The Framed Signature Mat - Not Just for Weddings

Hello, everyone! Today's post is about a new product I'm selling called the Engravable Signature Mat (see photos).

It's designed especially for brides and grooms, and it's called "The New Guestbook." It's a beautiful way to capture your wedding guests' signatures forever. You'll be able to enjoy your framed and signed wedding photograph in a way that you'll actually get to see and enjoy for years to come.

If someone you know is getting married this year, the Framed Engravable Signature Mat makes a very thoughtful gift.

What makes this Engravable Signature Mat so special is that it's made from a highly-polished metal alloy, not cardboard. The signatures will never smudge or fade, ever.

As a picture framer, I've framed many cardboard mats (you've seen them--white mats signed with black or red magic marker), and they often arrive in my frame shop in pretty bad shape. Not only do they sometimes smell like cigarette smoke, they are usually smudged or worse--they are water (beer?) stained. And within a couple of years, the signatures are usually quite faded.

The Engravable Signature Mat eliminates all those problems while giving the guest(s) of honor a very beautiful remembrance of their very special day.

But let's think beyond weddings--the Engravable Signature Mat is also a thoughtful way to capture the moment of a birthday, graduation, bat/bar mitzvah, retirement, baby shower, and more. Just pop in a photograph of the guest of honor, and everyone will know what to do.

The Engravable Signature Mat arrives at your door as a complete kit--framed and ready to display on an easel or table. It includes a free polishing cloth to wipe away finger prints, a free diamond-tipped scribe for your guests to sign their names (works much like a regular pen, just push a little harder), a free instruction card, and hanging hardware so you can hang your finished piece either horizontally or vertically. Voila!

Prices start at $195 for the 20 x 24 Framed Engravable Signature Mat and go down from there. If you've ever had custom framing done, you know what a good value this is.

To learn more or to place an order, please visit my Web site at http://www.blackirisframing.com/ where you can download an order form. You may also call me at 715-635-4548. I can take your credit card info right over the phone.

See (and sign!) the Engravable Signature Mat in person at Black Iris Gallery on Hwy 63 in Spooner, WI. I'll also be at the Rice Lake Bridal Show on Sunday, February 7, 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM. Hope to see you there!

Happy Party Planning, everyone.

Sincerely,
JoAnn

"Superior Quetico Wilderness," original by Paul Oman

Greetings, Art Lovers!

Shown at left is a watercolor original called The Superior-Quetico Wilderness (65” x 45”).

Depicting one of our region’s finest natural treasures—the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of the United States and the Quetico Provincial Park of Canada—this large piece was painted by local artist and Lutheran pastor Paul Oman of Birchwood, WI. It now hangs at Black Iris Gallery in Spooner, WI.

The Superior-Quetico Wilderness comes matted and framed by the artist in dark oak. Until now, it was priced at $3,500 (framed; $2,450 unframed).

From now through the end of December 2009, you can take advantage of Paul’s 25% OFF Special. This means you can own this original watercolor for just $2,625 framed ($1,837.50 unframed).

Please let me know if you have questions or if you would like to schedule a private viewing of this rare, original artwork. It will make a beautiful addition to any home, cottage, cabin, or office.

Our Holiday Hours are Mon - Sat, 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We also take appointments for any other time--just gives us a call at 715-635-4548. See you soon at Black Iris Gallery on Hwy 63 in Spooner, WI. Free parking on Oak Street.

Happy Holidays to You!

Sincerely,
JoAnn

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And the winner is...! Our next Art Show...! (Plus, are you on Facebook?)

Hello, everyone!

I finally have a winner of the Blu-Ray Disk Player! I've been taking names for my drawing since before Christmas. In early January, I drew the winner's name and called her, but she was in Florida for the winter! Once I finally reached her (e-mail is amazing), I was able to give SALLY LINDSTROM of SPOONER, WI the good news!

When she came home in late February, Sally bounded on in to the frame shop to collect her prize. I think she was walking about 3 feet off the floor that day. As you can see, Sally looks very happy that she won the Blu-Ray player. "Out of 400 entries, JoAnn? Really?!" she kept asking me. Yes, really! :-)

Congratulations again, Sally!

Our next art show features artist and Lutheran pastor Paul Oman. The reception will be held on Saturday, March 14, 2 - 5 PM, and you'll get to see Paul paint an original work of art, right before your eyes. For more details and to see samples of Paul's beautiful work, click here: www.BlackIrisFraming.com/artshow.php.

And yes, I am finally on Facebook. After four of my girlfriends asked (within the same two weeks), "Are you on Facebook?" I decided it was time to join and see what FB is all about. It's actually very fun (and potentially addicting). If you're not on FB yet, you should definitely try it.

You can easily find people you know by joining groups (high school, college, jobs, interests, etc), by checking out the profiles of your "friends" (people you already know on FB), or by using the Search function (that's how I found my girlfriend Amanda!). And get this (to all you business Bloggers out there...), withing 24 hours of being on FB, I landed an $800 framing order. I had heard that FB can be a great way to make business connections...I guess that's true! Thank you, Holly P., for becoming my friend and my customer. It's been great getting to know you on-line and off. I can't wait to finish framing your beautiful artwork--you have impeccable taste.

Sincerely,
JoAnn

Black Iris Gets New Logo!

Hello, everyone! Check out my new sign!

As we speak, there is a bucket truck parked outside my front door. Brad, the sign guy, is re-lettering the other side of my sign to display my new logo. (See photos, left & below.)

With help from Promotions by Karla in Shell Lake, WI, I now have a new logo and new tagline.

To celebrate, I'm giving away a Blu Ray DVD player in January! To sign up, click here. The winner will be notified by e-mail no later than January 15, 2009. Good luck!

My new tagline is Framing for a Lifetime. What sets Black Iris apart from other frame shops in the area is that I use conservation framing methods and materials. Unless the customer requests otherwise, I follow the guidelines set forth by the PPFA--the Professional Picture Framers Assocation. This means I give your artwork the same care and attention here in my shop that certified framers give the highly valuable works of art they are framing for museums. I guarantee it.

My new logo depicts a Black Iris in full bloom (appropriately symbolic, I think) on a bright, green background. Both are framed in bold black. My new, shorter name, Black Iris Custom Framing, is also part of the new logo.

Let me know what you think, and stay warm out there!

Happy Thanksgiving and Many Blessings to you and yours this Holiday Season.

Sincerely,
JoAnn Martin

Black Iris Custom Framing
Spooner, WI
715-635-4548

joann@blackirisframing.com

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Top to bottom:

Readying and Waiting on a Crisp, Sunny Day

Here Comes the Lettering...

And Now the Green Logo-- Ta-daaa!

About Dust Covers

Hi, everyone!

A friend reminded me that I promised to talk about the need for a dust cover on the back of a finished frame. You won't believe how important they are!

The first time I had a frame come in for repair without a dust cover, I was stunned by what I saw. I said nothing to the customer about it and promised her I could repair the frame (it had fallen off her wall) and replace the glass for her, no problem. Much of my time would be spent cleaning the inside of her frame.

Here's what I found in there: Lots of gritty, sandy dirt (so much so that I literally poured it out). Several dead insects (and one still living). Larvae of still more insects. Dust bunnies (and, I can only assume, dust mites, too). Glass shards (from the impact of the fall). Many rusty brad nails (used to hold the art and backing board in place, which is considered a "no-no" in framing today because--you guessed it--they rust!).

All of this mess would have been prevented had the original framer installed a dust cover on the back of the framing package. This frame was so dirty (it was most likely stored in an attic or a garage--so don't do that!), that the insects and dirt had even found their way to the front of the matting, which, after time, permanently stained the mat. The customer had to replace not only the broken glass but the stained mats and backing board as well, thanks--again--to no dust cover.

If you don't get a dust cover on your framing order, ask for it. Dust covers usually come in brown, black, white, or light blue "kraft" or Tyvek paper, and they are part of a professional frame shop's responsibility to you as their customer. Because I believe in Framing for a Lifetime (my shop slogan), a dust cover comes free on all framing orders here at the Black Iris Custom Frame Shop.

Hope to see you soon!
JoAnn

<-- Here's what happens when you don't have a dust cover!