framing.

Custom made frames handcrafted from reclaimed or sustainably harvested hardwoods.

archival matting.

Prices vary and are available upon request.

more details.

• sustainably harvested woods.
• reclaimed materials.
• spline-mitres.
• wood finishes.
• matting.


• faqs.

I custom cut framing stock from both new wood and reclaimed materials. We can work together to select the most appropriate wood and profile dimensions to complement your art work.

All the new wood used in my framing process is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), an international, non-governmental organization that evaluates forestry practices to ensure sustainability.

After harvesting products are tracked by the FSC to prevent them from being mixed with non-certified lumber.

Each of the woods has a unique character, tone, and grain pattern, from the more dynamic and visible grain of oak to the fine grain of cherry. I have the following FSC certified hardwoods currently available:

• Walnut (domestic)
• Soft Maple (domestic)
• Mahogany (Central American)
• Cherry (domestic)
• Poplar (domestic)
• White Oak (domestic)

I also consistently seek out sources for reclaimed woods. I currently have only oak and mahogany available as reclaimed material.

In addition to the sustainably harvested lumber that I use for framing stock, I consistently seek out sources for reclaimed woods. I currently have only oak and mahogany available; however, I am always looking for new material from the wide range of sources in the Bay Area, so write me an email if there's something in particular you are looking for.

I also know that sometimes just the right thing for your piece of art is an old frame you found in your grandmother's attic. I am willing to alter framing stock you bring in to meet your needs and I also have a range of fabulous old framing material that might be just right with your artwork.

The question I get most often might be, "What's a spline mitre?" "Mitre" simply refers to a 45 degree angle cut in each length of the frame stock to meet the perpendicular side in a perfect 90 degree corner. A "spline" is a thin piece of wood glued into a cut in that corner that when dried creates not only a very strong joint, but a beautiful contrasting detail.

As part of my commitment to environmental sustainability, I use a selection of wood finishes that provide the durability of conventional verathane finishes without the high VOC content. VOC is the acronym for Volatile Organic Compounds, carbon-based chemicals that evaporate rapidly and contribute to pollution principally through secondary pollutants like ground-level ozone.

Three different matting styles are available to you:

• Overmatting a print or photograph involves cutting a mat with a beveled window that lays just over the edges of your print or photograph, holding it flat in place. This is a good option when the edges of the paper are not an integral part of the artwork itself.
• When the beveled window of the mat is cut slightly larger than the paper size of the print, allowing the edges of the paper to be visible, it is called "floated." This is often preferred when the image area extends to the edge of the paper or when the paper's edges are visually interesting themselves.
• A floated image without a mat "floats" on a backing board, recessed from the glass of the frame. This is a good option when an additional mat board isn't desirable.

All mats are cut from archival museum board from Nielsen and Bainbridge and all materials used in the matting process are also archival, a term synonymous with "acid-free," which means that the materials have a neutral or slightly alkaline pH and will thus not react with your art work. Archival framing will preserve the life of your art.

a. I specialize in natural finishes which highlight and enhance the individual qualities and colors of the woods. I don't stain or paint my frames.

a. After frame corners are cut and glued, I make a small cut across the corner joint. I then glue in a small piece of wood—either from the same material as the frame itself, or a contrasting wood. When it is complete this spline—by virtue of the fact that its grain goes across the joint—strengthens the frame. It's also a beautiful contrasting detail.

a. This varies highly on the size of the job. On average a job will take me about a week, but please call for an estimate. Estimates take 1 - 2 working days depending on the size of the job.

a. Archival mat board is a heavyweight rag paper board that has a low acidic content. Contrary to popular belief, archival board comes in an array of colors from bright white to rich greens and browns, and even black. For more information, please see the above section on Matting.

a. Though some reclaimed material is available, I primarily use sustainably harvested hardwoods certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). The following woods are currently available: walnut (domestic), soft maple (domestic), mahogany (Central American), cherry (domestic), poplar (domestic), and white oak (domestic). See the above section on sustainable hardwoods for more details.