Really custom framing and an answer to one of life's most sought after questions.

Many years ago, the North Carolina Museum of Art assembled a show of frames through the ages. These frames were mostly European and dated back to the 1500's. They were truly custom frames as they were all made specifically for the paintings they held. The beautifully strange thing is that the art was left out of the frames so only the frames were on display. It was magnificent! The only problem I had was that I couldn't (and didn't) touch the frames. That's one of the neatest things about handmade frames, the feel(hey, there could be, and are, weirder fetishes).

The National Gallery (I'm assuming of Ireland) is hosting a similar show in case you couldn't get to Raleigh. Just pop on over for a bit.

And now the moment you've been waiting for: The answer to that ever important life question, "Just how many frames can my Senator buy yearly on the tax payer's dime?".

Here's the answer(it's number 5). In unrelated news, we'll be opening a new shop in the basement of the Dirksen building...wherever that is.

Peace out my friends, until next time!

But I can't frame that!!

What about art you can't custom frame? What? Art you can't frame? That's hooey, you say. Not when it's as cool as this stuff is. While this can totally be called custom framing (maybe in the truest sense of the phrase), it has nothing to do with an actual physical frame. The beauty lies in the maddening preparation these guys must have gone through to create this beautifully stunning art. Check it out and love it because it's cool. But for art you can frame, don't forget the talent at www.hamptonhouse.net.

PS. How's that for a random post after too long of a time? Boom!

Why would you want to custom frame anything?

Really. Why would anyone want to go to the expense and hassle of bringing their stuff to a snooty frame shop when they can just order a frame off line and do it themselves? Good question...sort of. This is the first in a series of what you may find to be boring posts about answering the above questions. So strap in and let's get going.

 Firstly, it's expensive. Let's face it, custom framing isn't cheap, it can be quite expensive. Especially when done right. That family photo you just snapped could easily cost $200.00 to frame (and more depending on the products you choose). You've got to pay for the frame(usually the most expensive component), mats(I think they should always be acid free), glass(UV filtering is the best) and labor. That's alot of money when you think about it. Although, when you look at how long you'll enjoy that family photo, especially if properly framed, it really doesn't cost that much. That piece professionally framed piece on your wall will last longer than any clothes or car you'll buy and longer than most furniture as well.

Typical Pottery Barn style frame

Super awesome custom framing

Even more super awesome custom framing

The future of wall decor is here

At the end of January, Lara and I had an opportunity to go to Las Vegas for a trade show. Now you would think the most exciting thing we saw was the abundance of folks advertising prostitutes, or the hordes of human zombies mesmerized by slot machines like moths to a flame. Sure, all that was pretty eye opening but the coolest thing by far we saw (and here's where you get a picture of just how cool we are) was a new software platform that allows us to shop online for art images, purchase those images, then download and print them all in a matter of minutes, and all from our shop (or your office, boardroom, etc.).

This is a technology that is long overdue. Imagine, no more out of stock or discontinued images, no more shipping fees and two week turn arounds until the art comes in. This allows publishers to divorce themselves from stacks of preprinted images, and allows us the ease and speed to get what we want, when we want it. See, I told you it was cooler than prostitutes and slack jawed gamblers.

Both of the above images are from this new resource, and were framed virtually using the virtual framing tool available from the homepage of our website. And as always, if there are any questions about this or any other service we offer don't hesitate to reach out to us.

We're back, or Real Custom Framing

So, I figured since more than a year has passed since the last Hampton House blog post, it's time to dust the ole gal off and get things going again. The new format will be very similar to the old in that the content will vary between art, framing, design and senseless ruminations. The plan is for me to update about once a week with the happenings from the world of Hampton House and beyond. And with that being said, here goes:

Probably the most exciting thing to happen around Hampton House this week was the completion of a true custom framing project. Most of the picture framing we do always while custom is pretty standard stuff (albeit oh so lovely), but once in a blue moon we get a true challenge, and this was a doozey.

Note the arrow indicating where the splice is.

The challenge was to frame a 100 year old South Pacific tapa cloth that was longer than the industry standard 10 foot moulding length and way longer than the 60 inch standard for matting and mounting products. We had to splice three sheets of acid free matting and foamcore together to mount the piece down to, and the moulding had to be spliced toghter by master craftsman Steven Cole. If you need to kow why I call Stevie a master craftsman, just check out the photo of the (all but invisible) splice. Needless to say, all materials had to be special ordered and this project took a couple of months to bring to fruition. The result is a true museum worthy piece.

Finished Tapa Cloth

 Thanks for reading and, most of all, sincerest thanks for your business!

So, I know I've posted about his tool before, but I just can't help myself because it's so cool. Larson-Juhl has created a web based virtual framing tool that lets you design your very own custom frame job AND, place it on a background that closely mimics your wall color.

Here are some of the neato functions:

With the Interactive Frame Design tool, you're able to create designs with up to three layers of mats and fillets! Be sure to check out the tool's zoom feature so you can get an up close look at all of the details you incorporate into your design.

Also:

In addition to utilizing multiple mats and fillets in your digital design, you can also create stacked frame combinations with up to three mouldings! When your design is complete, you can choose a paint color, from our vast selection, for the background. This fun option allows you and your clients to see what the finished piece will look like against a specific wall color.

This is pretty cool, but remember if you like talking with real people, there's no place like Hampton House as a resource for your frame design needs.

Wendy Luann Barber – Doll Maker

Sara L. Wilson
A doll is more than a plaything for doll maker, Wendy Luann Barber.
“All of my dolls right now are collectors items,” she says. “When I first started making them I made play dolls, but not anymore. I guess I got tired of it because I couldn’t get the detail that I wanted.”
Wendy has been making cloth dolls for more than twenty years, but recently she’s been exploring a new medium: needle felting.
“It’s been around awhile, but it’s just now finding its groove,” she says of the process, which involves repeatedly poking an old steel-mill needle up and down into a pile of wool to compact and create shape.
Wendy, who started making dolls around the age of eight, can turn out a doll in about two days flat. From the bodice to the clothing to the painted-on face, her creations are influenced partly by her costuming and design degree, and partly by her imagination.
“I’ve always had a very good imagination; I love fantasy and SciFi,” she says. But what she loves most about making dolls?: “The artistic part of it; being creative; taking a flat piece of fabric and making something [people] recognize,” Wendy says. “When people ask me what I do, they automatically think ‘play dolls,’ but when I whip out a picture they say ‘that’s not a doll, that’s art.’”
Wendy’s dolls are decked out for Halloween at Hampton House Art and Framing this month. Stop by for the artist’s reception on October 6, 5:30–7:30 pm.

Just a quick post of an article from the Wall Street Journal concerning the Taubman Museum in Roanoke, VA. This article confirms my belief that the common Joe might be intimidated by so-called "High Art", or in this instance contemporary architecture. My self being a common Joe however is very interested in the low-brow work of Mark Cline. What do you think, King-Kong standing on top of the frame shop?

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424053111903703604576584583050203682.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Jackie Pittman, Hampton House:

We had just stepped on the Virginia Creeper Trail when I noticed the lone swallowtail perched on a leaf by the path. We both knew the relationship was ending and had gone for a hike that day to clear our heads. He was up ahead about 20 feet. "Look" I said, pointing. And then, I held my breath as about one hundred butterflies started circling me...around and around. I stood there, perfectly still, with my arms held up knowing how wonderfully special this was.

That year for my birthday, he gave me a framed print of four swallowtails. The final breakup came just before Christmas, but he gave me another print of two swallowtails on a butterfly bush. This one was unframed and because of the heartache, I stuck it in a drawer. The event of that day on the trail was too closely related to him and I didn't want the reminder.

Some months later I started working here at Hampton House. On my first day I was admiring the work of Susanna Pantas. We have several of Susanna's pieces and it was her style that I found fascinating. Whether the painting is of a tortoise shell, sand dollars, a conch shell, a moth or a bird's nest, they are all realistic, close up, and with minimal background and framing. And then I saw it, her painting of a swallowtail - but not just any swallowtail, but one whose wings are torn and tattered. Pantas has titled the piece, "Remembering the Wind". This butterfly has come out on the other side of his storm, very much worse for the wear, but even still, a thing of beauty. I then saw Susanna's theme; an empty tortoise shell, an empty bird's nest. The sand dollars are bleached from the sun, not the gray of live ones from the ocean floor. All of these things were once a home...had given refuge and warmth. Even the remains of the tattered butterfly had once sheltered a soul on the wing.

I realized then that what happened on the trail that day was mine. It was my time when the universe had asked me to be still, to calm my heart and mind and just watch. I may be a little worse for the wear - a little torn and tattered but I've learned to look for those moments that are mine. I took the print out of the drawer and brought it in to be framed. It hangs in my house and every time I look at it, I can still feel that faint breeze of butterfly wings.

This is my first blog. Susanna is our featured artist this month and I wanted to share with you the reason I have a particular work of art hanging in my home. I hope you'll share with us your stories of why you chose a certain piece for your own home - the ones that touched your heart, that spoke to you and you knew it was meant for just you.

Amy C. Miller, Interior Designer, Hampton House:

Everyone likes nature, right? Well, most people. I get asked all the time by curious clients why there is such a push in interior design towards all things natural.... I don't think it is as simple as some people just liking nature. I think it is a desire that all of us humans have to stay connected to the natural world, & that this desire has been enhanced by our knowledge of the environment & how to preserve it. As a designer, I have a responsibility to my clients to present them with products, finishes & accessories that are safe for the environment, as well as being green whenever possible.