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Our Blog

By Valerie Becker, MCPF

 

In January, I spent a week in Las Vegas for the annual Professional Picture Framing Convention. It was a great success! My first year on the Competition Board has passed quickly! It is fulfilling to be a part of the team with my colleagues Robin Gentry (Bowling Green, KY), Alan Abeyta (Phoenix, AZ), and Elizabeth Hellsten (San Antonio, TX). Here are some highlights from the convention, held at the Paris Hotel.

The first day was spent unpacking the competition pieces that were sent in for judging. On day two, the judges came in at 8 am and worked late into the night. There were a lot of pieces to judge!

PPFA competitions offer two categories. The PRINT category is a specific artwork chosen by the competition board each year. The challenge is to frame the designated print using proper PPFA established techniques and appropriate design. The OPEN category is a fun group in which the framer chooses his or her artwork or object to design and frame. Since I am on the Competition Board, I cannot compete for the length of my term, however, I am greatly enjoying the educational benefits of being on “this side” of the game!

On the third day, before the tradeshow opened, we hung all of the competition pieces for display. The winners of the competition were announced at the annual PPFA President’s Dinner. The display was huge, inspirational, and demonstrated beautiful craftsmanship.

 

 

Congratulations to this year’s
print
and open winners!

First Place, and First Time High Point Entry: Karen Fox, Art Heads Custom Picture Framing, Lake Oswego, OR.

Janine Buechner, MCPF, Artists Guild LLC, Sturgeon Bay, WI

After our initial competition duties, it was time for education. The Competition Board taught two classes: Understanding Competition and a Judge Update class. One of the priorities for the Competition Board is to train and recruit judges for the competition.

 

 

 

 

 

I was also able to take a few classes for myself, in order to keep my Master Framing designation up to date. My MCPF recertification is required every four years. There was a little time to catch up with my frame vendors, and to hunt for next year’s competition PRINT. The final day was spent carefully repacking the competition pieces for shipment to their owners. It was wonderful to be in the midst of so many fantastic colleagues!

I have two more years serving on the Competition Board for PPFA and I’m looking forward to an exciting year of industry competition, inspiration, and education.

We first met Dan in 2015 when he visited our Red Wing shop after a Google search for framing and printing. Dan’s initial project utilized both services—printing his commissioned artwork and framing it accordingly. Dan was cool, easy to work with, and he appreciated our high touch service style.

“You all took some time to get to know me and you listen to my input when selecting frames and I was involved in the whole process. How often does that even happen any more?” he remarked.

Meet Dan, Paavo, and Miss Belle!

Paavo resides at Wishbone Ranch and is part of the non-profit “This Old Horse” retirement program. “Miss Belle” is a young Friesian cross who is still in training. “They bring a lot of joy and meaning into my life,” Dan said of his horses.

As well as being a horseman, Dan is a cat man! Here’s Angel and Smushie.

We are proud to continue to help Dan tell his story by framing his many commissions. Dan prefers framing that fits both the artwork and his home decor style, and likes our Tru Vue museum glass for its unmatched clarity and UV protection.

“I have been super pleased with all the work you’ve done. Important since I look at them every day!” Dan shared.

Check out a few of Dan’s amazing projects!

Ready to tell YOUR story? Let us help you share it through custom professional framing!

Happy Holidays from Valerie, John, and Clare. We are grateful for your business and friendship, and look forward to seeing you soon! In the meantime, sing along…

On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my precious family memories beautifully preserved and ready for display.


On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my sports fantasies framed!!


On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a Tiffany style lamp and an exquisitely framed mirror to decorate my space.


On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my priceless child’s artwork to remind me how special life can be.


On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a beautiful Motawi art tile, handmade in Michigan. These tiles are mountable and framable, or simply ready to display on an easel.


On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…an acrylic art print by a local artist. Stop in to see what we have for sale, OR ask us to make you a custom #acrylicprint!


On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my cell phone photos immortalized as art for my walls! We print ready to hang, high quality gallery wraps from your images, or choose your art online at www.fineartprintsondemand.com.


On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…my special mementos displayed so I can see them every day.


On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…original artwork. We have ready-to-hang pieces as well as original acrylic paintings, sculpture, and signed/numbered art prints for sale.


On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a kitschy piece of artwork that brings me happy feelings, and reminds me that someone is thinking of me…


On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…some high quality ready-made frames that won’t fall apart, are backed by a quality guarantee, and will preserve my holiday photos.


On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me…a fantastic gift certificate so I can have some FUN framing and printing with the ONLY #masterframer in Minnesota!


We were so delighted to be featured in on one of the recent Destination Medical Center blogs!

Strategic second location for framing and fine art business brings success

 

For the last three days we have been entertained with the deconstruction of the Rosie Belle building across the street from us.

The building was derelict and becoming increasingly dangerous.

This morning it was especially fun with some great shop music in the background.

Enjoy.

 

Valerie Becker of Rochester Framing & Fine Art Printing was appointed to the International Framing Competition Board by the Board of Directors of the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) at the annual PPFA Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in January 2017.

This is a three year appointment and the International Framing Competition Board is responsible for all framing competitions, approval and accreditation of judges and the review and updates of the framing design standards and judging criteria.

Valerie commented “I am excited to be working with creative framing experts from all over the world. This is a professional honor for me and I will be a better framer from this experience.”

Valerie Becker is a Master Certified Picture Framer as designated by the PPFA. She owns and operates Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing and Rochester Framing & Fine Art Printing.

The Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) has been the industry trade association for professional custom picture framers, art galleries, museums and framing manufacturers for 35 years. PPFA has more than 3,500 members and helps maintain industry standards, education and promotion.

By day we are sophisticated framing and printing experts.

By night we become total hayseeds.

Lately we have been on a Townes Van Zandt jag.

 

Weather be damned, gotta collect those quarters.

Hwy 58 between Goodhue and Red Wing can be a harrowing drive during the winter.

That probably came out wrong.

We have been very busy and sometimes things like customer communication can get caught between the cracks.  Sorry.

But hey, it’s all good.  We promise to try harder to do better at being better.

Harder.

 


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