The Cream of the Crop: Finished-Corner Frames
Abby and I had some time today, a welcome pause between projects. Folks are probably avoiding being blown away by the frigid gusts of this leap day. As February goes out like a lion, we really feel we gained some time. These moments seem few and far between, but when we have a pause, we take great advantage of the comfy chairs in the front of the shop. We bring notebooks knowing we will end up chatting up a to-do list, and of course, we need tea and snacks.
Today was no different in that the ideas started flowing. We all love order, efficiency, and shop improvements. It is not unusual at any given moment for someone to come up with a “Get-Better” idea. Often the items we check off our list are related to bettering our systems, work flow, shop offerings, etc; all somehow upping our game. Last week Abby started the conversation about how to cut back on the use of paper, Matthew built some amazing storage racks for bags, and I figured out how to improve our shop receipts. All very useful, but this afternoon we got inspired by some of our most beautiful offerings. This is always fun and never short of inspiration.
Today our chat took a turn toward finished-corner frames. Once the conversation began we found ourselves hopping out of the comfy chairs. Abby grabbed the camera and I started pulling corners off the wall. The afternoon turned into a full-on finished-corner photo shoot and we are so excited to share it with you.
Many of you may be wondering what I mean by “finished-corner”. The majority of frames from the shop are built on site. We miter and join them right here. It is a leg up on quality control and we try to keep our standards quite high. If a warped stick comes in, we turn it right around for a replacement. If we feel we need to slightly alter a frame’s size, for instance, a collage of photos may need a tweak in the mat margin, it is not a problem. We can build what we need on the spot. Magic. Matthew’s craftsmanship and our specialized equipment allow us to get the tightest, neatest corners possible. Some join flawlessly and some require a bit of coaxing. All dependent on the material and motif. Our set-up puts us in control of quality, and we like that.
The only time we relinquish this control is for finished-corner frames. These frames are stunning. They are built by craftspeople all over the country. The defining characteristic is that the frames are built before they are finished. The carving, painting, metal leafing, gesso layer, distressing, antiquing, etc all happen after the frame is built to your custom size. You can also request a variety of depths and widths. In addition, if you like one finish, but want it on another profile… no problem. They range from welded steel to laser cut acrylic, carved and gold-leafed to powder-coated. The options are endless and the results are exquisite. This is as custom as custom framing gets. This is a moment to measure more than twice and then order, and we do. They come to us completed and they never disappoint.
Our selection is extensive and we surprise ourselves all the time rediscovering something beautiful and using it in a new way. Abby is editing now. She took 200 photos. It was fun. In addition to the samples you see here, we are planning to share more of our selection on Finished Corner Fridays! Follow us on Insta @newburyportframers and check them out.
We take great pride in the shop’s offerings. There is a huge selection of styles and price points, something for everyone and every project. It is hard to know what is here unless you pay a visit or two. We are hoping when this crazy wind stops you will take some time to come our way. We all gained an extra day after all.
Time to think spring,
P
Dutch Finish with Exquisite Detail
Gold Leafed Drawing Frame
White Gold drawing frame with painted side