Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
Frame ornaments? Years ago I had a tree in the shop full of mini frame ornaments. No time to make them these days. Doesn anyone carry anything like this? Supplier?
Frame ornaments?
- Thread starter Kirstie
- Start date
DawnStendin
MGF, Master Grumble Framer
I dont have a supplier, but this is one of the things I was planning (in my other thread that went to H*ll) I think it would be really cool to decorate the tree with my ancestors!
Framerguy
PFG, Picture Framing God
Actually I'll bet that they wouldn't mind hanging out with you for awhile.
They probably don't have much else to do around the holidays anyway.
They probably don't have much else to do around the holidays anyway.
PaulSF
PFG, Picture Framing God
I suppose you could make these out of leftover fillets?
Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
When the shop was new and I was young, I had time for this kind of thing. Now time is money, my staff are way to busy doing other tasks, and I need to buy them. But can't find any wholesale sources.
Val
PFG, Picture Framing God
Once upon a time, when I had s-p-a-r-e time, I made them too. Always had a bare tree by the time the season was over....sold 'em all.
I'm with you Kirstie, those days are gone, aren't they?
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Thank goodness!!! (I'm sooo grateful to be too busy to chop up scraps!)
I'm with you Kirstie, those days are gone, aren't they?
.
.
.
Thank goodness!!! (I'm sooo grateful to be too busy to chop up scraps!)
Paul N
SPFG, Supreme Picture Framing God
Val:
You sold the ornamental little frames?? To be used as ornaments or....to put "small" art in them??
You sold the ornamental little frames?? To be used as ornaments or....to put "small" art in them??
JBergelin
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Please don' t shoot me but....
Dare I say it....
Hobby Lobby has a lot of them at 50% before Thanksgiving.
I confess I have used them
Merry Christmas
Dare I say it....
Hobby Lobby has a lot of them at 50% before Thanksgiving.
I confess I have used them
Merry Christmas
Val
PFG, Picture Framing God
Both! Tiny, tiny little art!
Some were so small they had no opening, so those were "just" ornaments. Some were small enough to put a wallet-sized school photo in, with a little screw-eye on top to put an ornament hanger through. I still have one with my daughter's 1st grade picture in it! Some were from the little, gold ornates and pretty all by themselves.
I can't believe I still have all of my fingers after chopping all those little pieces!
Artifacts Gal
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
Ornaments
I used to put mirror into tiny gold frames as Christmas ornaments. One year I decorated a wreath with them for our local museum. No time for those these days!
I used to put mirror into tiny gold frames as Christmas ornaments. One year I decorated a wreath with them for our local museum. No time for those these days!
It isn't exactly the same thing.
When we had our combination frame and needle work shop we very regularly would sell a variety of small circular plastic frames to mount cross stitch in ( originally Precious Moments and Disney motifs) to make Tree Ornaments. In fact we would always have a smaller tree decorated with all needle work and a good bit of it would be in those plastic frames that came with backing and clear plastic glazing .There also used to be a 3 in. Flexi Hoop that came in colors and wood tone that when stretched looked like a circular frame but i haven't seen them for a while now. We also could find on occasions very small (3 in) wooden frames ( from In-line Ovals I think)
But we did make some small square 3 in wooden frames as the vices and underpinners would allow. but if you use large rubber bands like strap vices to hold the legs you may make smaller ones.
We did make a few really miniature looking frames from wider Filets and mount the extremely fine count Cross stitch ( silk gauze 40 count and better) on the lip of the filets facing the inside of the opening to be used in doll houses.
BUDDY
When we had our combination frame and needle work shop we very regularly would sell a variety of small circular plastic frames to mount cross stitch in ( originally Precious Moments and Disney motifs) to make Tree Ornaments. In fact we would always have a smaller tree decorated with all needle work and a good bit of it would be in those plastic frames that came with backing and clear plastic glazing .There also used to be a 3 in. Flexi Hoop that came in colors and wood tone that when stretched looked like a circular frame but i haven't seen them for a while now. We also could find on occasions very small (3 in) wooden frames ( from In-line Ovals I think)
But we did make some small square 3 in wooden frames as the vices and underpinners would allow. but if you use large rubber bands like strap vices to hold the legs you may make smaller ones.
We did make a few really miniature looking frames from wider Filets and mount the extremely fine count Cross stitch ( silk gauze 40 count and better) on the lip of the filets facing the inside of the opening to be used in doll houses.
BUDDY
char87
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
- Joined
- Sep 30, 2007
- Posts
- 152
I have to say, that my shop also made mini frames for ornaments for christmas trees and wreaths. We also made candle holders out of scrap moulding. Great for Christmas and any other special occasions to decorate the table with. We had tons of fun making them. 
Val
PFG, Picture Framing God
And Char, how long ago was that??
With all the advancements in the framing industry, why don't any of us have time to do that stuff anymore?? Is this a good thing? I kinda miss those times, but then, I'm paying more attention to the RETAIL (business) part of framing than I did then. I'm making better use of my time, and I wonder, how would those little hand-chopped-glued-joined-and-painted (labor-intensive TIME IS MONEY!) mini-frame-ornaments sell now? Gone are the days when I'll have time to do those. Sad, in a way. They were fun.
But so are the shadow-box, memorabelia showcase things I'm doing now, that I didn't know how and didn't dare attempt then, and make much better profit (and satisfaction) than those mini-frames. And less chance of chopping off my fingers!
With all the advancements in the framing industry, why don't any of us have time to do that stuff anymore?? Is this a good thing? I kinda miss those times, but then, I'm paying more attention to the RETAIL (business) part of framing than I did then. I'm making better use of my time, and I wonder, how would those little hand-chopped-glued-joined-and-painted (labor-intensive TIME IS MONEY!) mini-frame-ornaments sell now? Gone are the days when I'll have time to do those. Sad, in a way. They were fun.
But so are the shadow-box, memorabelia showcase things I'm doing now, that I didn't know how and didn't dare attempt then, and make much better profit (and satisfaction) than those mini-frames. And less chance of chopping off my fingers!
Kirstie
PFG, Picture Framing God
You are right, Val. Times have changed. I just opened the new Pottery Barn catalogue. Lots of frame ornaments, shiny silver with red ribbon mats. Very pretty. Sigh. I can't compete with China. Pottery Barn is full of frames this month and everything is red and silver Christmas.
I don't think anyone would want our folksy home-grown ornaments or candle holders any more.
Why do I feel woefully behind? We had a good business day today, too. Yet I see these cheery looking catalogs and I feel I'm missing the boat somewhere.
Susan L. Young
CGF II, Certified Grumble Framer Level 2
Nothing wrong with finding a great deal at a Hobby Lobby or Pottery Barn outlet sale, and making the frames your own with a ribbon embellishment or something to change the way they look with little labor investment.
I've done it. Bought some really cute polished nickel teeny desktop frames that were packaged in such heavy plastic sleeves that hid the beautiful finish . Couldn't even see what they really were. They were marked down to a buck a piece. We bought every one we found, took them out of the packaging, and stood them in a wonderful big shallow pottery bowl filled with pebbles. The six dollar price tag on these gems feels like such a bargain now.
Hey, I'm not too proud. Just have a vision on how to take a readymade and make it 'yours.'
I've done it. Bought some really cute polished nickel teeny desktop frames that were packaged in such heavy plastic sleeves that hid the beautiful finish . Couldn't even see what they really were. They were marked down to a buck a piece. We bought every one we found, took them out of the packaging, and stood them in a wonderful big shallow pottery bowl filled with pebbles. The six dollar price tag on these gems feels like such a bargain now.
Hey, I'm not too proud. Just have a vision on how to take a readymade and make it 'yours.'
The Internet is a blessing and a curse.
We used to save scrap moulding and make mini frames during the course of the year. At Christmas one wall near the design counter would be filled with mini frames with mirrors in them. Always sold out. I guess my interest in them vanished before the customer's did...oh well.
Another victim of inertia is the wall tiled with 8" square frames with mirror in them. All leftovers...I have stacks of the frames sitting in corners, in the bathroom, on countertops...prolly 200-250 total. someday....someday.
Val
PFG, Picture Framing God
You're right, Susan. Now I'm inspiried!
Guess what I'm going hunting for today?? And then again, after Christmas, when the real bargains happen, planning for next year.
She says.