When ordering frames, if I spend $250 or more, the shipping is free. Since most of what I stitch is fairly small, it takes quite a few frames to add up to $250. I wanted to get Mighty Acorn framed sooner rather than later so I drug out everything I had ready to be framed.
It was very late last night . . early this morning actually, and Addie was helping. We had fun with it but I struggle to make a decision on a frame.
I did not remember that I can’t order anything narrower than 5″. The ABC piece on the bottom right . . I only need a 3″ wide frame for that one so that knocked out one of the frames I was going to get. Addie and I chose frames for the other three and without foamcore or glass, I was at about $130 .. nowhere near free shipping and I doubted I could come up with enough to get free shipping.
The last time I ordered, I ended up adding frames for things that weren’t quite finished just to get free shipping and most of those still aren’t finished so I wasn’t going to do that again.
This morning I went over my frame choices with Vince. I don’t know why I do that because he thinks the cross stitching is what you notice . . not the frame so he likes narrow, plain frames. I don’t like crazy ornate frames but I do like a bit of design in them. I ended up changing a couple but while looking for more plain frames, I came across this one and I loved it.
Not exactly plain but I love it. It looks wider (they all do) but it’s only 2″ wide. Sometimes I’ll see a frame online and then the next day, it’s out of stock. I went looking through my projects that could be finished soon and found For the Love of Nature.
It isn’t terribly close to being finished but I thought it would look great in this frame so I ordered it. I still didn’t order enough to get free shipping but I gave up. Here are the other frames I chose.
I got this one for Mighty Acorn. It’s 1-5/8″ wide. Last night I looked on Instagram to see frames others had used and found one that was plain, almost rough cut looking oak and I liked it but didn’t want anything quite that rustic looking. I think this one will be a good choice.
For Eliza M. Stone (the pink stitched piece), I chose this one. It’s 1-1/4″ wide. That piece is about 8 x 8-3/4″ so I think this will be a good size.
For Cranberry Christmas, I chose this one:
For this one, I was going to go with a plain, black frame. It’s only going to be out at Christmas so I figured why spend a lot but these frames are not terribly expensive. The piece is 7-1/2″ x 11-3/4″. This frame is 1″ wide and it was only $18. Can’t beat that.
For the narrow piece with the black letters, I decided to order the acid free foam core, even though I had to order it 5″ wide. I’ll cut off 2″ and then it will fit . . I’m going to go ahead and lace it onto foam core like I would if I were framing it. Then, I’ll either find something – boards or a tile, and glue it onto there and hang it.
I need to stitch faster so it will be easier to get free shipping on my next frame order. 🙂
Nelle Coursey says
In a way Vince is right. Sometimes the frames take away from the art. We always use plain frames either black, brown or gray because we don’t want the frames to distract from the art. I am going to put my Corgi Caboodle in a black frame.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I know but often when I see a piece, it’s the frame that catches my eye. I think it’s an art to be able to put the perfect frame with the perfect piece but when in doubt, plain usually works just fine.
Cinda Moulds says
I hope you remembered to check your supply of thrift store frames first. If I remember correctly, you had some lovelies.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Of course I did! : )
They’re all hanging on the wall downstairs so I can see them. Nothing was quite perfect. I have one that almost worked for Eliza Stone but not quite. I’ll do a blog post about how I try to make the thrift store frames work.
Nelle Coursey says
You are right.
Karen says
I don’t know what the shipping costs are but it may be worth paying it to get a few frames that you really love than buying extra frames that you may never use. Less is more. It could be that the shipping is the same as one frame.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
The extra frames I ordered were for pieces that were almost finished. The bad news is that six or eight months later, they’re still “almost” finished. My goal is to get all those pieces finished and in frames before I need to order more. Shipping actually would run about $60 if I were paying it for $250 worth of frames so it is a substantial savings to reach that threshold. Free shipping is equal to about two free frames.
Becky Reeve says
Where are you ordering the frames from?
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Custom Frame Solutions. They have really good sales if you watch for them.
Christina says
love all the frames, the one with leaves carved in, I immediately thought of the Mighty Acorn , do they come with glass and if so what type of glass do you go for? Can’t wait to see them on your wall.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Acrylic, clear glass, non-glare glass and conservation glass. I get conservation glass. I don’t always use glass but for pieces that will be getting a good bit of sun or pieces hanging near the kitchen, I do use glass.