The Stencil Library is generally regarded as the being the world’s leading stencil design company. The stencils are made in Northumberland, England and shipped worldwide. Helen Morris is one of the forces behind The Stencil Library so imagine our good fortune when she agreed to be interviewed by Fauxology. An exciting event for all of us! Do you know how The Stencil Library’s name came about? Well, let’s all sit down by the fire and find out about that and more!
Tell us about how it all started, Helen.
My career was fashion, both wearing it and selling it. The Stencil Library was originally an idea that I formed with my husband, Chips. He designed stencils for screen printing and also used them in large scale to create the exciting interiors that were transforming the bar scene in our city nearly thirty years ago. He decorated our home with them in 1981. I did not really know what stencils were until he asked me to cut some for him. I realised how accessible the tool could be for home decoration and no one was making anything like it in the UK. I asked around to see if there might be an outlet for them. The two top interior companies in the city said they would like to sell our stencils. They never did, but their enthusiasm was enough to get us started. We chose mail order as our main sales method so that we could reach a wide audience and have few cash flow issues. Our stencils were hand cut to order and priced accordingly. To help people afford the less simple designs, we offered a hire service. When the stencil was returned promptly and in a suitable condition for re-hire, we would refund half its cost. Hence the name “The Stencil Library”. We started with 250 stencils and now offer four thousand. The collection that we are working on now is fabulous.
Four thousand, wow! Would you be able to pick a favorite design?
My favourite stencil designs are often the ones that we are working on at the moment, but if I had to choose my all time favourites they would be the Chinoiserie panels 1 to 4. They were inspired by handpainted wallpapers at the Royal Palace in Brighton England. We had special permission to visit and photograph the private rooms there. I have used this stencil to decorate one of my guest rooms. I used the same design for the British Interior Design Association show house some years ago. Armourcoat, a UK specialist plaster company stencilled it in polished plaster studded with hundreds of crystals. The effect was sparkly, carved marble and looked delicious. I am fond of the Larger than Life Designer Blossom. It’s a stick and dot design inspired by an Erte graphic from the 1930’s. We have some fabulous patterns formed around dots in our forthcoming collection and I have already chosen a new best friend amongst them.
I do love all the designs you’ve mentioned! What jumpstarts your inspiration?
Half a pint of cappucino with four shots of expresso!
Me, too, Helen! Professionally, who are some of your inspirations?
My inspirations last inspirations last year were fashion designers such as John Galliano and Alexander McQueen and photographer Tim Walker.
Here’s a pic of Helen on the left — wearing her stencilled designs on a mock cover made for her by her husband. On the right, stencilling wrapping paper. Her book and company’s DVD are pictured as well.
Are you excited about any cool items you’ve come across?
If we are talking just stencil related stuff, The Gridfinder by The Stencil Library and I’m quite taken by the Mushroom tool from Buon Fresco, the Vele mitt from Adicolor and oh I’m still a fan of The Woolie.
What are some misconceptions that you encounter about stencils?
Unfortunately prejudice against the stencil still exists amongst those that can not see past the gingham duck phase of the late eighties (in the UK the grapevine was ubiquitous). Stencils have been used to replicate pattern for two thousand years, some some of the most fabulous lavish interiors have been created all over the globe with them. Get over the decade of the duck! Vinyl stickers and transfers get mistaken for stencils. We get asked “Can I order my stencil in a different colour?” Another misconception is that the stencil can only be used once.
I’m going to have to use that getting over the duck decade motto, Helen! What other advice would you offer to our readers with regards to stencilling?
Stencils are a tool to help you create lettering and pattern easily. There is a myriad of paints and other mediums that you can use with a stencil to create a wealth of colours and textures. Since the beginning of this century a few pioneering stencil companies have become more daring and varied in their offerings, oversized pattern, bold designs, even graffiti style stencils are available now. Modello Designs has revolutionised the stencilled decoration of ceilings, always a tricky surface. They are doing amazing things with concrete, too. The Stencil Library launched the Big and Bold decorating masks and the Print Room range which combines stencilling and photocopies. I love to see photographs of our customers work as their imagination is inspiring. Magazine stylists come up with some fab applications too. Read blogs to see what is happening out there.
Speaking of blogs, what are some of your favourite websites, blogs or forums on the internet?
I love an evening free to surf blogs and forums. I’m probably just nosey but kid myself that I’m garnering insight into the zeitgeist. Blogs are now the fastest way of getting new stencil related news to an audience, if that is your interest. I would bookmarking some of them such as my own Design Inspiration, this one Fauxology which is one of may faves (and no, I’m not grovelling). I regularly enjoy Design Amour by Melanie Royals and both Stencil Talk and Painter Girl by Carol Leonesio. Carol tells me that she prints pages from these blogs to show to clients and it results in commissions for her. I have learned a lot from being a member of IDAL, not only visiting their annual convention but by conversing on their on line chapters. Thank goodness my TV rarely interests me.
I’d like to thank Helen for her wonderful interview and taking the time to share a bit of herself with us. It’s a bit American but I’d like to let you know that You Rock! Here are some pics using the amazing Stencil Library Line.
I LOVE reading blogs — especially design related ones like Design Inspiration. If you don’t read it regularly already, please check it out. The Stencilled Home was one of the very first stencil books I purchased and still among the very best. I’m happy that they have released a DVD of The Stencilled Home, which includes a tour of their home. Since their home is constantly changing, it features designs that were not in the book. It’s the closest thing we have until we holiday in England and visit The Stencil Library shop! I hope you’ve enjoyed our chat with Helen and been inspired to create something magnificent with stencils!
Great interview, really enjoyed it. Been aware of Helen’s work for many years and am consistently amazed at the range and depth of the Stencil Library’s designs.
Enjoyed the history and loved the images!
[...] to the public. Hundreds of artists and vendors travel each year to this important convention. Helen Morris is this year’s Opening Meeting speaker (can’t believe I’m missing that) and the [...]