Tag: Custom Framing Articles and Ideas

Are textiles your chosen art medium? Or do you have heirloom pieces handed down from your grandmother? Here are four reasons you should be working with a professional framer:

To Preserve Your Fiber Arts for Future Generations

Any needlepoint, quilt, or textile piece created today has the potential of becoming a treasured heirloom in the future. When you want a handcrafted keepsake to take its proper place in your family history, it is important to consult a professional. Seek a business that is knowledgeable about the specific care and requirements for preserving, repairing, and displaying textiles. From framing and mounting, to the location and method of display, every textile piece deserves the same time and care that went into creating it.

Textiles Require Special Framing Materials and Techniques

When it comes to choosing appropriate framing materials, special consideration must be given to the textile itself: the materials, weight, size, age, and general structure of the piece. Also, you must evaluate where the framed art will hang, including room environment, light exposure, and temperature fluctuations.

Skillfully framing needlework requires correctly blocking the piece and securing it with lacing, never adhesive, so it is flat, secure, and square. Glazing is highly recommended to prevent fading of fibers. In addition, adequate space must be created between the textile and glazing for ventilation. The art must always have room to breathe!

Time and the Environment are Not on Your Side

Natural fibers enhance the beauty of textile pieces, but are particularly delicate and perishable. Organic fibers, such as cotton canvas, silk thread, and wool yarn, need special care to ensure their longevity. Ultraviolet rays from both sunlight and artificial lighting can weaken fibers and fade fabric dyes. Fibers can also be dust magnets. That’s a great quality in a dusting cloth, but not for your precious textile art.

Framing provides textiles with physical protection from dust, pollutants, accidental soiling, and direct handling. Quality design will also enhance their appearance.

Previously Framed or Stored Textiles are Already in Trouble

Most embroideries, lace, and even small quilts, can be safely framed. However, problems can occur with textiles that have been glued to acidic paper, mat board, and cardboard. Items that have been in storage may also develop issues. Cloth kept in plastic or folded in the bottom of a trunk may have spots of decay, especially along the folds.

Textiles that have mold, stains, broken fibers, rips and tears, or insects, have special issues that should be referred to a professional conservator prior to framing.

Village Frame & Gallery is Portland’s Trusted Resource for Textile Framing

To preserve needlework, your great-grandmother’s wedding veil, or any precious textile, bring it to Village Frame & Gallery for an expert consultation. We will help you preserve and proudly display your priceless keepsakes to their best advantage.

Did you spot some of your neighbors in it? Thanks to Elizabeth Nichols, Matthias and Jennifer Merkel, Amy Henderson, and our very own Deann Holtz and Labrynt McLaughlin for making this project a big success.

Refinish, Restore and Revive Confidently with Preservation Artisans Guild

Artwork’s value increases with age but so does its wear and tear. Thanks to dedicated and professional preservation artisans, the beauty never has to fade.

And now, thanks to the newly-formed Preservation Artisans Guild, no guesswork is required to find the best professional to repair or restore your artwork.

We are excited to introduce you to the Guild’s preservation and restoration artisans. Whether you want to give the sparkle back to your antique mirror, or freshen up a masterpiece that’s grown dull, Preservation Artisans Guild has a specialist in the area you need. The Guild is a professional network of highly skilled craftspeople, artisans, art historians, and other people who are passionate about preservation and conservation.

As a member of the Preservation Artisans Guild, Village Frame & Gallery is increasing our ability to provide you the best art ownership experience. Guild members network and exchange information among multiple disciplines and areas of expertise. This exchange of ideas, knowledge and insights provides an opportunity to expand our breadth of knowledge about preservation and restoration processes. Guild members meet regularly to share information, learn from each other, and work collaboratively on restoration projects.

The Preservation Artisans Guild was born in response to the need to differentiate those who claim to be experts in the preservation field from those who really are. The Guild provides an opportunity to connect art lovers with true restoration professionals who are skilled in, and passionate about, preserving and conserving period architecture and fine art.

Village Frame & Gallery is proud to be a member of the Guild, working to provide the Pacific Northwest with the best art collecting, sharing, and owning experience.

Visit PreservationArtisans.org or contact us to get started on your art restoration adventure today!

Learn More About How Village Frame & Gallery Frames Your Precious Art

Have you ever tried to create a stunning gallery style art display in your home or office? Then realized, 57 nail holes later that it’s not as easy as you thought it would be?

Perhaps you wanted to dedicate space to rotating exhibitions? But decided against it because you would have to patch and repair the wall every time you made a change?

Are you constantly challenged by a special situation like setting up displays in a window or historic building?

Good news! Halsey Cable Display Systems can fix all these problems and more.

Hang Art without Damaging Your Walls

Positioning art can quickly become very difficult. We’ve all measured carefully, driven the nail, hung the picture, and then realized the nail needed to be half an inch to the left. The more pieces you want to group or line up exactly, the worse the problem becomes. Then, after the exhibit is perfectly positioned, we can’t change a thing unless we’re willing to start all over. Halsey Display Systems end all that hassle, replacing nails and hangers with a discrete track-mounted cable system that gives you endless flexibility. Picture a little too low? No problem, just slide the gripper up and lock it into place. Want to swap out one or more pieces of your display? You can adjust everything around it in minutes.

Hang Art or Signs in Store Windows

Art posters and pictures can significantly increase the wow factor of your front windows, but only if they are professionally installed. This is another area where we highly recommend Halsey Hanging Systems. Their ceiling track system can be mounted above the window for a clean, upscale look that keeps the focus where it belongs, on your display rather than your hardware. Plus, you will be able to easily change your displays monthly or seasonally.

Hang Art in a Historic Home with Rail Moulding

Homes built between 1900 and 1950 often have wood picture rail mouldings installed at the top of the wall. This allows you to hang art from the moulding, rather than damage the plaster walls. If your home or building has this type of railing, all you need is hooks designed to work with your railing and high-strength steel cables. The Halsey system also offers something the original owners didn’t have: cable grippers to make height adjustment a breeze.

Call Village Frame & Gallery for a Free Consultation

We will help you design a professional display that can be easily modified to meet your current and future needs. If a flexible, easy-to-customize art hanging system sounds like a dream come true to you, call 503-245-8001.

How important is your choice of glazing during a framing project? Let’s put it this way, every aspect of your project will be affected by it: cost, weight of the finished piece, amount of protection provided, how the art or keepsake looks after framing, even maintenance. So how do you make the best decisions? A great custom framer and a little knowledge go a long way when you are deciding:

Glass or Acrylic?

Glass is very scratch resistant and does not bow or produce as much static as acrylic. Consider glass when framing:

• Smaller projects that will not become too heavy
• “Loose media” artwork, such as pastels or charcoals which can be damaged by static build-up from acrylic
• Items that may not receive appropriate cleaning techniques required by acrylic

Acrylic is lighter and more shatter-resistant than glass and as optically pure as Museum Glass®, which makes it the right choice if:

• Framing large or heavy items where weight of the finished piece is an issue
• You need to ship the framed artwork or memorabilia
• The art will hang in high traffic areas or children’s rooms where broken glass presents a significant hazard to people or the artwork itself
• You are willing to use special cleaning and maintenance methods to avoid scratching or fogging the glazing

Clear or Anti-Reflective?

Anti-reflective glazing is useful any time glare may prevent you from enjoying your framed pictures or memorabilia. Use anti-reflective glass when:

• Your framed piece will hang in a bright room or opposite windows or lamps
• You are framing an image that is enhanced by a slightly softer focus, such as an impressionist painting

Avoid cheap, low-tech non-glare glass. It will cause your framed items to look fuzzy and distorted.

Clear glazing, which looks like regular glass, works well for:

• Projects that do not require reflection-free viewing
• When you need to balance cost and viewing clarity

Level of Protection?

If you’ve ever worked with a professional framer, you probably know ultraviolet (UV) light is one of the biggest enemies of your pictures and keepsakes. Over time, UV rays break down organic materials, causing your precious treasures to fade, yellow and become brittle. Professional framers use specialty glazing to slow this process.

Museum Grade gives the highest level of protection and offers outstanding clarity. It minimizes glare without affecting the visible light spectrum so the finish is practically invisible. It is also the most expensive option. Use Museum Glass® or Optimum Museum Acrylic® whenever:

• Framing extremely valuable or priceless items or items with a lot of detail
• You want the best presentation possible

Conservation Grade must block at least 97% of UV energy and is available in clear or reflection control finishes. It is an excellent choice if:

• You are framing precious art, keepsakes, or valuable posters, but Museum Glass® is not within your budget

Non-Conservation Grade offers much lower UV protection than higher grades of glazing. Village Frame & Gallery does not carry or recommend this type of glass, but when you are framing items that can be easily replaced, such as inexpensive posters or digital snapshots, non-conservation glass or acrylic is a money-saving option.

Before You Decide, Gaze at Glazing

Bring your artwork or keepsakes to Village Frame & Gallery to see for yourself how the various types of glazing will affect their appearance. Viewing the items behind glass and acrylic samples can reveal subtle, sometimes surprising, enhancements or distractions you will want to consider before making your final choice.

In addition, we can help you make decisions about design, frame styles, matting, backing and mounting materials to create a spectacular finished product you are proud to display in your home or office.

Stop in during our regular business hours or call 503-245-8001 for an appointment or in-home consultation.

There are occasions when a craft store frame will work just fine. If you want to print and display a digital snapshot of the family pet, there’s no need to spend the money for a high-quality frame. But, if you have invested in fine art, want to exhibit priceless objects, or have unique needs, there is no substitute for a skilled professional framer. Here are 3 times to insist on professional framing:

When You Want to Preserve Your Artwork or Heirlooms

Artwork, handicrafts and cherished memorabilia all deteriorate when exposed to light, moisture, temperature changes, and environmental contaminants such as air pollution or the oil from your fingers. Simply slapping your treasured pieces into ready-made frames will not protect them from the ravages of time. Off-the-shelf framing materials are typically made of damaging acidic materials that actually accelerate deterioration.

A professional framer who is familiar with art conservation techniques will take steps to protect your framed items. Methods vary depending on what is being framed, but some of the most common techniques include:

• Museum quality glass that blocks UV rays and light reflection
• Acid-free, archival matting, backing and moulding materials
• Preservation mounting techniques

When You Want to Create an Striking Display Piece

The right framing complements what it surrounds and draws the eye to the focal point of your exhibition—your artwork or heirlooms. This doesn’t happen by accident. Expert framing design unites the artwork, mat, and molding, creating a harmonious presentation enhances and serves the picture or object framed.

In order to accomplish top-notch results, professional framers must be experts in design, color theory, and layout. They also need to consider where the picture or keepsakes will be exhibited and your personal tastes or preferences.

In the end, you will have a unique showpiece you can be proud to display in your home or office.

When Ready-Made Frames Don’t fit Your Needs

Mass-produced frames are available in a small range of pre-defined sizes and materials. If you want to frame something that doesn’t fit into a standard size or you want rarer materials, you are out of luck. Custom frame shops are not confined by these limitations. They can offer:

• Frames cut to any size you need
• Mats in a vast array of colors, textures and patterns
• Special decorative effects, such as die-cut mats
• Moulding to suit any design

If it is time to insist on professional framing, it is also time to insist on a frame shop that will guide you through the maze of preservation and design choices and execute your project flawlessly. If you have a framing project in mind, contact Village Frame and Gallery. We have over 28 years combined experience protecting and enhancing pictures, needlework, and keepsakes.