white stacked style

I am finally offering a white finish in my stacked style. Below are pictures of the frame and here is a link to the 5x7 frame forsale on etsy.com

New Logo and Pictures

I have been working today on updating our logo and creating some interesting pictures to add to our website. Check them out and let me know what you think?

How high should I hang my Artwork?

At times it can be difficult to determine how high to hang your artwork in your home. A rule of thumb for determining the best height is 57" from the floor to the middle of the artwork. This is also the standard height museums use to hang their artwork. If you keep this standard height throughout your home in mind, you will also create unity in your home which will be pleasing to the eye.

Christmas and Looking forward to the New Year

I have recently made some adjustments to the blog, in an attempt to make it more appealing to all my readers and easier for you all to follow. . .As we head into the new year, one of my *important* business goals for 2010 to to average 4 blog posts a month (average of one per week).

This will be a definite challenge, but I believe it is an achievable and rewarding goal!

I have been very busy filling orders for the holidays, which have been awesome! . . .I am so excited with where the business is headed and the many new frame styles that will be introduced very soon. . .Also I am researching tools that will increase efficiency in production and quality in my frames to bring added value to all my customers. . .I will be sure to post more information about the changes in equipment and tools when I begin to take the move.

I am so blessed to get to spend Christmas with my family and friends!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas
From David Arnold and DA custom frames

Kids game Using wooden frame cut-off scraps

Since I recently relocated to Athens, GA I have started getting involved at the local Boys and Girls Club. . .Every Wednesday and Friday I volunteer/hang out with the kids doing art.

I've been trying to come up with some unique ideas that the kids have never done before and/or have never really thought was "ART" before. . .So I came up with a sculpture building game.



I had a huge box of scrape wood cut-offs and I have no use for them so I thought they would be a great thing to use for art at the B and G club.

The game is kind of the reverse of Jenga


Here's how it's played;
1. Each player in the group goes in order and takes a block out of a box and places it on the playing board (flat piece of wood placed in the center of the table)
2. The player has only 10 seconds to pick a block, glue it, and place it on the game board.
3. If the player fails to do step 2 in the 10 sec. he or she is eliminated from the game.
4. An additional rule I added to the game is no player can touch any of the blocks when it is not their turn or they are also eliminated.
5. Now the main challenge in the game is to not have any blocks touch the table when it is your turn. . .You are eliminated if: Any block hits the table during your turn, even if you just drop your piece while you are trying to put it onto the game board.

To sum it up the game went pretty well. . .3/4 of the kids said the game was fun, So I'll take that as a success!

If you want to play the game and any of directions are not clear let me know and I can clarify.

New Pictures

I am continually trying to achieve better pictures so everyone has a better idea of what my frames are like without being able to touch them. . . Check out a few of the pictures I have taken recently. . .I used simple objects that are white and blend with the background to help the picture frames stand out.

8x10 Black rustic stacked pine picture frame . handmade .

Just Listed this frame. . .It is part of my Stacked Pine frame line. . .Great rustic look to it. . .But with the right picture it would look great in a modern space!
Here's a link to the listing http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=24226446

30 frames for donation

Half way finished building the 30 frames that I am donating. . .read below to find out more. . .here's a picture of how the frames are coming out. . .

BARNWOOD style frames

I have introduced a few new types of frames into my shop, including a RED barnwood style frame, and some other frames with "RUSTIC" style. . .pictures below. . .

bamboo picture frames

I have listed several variations of bamboo frames in my esty shop

All of my bamboo frames are made from solid bamboo. . .I purchase slats of bamboo from this online store www.foreverbamboo.com

steps to making bamboo frames
1. build frame base out of pine 1x2" wood
2. cut bamboo by cutting 45 degree angles to form miters
3. I than clamp up the bamboo after using wood glue on the inside surface of the bamboo
4. to guarantee the bamboo will stay I shoot a couple of brad nails into the surface.

I build these frames in any size please email me for pricing or for additional questions.

David@DAcustomframes.com




check out these links to see some of my bamboo frames that are for sale

bamboo frame #1
bamboo frame #2
bamboo frame #3

Picture frames are better in 3's

I have started to post mirrors and frames in sets of threes. . . Below are some links to my frames that are in threes. . .When posting these in my www.DAcustomframes.etsy.com shop I have made listings for three frames where individual prices are reduced due to buying in bulk.

3 frames grouped together make a huge impact on any wall in any room. . . All the frames I sell have the versatility to hang vertically or horizontally

The set of frames can make a modern touch or rustic touch due to the repetition of the frames in a rustic dark walnut distressed pine finish.

CHECK THESE FRAMES OUT!

set of frames #1
set of frames #2
set of frames #3
set of frames #4





here is an example of a set of mirrors

Rustic Modern

I have expressed in previous posts the popularity of the rustic style these days in home decor. . .I have designed and built new frames that can fall under the category of rustic, but also because of the repetition and lines of three of the frames with mirrors put together can create a modern look!

Look at the pictures below and you can see what I am talking about. . .I really wanted to design some frames with mirrors that would fit in many different styles. . . Depending on how you display the mirrors also effects the style. . .the more random asymmetrical layout creates more of a modern look when the three mirrors vertically looks very traditional.

If you want more information about this set of mirrors check them out using the link below.

3 distressed pine mirrors

Silver Leafing

This post is all about silver leafing/gilding

I have recently posted my silver leafed frames


HOW TO:

I have discovered that the most important part of leafing is the base coat. . . I spray my frames with paint and I sand each frame between each coat. . .The trick I have found to get the smoothest finish is by using 000 steal wool.

After getting the initial base coats finished, I brush on adhesive with a foam roller.

Wait 30 min.

And start putting on the Leaf

You can use wax paper to hold the leaf while adhering it to your surface.
I choose to just hold the individual sheets with my fingers. . .I feel I have the most control with this method.

After I'm finished adhering the entire surface I spray gloss sealer.


Check out the pictures below. . .the first few are for sale on my etsy site www.DAcustomframes.etsy.com

Also I posted a picture of the pretty large order I just filled for a newly married couple in the United Kingdom