Earlier tonight I put the finishing touches on this framed needlepoint I sold this week. I secured it better in the frame, gave it a new clean kraft paper backing, and tweaked the position of the sawtooth hanger. It reminded me of how much I really enjoy framing work. In my earlier years, I was a picture framer, and though it barely paid anything, I got lots of satisfaction from the hands-on creation and getting skilled at using tools and helping people select the most complementary settings for their artwork. I especially used to like stretching cross stitch (very big in the early 1990s). So it was probably inevitable that with my venture into the world of vintage, I would end up with a bit of a specialty in rescuing badly framed needlework. This needlepoint was in dire need of a re-stretch when I found it, so I happily fixed it up. I wrote about my process in the listing and included this photo of the pinning work I did. Im not sure if anyone cares about the mechanics of framing, but I did want buyers to know that it had benefited from a mini-restoration. This is the second piece of needlework that I have rescued. The first was a wonderful sampler cross stitch that was in even worse framing circumstances. :) This piece of vintage folk art was choking behind glass and was duct taped (!) to a crumbling ancient piece of cardboard. I photographed this one as I worked on removing it and stretching it, as you can see here. It was really satisfying to see how cleanly it turned out, and to know that the more archival treatment I gave it will ensure that it lasts. Now, I am about to start my third reframing project: this sweet little cross stitch and handmade wood frame. I love this piece; I can see how two creative people worked together to make it -- the crafter that stitched it and her equally crafty mate that joined and carved and stained a perfectly sized frame for it. Even the backing board was made of wood -- charming, but really bad for the fabric. So I took it apart as soon as I bought it, and its been waiting for me. Now that Ive gotten the framing bug again, the time has come! Im going to spend my Sunday working on it, and hopefully I can get some decent afternoon light to get it photographed. Might have it listed by the evening!
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 09:45:43 +0000
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