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Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 13 May, 2019 10:18 am
by fine-art-trade-guild
Framers_Workshops
Framers_Workshops
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This is a unique educational opportunity in the UK and a chance to come and pick the combined brains of the members of the Framers Committee - a bit like a face to face version of this forum! We're hoping to expand the education in future years based on feedback from this year's event. FSQC members will be doing demos on our specific subjects, with the opportunity for you to see what we do, how we do it and ask loads of questions on why we do things that way. We can talk through the different levels of framing and when different methods are most appropriate, and why.

If you are considering becoming a Guild member or taking the Guild Certified Framer exam or one of the Advanced Modules then we are all happy to answer questions on any aspect of that too - including why we've decided doing the exams was a good business decision for our own framing businesses. All of us have passed either the Guild Commended or Guild Certified exams and a number of us also hold one or more of the Advanced qualifications. We're not adding up the number of years worth of framing experience that will be in the room, because it might scare us !

It's a great social and networking opportunity as well - there will be representatives from most of the major UK framing suppliers at the Guild Weekend and for anyone able to stay on for the Master's Dinner on the Saturday evening and even the AGM on the Sunday then there are loads of great chances for a chat about the wider industry over a drink.

The entries for the framing and mount design competitions will also be on display which may also spark some new ideas and you will get a chance to vote for the "Best in Show" from all the different entries.

We're looking forward to a great weekend.

Framing Workshops Saturday 18th May
10:30am - 3:00pm

Drop in and out of our interactive workshops.
Members of FSQC will be demonstrating framing techniques, offering advice and discussion on all matters framing.

Wash-lining by Mark Wallington GCF(APF)
T-hinging by Jon Price GCF(APF)
Fabric Stretching by Jo Palmer GCF(APF) Adv
Canvas Stretching by Stephen Finney GCF(APF) Adv
Pricing by Ian Kenny GCF(APF) Adv
Morso Maintenance by Steven McKee GCF(APF) Adv
Float & Surface Mounting by Roy Rowlands GCF
Shadow Box Making by Stephen Finney GCF(APF) Adv

This workshop is free for attendees who are also booked in for the Master's Dinner; £20 fee Guild members or £50 fee non-members for other attendees.
If you're interested, you'll find booking info is here: https://www.fineart.co.uk/events/art-fr ... 19-36.aspx

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 13 May, 2019 10:28 am
by Ian Kenny Framing
The Pricing Workshop is designed to be a five-hour long group discussion which you can drop in and out of anytime you want. Working on the premise that ‘there is no such thing as a stupid question – just one you don’t know the answer to’, some of the topics being covered will include:

• Calculating the cost of being in business
• Why you should charge properly for sports shirt framing
• How to charge for waste
• Setting up and using computer Pricing Programs
• How branding can affect what you are able to charge
• Charging properly for ancillary work
• How discounting affects your bottom line
• How withholding a price increase affects your bottom line
• The Window Cleaner paradox
• How a tiny percentage increase affects your bottom line
• The difference between turnover and profit
• Judging the depth of a customer’s pocket
• Buying ‘chop’ v buying length
• ‘My customers wouldn’t pay that amount’
• Setting an hourly workshop rate
• The economics of keeping offcuts
• The economics of shopping around for the cheapest price
• The price sensitivity of Framing
• Where does a Framing business really make money

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 13 May, 2019 1:27 pm
by Tudor Rose
A lot of the education and articles around textile framing focusses on the big and impressive projects that require a bit of problem solving and ingenuity; the hard to frame items that are seen every now and then. And that is fair enough as they can make for good reading and great photographs. But the reality is that for most bespoke framers they don’t see jobs like that very often. So the idea with this workshop was to also give time and discussion opportunities on the “bread and butter” jobs that a large number of bespoke framers see regularly, but can appear daunting until you get a bit more experienced at doing them.
It is also an opportunity to have a face to face discussion, see examples of work in progress, photographs of past projects and to talk through any textile projects that the visiting framers have in the pipeline.
We look forward to discussing:
• Lacing cross stitches and other embroidery items;
• Blocking rhomboid needlepoints before lacing and why they go like that;
• Pinning instead of lacing;
• The Newberry and Tight Fit methods of support;
• Light sew and full sew support;
• Using a laced support fabric for delicate or old textile pieces;
• Suspension (trampoline) method of support;
• Preparing a sports shirt for framing;
• Quilts or rugs and how to support them;
• Support boards for different types of projects;
• Creating a sink mount and how to prepare the frame and fillet if no mount is being used;
• To clean or not to clean a customer’s textile;
• Why not compromising on the level of job you’ll do builds trust with customers;
• How to handle textiles and build confidence at the design desk;
• The myths believed about diffused (non-reflective) glass on textile framing;
• The benefits of having framed examples with AR and Museum glass;
• The importance of understanding when to refer jobs to a Textile Conservator;
• Easy ways to get extra help and advice from the Guild when you need to bounce ideas.

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 13 May, 2019 4:21 pm
by poliopete
What an exciting and interesting list of topics under discussion. And what a golden opportunity for a new, and not so new, framer to learn "stuff" that will give his/her new business a fillip or a flying start. Much of the information/knowledge gleaned from these workshops would normally take years to learn.

Well done to all those who have made this possible and contributed to putting this program together.

Peter,

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 13 May, 2019 4:25 pm
by Tudor Rose
Thanks Peter, we're looking forward to a really great weekend.

Jo

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Sat 18 May, 2019 9:16 pm
by Justintime
I just want to send out a massive Thank You to all of the Framers Committee for holding these workshops today.
I am still buzzing from four and a half hours of face to face time with all of you.
Not only have I come home with loads of new ideas, but also lots of corrections to my techniques and some ways to improve the running of the business.
I can highly recommend it to anyone in their first few years of business.
Great to meet up with Jonathan and Sarah from this forum as well. We could have talked for hours!

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 20 May, 2019 3:30 pm
by JonathanB
I'd like to endorse Justin's comments and thank all members of the FATG for laying on an excellent and informative day. I've never been in doubt that supporting the Guild through membership was worth the money I pay for it and this day simply reinforced my view. Although I've been framing for quite a while and have qualified through the GCF programme, I picked up lots of tips and ideas that had never occurred to me and which will make my day a lot easier in the months to come. Good also to meet Justin and Sarah and to meet some new colleagues. Many thanks to all involved.
Jonathan

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 20 May, 2019 3:57 pm
by fine-art-trade-guild
Justin and Jonathan, it was great to meet you both on Saturday, and thank you for your comments. We're delighted that you found the day useful, it makes all the effort worthwhile.
We'll be doing more of the same next year!

Posted for the Framer's Committee (FSQC) by
Ian Kenny GCF(APF) Adv
Member of FSQC

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Mon 20 May, 2019 6:00 pm
by Tudor Rose
So glad people enjoyed the Guild Weekend and the framing education on offer. It was great to meet up with so many familiar faces, meet familiar names from Forums and Facebook groups for the first time and to meet lots of new Framers too. It was well worth all the planning and preparation and we hope lots more people will take advantage of the Guild education on offer next year as well.

I spent the day talking all things textile framing, and was amazed by the variety of questions asked. However, one thing I got asked about a lot were the particular pins I use and I couldn’t for the life of me remember exactly where I’d bought them. I’ve now found them again and this is the link if anyone is interested https://www.johnlewis.com/prym-easy-gra ... g/p3817281. They are very visible if you drop them on the floor, easy to get hold of, very fine so don’t make big holes in things, easy to spot so you don’t accidentally leave them in the work and good and strong. I do a lot of textile framing and these are worth every penny.

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Wed 22 May, 2019 4:08 pm
by David
I just wanted to echo the thanks to the Guild for the workshops, I was surprised how busy it was when I arrived – wish I’d got there earlier. It’s not just new businesses that can benefit, I’ve been doing this for over 25 years and have just spent time this afternoon cleaning the rebate support channels on the morso, they should be used dry and not lubricated – when I find the person responsible they are in for a good talking to. At these events over the years I invariably seem to learn a new trick or another way of doing something. Excellent weekend.

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Wed 22 May, 2019 4:20 pm
by fine-art-trade-guild
Nice to know an old dog can learn new tricks David! There was a fair amount of organising, and a lot of hard work by the Framer's Committee members, but the attendance and feedback prove that it was all worthwhile. For sure, if anyone ever thinks they 'know it all' just because of the length of time they've been framing, there's something not-quite-right. It was great to catch up with you at the Guild Weekend, and again at the Art and Framing Roadshow in Chester yesterday.
We'll be back in May 2020, and we are already talking about ways to expand on the workshops which were available this year. I've no doubt we'll speak soon!

IanK

Re: Framers Workshops at the Guild Weekend

Posted: Wed 05 Jun, 2019 5:58 am
by MITREMAN
You never stop learning in this trade and everyday you get new challenges and find better and quicker ways to do the same thing.
Thats why workshops and training courses followed by networking keep framers up to date with the latest methods and materials.
'Knowledge is power"
Mitreman :D