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To tell
you the truth, I was never a huge fan of crafts. I only went to craft
fairs and craft stores under duress when I was a child. Until, that is,
I discovered that making hand-decorated frames required the kind of
artistic talent I have (the crafty, linear kind) and not the kind I
don't have (the drawing things that look like actual objects in the
world kind).
I started making frames as an economical line of family presents.
I have always believed that hand-made presents trump bought presents
whenever possible. So for
Mother's Day 2002, when I was out of work, I made three
identical orchid-colored
frames with pink silk flowers for my mother, my stepmother,
and my sister-in-law. Not only did I discover I had a
wonderfully fun time making them and had a sense of pride in the
finished product, I also
received such encouraging feedback
from my family that I expanded those first frames into a whole
line of themed frames.
Making
the frames
No rulers or measurements are used in the creation of any of my
frames (except where obvious, like the middle court line in the tennis
frame), which give them each a perfectly unique feel. When you
purchase a frame from me, you get -- in the strictest sense of the
phrase -- a one-of-a-kind frame. For instance, while you may order a
gardening frame, the items on it and the placement
of those items will most
certainly jibe with a gardening theme and will be basically the
items you see on the picture, the frame you receive will not be an exact replica of
the frame you see online.
I start
with beech wood frames with glass, not acrylic, inserts. Hooks on
the back allow you to hang the frames either vertically or
horizontally, depending on the orientation of the design of the
frame (some flower frames are designed to hang either way). The
frames also have a stand in the back, in case you would like to
display your frame on a table or shelf. (If you would like your
frames oriented a specific way, please include that in the comments
field when you place your order.)
All
of the frames hand-crafted by me (that is, all of the frames, as I
make everything I sell) have at least two coats of
acrylic paint (except the finished
wood ones, of course) and the decorations are affixed with a
high-quality, permanent craft glue (one recommended by Martha
Stewart!).
Because of the hand-crafted nature of these frames, occasionally
a flower or artifact will become dislodged during shipping. Should
this happen, you may simply superglue it back on. The artistic integrity of
the piece will not be compromised in these rare cases.
Making
the wedding accessories and stationery
The pictures of the wedding accessories and stationery you see on
the site were from my own wedding. I made everything I could for my
wedding, except the ring bearer pillows. (For the reason why, email
me!) The theme for my wedding was dragonflies and butterflies
and the colors were light blue and pale yellow, the colors of both
my husband's and my eyes and hair, respectively. The guest book
design came from a book I saw in a craft store. (I made 10 books for
my wedding, one for each table.) Other than that one design,
however, the rest of the products are entirely my own creations.
The
pictures of the wedding items on this site are meant to be a
springboard for imagination. No more are you tied to the same
wedding themes and invitations you see in all the catalogs! Let me
listen to your vision of your wedding day and create a perfectly
unique set of stationery to match. I send you proofs before I make
your order, so we can hash out the idea until it's perfect for you.
I know first-hand how special all the little details can make a
wedding and I am committed to helping you realize your wedding
dream!
Personalization
Custom orders for particular themes and/or the inclusion of a name
on frames are welcomed. Due to the added cost of materials, the
price may be slightly higher for "name brand" themed
pieces e.g., Red Sox, Barbie, Disney). Personalization,
however, is free on every frame if you wish to include a name.
Estimated
time of order arrival
You can expect to see your Frames By Dana order arrive in the mail
(I use USPS's Priority mail for all orders to the U.S.) 2-5 weeks
from the day you receive my personal receipt. Large orders may take
slightly longer. Please let me know if you need your order by a
certain deadline. I will do my best to accommodate you. I try to
keep you updated as to my progress of your order. I email you when
I've completed the items (and either send you a picture of each item
in your order or send you a proof, in the case of wedding
stationery) and when I ship them. If you'd like additional updates,
please let me know.
Coupon
redemption
The shopping cart I use has some limitations. Chief among them is
that it does not currently accept coupons. To rectify this problem,
I will refund you the amount of the discount code in the form of a
check with your order shipment or, if you've paid with your PayPal
account, through that service. I apologize for any inconvenience
this causes. I am committed to my discount program and will find a
way to work around the technical limitations that my PayPal shopping
cart tosses my way! Please email
me if you have any questions regarding this coupon process.
I do hope you thoroughly enjoy your purchases. If I can do anything to
improve your experience or if you are not completely satisfied with
your purchase, please let me
know and I will do everything I can to satisfy you. The goal, of
course, is to keep you coming back for hand-decorated frames for
your home and for gifts for your friends and family.
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