Tag: Bucks County Pa

Gallery Walls

Posted by on in Art, Custom Framing, Uncategorized, Vintage
vintage photo gallery wall
A recent photo wall gallery wall project framed at Whispering Woods Gallery

Gallery walls are a great way to make your home or office a place that feels just right.  Here are some articles that you might want to check out before designing a gallery wall.

This is your area so don’t be hung up about  breaking the rules! If you think that it works, consider it!  Many of the articles suggest not using the same frame for the entire collection. In the above photo, our client wanted to unify his family photos by using the same frame for all on of the items on his gallery wall. For his situation, it works.

Don’t be afraid to add three dimensional objects of different shapes and sizes to your gallery wall. A flea-market find, souvenir from vacation or family heirloom is an appropriate addition. Refer to Instagram and Pinterest for unusual ideas and layouts.

If you have a large amount of items to be framed for your wall, take your time, plan it out and work with an experienced framer who will help you through the process. Since it can be time consuming it’s best to call ahead to reserve a time period.

Here are a few pointers for hanging your gallery wall:

  • Cut out the shape of each item from newspaper or kraft paper and use painters tape to arrange the cutouts on the wall to experience the final effect.
  • Lay the arrangement out on the floor near the wall to see the overall balance before committing to making holes in the wall.
  • Make sure that the items have proper hanging hardware. Wires attached to D-Rings used with professional picture hooks work in most cases. Frames with sawtooth hangers in the top center often get knocked down and should be used with caution. Screw eyes frequently come loose over time so you might please consider other options.
  • Don’t be afraid to hire a professional installer. If you cannot fit it into your schedule, don’t have the proper ladders or simply don’t enjoy the process, contact us and we can refer you to some local installers in the Philadelphia area.

 

What is a Float Frame?

Posted by on in Art, Custom Framing
By using a floater frame the sides are visible.
The background and sides were gilded with gold leaf.
This original piece was crafted from paper money.

A float is a minimalist frame option sometimes used when framing art on canvas. The art drops into the front of the frame so none of it’s front surface is covered.  This is beneficial when the painting is extended over the sides or if the lip of a conventional frame would cover important parts of the art. Most float frames are simple profiles, but a second decorative frame could be added for a unique presentation.

In this example, Marena of Bensalem brought us her art that was designed with hundreds of paper hearts made from currency bills which were pinned to a hand pieced gilded background.  It was stunning! By using a float frame the viewer can see the textured sides of the art.

“Vintage is Now” Day 28 – Grandparents Remembered

Posted by on in Custom Framing, Photo Restoration, Vintage, Vintage is now
Vintage photo 1920’s
A very rare photo of my grandparents.

Welcome to “Vintage is Now” Day 28. For the past month I have posted a framed vintage project every day.

For those who visit our shop, you will see this restored framed photo with the original, which has a crack across the faces. This was one of the our first photo restorations, and one of my favorites. These are my grandparents, most likely taken in the late 1910’s.  There are only a few photographs of my grandparents together as my grandfather was killed in 1929 in an automobile accident. When I look at them I remember all that they have passed on to me. My grandfather was a successful businessman and my grandmother was a gracious and giving woman.

The design of this piece is elegant. I used two suede mats and beaded fillet between the mats and in the lip of the ornate frame. I truly wanted this to look like the most important photo in my collection. Although my grandparents are no longer with us, they are remembered every day. We are happy to help you with your vintage project. Just give us a call.

“Vintage is Now” Day 26 – Stevie Ray Vaughan’s Guitar Strings, Photo and Guitar Pick

Posted by on in Custom Framing, Vintage, Vintage is now
Custom Framed Stevie Ray Vaughan photo, guitar strings and pick
This frame includes a Stevie Ray Vaughan photo, guitar strings and guitar pick.

Welcome to “Vintage is Now” day 26 where I feature a vintage photo of American blues musician Stevie Ray Vaughan, his guitar string packets and a guitar pick.  Combining a photo with objects helps to tell the story. We frequently frame signed photos of musicians, sometimes with posters and concert tickets. Many of these items are purchased on Ebay, from dealers or at auctions.

The frame was a simple black and silver Larson Juhl frame that was deep enough to accomodate the packets.  Museum Glass was used to prevent glare from the black mat.

Stevie Ray Vaughan was killed at the age of 35 in a helicopter crash. We were glad to frame this meaningful collection of items from a musician that left our world too soon. We know that the owner enjoys it.

 

“Vintage is Now” Day 19-Framed World War II pencil sketch and vintage photos

Posted by on in Custom Framing, Vintage, Vintage is now
WWII custom framed sketch with photos
A sketch by US Army combat engineer Warren Stichtenoth was framed with original photographs.

Day 19 of Whispering Woods Gallery’s “Vintage is Now” goes back to WWII-1945. US Army combat engineer Warren Stichtenoth created this “Cannon Bunker” sketch and a local resident, Wayne Potok recently custom framed it to remember his Dad, Charles Potok.

We included original photographs with the sketch and added an engraved brass plate giving pertinent details. The combination of items worked out very nicely.

Sadly many our WWII vets are not here share their experiences. Through photos we can share history and keep their memories alive.

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“Vintage is Now” Day 14-From a wedding album

Posted by on in Custom Framing, Photo Restoration, Vintage, Vintage is now
Wedding photo custom framed
This is a photo from a 1952 wedding album. It was the sister of the bride and her husband. We scanned and printed a new copy for this project which hangs in our shop.

Welcome! Today’s “Vintage is Now” photo is from a 1952 wedding album. This was the matron of honor and sister of the bride and her husband. The photography is stunning showing the reflections in the mirror. We proudly display this in our shop.

The custom framing is a bit creative! It has curvy mat cuts in the solid color core matboard. The mat colors were carefully selected to blend with the tones in the photo.  The shimmery Larson Juhl frame is gutsy but works well. It also comes in silver and gold and is a best seller at Whispering Woods Gallery. The TruVue Museum glass invites you right into the photo.

Whispering Woods Gallery is an award winning picture frame shop in Bucks County, PA. With 31 years of experience will we creatively frame your photos, documents and memorabilia. We hope to see you soon!

“Vintage is Now” Day 5-1957 Snapshot restored, enlarged and beautifully framed

Posted by on in Custom Framing, Photo Restoration, Vintage, Vintage is now
Wedding snapshot restoration and enlargement
1957 Curtis Hall Wedding Snapshot restoration and enlargement

“Vintage is Now” day #5 features a 1957 snapshot of a groom, his sister and parents at Curtis Hall Arboretum just outside of Philadelphia.  Sixty years later, Curtis Hall is still a lovely place to celebrate a wedding! It’s a great photo and a favorite vintage photo project.

We scanned the original candid snapshot, digitally cleaned up the cracks and abrasions and enlarged it. We thoughtfully framed it to give as a gift to the young lady on the left with the great hair style!  Are you looking for a unique gift for Mother’s Day or Father’s Day? Look through an old wedding album or search through some shoe boxes of photos. Choose a few and drop by and we will do the rest.

Framed Vintage Photograph Projects

Posted by on in Custom Framing, Photo Restoration, Vintage

Vintage photographs are one of the most popular items that we frame at Whispering Woods Gallery. Sometimes we digitally restore an older photo and print out a new copy to frame. We combine vintage photographs with an item such as a military medal, calling card, piece of jewelry or some other type of memento. Sometimes we just frame the original photo. We carefully determine your needs when you meet with us. The frame can be simple or ornate. The style can be traditional, contemporary or transitional. We have a wide variety of frames and every project is unique.

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Peter Keating – Bucks County Poster

Posted by on in Art, Custom Framing, For the Community, Vintage

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Whispering Woods Gallery offers local art and custom framing. This is a vintage Peter Keating Poster from 1986.  It’s a classic and timeless. Peter Keating, an artist who lived in Bucks County in the 1970’s and 1980’s, painted beautiful rural scenes of Bucks County.  We offer this poster in your choice of custom frame. It would look great in a home or office. If you are looking for local traditional art, give us a call at 215-364-4321.

Wedding Custom Framing

Posted by on in Custom Framing

Custom framing is a great way to remember your special day.  Gather your favorite photographs, invitations and other mementos and we’ll create a wonderful treasure that is cherished forever. We frame wedding items old and new.  We can custom frame your engagement photo, wedding portrait, invitation, ketubah, signature mat, and family photos. Choose from a wide variety of frames.  Our award winning staff will come up with a design that you will enjoy for years to come.

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