if you like mat board, get down to Joann’s (off mopac) as they are having a sale of their framing remnants in the next few days. If they aren’t on display, just ask the kind ladies behind the counter and they will be able to help.

Now, a confession, I am crap at designing a frame or at least, trying to get a person to buy a frame that actually goes with the work.  Having always struggled to afford to frame, even the smallest photograph, I can see why people stagger at the price, even with a 50% discount (you should never paid full price, as there is always a deal next week or a couple of weeks later). Suddenly the price of framing your dear old friend’s 1st attempt at oil painting, is about about 50% higher than you expected. That’s when you think to yourself how cheap can I go and if you have a framer who has little knowledge (like me), you will end up with a cheaper frame but that is not necessarily the best thing for your friend’s piece.  

However, having seen the results of designs that our head framers pull together, where they have managed to get the customer pass the price shock,  it is well worth the money invested.  I have looked at work which doesn’t look remarkable at all but to Nev, Pepi and Kristen, there is always something they can see which they want everyone else to see.   So these unremarkable works are in the shop and one of the framers takes it out of the prep sleeve and I think ‘why?’  “why, would anyone, spend money on that!” Then the magic happens, as the piece is prepped, matted, glazed and then framed.  Suddenly, there is a work of art in front of my eyes. 

When I first started working with Nev, she told me that a frame and/or mat, should enhance a work but not detract from it.  She is so right.  In the cases where the customer has chosen a mat and frame where its part of a design for their living room, (not idea Nev gives into easily), the frame becomes the important thing, not the art, which is so sad.  So if your want to frame something, frame it with care as it is well worth the money.

Just one thing, just because you have photograph to frame, don’t just except a white mat with a black frame. Photographs like paintings, have a myriad of colours, even black and white photography.  So treat it like you would any work of art, with respect and get the right frame.

Off to the cutting table in 20 mins.   Enjoyed my couple of days in the frame shop but I am glad I am learning from the professionals and haven’t been left to my own devices. 

One last confession, I am useless at using the Joann’s framing software, it doesn’t appear to have any logic and disappears if you click done!  Then you have to search the database where you have to go through every single name as it doesn’t have a find option –what?   I thought it was just people not able to operate the pc system but not its actually the program they use is crap.