NEW PRODUCTS

I have some more New Products to bring to you, which I am hoping to add to the stand for the Exhibitions in the Autumn.  The carriers seem to be coming through our doors at lot at the moment with deliveries and I still get excited at opening the boxes to see the new items.  The Kunin felt has been very successful for me so I have added 2 more prints to the range.  Kunin felt is the one that you can use a heat gun to distress it into holes (though I should add it does need a pretty strong heat gun i.e. mine is both 150 and 300w and both heats work for me).  You can of course also use it as an ordinary felt for sewing/glueing.  Kunin Felt is available in a wide range of Rainbow colours, with embossed finishes and with a glitter finish.  There is then the printed Kunin felt shown below.  The 1960's Tie Dye have had for some time (but it has been out of stock until yesterday) and the new ones are the 2 animal prints - Leopard Kunin and Zebra Kunin.



Kunin Felt 1960's Tie Dye



Kunin Felt Leopard

Kunin Felt Zebra



Hand made Indian Wooden Blocks

The other products I have just added to the range are hand made Indian Wooden Blocks.  Traditionally used for fabric printing, particularly silk, they can also be used in Friendly Plastic for texture.  I took them to both Doncaster and the Motorcycle Museum and they were very popular.  Limited at the moment to 8 different designs I am now looking to expand the selection.  As these are all hand made the sizing etc can vary from block to block.

Take a moment out to view the products on our website http://www.theframeworkshop.co.uk/ or follow the link on this page to either our website or facebook pages.

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

OLYMPIC TORCH IN SEQUIN WASTE

This has nothing to do with Friendly Plastic but following on from my earlier blog about sequin waste I thought I had better have a go at making an Olympic Torch myself.  Here you have my interpretations of the Olympic Torch using Gold Sequin Waste.  Which one do you prefer?  I will let you into a little secret here - one was made by me and the other by my husband - depending on which one you prefer this could result in a domestic!!

The Olympic Torch on the left was made using a gold cardboard tube.  Cut a vertical slit at one end (only part way up) so it can be overlapped to form a slight cone.  It was then covered with the sequin waste.  I think you could use any colour tube here - but I would paint a brown one.  I think black could work quite well as it would show up the holes in the sequin waste well.

The Olympic Torch on the right was made using a stiff clear acetate.  Now it is much easier to cover the acetate with the sequin waste before you make the cone - as you are obviously covering a flat surface.  We used sellotape to attach it.  The cone shape was then formed and fixed using sellotape and then the acetate was creased at the top to make it more like the actual Olympic Torch.

In both cases I used pieces of net/chiffon to make the flame for the Olympic Torch (the Torch on the right could do with a little more flame!).  However if necessary Sainsburys carrier bags are the right colour!!

Make your own interpretation of the Olympic Torch using Gold Sequin Waste - click this link to take you directly to my webside:  5 metres Gold Sequin Waste

Don't forget to let me know which Olympic Torch you prefer.

SUMMER GIVEAWAYS!!!!!!

I have put together a special Summer Offer.  Its not very often I give something away (I am originally from Yorkshire!!) but I do try and do something special in the summer.  All you need to do is order a minimum of £20 of craft products (exc p&p) and you get the Goody Bag free with your order.  The photo is a good representation of what you will get - but odd items may change depending on availability.

Ever wanted to try Friendly Plastic pellets?  - now is the time to try because there is a trial bag of Friendly Plastic pellets included, together with 5 different colours of sequin waste.  Also in there are 3 sheets of stickers, plastic coated wire, feathers, crafty bits, and paper shapes.  Hope you enjoy playing with the goodies!!

To Order go to the Website http://www.theframeworkshop.co.uk/  and don't forget I do free 2nd class postage for all UK orders over £35.

Web site link

Well I'm a bit like a bus at the moment, haven't had chance to work on the blog for a while and now 4 posts in 2 days!   I have just noticed there is a problem with the link from this page to my web-site (this must be after I had the web-site updated last year).  Here is the link to my website and I will get the proper link sorted with the computer people.  The Frame Workshop & Molten Designs.

Harrogate Show

Does anybody know of anybody who could help me at the Harrogate Show?  I have help for Thursday but I need somebody for Friday 25th, Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th.  Please email me if you can help - theframeworkshop@btconnect.com.

I am still here!!!

Just a quick note to say I am still alive and kicking!!  It has been a pretty hectic time of the year with all the shows but the last one is next week - Harrogate 24th-27th (Hall C Stand C660).  After Harrogate I will load some more photos for you.

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/

Special Bank Holiday Promotion

I have a special August Bank Holiday promotion running on the web-site until Monday 29th.  It will finish on Monday night (albeit in reality I will not be able to change it until I come in on Tuesday morning).  I've got Monday off next week!!  You will see discounts across many of the ranges, including Friendly Plastic and Greeting Cards, together with many of the mixed media items.

Now to let you know a little of what I think is good news.  Whilst I have had many appreciative comments about our web-site I am aware that now the ordering system is rather outdated and can be labourious.  I am now having the web-site updated and the whole ordering system will be much quicker and slicker.  They anticipate it will take them 2-3 weeks, but I will have to be careful not to clash with an exhibition when it goes live.  However it should be up and running by mid-late October.  I dare not leave the husband 'home alone' with a new web-site launch!!!

Hope everybody is well and enjoying Friendly Plastic.  My next exhibition is next week when it is Manchester - now at Event City, Trafford Park instead of G-Mex.  I will of course have the Friendly Plastic strips and pellets there, together with the new multi-surface paints and the Kunin felt.  Come and see me!

Kunin Felt

I have now loaded the Kunin Felt on the web-site.  There are 22 different plain colours together + glitter felt, embossed felt and an Alligator finish in Black.  Kunin Felt is the one that as well as being stitched into can also be burnt with a heat gun so that it forms holes, this makes it ideal for Mixed Media work.  I had this on the stand at Festival of Quilts the other week-end and it was extremely popular.

Crafts 4 All - Bristol - 8th-9th Sept

I have noticed that I am listed on the exhibitors list for the show at Bristol in a couple of weeks time.  Sorry, but I am not doing that particular exhibition.  My listing as an exhibitor has been a genuine error and the fact that I will not be there is no reflection on the Show.  I have had to leave that weekend free for other committments (I am currently working with our web-people on a web-site upgrade which will make the ordering process much quicker and easier).  Apologies to anybody who thought I would be there - the next closest I am will be Cardiff on 29th Sept - 1st Oct.

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.

Quilt Show at the NEC

A thank you to all my customers who visited me at The Festival of Quilts.  I met some lovely people - and an extra thanks to the many who travelled from abroad to visit the show.  What a fabulous show it is.  For those of you who were not able to visit the Show here are some photos of just a few of the things which took my eye + a photo of my stand of course!

Obviously my Stand on the left.  We did have some confusion with my Stand No, but by the 2nd day the people on my original stand were very good at sending people round to me.

The ammonite quilt on the right was about 4-5' tall.

Above obviously one of the winners on the left and on the right just a section of a quilt - I saw this just as I was ready for a cup of tea myself!

I love the quilt on the left for its colour mix, and well what can I say about the Sinatra Quilt.  How talented somebody is to create this in fabric - and this was actually 1 of a set of 3 (I have posted another photo on facebook of the other 2).

Well back to getting for the next exhibition - 1st-3rd September at Trafford Park (this is the replacement for G-Mex in Manchester so it will be a new venue for us all).

Friendly Plastic 101 Project Book

The goods news is that The Friendly Plastic 101 Project Book has arrived.  Whilst it has been reprinted with a new cover the book has the same projects as previously.  This book is brilliant for ideas and it is very easy to follow because it has so many photographs, including work in progress photos.  Even better news is that the price has been reduced from £14.50 and it is now £12.  I will have stocks with me at the Quilt Show next week.

                         Some of the ideas which
                         are illustrated in the book

Quilt Show at the NEC

Next week is the NEC Quilt Show (11th-14th August) which I am sure will be, as usual, a very busy show.  My stand no there is E15 (which is different to last year).  I will of course have the Friendly Plastic strips and pellets with me and I will be launching Kunin Felt (the one that burns) on my stand.  You will also be able to see some of the new displays for this new season.  (Not sure how many with the felt as the stocks don't arrive until today).  Hope to see you at the NEC.

Facebook Store

I am trialling a new store on Facebook which is now open.  At the moment I have a limited range in the Store - I am trying to determine the ins and outs of its workings before I add more items.  The postage on the Store is £2.50 no matter how much or how little you order so that makes it all quite simple.  Payment is by Paypal.  Would welcome any input anybody may have.

Moorcroft Cards

Now for something completely different to Friendly Plastic.  If you haven't seen the Moorcroft Cards which I sell on my website they are certainly worth a look.  The quality of the cards is superb and they are great for keeping as spare cards at home - they are blank inside so they cover all occasions.  There is also a range of Christmas cards - these do have a message inside.  I have just received the brand new release of cards which are now available.  This is the set of 8 cards which are available either individually or as a set of 8.

Set of 8 Moorcroft Cards 2011 release

Sandown Park Video

As you can see I am experimenting with my blog.  Sorry you have this on twice but I have now discovered, as you can see, how to load the video so that you do not have to go to You Tube (discovered accidentally!!!).  My real aim is to get the videos on the right hand side so that they stay on the front page.  This is because I hope to do more videos soon.  Does anybody know how to load the video into the Gadget boxes???

Video showing Block Printing into Friendly Plastic

Back in January I was filmed  at the Sandown Park show demonstrating how to use the Colouricious Wooden Blocks in Friendly Plastic.
Here is the You Tube Link http://youtu.be/BSAcy9N2kOI

Masks

The Masks have arrived!  I have just unpacked the box and loaded the stock onto the internet site.  So I now have in stock the following:
2-eye mask, Full Face Mask, Shaped Full Face Mask, the Long Nosed Masked the new Phantom Mask as shown on the left.  This Phantom mask is the only one in brown.  I have already said that the brown masks are nothing like as smooth as the white papier mache, so the technique of using the Alcohol Inks directly onto the primed mask would be nothing like as good as on the white surface.  You can of course though still use Friendly Plastic on the brown papier mache.  (I should also say that I have had to put a 'handling' fee onto the masks (either 50p or 80p) depending on the mask.  This is because for posting I have to pack them into a box.  If anybody needs to order multiple masks let me know.  For multiple despatches I only need to add one handling charge, but of course the computer sales system will not allow this and it will add 50p for each mask ordered.

One other point to mention is that there are now only 2 Cobra Friendly Plastic strips left in stock!

See my earlier blog (under the label Masks) for examples of some decorated masks, including some decorated with Alcohol Inks and Friendly Plastic combined.  This really is a very quick and economical way to create a mask.