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Please, please, please read this if you're a trader who exhibits at shows, or just someone whose contact details might be in the public domain. You might save yourself a lot of hassle and even a lot of money. I've received a letter like this after each show I have done. The first time, I didn't realise that it was a scam until almost too late, so this time I thought I'd make sure no one falls into that trap. At first glance it looks like a letter from Top Drawer - the trade show I recently attended, but if you look closely, there is a very pale logo behind showing the real origin - a company based based in Mexico called Expo Guide. Attached is a form asking for up to date contact details. A fairly routine occurrence, and you might just absentmindedly fill it in and post it back. I've circled the really sneaky bits in red. There is no affiliation to the event, and filling out the form actually means you're signing up for a three year listing priced at 1271 Euros a year, or whatever they choose to call the equivalent in Mexican Pesos. DON'T DO IT!! Burn it or rip it up, or report it, but please don't fill it in (unless you think it sounds like a good deal!?) One of the images below shows the actual terms and conditions printed so palely that they are almost indecipherable. I've edited the image to make them possible to read. In my case, the letters have been sent after Top Drawer (this is what they have to say on the matter), but I expect that they probably target attendees of any trade shows. It only takes a handful of people to fill them out and then feel sufficiently threatened by the subsequent inevitable debt collecting letters to make it worth their while. Please share this with anyone you think might be a target, and hopefully one day they might cease to exist. 
That's all a bit serious. Here's a picture of a cow to cheer us up :) 
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Polished off a sign writing commission yesterday. I've done plenty of these before, but always on actual signs, so if they went wrong I could just hide them. Here the only solutions to messing up were either a huge can of Magnolia, or burning the shop down, depending on how melodramatic I was feeling... Thankfully neither was necessary as I was quite pleased how the poem came out for The Banyan Tree, Brackley. I ache today though! 
I was persuaded to try a new supplier for my ceramic transfers. I won't name and shame them yet, as they're making promising noises about fixing the problem. I shouldn't have rushed ahead without doing a test batch, but they came so highly recommended... Such a disappointment to open the kiln door and see pesky visible edges around the images which shouldn't be there, and washed out colours. On a huge batch. I'm going to see if refiring them at least makes the visible edges fade, if not, half price ceramics all round! Either that, or a smashing party! Have you ever had unwelcome surprises whilst making? It's hard not to get disheartened! 
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If my blog links take you to external websites, I may be receiving a commission for sharing these products. However, please know that all my reviews are my own thoughts and a true representation, and I would never share anything that I wouldn't or haven't personally used or enjoyed.
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