Quilt 2012

Well, its only September (almost at the end) and Quilt was back in August (16th-19th) but I seem to have an hour spare before  leaving for Exeter to do the report on Quilt.  As usual it was an overwhelming show with loads of visitors, particularly from overseas.  I had 2 Friendly Plastic ambassadors all to myself - Wil and Marjo (from Holland).  They visited the exhibition on each day and wore the most fantastic Friendly Plastic pendants.  Many people stopped them in the aisles to admire their jewellery!!  In actual fact my photos do not really do their work justice but I think you will get the idea.  My thanks to Wil and Marjo for the free advertising!!!

  

 Molten Designs

at Quilt with Friendly Plastic.

I really don't think I can get

more on display!!!

Wil & Marjo at Quilt - my Friendly Plastic Ambassadors!!! (shame I got the corner post in the middle!)



 











Friendly Plastic 'chunky' Pendants by Wil & Marjo

I also spotted Leny on the stand wearing this Friendly Plastic brooch - Again Leny is also from Holland.







I have  left Quilt determined to  make my own version of a Friendly Plastic 'chunky' pendant.





Now a chance to see some of the beautiful work at the Quilt exhibition - the quilts really are quite stunning.

Could not resist this one with the Clarice Cliff influence (could it be something to do with being from Stoke on Trent?)

Well I think that about covers the Quilt 2012 exhibition.  Now its off to Exeter and on my return I'll get some more blog posts done (I hope!)

Olympic Torch

I am very grateful to Isabelle for sending me the photo of the Olympic Torch she made for her son in  Gold Sequin Waste.  I think its fabulous as she has even included the logo in Friendly Plastic.

It obviously received a good reception when they took it to the torch relay as she tells me "We took it yesterday as the torch passed through our villlage, and one of the police motorcycle outriders who had stopped by us said it was the best torch he'd seen. We were very proud."

Thanks Isabelle.
(Following another trip to the supplier this week I still have plenty of gold sequin waste in stock - follow this link:
http://www.theframeworkshop.co.uk/gold-circle-sequin-waste-5-metres.html

Molten Designs at Malden, Essex

This show has moved about a little - from originally Excel, to Braintree last year and then Malden this year.  I did wonder at first where I was going when I arrived to set up the show on the Wednesday (it seemed to be in the middle of nowhere) and on arriving things did not get better.  I was greeted by the Electrician saying he had not been able to do my socket because he could not find my stand - and neither could I!!!  However we did not panic and the problem was sorted out - but apologies to those who tried to find me on the invisible stand E06.

However my initial fears were quickly dispelled - what a busy show it was.  Thursday was a little on the quiet side but the Friday and Saturday were very busy.  Many people had not visited a retail craft/stitching show before and absolutely loved it.  I know there were a few parking problems with it being so busy, but I have every confidence the organisers will pay attention to this problem for next year.

One of the highlights of the exhibition for me was when one of my regular customers visited me and brought some of her work to show me.  I was overwhelmed by it and here are a couple of photos.  Many thanks for bringing in your work Jacqui.  Jacqui's mixed media work, incorporating Friendly Plastic, is superb.  She does undertake commissions, at I might add a very reasonable cost.  If anybody would like a commission let me know and I will put in contact with her.

Mixed Media work by Jacqui Mansfield incorporating Friendly Plastic and other mediums

Over the course of the exhibition 3 of us took the opportunity to say with friends (from the exhibition world) as they only lived about half an hour away.  Many thanks to them for their hospitality and relaxing evenings - good food and wine was enjoyed by all.  On the Friday evening of the show as were driving back I could not help myself saying 'stop the van' so I could take the following photo of a beautiful sunset over the reservoir.

Finally when the exhibition closed on the Saturday night the 3 of use drove to Coventry (not quite in convoy) where we stayed the night before visiting the Stitches Trade Show as visitors on the Sunday at the NEC.  From a lovely sunset on Friday to a very cold iced morning on the Sunday.  I could not resist trying to capture the pretty ice patterns on my van windscreen.

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.

NEC Quilt

This beautiful book was created by Lisa Millward, a Textile Artist and she kindly brought it as a gift to me at the Quilt Exhibition.  It really is gorgeous, with loads of different techniques, and too nice to use!  Not only that she also brought me a cup of tea to the stand - it can't get better than that!

Lisa does undertake commissions so if you need something special I can always put you in contact with her.

Show Photos

 All these Photos are from the exhibition at the NEC.  Again I can only apologise to customers at Glasgow, Malvern & Olympia where the photos 'disappeared' from my phone.  Hopefully I have got it right now!!   And, as you can see I have worked out how to download them onto the computer - I must be getting better.

I spotted this brooch on a customer at the NEC.  She had been given it as a present many years ago and was amazed to find it was Friendly Plastic.  The easiest way to do these shaped pieces is to work on a piece of flexible Teflon Sheet as you can bend the sheet to whatever shape you want.  Let the Friendly Plastic go cold in the position formed and it will keep that shape for the future.

This pretty Butterfly brooch was made by Lizi.
Sorry for the quality of the photo Lizi - I obviously
had the shakes at the time!  However I think
you can see how pretty it was.

This lovely pendant was made by Bernice Griffiths, again spotted at the NEC.

It was very striking and admired by many customers on the stand.

If you want to acheive these lacy effects in Friendly Plastic do it while it is still warm.  I find I get a much nicer hole using a ball-ended embossing tool (dip it in cold water, or cooking oil first and you can do large holes).







I am at home now for quite a few weeks - my next exhibition is Liverpool at the end of May (20th-21st).   I hope to see more examples of Friendly Plastic work at Liverpool - if so I will put them on the blog now I know how to work with this new mobile phone.

Customers Works

 Thanks Pauline for sending this example of using Friendly Plastic in a mould.



 Kate Gatti has sent this photo of a Friendly Plastic Heart.  Unfortunately I missed Kate when she came around Manchester Central - I was demonstrating at the time.

Kate has used a combination of Friendly Plastic, accent beads and swarovski crystals to create this pretty pendant.







 These last 3 examples are from Sam.  She did send them to me last month but I had problems getting the photos onto my system.  This computer thing is definately a learning curve!

This first example shows Friendly Plastic, stamped with an image and incorporating fabrics.

Here is something different from Sam.  The Friendly Plastic has been used to decorate the books.  I often have a sample of a book on the shows - again enhanced with Friendly Plastic.  They make a lovely gift.

Sam has created the patchwork brooch and key ring with Friendly Plastic.  As far as the brooch is concerned if you work on Teflon Sheet you can bend the teflon when it is still warm to shape your Friendly Plastic.  Don't forget if you are making a key ring - make it reversible.  If you make 2 pieces of Friendly Plastic - make sure they are the same size - and then heat the backing to fuse the backs together.

See Sam's own blog for more of her Friendly Plastic creations
http://sam21ski.blogspot.com/

Customers Work

 These 2 examples are 2 more from Bob.  It appears he really does have the Friendly Plastic bug!.



Bob has created these 2 sets by doing the Friendly Plastic on a Griddle and when cold he has glazed the Friendly Plastic with 3D Crystal Lacquer from Sakura


Whilst as you know I use a heat gun for the Friendly Plastic the Americans do us a griddle to heat it.  Bob has more information on this on his blog together with more photos of his creations.  You can see his Friendly Plastic examples on http://bobsbreadandpickles.blogspot.com/

Customers Work

More brilliant ideas with Friendly Plastic - including work from 2 beginners.  It just goes to prove you don't have to be experienced to work with Friendly Plastic.

These are Hilda's first trials with Friendly Plastic.  She has also used the oozing technique and made the hearts double reversible.

Bob bought Friendly Plastic for his wife for Christmas.  Unfortunately she has been ill and has not been able to use it - but he has - he has made these for his wife.

Again submitted by Bob - these earings are very good for a beginner in Friendly Plastic - I am very impressed!

Again submitted by Bob.  (Perhaps I had better get my husband working with Friendly Plastic!)

Karine of Bijouxartcreation is based in France and does some lovely jewellery pieces which I have seen before on her web-site.  She has kindly allowed me to show some of her work here.

Another example of Karine's work

Again from Karine.






Thanks again for these photos.  Hope they will provide lots of Friendly Plastic inspiration.

Customers Work

Thanks to Pauline Hampson for sending in this photo - Its friendly plastic ooozed though a mat of glitterati (Stewart Gill) fibres and cut out with a cutter.

Friendly Plastic can also be oozed through Sequin Waste and Angelina Fibres. 

Gallery - Customers' Work

I couldn't resist this lovely brooch.  Sorry the photo is a little blured but I think this idea is worth you seeing with these quirky little houses.








 



This was spotted on a exhibition last year (I am pretty sure it was Dublin).








See at an exhibition at the end of 2010


Gallery - Customers' Work

From Annette Cox showing an example of using the Marbling Comb

Again from Annette.  A very pretty pendant using the Needle Tool to get a more abstract effect.

Very simple effective idea using a minimum of marking with the Needle Tool on the Friendly Plastic.  Again from Annette.