Category: Custom Framing

“It’s impossible to forget a dog that gave you so much to remember!” We recently framed a shadowbox for a beloved Puli dog named Marlee. Living for sixteen years, there were so many great photos of Marlee that the family decided to combine thirteen photo memories into one frame. We also added Marlee’s dog identification tags, his plaster paw print and one of his “cords” shaped into a heart. Pulis have distinctive hair that resembles dreadlocks which let us create a unique presentation.

This frame will be displayed at a shore home so beach memory photos were chosen. A very neutral white/silver Presto frame of sufficient depth was used.The hair lock was hand sewn down to the backing board. We etched Marlee’s name on the face of the Truvue Museum Glass. We wanted achieve a simple clean look and the Crescent Britecore blue beveled matboard was perfect for the project.

Marlee is no longer by our side, but will always be in our hearts. We were happy to preserve his memory with a custom framed shadowbox that will be enjoyed for years to come.

We recently framed a series of authentic coffee bean sacks for Sam of Holland. Sam, a coffee connoisseur has an area in his home where he grinds coffee beans and brews the perfect cup of coffee. He has invested in the finest machinery and wanted the area to look inviting.

We framed three sacks from various coffee companies in a simple black Larson Juhl moulding. If you have ever seen real burlap, you might know that it has a lot a fibers, particles and dust. To a framer that’s a challenge. We needed to work on these in an area of our shop where the burlap fibers would be contained and would not migrate to other projects! We chose to use a method of mounting for the sacks that would be reversible. Each sack was pinned to a black mounting board. They could be removed in the future if needed. TruVue Museum glass was a great choice for these frames because it shows the rich texture of the burlap fabric. The glass is there, but you can’t see it!

Sam was delighted! We hope that he enjoys his coffee every morning!

Doilies became popular to our society in the mid to late 1800’s. Cultured women were taught to craft doilies and they were common in the Victorian home. Doilies were usually seen on the dining table and on furniture.

For years Whispering Woods Gallery has been framing doilies. Some are recently crafted but most are vintage. Usually the vintage ones were made by a loved one and come with a story.

We recently custom framed these lovely pieces for Verena of Newtown. They were framed in a unique way by using a custom violet fabric with a very contemporary natural white washed maple frame by Larson Juhl. We used TruVue Museum Glass so that the viewer would enjoy the fine details of the crafted textile.

Here are a few links to read more about the history of doilies:

• History of the Crocheted Doily
• The Push-Pull of Doilies: Revered, Reviled, and Reconceived
• Everything You Wanted to Know About Crocheted Doilies

Whether you have a vintage doily from your grandmother, a new one purchased online or one that you recently crafted we are happy to design a presentation to preserve it for years to come.

Here are some tips from a professional picture framer to have a great frame shop visit.

-Call ahead. If you tell the frame shop a bit about your project ahead of time, they can research the item and look for creative ideas for presentation. The frame shop put together a presentation of images that will show you the possibilities. They can pull frame corners ahead of time that might work for you. If you are a previous client they can look up your style preferences.

-Make an appointment. Framers wear many hats but if they are expecting you, they will be more focused on your project.

-Take photos of the space where your picture framing will hang. Bring in paint chips, fabric swatches or floor samples if it matters to you. Show your framer pictures of your home or office or what you would like your room to resemble.

-Measure the area(s) where it might hang. Describing a space as “small” or “large” might be a bit general to design proportions for framing.

-If you are not quite sure, ask if you can borrow samples to take back home or to the office.

-If your framer is experienced they should be guiding you to a design that is both structurally sound and tasteful. Be open to new ideas and feel free to ask questions. Ask to see examples if you can’t visualize.

-Creating a great design takes time so don’t be rushed. If you bring a lot of items all at once, it might be too much for one session.

-Tell your framer if you have time constraints, budget limitations, or if the item will be shipped. Framers are usually flexible and want to work with you.

Susan Gittlen is one of seventy Master Certified Picture Framers worldwide and has been professionally framing at Whispering Woods Gallery in Holland, PA since 1986. She has won numerous framing industry awards from the Professional Picture Framers Association and Larson Juhl. She has had several articles published in Picture Framing Magazine.