I was after a reason for getting into HTML5 so quickly, as a lot of people are talking about it, and this book gives you a unique insight.  It breaks down Web Design in general to a more conceptual form, adds in a dash of humour here and there to help you understand it, and goes into some technical details about the latest CSS3 and HTML5 languages. Some questions I was having about my own designs were answered in this book, so as someone suggested over Twitter, it’s a good game-changer.

Quoted via the website:

“If you’ve been working on the web for a while, your bookshelves may already be buckling under the weight of books about HTML and CSS. Do you really need another one? Hardboiled Web Design is different. It’s for people who want to understand why, when and how to use the latest HTML5 and CSS3 technologies in their everyday work. Not tomorrow or next week, but today. If you’re hungry to learn about how the latest technologies and techniques will make your websites and applications more creative, flexible and adaptable, this is the book for you. Are you ready to get hardboiled?”

Take a look. You won’t be disappointed.

Velvet Grooves was asked by company ALS Supplies to setup a new e-commerce site and provide a platform to promote their business. This initial requirement developed from being just a working e-commerce site, to a proper online e-commerce powerhouse. The end requirements are below, albeit the site is currently being moved to the companies own server so some requirements are yet to be fulfilled. The site you see demonstrated here shows the site in its current form, without the ability for the customer to order products.

The site was built using the Magento platform, which enables for extremely advanced e-commerce features.

You can view the site via here.

The site enables the following:

• Unlimited product uploads.
• Unlimited categories and sub-categories.
• Product galleries.
• Facebook “Like” capability as well as Twitter.
• Promotional banners.
• Special offers attached to checkout prices.
• Coupon codes.
• Paypal checkout with the addition of credit cards enabled.
• Contact form.
• Multiple email addresses.
• Advanced Search Engine Optimization.
• Unique design including logo.
• Complex shipping methods via the Product Matrix plugin supplied for Magento. This was custom configured via Velvet Grooves to match the companies complex shipping requirements.

Future requirements for the site (post-Live) are:

• All products on the website to be synced with Ebay, Amazon and more. Thus enabling a quickfire method of selling products through multiple online shopping channels.
• Branded Ebay store to further promote the companies online vision.

The end result was a quick attempt, and a highly satisfied customer. You can view the site at http://betterbrows.co.uk

The site features the standard brochure look, as well as a feature allowing visitors to book appointments.

In addition to the finalized site design, the original “mock-up” is shown below. Click the images to see a higher resolution version.

You can view the site via here.

The site enables the following:

• Unlimited product uploads.
• Unlimited categories and sub-categories.
• Product galleries.
• Facebook “Like” capability as well as Twitter.
• Promotional banners.
• Special offers attached to checkout prices.
• Coupon codes.
• Paypal checkout with the addition of credit cards enabled.
• Contact form.
• Multiple email addresses.
• Basic Search Engine Optimization.
• Hosting.
• Unique design including logo.
• With optional capability for upgrades in future.

It will be going live with genuine products within a couple of weeks. Currently example products are provided to show the look of the site, however, payment cannot be made.

Please click the link below to see the website.
Club Retail

You can view the site via here.

The site enables the following:

• Unlimited product uploads.
• Unlimited categories and sub-categories.
• Product galleries.
• Facebook “Like” capability as well as Twitter.
• Promotional banners.
• Special offers attached to checkout prices.
• Coupon codes.
• Paypal checkout with the addition of credit cards enabled.
• Contact form.
• Multiple email addresses.
• Basic Search Engine Optimization.
• Hosting.
• Unique design including logo.
• With optional capability for upgrades in future.

It will be going live with genuine products within a couple of weeks. Currently example products are provided to show the look of the site, however, payment cannot be made.

Please click the link below to see the website.
Absolute Deal

Dabinders new business is called Raw Look, and he wanted a good looking website which would impress new customers enough to order product. In addition, he wanted it to be marketable and to include basic SEO in order to appear on Google. He also required features to upload multiple product images for a product where possible, to be able to send it to Facebook and also Tweet it to Twitter. As well as promotional capabilities for products such as special offers attached to banners, coupons and one-off deals. In the end, all these guidelines were fulfilled. Dabinder now has a fully-functional website via Raw Look. He can take automatic invoices from customers and send custom newsletters out to select ones marking selective advertising.

Payment is made via Paypal, which also takes credit card.

Included in the website are such features as emails and hosting. It will be going live with genuine products within a couple of weeks. Currently example products are provided to show the look of the site, however, payment cannot be made.

Please click the link below to see the website.
Raw Look

Velvet Grooves was asked by Craig Hamilton to rebuild the current website to his band Friends Of The Stars, into something fresh and vibrant to reflect the new album. “Yes” was the answer, and a strategy on how to do it was then in progress.

The new website reflects their artwork quite accurately and the band are thoroughly pleased with it. You can download podcasts from the website, listen to new tracks from Soundcloud as well as listen/buy older ones. They also have a dynamic Flickr feed being sent straight to the sidebar and photos page. This also occurs with Youtube and Twitter.

They also have a Bandpage provided via Rootsmusic and customised/setup by VG. This allows fans to checkout their Facebook fan page, like it, listen on it and spread the word.

The website works together with Bandcamp, Twitter, Facebook and Myspace. It also provides links for iTunes as well as customised (actual Java coded) widgets for Bandcamp. It also supports multiple Banner uploads, designed courtesy of VG to promote various things related to the band and their record. The Facebook also included Google Analytics to work in parallel with the website.

The band have previously had a Peel session of which the tracks are available to listen on the site. They deserve success, are lovely people and I hope they do succeed. Feel free to visit their website, and listen to their stuff via Bandcamp.

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Work done by Velvet Grooves: Website and Social Network integration.

Website | Bandcamp | Facebook

Eva played a major role in the design of the site as her ability with Photoshop is obviously highly advanced. The site itself is purely built in WordPress for ease of use.

Eva has plans for a highly productive year working on many projects, and Velvet Grooves wishes her all the success this year. Her ability as a major perfectionist will serve her highly, and working with her has proven a great experience.

Check the link below to view the site.

Website

I’ve chosen to write recommendations rather than “top 20″ or “top 100″ type lists as I simply don’t have the time. However if you go onto Spotify or other, then you should be able to find them and give them a listen. You also might find a slight over-use on the word “stuff” here and there, but I’m writing this in 20 minutes, so… I apologise in advance.

So, music I’ve enjoyed LOTS this year… I had a slight resurgence with the older records due to finding a Beyond The Wizards Sleeve (Ark 1) CD in my garage. I’ve also discovered The Groundhogs straight via Stuart Maconies Freak Zone show and had a slight obsession with them.  Haven’t been so much into a band like that since I found Captain Beefheart about 6 years ago, and again that was via Stuart Maconie.

Ok, list:

Resurgence:

The Groundhogs – Thank Christ For The Bomb
The Groundhogs – Split (better than Thank Christ in my opinion…)
A Mojo nuggets CD from 2007
Broadcast – The Noise Made By People
Broadcast – Pendulum EP
Loudon Wainwright – Recovery

And the new stuff……….:

Gill Scott Heron – I’m New Here
Charlotte Gainsbourg – IRM
Flying Lotus – Cosmogramma/Pattern+Grid World
Gaslamp Killer – Deathgate EP
Gonjasufi – A Sufi & A Killer
Grinderman – Grinderman 2
Field Music – Field Music
Time & Space Machine – Set Phazer To Stun

Erland & The Carnival – Erland & The Carnival
Forest Swords – All of his work. Really good, especially Dagger Paths.
Third Eye Foundation – The Dark
Deerhunter – Halcyon Digest
Swans – My Father Will Guide Me Up A Rope To The Sky
Woods – At Echo Lake

Sufjan Stevens – Age Of Adz

Sun Araw – All their music, but especially Heavy Deeds. I still YET don’t know what I like about them, but they have the capacity to melt your mind… very different to a lot of stuff at the moment, reminding me weirdly of Animal Collective when they started out, yet these guys seem to meld genres together effortlessly whilst the vocals are totally distorted. Heavily recommended for people with stamina. They also supported Zun Zun Egui this year on a European tour.

Brian Eno – Small Craft On A Milk Sea
Elephant Revival – Break In The Clouds EP

Fieldhead – Riser: Again, more wierd music. Slightly paranoid, dark, ambient, distorted, partially coated in that weird cloud “hiss”… absolutely brilliant. It’s a clichéd term but its David Lynch type stuff… seeping into your subconscious and actually quite scary in places, but really really good though.

James Blake: Klavierwerke EP and the other one he did. Simple dub type music yet with much depth and soul. Really good, lets just hope the album next year isn’t a let down. But then again, who are we to criticise to that point with such great work so far. Yes, Drowned In Sound.

Jon Hopkins – Monsters: I like the vast majority of Jons work and was excited to hear about this, even more so to find it’s the soundtrack to that cutting edge Monsters film out late this year. Cutting edge, multi-talented and gifted artist meets cutting edge artist/direct of similar calibre. Great.

Magic Lantern – Patoon: The other project to the guitarist from Sun Araw. Not as edgy or complex as SA like, but still really good.

Jane Weaver – The Fallen By Watchbird: Another late addition and I’m thankful that I found it. Mixing Krautrock with Devendra Banhart type banjo folk, and the opener that reminds me of Jonquil (probably a better comparison to make somewhere). Beautiful.

Second Hand – Second Hand: I still haven’t sunken into this properly yet but the first two tracks are fantastic…. and the first track has been used everywhere I think.

Sun City Girls – Funeral Mariachi: The last LP from these guys and very much Ennio Morricone to great effect. Really great stuff.

Vertical Integration – Various: A class complication of artists on one CD which has raised the bar a bit for quality sets. It starts off with an unreleased elsewhere track from Tula. Easily one of the highlights. Other great tracks from Olaf Arnolds, Junkboy, Our Broken Garden, Women And Children, Kilma and more. A great companion to the winter snow.

You can find most of these on Norman Records, or even Spotify.

Merry Christmas to all of you and RIP to Captain Beefheart…

Previously, Velvet Grooves has worked with Sophie on her Myspace, Bebo, Last.FM, Twitter and Facebook. Since that time, Myspace has updated their layout, Bebo has threatened for closure, Twitter has gained an unparalleled stance for online conversation and Facebook has expanded to incorporate BandPages. So in order to keep Sophies presence up to date, she was alerted about the Facebook BandPage.

See the link below for a new completed Facebook. Photography was done via Eva K Salvi.

Facebook