this is no time for humbugs

Sherlock Holmes (1984 - 1994)

You must have a twinkle in your eye, a naughtiness—and the audience must realize your mind is working faster than your words.

I've really wanted a hard copy for a while of 'The Secret of Sherlock Holmes' play by Jeremy Paul, which was performed by Jeremy Brett and Edward Hardwicke (and is very high on my list of things to go and see if I get a time machine, because there aren't any video recordings of it.)

ANYWAY it's long out of print and very expensive to buy so I figured... I can just make one myself!

First I bound the text block. It's so slim, at a grand total of 75 pages.

I bound the cover in honey-coloured book cloth, and then set about creating a cover design.

I wanted to use the official logo of the play and this amazing publicity photo, so I went into my paint package of choice (clip studio) and tweaked the photograph until I was happy I'd got a likeness of the actors only using black and white. I think Jeremy Brett lost a little of his handsomeness, alas.

A while ago I bought a cutting machine, a Silhouette Portrait, which comes with some great software which can automatically convert an image like this into a path for the cutting machine to follow, although I usually tweak it manually too.

For example, I figured the weave on Hardwicke's tie was too intricate so I removed it.

Then I set the cutting machine to work!

For a while I tried using self-adhesive vinyl to make covers, but I found that it wasn't very hard-wearing and would start peeling off. These days I use self-adhesive vinyl to make a stencil, and then paint onto the book cloth in acrylic. The fact that the stencil is self-adhesive reduces the chances of any paint sneaking in underneath!

(The stencil is gold just because I have a lot of spare gold vinyl - it's probably not the best colour to use.)

For this project I did something I've never done before, which is doing two layered stencils, a white layer underneath, and then a black layer on top.

I kind of regret not painting all of the figures in white because if you squint you can see the line where the white stops on the final piece.

And now for the really satisfying bit - peeling of the stencil when everything has dried!

I'm really pleased with the finished book, and it's so fun to possibly have the only hardback version of this play... ever...???

“There they are, coming round the curve!” From our drag we had a superb view as they came up the straight.

~Jeremy Brett

For Jeremy Brett tribute 2020

Awhile back ago I came in contact with someone and he mentioned he was  also a Jeremy fan. He mentioned he had been at the meet up in St Louis and it was filmed. I was *OMG, OMG* and asked if it was possible to see it. He told me he would see if he could find it, convert it and upload it. Months went by and sometimes I thought about it but that was it. Figured he forgot. Then a few days ago I received an email from him. He had uploaded to Youtube.*cries* A friend of his had filmed it.

So, in honor of this great man (that tomorrow left us 25 year ago) and with mega huge thanks to Doug Reside we give you Jeremy Brett’s visit to St Louis in 1991.

Part One, Part Two & Part Three.

The whole Q and A actually starts in Part Two at around 20 minutes and Ten seconds in.