We’re celebrating 40 years of helping you tell your stories, display your art, find solutions for digital problems. We’ve framed a bottle of Holy water, antique prints, restored and printed treasured family photos, created family trees, digitally archived collections of family photos and letters, created clean vector graphic files for corporate branding, helped restore voting …
Restoring an old photograph can refresh a memory and bring your ancestors’ stories to life. This torn photo of a 1911 ambulance in Shanghai, is one of many that brings to life the story of my grandparents, Dr. Albert Dunlap and Eva Dunlap. Dr. Dunlap was on call through many armed conflicts in early twentieth …
An archival framing project from 38 years ago reappeared at my door recently. In 1984 I made an edition of embossed prints titled The Stained Glass Tree. One copy, framed here at Chandler Designs, was owned by a friend who kept it on display in their home. In 2019 they passed away, and the work …
2022 Framing project at Chandler Designs Archival framing for two original textiles, an original oil on leather, circa 1900, and an heirloom needlepoint, stitched by a family member 50 or more years ago. The archival framing needed for each one included a float mount on 100% cotton rag mat board, museum glass, and custom spacers …
One little virus created a big pandemic, but along with devastating challenges came opportunities to make positive changes as we reenter each other’s company. Life is a banquet…bring your feast gear, as in, don’t bring single use products to your next social reentry party. Like many, I woke up each day during 2020-2021 hearing more …
You won’t know if you don’t look! One of the services I offer through Chandler Designs is archiving family collections of photos and documents. Digital versions of your heirlooms and written materials such as letters, are easy to share. The more people that can read the letters left by a parent or great aunt the …
Historical documents are particularly useful when researching family history. They take us to a point in time and to an era and can give insight into how groups of people handled complex and every day decisions. They also shine a light on the path our ancestors took in forming beliefs and customs—what is referred to …
Historical Documents: Community Covenant, Andover, Maine Read More »
The challenge of translating old family tree data files with current software happens in all digital areas of interest and for do-it-yourselfers this problem can be particularly vexing— or exhilarating depending on how you feel about being your own IT person. Before getting into a few tips on file format translation for family tree applications …
Chandler Designs is introducing a custom design service for Family Tree charts—the Story Tree—as well as expanding our archival printing services. With added text and images a family tree chart can become a Story Tree. We can now print them up to seventeen inches by ten feet long. As I write this it is 4th …
It’s done. Daisy and the Chipmunk – a fun Jacobean style story pillow of Daisy chasing a chipmunk around a blueberry bush.
Continuing from Part 1: In the last week I have drawn the design onto linen, chosen several colors and stitches and started the stitching. This past week was Thanksgiving and with the time spent visiting there was a lot of opportunity to chat and stitch. The final image has been simplified to emphasize the rich …
Crewel Stitching Project – Part 2 Choosing colors and stitches Read More »
Framing needlework and textiles happens fairly frequently in my shop but in the last few years I have begun to work in stitching myself. So it follows that creating an original from concept to pattern to completion is my latest challenge. In keeping with the idea of art combined with family story I have chosen …
Crewel stitching project Part 1. Creating an heirloom of a family vacation. Read More »
Why do we humans love story so much? Reaching into our past for a story is part of all our lives. The collective story of a country or culture gives insight on current events and helps us navigate our own times. Your family history—oral or documented—adds dimension to cultural traditions which otherwise might languish as …
Restoring historical documents – 1840 Land Grant signed by President Martin Van Buren Read More »
Mats on paper art are a relatively new innovation in the care and display of art. Paintings and tapestries predate paper for wall display by centuries. 14th century broadsides are some of the earliest European examples of art for the pleasure of a wide audience via the use of wood blocks to make multiple and …
I have just completed the new logo for the Frederick County Beekeeping Association, of Maryland. It has been approved by the FCBA members. This diligent group shares a passion for beekeeping, which is not only a rewarding hobby for some and business for others, it’s benefits effect the well being of each of us. You …
