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

Hardly Earth Shattering News

Well it's a sad confession that we don't seem to have anything interesting to say about our world of framing and art printing.  I could use the excuse that we've been very busy (which we have) but I know that I've used that excuse in previous blogs.

 

But the truth is that the customers keep coming (thank you all so much!) and the weeks just fly by.  We're still seeing some fantastic pieces of art and some really nice photography, but don't seem to have time to write about them. 

 

About the most interesting thing to happen is that we've finally got around building the customer counter in the workshop.  This in itself is not that interesting were not for the fact that I built it!  Now those of you who know me will know what an achievement this is.  However, I'm not willing to confess how long it took me to build.  Let's just say that the carpenters in the area are not under any threat from me!  But hey, it's built, and it's strong enough to lean on!

 

Finally, has anyone noticed the word 'Christmas' has started to be mentioned!

 

 

Where did that year go?

Remarkably it was a year today that Jess first came to work with us – just to get some experience (thus proving that we can fool some of the people some of the time!)  Well she forgot to leave and now we couldn’t do without her.  It’s also true to say that with 1 year under her belt that I can no longer fool her any of the time!  

We need very little excuse to eat cake in the workshop, so today’s celebration was a must ! 

Many of our customers already know Jess as part of our small team.  Jess is a comfortable framing as she is working with the digital print side of our business.  She also shares Jules’s eye for colour and style when helping customers to select their frames.

 

 

We could say she’s pretty good at everything, but we can’t, because she’s absolutely rubbish at parking the van.  So at least I’m still better than her at one thing!