Reasons to Frame Your Keepsakes by Dennis Dunn, The Wild Eye Gallery

There are two essential reasons to frame your keepsakes. The first is presentation: presentation is about the appearance factors - selecting frame parts of the style and color that create the most visually attractive display.  The second is preservation. Preservation is about keeping your framed treasures in their present condition. That involves secure, yet noninvasive, reversible support inside the frame and constructing a microenvironment to minimize environmental hazards. For your keepsakes on display, preservation framing is the best protection against harmful light, temperature and humidity changes, airborne dust and chemical contaminants, insects and mechanical damage.  Preservation framing provides the best long-term value for displaying your treasures.

Here are four tips for working with a professional framer to achieve a preservation quality framing job to showcase and safeguard your treasures:

1. Professional framers are craftspeople who can help you select the best materials. This should be a collaborative, creative process. You'll discuss the different options available for the following three essential framing materials:
Mat Board - Available in a variety of colors. One or more window mats can be used depending on your design preference.
Glazing (glass and acrylic) - Be sure to request a UV-filtering glazing, which helps protect treasures from damaging light rays.
Frame - The most visible component of your custom piece. There are many styles (profiles) and your professional framer will help you select a frame that flatters - but doesn't overwhelm the items you have selected for framing.

2. All mat board is not created equal.  Mat board can vary widely.  When preservation framing, a professional framer would only use preservation-grade board. Preservation-grade mat board can be labeled in a variety of ways, such as alpha cellulose (100% cotton "rag" or purified wood pulp.) Any mat board made from wood pulp should also be buffered. Boards covered with fabric or other specialty surface layers may contain dyes, chemical components, additives, or adhesives unsuitable to be in direct contact with the item being framed.

3. All framing glazing is not created equal.  Picture framing glazing is available in a variety of types. Some specialty glazing offers unparalleled clarity, making the glazing appear almost invisible. Ultraviolet glazing blocks 98 percent of a certain section of the damaging indoor and outdoor UV light rays and helps slow down fading more tha any other glazing option.

4. Frame it to last. If you want your artwork or treasured possession to be a legacy for future generations, ask the professional framer to use only preservation-grade mat board and UV glazing. Make sure the framer is experienced in preservation framing techniques before entrusting him or her with your precious mementos and keepsakes.

The Wild Eye Gallery http://www.thewildeye.com/ 303-670-9252
1105 South Huron Street, Denver

Milagro Art Work - The Winterfest Arts and Craft Show

The annual Winterfest Arts and Crafts Show produced by the Center for the Arts (Evergreen) attracts amazing and diverse artist from across the state, like Saul Lerma and his wife Dee.

We use wood lovingly resurrected from 1800's to early 1900's homestead barns and corrals or other unique sources from that era.  The wood is washed, cut, then assembled to make crosses and three-dimensional framed portraits of Southwest missions.  The picture is a mirror-backed, hand-cut mission with solid or patterned material surrounding it then finishing touches of leather, semi-precious stones and gems, beads, conchos and precious metal crosses attached to the corners. These pieces sell for $850 to $1500, according to the quality of material and the level of detail involved.  The barn wood crosses that we also make average $25 to $150
Please go to http://www.miagroartwork.com/ to view the gallery of art and learn more about the artist.
311 North 50th Avenue, Greeley, CO 80634        970-353-5913

Spirit Horse - Robyn Hanna, The Winterfest Art and Craft Show

Robyn describes the "Spirit Horse" as a bit of Nature and Nurture and a Whisper of Whimsy, of gathered treasures that would be found on a woodland hike: pine cones, twigs, and feathers.  Taking these gifts from Mother Nature and sewing them together with hand-dyed fabrics to create unique sculptured horses with embellishments of beads to add a bit of romance and sparkle.

Robyn explains: A long process from start to finish, I make the Spirit Horses in "herds", several horses at a time, that emerge with each step into their own personality. Like snowflakes, no two are alike. I watch as each little horse grows in my hands, I see changes in expression and soul that will guide me to giving it a name to match it's spirit.

I love marrying the different materials together.  he trinkets I've found, the ones I've made and those I've searched out. Bringing them together into the image of such majestic creatures.  Horses have always inspired me with their beauty and spirit.  As they brighten my life every day, I hope my Spirit Horses will bring a little light to whomever they encounter.
You may contact Robyn at  robynjh@aol.com