When Will It End?!

When will it end?!?! It’s been winter for so long so very very long! These four walls are my protection from the biting cold but also the cage that I pace as I muter observations and accusations in the vernacular of the intoxicated sea goer. Beyond the window lies  frozen drifts, lakes of ice and frigid winds so treacherous that life would be untenable without these four walls. Somewhere on the distant horizon is fleeting spring, summer is a flash in the pan and autumn, autumn heralds the fall of leaves, plunging mercury, diminishing daylight and the ushering in of winter most foul.

I’ve never become friends with the coldest season. So I shut the blinds tight and turn inward to my cage, my gilded cage. These walls may protect me and confine me but they are so much more. For these walls are adorned with the visions of the artist, the soul of the dreamer. On these walls are memories of the moments that define me and images of places that I have not yet been. They hold family and friends, the past, the present and the future in a riot of colour that I can always count on, no matter what prevails beyond these walls.

So try your best winter, I will never embrace you, but you will never defeat me. These four walls have been fortified and energized to carry me far beyond your icy grip. They quiet my mind, they warm my heart and they soothe my ragged soul.

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.    

Here it is February and Valentine’s Day is fast approaching. It’s odd how unprepared many of us are for an event that shows up on the same day of the same month every year. The big box stores try to help us out by putting candy hearts on the shelves starting mid-January. Still it seems that right about February 13 panic sets in and it becomes clear that once again Cupid is peeking around the corner armed with a quiver full of mediocrity. You know that he/she deserves better than a box of chocolates and a dozen roses, he/she means the world to you. Besides he/she is on a diet, and those beautiful flowers will be producing landfill methane in less than two weeks.

Hand Carved Kissi Stone from Zimbabwe and Kenya

May we humbly suggest an alternative? Perhaps a symbol of love carved in stone from Kenya or Zimbabwe or a beam of light captured by the hand-blown glass globes from Kitras. OR if you really want to knock it out of the park, how about taking some of your sweetheart’s favorite things or favourite memories and turning them into an art piece that will remind them what a great, thoughtful and romantic catch you are for years to come. It would be our greatest pleasure to help you become significant other of the year. 

Kitras Hand Blown Glass

 Custom Designed  Mat With Your Favorite Image

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

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

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

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