12 steps to Framing

How to frame a picture...

1. find the perfect frame and backing paper while out and about doing other things.

2. Come home remove backing and picture from frame. Making sure to carefully pry tacks as to not break glass.

3. Attach picture to backing paper and put into frame.

4. Hunt down a piece of cardboard for new backing.

5. Let husband bend tacks back into place.

6. Cringe when you hear the distinct *pop* of the glass breaking.

7. Go back to store and find another picture the same size as the last one. (there were only 3 left on the second store run, there were tons when I first bought the frame)

8. Pull out tacks on both frames to replace glass. :(

9. Find out there is no way to replace the tacks once you have the picture in.

10. Fret, worry, panic.

11. Rig something up and pray it works.

12. Attach miscellaneous gears and cogs to frame to complete Steampunk look.

So yea, it was an adventure in framing this weekend. The original pictures I took of course did not come out so I don't have any before and after shots of the project. I had to take the finished project outside to get a good picture so here it is.

Outside the background looks very blue, it isn't, it is actually a beautiful green. You can see the original picture in this post here.

The close up pictures of the corners came out blurry but you'll get the idea.

As you can see, kinda, there is a clock face with some cogs and gears in the upper right corner and some spoke-like wheels and a gear in the bottom left corner.

I really love the Victorian-esq backing paper. The darkness of it really makes the art pop in my opinion. What do you guys think?

Romeo

I have posted before about my Sun Conure Romeo and how much I adored her while she was with me. In all honesty I don't talk about her much because I still miss her, and would do anything to have her back with me.

For a long time I knew I wanted to have some artwork of her done. I wanted a piece in Memoriam to her, something special that would make me smile. So when I saw Christie Cox's work I knew she was the one that had to do it.

I thought about what I wanted and decided to steampunk the picture so it wouldn't necessarily make me tear up every time I saw it, like her pictures tend to do. It came out amazing!

Romeo is done in watercolors and colored pencil for the steampunky bits. I absolutely love it. You guys should go check out her work on her Facebook and Deviant Art pages. Her rates are extremely reasonable.

I have to say that working with Christie was a wonderful experience. She knew this was a Memoriam piece and that it had very special meaning for me and she treated the process with care and sensitivity. She is a wonderful artist and person and I Thank her with all of my heart.

Love at first kiss

My first bird was not a large parrot. In fact, she was a small, brightly colored beautiful Sun Conure named Romeo. (We found out later that “he” was a “she”) Romeo was a beautiful bird. Not just her brilliant coloring but her personality was the sweetest of any bird I have ever had.

"Whose a pretty bird?"

She was a kisser. The first time I met her she jumped off her stand climbed up my shirt and kissed me, over and over and over. It was an instant love between us. Every time I went to the store she wanted to be on me and I, of course, wanted to hold her. We were fast friends. A bond between human and bird that I have not had since. She was very special to me.

In some ways Romeo was a typical Sun Conure. She could be very loud. This usually happened when I was on the phone or doing something that did not include her when she wanted to be included.

"OMG! You're on the phone!!"

Romeo was full of personality, more then some of the larger birds that I have now. In the short time we have had together, she has made a lasting impression on me. I will always remember the small yellow bird that stole my heart.

RIP Romeo 200?-2007