Frame Objects of Your Affection
If you love it, frame it. And if you think it can’t be done, think again.
“Professional framers today can frame just about anything,” says Kim Ahern, executive director of the Art & Framing Council, a nonprofit organization based in Mundelein, Ill.
“They have great techniques and materials, and they love a challenge. If you want a three-dimensional object framed, talk to your local custom picture framer. It can usually be done--beautifully--and you’ll have a one-of-a-kind art piece you and your family can enjoy every day.”
Today’s trend toward framing objects people treasure has presented all kinds of intriguing challenges. Framers have conquered electric train sets, fishing gear, even the entire contents of a baseball player’s locker.
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Among the more difficult challenges?
“Framing sand,” reports one framer. “One couple wanted to remember their honeymoon forever, including sand from the beach they visited. We did it.”
Some other examples of interesting 3-D framing:
* A well-worn pair of leather folk-dancing shoes.
* A treasured phonograph record, including the cover.
* A photo of a great moment in baseball, including the actual bat.
* A montage of family history, including a portrait, an antique purse and a treasured bouquet.
* A sheet of music and the violin, complete with bow.
Ahern says a personalized framed piece can make an excellent holiday gift.
She suggests a shadowbox frame filled with items that have special meaning for the recipient. These can include:
* A family portrait for grandparents.
* Sports memorabilia (T-shirt, photo, game tickets, program).
* Special awards: certificates, honor society, Cub Scout badges, gymnastics ribbons.
* Charming prints: botanicals, historical photos, drawings, postcards.
* Small delights for antiques fans: tools, buttons, silver pieces.
* Romantic memories collage: photos, dried flowers, wine label and cork, menu from a favorite restaurant.
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Ahern says “small” art in large frames is one of the hottest trends in picture framing.
“We all have small works of art we love, whether it’s a special photo you’ve been carrying in your wallet, a print, a tiny antique or even a rare postage stamp,” she said. “But the newest trend in framing says, ‘If you love it, flaunt it.’ You and your framer can achieve a really dramatic, exciting piece that makes a large statement on the wall by treating something small in this new way.”
The trick, of course, is all in the proportion. Professional framers are surrounding smaller pieces with large mats, using more than one mat, or sometimes building a frame within a frame to achieve the look. The result is a much larger piece that draws the eye powerfully to the art object and gives it special importance. Then, the framed piece itself becomes a significant decorating element.
For example, a bird and flower print that is framed conventionally in a thin, gold frame is placed within a wider, larger gold frame. Now, it has power to attract the eye.