Hoosier Highlander

One of the best parts of custom framing is getting to see the incredible talent hiding right here in our community.

If you've been in the shop for any length of time, you've probably heard us mention Karen Ness (). Not only is she a devoted Hoosier Highlander customer, but she's also an incredibly talented lettering artist.

One of her specialties is creating custom baby name critters, and honestly... they're adorable and fun.

Every piece is full of color, personality, and creativity. The kind of artwork that instantly makes you smile.

What I love most is that these aren't just decorations for a nursery. They're keepsakes. Pieces created specifically for a child that can be enjoyed for years and years to come.

And as framers, we get a front-row seat to watch these special pieces go from artwork to something ready to be displayed and treasured.

We feel pretty lucky to work with so many talented local artists, and Karen is definitely one of them ❤️

Have you ever commissioned a custom piece of artwork? If so, what was it?

One of the things we love about being part of this community is getting to work with talented local artists and photographers.

This piece is the latest from local Dunes photographer Pete Doherty, and we recently had the pleasure of framing it for him.

If you've ever spent time at the Indiana Dunes, you know there's something special about them. The light changes by the minute, the seasons completely transform the landscape, and somehow no two visits ever feel exactly the same.

That's what makes photography like this so impressive.

It takes patience, timing, and an eye for seeing something most of us would walk right past.

For this piece, we kept the framing clean and complementary, allowing his piece to remain the focal point. When an image is this strong, our job is simply to help it look its best on the wall.

We're always honored when artists trust us with their work, and it's especially rewarding when it's someone showcasing the beauty of a place so many of us know and love.

Have you ever visited the Dunes? What's your favorite spot out there?

Some artwork is special because of what it depicts.

Other artwork is special because of who created it ❤️

This painting recently came through the shop, and while the scene itself is beautiful, but the real story is the artist behind it.

The painting was created by our customer's niece.

And you could tell immediately how proud he was of her.

He didn't just want to hang the painting on a wall. He wanted to preserve it, showcase it, and celebrate the talent and hard work that went into creating it.

I love that sometimes we're framing valuable artwork, other times we're framing family memories...and sometimes we're framing something that represents both.

For this piece, we chose a rustic wood frame that felt right at home with the outdoor scene. It complements the natural feel of the painting without taking attention away from the artwork itself.

Now, every time he sees it, he'll be reminded not only of a beautiful painting, but of the talented niece who created it.

And honestly, I think that's what makes this piece so special.

It's amazing what an artist can create with a simple black-and-white palette.

This etching recently came through the shop, and the closer we looked, the more impressed we became by the level of detail. The textures, the highlights, the shadows... everything works together to create depth and draw your eye into the piece.

What's especially fascinating is that the artist didn't rely on color to create that impact. Instead, it's all about contrast, line work, and craftsmanship.

When artwork is this strong on its own, our goal with the framing is pretty straightforward:

Enhance it without overpowering it.

The dark matting helps create a smooth transition from the artwork to the frame, while the textured silver frame adds a little visual interest and complements the etched lines throughout the piece.

Sometimes framing is about making a statement.

Other times it's about knowing when to let the artwork do all the talking.

This piece definitely falls into that second category.

Have you ever noticed how some black-and-white artwork can be just as striking as the most colorful pieces in the room?

One of the things I love most about custom framing is getting a glimpse into other people's passions.

This piece was recently picked up by a local calligrapher, , and I have to admit... it was pretty cool hearing the story behind it.

The artwork was created by fellow calligrapher , whose work is recognized around the world for pushing the boundaries of traditional calligraphy and lettering.

What I found interesting is that while most of us might look at a piece like this and simply think, "That's beautiful," someone who practices the craft sees so much more.

They see technique.
They see skill.
They see the countless hours spent learning and refining an art form.

It's kind of like how an artist notices details the rest of us miss, or how a musician hears things in a song that most people never pick up on.

For this client, this wasn't just artwork for the wall.

It was artwork created by someone whose work they admire and respect.

And honestly, that makes it even more special.

We were honored to help give it a home worthy of the piece, and we hope it brings inspiration every time it's seen ❤️

When most people think about flags that get framed, they usually think of American flags.

And yes... we frame plenty of those.

But did you know we frame golf flags too? ⛳😄

Honestly, golf flags are some of the coolest conversation pieces because they almost always come with a story.

Maybe it was signed by a favorite golfer or it came from a bucket-list course.

Maybe it marks a memorable tournament, a hole-in-one, or a special day spent with family and friends.

To anyone else, it might just look like a flag.

But to the person who owns it, it's a memory...and that's really what custom framing is all about.

Not just protecting the item itself, but preserving the story behind it.

This one was a lot of fun to frame, and it's going to look so much better on the wall than folded up in a drawer somewhere.

Now I'm curious...

Golfers, what's the most memorable course you've ever played? ⛳

One of the most common upgrades we talk about in the shop is Museum Glass.

And I get it...

When you're already investing in custom framing, it can be tempting to look at the glass options and think, "Do I really need the upgrade?"

Here's my completely biased opinion...

You will never regret Museum Glass...Never.

The best way I can describe it is that it almost disappears.

It has dramatically less glare and fewer reflections than Conservation Clear Glass, while still looking crystal clear. Instead of seeing windows, lamps, and yourself reflected back at you, you get to see more of the artwork.

And isn't that the whole point?

The comparison photos here do a pretty good job of showing the difference. You'll notice one side has significantly more reflections than the other.

And before anyone asks... no, it wasn't the angle 😄

We actually flipped the comparison box over and took a second photo so you could see that the reflections followed the glass, not the position of the box.

Now, don't get me wrong. Conservation Clear Glass is still a great product and a popular choice.

But Museum Glass is one of those upgrades that tends to get the same reaction every time:

"Wait... is there even glass in this frame?" (And usually there are a bunch of fingerprints on that side because people just need to feel for themselves, too 😂)

It's not the right choice for every project or every budget, but if you're looking for the best viewing experience possible, it's hard to beat.

Sometimes the best glass is the glass you don't notice at all.

It's been over a year since we stopped carrying art supplies, and yet almost every week (and sometimes multiple times a day) someone walks through the door looking for them 😄

You can usually tell the moment they realize they're gone.

There's this brief look of surprise... followed by confusion.

If you haven't been in for a while, the shop looks very different these days.

Letting go of the art supplies wasn't an easy decision. We loved being able to offer them, but the reality was that we simply couldn't compete with internet pricing.

So we did what small businesses have to do sometimes...We pivoted.

The extra space allowed us to focus even more on custom framing, bring in our new large format printer, add a scanner, and expand the services we can offer our customers.

Because after 80 years, staying relevant sometimes means being willing to evolve.

And speaking of art...

This incredible piece is a perfect example of why we still love seeing artists walk through our doors.

At first glance, you'd probably swear this was a photograph, but it's not.

It's a colored pencil drawing by Pamela Clements Fine Art, and the level of detail is absolutely unbelievable! The talent, patience, and skill required to create something like this is hard to wrap your head around.

We may not sell the pencils anymore, but we still love helping artists preserve and display the amazing work they create ❤️

We did frame this recently, but I wanted to get a photo of it before the glass/acrylic was on there.

Take a look and tell us honestly... did you think it was a photo at first too?

Continuing our theme of things that were never originally meant to be framed... let's talk about puzzles 😄

We actually frame more than you'd think.

And honestly, if you've ever completed a 3,000-piece puzzle, you already know why.

After spending hours (or let's be real... weeks) staring at thousands of tiny pieces, there comes a point where you don't want to take it apart. You want to enjoy it!

Of course, like many puzzle stories, this one came with a little drama.

At one point, they thought they were missing one piece. 😩

Hours and hours of work... and one missing piece threatening to ruin the whole thing 😂

Thankfully, the piece was eventually found (inside the vacuum), and they can still point out exactly which piece went rogue. LOL

Honestly, the finished puzzle is beautiful, but the story behind it is what makes it special.

Now, instead of taking up an entire table, it gets to hang on the wall where they can enjoy both the artwork and the memory of completing it.

How many Snoopies do you see?

Not everything that comes through our shop was originally intended to be framed.

In fact, some of our favorite projects are the ones that make us stop and think:

"Okay... how are we going to make *this* work?" 😄

This beautiful stained glass piece is a perfect example.

Over the years, stained glass can become fragile, and displaying it safely isn't always as simple as hanging it in a window. This couple wanted to continue enjoying this piece for years to come, so we had to work a little framing magic behind the scenes.

The goal wasn't just to make it look good.

The goal was to make sure it was secure, protected, and properly supported while still letting the original piece shine.

And honestly, that's one of the things I love most about custom framing.

Sometimes it's preserving a photograph.
Sometimes it's protecting a family heirloom.
And sometimes it's finding a creative solution for something that was never meant to go in a frame in the first place.

The best part?

Now this piece has a safe new home where it can be enjoyed for many more years to come ❤️