Week 2 (and a half) progress at the new store!

                                                                                    

So this was a busy week and a half at the new store! We finished the brick wall (thanks Dad!), and laid down the cork flooring in the front room (thanks Dad again!).  We also moved over the first piece of actual framing equipment (the drymount press:big gray flat thing on the fabric fronted table) and stained the work table a dark walnut to increase contrast when we're working on projects. Only one week left until our projected opening, fingers crossed!

Week 1 Progress at the new store!

     This past week was super busy at the new location, and we did make some noticeable progress.  In the front room we did most of the painting, the electricians installed the rail lighting system, and we are half way done with the brick wall.  In the back, most of the custom built work tables are in place.  I can't wait to see what happens next week!

It Starts With A Key...

This is the key to what in four short weeks will be our brand new store!  We are excited and terrified at the same time, but the new store will feature better lighting for design, new products, and a more efficient work area.  Follow along for updates on our buildout, but here is a peek at what the new space looks like right now!

New Finds from The West Coast Art and Frame Show (The Final Installment)

This set of cornersamples is the coolest I've seen in years.  They are wood frames covered with actual steel plates! These frames come in shiny, oxidized, and even rust finishes and some have welded corners and bolts. The perfect frame to hang in your downtown loft, or your engineers offices.

New Finds from The West Coast Art and Frame Show

(Part Two)

Check out these acrylic frames! This line of frames is the epitome of custom framing, available in a huge array of colors, matte and clear finishes, and even molded backgrounds.  Go fun with brights, classic with neutrals, even preppy with red, white and blue.

New finds from the West Coast Art and Frame Show        (Part One) 

So, back in January Mike went to the West Coast Art and Frame show in Fabulous Las Vegas.  Before he left, he asked me what to look for (aside from all new backroom equipment) and I said find me ‘the new hotness’ or ‘the next big thing’.   I was nervous to see what he actually brought back, and the wait is finally over.  All of the new corner samples finally arrived, and WOW, they are awesome! Here’s a sneak peak:

These are the 'Car Finish' frames by Direct Moulding: glittery, glossy, and available in a range of neutrals, these would look great on a bathroom mirror, a photo of your sports car, or could even be a modern take on a diploma frame!

Trust me when I say these look even cooler in person, so stop by and check them out.

Choosing mat colors 101

I think a lot of people are intimidated by choosing mat colors for their artwork, and it can be scary. The wrong mat can call attention to the wrong part of your picture and look terrible in your house.  Here are some tips for choosing the perfect matting every time!

Match the mat colors to something in your picture:  I know this seems pretty obvious, but it’s probably the most important rule. The whole project may not look bad with mats that don’t match the picture, but you will notice something off about it and it will bug you all the time.

                                                                                              

Make a decision about which part of the picture to highlight: Photos like the one in the examples here are very colorful and calling attention to a portion of the picture will take focus away from another.    Again, seems obvious, but take a look at the bright green/orange/purple matting example, it’s really hard to see Monticello in the background because you are focusing on the garden. In the brown and green example, Monticello stands out more, as it does in the examples with white top mats.

Choose your colors in proportion to how they appear in the picture.  Sometimes your favorite part of a picture is the smallest, like a tiny flower or a streak in water or a shadow that is the perfect color.  Choosing a top mat to match a small feature will often feel like it doesn’t match, because the ratio of that color in the art and the mat isn’t the same. Top mats need to be either a neutral, pleasing color (white, black, gray) or a color that appears in a large part of the artwork.  The color of that perfect feature will work as an accent mat!

When all else fails, choosing a neutral mat will always work! White or light colored matting works on all pictures because they don’t call your attention to any specific part of the picture and they will look good in anyone’s home or office. The example with the double white mat would be perfect for a gift too because its use won’t be limited by its matting colors.