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 […]
Archival framing preserves art Read More »
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
Shadowbox framing for textiles Read 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
What’s in that box of family photos and papers? Read More »
Historical documents are particularly useful when researching family history.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Historical Documents: Community Covenant, Andover, Maine Read More »
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.
Crewel Stitching Project – Part 3 Finishing the project as a pillow Read More »
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 »
Souvenir Jigsaw Puzzle from Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire. Just how many ways can you spell Winnipesaukee? Apparently a few hundred. So when we had this jigsaw puzzle of an artist’s rendering of the geography of this lake in New Hampshire it seemed like a good idea to have some fun with the name. Picking out
Fun Frame Job – Jigsaw Puzzle Read More »
For the centuries families who were able kept a family bible not only to read daily but to record marriages, births, deaths and the many details which tell a family’s history, genealogy and perhaps thier place in society. Over the years these tomes have ample opportunity to fall into disrepair:
Several years ago, in the 90’s, I had a client who had brought in a group of Chinese zodiac symbols painted on and cut out of tissue paper. These had been acquired on a trip to Asia and while not expensive souvenirs they held a great deal of meaning for my client. Together we opted
Fun Frame Job – Chinese Zodiac Read More »
Old Comfort Farm is situated in the beautiful Maryland farmland of northern Frederick, Maryland. Owners Bill and Bonny Sydnor brought the damaged photo, top, to be restored in time to display when their home was toured as part of the Historic House and Church Tour in Creagerstown, Maryland in September 2009, and featured in the September
The art and artifacts of our lives tell stories of all sizes and shapes. We are often given these things as gifts or chose them to decorate, bringing color to our lives. A remembrance of someone who has left us, through death or relocation, or a time of life that is past never to return
Honoring Life, framing Holy Water Read More »
