5 New Ideas for Wall Installs

You spend a lot of time choosing artwork for your walls. But how much time do you spend thinking about how to hang it? There are many options out there, and if you take the time to expressly arrange your wall decor, it will reflect your style even better.

A grid pattern gives a series of small pieces a bigger impact.
Photo credit: House of Turquoise 

Think horizontal.
Photo credit: Design Sponge

A different take on a grid.

Arrange your artwork in a clock pattern.
To add interest, mix in other items such as plates or baskets.  
Photo credit: Thing That Inspire

Free form can be a great way to go.
Photo credit: Solid Frog

The Michaels Myth: Deceptive Advertising

Throughout our 30 years in business, we've heard tell of Michaels custom framing department's misleading practices. Specifically, it was the 50% off coupon that our customers would mention - that even with the coupon, Michaels' prices were still higher than our regular prices. It always left us scratching our heads. Now the courts have recognized the craft giant's underhanded advertising practices, and the big mystery finally all makes sense....

From the New York State Attorney General website:

ROCHESTER – As students and teachers returned to school this month, Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman today announced that retail chain Michaels Stores, Inc. has agreed to enter a $1.8 million settlement for engaging in deceptive advertising practices by misleading consumers into thinking they were receiving steep discounts over a two year period. As part of the settlement, the company will change its advertising practices and contribute $1 million in art and craft supplies to public schools throughout New York State, in addition to $800,000 in civil penalties.

"For years, Michaels duped consumers into thinking they were receiving huge discounts, when in fact, they were simply paying the regular store price," said Attorney General Schneiderman. "Through deceptive advertising practices, this company violated the law and took advantage of hardworking consumers trying to save money.  In addition to the civil penalties, the company is paying for their actions by providing $1 million in school supplies for hundreds of school districts statewide."

Michaels Stores, Inc. describes itself as a specialty retailer of arts, crafts, scrapbooking and custom framing.  Its 48 stores throughout New York State are frequented by parents, students and teachers to purchase school supplies.

As a result of the Attorney General’s settlement, Michaels will be required to give back to the public schools in communities which their stores are located. Today’s action will benefit as many as 724 school districts throughout the state. The schools are set to receive $1 million in gift cards to purchase supplies.

The investigation began in 2009 when the Attorney General’s office began tracking the 50 percent off marketing materials where Michaels advertised its “Custom Framing” as a sale product for at least 104 consecutive weeks.  The law prohibits sales that are never ending. Investigators throughout the state collected newspaper flyers, online flyers, in-store banners and signs advertising the custom framing. Michaels advertised in at least one of these forms every day for two years. The ads stated that custom framing was either at least 50 percent off or a certain dollar amount off. 
Michaels has agreed to settle the investigation by paying civil penalties of $800,000 in addition to the $1 million to New York’s public schools for violating General Business Law (350-D) for False Advertising.

The case was handled by Assistant Attorney General Benjamin Bruce under the direction of Assistant Attorney General In-Charge of the Rochester office, Debra Martin and Executive Deputy Attorney General for Regional Affairs, Martin J. Mack.

Fabulous Framin' Finds

We're inspired by unique artwork. This week we thought we'd feature a few interesting ideas we've seen floating out there lately.

Truly one-of-a-kind. Fingerprint Art!

Create your own series by cutting a large piece of art
into sections and framing it. Drama? Bingo.
Photo Credit: One Kings Lane

Each anniversary, hold the picture from the year before.

Framin' Tips Roundup

Each week we offer a few "Framin' Tips" to help you make the most of your custom framed art. Here are a few highlights from our dose of weekly wisdom....

Everything in custom framing is by design. That goes for the look as well as the structure, the glass, and even the hanging hardware on the back of your piece. Today we want to talk about the 6 things that go into preserving your art and making it look downright dynamite!

TIP #1 
Maybe we're stating the obvious when we say that custom framing should make your art look good. Part of that responsibility lies with you because beauty is in the eye of the beholder. If you're going to have a piece hanging on your wall, you should like the way it looks. But sometimes it takes an experienced eye to help guide decisions. We're here to help ensure the framing draws your eye to the art but doesn't overpower it.

TIP #2 
Framing goes beyond aesthetics and offers the bet protection a piece of art can get. The value of art can come in different forms--it can have sentimental value or it can be an investment. Either way, preservation is important! If you find a piece important enough to frame, you'll want to make sure it's truly protected. The only way to ensure that it's properly protected is to use a professional custom framer.

TIP #3
Mats are important because separate glass from the art's surface, preventing the glass from fusing to the art. Beyond that, they also offer visual appeal and help draw the eye to the art. Remember that narrow mats are generally more of a distraction than an enhancement. Wide mats offer a more sophisticated effect. Choosing a color depends upon the art itself and your personal preferences, but there is always a way to incorporate your tastes and stay true to the art.

TIP #4
Mounting your art is a way to flatten it and rid the art of those unsightly waves that humidity can cause. Dry mounting is a fine choice for photos and other non-porous paper artworks which don't have significant value. But for more valuable works, we will recommend that you do not mount it, but rather hinge it. You will not be able to do away with the waving effect, but you will preserve the value of your art.

TIP #5

Glass protects your art from dust, fingerprints, and spatters. But your choices go beyond that. All glass is not created equal.

• Clear picture framing glass the least expensive option and works well for many  purposes. 
• Non-glare glass will do away with the reflection of light on your image. However, it will also slightly blur the art when viewed from side angles, and this effect is intensified the more mats you add.
  
• UV glass is available as well and is recommended for any art that's important to you. It filters out more than 95% of harmful UV light, which will cause your artwork to fade over time. (UV rays are in all light, but very strong in sunlight and fluorescent light.)

TIP #6
We provide complimentary hanging hardware, including a sawtooth or wire on the back of your piece, as well as a hook for your wall. Exactly what we offer depends on your artwork. Sawtooth hangers are appropriate for small frames, but are inadequate for frames larger than 8" x 10". Generally, wire works best for frames up to a weight of 30 lbs.For frames over 30 lbs., we use separate hangers on each side of the frame back, and no wire. If a wire is used on a heavy frame, the sides pull toward the center, and corner joints are strained; also, top and bottom rails of the frame tend to bow.

Collage Corner

A collage tells a story. We often frame collages, from the classic wedding or baby announcement to a graduation piece to a collection of unusual items like wine corks. There's a lot that goes into the making of a good collage. The framing is just one piece of the puzzle. The layout is crucial! Content can dictate or visual balance can rule. It's up to you to decide how you want your story to be told....

One of our past jobs.
Wedding garb complete with a vintage photo of the happy couple.

Image from The Framer's Workshop

 

One of our happy customers shows off his Iron Man collage.

Another fun one from our shop...
Bless You Boys! What a season it was!

Graduation collage from our shop.