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FramerDave

FramerDave

PFG, Picture Framing God
Joined
Jan 1, 2001
Posts
5,414
Loc
Houston, Texas
I was just browsing through some old postings and I saw that ArtLady mentioned that she keeps her paper mat samples under the counter and VERY rarely ever sells them. Could I just throw in a point here, one which many of us have already thought of?
At a previous job, I got in all new samples and only showed Alphamats or rag mats. I kept a FEW paper mat samples but they were the same old ones that had been there God knows how long. On those few occasions when I was forced to show them, guess what? They were faded, the edges were the color of nicotine and the corners were worn. Now how many paper mats do you think I sold when the customer compared them to the crisp bright new rag or Alphamat samples? That's right. None. I guess they have some use after all.
Has anyone had any good customer horror stories lately? They're always so entertaining when they're not your customers.

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Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris (1834-0896)

[This message has been edited by FramerDave (edited May 08, 2001).]
 
Hi Dave. I did three shadow boxes today: a 24 x 48 leather collage; a baseball jersey signed by Kirby Puckett; and a 1949 wedding photo with invitation and dead flowers. It seemed like a horror story while I was in the middle of it but I feel much better now.

As usual, this has nothing to do with the posted topic.

Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
Well, Kit, I think I have you beat. I just finished a sword and it's sheath, a dagger, and a "letter" sweater from the 1940's. I still have ahead of me two s.b.'s of horse-show ribbons and photos, two s.b.'s with autographed hockey items, pucks and sticks included, and another dagger. I was wondering, since I'm on the subject, how long does it take you to complete these kind of projects? It seems to take me forever to get eveything together, then I have to put the time aside to do the work.
 
This time question is one of great interest: we do more than our share of this kind of stuff, and I find myself dreading them more and more because they are hour hogs. If anyone answers the question, how much time do you allot to layout, and how much to actual construction and finish?
 
I have 8 ribbons from a horse jumping competition with the medals to be shadowboxed.

The woman that I lost her baby's bib, booties and bible has recently finished duplicating the items and dropped them off this week to be shadowboxed with the outfit the baby was christened in. Next shadowbox to do is for another set of twins of a friend of mine.

But the all-time winner is one I'm dreading worse than any job I've ever done. A wedding portrait from '86 that has been "framed" in some type of ruffled, cheap lace with flowers made of lace and beading all over it. The portrait is 24 x 36 and is held in place by two strips of ELASTIC- one on the top left corner and one on the bottom right corner. It appears to have accumulated plenty of dust and dirty finger prints on the lace! Tried to talk the customer into removing the portrait and framing it without all the lacy stuff but her mother wouldn't hear of it! The mother is paying for the job. The day that job is complete, I am going to get it out of my shop as I don't want anyone else to consider framing the same type of job.

Shadowboxing is extremely time consuming. But with a customer paying what I feel is a fair price for my time and materials, it helps pay the bills.


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How cheap do you want it to look?
 
Janet...I would imagine it's going to be a huge relief to get the bib, booties, bible and outfit done. It sure seems like a long road sometimes, doesn't it. I'm glad everything worked out for you.

jkol
 
In another thread I had mentioned a tightly rolled, three panel photo that I was having trouble with.
Well, it came out beautifully and the customer was elated. He came back the very same day with six Navy medals, ribbons, an embroidered patch and a pin along with four medals and ribbons from the Merchant Marines.
We discussed the shadowbox layout and he said he would return with two brass name plates that I would put in the shadowbox.
When he returned not only did he have the name plates but, he also brought his own shadowboxes he bought at some local craft store. (what a guy!)
Well, I did the job and it came out great except for the fact that the frames looked cheap (I wonder why?). Then he had the nerve to ask me if he owed me anything! When I gave him the bill, well let's just say it's a good thing I know C.P.R. He thought by bringing in his own frames the bill was going to go away (yeah, right).
After I revived him he seemed extremely happy! He couldn't believe how secure the medals were (he proved how secure they were by holding the frame upside down and shaking it wildly).
Wow, this is a long story. I decided in the end to keep the shop sticker off the frame.
Hey, does anybody know a good cook that I can bring my own eggs and bacon to?
jkol
 
Jay, what a great story! You've made my day.

I whine a lot about shadow boxes but I secretly kind of enjoy them because they're different from the usual routine.

Usually the layout is determined at the design counter and I make little sketches of what goes where. Sometimes people just hand me a box of "stuff" with instructions to make it look nice. Depending on the size, they average between $300 and $400.

Sounds like Janet wins this month's blue-ribbon-and-lacy-flower award for Most Tastless Project To Be Framed.

Kit

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Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Kit aka emrr:


Usually the layout is determined at the design counter and I make little sketches of what goes where.


Kit

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hi Kit,
For those layouts determined at the design counter, how 'bout just taking an overhead snapshot with a Polaroid?

All kinds of uses for a Polaroid around the shop!
 
You've probably triggered a whole 'nuther discussion with that story, jkol. One feels confident that you were at least properly compensated for your work.
 
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>
But the all-time winner is one I'm dreading worse than any job I've ever done. A wedding portrait from '86 that has been "framed" in some type of ruffled, cheap lace with flowers made of lace and beading all over it. The portrait is 24 x 36 and is held in place by two strips of ELASTIC- one on the top left corner and one on the bottom right corner. It appears to have accumulated plenty of dust and dirty finger prints on the lace!

[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Please please let us see a picture of this thing!


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Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris (1834-0896)
 
Yes po'framer, I made sure that I was compensated fairly.
MAX...Now I know why I have that polaroid under my counter...thanks for the tip.

jkol
 
JKOL,
How about bringing the bacon and eggs to our house. I'll cook them for you at no charge. The cupboards are bare and I need to go grocery shopping really bad! After standing all day long, once I sit down in my car and head home, it's really tough to think about having to walk around a grocery store for an hour.

Janet

P.S. Framer Dave: If we can figure out a way to post a photo of the Award Winning Lace
and Ruffled portrait, you'll have it! It may break our camera as this piece really hurts to look at it. It's not a sight for sore eyes. You'll want to look at it early in the morning!



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How cheap do you want it to look?
 
Have you heard about Sumik
Who used to post here.
She lost all her marbles
That's what I hear.
The 43X68 shadowbox
Project that came
Was such a disaster
It drove her insane.
She gave it her best
And didn't want to quit.
But that doggone thin plexiglass
Just wouldn't fit!
She threw up her hands
And said "I give up!"
So now she's gone mad.
Isn't that sad.
 
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