Upgraded Web Site

Our new upgraded website is now operational.  You will not see many differences until you come to order, so you do not have to find your way around a totally new design.  However when you order you will find it much quicker and easier.  For example if you are ordering Friendly Plastic you will remain on the list of Friendly Plastic colours and the shopping basket comes to you on that page.  This is much quicker than going to the shopping basket and then finding where you were!  I hope you will find it a big improvement.

I still have to do some work myself, such as adding the photos to the category headings.  Unfortunately some things did not transfer over to the new system.  The other thing which did not transfer are the links on the product description.  I am going to have to work through and change them manually so that they work.  Please bear with me on this as I will have to fit it inbetween exhibitions.

Another new feature is the ability to leave testimonials.  This is on the right hand side of the front page and I believe this is a good feature for anybody new coming to the site as they can check that we do post promptly and do our level best to give a good service.  If you are having a look at the web-site perhaps you could put a testimonial on for me - if you can a big thanks from me.  (There is also a product review facility but I don't think this is possible until you have ordered on the new site - still getting to grips with this).
http://www.theframeworkshop.co.uk/

Cuff Bracelet in Friendly Plastic

Whilst I was in Manchester Christel was working on another Jewellery piece.  This is a cuff bracelet she has made using 2 strips of African Violet.  She joined the 2 together and used a rubber stamp at random to achieve texture.  She wrapped it around a bottle (of the correct size) on the Teflon Sheet whilst it was still warm and did not remove it until it was totally cold.  Christel then used the Copper Multi-Surface Paint, allowing the paint to fill the indentations made by the rubber stamp, but then rubbing it off the surface before it dried so it did not remain on the unstamped African Violet.  I wonder if she will notice if I pinch it off her!

Customer's Pendant seen at Event City

I saw this pendant on a customer at Event City, Manchester.  I originally spotted it at a distance and thought it quite stunning and a perfect example that Friendly Plastic does not have to be complicated.  Whilst she did say she had been somewhat over enthusiastic with heating the bottom green colour we both felt the black showing through did actually add to the piece.

Event City Manchester

It was a little worrying that the exhibition was moving from G-Mex to Event City at Trafford Park, as it had been established at G-Mex for many years.  However what a good move it was.  Event City was a very spacious venue, with loads of seating room, and NO parking charges for exhibitors or public.  I met a lot of new people who were visiting an exhibition for the first time, as well as many existing customers.  Thanks to you all for supporting this new venue. 

One of my best friends at the exhibitions, Alison, did her first show with Zentangle.  Alison has been at the exhibitions  before and most recently has been seen helping me at Exeter, Dublin & Harrogate.  She is now introducing Zentangle to the UK at the exhibitions and can be seen at Exeter, Alexandra Palace, NEC, Glasgow & Harrogate.  As she has worked with Friendly Plastic when she has been helping me she has used Friendly Plastic as a base for Zentangle, as well as producing many other ideas.  Here are the images of a display she produced for my stand,  it could quite easily be framed as a piece of wall-art in its own right, or used for jewellery ideas.  If anybody needs any details of Alison and where to contact her I can pass on her details (she has a big range of books and the special pens).