I’ve been noticing a resurgence in the popularly of metal frames. The modern metal frame is budget-friendly shopper’s new best friend.  Here’s why, in just three words:

• Stylish: It’s head and shoulders above the dust-gathering flimsy gold frames of the 70’s sitting in your basement.
  
• Adaptable: Available in dizzying array of fresh, vibrant colours and profiles, you’ll be able to mix and match it to any of your favorite pieces.
  
• Handy: It's something you can assemble at home yourself with nothing more complicated than a flathead screwdriver!
  

So, how does this help you save a few bucks at the cash?

Getting wooden frames assembled requires specialized wood glues, clamping equipment and a keen eye to align corners just right. Metal frames just need a bit of elbow grease.

Ask us for our “DIY Discount” when you buy your metal frames. We’ll be happy to provide you your frame along with custom-cut glass, mats, and backings.  Finishing the frame assembly at home is a matter of minutes!

You can frame much, much more than just a painting, you know. Framing can be an ideal way to preserve and display all kinds of treasured collectibles. 

When we attended the Montreal Comiccon last weekend we were extremely impressed by the vast variety of beautiful artwork and memorabilia available to the fans attending. Shadow boxes and other kinds of custom display are the ideal way to protect and present such momentos and souvenirs. All kinds of other collectors can benefit from the skills of their local master framer.  Sports enthusiasts may find a custom picture framer to be a valuable partner in helping them show off their autographs, ticket stubs, trading cards and more. 

As collectors ourselves, we are honoured to have had so many treasured and irreplaceable items in our care. We know how important it is to have your art, autographs and models treated with the utmost respect. Come by the shop and we'll help you find a display solution today! As a special offer to fellow Comiccon attendees we are extending a 10% discount to anyone with Comiccon collectibles to frame (to October 15th). We are looking forward to finding a personalised and unique way to show of your cool stuff!

I can"t tell you how many people come to me with a photograph, or artwork on paper asking for plain white matting. These days with the enormous selection of colours available to us, I believe there is no excuse for dead white mats anymore. Often the trouble is that we are afraid of colour and feel safer choosing a "neutral" such as black or white.

The solution?

Look at the image you are framing, see if you can "pull" a colour from the image. It should not the be most predominant colour in the image (that will cause your image to become lost in the matting) but one of the colour "highlights" in the image. Even better, find two different colours and choose a double mat in order to increase the depth and visual interest of your picture.

Last week, I framed a large group wedding photo. This poster size photograph had a great deal of colour variation and made mat selection very challenging. We finally chose a warm mushroomy-taupe colour for the top mat (picking out the stone from the chapel in the photos background) and a dark flannel gray for the under mat (picking up the mens dark suites). The selection of even relatively neutral colours really brought out the best in the photo and gave it that "custom framed" look.

Finally, If you MUST choose white mats, make sure you choose a white (or even better, and off-white) that has some warmth and character. try not to "match" your images paper colour (it tends to make the images paper, or the mats look "dirty").