A lovely young couple entered my shop with an awesome piece of art. It was a large hand-cut map of Washington, DC.
Just fantastic. It was done by an artist, Karen Mee Hyun O'Leary, using an x-acto knife and 100 lb bristol paper. The effect is a clean, minimal, lace-like but sturdy piece of art meant to evoke good feelings and memories about a specific place.
The couple had clear ideas on how they wanted their map framed. They wanted to highlight the cut-outs by elevating the art high above an interesting background. They selected a neutral color palette, a light gray -- both as a background color and as a top mat.
Below is a photo of the mat on the background color before I raised it using two layers of acid-free foamboard (3/8" total depth) and adding the top mat. Truth be told, I had never handled art this lacey and raised this high. I was concerned the art would sag in the middle. So I tried a new mounting technique I learned called a "trampoline mount" taught to me by an art conservator at a recent framing seminar. Worked like a charm.
Below is the finished project, art raised high and casting a shadow below. The couple chose the most gorgeous 3 1/2" charcoal burl veneer frame and museum glass. So beautiful!
So in the short window of time after I finished the framing and before the couple came to pick it up, another client arrived to collect his finished piece. He saw this map out of the corner of his eye and he said, "Do you mind if I take a closer look at this piece? I have a friend who makes art like this." He had gone to architecture school with the artist! Long story short, by the next day I had coordinated with the artist to make small neighborhood maps of East Passyunk Ave to sell here in the shop!
And just today she has completed the very first one!
These will be in the shop in time for the holidays!
You want to know something else? I had already designed a holiday window for the shop that is all maps and snowflakes. No lie. Frame shop synchronicity.
A few other things to run down before I get to other recent projects:
* The shop will be CLOSED on Thanksgiving Day.
* We will be OPEN on Black Friday, 10 - 4pm.
* We will be OPEN on Small Business Saturday, November 30th, 11 - 6pm
In fact, we are an Amex Registered Small Business. American Express Card Members can get a $10 credit for using an AmEx for a
purchase at a registered business on Small Business Saturday. In order to be
eligible for the credit, you must register your card on November 24. There is a
limited number of credits, so don't wait!
* There are only two weeks left to see Marker Magic, our wonderful collection of marker drawings by Kate Kern Mundie and fundraiser for Jackson School. These unique, colorful drawings of our neighborhood (and beyond) make fantastic gifts. He who hesitates...
Last week's projects:
My first bicycling jersey arrived in the shop! Weird, right? I have been framing for 15 years and have framed just about every kind of sports jersey there is (Rugby, Lacrosse, etc), but never a bicycling one before. I actually had to google how they're traditionally done. Should it be folded? Should the sleeves be out or folded down? Now I know.
Here it is as the client and I were laying it out.
And here it is with me in the middle of work. There are a lot of techniques here and they had to be done in a certain order. The opening for the photo was cut first, then the racing number was floated on top, here I am measuring where to cut slits for the medal straps to go through, and finally then the jersey would be sewn down to the backing.
The completed project:
And lastly, this is a stunning landscape photo, framed up grandly with a wide white mat and gray bevel accent. Bevel accents fit inside the opening of the mat and raise it to dramatic height.
This design also make use of that glorious charcoal burl frame that was used on the couple's map from earlier in this post. Museum glass here, too. A beauty.
'Til next time. Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
xo
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