​HUGGED BY A FRAME

​What is custom framing? 

Custom framing is so many things to so many people; a means to hang something on the wall, a way to accent an item, bring style to a room or keep an item safe. 

While all those are true, over the years I’ve developed a much deeper appreciation for the four pieces of wood that edge an item and have come to understand custom framing on a whole new level.

My husband has 20 years of custom framing experience - not me. He has seen and done it all in this specialty craft, while I come from a very different walk of life. By default though, I've listened to stories of pieces he's framed and the people and their items that have left a permanent mark on his heart. It didn't take me long to realize the impact of his job. He was privileged to share snapshots of peoples’ pasts; the stories that helped shape them into who they are; the memories that enlighten their essence. And so I saw what custom framing truly meant to those people, to my husband and now what it means to me.
 
Custom framing is a way of honouring a photo from a moment too important to forget, a medal signifying months of sweat, tears and triumph, a masterpiece created by little hands that have grown too quickly, a handkerchief that wiped away tears on a wedding day, a recipe that made oatmeal cookies when the counter was too high to reach, first date earrings from an ever-after love story, dancing shoes from a twirling, carefree youth of years gone by, and the list goes on; all tied to moments made up of feelings that shape a person's distinct and special life. How can we forget? We don’t want to. We want to feel that time in our heart again. We want to remember that iconic moment.
 
The items that reflect these moments then get brought to us. We get the gratification of helping to breath life back into a memory and preserve not only the item, but also the feelings associated with the moment. There is so much care, thought and skill involved in the huge responsibility of getting it just right. Creating a design respectful of someone’s past. So that each moment, gets hugged by a frame, squeezing the past and present together until those nostalgias once again flourish every time they look at their piece.
 
These are the stories that we so fondly refer to. Yes there is a technical purpose to a frame but beyond that there lies heart. Honoured memories preserved with custom care. Given the time, devotion and attention they deserve. That is why custom framing is so important. We are so thankful to all of you for sharing your lives with us; the moments, not things, that are you.

Tag us on instagram (@leframeshoppe.com) to share your special custom framed piece.