The joy of Christmas framing

What is Christmas? It is a time for family, to remember those who we miss or can’t be around, to gift give, to make memories.

As a framer, this is also the busiest time of the business calendar. It starts fairly slowly - picture framing as normal, being busy, but not too busy. Busy enough to be learning my lines for the local panto, and making a start on Christmas presents!

And then, without warning, the joy of the rush starts. It is like being pushed down a slope in a sledge…you know it will be exhilarating, and you know that at the bottom of the hill you will come to a gentle stop and will be able to relish the moment. What you don’t know is how fast you will be going or whether you will get a teeny bit fearful along the way. One thing I have learned to be is brave and smile, no matter what.

So, as momentum gathered, we were filling our work board up like you wouldn’t believe - artists coming to us for printing and framing so that they were able to fulfil their own Christmas orders, parents wanting special momentos framing for their children, grandparents coming in with their own artwork to be framed for their grandchildren. Partners who wanted to treat their loved one to something different. We were really feeling the love.

Every single frame was different, every person who came in to the Gallery had a different story again, and we had a ball making each and every memory precious enough to put on to the wall.

We didn’t finish working until Christmas Eve afternoon - we hadn’t put up a tree at home, no lights, no cards were written and I still have to give presents to family and friends because we didn’t have time to wrap anything (it was a wrap and go situation!), but do you know what? We wouldn’t change it for the world. It was worth every single stock order, glass cut, moulding chop and mount make.

And here we are in 2026 - as if by magic - happy that we are making framing memories, and happy that some of our products were under trees for Christmas!

Next, I really do need to learn my lines for this panto!