Julis’s shop, Smallhome, is one of out favorite stores to go into. The store is beautifully decorated and they have endless treasures to shop for–most of them from local artists! We bought the small water tower made by Boundless Brooklyn and decided to have some fun with it. The water tower comes in several pieces and you get to assemble it. This is perfect because all the parts are flat, so they are great for stenciling! Take a look at what we made and show us how you transform your water tower @Stencil1

For this how-to you’ll need: A Boundless Brooklyn Water Tower, Stencil1 Pigeon Two-Layer stencil, Stencil1 Pattern 8-Pack Set, ink pads, paint, and stencil brushes.

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Step 1: Place the first layer of the Pigeon stencil on top of the water tank. You can tape the stencil down using painter’s tape but since this is a flat surface simply holing it with your hand should be fine.

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Step 2: Pour paint onto a plate and use the brush to stencil the pigeon. Remember that stenciling is a dry brush technique so use very little paint. You can apply as many layers as you think necessary. Paint using an up and down motion.

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Step 3: Allow the paint to dry. Flip the stencil over (make sure to clean it so that you don’t get the water tank dirty.) Follow step 2 to paint another pigeon that is facing your first pigeon.

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Step 4: Allow the paint to dry. Align the second layer of the pigeon stencil to the layer you already painted.

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Step 5: Use paint and a stencil brush to paint in the detail the same way you did in step two. We used a combination of gray and turquoise paint. Lift the stencil and allow the paint to dry.

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Step 6: Repeat step 5 to paint in the detail for the second pigeon. When you are done painting, lift the stencil and allow the paint to dry.

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Step 7: We loved how the quatrefoil pattern looks with the pigeon. But any pattern would look awesome with the water tank, so feel free to experiment! We stenciled the quatrefoil pattern in random places on the tank.

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Step 8: Using the same pattern, we stenciled the roof. However, we made it more uniform than on the tank, this way it looks as if the pattern is falling off the roof and onto the tank.

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Step 9: Allow all the paint to dry and then assemble your water tank!

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Last year, Sonja Rasula, founder of Unique LA, asked me to lead a workshop at the Unique Camp, and I was thrilled to return again this year to do it again! Sonja is a giving person, empowering attendees to Dream Big (that was this year’s theme). I got chills when I read that saying as it brought me back to when I took my first Photoshop class in a community college in Miami. My amazing teacher, Pat Johnson, used this saying. I told her how I wanted to learn to print images onto tiles and she replied “Imagine printing on the tiles and creating a large image in the NY subway walls. Dream Big!” WOW, total a-ha moment. I have said this saying since.

Camp reminds you to believe in your dream. Not to get all Oprah on your ass but if you don’t believe in your dream, how’s it going to ever become real?! Creative visualization people. All about it.

I structured my workshop like so – chatted 15 minutes about how I got started, the stages of growth for Stencil1, my experience with publishing books and licensing; then a stenciling demo so everyone could get creative! We stenciled wood blocks from Art Alternatives as well as watercolor paper and t-shirts. People also stenciled items they found in nature. We used ColorBox ink pads by Clearsnap which are fool-proof and so colorful. We also used FolkArt multi-surface paints, great for the t-shirts.

The next night, the people at Martha Stewart were leading a DIY where people dyed wooden beads and also customized t-shirts. They asked me to add my stencils to the mix and it was a perfect pairing. Martha has great multi-surface paints that Plaid makes and they even have glitter paints. I have a new line of stencils with Plaid so Martha and I continue to have more in common. Both from New Jersey, both creative, I love me some Martha. I digressed. I made fast friends with Hahhah Milman from Martha, we are both from NY yet CAMP in LA brought us together!

The other classes at CAMP that blew me away were Freya Estreller from Coolhaus and her generous sharing of information on numbers, spreadsheets, and the trials and tribulations of growth. She fuckin winged it and grew an incredibly successful brand. Also Mike Del Ponte  from SOMA, who created a water filter that is something you are proud to have on the table, he shared his approach to raising VC money for your business. I got to meet Andrew Gibbs who started the DIELINE 9 years ago out of his love of packaging design and made it a business, now with awards and conference shows, the next being in Paris. OUI!

The best part of the CAMP experience is meeting people. Listening to their goals, offering advice when I can, and learning from others’ journeys.

I am proud to be a CAMP Alumni now.  Camp nourishes the mind and soul, allowing you to grow both professionally and personally. Don’t miss it next year!

Here are some images to give you a feel of my workshops. Creativity under the trees, ahhhh.

And another bunch of images of the event with Martha Stewart


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One year ago, I began chatting with Plaid Enterprises about licensing my designs to create a line together. Well, cut to January 2014 and I am psyched to announce my new Stencil1 Plaid-FolkArt stencil line!  These new designs are so bold and graphic, and many are designed as multi-layered. I demo’d this process in my booth at CHA (Craft and Hobby Association tradeshow). Oh my booth that the Plaid peeps totally customized Stencil1 style – built a reclaimed wood and plumbers pipe table, hand jig-sawed some Stencil1 patterns and birds for more DIY décor, my booth just stated what I am all about- old meets new, industrial chic.

So,  I met the greatest people all day and it seemed to me that everyone really enjoyed the layering process. Here’s some pics of the happy crafters:

 

I shared the Plaid booth with the amazing Cathie & Steve and their new Mod Podge products. They introduced the world to the deco den trend and scored some design awards for their MOD MELTER. Inspiring!

Also to my side, was Candie Cooper, showing the gals how to make some on-point jewelry. Look at this pic I took of Candie’s handmade talents:

Then, Pinterest genius and ball of energy Rachel Faucett of HANDMADE CHARLOTTE was demo’ing her new stencil line on silk scarves. This release she focused on world culture influence, pattern, beautiful stuff! She also has these cutesy wood stitchables I need to get my hands on. Oh and some highly usable sticky backed stencils for stenciling rounded surfaces like glasses, clay pots, and other not so flat surfaces!

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I was visited my NY gal Erica Domesek of PS I Made This and we reminisced. Also got a hug from the genuine, and ever knit-savy Vickie Howell. I wish I had a pic of her loose yarn necklace, I’ll bug her for a shot of it.

I met store buyers, shop owners, crafters, locals, and travelers and had such a great time hearing each person’s connection to the industry.  Some even called me Big Daddy, those in the know of the legendary Ed “Big Daddy” Roth.  At night, I got to see some good old friends of whom have supported me for years including craft wife Jaderbomb and ever generous and supportive Jen Perkins as well as meeting new one’s – artists, crafters, business owners, and bloggers – all so excited to talk shop. We are all so fortunate to work in a creative field!

CHA was such a success and you will soon see the line out in major art and craft supply stores as well as on Stencil1.com   To think of my designs reaching more people is very humbling, I hope you enjoy !

 


A huge thanks to the Soho Beach House and all the members who took part in the Stencil1 DIY Art Party during Art Basel!

It’s always great to see what people will create with our stencils.
Again, a special thanks to Plaid, Art Alternatives, and Clearsnap for providing some amazing art supplies to
work with.
Some highlight images below, click to enlarge!
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We’re really excited to announce that Stencil1 will be part of Art Basel 2013! We will be hosting an Artist Printmaking workshop at the Soho Beach House in Miami on December 6.

I am really looking forward to sharing a cocktail with all of the attendees while we create fun and unique art! We will have colorful picnic tables set up with all the art supplies needed to create mess-free, one of a kind pieces that the makers can take home with them as a souvenir from their stay at the hotel.

The Stencil1 creative artist crew and I will provide guidance to guests in helping them get creative and become the artist. We will use stencils, inkpads, and rubber stamps to make artist’s prints during this intimate 3-hour event. We are especially excited to be working with materials provided by Plaid, Clearsnap, and Art Alternatives.

We will make sure to take many pictures to share with you as soon as we’re back in Brooklyn!

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Stencil1 Events Stencil1 Events Stencil1 Events

Maybe you’ve been to a Stencil1 free event. If so, wasn’t it fun? If not, do you want to attend one? Well, we are seeking a grant and need your help. If we win we will be having lots of free promotional events in our hood as well as taking the show on the road with pop-up events all around!

So please click below to vote for Stencil1. It’s at no cost to you. This is via Facebook and run by Chase Bank. We are a small business looking to grow and spread creativity so we hope you can join in with a simple click. Much appreciated!

 

https://www.missionmainstreetgrants.com/business/detail/94794