Try framing them differently: large white mats, spare black frames. You could make little pillows from them if they're sturdy. Sometimes I fasten ugly or mismatched things I like to the insides of doors so when I open my kitchen cabinets or closet doors I see them. If you have more than those two you could frame them in matching same-size frames and hang them in a striking, simple pattern such as in a straight vertical line from floor to ceiling. They're really cool, good luck!

I think they're cool too! & cross stitch is totally back (based on my addictive observations as captured here http://pinterest.com/ania/needle-work
One additional idea I'd throw in is framing them in embroidery hoops. On my pinterest board you'll find multiple examples of this & I think it makes cross stitch look best. Another way to modernize them is frame them in old intricate frames (thrift stores!) that you first spray paint the same bright color - yellow or turquoise or kelly green - any bright color that would go well with your interiors. Maybe you can even thrown in some other "kitchy" art to make a collection of boldly framed art! Good luck (I'd love to see what you do with them!)

I think much much larger frames with wide mats in either an off white or since both cross-stiches have red in them, maybe a soft red? Keep the frames simple and of the same geometric ratio as the pieces.

Giving art the proper spacing with matting and framing makes a world of difference. Most "professional" framers will frame things much too tightly - mats should be at least 3-inches, and almost always just a shade of white. A simple square-edged wood frame would give these a clean look so the focus will be on the stitching. You could go with a dark wood, black or even a dark red or blue.

I would say matting as well. You can do a funky color if you could use the color pop (though it should definitely coordinate). Make the matting wider and make sure you pick a frame you love.

I wouldn't change the framing at all, but rather incorporate them into a wall collage that includes all kinds of other pieces. (I just did this over my office desk, and the wall includes 4 cross-stitch or needlepoint pieces, and it looks great - if I do say so myself).

If they were needle-pointed BY your grandmother (you don't specify) then I'd worry less about how to make them blend in better and more about how to make them last longer. Have them archivally matted and framed with acid-free materials and a gentle cleaning of whatever kind, and hang them somewhere out of direct sunlight. Please god do not make them into pillows.

You can't replace those kinds of handicrafts, and when they're really family, I think having them is kind of a responsibility, in a nice way! Someone entrusted you with objects of love and remembrance -- and you might be able to entrust a younger member of the family with them someday, yourself.

I agreee wholeheartedly with Pythia!!

I know I sound I'm about 70 years old with that boring and lecture-y advice, but seriously, I had a g-grandmother who tatted and crocheted and needlepointed, and my mother used to cross-stitch and smock and so on. Until you've had depression-era relatives and their well-trained offspring who were all disgustingly crafty, you do not know how many shades of orange needlework you might find in a linen closet. Or how many doilies. And table runners. And kitchen towels with crocheted cotton string edging. And pillowcases edged in ombre cotton string that shades from acid orange to white, all along the spectrum of oranges. Hand-crocheted house slippers, anyone? I think there's a pair down here that are a nice, soothing green...and orange.

Whatever portion of that wealth I inherit, I'll be preserving it for as long as possible with some gentle use for special occasions and to bring the memories forward. Besides, I kind of like orange.

Grouping! Find 2 more in a similar theme or color scheme and hang all 4 together on a wall.

Well, as someone with a fiber arts background and a habit of gathering nearly all flea market and thrift shop fiber arts items I can find, I have to say if they were MINE I wouldn't get all preservationist about them. (I guess I'm not sentimental.) Contrary to advice already given, I MIGHT make them into sofa pillows by stitching them onto a background fabric that I liked (maybe a chunk of a colorful old serape) to make them bigger and "framed" in color. Or they could easily be used as squares for a lap quilt, maybe with pieces of fabric from family clothing that holds memories. Or as pockets on a casual jacket or the back of a vest...

Of course, if you ARE sentimental, the archival framing might be the better approach, but I like to USE the things I collect no matter who made them. (There are textiles with monetary or historic value to treasure, but not in my family!!)

I have a giant (72" x 36") white bulletin board in my office with a deep (8") black frame. I hang my "unglamorous" art on it along with my calendar, snapshots, saved programs and coasters, etc. It's basically a giant, ever changing collage but the depth of the frame and the modernity of the black and white grounds the whole thing and makes it look contained.

I'd go with larger frames and good quality mats - that should go a long way.

Before we can offer any wise advice, there are a few questions that need to be answered:

1. Are they BY your grandmother, or just FROM?

2. How old are they, and in what condition?

3. Do you primarily want to have fun with them or to preserve them?

If the fabric and threads are in good condition, they'd make charming little pillows to throw on your couch or guest bed. If they're too fragile, find some simple mid-century-style frames (think thin teak) and get them reframed with proper mats.

Thanks to everyone for their helpful feedback here! These are mine...

1. They are by my mother, gifted to me by my grandmother who had them up in her house forever.

2. They are from the early 1970's, the ship is in very good condition, the heart has some bad yellowing.

3. I could have fun with them, they would be in a garage otherwise.

Please keep the advice coming - you all are brilliant!

These are not needlepoint, which is most commonly done with wool on a heavy mesh canvas. They are cross-stitch embroidery, done with lightweight cotton embroidery floss on thin cotton or linen. They are too delicate to stand up to use as pillows. They both look to be "signed" and dated in the lower corners. If that person means something to you, I'd have them framed. Matching black or white frames and matting will help modern them up. (Not plain wood, which will only reinforce the "country" aspect.)

Me, I'd get them matted and framed up as well & acid-freely as I could afford, with frames picking up colors from the work (orangey-pink/red or soft blue for "Home", soft red or nautical blue or even grey for "Ship').

Then I'd hang them in displays that picked up the colors and themes. "Home" in the bedroom maybe, with vintage valentines and/or graphic florals; and "Ship" perhaps near the entry, with red/blue/grey nautical or travel prints (and maybe a coatrack, in the same color as the frame, with your fisherman's cap/sou'wester/survival suit all ready for grand adventure).

I think they are sweet as is in the frames, and I would work them into a gallery wall type space. I think they'd be a great contrast to more traditional prints/pictures/what have you, and personally I wouldn't mat them - when I see a collection on a wall, I think it's nice to have some matted and some not, as well as different type of frames.

I am not going to conflict with all the comments about proper matting, etc., in order to properly preserve the piece, at all.

But, I think that there is absolutely no reason why you shouldn't have them framed and matted with a more modern frame/mat - possibly something in a bold color of mat to create visual interest. In my matting class, they taught us the mat should be no darker than the darkest color in the item you're framing and no lighter than the lightest color, and something that accents the piece instead of overwhelms it.

I have what might be a crazy idea, but I wanted to throw it out there in the interest of providing creative options. What about framing it in shadowbox style? You could unframe the items and have them mounted into a shadowbox with the raw fabric edges exposed. That might give it some depth and make it feel intentionally reinvented. Just a thought though, not sure about the logistics or the impact on the life of the pieces.

Why not frame them all in larger, more colorful or natural wood frames, hang them in an asymmetrical group, and for some wit, mix in a few shockers by Steotch?(http://www.etsy.com/shop/steotch)

i would say "change frame" also...and may I digress (I HAVE TO!!) this post made me all 'fuzzy' inside, cos cross-stitch takes effort ..your grandma must have been very loving and kind. =)