Custom Framing and Matting? (Durham, Wake Forest: how much, new house, cost)

[puppetgrass]

Hi Everyone!

Does anyone have any recommendations for custom framing and matting? I'm looking to have about 20 (irregular sized of course) lithographs framed. They don't need to be museum quality but I want them to look nice and cohesive.

I've done the AC Moore/Michaels in the past and it was ok but a bit expensive (although that was appropriate for what I was framing).

Since I have so many more prints this time, I thought I'd ask the internet

Thanks!

[puppetgrass]

Oh, I forgot - I am looking for someone local because I can't imagine how annoying the shipping would be each way!

[101159]

americanframe.com
I use them all the time for frames for my work. You have to measure the litho and go from there.
You assemble them, but you can get anything in metal or wood, including acrylic "glass" and mats.

[Sweetpea1107]

TROSA has a frame shop.

TROSA Businesses - Frame Shop (http://www.trosainc.org/businesses/frame/index.htm - broken link)

[2Loud]

Jerry's Artarama Near Wake Forest and I440.

[jill7930]

We've had a number of things done over the years by Frame Warehouse in Durham. Don't know if it's the cheapest option (okay, it probably isn't), but all the staff I've worked with there have been wonderful about helping to pick frames, matting, etc that looks really good with the piece. They also are good about working within your budget if you give them one. I picked out a really nice frame/mat for the last piece I brought in, and it was going to come in way above what I wanted to spend. The staff member swapped out the frame/mat to something else that was the same gist and I liked just as much but was much cheaper.

[fly_widget]

I just had something matted and framed at the shop at the State Flea Market. Sorry...can't remember the name, but there are across the parking lot from the main building.

I compared them with Michaels and they were cheaper, but I didn't have the time to compare to a lot of other local shops. The print was 24x24, basic mating, medium size black wood frame and I paid $119. She offered a discount down to $103 (I think) if I paid cash or debit card, but I didn't have either on me.

[puppetgrass]

Thanks everyone! I knew I'd get some good ideas here

[TabbyCats]

At our last house, I had a lot of prints I wanted matted and framed, but wow--the cost! So, I bought a mat-cutter (and instruction booklet) and did most of them myself. It's easier than you think (for single or double-matted, less than 40" mat size). Doing just 2-3 of them myself paid for the cutter. I collected nice frames whenever Hobby Lobby (or Michaels) had them half-off (and bought various colors of mats when they were on sale, too--esp. the white and creams). I got the glass cut to size at one of those places or elsewhere. I need to drag it out to do some things for our new house.

[jhk]

Any idea how much it would cost to have 3 things framed? Already been matted? Just need the frames and for them to be framed.

Was told to try Kidd's at the fairgrounds. Any thoughts?