Limited Edition Print Framed in Reclaimed Redwood

For the first 8 years of Green House Framing, Lars and I neglected to make frames for our personal artwork collection.  The walls in our current home have been bare for the past 5 years.  The last thing we wanted to do after making frames all day was make more frames, even if they were for personal use.  Our home didn’t feel like home because there was no expression of ourselves, so we finally committed to making frames for all the pieces of art that we’ve purchased over the years.  This is the first piece from our collection.  And, to be honest, it still is not hanging up on our wall because the dust cover and hanging wire have not been installed!  One step at a time…

This is a limited edition print we picked up from Northwest artist, Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley.  She was selling her work at a local art show and we were immediately drawn to her.  I managed to snag the first edition of 100 prints that were made from an original painting.  I do recommend browsing her website and reading her bio.  Fascinating and beautiful.

Redwood Tanning Vat

We used all conservation methods and materials to preserve our print.  For framing, we chose 109 year old reclaimed redwood from the Muir and McDonald Tannery.  The wood is a dark reddish-brown with blackened stripes and edges due to the natural tannins contained within the vats.  We used conservation glass and spacing to protect the print from UV light and moisture damage.

We are both really happy with how it turned out.  Now we just need to get it up on the wall!

Vintage Poster Framed in Reclaimed Fir

Since 2008, we have had the pleasure of working with Sierra Nevada Brewing.  Our first project was framing promotional burlap bags for their 2008 Harvest Wet Hop Ale.  These rustic frames went out to hundreds of establishments in the country.  Perhaps you have seen one adorning the wall of your favorite bar.  We were asked to do another run in 2009 for the same limited edition Harvest Ale.  That same year, Sierra Nevada contacted us about framing an early printing of promotional posters for sale in their gift shop.  The original posters we framed are almost sold out, so we are making a second edition.  We’re excited to work with Sierra Nevada again because they are a company that is sincerely committed to the environment.  Take a look at all of the efforts they are making to operate a clean and green brewery.

Hops Bag Framed in Rustic Reclaimed Fir

For this second edition of frames, we have acquired a new batch of reclaimed Douglas Fir from the old Oregon State Hospital in Salem, OR.  This hospital was used for the filming of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest in 1975.  The wood dates back to 1883 and was deconstructed by Aurora Mills Architectural Salvage in Aurora, OR.

Framed posters can be purchased in the gift shop of Sierra Nevada Brewing in Chico, CA.  When you support companies like Sierra Nevada, your dollars contribute to their efforts to work with small companies like ours.

Winter Solstice Sunset

We want to thank each and every one of you who supported us in 2010.  Whether you purchased a frame or just offered words of encouragement, we appreciate every single bit of it.  Honestly, if it wasn’t for all the wonderful people we interact with on a daily basis, we would have quit a long time ago.  Running this company by ourselves for 8 years has been extremely difficult.  It has been equally rewarding.  We love making something beautiful with our hands and sending it out to reside in your homes and workplaces.  No matter where Green House Framing takes us in the new year, we take comfort in knowing that the few thousand frames we have made so far will live on long after we are gone.

I wish words could truly express how much every interaction with you means to us.  From the bottom of our hearts, thank you.  We hope for a peaceful, joyous, abundant, and radiant new year for all.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered our December giveaway.  We enjoyed reading your responses.  We hope everyone has a joyful and prosperous new year!

And the winner is…

Catherine!

Congrats, Catherine.  We’ll be in touch with you shortly.

Reclaimed Wood Frames and Mirrors

For those of you in Portland, our showroom inside of Endurawood is stocked with a variety of one of a kind frames and mirrors all made by hand in our studio from reclaimed wood.  All frames and mirrors are ready for artwork installation and display on wall or tabletop.  You can drop by any time during Endurawood’s business hours, Mon-Fri 10-6 and Sat 12-5, to take a look.  If you would like to make an appointment with us for a custom framing consultation, please give us a call at 503.777.8420 or send us an appointment request.  We’d love to work with you on your next framing project.

All frames and mirrors listed in our Etsy shop are available for free delivery or pick-up in the Portland Metro area.  Let us know if you would like to purchase an item on Etsy so that we can remove the shipping charges.

Hope everyone has a joyous holiday and wonderful start to the new year!

Our latest giveaway is a limited edition frame handcrafted from reclaimed redwood.  The wood was salvaged from deconstructed leather tanning vats from the Muir and McDonald Tannery in Dallas, OR.  The tannery was established in 1863 and continued to operate until 2007.  The wood we used is from 1902 when the tannery was rebuilt due to fire.

We designed this frame to hold two 5 x 7 photos or works of art.  The matting is cotton rag in a muted black with white core.  The matting is museum quality and is safe for all types of media.  The winner may choose a different mat color, if desired.  Frame includes everything you need to quickly install your artwork and display horizontally or vertically.

This is by far the most beautiful wood we have had the privilege of working with.  The color is a rich red-brown with streaks of black from the tanning process.  To see photos of the tanning vat and a wood grain detail, check out our Etsy listing.

How To Enter:   Is there one word or a theme that you would like to focus on in the new year?  I have chosen silver as my word of 2011.  I want to see the silver lining in everything and I hope to launch my line of jewelry that is made with silver and reclaimed wood.  LEAVE A ONE WORD COMMENT BELOW AND FEEL FREE TO ELABORATE.

Rules:  This giveaway is only open to U.S. residents of the lower 48 due to shipping costs.  Only one entry per person and you must use a valid email.  Anonymous entries will not be accepted.  Comment moderation is on.  Contest ends at midnight PST on Monday, Dec.20.  We will draw one entry at random and announce the winner on Tuesday, Dec. 21.  Please check back on Tuesday to see if you have won.  Frame retails for $135.

All the magic that happens at Green House Framing is because of my partner, Lars.  Green House Framing would not exist without his passion and inspiration for working with reclaimed wood.  What makes our frames special is what Lars sees in the wood before its true beauty is unmasked.  I look at stacks of old floor beams and wall joists and see spider webs, crusty black gunk, and rusty nails.  Lars grins widely while tearing through the piles to get just the right pieces.  He has attempted to open my eyes to the subtle difference between this piece and that, but all my mind can do is imagine a large insect leaping out if I get too close.

Every time Lars brings a new frame to me to stain, I am awestruck by what he has created with his hands.  I don’t think woodworkers, especially those using reclaimed wood, get enough recognition as artists.  Not many people can take something that is full of nails and crud and sculpt it into something as beautiful as our frames.  This is not fresh milled lumber purchased from Home Depot and chopped together.  These boards used to house a chicken coop, a leather tannery, and a grain elevator.  Lars removes the gunk while keeping the original character of the wood intact.  And, he does it all with such excitement.  He is truly the inspiration that keeps Green House Framing humming along.  Here is just one example of a recent project:

Lars took the boards you see at the top and created 10 gorgeous frames for LEED certificates for a local architecture firm.  You can see a corner of one frame above that was made from fir that is over 100 years old.  A full completed frame is to the right (photo is not as clear and crisp as I would like due to the lack of natural light lately in the NW).  I love how he incorporated the cracks and splits into a modern looking frame.

It is truly a pleasure to work side by side with an artist like Lars.  I never know what will end up on my side of the studio to stain, but that is part of the fun.   Hopefully, those of you who receive our frames see the care and craft that goes into each one.

For a very limited time, we have two free shipping offers for you.  We don’t do sales and only offer this free shipping deal once a year, so take advantage while you can!  We guarantee you will be absolutely thrilled with our frames.  Here’s how you can save:

ETSY Everything in our Etsy shop, excluding mirrors, ships for FREE through Dec. 15.

WEBSITE All frame collections on our website- Standard, Limited Edition, Museum and Collage, Standard Thin, and Natural will ship for FREE through Dec. 15.  Our shopping cart is all set up so that you don’t have to do anything to get the discount.

Happy Shopping!

Thank you to everyone who entered our very first giveaway.  We really appreciate all of the wonderful comments that were left.

We chose one entry at random using random.org, and the winner is…

#7 Kileah, who said:

“Loving this “buy nothing day”! We’re attempting to do something similar-a handmade/recycled christmas! So glad to be able to teach our kids this!”

Congrats, Kileah!  We’ll be in touch with you shortly.

Thanks again, everyone.  We hope you will enter our next giveaway, which we’ll announce mid-December.  Stay tuned.

This one of a kind ornament is designed and handcrafted in our Portland studio from scrap wood.  Lars collects the offcuts from our reclaimed wood picture frames and mirrors and turns them into wood links by cutting, drilling, sanding, and staining each one.  For the bead work, I made quartz and labradorite links and connected them to the wood pieces with jumprings.  Our unique ornaments can be used year round as home decor and make great gifts for anyone on your list.

Head over to our new etsy shop for additional photos and details.