Design Inspiration. Planet Stencil Library.

Pinning the jewels on the crown

Late last night I stencilled two pinboards.

I was on a deadline to finish one for our village's  Portrait of The Queen Exhibition.  I thought I would make my portrait useful.

by using the pins to hang things from.  I tried two similar styles,

one with a border and contrast frame

 

and the other without.  I liked the industrial look of the plain frame but friends preferred the contrast so I repainted it, what is your verdict?

They are prototypes for a new collection created for For Queen and Corgi.

They started life as a plain cork pin board from IKEA. Very soon I shall post a project on stencilling an IKEA pinboard. I used our SIB14-S Dogs stencil from the Stencil It book. Tomorrow I will visit the Portrait of The Queen exhibition in Stocksfield.  I'm dying to show you what my For Queen and Corgi partner Sabina painted.

For Queen and Corgi now has a Facebook page, we have had some lovely press recently and you will find it there.

Til then, 

Helen.

Good news For Queen and Corgi

For Queen and Corgi the micro business that I started with my friend Sabina Rose got a colourful and humorous feature in The Journal newspaper today.

The pictures spanned two pages and there was even a teaser on the front page.

Northern Englanders can pick up a copy from newsagents today, everyone else can read it here. Thank you Jane Hall at The Journal and photographer Paul Norris. Our hand painted, Jubilee inspired bags can be bought from the Stencil Library shop or on line at Folksy.com

 

How to stencil wallpaper with a repeating design of dogs

Linda Barker created a study room on ITV1's television programme 60 Minute Makeover which featured hand stencilled wallpaper with our pattern of SIB14-LR Dogs on it. The homeowners appeared to love it and if you are quick then you can catch the programme on line for a few more days. It's the Wallington episode.

Now, I will show you how to stencil wallpaper using a repeating pattern.

The 'Dogs' stencil is one of 20 designs given in the book Stencil It by Helen Morris. The design was enlarged for this project. The book and stencils can be ordered from The Stencil Library.

This is how to make your own version of the dog wallpaper.

Cut several lengths of paper from the roll, make them a little longer than is needed.  The wall was 250 centimetres high so I cut them at 275. My paper came from Tesco...very inexpensive.

I used a foam mushroom and household matt emulsion paint to stencil the wallpaper. Mushrooms are available from The Stencil Library and are useful for stencilling large areas of flat colour.  I could have used a foam roller to stencil, but there are floppy bits on the stencil which may catch on a roller so a mushroom or a large stencil brush is a safer option.

 

I sprayed a slight misting of spray repositioning adhesive on the back of the stencil and aligned the edge of the stencil along the edge of the wallpaper. 

 

Dab the rounded end of the mushroom onto the paint then bounce it onto scrap paper until the paint is just moist and no longer wet. Rock and tap the mushroom through the holes in the stencil until the shape is covered.

 

Before removing the stencil place some low tack tape under the registration diamond and mark the tape.

  

Reposition the stencil for the next repeat by aligning diamond shapes with the marks on the tape.

 
 
As each length of paper is completed join the next one to it with low tack tape. The pattern needs to run concurrently.  Number each length so that they can be easily matched when pasted to the wall. 

 
 
Try to stencil the join evenly.

 
 
like this.

 

After fifteen metres the stencilled imprint was losing clarity so the stencil was soaked in a hot bath, cleaned, then laid flat to dry.

Paste wallpaper into position!

Helen. 

 

A flying start to the Diamond Jubilee Big Lunch

The first batch of our large, stencilled, card butterflies have emerged from our studio.  15 done.. 200 more to do.

Luckily this is a community project so there should be lots of eager artists to help create a swarm of brightly coloured moths and butterflies to decorate the lawns at our neighbourhood's Big Lunch on the Jubilee Weekend in June.   Children's groups and adults are pitching in over the next couple of weeks and I think the results should be fabulous. There will be updates as the various decorative projects take flight. 

Jubilee crown and corgi stencils.

Are you having a Jubilee party?

We are and we'll be using these crown and corgi stencils to make our decorations look fab... and you can do the same.

DesignInspiration is offering readers the special price of £10.00 for the pair. The size of the stencils are 125 by 165 mm. That's 5x6.5 inches. They are a good size for stencilling bunting, making party invitations, decorating napkins, plates, aprons... There are lots of things that you could stencil them onto once you get the imagination working.  We can make them in other sizes too.

UK postage is free, overseas postage will depend on destination. Contact me or leave a comment for more information. If you want your comment to remain just between us write 'Private' and it will not be published.

These plastic stencils can be used many times and decorating with them can be a fun, family or community project.

Brushes, paints, sponges etc can be ordered from The Stencil Library.  Alternatively, tell us what you need and we will post it with your stencils. 

Helen.

 

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.

 

The End of an (Uncut Stencil) Era: sale stencils

A long post...but it's worth it. We are having a clearance sale and have listed all bargains below.

Recently, Helen has told you that within a couple of weeks we will cease offering UNCUT stencils for sale.   Many of you may have benefitted from purchasing an uncut version of a stencil at a cheaper price in the past, then cutting the pieces out yourself using either a heatpen cutting tool or scalpel.  This is particularly beneficial when ordering one of our fabulous chinoiserie panels, for example.  You still have a couple of weeks so if you want to take advantage and stockpile some uncut stencils, get your order in now.

We are offering some spectacular savings on a selection of uncut stencils we have left in stock.  These are sold on a first come, first serve basis and there is only one of each.

If you would like to order any from the list below, please EMAIL  your order to sales@stencil-library.com with your shipping address.  Postage within the UK is free, 5.00 GBP to Europe and 7.00 GBP to the rest of the world.  Do not include any payment details.  We will issue you a Paypal invoice for your total which you must pay within 24 hours (you do not need to have a Paypal account to pay).  We will not hold your order for you for long.  If you order several stencils and some have already been sold, you may not receive your entire order.  Please note, these are all UNCUT stencils and you will need to cut the pieces out with either a scalpel or heatpen cutting tool.  We are offering both these items at a special price for a limited time when ordered WITH any of these special offer uncut stencils.  Please do not order these through the website, or you will not receive the discounted price.  Items requested via this post must be put in an email to us.  If you have any questions, please contact sales@stencil-library.com

To help you I have made each of the listings into a link through to our site.  If you click on a listing below, it should bring up the page on the Stencil Library site so you can look at the design and check the dimensions.  As with all our stencils, these are non-returnable for refund or exchange.  All prices are in GBP POUNDS STERLING.  To check the current exchange rate, click here.

• DE154 Arts & Crafts Bird and Fruit Motif (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• DE249 Art Nouveau Floral Motif (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
  
• DE24 Arts & Crafts Border (was 6.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• 34 Turrets Border (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• ER5 Egg & Dart Border (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• ER11 Dot and Dash Border (was 8.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• DE224 Art Nouveau Tile small 6" (was 10.00 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
• DE226 Art Nouveau Tile small 6" (was 10.00 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
  
• DE229 Art Nouveau Tile small 6" (was 10.00 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
  
• DE227 Art Nouveau Peacock Feather Tile small 6" (was 10.00 GBP) now 3.00 GBP  SOLD
• DE133 Arts & Crafts Bird Panel (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
  
• DE335 Art Deco Lady with Sun (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• DE334 Large Art Deco Alphabet (was 21.00 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• 349 Large Leopard Spot Repeat (was 29.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP SOLD
• T4 Medieval Tile small 6" (was 7.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP SOLD
• DE123 Arts and Crafts Floral Motif (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
  
• DE41 Arts and Crafts Mini Dot and Dash Border (was 6.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• DE32 Arts and Crafts Bird and Planter Border (was 21.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP
• OTT48 Ottoman Panel (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• OTT6 Ottoman Border (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• OTT35 Ottoman Tile small 6" (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
  
• OTT36 Ottoman Tile small 6" (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP SOLD
  
• IN31 Indian Border (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP SOLD
• IN25 Willow Pattern Border (was 21.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP  SOLD
• GMT83 Vine Tudor Flower Panel (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• GMT68 Gothic Quadrant Small 12" (for 24" diameter) (was 12.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP SOLD
  
• GMT13 Gothic Medieval & Tudor Border (was 15.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• GMT8 Gothic Arch Border (was 11.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
• GMT19 Gothic Border (was 16.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP SOLD
• GMT23 Gothic Fretwork Border (was 15.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP SOLD
• GMT14 Gothic Border (was 8.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• 108A Nursery Flowers (2 layer version) (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 206 Peter Rabbit 11" tall x 8" wide (was 11.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 125 Mad Hatter (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 105 Rabbits (was 12.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 316 Counting Sheep (was 8.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• DE141 Arts & Crafts Heart Tree Motif (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 355 Large Flowers (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP SOLD
• CS46 Sweet Pea Solo (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 277 Rose & Trellis (was 13.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 340 Small Orange Tree (was 16.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP SOLD
• 338 Small Lemon Tree (was 16.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP SOLD
• 339-L Large Bay Tree (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP SOLD
• 255 Small Peonies (was 17.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• 255 Large Peonies (was 29.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP
• FS4-L Large Chinese Tree of Life with Birds & Flowers (was 49.95 GBP) now 10.00 GBP SOLD
• 301 Small Classical Alphabet (was 15.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 304-L Large Edwardian Alphabet (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• 305-L Large Modern Alphabet (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• 201 Small Roman Alphabet (was 11.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 186 Nautical Set (was 21.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP
• 14 Greek Key (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 31 Fleur De Lys (was 5.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• 268 Macrame Border (was 16.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 218 Harvest Border (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 219 Vegetable Border (was 15.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 86 Iris in Water Border (was 12.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 184 Shrub Rose Border/Motif (was 29.00 GBP) now 6.00 GBP SOLD
• 37 Medieval Flags Border (was 6.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• 222 Summer Flowers Border (was 15.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP SOLD
• 3 Chequers Border (was 5.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• 40 Trellis Border 3.5" x 14" (was 7.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• A6 Cancer (crab) (was 11.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• AD6 Adam Border (was 12.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• 159 Bowl of Fruit (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• 336 Shaker & Folk Art Tile (was 5.95 GBP) now 2.00 GBP
• 332 Shaker & Folk Art Motif (was 11.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• 343 Small Cornerpiece (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
• 347 Small Lemon Cornerpiece (was 9.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP SOLD
• GR109 Small Moroccan Vase (was 12.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP  SOLD
• CE1 Celtic Border (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• CE30 Celtic Motif (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• CE34 Celtic Crane Motif (was 14.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• CS23 Thistle Solo (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• CS66 Bee Solo (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• CS91 Reformation Solo (was 10.95 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• AR13-L Large Column Base (can also be used as capital) (was 16.95 GBP) now 4.00 GBP
• A14-L Large Planisphere (was 29.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP
• AR74-L Large Chimera (was 17.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP
• AR24-M Medium Alhambra Arch (was 19.95 GBP) now 5.00 GBP  SOLD
• AR33-L Large Gothic Pillar (was 29.95 GBP) now 6.00 GBP SOLD

SPECIAL PRICES when ordered with any of the above stencils:

• Heatpen Cutting Tool (26.95 GBP) now 20.00 GBP
• Metal Scalpel Handle and Pack of 5 Blades (4.00 GBP) now 3.00 GBP
• Disposable Scalpel (85p) now 70p

When you email your order, we will email confirmation of it's receipt and to advise you that you will receive a paypal request for payment.

Heatpen stencil cutter.

Disposable scalpels.

Scalpel handle and pack of blades.

Rachel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Advance Warning. The end of the uncut stencil.

When we started The Stencil Library in 1988 all our stencils were cut by hand.

Each order was printed in our basement studio then the individual shapes in the stencil were cut out using a surgical scalpel. Each evening my husband would help me to cut them out.  We listened to the television rather than watched it. When friends visited us they got used to talking to the top of our heads because we rarely looked up from our cutting boards until the days orders were fulfilled.

We offered our customers the option of uncut printed patterns as an alternative to the ready cut stencil.  Their investment in time and skill to cut the stencil was rewarded with a cheaper price. This was a popular offering and in those days a lot more people were willing to spend the time cutting in order to save money.

As technology and our bank balance improved we invested in Arnie an Austrian robot that cut our stencils electronically. We still offered the uncut stencils because some people enjoyed the savings and the cutting process. It can be very therapeutic... no really it can.

However Arnie is to retire soon and we are moving to new web site at stencil-library.com  There will be no uncut stencils on the new site.  There will be lots of other goodies but no uncut stencils.  If you want them buy them now. All the uncut stencils purchased from the current website are made to order so we will continue to print uncut stencils until we close it down

In the next few days Rachel will be clearing the uncut stock remaining in our shop in Stocksfield.  She will be offering them on this blog at much reduced prices. Some will cost as little as two pounds and she is doing a special offer on scalpels and electric stencil cutters when bought with an uncut stencil design.

There are tips on how to cut a stencil on this blog, there is a photo tutorial in my books Stencil It and The Stencilled Home and on our web sites.  You also get instruction on stencil cutting when the design is mailed to you.  

So if you want an uncut stencil pattern visit the site and order soon.  To see what we have in the sale check back with this blog in a couple of days.  When they're gone... they're gone.

Helen.

For Queen and Corgi new collection on line

At last the new stencil venture 'For Queen and Corgi' has an online shop.

I am in partnership with my friend, ex colleague and 'super stenciller' Sabina Rose.  Our stencilled Jubilee inspired bags are the first items to be uploaded because they are limited edition, have been much admired...and the Jubilee festivities will be upon us in June.

Actually, I think everything we create will be a limited addition because we can only paint one at a time, I have a full time job, Sabina has a full time garden and there are only 24 hours in a day.

Until today we have sold our Jubilee souvenir bags exclusively at The Stencil Library shop in Stocksfield or from people seeing Sabina or I carrying one.  Recently, we have  started a For Queen and Corgi Facebook page and now we have an online store at Folksy.com

I was a busy uploading product images last night. We invent and stencil new designs as the mood takes us, so there will be more uploading to come... but that will have to wait until next week when I return from demonstrating stencil techniques for Country Living Magazine at their annual fair in Islington, London. I should be there tomorrow until Sunday.

The organisers are hosting workshops on several different subjects my students are learning how to stencil fabric bags. Soon they may be in competition with me! The participants will be using the 'Dogs Stencil' featured in the Stencil It book

I will be signing copies of 'Stencil It' by Helen Morris which is for sale on The Country Living stand. If you have a few moments please visit me at the fair, the 'For Queen and Corgi' Facebook page or Folksy shop. It is early days for our new sideline and we would welcome comments...we would welcome orders too! 

Helen

 

Out with the old (part two).

My other 'change' this week is a major one .  On the first of March I said good bye to my old school and studio.

The walls in this room all have several stories and photo shoots built around them. There have been hundreds of visitors that have learned to stencil under this roof. The new tennants have not moved in yet so I snuck back this morning and took a few pictures...before I met my students for today's stencil class in it's new location.

This morning's visitors would like to create stencilled mirrors, decorate china plates and customise clay plant pots.  It should be fun.

We will be running more private stencil classes for small groups. Contact me if you'd like details.