perfect timing, just picked up the digital copies of our engagement photos, time to put some of those babies on canvas!

I was just feeling guilty for not having framed this piece we commissioned from a friend. Must get to that now.

2/29 or 1/29? Anyway, agreed on perfect timing -- one of my projects for the year from Day 1 was to do something with the pileup of artwork in our bonus room!

I'm hoping 2/29 . . . because the next one of those is in 2016 :)

Oops! Sorry about that - definitely NOT 2/29 :) - just fixed the post. Thanks!

Great assignment! Picked an oil pastel by a friend that got scratched, so I'm contacting her to see about repairing it and when I get it back Ii will take it directly to the framers. Thanks for the push!

This is perfect! I've actually gotten several pieces framed in the past year (both professionally and ones I've done myself) but none have actually made it onto the walls. Here's to the motivation I need to find a happy home for these things.

I've chosen a watercolor a friend bought for me many years ago. It will go in a frame I made around the same time. Already have the the hanger - just need to get the glass cut. Will go over my desk and make me happy every time I look at. This relatively small task makes me feel very accomplished.

I have a large photo of me as a child with my late grandparents' late Saint Bernard that is in desperate need of framing and hanging. I think I will have it professionally framed, since it is a large, slightly odd size.

I have something made by a friend I want to frame and put by the front door so I see it whenever I'm leaving the house... should be easy enough, it's just a matter of actually doing it !

This is perfect! My project for the month is to hang some art and wall storage in my odd little dining nook - I've already written down to buy a couple of frame today! You read my mind, Apartment Therapy!

D'oh - couple of frames, not frame..

Ahead of the curve-sort of. Had several pieces framed a year ago. Beautiful. The sad thing? I'd had them all since 1975! That's too many years gone by when I could have enjoyed them.

i have a LOT of framed things sitting around that need to be hung. since i have picture rail moulding in my living room, i'm going to start attaching the hangers to the pieces that i want to arrange on my north wall (the south one is done) and figure out the arrangement for these 4 large pieces. then i'll have them ready for the 29th.

I have something to hang ... I took it down when I rearranged some furniture last month and it needs to be hung ... just sure where it will go. But - I will be ready on 1/29.

Man, I wish I'd checked the calendar before I left today so I could've brought some of my art I want framed into the shop near my office. Ah well, will just have to choose the pieces tonight and bring them in tomorrow or Friday.

When we got married in '76, a well known photographer friend took all our pictures at the wedding and reception. Back then film was used, not digital. He had no idea that all the film was bad and only one picture was able to be saved. Now is the time to have it framed, don't you think? Will have it done professionally. Not sure if it will be ready for the 29th, but we will try!

This is such a tough one for me. I want to have much more art in my home, but I don't know how to find something I love that I can afford. How do people on a very limited budget find art? I have framed a series of black and white photos, mostly of family and friends, for our hallway near the bedrooms, but I have a huge, empty wall in my dining room (empty for ELEVEN YEARS!) because I can't figure out how to find something for it that I can afford. (I live in Chicago, if that helps with any suggestions.)

suekapec - so exciting to finally have that framed!

Just to let you all know...Michael's has 60% off custom framing this week (rather than the usual 40% off...http://www.michaels.com/c/coupons,default,pg.html?promo=20130106_CF2

My problem? too much art on the walls! So I'm going to take it all down, and only replace what I really love!

My grandmother was a painter, and when I visited my parents for the holidays, my dad (also a painter) sent me home with a stack of nude figure drawings ("quick action sketches," so all done in a minute or 30 seconds at figure drawing sessions) she'd done over the years. They're quite large -- the paper is 18x24, and most of the drawings are sized to the paper -- and I want to frame several of them.

So... my dad suggested americanframe.com, and I'm a little terrified by the cost. I'd go with a cheaper option (especially since 18x24 is a standard poster size), except I need to use archival matting on these -- and I just now learned from reading some of the framing links here that I should be worried about static affecting the charcoal/graphite drawings. AGH, what do I do?

(Are all my posts this month going to be unnecessarily long stories flailing for help? That would be kind of depressing.)

Will hang the frames we have standing on top of furniture. It makes it easier to clean. Love the idea of framing letters. Anyone has good suggestions for affordable custom framing in NYC and Brooklyn?

I'm a student, so for me everything is about staying within my limited budget. I get my frames at flea markets and thrift stores, they're usually quite pretty and cheap too. As for what goes inside the frames I use posters, postcards, thrifted finds and hand-me-down art work from my mother's house. It's definitly possible to have a home covered in artwork without spending very much at all - it's mostly just a matter of knowing what you like/want and being a bit creative with your thrift store finds :)
I have a couple of framed pieces that I want to hang over my kitchen table. Looking forward to the 29th!

We bought a sweet little print on our honeymoon... 13 years ago! It's not a typical size, so I'll have to take it to a professional to get it done.

Ooohhh. This is perfect - we have a limited-edition screen print from a craft beer festival in the city where my husband got his law degree. It's sitting in the back seat of my car - I think a trip to the store is in order ths evening.

@MelCrawf - Have you looked into college art department or art school sales? I would be shocked if the School of the Art Institute or Columbia College didn't have a student exhibition and sale at the end of each semester. My college's art department also had a large student exhibition and sale each spring. (I grew up 90 miles from Chicago.)

I have so many large photos and one very large lithograph that I've been wanting to frame and hang for years (make that YEARS!). I don't think my budget will let me take care of the lithograph by month's end, but I can definitely do one or two of the photos.

Thanks! I just printed it. This could be just the thing to spur me to get my piece framed.

Since most of the art in the house is my boyfriend's and we have very different taste, I think this is a great project for me. He actually got me a book called "Robots and Donuts" by Eric Joyner for Christmas and told me to pick something out of it, we would get a print and frame it. Definitely excited to get this one going.

Got a head start on this last night by framing and hanging my set of 3 bus roll posters! I'm planning to set up a small gallery wall over my desk, so that will be my next art project.

I have a quick framing question and I am wondering if you guys might be able to help. I have a poster for my kids' bathroom that is almost framed, but I am using a cheap frame from IKEA, and I just can not get those little metal tabs to go into the sides of the frame to hold everything in place. Does that make sense? Do you guys have any advice? I would rather not have to pay someone to assemble this frame. The whole idea was to keep things cheap!

Well ahead of the curve here. I always hang pieces as I get them. My office has ephemera collections, my hall has a painting by my niece and in my Canadian dining room are two painting of Scotland, done by my Czech brother-in-law. You can see one of the ephemera boards here: http://bit.ly/13h6j3K. It was taken two years ago and doesn't look like this now as I constantly remove and add to it. I have three of these boards. You can see my brother in law's paintings here: http://bit.ly/VgcuSU.

I decided to frame a war-time poster of Riveting Rosie. I bought it from the Smithsonian in June 2011 and it only saw light twenty minutes ago. Since I am declaring war on my cluttered home, this image is so apt for me. I have placed it by the kitchen entrance and hope that she will give me some muscle power when I run out of steam and her steely gaze will stop me from straying from this purpose. So for my Cure buddies - 'We Can Do It!'

Bought a poster frame last weekend for the artwork by the grandchildren on the wrapping paper of my christmas present!

@MelCrawf Have you heard about the Hull-House Art Lending Library? You get to choose a piece of art from their collection, they come and install it for you, then come and take it back 3 months later--all for free! I haven't personally done it, but it seems like an awesome way to experience really great art in your own home on a ($0) budget. It can also help you figure out what kind of things you like in your own home with zero commitment.

I have the photograph my husband gave me as a gift by nature photographer Paul Grecian. That was last Christmas. My husband joked he would get it framed for me as this year's gift but since that didn't happen either, it will be part of the Cure.

Ahhh - this is kind of an issue for me - my husband is a serious and very good photographer. I keep getting prints of his work, then by the time they are back from being framed, I already like a newer photo better.

But there are one or two, unframed, that I particularly love and can't figure out where they would work in our house. I'll try to figure that out.

i have had a photo from antelope canyon printed on canvas and now it is in the living room. Would love to do another of the coast but it's a bit pricey, since I'm also trying to a few other things fixed around the house. I think I will find a photo taken from a long ago trip to the coast, that was taken on black and white film on my dad's camera, the one he used to take picture of us when we were little, print and put in a frame. It will make me feel like I'm on vacation every time I look at it.

I went through a bunch of childhood-era storage the last time I was at my mom's house, and snagged two little doll's dresses, handmade by my grandmother, with the best of intentions to press them and frame them asap. Needless to say they're still in my "to-do" basket. I just need to find a relatively deep frame, somewhere between shadow-box and normal depth. Plus I want to fix the broken frame that prevents me from hanging the little boat print I have propped up in my bathroom.

Seconded! I went to North Central College in Naperville and they have a student art show every June, and frequent shows throughout the year.

I will be replacing the images that came with the frames (ridiculous!!) in my bathroom with the photos I ordered from Etsy...received them just before Christmas, but they haven't made it in.

I also will inquire at the framers next door about how much it costs to replace the mat in a professionally framed pic I've had for years and love, but it's too brown for my style now. I looked at the back to see if I could DIY, but can't even figure out how to attempt opening it :/

I'm very excited for the hang artwork day, so that might come early...I have another gorgeous etsy print to go up... plus a bunch of rearranging to do.

ps. I didn't pick a project yesterday, because I just want to focus on my list and the cure calendar. Ok, if I HAD to, it would be deal with the closets, but it's not a "build something" project...whatev.

I bought a decent sized framed piece at the thrift store a few months ago along with some materials with which to transform into something special. Guess it's time to get on that project, huh?

@Nutz: YES WE CAN!

I have this insanely cool tapestry of hand embroidered mayan hieroglyphs from either Guatemala or Mexico, that I have had for well over 10 years. I would like to find a way to frame it and a good place to hang it. I am hoping that seeing it will inspire me to follow through on the craft projects that I want to do.

I'm not sure how to have it framed, I think it needs to very unique or primitive to fit with the subject. Any suggestions?

Wow! I wish there was something similar in my city...that's amazing!

MelCrawf -

I live in your area, and know that both the Northbrook Goodwill and Winnetka Thrift shop have paintings and frames usually. You can get to the Winnetka shop from the UP North Metra line, Hubbard Woods stop.

Also, during the summer, there are a bunch of annual rummage sales along the north shore. I have never been (since I already have enough stuff) but I have read that people come from several states away to attend. Do a search on north shore illinois rummage sale and you should be able to find a schedule. I would expect you could find both artwork and frames there, you just have to wait several months.

Perfect timing! Right before I checked my email for today's assignment, I cleaned out a drawer during a conference call (I do love working from home!) and set aside some beautiful money from a trip to China in 2006 that I've been meaning to frame. Now to just figure out the best way to do it. It would be nice to have a layered glass frame so that I could turn it around so I could see both sides of the bills.

Oh this is perfect for me! I just got this great map framed from 1905 of the north end of boston where I live. It's an odd shape so I got it professionally framed and it looks amazing.

@MelCrawf - Have you checked out Etsy (etsy.com)? It's usually where I find some reasonably priced art.

@MelCrawf
I am a graduate student on a limited budget and I find that Etsy is a great source of prints and artwork. I've gotten some amazing stuff for $20-30. Also, there are many printshops that sell affordable stuff online... for example, Enormous Champion is based out of Brooklyn and they do amazing stuff. I like supporting artists and artisans and there are definitely ways to do so affordably. Good luck!

I have a wall of hung frames with no photos in them! Living in the digital era definitely has its drawbacks. Working with the husband to finally choose our faves. I also have a print of Cinderella from Grimms fairy tales that I bought years ago. It's a bit on the dark and creepy side but amazing. It's an odd size and I never brought it to be framed. This may be the perfect time!

@Isabelle Dervaux, if it's something you think has value---meaning you want to frame it once and have it last, I'd recommend General Art Framing on Varrick. Framing is an investment if it's a piece you'd always like to have on your walls.If you like it for now, sometimes simple gallery frames from Pottery Barn or the like do the trick. Here's the contact info for the framers. They are super nice, and affordable for the work they do, but archival quality framing isn't cheap. http://generalartframing.com/

@MelCrawf - I was also going to suggest Etsy but I see others have beaten me to it! In addition to extremely reasonably priced prints (original designs, small production) you can also find original oil paintings and water colors. I bought a *stunning* watercolor of hummingbirds for $70 almost two years ago, and now that artist only sells prints of work, no more originals! I feel lucky to have snagged one when I did. Beware of the Etsy time warp though, you can get lost for hours browsing.

I have framed pictures that have been artfully (ummmm well...) displayed on the ground. I just have never learned to put them up on a wall. I guess I have a little time to figure out how to do that. I am always worried about hammering nails into the walls of my apt. One photo is quite heavy.

Also I've found IKEA Ribba frames to be super sturdy for being as cheap as they are. They look amazing too.

Yay, free day! I think at this point I've got about 5 framed pieces leaning against the wall in my bedroom. I need to shift a few pieces around to make room for the new ones, so I'll work on that between now and the 29th!

Ditto this, @MelCrawf! I'm also a fan of looking for ephemera (particularly other people's old photos, old advertisements and posters) at vintage shops and thrift stores, though I'm new enough to Chicago that I haven't yet found any particularly good places.

I have a huge drawing I bought from a dear friend. Thanks for the push - off to the framers tomorrow morning!! It is such a treat to have something professionally framed... IKEA frames just don't cut it for me.

I moved in almost a year ago and I still haven't committed to where I'm going to hang all my art. I have some lovely pieces, but they're heavy, with walls that are concrete and freshly painted I've put off hanging for about as long as I can! Now it's time... So instead of finding art to frame, I'll use this as a day to research how and where best to hang what I have. I know my place will be transformed :)

Question: the oil pastel that went unframed for so long is slightly dusty. Do any fellow readers have suggestions that won't scratch the surface?

We have more art than wall space. Most of our pieces are done by relatives or friends or students from my son's elementary school. School art shows and fund raisers are a great place to find unique and not-so-expensive pieces. I actually can think of five pieces that I want framed, but will have to settle on one to keep within budget. I think the old book illustration of the dancing faries.

Just did this several days ago with my kids art work. It's our favourite thing to hang on our walls.

@PGF- perhaps someone with more art experience would know better, but how about a can of air? You could hold it far enough away (6-8") so the blast wouldn't be too strong, but strong enough to blow away the dust.

My response: YES! and OY! I must be the most particular person ever. I want more art in my home desperately, but it take me EONS to ind something a like. Yes, EONS. Life in the tortoise lane over here...

But, I just remembered a flash of an idea I had: the original blueprints of my house! They are tattered and torn, but so cool. Maybe those mounted on a white background...they would be unique and meaningful, for sure. I also have a triptych of square silvered frames that I love and may put photos of us in them.

@PGF Maybe a gentle shot of compressed air across the surface?

I know what I'm framing! It's a postcard print of Norman Rockwell's "Coming and Going" which I picked-up last year at a traveling art exhibit at the DAI. I'm going to hang it in my kitchen.

The project I picked yesterday was to hang three framed photos since I have meaning to do that for a while and they are important to me. Also, my honey and I were JUST talking last night about printing and framing a photo that I took on our honeymoon. I took it while we were driving into Dubrovnik -- our driver (who also owned the place where we stayed) pulled over to show us the most gorgeous view looking down at the old, walled city and insisted that I get out a camera. The shot turned out beautiful it is the backdrop on my laptop and I want to print it and hang it in our bedroom. My honey is an artist and we have one of his pieces hanging in our guest room. Travel photographs, taken by us or otherwise, are one of my favorite things to have in our home. We recently ordered canvas prints of beignet and latte photos from our trip to New Orleans... I may also order a print of one of the paintings we saw at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Arkansas. So basically, this assignment is right up my alley!

Etsy can be a great source for art. As can 20x200, which Janel mentions in her live blog.

I'm picking the poster for the children's literature events during the 2012 International Writers Festival in Jerusalem. It's cute, my favorite childhood heros are featured and best of all, it was a street poster and free. (I waited until the festival was over and took it off a fence.)

I haven't tried them yet, but A.I. Friedman has fairly frequent custom framing sales. As does Michael's, though it's a schlep from Brooklyn.

I have a question for people who know more about this than I do: I have a large photo of my mother from the late 60s that I really love, but it's got a bit of a gouge right in the middle of it. Anyone know anything about photo restoration and how much it costs/the best places to go? If I frame anything new this month, I definitely want it to be that!

Google photo restoration in your city - most of these businesses are small operations.
I would only take this to a local place to avoid shipping, and more specifically having it get lost during shipping. They can do amazing things these days!

I definitely have a piece of art to frame. On Urban Outfitters’ website, I found a Bianca Green For Society6 “You Make Me Home” Art Print (http://www.urbanoutfitters.com/urban/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=26693069&parentid=A_FURN_WALL) and fell in love. It wasn’t an expensive piece of art nor a collector’s piece but it spoke to me: my boyfriend went to the Merchant Marine Academy, we both love the ocean, and this is the place where we're dropping our anchor for the time being. It was the perfect addition to our home, so I bought it. Now, framing can be very expensive, so I did a couple searches this morning and lucked out. Aaron Brothers is having a special right now (http://www.aaronbrothers.com/coupons) – 50% off their custom framing. [WINNING!]

cathy - how about these ones?

http://www.picture-frames-warehouse.com/pf5.asp?ID=26313

Initially, I thought of framing a reprint of the Los Angeles Redcar Streetcar Trolley system. But it turns out that my husband brought that to his office. So now I think I'm going to go through the postcards we have accumulated over the past couple of years through our travels. I think I could get one of those shadow boxes that allow you to insert souvenirs from a trip. Then I'll hang it somewhere -- maybe in a place where we spend a lot of time.

A lot of people have mentioned either DIY framing or going pro. I just want to point out that there is a middle path: taking a finished frame into your local frame shop and having them mount your art, add glass, etc.

I have done this several times with vintage frame finds. Just be on the lookout for frames that are close to the dimensions you need. I also pick up large frames that are a good price whenever I see them and keep them for future projects. Typically, the larger the frame the more money you will save. Plus, sometimes you can find frames with elements the frame store won't do (I have one with carved feathers at the top, for instance). I like the reassurance that a framer I trust has dealt with the mounting of a piece, plus I like to use UV-resistant plexiglass which is not something that comes with any store-bought frames I have seen. So saving money on the frame lets me splurge on archival materials and labor.

If anyone is interested I can post a picture of a completed piece when I get home from work.

@MelCrawf, I don't know your definition of expensive but I've bought several oils and watercolors from dailypainters.com

You can sometimes bargain with the artist and get a piece you like for less than the listed price.

@dhw —I use a putty knife or screwdriver to push those things in on the frame backs . . . never had much luck using my fingers. Sometimes there's a grove in the frame part that you have to make sure you get it into, other times, they are just cheap pieces of wire and you have to force them. I think on some frames I've used an awl to start a little hole. (I'm with you on the needing to keep these projects cheep!) Hope this helps.

@PGF Try using a big, soft makeup brush - like a powder or blush brush ( clean and dry, ofcourse) to gently sweep.the dust off of your painting.

I'm rather in awe of all of you who make these decisions so quickly. What I'm learning during this January Cure (which isn't really a surprise to me) is that I have lots of ideas but can never settle on which one to implement. I'm still mulling over which project to tackle and now I'm supposed to sort through all my unframed artwork (lots!) and decide which to frame?!! I find that I'm pretty good at: "you will spend the next 30 minutes sorting through this pile" but not so good at any major decision-making that arises during the sorting.

Anyway, I will either (1) finally put some family photos into those frames with the holes for pictures (which I bought a year ago) or (2) find a poster I can put into a frame I have in the living room . . . When I did my Day 4 meditation on the living room I realized that I don't really like the large "laser photo of a bridge and sailboat" that's been in the frame for 30 years, but I might be able to reuse the frame.

Advice/tips on decision-making would be appreciated.

For those of you looking for larger frames, Aaron Brothers is having their 1 cent frame sale this month which is a good deal. Buy any frame at regular price and get another frame (it can be a different size or style) for only a penny. Since custom framing is so expensive for larger/poster sized pieces, you can also buy a standard frame, but get a mat custom cut to fit your oddly sized artwork.
Now I just have to hang the artwork I framed two weeks ago and promptly leaned against the wall.

1. Create your own.
2. Buy directly from an artist via their personal website.
3. Buy from online art galleries that have print on demand products.

Oops -here is the rest of my comment.
Wanting art to hang in your home indicates you’ve ‘got soul’! I started painting my own art digitally with Corel Painter eight years ago because I couldn’t afford to buy it. Because I loved watercolour so much I focused on mastering that medium painting digitally. It took a few years, but I eventually produced art I wanted to hang because it made me happy, reminded me of a favourite place and it added colour and peace to my small one bedroom condo. Not the mention the joy of being creative and having other people really like my art as well. I have been selling my art privately and online in several places, the least expensive being JoanAHamilton.com for several years.

I use (mostly) Ikea Ribba frames and change my art fairly often (not as often as I should though). The metal tabs holding the innards in are rather flimsy and seem to be getting flimsier every year (anyone else noticed that?). A permanent solution is using a staple gun. It’s possible to remove the staples, but not as easy as tabs. There are better quality frames you can buy with this ability to change the art frequently if this is your path. They have a new frame with mat out which cost a little more and look a little sturdier. I haven’t tried Virserum yet, but plan to for some art I will have hung in a hotel in downtown Toronto.

There are (let’s just say many) websites that artists are selling their work on in every style and medium imaginable. You find such sites through places like FolioTwist and Fine Art Studio Online There are print on demand online art galleries such as Fine Art America, Red Bubble which sell reasonably priced prints in various formats. The least expensive choices are posters, or prints (often various papers offered) which you can frame for less on your own.

Dewluca,
I find one thing that helps me to make a home decor decision is to realize I can always change my mind later on. Try to take a low key approach and realize putting some family photos into the existing frames isn't irreversible. Luckily there are no financial repercussions to using existing photos & frames and give yourself the leeway to change your mind next week. As my friend used to always say "No decision is a decision" - better to decide and change your mind than vacillate.

dewluca, if it makes you feel any better.... I've been in my "new" place for over 3 years and just recently started to make and implement some of the decisions I knew I would have to make when we moved in. It takes time and that's okay.

Wonderful cure for the day, I have an amazing piece of art that was available as a one off commission by the local (to my part of London) area artists Gilbert and George, on the internet via a special website for only 24 hours... I downloaded it years ago and in typical Gilbert and George style its a series of 9 A4 frames designed to be shown as one big picture, I bought the frames in the lead up to christmas last year so all that I have to do now is choose some fab paper and get my graphic designer stepdad to print it up for me. SO exciting, can't wait!

Thanks lesova . . . I just recently painted my bathroom . . . I had picked out the color scheme (and bought a shower curtain using those colors) over TEN years ago . . . It just took me ten years to decide to actually paint it . . . (so you can see how bad I am at implementation :) I have to just stop thinking and just DO!

We just repainted our apartment, and have spent the last 6 months grooving on the empty, perfectly finished walls. We had too much on our walls previously, and have been judiicious about putting anything back. So rather than frame new art, I am going to reconsider our collection of polish theatre prints, and determine if they fit with our new arrangements.

I would like to frame my daughters baptism dress and shoes. I have a shadow box to place it in, but am unsure of how to perserve the dress from yellowing while hanging up. I also am back and forth about putting glass or plexiglass in it. It will be in her room and I don't want to risk her getting hurt. Any suggestions?

Ha. At this point I can't even afford a frame from IKEA, much less a piece of art. Maybe someday. ;)

I finally hung 2 small pieces in the hall upstairs. One is a drawing my husband did while visiting Prague 20 years ago & the other is a photo of my sister's wedding. These have been in frames for 5 or so years, and have been sitting on the hall table for the last year. Just sitting there collecting dust. Now they are hanging on the wall (and yes, I CAN use a hammer & not hurt myself!)

We are looking for a large format photo to hang in our living room, next to the TV. Haven't found just the right piece though. Since this will be a large purchase for us, I don't mind taking our time. The photos I'm drawn to are thoughtful, sad places & I'm not sure if it's right for our only living space. The rest of the room is very happy with lots of colors & pattern, so perhaps it would be fine to just go with the photo of the empty, desolate former asylum.

Wow, I just want to say thank you so much for so many thoughtful replies to my plea for sources of art on a budget. I don't know why I am so intimidated by the thought of buying art, I truly love it -- I need to get over myself! I am particularly thrilled with the suggestion of the Hull House Lending Museum, what a totally cool concept, and I will also look for art sales at the many great art schools in Chicago. Love the north shore sale idea too, will look into it. Taking notes on the many suggestions here. I have bought several print type things on Etsy, although mostly small and not original stuff, and YES, it is a totally lovely time-suck, browsing through the gajillions of cool things there. I find that when I buy things online I don't visualize what is actually coming very well, and I've been disappointed a few times with original stuff. This is a fab community of people here, so thanks again -- hopefully I can be as helpful to others! (And please feel free to throw out any other Chicago sources you can think of.)

I bought a vintage oil painting of flowers in a vase at a flea market because I liked the colors. It's about 16 x 20. The painting is on my wall but does nothing for me--however, I'm liking the frame which has a cloth mat and ornate frame. I'm thinking to remove the painting and buy some corkboard, staple it in and make it into a bulletin board. Now all I have to do--is do it!

kaaaaate, you can get archival matting done at a frame shop and put it into a frame you get elsewhere. So you can use an affordable poster frame with professional matting. Since often the gesture drawings you seem to be describing are done on newsprint, though, archival matting is only part of the issue. You'd need to have them professionally buffered (a chemical treatment that slows the oxidation and crumbling of the paper) too. and that is expensive. We (at work) had some Tasha Tudor sketches treated that way, but the drawings are insured for $1000 each, so that makes a difference.

Back when I did drawings for framing, I ordered metal frame segments through the mail. You get 2 segments for the height and 2 for the width of the mat (not the drawing), and assemble them yourself. You get glass cut at a glass company and make your own mat or get that part professionally done. American Frame may be a source for those, but nowadays they have too many kinds to choose from when you don't know what you need. Maybe an artists association near you would have members who buy their frames this way who could advise you. (The mat should keep the drawing from touching the glass, and if you are framing 18x24, I'd go with plexiglass not real glass. Real glass is pretty heavy for that size, and if it falls off the wall, makes a terrible mess!

sarajanie, tapestries can be displayed nicely in shadow boxes. If it's big, you might need to have a custom plexiglass box crafted for it. If it's smaller, frame shops have lots of options. The frame should be really plain so it doesn't compete with the tapestry. I'd consider padding the backing that should come with the frame with quilt batting and cover that with a tightly stretched piece of plain fabric that sets off the tapestry. (Maybe a natural linen color or something.) Then pin or stitch the tapestry onto the padding, ideally with a margin of the background cloth showing a bit like a mat. This helps protect the tapestry from damage and looks professional with minimal work.

Or, depending on what it is, some tapestries you can simply tack to the wall. (I think framing make this sort of thing feel more significant, though. Like a museum exhibit.)

Haironfire1026

Collection of Polish theatre prints = I'm jealous!

Maybe Someday, I have framed original watercolors on my walls that cost $3. Thrift shops and flea markets are your friend, if you do some scouting. If you are OK with commercial prints and posters, even more options are available. Skip Starbucks and you are all set! ;^)

@MelCrawf - I can't believe I didn't think of this before, but Apartment Therapy had a really good suggestion for art a few months ago. http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/diy-idea-graphic-prints-for-under-five-dollars-design-editor-175915

I have another question for the community at large! I am never sure how to frame things myself. Like, do I just put the print behind the mat that comes with the frame? The one time I attempted it myself, as soon as I hung it on the wall the print slipped and there was about an inch of empty space above it. I ended up taking it down and now it sits against a wall being neglected because I'm not sure if I should use double sided tape to anchor it in there? I feel like that's maybe a terrible idea though?

I've been taking framing classes for the last couple of years - the same one multiple times, and it's so much fun! Paying for materials at cost (purchased from the shop owned by the teacher's father) and doing the labour myself is definately a plus. I just wish I had some walls to hang everything on now!

Having just downsized to a studio from a one bedroom I have more art than wall so instead of framing something I've worked out a rotation/storage plan for the pieces I do have. Once I finish one of my projects I'll have a picture rail on one wall so I can rearrange things without messing around with nail holes.

I just found a small frame in my storage area and filled it with 4 brightly-colored Twinings tea bag wrappers - a fun graphic piece for the kitchen, no cost!

I am going to frame a trio of (professional bw) family photographs taken last year. I started over the holiday with an old black IKEA frame, but it looks rough and a Sharpie didn't help. (Frame belongs in an Outbox not the wall, with scuffs and no glass!) I really like the mid-way solution mentioned by another poster: new mats and glass.

This post is esp. timely. I have so much artwork that needs framing and wall-mounting. I'm also thinking of getting a couple of those slim artwork shelves, so that I can refresh and re-arrange my artwork as much as I like. I hate hanging up art!

Apologies if this already came up earlier in the comments, but has anyone tried using the 3M adhesive stickers for hanging lighter artwork? Wondering what your experience has been.

On another note, I wish the January cure was spaced out to be January-February-March. At the pace I'm going (working parent with a 9-month-old and a husband in an intense, full-time training program), I'm lucky if I do each post every weekend.

Last year I went on a photo-framing spree, and started framing photos of family, travel, friends, etc and hanging them from the walls, propping them up on bookcases. We've gone from a nearly photo-free house to one that is starting to fill with our memories and reminders of some of our favorite people. It's been a fabulous change, and one that I've planned to continue as a few of the projects that I've identified for my Cure. As we speak, the photos my sister chose for me to hang of her and my bro-in-law are on their way to me, and others that I've selected for development are at the shop and ready for pick-up. So excited to keep moving this project along!

over the holidays i picked up a rather ginormous (ugly) painting in a brass frame from my favorite thrift store with the intent of using it as a blank canvas. the subject matter-- abstract/minimal. i'm loving how it's turning out. hoping to finish painting the painting over the weekend and then hang it or actually just 'lean it' against the wall. http://www.madgirlathome.blogspot.com/2012/12/abstract-art.html

most of the artwork in my home is by local (mid-century) artists... just last weekend i picked up a fabulous abstract pastel at an estate sale, ready to be hung (originally from the memorial art gallery collection). not sure yet where it will finally hang, so for now i lean it for a day or two in one spot and then try another.

While I havent looked at the list of projects for the Cure, I actually got started on the assignment yestrday! I printed out an 8X10 of about 7 huge seabirds on a tree outside my apartment (i live on a marsh) and framed it in a cheapy 6 dollar frame from Walmart. I love it! My mom said it looked like "hotel art" but only because it looks like a professional picture! I just smiled and said...no that's my art. I love it. Reminds me of what an amazing place Florida is.

I took a memento from our vacation to the Mayan ruins to be custom framed with the Michael's 60% off deal and saved about $130! I would have never done this on my own so thank you for the motivation and encouragement!

Thanks for the tip. Never actually considered the middle ground, just duh. (ok now i feel stupid, thanks). I snagged a couple very large unique frames at the thrift store couple yrs ago & have been looking for a way to use them. On the other hand....

I have a large, intricate drawing of a french horn my dd did in school which I've attempted to have framed on three different occasions. Each time the framer refused for *liability reasons*....said they couldn't be responsible for possible damage to original work. I kid you not. I even offered to sign a waiver but each time I went home with no frame.

For the record, my first two attempts were two dif Michaels locations, no small undertaking when one lives in 'Cricketville' aka The Sticks. Third attempt was an indepent framer (drove 90 miles to get there AFTER calling first & describing my dilemma). Only by the grace of God did I walk outta that place without creating a scene. How do these folks stay in business?!

Taking a deep, calming breath here & asking for any suggestions.

*independent*

lizbeth...check out my post on Tara's Liveblogging thread & see if appeals to you. Dunno your personal style, just offering another option. Have fun whatever you decide!

Etsy is a great source for finding affordable art - the issue there is too much choice! I find picking a topic you happen to love helps. For example I got a great screen print for my parents for $16 that was 3 bikes leaning against an old barn in just the right colors and style for them. So liked, my brother and his wife went and bought the exact same one. And you'd never guess it was so reasonable. http://www.etsy.com/shop/Loftymornings

I just remembered another tip I saw recently for inexpensive art: Staples does "engineer" prints, the largest being 3' X 4' for $4.99. I saw it on Pinterest and here is the link: http://www.infarrantlycreative.net/2012/03/shaped-frame-family-photo.html

What were their reasons for not wanting to frame the drawing? For three places to refuse to frame it there must be a valid reason... What kind of paper it is on? Is the paper decaying? What size is it? I've never had a framer refuse to frame anything. Maybe we can bounce some ideas around for you!

I have a piece of carnival glass which my grandmother gave me - the last thing she gave me before she passed. I love it because it reminds me of her every time I see it. It fell off the wall yesterday, and, thankfully, there's only one small chip at the bottom. I'll be rehanging that as soon as I find a more secure hanger. One question, please: I have a pastel my sister had made for me. It's rather large 18x24? and I've gotten it framed, but I don't particularly care for it. To hang or not to hang, that is the question (apologies to Shakespeare).

Yay, love this assignment! Framing more family pictures and artwork was on my master list for many rooms (like many other commenters) so this is a great motivation to get a couple crossed off. I'm going to frame two since one of mine is already framed, I just need to make a matte since it was an odd shape and is a bit too small for the frame.
I am going to frame my son's birth announcement which I LOVE - I saved a few and will frame the front and back because we had a picture with him and our 2 dogs on that side - so thinking side by side in a simple white frame to match the rest of the frames in his nursery and the second is a cool library-ish print I bought on a work trip in Amsterdam almost 6 years ago - I actually unearthed it while going through my guest room closet on the hunt for a different print to frame (still haven't found that one!).

Thanks, Violet+Violet, for your reply. I REALLY want to get the piece framed. To answer your questions, the piece is approx 24 X 30 & in excellent condition. Not sure exactly what the paper is, I'd have to call dd & ask but it's sturdy...not fragile by any stretch. I did ask *why* but all I got out of both Michaels locations was what I posted above.

I pressed a bit harder for an explanation at the independent frame shop since I'd traveled so far & called to inquire about my experience in advance. The young man helping me finally called a lady from the back. I begged, I pleaded, and with honey dripping from my words, reminded her I had called ahead & traveled no small distance. I finally got a 'it might smear'. Seriously. I actually ran my fingertips across the drawing & joked, see? it'll be fine so long as you don't spill your coffee on it. Still, I went home empty handed.

Noting here, I had a similar experience w/Michaels six mos prior to this when I took an oil pastel of dd's to be framed for my mom. They refused to frame that one, too. At the time, I just chalked it up to the inexperienced kid behind the counter. My bad.

Some ideas for inexpensive art:

--buy attractive calendars late in the year for next-to-nothing; cut and frame a series of the images

--look for inexpensive books or free books at garage sales, Goodwill, library sales days, bookstore freebie boxes; cut and frame images or typeface from those

--cut and frame sections of colorful used fabric (from clothing, scarves, table runners, napkins, etc.) ... (the sections that don't show wear)

-create shadow-boxes of found objects or of already owned objects and small mementos that have meaning to you

--maybe trade some art with friends, or have a rotating "library" of art to share among yourselves?

--have an art-making party with friends and/or take a community college one-day course

My great-Grandma was a painter, when she died about 7 years ago I was the only family member to have shown any interest in painting, so I inherited all her art supplies, including her sketchbooks. Most of them were empty, but there were 3 little pen and pencil landscapes which I've been meaning to frame ever since. This is exactly the kick in the butt I need :) I know just the spot for them.

Great idea!
for those worry about drilling holes on your walls, don't! I saw a commercial on TV about these hangers you can get for pictures no holes needed, you don't have to damage your walls, they are easy to remove and don't leave a mark behind either. I wish I could remember the name right now :(
Has any one else seen the commercial?

OH I have so much art on my wall already!! There are a few more I want to hang, but then I need to sort and/or list the artwork I have and decide where and when to rotate their display.

At the moment, I can't afford to frame anything, but there's no rush since I do have enough artwork to deal with.

Oops, I chose "framing beautiful prints" as my task or yesterday... I may frame some more and take something else off my to-do-list today.

When you have an Ikea nearby, as I do, the trouble is not the framing part, it's definately the hanging part. I'm having the hardest time hanging frames right. It's not a problem of how high, I get that right. The trouble starts when I have multiple frames to put on the wall: it's very hard to get them aligned. THose Ikea frames may be cheap, but they do have a downside.

Just the motivation I need... Got a print from 20x200 about 6 months ago, still waiting to be framed as 11x14 isn't a standard frame size in Australia.

Thanks to the person who posted about taking your own frame to a shop - off to get a mount made tomorrow so the print will fit in a 16 x20. *happy times*

Does anyone have any suggestions as to where, in Paris, is a good place to buy art? I am excited about checking out what the street artists have as I purchased a painting from a street artist in Amsterdam, for 10 Euro and absolutely love it. Just wondering if there are any specific places to check out in Paris. Thank you all in advance!

I bought some artwork that I've been wanting for awhile. I'll be framing it as soon as it arrives.

@SherryBinNH - thanks for the tip. I should keep my eyes open. I should also resist whining online. I was lamenting a few things in that post...

I had some nice art but gave it all back to the ex-gf when she dumped me.

But I DO have some records of The Beatles already in frames that have been sitting on the floor for 3 years. Maybe it's time. :)

Alternatively, this post reminded me of a friend who had all of these great prints on his walls. He smirked when I was admiring it. The frames were store bought. The source of his prints? Calendars. He'd find a calendar he liked and cut his favourite pages out and frame them. Being it's January 10th, I'd bet there are some good deals on books of 12 art prints, er, I mean calendars, to be had.

I'm a little late to the post but I wanted to add that printing some of your favorite Instagram photos is a great way to add some fun to one's environment. We actually printed several this past week and put them in some not-in-use frames.

I used this opportunity to frame and hang a poster series that I bought many months ago. It feels great to cross an item from my list of projects. You can read the story behind my art selection and possibly discover a new French artist at http://athome.kimvallee.com/2013/01/selecting-an-art-piece-to-frame-for-the-january-cure/

I finally got those pics in the bathroom frames and I love them!! I did not however get around to inquiring about replacing the matt in the other piece....today!

I'm sharing this assignment with my mom. While visiting her for Christmas, she gave me five or so watercolors to frame for her. I'm grateful for this assignment because it prevented my usual procrastination.

I looked through my portfolio and found pictures I've been hoarding for 12-15 years. I still need to choose one but at least I'm moving forward with Mom's pictures!

It's wonderful working with a good professional framer. I'm a designer but I'm in awe our framer. I swear that John can detect dozens of shades of white. He knows my tastes are modern but I trust him when he says a more ornate frame is appropriate.

I actually have had a VERY hard time with this assignment. I think the spirit was to choose art you already have and display it. I'm just... not artsy. Seriously. What I do have I mostly already have hanging... I have 2 items that I personally would like to have framed. One is reasonable to do (and that's what I chose; a photo from a friend/budding photographer) and the other is a giant poster print of Van Gogh's Starry Night. I love it, but I'm not feeling flush enough to get it framed and hung right now.

I just ordered some prints of photos I took on my honeymoon to Italy over 3 years ago. I've been meaning to get some prints done for ages. This weekend I'll get frames for them so I'll be ready to frame on the 29th.

I've hung quite a few frames around my house using the 3M stickers and they work really well. However once you stick them you can't adjust the frame so you need to use a spirit level to make sure it's straight.

I have had a few small, unframed watercolors made by my Great Aunt (a family legend) left to me by late grandmother, sitting on my dresser for over a year. Finally ordered a few inexpensive frames from dickblick today and am looking forward to hanging them in my entryway (my project for the month). I'll be able to see a reminder of two awesome, strong women every time I leave or enter.

Return and Report: Day 6
(We are still taking down the Christmas tree; we keep it up through the Epiphany)
Boxed the Palace of the Governor's creche;
Boxed my special childhood ornaments;
Moved Isleta creche from the ledge to the breakfront;
Washed the woodwork and window in the entryway niche where the creche was placed;
Swapped out some of the Native American pieces in the niche and put others in the breakfront or art room;
Continued to work on the storage in the utility room;
Washed and sorted various planters;
Consolidated planters in a wine carryall;
Consolidated seeds and misc. garden supplies in a small basket;
Chose the painting to be framed and hung.

Perfect timing for this assignment! I am exhausted from the potty training toddler and newborn that seem to always need my attention at the same time but I reallllly want to keep up with the Cure. This assignment took under a minute and now I'm on to Day 7!

http://shoesoffplease.wordpress.com/2013/01/10/an-easy-one/

OK, couple of things.

1. It IS possible to cut decent mats yourself. It is. You need good equipment and some practice, but it can be done. It might never be as perfect as the pros' work, but you can get pretty good at it.

2. If you have a mat cutter system---not just the knife thing but also the straightedge and gauge---you can frame a lot of things that you probably think aren't worth paying a pro to do. This is worth it just for the FUN! It's creative, it's fun, and you end up with lots of nice things to hang on your wall that aren't from Bed, Bath & Beyond's "wall art" department.

I did this years ago with an Alto EZ Mat Cutter system that I got used. Retail price is $120 or so. They are easy to use and I have had very few screwups, believe it or not. I've cut over a hundred mats at this point. I buy acid-free matboard from the craft shops, often scrap pieces that they cut from the inside of big mats. I frame small drawings and watercolors by friends and family, greeting cards, MANY photos, posters, pretty calendar pages---whatever I like, because it's CHEAP AND FUN.

I've bought used frames, frames on sale at craft stores, frames at IKEA, frames wherever I find them. It helps that I prefer simple frames, especially narrow black ones. it's not that hard to find an affordable ready-made frame to fit a given piece of art and then just do your custom mat.

It's do-able, people.

Just before Christmas, I purchased some artwork from a friend of mine with the intention of framing it. There are three pieces that I want to take care of and hang. I also have a lot of other stuff I want to hang, and do a general re-arrangement of the wall art around here, but I need to paint first, so probably major projects will have to wait.

oh boy - glad that everyone has this issue! i do know one thing, i am a world class "leaner" and things would be easier to clean if the "leaners" were "hangers". going to go gather art & frames right now and make a plan. i know for a fact i am already going to just get rid of a couple of things i never got framed at all! oh well (:

sounds like an inexpensive & simple ikea frame would be just the thing for your Van Gogh print! if nothing else, for probably $20 you will have it protected and hangable until the day you decide to frame it in a "better" way...if that day ever even comes. i actually have a Van Gogh poster in a simple/inexpensive frame in my guest room...and guess what...i love it just because it is displayed simply and not on my "to do" list or getting damaged somewhere as a piece of clutter. go for it!

Does anyone know if taking a picture out of its original frame (framed by artist and dedicated to a family member) would devalue an artwork? The style and subject matter are now quite collectible, but the frame does not, IMO, do the piece justice.

I found three pieces that I'd like to hang in my living room -- a 3-D mask, an art print that my sister made in art school, and a piece of Kuba cloth that's been wasting away in storage.

In addition to that, I'd like to help my teenage daughter figure out how to display pictures of her friends and family and favorite hotties (think Edward vs. Jacob) without it looking messy.

I've been so incredibly inspired by this January Cure, you won't believe it. This is another one I love and executed. It will be fun to sip cocktails while watching at my frames, whether it be a "real piece of art" or a beautiful postcard I found while traveling or one of my own photographs. Thanks again!