PUMPKIN TIME

I absolutely love fall. Pumpkin Time--the magical two month period that starts with my birthday, peaks at Halloween, and wraps up with Thanksgiving, is the loveliest time of the year. The colors of autumn are my favorite palette and the rich earth tones and ochres and reds are inspiring. I love the crisp freshness of the air, jumping in leaf piles, breaking out sweaters, and pumpkins. I love pumpkins. Maybe I’m biased because I used to work at Rombach’s Pumpkin Patch in Chesterfield, Missouri. I’m feeling a little nostalgic because I wasn’t able to make the trek down this year. Here are a few scenes of Octobery Goodness from my last trip there.

Bob & Tracy

The Great Pumpkin Pyramid

Pumpkins!!!

More Pumpkins!!!

Indian Corn

~Tracy~

What’s in a name?

I've often wondered how some companies arrived at their name. Starbucks, for instance. Company legend says that the 3 founders of Starbucks chose the name in honor of Starbuck, the coffee-loving first mate in Herman Melville's Moby Dick, and because they thought the name evoked the romance of the high seas and the seafaring tradition of the early coffee traders.

What about Google? Based on the mathematical term "googol", coined in 1938 to equal 10100, a number much larger than any practical counting operation would require. In September, 1997, so the story goes, some Stanford grad students were helping Larry Page choose a name for his search engine. "Googleplex," someone suggest, "Googol," Page replied. Someone typed g-o-o-g-l-e into their browser, to see if the name was taken, and made the most famous spelling mistake since p-o-t-a-t-o-e. Page registered the name within hours.

Most companies use their family names; DuPont, JCPenney (James Cash Penney, and yes, Cash was his middle name), or a portion of it - Wal-mar (Sam Walton). How about Menards - that has to be someone's first name right? There are some times when a company should think twice before using their family name to name their business. Kill Construction - really? Shouldn't they be in the pesticide business? Gold-Golden Lanes - isn't one time enough? Repros Pharmaceutical, be honest, don't you See "Repo Pharmaceuticals'.

Some names are descriptive; Electronic Data Systems -I suppose if you needed it, you would know what it is. Ross Perot chose that name from potential names he scribed on the back of a pledge envelope during a church service. Some names are less descriptive - General Motors, General Mills, General Tires, General Hospital, General Dynamics, etc...and last but certainly not least, General Electric (which really doesn't fit anymore, since they own everything.)

We thought long and hard about naming this framing business. A lot of ideas flew over wine & cheese with our friends. 'Baur's Framing'? No, we are proud of our name, but does it really need to be attached? 'The Frame Shop'? No, sounds like you are framing in your garage. 'The Framing Gallery'? No, too snooty. 'Well Hung'? Oops, too much wine.

We chose Framing Concepts (.kon-sept. and idea of something formed by mentally combining all its characteristics or particulars; a construct) because we believe that there is no one way to frame a piece of art; that it depends on the art, the style, coloring and most importantly, what is right for the client. Concepts is to open you mind to possibilities, and that is what we as designers hope to do with your art.

-Pat-

READY, SET, WALK!

I love to go walking in the evenings. I have already blogged about the lovely trails of Northwest Indiana, but I never shared my walking music playlist. When I'm out walking I like to keep the pace brisk-- but I don't want to look like a crazed power walker. Music is the perfect way to keep a good walking pace and have fun at the same time. I have tailored a playlist of songs that have the Perfect Walking Tempo. If you have short legs and love to walk, fire these songs up on your ipod (or Zune or mp3 player of your choice) and get ready to rock! If you have long legs, this may be a bit slow for you. Enjoy!

Rufus Wainwright-California
Amy Winehouse-Back to Black
Muse-Supermassive
Sheryl Crow-Real Gone
Sara Bareilles-Love Song
Howie Day-Perfect Time of Day
Fountains of Wayne-Someone to Love
Live-Where Do We Go From Here?
Tonic-Sunflower
Avril Lavigne-Anything But Ordinary
Ben Lee-Into the Dark
Breaking Benjamin-Medicate
Matchbox Twenty-All I Need
Seether-Rise Above
Keane-Can't Stop Now
Paramore-When It Rains
Sugarcult-Hiatus
Shiny Toy Guns-Le Disko
My Chemical Romance-Famous Last Words
Ben Folds-Brainwwascht

Public Enemies & Crown Point

It wouldn’t be summer without big blockbuster movies, and the movie getting all the attention in Crown Point this year is Public Enemies. Starring Johnny Depp and Christian Bale, this gangster flick chronicles the adventures of John Dillinger, famed bank robber during the Great Depression. I won’t go into plot details…though I’m pretty sure everyone knows how it ends.

Director Michael Mann incorporated many historically accurate shooting locations, bringing a few minutes of fame to towns like Crown Point and others scattered through Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin. Crown Point’s claim to Dillinger fame is the Lake County Jail, dubbed ‘escape-proof’, which Dillinger broke out of using a toy gun and then stole the sheriff’s new car. The majority of Crown Point filming took place at this location.
The city got an old-fashioned make-over for the event. Below are photos of the fake cobble stones laid down on the streets, and some of the old cars populating the scenes.
Sadly I was not here in Crown Point during the three days of filming in early 2008. Apparently I missed a good time. The effects and popularity of the film here are evident even in the framing world—recently we framed a replica Tommy Gun, Public Enemies movie posters, and a magazine article about the movie.

Overall the movie was pretty good. The most interesting aspect for me was all of the true-to-life locations. From the State prison in Michigan City to the Biograph Theatre in Chicago, all of these places ring of American legend and lore. The best part, though, was this quote from John Dillinger: “There is absolutely nothing I want to do in Indiana.”

~Tracy~

House Update

For those of you who are following my house construction, here is the latest. Things are moving fast, we are now making our exterior selections! My plan is to think of this the same way I would if I were framing art. The Shingles will play the role of a 'frame' for our house, they will be dark so that they ground the entire home. The soffit & fascia will act as an accent lip on a frame-a dark cream. The front stone will act as a 'textured top mat'. The siding will be my bottom mat, threading everything together, and the windows are my fillet/accents. The focal point is the front door which will be a contrasting color. While I've selected our front door, I haven't gotten as far to pick out the color yet. I plan to wait till the rest is up before I start painting. Below is the before picture. Not sure how long it will take for the 'after shot'.

~Barbara Ann~

"If you send one of your workman to the grocer & ask for a pound of their Best Butter, match that exactly, & you can't go wrong"

While I have no idea about "lallies & lintels", it is AMAZING how much I have learned about things such as septic systems, permits, & foundations during our home building process so far…. Yes, after nearly 5 years of talking & dreaming about building, it is finally becoming a reality!

In early spring, my husband and I closed on 2 acres of land, and have begun the much anticipated building process. If all goes well, we ‘should’ be in this fall. While I’m not holding my breath-I can’t help but be overly excited by this deadline!

Each step has been a learning experience, from getting permits, to interviewing builders, and even signing up to do some of the work ourselves…gulp!
The first week when the foundation was dug, my husband and I both stood there proudly saying “Is it just me, or is this the best lookin’ hole in the ground we’ve ever layed eyes on?” :)
We are on our way! Foundation is done, driveway is in, and the garage is scheduled to go in today. The frame work is also supposed to begin this week-so we should be seeing something that resembles more of a house very soon.

As my husband & I start selecting our exterior finishes, I’m reminded of the movie “Mr. Blandings builds his dream house” (note the quote in my subject line & the reference to ‘lallies & lintels’) I’ve become a ‘regular’ at the stone place we are using…they know me by name, & I can’t help but wonder if they roll their eyes when they see me coming thinking ‘here’s that girl who thinks way too hard about color.’ As I’ve mentioned before I’m a little obsessed with color - & with the exterior of our house…let’s just say, it better be right! I’m very much like the character in the movie (watch video clip below)-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRn59zNL0Ew

Each day of construction there is something new to check out – it’s so exciting – here are some pictures of the different stages so far:

~Barbara Ann~

Four Eyes

I discovered I needed glasses when I held my grandson for the first time and had to extend my arms 2 feet just to see him in single vision.
No, it wasn’t enough that everything I read was blurry or that I squinted when I read – it took a little 7 lb – 1 day old character to tell me ‘Get your eyes checked’.
The first pair of glasses I chose, I didn’t take seriously – I guess I just didn’t think that I was going to be looking at myself. I made what I refer to as ‘the cardinal mistake of eye glass choosing’, making that choice while your eyes are still dilated – are u kidding me? Why didn’t someone tell me that I was going to look like a dragon from the Pokemon comic book?
When I picked out my second pair, I knew now what doesn’t look good – ‘maybe I’ll just find a pair to ‘frame’ my eyes. I liked them, but was told they make me look older. Nice, that’s just what a person of my age wants to hear. Spend a couple of hundred dollars to add years – and you’re stuck with them for a while.
Now it’s time for my third pair – I enlist some help – these? these? these? these? We’re getting close – these? I think I’ve got it. Can’t wait for them to come in – they come in - hmmmmm. But my husband thinks I look younger and more contemporary – I’m not arguing with that!
-Pat-