if I'll discount it?" That sign was addressing the behind the scenes effort that goes into running a business. On the surface it may seem that someone is making a killing on junk they found in an attic, but the reality is that they have lots of hidden costs including utility bills and labor.
Most people think that the biggest cost in custom framing is the materials and they have the idea that a large piece will be expensive and a small piece will be inexpensive. Well, for the most part that is correct. The small piece requires less moulding, glass and matboard etc. What they forget to consider is that a large part of the expense of custom framing is the labor involved. It takes just as much time to design, build a frame, cut and clean glass, embellish and assemble a small piece as it does a large piece. I know that I put as much of myself into designing, painting and carving a mat for tiny needlework as I do a large one. I try always to work with the thought in my head that this piece was important enough for a client to send it to me, so it doesn't matter how large or small it is, I have to give it my best effort.
I found a way to get Midge and Gidget to eat their dry dog food again. I put puppy chow into a ziplock bag
and hid it in the pocket of their kennel. They thought it was a treat and waited until I wasn't looking and pulled it out and fight over it. Whatever it takes!
I hope you're all enjoying a lovely long weekend.
Here are last week's treasures.
14 comments:
Everything is beautiful!
All the pieces are lovely - the Shepherd's Bush design is the one that really caught my eye this week.
As shipping to Alaska substantially adds to the cost of the project, I'll continue sending my very special projects to frame. I'd love to have you do them all!
absolutely stunning .... wish I was nearer to have you do some of mine *sigh .. and neat trick with the doggies ;) love mouse xxxx
Gorgeous work as ever! I love the Quaker Christmas design.
My hubby gets alot of requests for charity work where they expect him to give his time and equipment for free - "it is for charity". They never think it actually costs him money to do the job and he may have to turn down paid work!
I think you should set up a mini-studio in England and work here for a couple of months each year :-)
I never get tired of looking at my Earth Gatherers. Another beautiful job! You can frame any piece of mine, cut any mats, paint any mats, anytime you want and I will pay you anything you want! LOL! I don't know where Tracy J gets her framing done but I have had dozens of stitchy things framed and your prices ROCK!
Ditto what dxponhs said! I have paid a more in the past and not gotten the quality that goes into Jill's pieces. Jill, YOU ROCK!
Beautiful work, as always - I LOVE that dragonfly piece!!!
I can say that I have spent a LOT of money on frames much simpler, much less involved then what you did on my MTM, and now that I do some of my own simple framing, I have an idea of what goes into it. I can't afford professional framing on most of my smaller projects, but there are some pieces that just demand that extra care and unique artistic detail that you add, and it is well worth what is actually cheaper than what I can find locally that is not anywhere near spectacular. A Jill Rensel mat & frame is a splurge I will gladly plan for on my most prized pieces :)
Okay - mine is one of the pieces featured this week. I've been cross-stitching since the 1980s. I've been getting them framed since then. I lived in Indpls and now Colorado and have "never", not even in the 80s, gotten my pieces framed with this much care and the beautiful personalized artwork that Jill does. I received my framed piece packaged up like Ft. Knox. C'mon - what decade are those of you complaining about Jill's prices from? Do you expect 1920's prices? Jill - we're lucky you have your prices at this rate. Even with shipping I paid you a LOT LESS than any of the framers I've used in the past. Please ignore those that have no appreciation for true art and the care you give our precious pieces. I love your work - you have proven to be the best I've ever seen. When I tell my friends the price I paid for your framing and artwork, they all want your information. Thx for all you do!
Jannie
As always such a lovely work... Framing truly enhancing the piece fo stitched work and being at the same time a true artwork in itself!
Yes, that type of work as its price... Could it be less? I personally think that Jill also deserves to make a living of her job! And this type of work demands time... And time has a cost...
Me being a freelance I know that all to well and all these people who always ask for a discount here, less there, truly?
As I always say: "These are my prices, they are way less then most on the market, so if you're not happy with my prices, please... You're welcome to go see ask someone else!"
We can tweek prices and costs only so much.
Jill framed 3 of my Heaven and Earth designs and I was thrilled, both by the talent and imagination that went into the whole framing process. The expertise is second to none. From the actual stretching of the fabric, to the choosing of the multiple mats and frame, the glass and the exquisite painting there is nothing that can compare. It was worth every penny and to tell you the truth I thought it would be way more expensive then it was. I paid just a wee bit less to have others in the past framed at Michaels and they didn't do near as good a job and I'm actually thinking of getting Jill to reframe some of them as there is no comparison.
I felt that Jill took as much pride in her work and valued my pieces as much as I did and that is priceless.
I like that dragonfly one.
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