Sunday, June 6, 2010

Thank you, Johanna!

It's time for another Metamorphosis Monday with Susan of Between Naps on the Porch! Please visit Susah HERE and check out all the wonderful transformations she and her talented guests have created this week.

Speaking of talent, one of the most creative and accomplished ladies in Blogland is Johanna of Silber+Rosen. She recently celebrated reaching the 50 Followers mark for her blog in a very special way. You can read about what she did and the lovely prints she created
HERE.

A few days after she announced the winners of her generous giveaway, I received this (from which I've removed addresses through the magic of photo editing!) in the mail:

Even the stamps Johanna chose are beautiful!

And look what was inside! That's when I decided to get out the camera and begin snapping away.

I love the way she wrapped the gift. I should have taken a photograph of the back. It was perfect! Johanna must have used glue or two-sided tape to seal the folded edges of the pretty paper.

VoilĂ ! Isn't it beautiful? And she's written something on the mylar sleeve...

"I wish you always sunshine for your garden!" And I wish that for Johanna ... and for all of you!

Such a lovely work of art needs to be displayed and enjoyed. I'll start by showing you the back. I decided I'd try to follow Johanna's example and finish my work neatly. I attached heavy gift wrapping paper to the back of the frame with two-sided tape and trimmed off the excess with a single edge razor blade.

I like the look of small paintings and prints framed with wide mats. I think it gives them additional presence and impact.

It's now on the wall in the den.

I chose a frame with an acorn motif to accentuate the theme of nature in the artwork.

I cut a fabric mat in a neutral shade of taupe. Rather than allowing the beveled edge to show a white line, I cut a reverse bevel (matboard is cut with the top side facing upward) and added fillet as a decorative accent. FYI, fillet is a narrow strip of molding that frames the inner edge of a mat. In the UK, I believe that would be called "moulding in a mount." Jackie? I measured, scored the strips with a razor blade, and cut the mitered corners with wire cutters. It's easier with a fillet "chopper," but it's not terribly difficult to improvise using whatever's available.

In framing, fillet is usually pronounced "fill-it," rather than "fill-lay." Someone once told me, "We're not talking about fish here." ;)

I cut a second acid-fee mat to go behind the outer mat and fillet (to act as a buffer to protect the artwork from the acid in the wooden fillet). I put another piece of acid-free matboard behind the artwork to protect it from the paper dust cover attached to the back.

This spot seemed to be waiting for Johanna's etching to arrive. It will be one of the first things guests see as they walk in ... and the last before walking through the entry hall to the front door.

Thank you again, Johanna! And thank you to all of you who stopped by to see my gift and read about my little framing project. If you're interested in knowing more, let me know and I'll do a mat cutting and framing tutorial in a future post.

40 comments:

  1. Bill that just turned out lovely! The frame and the large mat look great with the art!

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  2. Bill,
    Absolutely lovely etching and you did a beautiful job framing. Johanna's blog is a treasure.

    Carol

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  3. Hi Dear Bill! Oh, congratulations on receiving the lovely etching! Johanna is very talented and I'll have to go and visit her.
    Your framing is so lovely and what a beautiful spot to hang it.
    I'm still waiting for a Dear Bill's 'home tour'! :)
    Be a sweetie,
    Shelia ;0

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  4. How beautiful. I like the little tutorial on framing. I've never attempted to frame anything myself and it costs a fortune to have it done. What a perfect piece and what a lovely, lovely frame to enhance it.

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  5. Congratulations on winning and you did a great job on the framing. Thanks for the tutorial.
    have a great week.

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  6. Beautiful etching, Bill. I have'nt met Johanna, yet. I'll visit when I leave here.

    Your matting and framing of this piece is fabulous.

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  7. Oh Bill, such an exquisite gift and you have framed it just beautifully. Such a treasure. Hope you are having a super day. Hugs, Marty

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  8. Bill,
    That etching is wonderful! Johanna is very talented. I love how you matted and framed it. It looks really pretty in your home.
    Sherry

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  9. Thank you for sharing the gift and your talent with us again. A fond memory of my uncle in Dallas was his hobby of framing and matting pictures. He had a barn with equipment and did the most amazing work! After my high school graduation I stayed with my aunt and uncle for about a week. Uncle Al even rented a baby grand piano so I could play it while I was there. I felt like a princess! You are good for jogging my memories to mind! Thanks so much. ♥♫

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  10. What a perfect piece of art and so lovingly framed! Thanks for sharing!

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  11. Framing often costs more than the artwork we are trying to frame.
    A tutorial would be most helpful.
    This is such a nice gift. I am sure she is thrilled with how you finished it off.

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  12. Goodness, what a glorious gift and well finished with a great frame.
    Beckie

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  13. Dear Bill,

    I have already seen your honorful post and I can't tell you how much I am pleased about it. The beautiful frame and the passepartout really upscale the etching. As usual, you bring all to the perfect condition. I would love to join a framing tutorial because you are perfect in that. What is nicer that the joy one can give to others. Your joy with this little etching is the sunshine of my day.

    Best greetings, Johanna

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  14. How beautiful - what a grand prize to win! Gorgeous print.

    I hope you'll drop by to see the gorgeous kitchen JaneF posted for Met Monday! Don't forget to register for our giveaway if you haven't already!

    Allison
    Atticmaag

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  15. That is really beautiful and I love the frame and mat you chose.

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  16. That is gorgeous- and coming from Johanna, it doesn't surprise me!
    xoxo Pattie

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  17. Is there anything you CAN'T do???? This is so lovely and you did an outstanding job framing it!!!! When I think od the $$$$$$ we have spent to have prints framed.... Wish you lived close by:):) Xo, Pinky

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  18. What a beautiful etching and I love the acorns on the gold frame. You did an amazing job.

    Carolyn/A Southerners Notebook

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  19. Just lovely....and what a great spot to display it

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  20. It is beautiful! Congrats on a lovely and heartfelt gift to win. It was chosen with care.

    Blessings, ~Melissa

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  21. Bill...what a beautiful gift from a very lovely and sweet person! You did a wonderful job of framing it...and it's perfect in that spot. :-)
    Susan

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  22. Bill-There is a real art to framing and you've got it! It overwhelms me. I just take them to be done and then cry over what it costs :) This is such a beautiful and thoughtful gift (and note). And you are a gracious recipient!

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  23. Bill, Beautiful job on the framing and the placement. Perfect as usual.
    Sandy

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  24. Bill,
    This is gorgeous! Please do a mat and frame cutting tutorial soon. I would love to try to do this. Thanks!
    Janice

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  25. This is beautiful! The way you framed that beautiful prize is really lovely. And I would love a tutorial! Thanks for sharing.

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  26. That would be great (the tutorial). Would love to know how to do that. I'm wantig to do a shadowbox of my deceased FIL's military medals for my husband in a shadowbox, so I'd be interested in learning anything about framing. Love the acorn frame. Congrats on winning! It turned out great!

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  27. What a lovely gift & sentiment! Bill, you did a marvelous job of accenting all that is beautiful about this treasure.
    I would very much appreciate it if you would do a mat + framing tutorial. I have a collage of my DGD sitting on my cutting table in the sewing room, just waiting for me to trim the mat. I'm scared I'll ruin it so I haven't touched it.

    No hurry...its been there for months. ~insert rolled eyes~~

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  28. Hi Bill, What a lovely gift from Johanna. I love the frame you chose, it's perfect, you did a great job framing it!
    Hugz,
    Kim

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  29. Bill,
    What a special little print! Thanks for sharing the technique. The acorn frame is perfect...you make it look effortless.
    Gwen

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  30. Hello Bill..

    Ohhh...what a beautiful piece! JoAnna's sketch is fabulous and you framed it beautifully!!! It looks lovely where you hung it! By the way, I love the photo where you caught the reflection of the chandelier on the glass of the art...beautiful!!!

    Have a marvelous Monday, my friend!
    Chari @Happy To Design

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  31. What a lovely, perfect spot to hang such a treasure!
    I would love to see a tutorial on how to mat and frame and "fill-it" :-)

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  32. Is there nothing you can't do? That is beautifully framed. laurie

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  33. Bill, congratulations on being the lucky winner of this beautiful gift. Your mat and frame are the perfect compliment to this etching. It looks fabulous on the wood panelling. ~ Sarah

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  34. It is beautiful and your framed it wonderfully...it looks perfect!

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  35. Hi, Bill. Johanna's present to you is beautiful, what a lovely friend. And, may I also say that YOU are a lovely friend as well, to go through all that trouble to frame it so nicely! That shows you are a good person and very appreciative when someone gifts you with something. It looks beautiful.
    Best regards,
    Gloria

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  36. Just beautiful - made all the more lovely for the generosity of spirit of the giver and recipient. Such care taken by both. Lovely. Would greatly appreciate a tutorial. Thank you.

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  37. This is so pretty, especially with the beautiful mat you chose. It looks great!
    Debbie@houseatthelake

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  38. Gorgeous artwork and the way you framed is equally gorgeous... I would LOVE a tutorial on framing when you have the time

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  39. Uber gorgeous tablescape! Talk about vigorously blooming, your tablescape is blooming blues from the fluted edges in your vases to the curves in the blue bowls and plates - like petals of flowers.

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  40. Hi Bill,

    As always, your table is beautifully set. Your floral arrangements are breathtaking. I love the combination of varied blues.

    I am a big fillet fan and have had many a piece of art framed with the addition of a fillet. I love that extra detail. You did a fantastic job framing the beautiful artwork Johanna kindly sent to you. I love everything you chose and I for one, would love to see a tutorial on framing. I've never done this.

    Have a wonderful week!

    Nancy

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