Frame it right
By Donna Roach
Have you ever tried removing a photo from a frame and found that it had faded, or worse, stuck to the glass? Maybe its time to rethink what we do with these treasured memories. Although it's tempting, and at times convenient, to purchase a standard frame to throw a photo in, Beth Rush said that is not the best option.
Beth, who owns Uniquely Yours, a framing and gift shop in Randleman, said she has seen a definite increase in the number of clients wanting photos framed professionally. In the past couple of years, many customers have brought in old photos, both in current state and restored. There has also been a share of portraits, canvasses of photos and regular photos.
Conservation of the photo is key to framing. According to Beth, preservation starts with mounting (backing) the photo on an acid free board to prevent it from deteriorating. The mat placed on top of the picture should also be acid free. It is important that the glass not touch the photo. For customers who want a large picture, such as a 16x20 framed without a mat, Beth suggests using an eighth of an inch spacer.
Preservation aside, the next step to consider is the decorative whole of the piece. "You want to complement the photographs," said Beth. "Take the theme of the photograph." For example, the formal look of a wedding photo matches well with a gold frame.
Sometimes, however, the photo itself suggests a more creative approach. One recent customer had several photos of her grandchildren. As a custom framer, Beth was able to position all photos in one frame. She also noted that each photo had an outdoors theme. Based on the theme, Beth complemented the pictures with a neutral mat and a frame that had a contemporary woodsy feel.
Mid-Month Feature
Chef G's secrets to great coffee
Local chef and culinary instructor, Keith Gardiner, took time from his busy schedule to share some secrets behind a great cup of coffee.
- Choose your coffee
"Start with a quality coffee to begin with," said Gardiner. "Find one that fits your taste. If you like French roast then make sure you get a quality French roast you like. Use the correct amount of grounds for the number of cups you are making."
- Watch the timing
"Brew the coffee as close as possible to the time of serving. Coffee gets stronger and bitter as it sits on the warmer. If you are going to hold the coffee a while for service use an air pot or thermos pot to keep it warm as opposed to the hot plate on the coffee maker."
- Clean the equipment
According to Gardiner, proper care and cleaning of your coffee maker will extend its use, as well insure great flavor. "If you drink coffee every day, it is recommended that your machine be cleaned at least once a month in order to keep the hard water deposits down, and the flavor of your coffee the best."
He suggests using a mixture of vinegar and water for drip coffee makers. "Run a mixture of 2 parts water, 1 part white vinegar, enough to fill your coffee pot. Run that mix through your machine and allow the machine to cool. Then run 2 full pots of plain water through the machine in order to rinse the vinegar out. Allow the machine to cool in between each rinsing."
- Know when to buy a new coffee maker
"If you properly care for your coffee maker, keep it clean, it should last years. If it still does a good job brewing, then keep it. I have had some high dollar makers that did not last as well as some of the less expensive makers. There is no set time line. Again, as long as it brews well, at the proper temp and keeps the coffee hot, I would keep it," said Gardiner.
Keith Gardiner, CEC, CCE, CCA, AAC is an instructor in the Hospitality Technology Department at Guilford Technical Community College. He lives in Randolph County and owns Chef G's Culinary Solutions (Personal Chef Service, Professional Chef Service, Consulting and Catering).