Matting & Framing Preserving Family History Every family has treasures in the form of collections, trinkets, photos and clothing that are important to their heritage. Many times these items become lost or damaged because they are not cared for properly. One way to get double delight from them is to put the items in frames and on the walls of your home to be enjoyed every day. Rather than stored away out of sight, wouldn’t it be better to be able to see and appreciate these items on a daily basis? Collections such as military memorabilia, sports ribbons and medallions, coins, political buttons or fishing lures, for example, are very easy to organize and display in shadowboxes. Virtually any item can be framed, allowing for its enjoyment by family and friends. Once you have located a shadowbox with sufficient depth, attachment of the items becomes the major hurdle. Sewing the items rather than gluing is preferred by framing professionals because no deterioration of the item occurs with sewing. Gluing, on the other hand, can cause discoloration, may become brittle with age and could fail, allowing the item to dislodge. Select a rigid backing. (Acid-free materials will insure long life.) This can be penetrated if sewing is your chosen mounting method. Creating pilot holes with a piercing tool such as a common push pin will help the process greatly. It is often wise to glue the glass to the frame with silicone adhesive in order to hold it firmly in place. Future cleaning and maintenance will be easier if the glass is attached well rather than braced in place by side panels along the inside of the frame. But lining the frame is very important to the finished look of any shadowbox. In order for the backing and the frame interior to match, it is recommended that you line the frame with the same material upon which the item(s) are mounted. This insures a continuation of color and texture around the entire presentation; and there is no break in continuity between the backing and the area of the frame that is visible when viewed. Glue the side panels into place so that they do not come loose over time. Close up the frame after being sure there is no lint or debris on the items or backing. Set the frame with the glass glued in place and the side panels attached over the mounted item(s). Check again for lint and then turn the entire package over and affix the backing with brads or staples. A dust cover will further help prevent dust from entering the frame. ATG tape is a great way to put the cover in place. Attach a hanging wire and you are ready to begin enjoying your family treasures. Shadowboxes can be challenging but are worth the effort.

Some Subjects That Can Be Found In The Pages Of ARTtalk!
art, arts, paintings, painting, airbrush, airbrushes, airbrushers, paint, sculpture, sculptors, printmakers, printmaking, pencils, pencil, brush, brushes, decorative, women, drawings, pens, inks, papers, illustration, boards, canvases, portrait, collages, colors, studios, exhibition, crafts, classes, workshop, drawing, pen, ink, workshops, magic markers, landscapes, portraits, history, paper, canvas, color theory, arts and crafts, studio, competitions, exhibitions, news, oil, pictures, software,  figure painting,   erotic art, tattoo, framing, mat cutting, matting, holidays gift, guide, kid's, children's, newsletter, materials, products, marketplace, stores, supply, material, retailers, wholesaler, organizations, books, frisket film, watercolor, acrylic, gouache, carving, fine art, aquamedia, magazines, lessons, artists, painters, printmakers, potters, weavers, weaving, textile, pottery, lithography, screen printing, silkscreen, carving, wood, poster, tools, prints, compressors, museums, galleries, schools, lessons, instruction.

Art Supplies Manufacturer's
Eclipse airbrush, Iwata airbrushes, Medea Textile Colours, Artograph, Alto's, Sakura of America, Medea Com-Art Colours, Savoir Faire, Ampersand Art Supply, Artool,  General Pencil Co., FM Brush Co., Borden & Riley Paper, Da Vinci Paint Co., Gagne, Inc., Silentaire Technology, Strathmore Artist Papers, American Art Clay Co., Graphic Chemical, Tara Materials Inc. 

Get a Copy of ARTtalk at These Art Supply Stores
Blick Art Materials, Jerry’s Artarama The Artists’ Supplier and Resource, Utrecht The Trusted Resource, Artcetera, Dixie Art Supplies, Sedona Art, Artist and Display Supply, Triangle Art Center, Reuel's Art and Frame, Discount Art,  Prizm, The Artist's Supply Store, Hyatts, Hartiens.