The Framer's Wife

Blue. Ardent Blue? Flemish Blue?
Balmy Blue? FOG?!

The year was 2003.  The date was July 2. The time 9:30 am. The frame store was ready to open for business for the first time.  Ever.  But where was the framer?  How could I possibly unlock those doors and (gasp) let in customers?  Would I pick the right mat and frame combinations?  Would "Sam I Yam" orange matting work or should I go with "Electric Blue", or "Water Fall"….(yes these are actual mat names!  Whatever happened to blue, dark blue, light blue I’ll never know!)  Did I choose the right glass – and seriously who invented this many types of glass!  Would the Wizard automated mat cutter work for me?  

The Wizard Computer Mat Cutter
flying through its paces. 

So many questions that first morning, but I survived.  The Wizard decided to take off and cut a mat while spinning it and getting stuck and making the most horrific bull moose mating call ever!  But, I survived and cut another mat.  The framing orders did come in and I chose with the help of our amazing and patient customers, some great framing combinations, with all types of glass.  Did the ordering computer program cause mental breakdowns?  Well, of course it did!  Did I lose any hair?  Well maybe a little....But I survived!

Now… about that framer…well he was attending classes; studying and aspiring to be the best picture framer around!  It is hard to believe that 10 years have passed since that first scary day and now when it is 9:30 and time for the store to open, if the framer is at a meeting I’m not afraid to greet the day and paint it and mat it and glass it and frame it……….

We have over 650 mat board samples to choose from.
That is 72 different shades of black or white and
72 different shades for each color of the rainbow!

This post by: Melina

Know Your Framing: Mat Board

The first thing that comes to mind when most people think of mat board is: “What colour(s) should I use?” This is a very important question, but there is an even more important issue looming in the background, and that is “What KIND of mat board should I use?” With this question, we refer to the actual content and make-up of the board. Have you ever wondered what those boards are actually made of? The quick answer is, “Why, paper, of course!” This is true; many mat boards are made of wood pulp, but there is more to it than that. Wood pulp, or cellulose, is a naturally acidic material and can cause fading and other damage to artwork. Mats made of wood pulp must be  coated or chemically treated to remove the acidity. This is referred to as “buffering” and it is a relatively new process in the framing world. Take a look around your house for older framed pieces. Look carefully at the beveled edge around the image. Is it white or has it turned yellow or orange? 

Acidic mat boards showing their true colours. 

This image has three mat board layers. The middle bevel is still white and crisp, while the layers above and below it have both turned yellow with time. This is a quick indication that the middle mat board is Acid Free, while the other two are not. When these mats are removed from the image, the paper underneath will vary in colour from where the mat has been in contact and where it has not. 

Alpharag - 100% Cotton Mat Board from Bainbridge

1. 100% Cotton
The mat board of the highest conservation value is made of 100% cotton.  Cotton is naturally acid free and provides the best protection over time. (The Egyptians used cotton for preservation.) Cotton mats are generally more expensive than other acid free mat boards and are limited in colour to a few shades of white, but will provide the greatest longevity for your images. 

100% Cotton Core with Buffered Surface Paper from Crescent.

2.Cotton Core, Buffered Surface Paper
Because 100% Cotton mat boards have a very limited colour selection, buffered mats are a great option for adding colour to your framing without compromising on conservation standards. Buffering wood pulp is the most common method of creating acid free board. These boards, however, are not created equal. The highest conservation value in a dyed mat board contains a cotton core and a buffered surface paper. This allows a dyed paper to be visible and complement the image, while retaining a high conservation material as the contact layer. This type of mat board is perfect for protecting high value items, such a limited edition prints, or original artwork, while still allowing your style to show through with your colour choices. 

3. Buffered Cellulose Core 

Artique: Buffered Cellulose from Larson Juhl

The last type of Acid Free mat board contains a cellulose/wood pulp core, buffered to an appropriate pH level, as well as buffered surface paper. This is the lowest conservation value and is  great for posters and other “lower value” framing projects that you want to protect, but which do not require the utmost protection. 








This post by: Megan

Edit: Originally Posted on September 10, 2013

Congratulations!

You have searched high and low to find that perfect piece of art. As you gaze at this new found treasure you can feel your heart rate slow as you are immersed in the peaceful scene that has touched your soul (or perhaps your heart races with the unbridled excitement that the artist has injected into the image).Either way this piece is an extension of your psyche, a statement of the ideology that makes you who you are. You let your eyes drift through this masterpiece, finally wandering to the outside edge. Hmm… Could be better. It’s true that the artwork is a reflection of you… But that frame? Really? Really is that what the artist had in mind to complement this labour of love? To cap the hours of toil and the years spent honing creative ability and technique? Well it was handy. And the price was right. It was lying right there, behind the furnace or maybe in that Big Box bargain bin. Maybe it doesn't match, or fit quite right, but it was handy. The clothes may make the man, but does the frame define the artwork?

A simple silver or black frame
will look good...

...and go with any decor,
but it isn't the only option. 

Let’s assume for a moment that you are the artist. Or perhaps you are. Perhaps it is your own mastery of the camera, the palette and paint, the needle and thread, or the paper and paste that you are putting on display. You probably know exactly the mood that you are trying to convey, the best way to compliment the essence of the piece.

Using "Integrated Framer" simulation software, we can
project the look of many framing options....

With hundreds of styles and colours of frames available, combined with even more choices in liners and mats, there are mathematically millions of choices available to frame any given image. But there are usually not that many perfect options. There will be a lot of bad choices, some good choices and a few that are very good. It is in the artists’ blood to think of the balance of materials, of composition and of colour. Everyone has some degree of artistic ability and with the proper investment of time and patience anyone can dress this image to impress. But if you don’t have the time to study the science that supports the art, then perhaps working with a professional picture framer is the best way to get that image on the wall in a timely and elegant fashion. 

...From bold colours to simple and traditional, you can
"try on" any frame to make sure it fits "just right."

 The right choice of framing will not make the picture sing, but it will help it carry the tune. If care and attention are given to the presentation, that carefully chosen image may become a part of you that outlasts the curtains, the carpet, the couch and the chair.

If the piece holds meaning it deserves to look its best. It’s an investment that will pay dividends for many years to come. And most importantly it is a reflection of you. 

"Made to Last"

Stuart Peterson

This framing combination consists of 2 frames layered 

together with a shiny black mat around the image. 

Museum glass sits between the two frames, 

adding depth to the image without a loss in clarity. 

This Post By: Scott

Edit: Originally posted on August 30, 2013

Shadowboxes: Fragile Clothing

Last week we showed you how we preserved a 100 year old drawing. Paper isn't the only thing that you can showcase in a great frame. We often frame clothing such as hockey jerseys and boxing robes. These pieces are quite durable, but some materials can be just as fragile as paper and are just as susceptible to damage from light and other materials within the frame. A shadow box is a great way to preserve your precious items that would otherwise hide away in closets and cardboard boxes. For this project, we were asked to frame a piece of clothing; a baby's coat, also dated at over 100 years old. The item is a treasured family possession and of high sentimental value. From the outside, this is a simple shadow box. There is only one mat opening and only one item. There were, however, many factors to consider when assembling this project. 

1. Fragility
For most items of clothing, like a hockey jersey, we simply sew the fabric down to the mat board and it hangs in place. For fragile items, the framing should make as little impact as possible on the item. To make as few stitches as possible and to reduce the pull of gravity on those stitches, a sloped support for the mat board was made and attached to the inside of the frame. This slope causes the coat to lie back just slightly in the frame and reduces the vertical pull on the stitches holding it in place. 

2. Acidity:
Mat board is available in two materials – cotton and wood pulp. Cotton mats are naturally acid free and are of the highest conservation value. Cellulose (wood pulp) products carry a natural acidic value and contact with such materials can cause fading or damage to paper and fragile items. Because of this, these mats are coated or chemically treated to remove the acidity. For this project, the coat is mounted to a cotton core mat with alkaline buffered surface paper.

Frame: Wood inherently carries an acidity that can “gas off” into the frame over time. For the majority of framing setups, this is not a concern. However, to protect fragile items, the inside edge of the frame is sealed with a specialized Frame Sealing Tape.

3. UV Protection
UV Rays can cause fading in nearly all materials over time. Regular glass will block 48% of UV light rays. Conservation grade glass will block 97-99% of UV Rays. Both of these glazing options are available in clear and non-glare options. Non-glare glass is never recommended for a shadow box as any distance between the subject and the glass of more than 2-3 mat board layers will cause the contents to look foggy. The ideal glass for optimum protection and clarity is Museum glass. Museum glass blocks 99% of UV rays and has the highest colour neutrality. Its specialized optical coating allows light to transmit through the glass rather than bouncing off. This reduces glare much more effectively than traditional non glare glass, without the "foggy" effect. The photograph below was taken with the glass on the frame and it appears nearly invisible. 

This combination of conservation mats, mounting and glass will protect this piece and keep it looking great for years to come! 

This post by: Megan 

Edit: Originally posted on August 20, 2013

Conservation Framing: Double Glass and Photo Restoration

100 Year Old Original

This drawing is over 100 years old and is stained and torn. Old paper is very fragile and vulnerable to light, which can cause fading over time. The recommended method of preserving such artwork is to frame it using conservation grade glass, which blocks 99% of UV light, and to store it in the dark. This method is not exactly ideal if you want to show off your precious keepsakes!

To protect this piece, a digital copy was made and restored using Photoshop.  

The duplicate is framed in the usual manner in the front of the frame. Complementary coloured, acid free mat boards were selected for the restored image. A  white 100% cotton mat is placed on the original, which is placed in the same frame, in reverse order, facing the wall. No adhesives were used on the artwork. A piece of Mylar film, held in place by the mat board, suspends the image against the acid free foam core backing. UV glass was offered, but as the original will be facing the wall, away from UV rays, the customer opted for regular clear, which blocks 48% of UV light. 

Framing Layers, top to bottom:

Glass, buffered acid free mat board, duplicate image, acid free foam core,original image, Mylar film, 100% cotton mat board, glass, and a final piece of cotton mat board to protect the glass from the framer's points.

 The final piece hangs from Wall Buddies instead of wire, which protect the back glass from scratching and provide added stability on the wall. This method was the perfect solution for our customer to showcase a treasured piece of family history and preserve it for future generations. 

This post by: Megan 

Edit: Originally posted on August 8, 2013

Is it "Art"?

I don’t know why I like it, but I want it on my wall! Art by its very definition should evoke an emotion. If it doesn’t make us feel something, then the artist has missed the mark. What we adorn our homes with is a tangible extension of who we are.

That 50 inch flat screen may be quite handsome when it is turned off, but give it power and it reaches into your head and tells you what to think, what to buy and who you are (or should be). Art is a meeting of the minds; with art the mind reaches out and embraces the warm glow of Van Gogh’s Café Terrace, or dances in the strange and exciting world of Salvador Dali.

"House at Auvers"
Vincent Van Gogh

Some will find their bliss in the image of a tropical beach where they spent time with someone special, others on the shores of Lake Como where their spirit can wander until the day that their body can follow. Still others will find tranquility in images of prairie icons or majestic Rockies.

Branding irons from the family farm

Perhaps you are the type of person that thinks outside the box, creating an art piece that centers on the doll that grandmother carried from the old country or the branding irons that were the signature of father’s ranch. Even the ticket stubs from the concert that brought so much joy may be the visual cue that keeps you smiling all day long.

Preserve your child's early artwork

An image is worth a thousand words and it loudly proclaims “This Is Who I Am!” Whether it is a charcoal sketch of the last great hunt, or a happy family Sunday captured in Crayola it is a glimpse of who you are. If it speaks to you, speaks of you, makes you feel something, then it is of value and it is art. 

This post by: Scott

Edit: Originally posted on July 26, 2013

Welcome!

Thank you for reading the very first blog post from Wall Decor and More! 

We are a small, family owned business in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada, that specializes in custom picture framing. We also carry a selection of local art and gift-ware from around the world. You can learn more about our journey to custom framing in the "About" section of our website: www.walldecorandmore.ca. 

We are pleased to be celebrating ten years in business this year and look forward to another ten years. To celebrate, we have started this blog to share with you the knowledge that we have gained over these years and keep you up to date on the new things that we learn each day. The world of custom framing is exciting and ever changing. Although there are many methods that are time tested, each new project brings with it a new challenge and we are committed to creating a piece that is uniquely YOU. 

We are excited to continue this journey and through this blog, we hope to give you greater insight into our craft and to help you make informed decisions about your framing choices. There is so  much more to a framing package than meets the eye. If you'll forgive the saying, we want you to know what you are really getting with "that perfect frame." 

Every framing project is unique. The style and colour combinations are one consideration, but behind the scenes are a number of factors that will determine the performance of the framing package. A poster of a teen heart-throb or favourite movie may not require the museum quality mats and backing or conservation glass that will help an expensive, original art piece stand the test of time. We will post about these differences and share examples of our favourite projects with you. We will also let you know how you can frame more than just paper!

We hope that you will enjoy the blog, but we would also love to see you in person! 

You can visit us in the historic Connaught building in Lethbridge, AB. 

309 10th St. S. 

Lethbridge, Alberta

930am - 500pm 

Monday - Saturday 

We would pleased to guide you through the options available to give your art piece or collectible a framing package that is appropriate in style, performance and price! Visit our website where you can read artist biographies, check out new gift-ware and subscribe to our newsletter. You can also visit us on Facebook by clicking HERE.

This post by: Megan 

Edit: Originally posted on July 13, 2013