Gift needing Custom Framing
 

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My dear mother just sent me this beautiful counted cross stitch that she made for my sewing room. She's worked on this for over six months and I just love it!

My question: I'm looking for an affordable custom framing service and am aware that Michael's and JoAnn Stores offer this but it's been many years since I've done this and I recall the price was out of this world. Just curious if anyone has any recommendations or suggestions.

FYI - Unfortunately, it's not a common size so I do not think it would work to simply buy a standard frame and matting. The stitched area is about 13 1/2"w X 12 1/4"h.

Thanks in advance -

Christine

That's gorgeous! She did a wonderful job on it.
I have found Michael's and Joann's prices to be ridiculous. I've framed myself by stretching it with small pins
and doing it myself. Way cheaper.
The exception was a wedding sampler for my son and dil. I went to a professional framer and they did a wonderful job for less than JAF and Michael's.

That picture is just beautiful, your mother did a fabulous job on it! When I started quilting, I abandoned doing counted cross stitch, after seeing this I am considering taking it up again.

My husband used to make me frames out of oak chair rails and would stain and varnish them. I would block them using stainless tacks.

Oh my that is so beautiful... some things should be preserved. Spend the money to frame this treasure - think of it as a gift given with love and treasure it.

Wow! Your Momma really loves you! That shows a lot of work! It's beautiful! I haven't had anything framed in several years, so I can't give you any advice except it deserves a super-duper framing job! I'd pay a little extra to get it done right. :)

Oh how beautiful! This piece is exquisite. I don't see where your dear mother signed and dated it. If she didn't, you should remind her. I can only imagine that this will be an heirloom. Joann's and Michael's frequently offers very good coupons for framing.

Try Hobby Lobby and use their 40% off coupon that is usually in the newspaper. Good luck - it's beautiful!

what a wonderful gift she made for you. so detailed. I love counted x stitch.
I worked in picture framing years ago. the mark up is the worst. a mat board they'd buy from us for $1.50 was marked up to $30!!! it's pricey wherever you go. I do my own by buying the components at Michaels. much
cheaper. go to you tube to learn how and save yourself about $200. good luck.

That's a beautiful picture and such a treasure from your dear mother. Either learn how to do your framing or find a custom shop. They can make recommendations on the mats and frames that bring out details in the piece. Please show us when it is framed and hanging on the wall.

I also recommend a custom shop and ask if they will take Michael's coupons to price match. You never know.
If you have a Craigslist around, you may find someone who does it on the side. Be sure to see samples and ask for references. Ask your friends where they got things done.
One thing to remember when framing is to be sure to get non-glare glass. It is extra but you will kick yourself forever if you don't. Speaking from experience here.

That piece is absolutely beautiful.

Watson

Thank you for the wonderful responses.. I plan to watch a few YouTube videos as I may be confident to tackle something like this myself and my DH loves to make things out of wood too! Either way, I will be sure that it's framed and matted well considering it was made especially for me by my 82 year young mother! Definitely will get the non-glare glass - thank you Watson!

This is a pattern called Maggie the Messmaker and ironically there are so many references to each of our lives in this scene that she had to make it! It is definitely one of my favorites that she's made over the years. She has about 50 framed cross stitch pictures hanging in her home (most are very large Victorian style, Thomas Kinkaide, etc..) with the last count we added up a total of 90 or so that she's made including those given to family & friends. It's funny how she has the patience for Cross Stitch (I don't) and I love Quilting (she doesn't) and we both are always busy making something for one other :)

Oh - and she does sign each and every one so I will be returning it to her for her written blessing once it's framed.

Thank you all for looking and the wonderful feedback - I'll be busy this week deciding how to proceed!

Christine

It is gorgeous. I use to do counted cross stitch, all my 'stuff' is put away.

That is counted cross stitch???? Wow. Your Mom is the best!!

Hobby Lobby is where I usually go for framing. Last item I had framed there was a picture of James McMurtry, the singer.
While they are pricey they are good and I am very pleased.

I did a counted cross stitch several years ago and had it framed. I was told because it was needle work not to put in under glass or it would loose the depth. WRONG, I have always regretted not putting it under glass, now it is dirty and I have no way to clean it.

Oh No! Maybe search our friend Google to see how to deal with that? I've seen suggestions where you put a nylon (does anyone wear pantyhose anymore?) over the end of your vacuum hose and try to pick up the dust. But if it's actually stained you'd likely have to take it off the frame and gently wash it. Then you could put a piece of non-glare glass in your frame and have it all set!

Hope that's helpful!

Christine

Beautiful. A gift you will treasure forever.

i was also going to suggest framing it yourself with components from Michaels or JoAnns. You can even find wonderful old frames at either Goodwill or Salvation Army. With a little sprucing up they can be gorgeous.

I had a pastel portrait of my younger grandson done at Disneyland a little over a year ago. He helped me pick out a frame at the park before we boarded the train for home. Ours was the only roomette with a framed piece of art work in it!

I gave it to his parents, and it was placed in the trunk of my son-in-law's car. Hurricane Harvey visited us a couple of days later, and the portrait remained in the trunk of the car -- which floated a ways down the street in the flood waters -- for several days before the water subsided enough that the car could be cleaned out.

I very slowly and carefully peeled the portrait away from the glass and allowed it to dry. I took it to JoAnn's and worked with a professional framer there. I used a coupon I had gotten in the mail, which brought the cost way down from the original quote. The service was excellent. I got a couple of phone calls during the framing process to keep me informed of the progress and what steps they were taking.

There are some subtle missing pastel spots, and there is a wrinkle across the portrait which is noticeable only if you know it is there. That just adds to the charm of the portrait and makes it even more special. The memories of the trip are wonderful, and just as wonderful are the memories associated with the framed portrait.

I say take your piece of cross-stitch and frame it as elegantly as you can. This is a memory that you do not want to lose. And, by the way, using a larger frame with a thicker matte will raise the glass away from the stitched surface. Your embroidery will be protected from the normal dust and harmful rays of sunlight.

My brother did this professionally. He would have used two matts and the non-glare glass in a collage type frame.

That is the most exquisite beautiful counted cross stitch picture I have seen . It gives me the boost I need to do a counted cross stitch picture I have had lying in a closet. You should enter that in a fair or some kind of competition. I'm sure it would be a ribbon piece.

I admit to not reading all of the posts in this thread. I have done many, many counted cross stitch items that needed framing and were odd sized. So I take the stitchery to a frame shop (pick one, any one...HL or Michael's) and have them cut a mat that will fit a standard frame. Just make sure you have "spacers" to keep the glass from touching the stitchery.

Oh, wow!! The detail in that is remarkable. Only one who does this kind of stitchery can adequately appreciate the work on this. This is a treasure for sure. Some say to not put glass over fabric as it leads to deterioration. If you opt to do so in the interest of keeping it clean, do put a spacer between the fabric and the glass.

To add to my earlier comments. Not long ago I purchased a counted cross-stitch framed piece that is at least 18" square before framing. Lots of detail and expertly framed. It was in a thrift shop with a price of $5. The framing cost more than that!

It’s beautiful, Ms Merkle... what a treasure!

Beautiful picture and what a treasure for you from your Mom. I used to frame my own cross stitch pictures. I would buy unfinished frames and stain them and cut a piece of hard cardboard, put batting over that and center the picture pulling as taut as I could and taping it to the cardboard. Good luck to you and I also agree with the others here that Michael's and JoAnn's is quite expensive to have anything framed.

What a beautiful piece of art for your room … your mom must love you a ton!!! After I lost my favorite framing place I struggled to find another affordable framer. I too turned to Hobby Lobby (with a coupon) and have been pleased! Good luck!

Do you have Aaron's Frames in your neck of the woods?

You might also check Hobby Lobby; I know they do pictures, so don't know why they'd not do this one; have no idea as to price though.

Pres-on mounting board is a product designed for this kind of thing. You can get it online or at craft stores. It's acid free and can be cut to your dimensions. Then you could buy a larger standard frame and have a mat cut to fit it and the item. It's a much more cost effective way. It's a wonderful piece. What a lot of patience your mom has!

that's beautiful , tell your mom great work & alot of love.:o

I put together a 1000 piece puzzle of this artwork and framed it for my sewing room also. I took it to Michaels with a coupon. It was well worth it. i enjoy it every day. Such a charming work of art, so full of details!

talk to Hobby Lobby....audition larger frames and Mattings if possible. They do a nice job and perhaps they will have suggestions.

Isn't that a coincidence! It sure is a fun to look at :)

Thanks again to all for the abundance of compliments and great advice! I will pursue my options this week :)

Christine

that is wonderful! A billion stitches to get that detail. I'd suggest using a coupon (often 40-50% off) at Michael's or JoAnn's and be sure that you get anti-glare glass that is not touching the threads. And ask for acid-proof backing/mat--that is a treasure that will get handed down.

Make sure everything you use is archival quality.

Check out this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkdlVNdjQRo

I agree with Rhonda and Watson. Joann's and Michael's may be convenient, but I've always used a custom shop for framing handwork. If there is a small business cross stitch shop, check with them; they usually have someone to refer you to. Also, right now, big box stores are making it difficult for small businesses to survive.

My Mother made this embroidered picture of "The Last Supper" as a housewarming gift 10 years ago.


In the second photo is a set of pillow cases my Gram hand embroidered over 25 years ago. The design is the logo of the Saginaw Chippewa tribe, to which I belong. My cousin Julius Peters designed this for our tribe in the '70's. Gram was 99 when she went on her journey.

The third photo is a close up.

http://www.sagchip.org/tribalobserve...x?article=1127

Michaels can cut a custom mat for you, and you can use dimensions that will fit in a ready made frame. Much less expensive than having them do the whole thing from scratch.