Where I Order Frames

Not long after I got back into stitching, Denise shared with me where she got her frames. Then I started ordering them from there – Custom Frame Solutions. Then, I think it was Denise who figured out that they have a “club” where you pay an annual fee, which I think is reasonable. I think I pay $98/year and that gives you a lower price on the frames. That’s through Custom Frame Club. With both places, you get free shipping if your order is over $250. An example: The frame I ordered for A Sampler for All Seasons, which was the largest one I ordered is 18-1/4 x 8-1/8. Through the club, I paid $37.96. The exact same frame – same product number, same size, would have been $85.10 at the regular priced website. That one frame was a $47 savings. I don’t buy terribly expensive frames. For the most part, I like frames that are fairly narrow and not real fancy or ornate. Another one I ordered was 10-3/4 x 10-/14. The club price was $28.67 and the other price was $83.70. The savings on that one was $55. Those two frames paid for my club membership.

I will add that Custom Frame Solutions often has sales – I think there was one for about 40% or maybe even 45% off not long ago. The $83.70 frame would have been about $50 at 40% off.

In 2022, I think I only ordered four frames. I would have been better off waiting for a sale because those frames were small but this year, just this one order I placed yesterday made the club fee worth it.

Really, as far as the savings, anyone wanting to use them will have to decide if it’s worth it to join the club or watch for a sale. For me, it’s easier to pay the club price and any time I want to order a frame, I can get it at a discount. I almost always wait until I need enough frames to reach the free shipping threshold.

Also, if you want the foamcore (acid free or not), that is separate, along with acrylic in a two or three varieties. I get the conservation glass or acrylic.

Three things to note:

• It seems that if you want glass, that isn’t offered through the club. I didn’t see it – I only saw acrylic. Vince said it doesn’t really matter so I went with the acrylic. In the beginning, I didn’t use glass but the sun comes through the windows in the family room, dining room and breakfast room, where most of my stitching is hanging and will be hanging. The breakfast room gets morning sun and the other rooms get afternoon sun. Both are brutal. We do have blinds but there’s a transom in the family room that has no cover so . . I go with conservation glass or acrylic.
• For the following reason, I would recommend placing an order before joining the club. The frames are not always perfect. Vince says . . they’re great . . I’m picky. There are three places their frames come from and one place, I’m almost always not happy with their work and strangely enough, a very good friend is friends with the people who own that facility so I’ve never complained much.
• The customer service isn’t great. I think that for Denise and for me, we’ve both had an issue and had to email them several times to get resolution but we were happy in the end.

I have ordered from other places. There are a lot of these discount type frame shops around. I’ve always been extremely happy with the cost, even compared to the chain framing places, and even though sometimes I think the workmanship could have been a bit better, considering the price and considering that on the wall, they look perfect, I’m not complaining and I continue to order from Custom Frame Club. If ever that changes, I’ll let you know.