, smooth paint applicator.  Take paint from a pallet by dabbing the sponge onto it.  Further dabbing onto a clean surface ensure that the paint gets evenly worked onto the surface of the sponge and is no longer wet.  Rock and dab the paint lightly over the stencil. Roll and release the stencil until the pattern is complete.  Before applying the top layer of pattern the stencilled china will need to be fired.  Follow instuctions on paint pot. Mine read 45 minutes in moderate oven temp.  After removal from the oven wait until the piece cools thouroughly before matching the second stencil over the previous decoration.

Dab, rock, roll and release as before then put it back in the oven to fire the top layer of paint.

This should give it a dishwasher safe finish.

In addition to the decoration of crockery and furniture I like the idea of stencilling this rose design in a haphazard fashion over a wall or fabric. Possibly condensed in one area then scattered randomly over the rest of the area.

There are other barge painting stencils in The Stencil Library's 'Special Interest' collection. 

Helen

Valentine's Day ideas

I'm looking at a stencil of a love-heart tattoo and imagining decorative potential for Valentine's Day gifts.   It is big enough to embellish a cushion cover or tote bag. I could stencil tee shirts, napkins, tray cloth, cotton handkerchiefs or gift bags.  I could customise a gift box, files or a book cover...a photo album might be a good subject.  Or, I could just give the stencil and let the recipient have the choices.

Helen   

Stencil of the week. VN160 Octopus Stencil

In 2011 Rachel introduced us to this week's featured stencil, VN160 Octopus stencil.  She nick-named it Ned and stencilled a fabric ottoman with it. Ned was featured again in her art deco lounge.

I thought it time to revisit Ned.

 

This is a custom size stencil which has been combined with an alphabet from Stencil It.

You can find him in the Natural World section of stencils in the Vintage Collection at stencil-library.co.uk.   

I think Ned looks really handsome in white against the gray background.

So far this week a Ned Octopus stencil has winged it's way to Australia and one to America. Bon voyage sweeties.

Helen.