Archive for August, 2009

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New Video! FPTV presents Creating with Pellets – Sea Turtle

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009
Carter, young 15 year old inspiring artist on our Facebook Fan Page suggested something that would be more sculptural in the next video. So here's to you Carter and I hope you and everyone else enjoy!

Let me just say this...sculpting is easy...that is, easy once you understand the 6 Simple Shapes and how they play a part in creating complex shapes.

The Simple shapes are: ball, log, tapered log, rounded triangle, teardrop and cube. By combining these shapes in various sizes and blending away the seam you create more complex shapes.

This video uses simple balls, logs and tapered logs to create the Sea Turtle. And here's a little hint. After he's finished....make a mold of him and make more and more, because the pellets work perfect in molds!

Okay...enough of me....enjoy the show!

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Posted in FPTV, FRIENDLY PLASTIC VIDEO, Friendly Plastic Pellets, Linda Peterson, New Sculpting, Plastic Industry News, Sea Turtle, character beads | No Comments »

SPI’s comments for the Wis. story

Tuesday, August 25th, 2009
Yesterday we blogged about the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel's story that criticized the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.'s social media-based Internet campaign, which it compared to tobacco industry lobbying efforts. The story noted that SPI President and CEO Bill Carteaux "declined to be interviewed," but it quoted a speech that Carteaux gave at NPE2009. For the record, here's a copy of a statement from Carteaux that SPI says it gave to the Milwaukee reporters prior to publication of their story. The statement was not included in their report:
"As you know conversations about plastics are already taking place in print, broadcast and online media as well as in town halls and state legislatures and in online forums and blogs. SPI: The Plastics Industry Trade Association is committed to developing and maintaining an open and transparent dialogue about the safety of products and their relationship to the economy, the environment and a sustainable future. "Simply put, the goal of SPI's proposed consumer outreach campaign is to join the existing conversation about plastics with key stakeholder audiences -- including millennials, industry employees, policymakers and the media. Since we have not yet started the program, there is little to report at this time."
I still question how SPI handled this. The Journal Sentinel has taken a high profile in environmental journalism circles for its coverage of bisphenol A safety. If SPI wants to be a player in the game of public opinion, it needs to step up the effort.

Posted in Materials, NPE, Plastic Industry News | No Comments »

Di-did-it with Friendly Plastic

Monday, August 24th, 2009
I do enjoy being able to promote new artists on the blog. Today's feature is Di from Di-did-it.blogspot.com. Di lives in Iowa and

Di used Friendly Plastic after entering a Yahoo group swap. Read on about the unique way she achieved the impression....
She writes:



front

back

This month I participated in a charm swap with the Yahoo group Altered Art of Visions and Dreams.
Each of us created three charms no larger than 1-1/2", and each with a silver jump ring. I decided to use Friendly Plastic for mine.
Considering this was only my second time using Friendly Plastic, there was some trial & error, but it was all fun.
Instead of using a rubber stamp to create a recessed image, I used a broken broach of my Grandmother's. For the back, I cut a circle from the metal portion of an old floppy diskette (remember those?), hammered it to create texture, then applied metal ink to it. After attaching the front to the back, I dipped each charm in gloss glaze for protection along with a nice shine.

These charms were a lot of fun to make and I'm anxious to make more Friendly Plastic pieces, as a variety of ideas have been swimming in my head.

What about you? Have you played with Friendly Plastic? Do tell....

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Posted in Friendly Plastic, Plastic Industry News, di-did-it | No Comments »

Wis. paper critical of SPI’s millennial project

Monday, August 24th, 2009
The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel continued its special report on the chemical industry this weekend with a story that takes a critical look at the Society of the Plastics Industry Inc.'s social media-based Internet campaign aimed at the millennial generation. On the Web, the story features a big photo of SPI President Bill Carteaux (although the story notes that he declined to comment). It describes SPI as a group that "represents manufacturers of thousands of products made with BPA." To translate that, let's note that bisphenol A is a feedstock used to make polycarbonate, and that some -- but certainly not a majority -- of SPI members use polycarbonate. The report quotes from a June video of Carteaux, apparently from his speech at NPE2009. Here's the nut graph -- the part of the story that sums up for readers the essence of the news:
The industry has launched an unprecedented public relations blitz that uses many of the same tactics -- and people -- the tobacco industry used in its decades-long fight against regulation. This time, the industry's arsenal includes state-of-the-art technology. Their modern-day Trojan horses: blogs, Facebook, Twitter, Wikipedia and YouTube.
The story claims several times that the plastics industry is following the same playbook as the tobacco industry in managing public and regulatory concerns about product safety. It concludes with some quotes from David Rosner, professor of public health and history at Columbia University, and co-author of "Deceit and Denial: the Deadly Politics of Industrial Pollution."
"If I hadn't studied how this industry has operated in the past, I would say I was shocked," Rosner said. "But this attempt to deflect and distort public opinion is par for the course. They will ultimately do virtually anything to protect their product, even attack the messengers." He added: "We're watching a propaganda campaign in the making."
I question why SPI didn't talk to the Milwaukee reporters for this story. Perhaps they didn't think they'd get a fair hearing. Now that the tobacco industry comparison is on the table, I expect SPI will respond.

Posted in Materials, NPE, Plastic Industry News | No Comments »

Missouri bans the wrong plastic

Monday, August 24th, 2009
A few readers suggested that we blog on this story today, including one who wrote: "Had I not found this article on a local TV channel's Web site, I would have guessed it was April 1st of maybe somebody was playing a joke on the Web site's news editor. I am so embarrassed to be from Missouri right now. This would be funny if it were not so absurd." Chris Blank, who covers state government and politics for the Associated Press, discovered that lawmakers got confused when they tried to pass a law making it illegal for boaters and river floaters to float inexpensive polystyrene coolers full of beer and other adult beverages on Missouri's rivers. The problem occured because they knew that it was wrong to call the coolers Styrofoam -- that's a trade name for a specific product. But they didn't know the name of the actual material they were trying to regulate. So the law, as passed, says it's illegal for folks to use polypropylene containers on the rivers. Of course no one actually does that, so that part of the law is moot. I presume the local law enforcers can spend their time on the other parts of the new law -- bans on beer bongs, alcohol funnels and containers that hold more than 4 gallons of alcohol. Violators face a fine of up to $1,000 and a year in jail. Actually, that probably makes more sense than putting people in jail for a year for floating a foam cooler on the river, doesn't it?

Posted in Materials, Plastic Industry News | No Comments »

HPM and wind power in the spotlight

Monday, August 24th, 2009
The Christian Science Monitor has a story today about Midwestern factories converting to serving the wind-energy market. The focus is squarely on HPM in Mount Gilead, Ohio. The story is headlined "Can wind power save the Midwest? Renewable energy isn't big enough to offset declines in the auto industry, but companies are gung-ho for any new business." The story notes that HPM, which started in 1877 making cider mills, owes its survival to a decision to make parts for wind turbines.
Without that, says Chris Filos, HPM's owner and CEO, "We'd have been out of business long ago."
Which explains why HPM had a 3-kilowatt wind turbine at NPE2009, taking up space that a few shows ago would have been used to feature one of the company's injection molding presses or extrusion lines. According to the Monitor story, wind power is a growing market, and domestic manufacturers are pushing for a greater share of the pie.

Posted in NPE, Plastic Industry News | No Comments »

AMAZING Friendly Plastic and Wire work

Sunday, August 23rd, 2009
This design by French artist Karine Collignon is a great example of how to combine wirework to your Friendly Plastic designs to add interest.Adding wire is a great way to give each of your pieces their own unique one-of-a-kind look and appeal. Notice how she not only uses wire, but also incorporates pearls and crystals to make the design pop!

I am a big fan of Karine's work! I've followed her blog for the past couple of months and she always inspires. Just when I think I've found my favorite, she creates another and another... To see more of her beautiful work - click here

AMAZING!
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Posted in Friendly Plastic, Karine Collignon, Plastic Industry News, Wire and Friendly Plastic | No Comments »

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Sunday, August 23rd, 2009

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Posted in Uncategorized | No Comments »

Friendly Plastic and Friends – Part 2

Saturday, August 22nd, 2009
Continuing on with part two of Basement Babes Friendly Plastic and opals - Jen Lowe shares their discoveries with making chevron patterns:

And our second "new" idea using Friendly Plastic and Opals Embossing Enamels:


I think these are just wonderful!!!


And then wire-wrapped and turned into pendants....


Who wouldn't want to wear these? Such a conversation starter!!!

Shall I open and etsy store and put some of these up for sale? Or shall I just keep them all and wear a different one every day? Oh! The decisions a girl has to make!!!

Sounds like a great "What if" day too!!! Have you had a Friendly Plastic discovery that you would like to share? Email me!
Now...don't forget the design challenge is going on now! To find out more information, click on the link at the very top of the page.

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Posted in Friendly Plastic Technique, Jen Lowe, Plastic Industry News, basement babes, friendly plastic and opals, opal embossing powder | No Comments »

Friendly Plastic OOooooh-pals!

Friday, August 21st, 2009
Today's post is the PERFECT example of a Friend-ly Plastic party! I'm not sure they had afternoon tea because there was too much partying going on here!

Once a month Jen Lowe hosts a group of crafty friends in her home. This used to take place in the basement, thus the name "Basement Babes". Now it has migrated upstairs into her dining room. Though I like the name "basement babes"....maybe they should consider a rename of "dining room diva's?" Anyways.....

Since Jen's husband Kerry set me up with Skype..it also means I get to join in the fun too even though my studio is in Missouri! And...yes..as you can see below I got a little goofy...but hey..if you can't be silly.....what fun would life be?

So...enjoy Jen's blogpost of our ever so much fun Basement Babes day...and maybe you'll be inspired to gather your crafty friends together too!



Today was the best! Linda Hanson from After Midnight Stamps was here for the second time with the Basement Babes. And our goal was to experiment with Opals Embossing Enamels (they come from Australia and Linda is the US distributor for them) and Friendly Plastic.



So, of coure, Linda Peterson skyped in. And I have to say, Kerry is just brilliant! He set it up so Linda appeared on the wide screen TV in my studio - how cool is that???



I mean - it was just like having her right here with us......like she was just sitting there working away!



even making a Friendly Plastic crown! Hmmm....I wonder if she is thinking about going off to London to see the Queen? Hmmmm....I wonder if I can crawl in her suitcase and go with her!!!



We spent the day trying to see what we could do by combining Opals and Friendly Plastic. Our first technique is here and yep, I'll be sharing more tomorrow. This is just beyond fun!!! And I totally love the results:

Pink, then purple.....the color combinations are absolutely endless!!! I know you are going to want a tutorial on how to do this.....but hang on because I need a few days to get that together! Today was all about coming up with the idea, the technique and repeating it at least 3 times so that we knew it would work....

and I think my fav is the turquoise. (OK, OK.....I will learn the colors of the opals! But NOT tonight!!!)
And look at this one - the darkness of midnight I think!

This technique involves layering Friendly plastic between colored and clear Opals embossing enamels


So check back tomorrow night for yet another new idea using these 2 incredible products! Oh! I love it when we get together and experiment! What a great day!!!

The theme for next month's basement babes was going to be Mini-Me dolls...but they had so much fun with this technique -they scrapped that theme and are experimenting with friendly plastic again! How cool is that????







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Posted in Friendly Plastic, Jen Lowe, Plastic Industry News, basement babes, opal embossing powder | No Comments »

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