DATES:

Follow the link for details of courses and exhibitions coming up through February and the early part of next March.

Click: February dates

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A Few Words From Duncan

A rather belated Happy New Year to you all.

2008 will bring changes to DIYframing.  It is always easy to make promises, but never quite so simple to deliver them.  We are about to launch our training business as a new and separate division of DIYframing.  The name UK School of Framing will quickly become the identifiable provider of all current DIYframing courses. This will incorporate some new services as well as maintaining the current course programme.

A “facelift” is also on the cards for DIYframing.  This “surgery” will not be simply cosmetic: the core business remains to support those involved with picture framing. But we want to offer you more.

One way or another it promises to be an exciting 2008: we look forward to you being a very important part of it. To see what we have in store (another bad pun), click: More Words From Duncan.

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Brand New Underpinner

M3 Underpinner: there always seemed to be a large jump (in terms of price) from the Logan Pro Joiner to the Alpha Underpinner.  This latest addition to the “joiner stable” is the M3 Underpinner, which is priced between those two.  It has all the advantages of using a cartridge of v-nails, making it very quick to join across the span of the mitre join, without any fiddly re-adjustments.  You can work on larger frames very easily. Some of the design features on this model make it an incredibly wise buy. How about these ideas to start with? Support, extension tables for longer moulding lengths and a green light that lights up to tell you when the v-nail is fully inserted. Both come as a standard part of the kit. 

And the price is £385 (inc vat). To find out and for more information click: M3 underpinner

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To Buy or Not To Buy - Unpacked.

Buying in bulk makes commercial sense. Does it work, though, for those of us with a small business or those simply framing our own work? Having bought some of the fitting materials in larger amounts (cord, D-rings, screws, handywrap etc), I could see the sense in cutting down costs on materials.  The next area for savings could be mouldings.  But of course we all know there are a few problems with bulk purchases: minimum orders, buying by the pack, trade references, deliveries etc.

The thought of ordering moulding packs purely to store most of it in quite cold and damp conditions worried me.  What if I don’t use it up quickly enough?  Huge amounts of warped, unusable material? Then I analysed the situation a bit more closely. Clearly, there is a way of using a “moulding packs ordering system” to your advantage.  

With an even wider range of profiles on their way from DIYframing, it makes even more sense to look at this option. To see how it all pans out, click: Ordering, Unpacked

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Alan Forsyth - Photography, Framing & Life In Scotland

Of all the case studies we have shown, this is the first where it has been a “make or break” situation.  Alan had to find a way of making a living from his new businesses. No leisurely start-up, just plain, hard work until it takes off.

Alan is one of two new trainers to start work with DIYframing.  He is leading an Art & Photography Framing Weekend in Glasgow on the 7th & 8th March 2008 (still a few places left).  As well as learning how to do your own framing, you could pick his brains for business ideas.

To read the full article click: Cowal Frames

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Read All About It

Recently, DIYframing had two articles featured in other, commercial publications. 

The first tells the personal view of starting training with DIYframing and where it might lead. (more, click: Putting You In The Picture)

The second highlights the fact that framing isn’t just the province of artists and photographers.  The opening of the Craft Cabin shows that framing also works exceptionally well alongside all sorts of crafts … as well as adding a bit of extra income. (more, click: Creative Craft Cabin)

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