Worth The Wait

We have developed a very low-stress approach to the holidays in this household and in my extended family. We have pretty much everything we need all year long, and we've abandoned gift-giving in the traditional sense.  There is a little bit of a loss of the element of surprise, but it cuts way down on hassle, stress and obligation, getting things one doesn't want, not getting what one wants, and worrying whether you've got the right thing for someone. I do very little seasonal decorating -- unless I'm in the mood (which isn't often anymore).  I don't buy gifts -- unless I'm in the mood (which isn't often anymore).  People don't buy me gifts -- unless they're in the mood (which isn't often anymore). I usually send out less than 10 cards. I find that lack of: 1) keeping up with the Joneses, 2) the stress of fighting the shopping crowds, and 3) those astronomical January bills, to be the biggest gift to myself.  So freeing.

Even though the budget here is far from unlimited, what with us still paying off tuition loans and still supporting our daughter, and still holding off on quite a bit of deferred maintenance on our home, if I want to buy a new pair of boots, I do.  If I want to buy a pair of fairly expensive Italian jeans, I do.  In my older age, I have far fewer wants.  Material things....well, have you seen the bumper sticker that says, "The best things in life are not things"?  Most days I feel that way.  I do still have longings and wishes and wants -- I think that's part of the human condition -- but not many, and the longings and wishes and wants I have are mostly not for things.  In fact, most days I'd like to unload probably 60% of the stuff I own and 50% of the space I occupy.

But once in a while, I want something, or I want to improve, and make useful, something I already have.  I try to choose well, so the things I attain will have lasting value and appeal to me.

I bought these four antique botanical prints 12 or 13 years ago, when I was living in England.  I mentioned them in the blog a month or so ago, and until that time they'd sat in a drawer, out of sight but not forgotten.

Professional framing is a luxury. I gasp every time I hear the price of matting and framing. These prints mean a lot to me, and I wanted to have them done well, in a manner which befits them, so I waited for a time when I could feel comfortable to have it done. 

This is my so-called holiday gift this year. ("so-called" meaning it is largely irrelevant to the holidays -- it's just that I chose to have it done and it just happens to be around the holidays, so I am calling it a "holiday gift," even though no holiday gift is expected or necessary)

The framing is complete, and the mats are beautiful. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the outer mat is linen. When I was working with the talented fellow I've had do lots of framing for me over the years, he handed me about 60 cream-colored mats.  I knew what I wanted, and it wasn't there.  I said, "Do you have any linen?"  He looked at me with that look, and a pseudo-annoyed gleam in his eye, that says, "Oh, that Norma.  There's just no pleasing her."  But the thought was thought in a very approving way, I could tell. 

He hunted in the back room 'til he found a linen sample that was dirty and dog-eared, because it had been around so long and apparently no one had chosen it before, or at any rate, in a long time.  He apologized for the state of the sample, and he rubbed it with an eraser to get off some of the dirt. We both knew it was The One. You can probably tell from the photos that they are triple-matted in what I think is a tasteful and understated presentation, and the gold frames we chose together are in keeping with the British antiques.

It was worth the wait.

(Please pardon the setting sun's glare. It's a good thing I had them put UV-blocking glass on, hm?)

Comments

[Diann]

Gorgeous! A good framing job is worth every penny spent - it makes the difference between a nice picture and a work of art.

[Dave Daniels]

Those turned out great, Norma! And grouping them like that is perfect.
(I also wrote about The One today, but mine is a spindle.)

[Vicki]

They turned out beautifully, Norma!!

[Carole]

I'm glad you indulged yourself this way. They are so YOU, Norma.

[Carol]

Peace is one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves:) Your flowers are gorgeous!

[Bonny]

I love your approach to the holidays and am gradually adopting it myself; I really love that you make no apologies for your approach to the holidays. I LOVE your prints and framing ~ they are absolutely perfect.

[Paula]

Oh! I love those prints. The mats and framing are perfect. Totally worth it.

[margene]

FABULOUS! That's the perfect way to celebrate the Holidays (as you know I agree 1000%). The pictures couldn't be better done. I've had needlework framed for years and it cost an arm and leg and sometimes the other arm and it's always worth doing. Good work and Happy Winter Whatever to you!!

[Kae]

Absolutely gorgeous. I love the simplicity.

My mom had one of my sister's needlework pieces framed this year and I couldn't believe how much it cost... however, after seeing it, it's worth three times what she paid for it... the whole thing is beautiful.

[beverly]

They look fantastic. One of my best friends is a framer, and from her I learned that it is worth waiting until I can afford doing it right to do it. She's turned me into a framing snob!!

[Chris]

Very. Nice.

[Jean E.]

Beautiful. Professional framing is so worth it! I totally agree with your holiday attitude.

[Anne]

Beautiful gift to yourself and your home. They really did come out just perfectly. Happy holidays to youuuuuu!!!!!

[Judy]

I think you are right. We've adopted that attitude. Lovely gift to yourself.

[Elisabeth]

Those prints are beautiful! The framing is perfect.

[jodi]

They look gorgeous, Norma. I too get sticker shock at the cost of framing, because I was a framer for years and years and used to get everything I needed wholesale. Now that it's been seven or so years since I worked that job, I'm looking at retail costs plus inflation and, yowza!

[Alotta.knittin]

Dear Norma, the prints and framing are exquisite. Well worth the wait. What is resonating with me, however, is the first part of your post where you are describing your low-stress approach to the holidays. My siblings and I (all married with children) have agreed this year to forego gifts for each other. Children will continue to receive gifts, but those also have morphed into gift cards rather than traditional presents under the tree. And speaking personally, I haven't sent Christmas cards beyond my immediate family in years, have YET to put up one holiday decoration this year, to say nothing about a tree!! I have a few gifts for my husband, mostly little things like the 2008 Kovel's antiques guide, a new penknife to replace the one that has fallen apart. I asked for new kitchen shears, the kind that come apart for easy cleaning. There are times when I love the challenge and thrill of identifying the PERFECT gift for someone, like the time I was visiting my older sister and noticed that her potholders would provide absolutely NO protection in picking up a hot pot, and her wooden spoons were worn down to a nub. Or the challenge of gifting money to my mother in an entertaining way. Some of my favorites have been the fortune cookies I steamed open and the replaced the fortune with folded bills, or the walnuts that my husband cut in half with a band saw and I then removed the nut, inserted folded bills and glued. And can we forget the blown-out eggs that were washed, and washed, and washed, dried, stuffed with bills and then had tissue paper glued on to the holes? So what am I saying here Norma? I guess I'm saying that I identify with this post. This is my life and I'm going to live it to please myself. And if that includes no decorations, that's how it is. I went into New York yesterday to help sew up the squares for Oliver's blanket. That was a gift to myself: an adventure, taking the train, leaving work early, taking the subway ALL BY MYSELF, and meeting new people. Could have been wrapping some presents, but I did something for me. Why am I rambling so?? Please feel free to delete this post after reading it, and thanks for reading it. Cynthia

[maryse]

the prints are lovely and the framing is really pretty.

[claudia]

Are we the same person?

[Teresa C]

Perfect.

[Lark]

Sigh.

[Lucia]

I am so with you on holiday stress and gifts. For several years there, since everyone in the family was short of either money or time, we picked a name out of a hat, with a $50 spending limit. For a couple of years the rule has been small and/or handmade gifts for everyone, and this year we are abandoning adult gifts altogether. (Although I did buy alpaca socks for my folks from Alpaca Kathy. Their feet get cold.) My daughter does want a few gifts, but she's getting into the minimalist/charitable spirit as well.

Your framed prints are stunning, a gift you can enjoy year in and year out. Excellently done.

[Kay]

Framing is one of those things I like to put off for at least 12 or 13 years. Then another 5 or 6 to hang the things. You did really well! In my house the framing cost usually exceeds the value of the art but good framing sort of IS an art; it's very beautiful anyway. I have some Japanese block prints I got in the UK that need frames....but I have 11 years left!

[Sarah]

Lovely.

[Sharon]

I've been out of work for 2 months having just undergone a knee replacement. No sick time ='s no paycheck!! So I've been feeling guilty about not buying Christmas gifts. But your blog Norma, today and every day lifted my spirits and I truly mean that. The few little gifts I knitted for others means a whole lot more now. Thank you for being an ispiration to the whole knitting community.

[Cookie]

I'm with you on the stuff, but still want another bathroom. ;^)

Just beautiful and very you.

[Sandy]

You are botanically inclined.
xo

[Mia]

Even though I know how to frame, I always have mine done professionally. But the price can sometimes be an eye open. But in the long run, it is always worth it. Your prints are lovely!!!

[Kristen]

Very nice. A perfect holiday gift indeed! I'm also the minimal holiday fuss type. My family was always pretty boring that way--we'd make lists and hand them to each other. Takes a lot of stress out of things and also removes the risk of unpleasant surprises. (Like the floor-length nightgown with a fake-fur bunny on the front I got from my grandmother. When I was 19.)

[Wanda]

Yep, Norma, those frames and matting are perfect for your prints. enjoy your not-so-holiday gift to yourself!

[--Deb]

So, so pretty!

[--Deb]

Oops, clicked "send" before I meant to! I was going to say that, expensive though it is, there's really nothing like professional framing. I haven't embroidered any new pictures since about 1999, but I've taken all of the ones I have done to be framed, and it's been worth it. Nothing else compares to finding exactly the right mat, the right frame for something beautiful. Well worth it!

[Judi]

Anything that makes your heart sing when you see it is worth whatever you can afford.

[elisa]

There is something about a beautifully framed object that I find immeasurably charming...maybe it's that the act of framing something is so deliberate - and something beautifully framed seems like a wonderful labor of love.

Those botanical prints are just lovely.

[Jane]

They are really beautiful. And good framing is definitely worth the high price.

[Debi]

These are stunning! The frames are perfect and really bring out the simple beauty of the prints! What a perfect, lasting "holiday" gift!

[kt]

O.M.G. Those are incredibly beautiful. Excellent choice of matting. Well done matting-man.

[Lara]

they look really nice, Norma!! :) I have some things I've wanted to get framed, but I've always been too scared of the price to look into it...