Design Inspiration. Planet Stencil Library.

Changing Rooms: Baha-Boho-in-Bahaaarnstable!

Lawrence Llewellyn Bowen designed the stencils, we made them and the recipients loved them!

Described jokingly as Baha-Boho-in-Baha-arnstable  Episode 4 of Changing Rooms featured stencilled panels of tropical plants and birds in a bedroom makeover for the popular television show. The contestants were neighbours in Barnstable, North Devon. I thought the programme was joyous and I liked everybody in it.  I never tire of hearing people exclaiming 'Woww!' combined with 'I love stencilling!!' ...I heard both during the programme...so, I was happy.  

I apologise for spoiling part of the ending if you have yet to watch the 'Barnstable' episode. They had another room to reveal so I won't spoil that.

As well as cutting our own designs we have a bespoke stencil service and that is what Lawrence employed to have seven different panels created from his drawings.  There are lots of our own panel stencils to choose from ranging from Art Nouveau to Chinoiserie. If you like the idea of stencilled tropical decor then look in our Garden Room selection and the Vintage collection.

Missed it? I watched it on Channel 4's catch up service 4 On Demand.

Photos; courtesy of Changing Rooms.

Helen

Yaeko's Golden Squares stencil.

This stencil helps to mimic the squares of metallic leaf that you may find in the background of Asian style murals and wallpapers. One of the experts in this style of decoration is Japanese artist Yaeko Kurimata of Tokyo based Faux Arts Design  Yaeko designed this stencil as a tool to help speed up the process of measuring and masking squares. We are pleased to be featuring it in the 'New Stencils' section of Stencil-Library.Co.Uk  

Faux Arts Design often create large scale artworks therefore her stencil helps them (and us) decorate full walls as well as smaller projects like wardrobes or canvases.

There is a skill in achieving the appearance of gilding that Yaeko creates but with practice and experiment you will find your own way of using it. My first attempt gave an appearance of Northumberland stone which was perfect for the Chinoiserie panels project that I was working on.

Yaeko often uses a metallic painted background ( I use metallic wallpaper) the squares are stencilled in a vaguely haphazard manner to give the impression of antiquing or corrosion.

Yaeko uses a lint free rag to further distress the surface paint but this is only one of a myriad ways to use the stencil.

I often stencil the squares using an acrylic scumble glaze tinted with paint. I no longer sell the glazes but they are available at DIY stores. The glaze makes the paint dry slowly without making it runny and then I can make imprints into it using sponges or fabric.

I found that 'Yaekos Golden Squares' stencil also helps to create the effect of a tiled background. The background becomes the grout colour and the squares are stencilled with the colour of the 'tiles'.  To add further interest keep the squares stencil in position and place a patterned stencil on top of it.  Stencil though both of the stencil layers,  The pattern will appear only in the squares and if all was lined up correctly gives the impression of decorated tiles.  I'll try and do a demo and publish it here or at our Instagram page.  However a similar project showing stencilling a pattern within a shape can be found here

This is the pair of us muralling in Tokyo some years ago. It is very rare that we sell stencils from another designer but the stencil is fabulous...and so is she so we made an exception.

Helen.

Canal Art stencils

Folk art stencils for canal art are a perfect way to create an authentic look of barge painting without possessing the skills to replicate them free hand. Traditionally hand painted ornament of narrow boats are painted in bright colours onto a dark background but if you use pastel shades onto a light coloured surface you will get a softer look; one that is useful for achieving a look of Northern European style folk art. Our designs are based on the traditional folk art style of castles and roses.

The stencils of roses and daisies have two layers; one to give the shape and the other to apply the brush strokes. Together they provide a handy tool to fake the look of barge art.  My photo shows just some of the selection from our British folk art collection. Search for 'canal art' on our site and it will show you a selection to chose from. Otherwise look for them in our British Style section.

 

I will be decorating large plant pots with them before summer!

Update; The first of the plant pots is stencilled!

Tile stencil T2 got a makeover

Tile stencil 'T2 Medieval no3' is one of my favourites. We now offer it in two depths of stencil film; our usual 125 micron and the heavier version 190 micron. A new instruction leaflet shows how to quarter turn the stencil in a clockwise direction to complete each section. The two sizes of the Medieval no3 stencil offered on our site are 6 inch square and 12 inches. Other sizes can be made...just ask.

A stencilled panel above a bath has been framed with a stencilled border of 'BB26 Arabesque' it is one of the Basic Border collection from our range of Budget Stencils. 

The six inch tile stencil is shown on the picture of the stencilled floor. If you use the 12" size or larger to stencil a floor you will need fewer pattern repeats... which may be helpful to your knees.

My final photo shows two of the stencils placed together to show how the pattern builds. When the four quarters are completed the word Top should be back to the starting position ready for you to reposition and start the next section.

Helen

How to combine metallic paint and gilding powder to make a luscious gold paint

I have made a short video to show my method of combining our gilding powder with water based metallic paint to make a gorgeous rich gold colour, suitable for stencilling on fabrics as well as many other household surfaces. It has sound and captions.  So, if you don't want to hear me you'll still get the gist of what I am doing.

 

The paint that I am using is True Gold from Jacquard's Lumiere range. I mix it with Rose Gold metallic powder, they're both from The Stencil Library  find them in the paint and gilding supplies section.  The video is less than a minute long.  I made it because I'm often trying to describe this method over the phone to my customers and I just thought it might be helpful to see what a delicious looking paint it makes. Also, it gives me a little practice in trying to make a video. Lumiere paint is machine washable when stencilled onto fabrics.  You will find instructions on the jar and also on this blog.  Look in the 'How to stencil' and the 'Stencil Projects' sections.

If you want a brighter gold use a brighter base colour such as Metallic Gold, Bright Gold or Brass all from our metallic paint section on The Stencil Library website.  The rose gold powder make an interesting tint when mixed with bronze and copper paint too.  Only mix small amounts so that it is fresh when applied.  Don't store it in a jar for a few days...it won't like it.

 I like to use the raw True Gold paint for parts of my stencilling then add contrast and highlights with the glitzy powdered version.  It is worth experimenting and if you are scrolling through my posts you will see this combination on furnishings and clothing.

You can add the powder to fabric medium to make you own version of gold fabric paint.

Helen.