Atlanta Framing Party + Giveaway

The holidays may be over, but that's no reason to stop giving—or celebrating! Attention Atlanta-area bloggers (and readers too!): This Saturday the 9th, instead of wallowing in the winter blues, why not put on something pretty, give the kids to the sitter, and join us for a dazzling tea party and framing extravaganza, sponsored by Larson-Juhl? It's free for bloggers and just $10 general admission. Simply email Jaithan (jaithan@eddieross.com) for a spot. Now to entice you even more, here's my inspiration for the spread we're doing, a fully catered array of tasty tea sandwiches, gourmet teas, chilled Sauvignon Blanc, and delectable miniature desserts.

After nibbling on brownie bites and lingering over linzer torte, we'll start the program! When it comes to art and framing, I have plenty of delicious eye-candy in my collection to inspire your creativity. To start, here's a page out of Living with an orderly grouping of seaweed specimens hung from a picture rail. I love the idea of framing non-traditional objects—here, a cool, colorful collection of natural curiosities—in more traditional ways. The look feels fresh, sophisticated and modern.

This grouping, on the other hand, is more chaos than order. It's a view into Thomas O'Brien's Manhattan apartment, as seen in House & Garden. Thomas I've known for years, ever since my days at House Beautiful. This wall of images I love for his deft use of color—black, white and navy—together with a curated collection of graphic and figural art. What could easily unravel in chaos comes together in beauty.

Now for those beholding beauty at lower heights, I love the idea of a shallow shelf kids can see (and rearrange) themselves. It's a rotating gallery where artwork is stacked and shuffled, layered and overlapped.         

Then, once the little ones have grown up a bit, trade in the toys for a look that's elegant and fresh. Here's a room out of House Beautiful that designer Mary McDonald created for a little girl with big girl appeal. A symmetrical grouping of images, framed minimally with vivid green mating, feels done but not overdone. I love the way uniform matting can create instant collections.   

Here's another page out of Living I styled myself. Thinking inside the box, I turned sterling and silverplate flatware from the flea market into works of art perfect for a kitchen or dining room. The shadowboxes I customized with pretty yellow paper for another instant collection.

So I hope you've enjoyed a sampling of what's to come at Saturday's event enough to join us if you're in the area! There's plenty more in the works including door prizes as well as custom-built room vignettes I designed with Larson-Juhl frames in every shape, style, and color.

Finally, the part you've been waiting for, especially for those of you in far and distant places from Atlanta! To enter a giveaway for one fantastic framing of your choice, courtesy of our generous friends at Larson-Juhl, simply leave a comment describing the object or artwork and why it's meaningful to you. Good luck, everyone! Hope to see you in Atlanta!     

Comments

[Alice W.]

I would love to frame in a shadow box the outfit I brought my daughter home from the hospital in and her silver baby spoon. She has recently graduated from college and moving to her first apartment and I thought that it would make and great housewarming gift. Love your blog!

[Ashley B]

I would love to say something creative but I just love framed black and whites of my children. It never gets old to me and in my eyes they are the most beautiful works of art

[Melissa Hernandez]

I have a whimsical mixed media painting that an artist did for me to depict my 4 children and their personalities. I gave her their ages, eye color, hair color and 1 attribute about them and she turned them into fairy representations of themselves on a canvas. I love the feel and fun of the piece, but I have no idea how to display it! It needs a place of importance, but it's too small to stand on it's on. I would LOVE to have this piece framed professionally to give it more weight for display. There is nothing I love seeing in my home more than this piece, other than the actual kids themselves.

[kathysue]

Oh Eddie and Jaithan how I wish I could be there with the two of you. You know exactly which piece I would want frames, From the Biltmore collection either an initial or one of the beautiful settees in black and white, be still my heart, xoxo Kathysue

[Melissa]

You're seriously making me consider driving 8 hours to do this.... looks like so much fun!

[Rene]

I have an old christmas card that was sent to my grandparents eons ago. It features a row of santas dancing rockette style with baby new year rounding out the dance.

Every year I think I should get it framed, but at christmas time so much is going toward gifts and such that it's hard to justify, so I handle it with kid gloves hoping it will survive until I can afford to have it framed... it's just too adorable.

[Aimee]

Oh, how I would love to be able to attend this event!! Texas is a little far for a road trip, but I have some beautiful barbie clothes handmade by my mother in 1963. One is a satin, lace-overlay, hand-beaded wedding gown, there is a red velvet overcoat, a brown wool overcoat with fur trim, and a white, plaid overcoat with a scarf that is also the collar. I would love to have them framed to hang in my sewing room!!

[Mrs. Blandings]

Great idea - wish I could be there!

[Margaret]

You're always so inspiring! I love that seaweed collection. My piece to be framed would be any one of my hand stitched (cross stitch) pieces that I've stitched. I have a backlog of pieces that need to be framed, and it would be wonderful to have that Larson-Juhl touch! I know my local framer uses Larson-Juhl frames among others. (My blog shows some of the pieces I've stitched if you want an idea of what I'm talking about.) I assume Larson-Juhl knows how to frame needlework. :D Thanks, and Happy New Year!

[Phillips Phamily Mama]

This summer my husband and I went on a mission trip to Africa and picked up a beautiful wall hanging in Gabarone, Botswana. The piece is made of a patchwork of burlap-like fabrics in a sea of tans, rusts and black. I'd LOVE to have it preserved in a beautiful Larson-Juhl frame!

[Lori]

I recently acquired a map of the area near London where my husband and his family lived in the past. It is in an inexpensive frame now, but I would love to be able to frame it to reflect the importance of that place to my husband!

[patti pultorak]

WOW...wish I lived in Atlanta....you must come to Syracuse NY and entertain us with your fabulous ideas!! I love the Arqadia collection at Larson-juhl...but you would have to help me out if I was to win this...LOL

[Anne]

I have a small contemporary piece we bought in Venice 4 or 5 years ago and can't figure out how to frame it. I would love the opportunity to take advantage of Larson-Juhl expertise on this. Thank you Eddie and Jaithan for sharing so much with us and bringing much needed beauty and advice into our lives! Happy happy new year to both of you!

[Kelly B]

Oh how I wish I could join you in Atlanta, but no can do! I have a wonderful print picked up at a flea market in Tour, France that desparately needs a new frame!

[KG]

The mention of sauvignon blanc and chocolate brownies is enough to send me straight to the travel agent for an airline ticket express to Atlanta!!!!! Would love to be able to attend this Saturday, but alas will be doing something much less exciting.....Seriously loving Mary McDonald girls room and the clever grouping of objects and I have an inherent weakness for yellow and white at all times. Thanks Eddie for a taste of your weekend to come! KG ( am kelly green with envy....!)

[leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville]

I got caught up in the frame I forgot to mention what I would like framed. Though for me this is tough. I literally have a stack of itmes I would love to have framed. I will give a couple examples....

1. My mother in law brought back a beautiful silk scarf from China as a gift to me. It is so beautiful, it features neautrals greys and beige colors with sparrows. I love it, and have wanted it framed but dont know how to frame or display.

2.My brother in law is married to a girl from Bangledesh. As part of her culture, when they married the ladies had to exchange gifts to show gratitude, wealth (to care for her)and appreciation. In a beautiful ceremony, I was given two things: a gorgeous Indian blanket inticately woven by all the female family members of of my future sister in law. I was also given a amazing Indian tapestry with embrodiered artwork that represents family. I woudl love to have these pieces framed to display with pride rather that sit in a closet and age.

3. Finally, I have been wanting to frame old letters of coorespondance between my grandmother and grandfather. I think it is a way to interject a fmaily history into my home, as well show the loving relationship on which my family derived.

Thanks for the opportunity! What a gorgeous collection! I am particualry draw to the aged woods and worn toned pieces...I guess you can tell that from the things that I hold close and treasure as well.

[Sue]

LOVE that first one with the pictures over the fireplace!!! Beautiful! I've added it to my Evernotes :-)

[Joanne Kennedy]

Well I just fell in love with the silver you framed. I would love to do this with some of the pieces my favorite Aunt left me when she passed away.

Can you please tell me how you attached the pieces so it didn't distroy the silver.

Thank you and have a wonderful time. I sure wish I lived near you so I could attend.

Joanne

[leigh of Tales from Bloggeritaville]

I would LOVE to enter. I love the Sevilla 750542. I love the earthyness of the woodwork. Its eclectic, aged, and has a distinct charater. I am drawn to earthy, aged pieces and this one is everything that I love in my home. Gorgeous!

[Frances Jackson]

Oh how I'd love to go to Atlanta for the fun, but alas I can't attend! I'm sure all will have a great time and learn lots about framing and how to incorporate it into your interior designs. I hope you all have a blast and don't freeze your heineys off in Hot 'Lanta. I almost forgot, love the above examples of how framed art can beautify your room, the seaweed really speaks to me.

[ASW]

Unfortunately, I will not be in ATL, but interested in recreating a tea party at home. Can you do a post on a menu and presentation ideas for a tea party?