An Exciting New Chapter for Our Business!

I've got some really exciting news to share!

I've been awarded 2nd place on the Larson-Juhl Certified Framer Scholarship, and I honestly couldn't be more excited about it!

There are two of us taking part in the scholarship this year — myself and Eusyphone Andrews — we'll both be undertaking the same training and working towards the Guild Certified Framer qualification.

For me, this is an amazing opportunity to develop my skills, expand my knowledge and invest in the future of our business.

But there's also a lovely personal element to this journey for me.

Framing is in my blood!

Those who know me, know how we started this business.  Since before I even came into the world, my wonderful Dad has been framing pictures.  He started when he was in the Army during the 1960s when he took it up as a hobby.  Eventually, it became his business, and he was very highly regarded in the Leicestershire area for the 30+ years he was trading. 

Dad became a Commended Framer back in the 1990s, so gaining this Scholarship is huge for me – it’s really special to now have the opportunity to develop my own skills and work towards a professional qualification in the same industry.

And, as you can imagine, I have a very proud Dad standing right beside me on this journey.

So, what exactly is the scholarship?

The Larson-Juhl Scholarship gives me the opportunity to work towards becoming a Guild Certified Framer (GCF) through the Fine Art Trade Guild.

If you're not familiar with the world of professional picture framing, you might be surprised to discover just how much there is to learn.

Picture framing isn't just about choosing a frame and putting something inside it.

There is a huge amount of knowledge behind what we do — from understanding different materials and mounting techniques to conservation, hinging, measuring, cutting and knowing how different types of artwork and objects should be framed and protected.

And that's one of the things I love about framing.  There is always something new to learn.

Why am I so excited?

It’s very easy really - I am absolutely passionate about what I do.

I love the creative side of framing, I adore meeting customers and hearing the stories behind the items they bring us, and I love finding the right solution for each individual piece.

I'm also a firm believer that you should never stop learning.  This scholarship gives me the chance to really focus on developing my knowledge and skills.

I'm naturally quite a curious person, so the thought of learning new techniques, understanding more about the materials we use and being challenged to improve is genuinely exciting for me.

And yes, there will be studying involved!  Lots of it.  There is even a written exam, and, at nearly 52, it’s a very long time since I have done one of those!

There will also be practical learning and the opportunity to learn from people with many years of experience within the framing industry.

Basically, I'm going back to school — but this will be a much more exciting version of school.  Picture framing school!

What will I actually have to do?

This isn't simply a case of being handed a certificate and being told, "Well done!"

I'm going to have to earn it.

During the scholarship, I'll be studying and preparing for the Guild Certified Framer examination, developing my existing knowledge and practising the skills I'll need.

I'll also have access to workshops and seminars and will be undertaking Continuing Professional Development (CPD) as part of the journey.

There will be lots of new techniques to learn, things to practise and plenty of information to take on board.  I may have been taught by Dad, who has his GCF, but things will have changed over the years, and I want to make sure that I am doing it right for our customers – that is really important to me.

I'm sure there will also be moments when I think, “That’s going to take some practise!”

But that's exactly what I'm looking forward to.  I want to be challenged, I want to learn and I want to come out the other side as an even better framer.

What will this mean for our business?

This is probably the most important part for me.

This qualification isn't just about having some extra letters after my name.

It's about investing in myself and investing in our business.

Everything I learn will come back into the workshop and help me provide an even better service to our customers.

When you bring something to us to frame, I want you to feel confident that you're getting knowledgeable advice and that we've really considered the best way to frame your particular piece.

Whether it's a painting, photograph, football shirt, medal, child's artwork, family treasure or something with huge sentimental value, I want to be able to give it the care and attention it deserves.

The more knowledge I have, the better equipped we are to help you.

And that's what this is really about.

And no… our prices aren't going up!

I want to make this really clear right away.

This qualification does not mean our prices are going up.  I'm not going to come back from my training, wave my qualification around and suddenly add £50 to every frame!

That's not what this is about.

This is an investment we're making in knowledge, skills and the future of the business.

Our prices will continue to reflect the materials, time, craftsmanship and work involved in each individual project.

The qualification isn't a reason to charge you more.

It's a reason to keep improving the service and expertise we offer and be the very best that we can be.

I'll be sharing the journey with you!

One of the things I'm particularly excited about is sharing the scholarship journey on our social media.

I don't want to disappear off for all the training and then suddenly pop up months later saying:

"Guess what? I'm a Certified Framer!"

I want you to see what happens along the way.  The highs, the lows and the bits in between – it’s all part of the journey of the business.

I'll be sharing the things I'm learning, techniques I'm practising and some of the behind-the-scenes experiences that come with working towards the qualification.

There'll hopefully be some interesting framing facts along the way too — and I'm sure there'll be a few giggles along the way!

I think it will be fascinating to show just how much knowledge, skill and care goes into professional picture framing, because there's a lot more to it than most people realise.

So, what happens next?

Well… the hard work begins!

To begin with, I am looking forward to going for a 2-day training session in October, during which I will be learning about lots of different new techniques and approaches. 

Then there will be the more academic side, which will mean some intensive personal study. 

I can well imagine that there will be things that come easily, things that challenge me and plenty of new information to take on board.  No doubt, I will have a very full brain! 

But that's what makes this such an exciting opportunity.

I get to take something I already love doing and get even better at it.

Hopefully, by the end of the journey, I'll have gained not only the qualification but a whole new level of knowledge and confidence that I can bring back to our customers every day.

A huge thank you to Larson-Juhl for this fantastic opportunity, and thank you to all of our wonderful customers for supporting our business and trusting us with your precious pieces.  We do what we do because we love it!

The journey starts here — and I can't wait to share it with you!

Now… where did I put that study guide?!