It’s winter in Alberta. Therefore it is cold…or not, It’s windy… or not, and it’s snowing, or raining… or not. One thing that we can count on is that we are probably not getting a lot of sun, unless we succumb to the siren song of the southern latitudes. In which case I highly recommend the liberal application of Aloe Vera (have you noticed that the colours of our Canadian flag are an exact match for the tan lines of many Canadian tourists who have just tried to soak up six months of sunshine in a ten day beach vacation). The point of this narrative is that the days here are short and gray, but we have a remedy for the malady.

We at Wall Décor and More have just finished inventory and have found that our bins are full to bursting with mats! We have hundreds of mats in a rainbow of colours and we would like to share the wealth with our "Colour Your Winter" promotion.

For the month of February, on any full framing project we will include any of our in stock mats for FREE. That’s right, bring us that image or object that you have been waiting to frame and we will add a riot of colour at no extra charge. After all, wouldn’t you rather drift into that vivid holiday memory that’s hanging on the wall than stare out the window at another predictably unpredictable Alberta winter day. Hurry in, this offer ends February 28^th.    

Buddha Shrine

Have you ever thrown caution to the wind and jumped into something that you knew was ill advised, but looked like so much fun you just could not say no?  The id kicks into overdrive and common sense is a casualty on the side of the road! This is how the story unfolded when the nice man walked into Wall Decor and asked if we could frame his 14th century Buddha statue. There was no way that I could say no. (What did you think this story was about anyways, we are picture framers that’s what gets us revved up!) So we calculated a price that we hoped would get the job - which we did! Then we took a deep breath and dove right in. We went on line to study shrines that would look authentic with this beautiful piece , we amalgamated several styles, threw in some of our own parameters, spent a few early mornings redesigning , too excited to sleep, laid out all the tools that we own and got to work. First step is off to the hardware store to pick up two 5 foot planks of Bolivian mahogany, a bucket of stain and some random hardware. 20 hours later we have the base and pedestal built, the door is assembled with Plexiglas and a pivot post instead of hinges and we are having a blast.

The statue would sit in an alcove with a light above it so we went with UV blocking Plexiglas on the top, the door and the two sides. We used a 6mm. mirror on the back and on the pedestal that the statue sat on. It turns out that the Burmese architecture of the appropriate time period favored octagonal pillars so we built them.

 We added some brass hardware that we antiqued using ammonia, and sanded all the edges to give a slightly worn, aged effect. At this point in the project we have come to realize that we have grossly underestimated the hours involved and we are actually working for the love of the challenge and Karma credits. Our profit and loss spreadsheet is extremely disappointed with us but the experience was priceless, and the end result is one of a kind.

 This post by Scott

Shadow Boxes: Removable Face

Framing is a great way to keep precious objects safe, but you may want access to them in the future. Stacking frames is a unique and stylish way to show off your keepsakes, while still allowing physical contact with the item. You can also use this method to switch out various objects on a rotating basis to keep your design fresh.

A narrow shadowbox frame is joined inside out to form a box that the object will be placed in.
The top frame is joined as usual to form the front of the shadow box.

This frame is also attached sideways to the face to form a deep box around the bottom frame.

The top two frames can now be lifted off to remove or replace the item. 

This piece is framed with museum glass for optimum clarity and minimal glare. 

This post by: Megan 

Know Your Framing: Glass

As the old saying goes, not everything is created equal. This is especially true for glass. Most of us are familiar with clear and non-glare glass, but did you know that glass is also graded by its conservation value? From Clear to Museum, the glass covering your artwork is every bit as important as the colours you choose to put around it. Be sure you are making an informed decision by learning about the different glass options right here!

Clear – 45% UV Protection, 8% Light Reflection, Over 90% Light Transmission
-        Works well in any presentation hung in a controlled lighting environment
-        Can be used with any number of mats

Non Glare/Reflection Control – 45% UV Protection, 8% Scattered Light Reflection, 89% Light Transmission
-        Ideal for minimizing glare and reflection when conservation grade UV protection is not a concern
-        Use on any framing project with up to two mats away from artwork without significant resolution loss

 Conservation (UV) Clear – At least 97% UV Protection, 8% Light Reflection, over 89% Light Transmission,
-        For protecting artwork against damage and fading caused by UV light, especially old or fragile items
-        Ideal for any framing application, if reflection-free viewing is not important

Conservation (UV) Non Glare/Reflection Control – At least 97% UV Protection, 8% Scattered Light Reflection, 89% Light Transmission
-        To minimize glare while protecting artwork against harmful UV light rays, especially old or fragile items
-        Use on any framing project with up to two mats away from artwork without significant resolution loss

Clear: 8% Light Reflection, over 89% Light Transmission
Museum: Less than 1% Light Reflection, Over 97% Light Transmission
Reflection Control: 8% Scattered Light Reflection, 89% Light Transmission

Museum – 99% UV Protection from every angle, Less than 1% light reflection, Over 97% Light Transmission, Optical Coating, Anti-Static
-        For virtually invisible glazing that will enhance colors, brightness and contrast levels of all types of artwork, even posters
-        For protecting valued diplomas or irreplaceable artwork against damage and fading caused by UV light
-        Ideal for framing applications, including shadow boxes, multiple mat or deep framing projects
-        Optical coating gives true colour transmission and the greatest colour neutrality 

Clear vs Museum
The benefits of Museum Glass are especially apparent on shadow boxes, appearing almost invisible. 

This post by: Megan 

The Cadillac Experience

In the 1930s Nicholas Dreystadt took over the management of the Cadillac Division of General Motors.  Cadillac was in dire straits and probably would have sunk like a stone but Nicholas took a new tact.  “The Cadillac Customer” he said, “does not buy transportation, he buys status!”  This statement would have been nothing but hot air except for one thing.  They could supply the quality to back up the claim.

A Caddy to the uninitiated looks much like any other vehicle, four wheels, seats, headlights, etcetera but it’s what’s underneath that takes the product to the next level.  I believe that there are parallels that can be drawn in any competitive service industry, so let’s take custom picture framing as an example.  On the surface most frames look basically the same: four corners, hangers and wire surrounding some worthy art piece.  But there is much more to it than that.

 

The obvious questions run something like this: Does the frame compliment the piece in color, texture and style?  Does the weight of the frame and the width of the mats or liner support the piece visually without overpowering it?  Is the whole package pleasing to your eye as the paying customer?  What’s underneath is actually more important than what is on the surface.  Cadillac would not have become an icon if it had built pretty cars that couldn't stand the test of time.

                                                                                                                                                    

Will the framing package that you are buying preserve that work of art or destroy it?  The quality of framing products varies widely and often the effects are not immediately noticeable.  Are the mats conservation quality or will they discolor and erode the artwork?  Does the glass block ultraviolet light which will damage the image?  More importantly can the person behind the counter guide you through the maze of what you need or do not need to give you the best product for the best value?

Framed $100 bill, Museum glass,Suede mat with debossing, Double frame with fillet.
An investment in status

The Cadillac experience begins on the showroom floor, where the customer is treated as a person of status.  Sales people are expected to be knowledgeable and courteous.  The product should please the eye while resisting the effects of time.  The entire experience should be completed as a dialogue that enables the customer to make an informed decision that satisfies the wants and needs of the purchase.  Every customer deserves that same experience whether buying a car, a picture frame or simply investing in status.
This post by Scott

Shadow Boxes: "Cooky Book"

Shadowboxes are a great way to show off your precious items or to pay tribute to your favourite family memory. Framing your Grandmother’s cookbook and her favourite recipe will add a personal and unique touch to your kitchen area.

This recipe book is attached in a conservation manner with Mylar film. The film is cut into straps and wrapped around the back of the book and all pages. The adhesive only contacts the Mylar and is attached to the bottom mat.

The recipe is photocopied from the book, raised up with foam core to the height of the book and framed with acid free mat board to give it more definition.

The offset spatula is sewn down using fishing line at two anchor points. No adhesives are used.

The sides of the frame have also been lined with the same mat board that is used for the backing to give clean edges. 

Museum glass is the best option for shadow boxes as it provides the greatest reflection control with the most clarity. 

This particular piece is glazed with regular clear glass, which provides 48% UV light protection. If your items are very fragile or valuable, conservation glass would be recommended. Clear Conservation glass blocks 99% of UV, but has no reflection control. Non glare glass is not recommended for shadow boxes, as the farther the glass is placed from the objects, the foggier the contents will appear. The ideal glass for shadow boxes is Museum glass. Museum glass blocks 99% of UV light and is coated with an anti-reflective layer that allows less than 1% of light reflection and over 97% light transmission. This provides the optimum protection and viewing of the object. You can learn more about museum glass at www.tru-vue.com. 

This post by: Megan 

The Working Man

Have you heard the words of the working man? The humble man? The quiet man? No grandstanding for him, his politics are his own, his beliefs rock solid. No need for debate. 

Lethbridge High Level bridge

The sales call, the cold call, the margin call, these are for other men. Not in his wheel house, not on his wish list. No chrome spinners, no loud exhaust, the spot light holds no allure. In by 8 and home by 6, snow shoveled, hedges trimmed and everything in its place. 

Stark master circuit analyzer in glass display case

But still, he does play the game. As a living, breathing human being the need to be noticed is the nature of the beast. Head down, nose to the grindstone his hands speak for him. His legacy will not be some polished soliloquy, some candy coated breeze. What he does is who he is. 

Tools of the Trade. 

Metal, wood, leather and wires, transistors, chips and a million other things molded by his touch, bent to his will, these are his voice, the mirror that reflects what you might not have noticed before.  Quite literally the ghost in the machine.

This post by Scott. 

NO! The end.

No! It makes a short story, doesn't it? 
No is the beginning of a relationship so short that it can be lost within the content of a tweet. No is the word that is never spoken in improv because there is nowhere to go from there. The same can be said in business. Why would you ever say no to a customer that is requesting something different!

Six frames attached together to make a single six foot by six foot wall hanging.

 Of course we can’t stretch time or circumvent the laws of physics. YET. We are looking in to it. However, we have ten years of experience, a closet full of power tools and a small library of books on the subject of framing. Books brimming with new ideas as well as strict guidelines on the care and handling of materials of all types. So we will find a way. We may even check out the internet to find the idea that will help an art piece sing its own unique tune. (All internet suggestions will be cross referenced with the, common sense / what were they thinking, sliding scale).

Whale Baleen in a black wood frame with acid free mats

In the end it is the project that stretches our imagination, tests our creativity and lurks in the back of our mind long past closing time that becomes our badge of honor. It is the building block for the next triumph, and how can you say no to that! 

The pitch was captured in ten frames across the top.
The memory captured will last a lifetime

This post by Scott

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