The Art World, plus a bit of Charity

May, June and July have gone. I’m convinced our last blog was about three weeks ago, so that just proves (again) just how time flys. Our picture framing and giclée printing world is as busy as ever and the flow of art keeps appearing.

I think in blogs, the ‘learned’ are supposed to express some great wisdom about their industry. In the absence of wisdom all I can comment on is the strange situation whereby artists seem to be struggling to sell their work. We are framing and printing more than ever, and the economy is showing small signs of recovery, but I guess people aren’t buying pictures. Hopefully it will change soon.

On a more jolly note, we were delighted to be able to give some frames to local charities. We had been making various frames from the left over length of mouldings, but storage is a problem for us and we didn’t really know what to do with them. The Harborough Mail ran a piece for us and we were delighted to donate a good quantity of picture frames to the Air Ambulance shop in Harborough, the Clipston branch of the Canine Partners charity and some to Medbourne Village Hall. Hopefully they can earn a few bob from them - and we won’t have to feel bad about throwing out loads of perfectly good frame wood!

Is Spring Here?

Well thank heavens the snow has gone. Is it too much to hope that spring has finally arrived? Remarkably we had our busiest ever January and February & March, so thank you to everyone who did make their way through the snow, ice, fog and rain.

We continue to see a wide range of art through our workshops and the usual high-quality selection of professional and hobby enthusiast photography. Our Canon large format printer giclée and photographic printer seems to be running all the while these days. And don’t even get me on the topic of the new print heads that it miraculously seems to need the same time every year - irrespective of how many prints we’ve done! If there are any conspiracy theorists amongst you, I’d like to join gang.

With a number of private exhibitions coming up we’ve been busy making sure we hit a few deadlines. (we haven’t missed one yet!)

And, talk about famous last words; having praised our trusty old van in our last blog, it decided to blow its clutch to bits on the North Circular, enroute to making a delivery in London. It wasn't the best of days!

A Milestone is Reached!

The trusty old van has just reached its 100,000 mile mark. We’d like to say that that makes 100,000 miles of delivering frames, but it spent the first 40,000 of its life delivering fitted kitchens, but that still makes 60,000 miles of lugging frames about.

It’s been a reliable old workhorse (famous last words) but is probably the slowest van on the road - we didn’t splash out on the turbo version!




The van is pretty well known round these areas, and everyone waves as we travel around. They seem to prefer waving at Jess and Jules rather than me (Rob), so you can draw your own conclusions about that!

Please note in the photo that we’re strictly obeying the speed limit - but don’t speculate too much on how we took the photo!

Don't Tell the 'Health & Safety' People !

We finally managed to get around to hanging the monster sized prize winning painting by Sheila Manwaring.  When we chose the frame we really didn't give much thought to how heavy it was - and trust me, it is very heavy.  The picture just makes it look like we're managing to hang it with ease - it doesn't reflect the groaning and mild degree of panic!

We can make excellent frames, but hanging is not one of our (Rob's) great skills.  But undeterred, and with a little help, the beast is now hanging in pride of place.  It looks fantastic, so do call in and admire it for yourself - and see if you can name all the Harborough buildings.

A New Year

Well, we're back (Happy New Year everyone).  The break was good and we're ready for another busy year (hopefully). 

We've decided that we should permanently have a large frame standing in the workshop.  We've just finished printing and framing our competition winning picture by Sheila Manwaring and it's all ready to hang on the wall.  In the mean time it has been the main topic of conversation with everyone who's called into the workshop.  It's a huge striking piece - in a very expensive frame!  It also weighs a lot!

It's been much admired both for its frame and, indeed, for Sheila's lovely and imaginative work of art. 

It will eventually get on the wall when I find a fitting and chain strong enough.

Christmas has arrived - again !

Well Christmas is here again with November and December having flown by. The end of the world as predicted by the Mayan civilisation hasn’t happened, although when we all went down with the winter virus with a week to go and a huge order board it felt a little as though the end of the world was nigh. But as usual, we survived and everything got made in time.

We’re just reviewing all the things we said we’d do in 2012 and realising how many we haven’t done - but also how much we have done.

As ever a huge thanks to all our customers without whom we wouldn’t have a business (obviously). We wish you all a Happy Christmas and a great New Year.

Mounts Make Cash!

To everyone who has taken some of our mountboard off-cuts and put a little cash in the Headway charity bottle we're pleased to say we've filled the 2nd collection box to the tune of £125.53.

Headway (the Brain Injury Association) is a fantastic charity that does great work throughout the UK.  In some ways it's not the highest profile name in the charity world, but I bet if you ask a few people you'll be amazed at just how many have a friend, colleague or family member that has been helped (and indeed rely upon) Headway.  You can read a little more about them at www.headway.org.uk