A blossom stencil on the stairs

Since we have lived in our present home, there are only two areas that we have not yet stencilled.  Of course neither of these areas feature on the tours that we host every month.  Last week, I decided to tackle one of these places.... the previously 'untouched' back stairs.  When we moved in I hung pictures of family and friends around the lower half of the stairway but did not have a ladder tall enough to cover the entire area with them and it never looked complete.   Finally, I have borrowed a tall ladder, had the area stripped, relined and painted then I set about stencilling it with the 'Designer Blossom' stencil from our forthcoming Larger Than Life range.

I twisted and turned the stencil to add variety to the pattern as the design is basically a long spray of blossom.  The stencil is divided into two parts so that the length of the flowers do not become unwieldly.

Once the tall area above the stairs was stencilled I added some stencilled blossom to a silk lampshade that hangs on the upper landing.

Another type of lampshade was created for the lower landing using a metal garland designed by Tord Boontje for Habitat. I cut the garland from it's moorings and wrapped it around the light bulb.   Then I set about stencilling and sewing a door curtain from white cotton velvet.  I used both the large and small version of this stencil on the velvet.  I always adhere fabric to table with a light spray of Spraymount to stop it walking whilst I am stencilling it.  I knew that the curtain would be two and a half times the width of the door so did not need to fill all the whole area with stencilling.  Then, I stoked up a log fire and dusted off my sewing machine to spend an 'interesting' time sewing.  I had not a clue what I was doing and it took all day.  I was helped by Spike the cat, but you can see his contribution at the end of the post if you like.

The curtain was now in place and so was the new vinyl flooring.   This new area area of the house can now be incorporated into the house tours.  We have just posted the 2008 dates.  I hope we may see some of you this year. Helen.

PS. If you want to see Spike the cat helping me to sew, click here.

First of all, you press the fabric and add pattern with grubby paws ..... and singing helps.

Oh all right, I'll concentrate.  Look at me concentrating... I'm watching carefully.

There's nothing to this sewing lark.  One just grabs the thread and pulls it...

...then ties it in a neat little knot. Okay, job done....Next.

Spike.

Comments

[Bhavna]

Visiting your blog for the first time...and I am awed! Such creativity, and amazingly beautiful stencils! Thanks so much for sharing!

P.S: And the cat is adorable too

[Di Overton]

Been there, seen that.
Clyde is on my desktop and I swear he is winking at me

[Beth]

Friend sent me to youR siTE!!!

She is a stenciL afficinato(sp?) and I a mural arTist!!! She thinKs we'd make great friendS!!!!!!hahah
I have the saMe stairwell in my home and can not waiT to get this stenCiL!@@@@@@
I loVe everything you do!@!!
What an artisT!!!!

Beth

[jeanne speed]

helen your back stair area looks amazing and i cant wait to see it close-up.

[tania]

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