Liverpool

It's off to Liverpool tomorrow.  The boxes are all packed and I just need to load the van in the morning and then hit the road to Aintree Racecourse.  Looking forward to seeing some of you there.  (The show - run by ICHF - is open from Friday to Sunday) 

Friendly Plastic - new colours

Whilst not new Friendly Plastic colours I have had requests for these colours and have now added them to the web-site.  African Violet on the left, Confetti on the right and I have also added Navy Blue (which is a very dark, almost black Blue colour and not metallic).

Stoke City at Wembley

Even I seem to be carried away by the football fever in Stoke on Trent at the moment.  The road to the motorway is lined with fans - just supporting those on the coaches going to Wembley.  I am not a football fan but I am actually looking forward to watching it in the shop this afternoon.  I have my fingers crossed for a Stoke City win at Wembley.

Friendly Plastic

I am running a special promotion for May on Friendly Plastic - the price is £1.25 per strip (ends 31.5.11).  In addition the free UK second class postage for orders over £30 still applies.  I have collected the new stock today so if you have been looking for Purple (which has been out of stock for about a week) it is now back in stock, along with Silver on White.  I think the only one which is really low on stock is Turquoise Print as the importers are currently out of stock of this item - I only have about 10 strips in stock.

Facebook

As you can see from the link on the top right of this page I am trying Facebook again.  This time a little different as I have done it as a page (hopefully I will find this easier!).  Again it needs building up and I cannot have a proper name for my page until I have 25 followers - so please feel free to follow me!

DMC Threads for the Stitcher

Now for something different to Friendly Plastic.  This Wooden Box is a Limited Edition item from DMC and contains 30 DMC Skeins.  Perfect for the stitcher, as a gift, or just to treat yourself.  It also includes free chart which is a nice big A3 size.  It is of course on my web-site (In the Needlework and Cross Stitch Section - subsection Kits and Threads - and also under new products).  It is £24.99 which is actually cheaper than buying the threads on their own.

New Products - Textile & Mixed Media

I have now added Angelina Fibres, Texere Variety Packs and material packs to the web-site.  These can be used for general textile work as well as Mixed Media and incorporating into Friendly Plastic.  They are in the section Textile Fabrics/Mixed Media and then subsection Fibres & Materials for Mixed Media (as well as being listed under new products).  I have also used these products alongside Lutradur.  If you haven't worked with Lutradur it differs from Tyvek in that when it is heated you can still stitch through it.  I have found that over the Spring Shows that Lutradur has been more popular as soon as I have explained the difference.  Tyvek does however produce more of a '3D' shape.

Friendly Plastic Artwork

I thought you might enjoy this artwork piece made in Friendly Plastic.  It is based on a Clarice Cliff design called Blue Firs.  Being from Stoke on Trent I am somewhat of a fan of Clarice Cliff (and Moorcroft of course).  I haven't got an original Clarice Cliff unfortunately!
In order to enhance the work I framed it in a double circular mount with the wide bevelled black frame to finish the piece.  I must admit it is an advantage that I am also a picture framer.

New Items - Flash

  Flash is a heat resistant flake which is perfect for adding to Friendly Plastic to give that extra sparkle.  It is available in 2 colours.  Galaxy is a rich blue, with a hint to turquoise and is the one shown at the top of the sample to the left.  (Also shown on right).  The other colour is Stellar which is a mother of pearl finish.  You can also use Alcohol Inks on the mother of pearl colour in particular, to achieve other effects.  It can also be applied with glue to other mediums.  Now available on my web-site - £2.50 per tub.                                       

Friendly Plastic in Mixed Media & Textile Art

This Paisley Design was created using Friendly Plastic
Pellets, Friendly Plastic Strips and Alcohol Inks and then incorporated with a hand quilted piece of fabric in the centre of the paisley and hand stitching.

The large paisley was made with the Friendly Plastic Pellets which were rolled flat and then rubber stamped to create the texture.  It was coloured with the Alcohol Inks when it had totally cooled.  The brown teardrop pieces are again Friendly Plastic Pellets, and the green ones are Green Print Friendly Plastic.  The holes were made whilst the Friendly Plastic was warm with a ball ended embossing tool.  This enabled them to be hand sewn to the fabric background.