The Frame Room

In Memoriam: A Horse Biddle, a shadowbox, and a bittersweet story

When the customer came in with what look like a small horse saddle, I started to get a little anxious and a bit worried about finding a substantial frame and the adequate materials for such an ambitious frame design. I was mostly concerned about the possibility of design complications, proper securement, debris collection, and feasible execution in a timely manner. I’ve framed many intricate, heavy, unconventional, and bulky objects in the past but nothing quite like this. When the customer set the small saddle down and asked if it was possible to frame it within a few weeks, I was immediately reticent and unsure if it could be done in a timely manner with quality materials and execution. But after some examination and asking a myriad of questions, it was becoming more and more clear that this saddle would be a good candidate for a shadowbox. 

Peruvian Rug Shadowbox: mounting something old and something beautiful

When I saw the rug the first thing I noticed was the size; it was pretty big with a lot of crazy fringe and illustrious colors surrounding the entire perimeter. It was fairly big for a personal custom frame job, like something you would see in a nice gallery or art museum. Other than its size, the rug was pretty meaningful and sentimental to the customer, so I had to design and handle the rug with great and intimate care. The customer bought the rug years ago in Peru when traveling around South America and for some time was hanging it on his wall unprotected and not properly mounted. The customer knew if he wanted to preserve the rug for decades to come he would need to properly mount the rug in an enclosed acid-free, UV protected environment. So after a few discussions it was decided that a simple shadowbox was the best route to properly preserve and present the rug in an appealing fashion.

Framing a Flag

The flag at first glance was very interesting and appeared to be very old and a bit fragile. The colors and the look of the flag were very specific to a Maryland state flag or possibly a Baltimore city flag. The design of the shadow box was very clean and bright, which was ideal for displaying the flag with good complimentary colors and adequate space. Before I even started mounting the flag onto the textured mat, I wanted to be sure all my materials were ready to go and the initial design requirements were being met. If I were to rush into the mounting or rush into gluing materials in place, a simple design oversight could ruin the whole process or compromise the integrity of my work. When sewing a flag or any garment for that matter, you want to be sure that you have the right threads, needles, and tape to properly execute the job. You’ll also need some type of awl or thumbtack to puncture the mat board so the sewing needle can easily pass through the flag and the mat without bending or breaking. Once your materials are set and you’re completely clear about the design and layout, you’re ready to sew.

For many, the holiday season is one of the only times of year we get-together with family. Even if your family is scattered in different states, the holidays seem to bring us together to celebrate traditions that make it a memorable time of year. A great way to remember those times is by getting ...

Procrastinating this holiday season with gift-buying? You want every gift to be personal and thoughtful for family and friends but you’re running out of time? Thankfully, The Frame Room in Fells Point has a huge selection of unique finds at all price levels. Here are our Top 6 Last-Minute ...

Do you have a jersey or t-shirt you'd like to frame? Our $225 Jersey Shadowbox special can't be beat! Coming soon...online jersey framing. Our Jersey Framing Special can't be beat. We will frame your favorite baseball, football, basketball, or any sport jersey as well as t-shirts and other items ...

We know custom framing CAN be expensive, but we are here to help. That's why we have select black wood frames at 20%* off all the time! We know sometimes you have something that needs custom framing, but you don't want to spend a ton. We have a selection of black wood frames at 20%* off all the ...

A first, but often confusing step in custom framing is mounting, commonly called dry-mounting, your poster, print, or other artwork. Learn about dry-mounting materials and process here. How to Choose Custom Framing Mounting   At The Frame Room, our core philosophy is to educate and inform ...

A first, but often confusing step in custom framing is mounting, commonly called dry-mounting, your poster, print, or other artwork. Learn about dry-mounting materials and process here. How to Choose Custom Framing Mounting   At The Frame Room, our core philosophy is to educate and inform ...

Different artwork, posters, diplomas, or other framed items require different glazing, aka glass. This article will help answer the questions about clarity, UV ratings, and best glazing uses for you.