Design Inspiration. Planet Stencil Library.

All I want for Christmas is a pug dog...

Of course, I will not be getting a pug dog for Christmas but here is the next best thing.

UK design company The Graduate Collection have licensed some of my paintings of pugs. They have reproduced them onto various items and so my Pugnalia Collection will be going to homes..including mine this Christmas.

There are pug pillows. The image is printed onto cotton satin and the back is made of velvet. The cushion is as soft, squishy and stroke-able as a pug!

Three of my original pug canvases have been reproduced as prints and I have framed one of each to sell at a forthcoming art exhibition. I bought the picture frames from Ikea and I purchased a small square frame to display one of the greetings cards.

I think the framed card may make a nice gift.

This morning The Graduate Collection sent me two notebooks, one with the Pugs & Kisses design and one with Pug Rocks, these are the newest items on their website and they feature in the latest 'Graduate Collection Pop Up Event' which opens for one week from Nov 28th to 4th Dec at 211-214 Piccadilly, London. 

The Graduate Collection wholesale the work of their designers to stores and shopping sites. They sell individual items worldwide by mail order.  Pugnalia can be ordered through me at The Stencil Library if preferred, however, I think that it is worth visiting the Graduate Collection's site and pop up shop because they represent a diverse selection of artists and designers from Britain. My work is shown as 'Helen Morris' rather than Pugnalia. The framed prints are for sale at The Forum Cinema in Hexham, Northumberland from 30th Nov to 26th Jan 

Helen

 

Papa's Got A Brand New Pig Bag

Mama can have one too. They will find my stencilled bags at the For Queen and Corgi shop at Folksy.com or buy one at the Christmas Fairs that my  'Super Stenciler' friend Sabina and I are attending. The bags are hand painted so each one is is different.

Do you remember the 80's song Papa's got a brand new pig bag by Pig Bag? I can not get it out of my head since stencilling Pigs Might Fly. The flying pig stencil is a border design, a line of three flying pigs, I just messed up the formation a little. There is an all-over repeat version of this design too.  Wall, curtains or ceiling of flying pigs anyone?

Pugs and Kisses stencilled by For Queen and Corgi

Pugs and Kisses is the first of the newest collection of stencilled bags at the For Queen and Corgi shop at Folksy.com

There are four more pug designs on their way. Because each item is hand stencilled and painted to order the colours will vary.

The For Queen and Corgi logo is stencilled on the back of each bag. A removeable fabric swing ticket informs the recipient of the care needs of the product and gives information about the artist.

For Queen and Corgi stencilled bags are a limited edition art piece rather than a work horse but they can work for their keep if they have to. The paint will withstand washing and each canvas bag is double stitched so that it can carry a heavy load.

For Queen and Corgi pieces are stencilled in England by Helen Morris and Sabina Rose.

For Queen and Corgi Jubilee Collection ends this month.

When I was researching permission to use our stencil of The Queen onto hand painted bags I read that use of her image had to cease in October. I may have got that wrong but erring on the side of caution I aim to l stop painting our Vintage Queen bags at the end of this month. So, if you would like one for yourself or a gift order them now. You can order from our Folksy shop,  through this blog or from the For Queen and Corgi Facebook page. Each bag is painted and stencilled to order therefore you will get something that looks like the ones in the photographs...but it will not actually be the same one. Many of our customers display the bags rather fill them with stuff but if you want to put them to work they are very hardwearing and wash well, mine has been through the wringer several times and is now incredibly soft.

Prices for the limited edition, Vintage Queen bags are £31.00 or £45.00 if you would like it embellished with a dozen Swarovski crystals. The other Jubilee inspired designs cost £28.00 for the queen in profile and £26.00 for the crown design, they are also made to order so colours can be requested.

It's your last chance to bag one!

Helen. 

PS. If you would like to learn how to stencil fabric we are running a stencil class this October.

 

For Queen and Corgi needs you to carry one

The new Pug Love collection from For Queen and Corgi is stencilled, photographed and ironed.

I just need to label them and post them for sale. For current designs in the For Queen and Corgi collection including the Diamond Jubilee bags visit their Facebook page or shop at Folksy.com.

Lots more to come!

Helen

The torch passes

The Olympic Torch just passed through our village.

I stencilled a bag to commemorate the day. 

The paint had no time to set so I had to the hope that the rain did not damage it. Red, white and blue was worn, flags were shown, whistles were blown, the police outriders waved and touched hands with the crowds. There were high fives, waves and smiles. The mood was jolly, the weather was not. Our sentiment was warm but everything else was damp and chilly

Stocksfield high fives pic from Northumberland.gov.uk.

 

 

The stencilled butterflies that stood so proud at the Jubilee celebration attempted a soggy, patriotic welcome as George Nicholson from Durham ran through the lower part of the village of Stocksfield ferrying the torch on it's journey to the Olympic Stadium in London.

He and three other runners that carried the torch through Stocksfield is one of the special 8000 torch bearers chosen from all regions of the UK and for the few minutes that he approached and passed the rain ceased and the sun was kind to him. Many people admired by stencilled bag and asked where to buy them. I had missed a sales opportunity and should have had a barrow of them!

I had made two more for the window of the local cafe so sent people there. If there were no bags to buy at least they would get hot coffee and cakes.

let it reign in Newcastle

My friend Susi just snapped this

she thought I would appreciate it seeing as I am stencilling the queen onto bags, flags and pin boards at the moment. It's a wall in Newcastle my nearest city. A quick investigation leads me to believe that it's by Prefab a Newcastle based collective.  The similar print titled Let It Reign by Prefab can be bought from opus art 

Helen.

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.

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 edition 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