wierdist frame job?

[Susan May]

I one time had a customer ask me to frame a baseball hat that her husbands friend used to wear fishing.... it still smelled like fish and sweat!
What are some of the wierdist things you have been asked to frame?


------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[meko1]

That sounds about as hard to frame as my customers' dead grandmothers' long ponytail.
Yuk! But with the ribbon and the babys' breath all around, it was quite beautiful when finished.

[ArtLady]

While not at our shop, one of our framers claimed to have framed men's underwear at another shop he worked.

We have oftened wondered where one draws the line on what is objectionable to frame in terms of respect for the staff doing the framing. I heard about project at another shop where two frames each with a double mat and 35 multiple openings where cut to frame pornographic pictures. Every once in while we get a call from a man who wants to know if we will frame nude photos of his wife in provocative poses. He never comes in I think he just wants to see our reaction. We have had a couple of projects from people living alternative lifestyles but nothing explicit.

------------------
Timberwoman
AL
I cut the mat, I pet the =^..^= cat.

[Jim Miller]

We've framed some weird stuff, but nothing too smelly or distasteful. Does weird have to be objectionable?

How about an airplane propeller? The frame was about 30" x 8 feet. Background was snapshots and silk maps of Europe from WWII.

We once framed the hip bone from a bison's skeleton. We still don't know why the customer wanted it framed.

A bicycle parts factory burned down, and the owner brought us a seat post to frame. It was aluminum -- partially melted and quite ruined -- but he said it was the original prototype for their original product & had big sentimental value.



------------------
Jim Miller, CPFcm; GAFP Committee Member

[framer]

OK! get this. This really happen. An 80 year old man can in with a toilet seat and wanted an ovel frame mounted under it so it would be raised up about 2 inches. I sent him to a handyman I knew and he took care of him.

The reason he wanted this done was his testicles would hang in the water.

[RW]

Framer - His what would hang where!!!! And he still needed two more inches for clearance??!!

[Mandalyn]

The strangest thing that I have framed was a clay fish made by a 7 year old for his dad. It was thick on both sides and hard to mount. So we threaded wire through the mat board and around the fish head and tail. It worked and the look on that kids face was priceless.

My framing buddy probably had the worst frame job. She actually framed an outer piece of a barn. It was about 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide. Someone had actually done an oil painting on it and wanted it framed. My friend said she was going to put up a sign that said "Bring all the weird complicated projects to me".

[Susan May]

We framed a record that was played at an outside wedding reception. The record was warped, melted by the sun.
We have also mounted a Peacock feather fan.
We built a 8" wide, 3" thick, fabric covered "mat" to go around a Indian wood carving. The carving was 2 1/2" thick, 9 3/4"-10 1/4" tall, by 56" long. The lady's 5' tall parents brought it with them as carry on luggage on a plane from India.

------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[1ow]

I think framer wins this round of competition....and the Miss Congeniality award for prying that bit of information from his customer.

[ChrisW]

A divers regulator, complete with black hose and mouthpiece.

It was an antique ( circa 1965 ) where the regulator was on the back and HUGE, about 8" in diameter. It belonged to his father and the customer was opening a dive shop.

We also put a round bottom green glass bottle ( circa early 1800's ) in the centre of the oval formed by the rubber tubes. It was the first thing his dad recovered from the bottom of the St. Lawrence River.

Hanging in a retail location It has brought us lots of referals.

Chris

"Wal-mart....the Ferengi of our times"

[Le]

I once framed two spears that probably had poison tips. I also framed a 6 ft. rattlesnake skin. I have not framed anything objectionable, but then I not sure what that is yet.

[accent]

We once framed an authentic loincloth from Papua New Guinea.

Needless to say it was done in our famous Minnesota summer,with high humidity. We had to wear a mask to work with it.

There is no explaining some peoples taste!!!

Accent

[TADPORTER]

Have framed an ENTIRE set of baby teeth for a customer who just received her degree in dental hygeine.

Back in the early 80's I framed a piece of the Alaska pipeline. The guy had worked up there as a welder and had cut out the shape of Alaska (about 6" across) with his torch.



------------------
"I haven't been to Michigan since the last time I was there." -Dan Quayle

[Susan May]

I was talking to a friend of mine, who used to frame with me, and she reminded me of a few.
We had a Victorian stitchery that was stitched with HUMAN HAIR!
Then there was the 9 cross stitches that had cat hair, and pee in them. The customer refused to wash them because she was afraid of the colors bleeding! (Like all the yellow stains weren't bad enough.)
There was the cross stitch that was stitched so tight that to get the fabric to lay flat there were 1/8" holes in the fabric. (This cross-stitch was done by an exemployee.)

Shall I go on?

------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[Scarfinger]

Our strangest pair: A fellow came in with a 130 year old lace Christening Gown in one hand and a hand grenade in the other. We framed both in high end designs and he was thrilled. Unfortunately his house recently burnt down and all was lost.

[Lance E]

A horse hoof, never did get an explanation as to why though.

[MerpsMom]

Three dead starfish bodies. Oh, yuk. (She said she liked their color. Oh, Lord, oh, yuk.)

[MerpsMom]

Three dead starfish bodies. Oh, yuk. (She said she liked their color. Oh, Lord, oh, yuk.)

[Cookie]

One of my customers had her baby delivered at home with a midwife. I framed the umbilical cord which had been dried in the shape of a heart. Something interesting to hang on one's wall.

[framer]

Cookie,

YOU WIN


EHUUUUUUUUCCCCCCCCCCCCCCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Cookie]

I guess I should add this - I received it already glued onto a backing. I only had to actually handle the posterboard it was glued on. (much to my relief!)

[Bogframe]

About ten years ago, I was brought about fifteen "hits" of "Blotter Acid" dating from the mid to late '60s. The customer wanted them framed individually in 16 X 20 frames in 8-ply mats (the openings were 1/4" square). It was explained to me that 1) these were "live hits" and should be handled with latex gloves and 2) that they were to be used for an exhibition called "The Acid Show" at a local NYC Gallery. These "Hits" all had cartoon characters on them. I managed to do the job without either tripping or overcutting these mats, but I fear my sanity may have been damaged from trying to do this!

------------------
Seth J. Bogdanove, CPF

[framer]

Excuse me for being square, perfect for a framer, but just being in possession of that is illegal is it not?

Bring the HAMMER DOWN!!!!

[Marc Lzier]

A painting painted in human blood (actually the clients, and it was a family portrait)
A painting done in animal blood, same artist, of a cow, in cow.
A pair of underpants crocheted out of rubber bands.
A section of broken (old) ¼ inch plate glass, with BB holes thru it.
A pair of pants from the holocaust.
The boots of the youngest Dalton, pulled of the dead body after the last robbery, and accompanying newspapers.
A painting by John Wayne Gacy.
A section of Torah Scroll.
I'm sure I'll remember more in a bit.

[Susan May]

WOW!!!!


I think I'm speachless! Were lucky to be in such a interesting busness.

------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[Bogframe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by framer:
Excuse me for being square, perfect for a framer, but just being in possession of that is illegal is it not?

Bring the HAMMER DOWN!!!!

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
I think there's a statute of limitations, plus, framing these converts them into Objets de Arte, at least that's my story!


------------------
Seth J. Bogdanove, CPF
21 years framing and still loving it

[Cookie]

Marc

Does your location have anything to do with those wierd framing jobs? http://www.thegrumble.com/framer/ubbs/smile.gif

[Susan May]

I had someone ask me if I could frame a CHALK BOARD that was on the school wall. They had it removed after President Clinton came to visit the school and signed the board. We ended up not doing the job because PPFA could'nt help us find a was, with out spraying a sealer, to keep the chalk from putting a goast immage on the glazing. (The cusomer wanted plexie for it's strength.) I told them to contact the White House and get a signed picture to hang in their front hall.

What hurts is after I did all the leg work for them, when they got the new picture, with signiture, they took it to another framer. You may ask how I know??? One of the students was a customer of ours, and told me that the picture was framed with paper mats!


------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[Rick Granick]

Our interesting jobs have been many and varied over the past 22 years. "Yuck" items would include a dead squirrel pelt, complete with teenage hunter's photo, hunting license, and original shell casing; and a pheasant tail (which we affectionately called the "bird butt")- we had to remove encrusted salt used as preservative before framing.
We have also framed historical memorabilia such as presidential-signed items, and a chunk of the Berlin Wall.
Number one most unusual item: a Beatles album cover ("Yesterday and Today" album) signed by all four Beatles, PLUS Brian Epstein, PLUS their original drummer, Pete Best! (This last signature had been obtained later at a book-signing event.) This is probably the only item on the planet signed by all of these people!
Have fun, and keep on framin' ! ---Rick

[jframe]

I also did an umbilical cord. Yuck. I turned down the snake skin, but I did frame my fathers rattle snake rattler collection. All 40 of em.

[Chelvis]

About seven years ago, the art gallery I work for purchased via auction, a real human shrunken head. I believe it was from South America, and at least 30 to forty years old (I remember something mentioned about them being illegal to purchase after a certain dat). It was very creepy. They (and one can only speculate who they are)remove the skull before drying, so you are left with a tiny head (with a leather-like feel) that would fit in your palm. It had a large shock of dark hair on its head. While I was deliberating whether to simply mount this on a pedestal or shadow -box it (and what would be the best way to preserve it - mink oil? http://www.thegrumble.com/framer/ubbs/smile.gif), a customer who is a doctor bought it like it was. I think he paid around $2000 for it! Makes you wonder how much a mummy would cost!

[P. Christensen]

Marc Lzier, I once read that Jack Kevorkian paints pictures with blood. Was that your client, and how's your grandmother http://www.thegrumble.com/framer/ubbs/wink.gif?

PegLeg

[Susan May]

OK. Now I think I am creeped out!


------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[LBFOOTE]

Susan May
Do you remember the twig from a Crown of Thorns Bush that the customer brought back from Israel? Mom

------------------
LBFOOTE

[Susan May]

I remember it now! Though I did forget it for a while. The thorns were about 1/2 - 1" long and there was a picture of the man in front of the bush.

------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[Susan May]

WHAT!? No interesting jobs? Come on, we have strange things come in everyday! Share!

------------------
Sue May :)
"Everyone is born right-handed, only the greatest can over come it!"

[Marc Lzier]

Customer just framed up a Schwin Bicycle tire. No rim. No tube. Just a tire. A smaller one, like off of an Orange Krate or Stingray with a Banana Seat. It was not valuable. It did not have any sentimental value. She just saw it in thrift shop/antique shop and thought it would be nice to get framed (with some Schwin Decals that she got too.).

Shadow Box frame, Fabric Float with Fabric Shadow Box Sides. All for a nice pile coin.

She's a framing junkie/framing addict.

[wpfay]

A Framing Addict/ Junkie? Tell me Marc, was the first frame free?
OK Suemay, how about modifying the outside spilt rim off of a '92 Porsche Carerra cabriolet to hold a photo of that car. The rim was ruined when the owner's somewhat tipsy girlfriend fishtailed in downtown St. Augustine scraping the rim against the curb.(they were coming back from speedweek in Daytona).
Got rid of the girl/ kept the car. Had one *real* expensive photo frame.

[Mitch]

I am in the process of framing a catheter used for chemo on a cancer patient. There is still some scar tissue attached.

[Orton]

. . . 1/2 pound of elephant poop. We didn't frame it all.

[woody]

A piece of jawbone complete with several teeth. We hoped it wasn't human but it sure looked like it.

[Susan May]

OK-OK... this, if you will look at the top of the page, is "WIERDIST FRAME JOB", not try to gross out Sue Frame Jobs!

Honestly, Poo? How do you make that look attractive? No, Wait!! Don't tell me, if I don't know, it might not plague my dreams. http://www.thegrumble.com/framer/ubbs/smile.gif

Acctually, it is nice to see some new additions to the list. Now when someone comes in and says "I guess this will be a new one for you, we can tell them that someone has already framed Elephant Poo." (Been there-done that!)

Sue

[sumik]

I am going to frame the rock I just paid $225.00 to have removed from my frogs stomach! Euch!

[MerpsMom]

You guys are makin' me ill.........dung, thorns, catheters? Eeyuck.

[Marc Lzier]

top

[Framing Goddess]

It seems that the tonnage of dark chocolate The Goddess has consumed this past week has served to stir some delightful old framing memories! Tell her if you agree!
Imagine this:
A woman (unclothed from the waist down) sits in ketchup, gets up, and then sits momentarily and delicately on an appropriately sized piece of rag paper. She lets it dry. And then brings it to me, the framer. It was, at first glance, an interesting piece of abstract-y kid's type art...until she gave me the above details. Was it perhaps a gift for someone close to her? The Goddess can't quite recall.
It was her assertion that this was "all the rage" in certain unspecified circles.
Thanks for resurrecting this thread, Marc!

[Janet L]

Whoa, Edie! Did you actually frame that? I must admit that the idea of framing that totally grosses me out!

I'm racking my brain for a really wierd job I've done. Guess I've got lots of new mental memories to add after this Christmas season's business.

[Marc Lzier]

Oh Goddess:
Can I get fries with that?

As a coda to the bike tire (tyre for all youse EU folks) the customer did come in to pick it up.

She paid for it, and then GAVE it to us. She said when she saw it ( in the junk store), she thought of us. She wanted to frame it for us. Since she did not want to go to another framer, she had us do it. Then gave it to us.

We are still unsure of exactly why. But it does hang on the wall. It looks cool, but there is just no reason to frame this bike tire. Yet, there it is.

[Marc Lzier]

I've got another.
It's not so much wierd as just big.

A large company wants to frame a large map for thier "war room" Of course they want to be able to put pins in it again and again.

The map is 7 x 13. FEET not inches!


We contact cement cork to 4 x 8 sheets of F/C. We make three.

We put the map in three sections. One on each sheet of f/c/Cork. We used contact cement to stick the laminated map down.

OnSite, we seam the pieces together with more f/c and a whole heckofa lot of SuperSticky ATG.

Then a metal frame to finish it off.

They ALSO wanted three 6 x 8 (feet) fabric covered cork board.

That takes ALOT of fabric, and a TON of cork.

I figured cost, and a price.

Then I figured the PITB factor. And added.

And added.

And added.

I came to a price I thought was excessivly high enough to make them not want to do the job.

They responded by asking if it could be in by the weekend.

So I added rush charges.

After it was done they were so pleased they said they would tell the other divisions to come to us.

Great. I'll raise the price even higher.

[preservator]

A stainless steel bolt that was so corroded
that its center was almost gone. It had come
from the cooling system in a nuclear reactor
and was the exhibit that had won a law suit.
(The client promised it was not radioactive.)

Hugh

[tnframer408]

A graduating senior from University of Tennessee who played on the football team all four years wants us to shadowbox all his mouthpieces which are, of course, UT orange. I told him to soak them in alcohol or some other disinfectant.

We're going to put nameplates below all of them with date of game and score. Hes to bring them in next week, but we've already priced the job and arranged for moulding, etc.

Can't wait to see all those mouthpieces.

------------------
Michael LeCompte CPF
The Great Frame Up

[JRB]

The only really weird one that sticks out in my mind happened about 20 years ago.

A mailman's widow had us shadowbox her late husbands complete Postal Service uniform, including hat & shoes. She had us pad the uniform "to give it some body".

I asked where she was going to hang it when she picked up the completed job. She looked at me like I was nuts and said, "In the living room, of course."

Sick, sick, sick, sick.

John

[framechick]

Hey - at least he wasn't in it. Eeeeg.

I re-read the whole thread so I have several responses:

Seth B. I saw that exhibit!!!!!!! I remember noticing the lack of overcuts in the mats with tiny openings. Well done.

Hugh You took the client's word for it?

Next time my boyfriend accuses me of saving everything I will be sure and point out that I do not have a framed umbilical cord. Ecch

Thaks Mitch, for the scar tissue detail.

Nothing I've framed is in this league of interesting, but here are my most unique

<UL TYPE=SQUARE>
<LI>A broken tennis raquet signed by Ivan Lendl, broken during the US open.
<LI>A segment of the Wheel of Fortune signed by Pat and Vanna
<LI>Dutch Schultz's hand gun.
<LI>An absolutely shredded baseball cap that a well meaning mom washed after one hot summer of continuous wear. It had gotten so stained and stinky she couldn't stand it. Son went someplace without it for the first time in months and she put it in the wash. It did not survive. She felt so bad. My heart went out to her.
[/list]



------------------
Meghan C. McCord, CPF
J. Pocker & Son
Rye, NY
mcm87@att.net

[framerguy]

I framed a leaf skeleton a few years ago. (Yes, leaves DO have skeletons). It came from Central America and had a picture of a Mexican woman and her child PAINTED on its surface!!

The amazing thing to me is how my client got this extremely fragile leaf skeleton all the way back home without breaking it.

The framing was featured in one of the first "You Framed What?" in Decor magazine in January of 1998.

------------------
****4 mitered corners away from that perfect frame****

[martycip]

Back in the day when I was running the shop all by myself a man came in and wanted me to frame a pair of women's panties. When I remarked that it was an unusual item to frame he commented that if I knew what he had to go through to get them I would know why he wanted them framed. I didn't ask!


------------------
Marty Cipolla, CPF
Marty & Pat's Frame Shoppe
Fort Worth, TX
http://www.martyandpats.com

[Reynard]

I framed a chunk of the Berlin wall along with a photo of they guy getting stuck into it with his pickaxe.

And a crocodile too.(skin)

And the one that made my skin crawl was framing some blokes pony tail that he had to get cut off for a job interview after he left University.It just didn`t look all that clean to me!

[Framar]

I framed a clean shiny pony tail, tied with a pink ribbon, plus a before and after photo of the little girl getting her first haircut.

I framed a very long leather belt that belonged to a formerly huge guy who lost weight over several years, and the belt had indentations of where he kept tightening and re-tightening it as he lost the weight. This was his personal trophy of his struggle, and he did not buy a new belt until he was at his desired weight. The frame was someting like 6x60. No glazing.

[Marc Lzier]

Framed a brick from the house John Lennon grew up in.

When they were filming the Bio-pic a few years ago, they wanted to film it in the actual house (now a museum of sorts, still ownned by the family). The house is so small, and they needed one particular shot, so the museum added a window to acomodate the shot needed. The bricks removed from the wall to make the window were counted. Numbered. And sold to make $ for the museum. And the mudeum got paid for the shoot too.

To be honest, it looked like any other old brick. It just had a brass plaque stuck on one side.

The Berlin wall pieces we have framed look, just look like broken concrete too, of assorted sizes. Don't they?

[This message has been edited by Marc Lzier (edited December 25, 2001).]

[Janet L]

Marc,
I think you win the award for framing the oddest pieces. Your expertise and location must be a great asset for you.

I feel as though the stuff we frame is more sentimental with some wonderful stories but nothing really "strange" like some of you folks!

Janet

[Reynard]

yeah the Berlin Wall chunks were pretty dull to look at!Unless you are a concrete connoisseur.

And I,m not.

I really like bricks though!

[Marc Lzier]

Janet,
Something I have alluded to before is "relationships." It is all about relationships. It is not so much location, or expertness, but rather the relationship you have with your customers.

Why do they come to you?

What/Who do they see you as?

What image do you/your shop project?

When a customer has an item that is "off color" do they see you as a person they have a close enough relationship with to share the item/experience?

When a new customer has an un-conventional item they need to frame, is there something you project that your shop is the place to get it done?

Here are some thoughts:
Wall samples. Wall samples that are more risky in design (with traditional content). And some that are more risky in content, but with conservative design. And some that are over the top in both cats.

Marketing/Advertising. When you fire your shot, where are you aiming? Is there a cash-full market you are overshooting?
Someone will hit the mark and cash in.

Lingo. Be hip. Easy going. Or, at least, open to not pass judgement, and appreciate the art/item for what it is.





[This message has been edited by Marc Lzier (edited December 25, 2001).]

[carladea]

Just recently, the strangest thing we have framed is an owl feather--which is about as big as the head of a pencil. It came from a customer who hit an owl with her car, and that was all that was left of it that she could salvage. It has been stored safely on the "alter" she built for it, but her husband decided it was time to have it framed. We are just worried about sneezing!
Oh well, its a job!

[alan beitz]

Finished our first piece of Berlin Wall on Christmas Eve - exciting object to frame isn't it. However the lady thought it was a lovely job and thats what matters - Alan

------------------
If you can't be a good example you'll just have to be a horrible warning

[TRACY ART & FRAME]

I've been framing over 19 years and have seen a lot. We tell our clients that we've framed everything from OSU astroturf to original Renoirs. But the weirdest thing has to be a human skull. The client got this in Tibet. It was embellished with silver over 80% of it and the top lifted up and had a silver tray in the brain bucket.

------------------
Diver Dave

[Bogframe]

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by framechick:


Seth B. I saw that exhibit!!!!!!! I remember noticing the lack of overcuts in the mats with tiny openings. Well done.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Thanks, Framechick. That job was a long time ago, but it's one that I won't forget; especially having to handle those "live hits!"
I had an experience similar to the tyre episode. I had Annie Sprinkle (ex porn start and now performance artist) for a client some years back. She gave me an autographed poster of hers called "Bosom Ballet" to frame.
This was 15 shots of her breasts and arms in various poses. After it was done, she
told me I could have it, and then offered me a part in a movie, which I politely turned down. I still have the poster, and would post a shot of it, but I'm afraid of young eyes catching a glimpse!

------------------
Seth J. Bogdanove, CPF
22 years framing and still loving it!
The website for my new company is: www.La-Belle-Epoque.com (http://www.La-Belle-Epoque.com)

[This message has been edited by Bogframe (edited December 28, 2001).]

[Marc Lizer]

With the new thread comes back the old to haunt!

[Framing Goddess]

This is one of my favorite threads.

[sabre]

Right now I'm working on a piece that includes a set of wild turkey feathers, the "chin hairs" (whatever they're called), and the shotgun shell that shot it.

[dns ynko]

Ok kids there are so odd ones in here, so got to add to it. A woman has recently brought in a metal rod that was in her leg. It is clean, but it freaks me out. She is so excited to get it back she keeps stopping by, think she misses it.
d

[Marc Lizer]

Cymbal signed by Van Halen members.
http://www.raggers.org/a/cymbal.JPG

Vintage Flinstones Cigar ashtrays and Flinstones Cigar bands, and a Cigar roller tool.
http://www.raggers.org/a/flintsonescigar.JPG

Vintage authentic Chinese Funeral Dolls.
http://www.raggers.org/a/funeraldolls.JPG

Tobacco Leaves
http://www.raggers.org/a/tobaccoleaves1.JPG
http://www.raggers.org/a/tobaccoleaves2.JPG

[Marc Lizer]

Complete European tour set of tickets for the band Slipknot. If you know Slipknot, then you don't think of people who come into a frameshop.
http://www.raggers.org/a/slipknot.JPG

A complete set of "bnechwarmer" trading cards. An insane number of mat openings. Yes, this is over 6 feet tall.
http://www.raggers.org/a/adultcards.JPG

Newspapers alwyas make good framing. But not too often do you get to indulge for the framing part of it. This is a bit gratuitous.
http://www.raggers.org/a/titanic.JPG

[Marc Lizer]

This is just plain ugly, but it's EXACTLY what the customer wanted.

http://www.raggers.org/a/multicolor%20frame.JPG

Another customer wanted this. I still do not understand why. But they loved it.
http://www.raggers.org/a/odd%20shaped%202.JPG


And more odd shaped wonders.
http://www.raggers.org/a/odd%20shaped%20frame.JPG

[Marc Lizer]

One customer does these for his house from Army Men, and Cowboys and Indians. It's a sort of giant battle scene. t tells a story. What I'm not exactly sure. He has several of these. He also does them for friends too.
http://www.raggers.org/a/armymen.JPG

This was done by a girlfriend for a boyfriend as a surprise.
They broke up before she gave it to him. Now I have a nice wall sample.
http://www.raggers.org/a/hotwheels.JPG

This is a Blackjack table top from FearFactor. With perfectly fanned deck of cards, and the acrylic table limit marker.
http://www.raggers.org/a/fearfactor.JPG

[Marc Lizer]

Ceramic torso, cast from live model, floated on black leather.
http://www.raggers.org/a/nude%203.JPG

And from a different customer came this plaster cast torso, from a live model.
This one gets a link, as the image is a bit risque, albit, edited to a PG-13 level. You are hereby warned before clicking.

Link to plaster Torso (http://www.raggers.org/a/nude%202.JPG)

Sorry for so many posts. But The Grumble software has a limit to how many pix you can put in a single post.

I had forgotten about this thread Eddie.

Customers are freaky in what they want framed, and how they want it framed.

[HannaFate]

I have framed a lot of interesting, rare, and unusual things, but nothing really weird. (of course, when you look at my artwork, you will realize that I'm not a good judge of what's "really weird")

I did stretch a llama fur quilt once, and the fun thing about that was how my cats reacted when I came home with an unfamiliar animal smell on me.

[MatFramer]

I have framed dry lint. An artist in the area uses dryer lint to create mini-quilt blocks. It did tend to create a lint problem in the framing package.

I framed a monkey wrench once. It was some sort of award for years of service or retirement, something like that.

One of the saddest things I ever did was for a woman who brought in two watches. One was hers and one her husband's. She had been diagnosed with cancer and only had a few months to live and wanted to frame these for her husband.

Great thread!!!

[Pat]

A dead moth. It went in a tiny acrylic box with handwritten text from the client who brought it in. It was a gift for her husband and the note said "The bug that bit the Bwhana". We didn't ask. ; )

The colour photos a woman had framed of her cervix were unique to say the least.

[Greg Fremstad]

I've framed a handfull of curly metal cuttings (chips) off a fancy new milling machine at United Airlines maintenence base in SFO. Very important to some one there who authorized the $500K for the machine.

One of the first silicone wafers (3" dia) used for making computer chips. Floated in a reverse bevel circular mat.

An IUD (Jarvik 7 I think) installation kit for doctors that included some 10" long fireplace matches in the hermetically sealed kit. This was a joke item. The matches were to solve the problem of cutting the retrieval cord (monafiliment) They were getting complaints from husbands that were getting poked with the sharp cut ends. Ouch! Ouch! Ouch! Ouch!

A Portable radio that had been shot with a shotgun at very close range. This included a plaque reading "First bag of the day - Digital Equipment Corp - Last annual duck hunting party. It still had lots of bb's rattling around in it.
There might have been an interesting stroy to go along with this, dontcha think?

A fortune cookie (delivered to me all broken up in a linen napkin) with a fortune that said: "Your new venture will be a great sucess". They had taken this woman out to lunch in celebration of her opening her new business. What a coincidence! Sprayed the pieces with lotsa coats of matte laquer and framed it all in a small pile on the linen napkin crinkled up in a shadow box. That was 1970 - I wonder how it's held up over the years?

Made a "Collage" of about 75 photographic "Floater" frames - all different sizes from 4x5 to 11x14. These were all attached together - some overlapping - came out about 7 feet tall and about 20 feet long. The customer picked it up in a rental truck.

Framed a panoramic photo about 18 feet long x 20 inches wide. They had to open the hatch on the elevator to get it up to the 44th floor.

The saddest: A finger painting by a womans 4 year old son who had died recently. A moulding salesman walked in while she was still there and asked "What are you framing that for?" Although he weighed about 400 lbs. I literally threw him out. You framers in the SF Bay area can porobably guess who that slimeball was. Circa 1975 ish

Enough - but there's lots more.
Greg Fremstad
FrameTek, Inc.
PS: Ask Vivian Kistler about framing a Dead Cat

[Pat Kotnour]

I once framed a bear skull, the bottom half of the bear hide, and all the bear claws. It was pretty cool (if I do say so myself) when it was finished.