Let me start by saying this was by far the best Stencil1 event ever!  Let me tell you why. First, the space. Converse generously offered me their community-based recording studios, RUBBER TRACKS to hold my event. This former warehouse was beyond fitting with it’s street art murals, cool lounge areas, and a stage normally for bands, in this case for the craft area. This was the first art party held in the space, normally it’s music events!

You know what else makes a cool event, a cool media sponsor. COOL HUNTING. There’s history to tell. CH was the first to write up my little old company Stencil1 in 2004! This lead to the NY Times calling, and so on. Very grateful to the crew at Cool Hunting for sponsoring and introducing me to BUSHMILLS. Yes, the drinks were provided by Bushmills Irish Whiskey.  I can’t count how many people were thrilled to be able to make something while having a delicious drink made from their whiskey with Polar Seltzer mixers(vanilla pear was my choice of the night!).Oh and what’s a party without music. Great music that is. The Broken Arms Crew hooked it up!

Ah yes, the creative part…With generous donations from Pebeo Fabric paint, Stained by Sharpie fabric markers, DIY Bangles, Art Alternatives wood panels, canvas sticky patches and stencil brushes, ColorBox by ClearSnap ink pads, and more brushes and supplies from Plaid, we all had so many choices! we made several stations – you could stencil a Converse white t-shirt, a wooden bangle bracelet, a wooden circular ornament, wooden panels, canvas patches, and give a try at stenciling Converse hightops.

My staff not only assisted in the crafts, they hooked up the chalkboard at the space with our social media contests. We asked all who attended to use hashtag Stencil1Style on images they took in the space. The lucky winner would receive a milkcrate of creative supplies!

Everyone posed in front of a canvas backdrop I painted with two 6 foot pigeons on it. Many more event photos on our facebook page.  They all left with whatever they made plus a hand spray-painted gift bag filled with samples from the sponsors as well as a Stencil1 journal.   For all those that were a part of the making of this event, I am extremely grateful for your help and for those of you who attended I hope you had as much fun as me! Be on the lookout for more customizing events, we have plans for many in 2013!

Be sure to subscribe to my mailing list, follow me on twitter, facebook, etc.

And check out the new book Stencil Style 101 so you too can customize your life!


Here’s a fun how to video where I show you how to create a cohesive framed art collage. What’s fun is you can customize the how-to using your favorite photos and favorite paint colors!

The ingredients you will need are:

Spray paint. In this case Krylon Indoor/Outdoor spray paint.

• Picture frames. In this case I used some Ikea picture frames. you can use vintage ones as well.

• Artwork. In addition to images I collected or cut out from books, i created a print using my anchor stencil and Stencil1 Spray Inks. I encourage you to make your own prints!

• Paper to work on.

• Hammer, nails, & a ruler to hang the art

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join Ed Roth for the launch of his new book Stencil Style 101!

WHERE:  Powerhouse Bookstore in DUMBO, Brooklyn  37 Main Street

When:  Monday October 22nd  7-9pm

A purchase of the book will include a free canvas tote bag to stencil, or you can bring your own things to stencil like a cotton t-shirt. Markers and canvas patches will also be provided. Alcohol and craft parties? Sure, why not. RSVP to rsvp@powerhousearena.com.


Leslie Hall

When I see gorgeously tacky gem sweaters, like the bedazzling beauties that glam grannies wear,  one gal comes to mind – Leslie Hall. Leslie is simply high fashion in my book, rocking Tootsie style glasses, some fitted gold lame numbers and, of course, her signature gem sweaters.

Well, I emailed Leslie to be a guest artist in Stencil Style 101 to show how to make a gem sweater, and in this case, incorporating one of our stencils. She was all aboard! Check out our model Lucy channeling the gem sweater spirit of Leslie.

The sweater was made using fabric glue, a bag of gems, our chevron stencil and a vintage sweater. The full how to is in Stencil Style 101.

Make sure to check out the video that inspired all of this – Leslie and the LY’s – GEM SWEATER, with over a million views, you too will be addicted to her positive jam and then bedazzle all your wardrobe!

PS- She plays WEDDINGS!

Lucy rocking Leslie's gem sweater look!

Filling the stencil areas with gems

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Red carpet? Ed and Tim find the step-and-repeat at the BBF.

Wow, so not only was it the most prettiest of fall days yesterday, we cannot believe how much the Brooklyn Book Festival has grown in the last few years. Seriously, what a mob scene, but we’re glad that in the age of television/movie/video game/internets dominance, the book is still chuggin’.

Stencil1 was in attendance to support our favorites in indie publishing.  We stopped by the n+1 table to buy a subscription and applaud them for recognizing the talent of our good friend Hilary Leichter. Read her piece, “Temporary,” here! We cruised the Melville House corner for David Rees’ artisanal pencil sharpening ode, How to Sharpen Pencils. And lastly, we picked up some beautifully printed Russian words of wisdom from Ugly Duckling Presse. Sadly, we missed the Rookie mag Yearbook One signing at the Drawn and Quarterly booth, though Adrian Tomine was there signing his newest, New York Drawings, and receiving a lot of love.

The publication of Stencil Style 101 is just around the corner. We’ve got events cookin’ to celebrate, so stay tuned!




So much news to report. Aside from Stencil Style 101‘s imminent arrival, we’re tiptoeing into the realm of eBooks with Stencil 201. Sure, eBooks, digital, Kindle, Nook, and iPad are all we’ve heard in the last few years, so luckily our publisher was game to give it a whirl. Let us know what you think! Stencil 201, featuring our friends Erica Domesek of P.S. – I made this and embroiderer Jenny Hart, among others, is available on Kindle and iBooks. That’s Ed pictured above, holding up a glowing version on the iPad.