Framed! My confession.

There are heaps of stereotypes and as much as we balk at them, get offended by them, or just laugh them off, generally they stem from some seed of truth that appeared to several people along the way. Sure, such generalizations can get mutated, overused and it’s dangerous to try to fit everything and everyone into convenient, comprehensible boxes. That doesn’t make stereotypes right or good. That’s my caveat.

With that disclaimer out of the way though, I will now refer to a stereotype that may bear some weight in your experience, or perhaps none. Work with me though; I’m trying to create a parallel here. 

The stereotype is that all women are avid purchasers, collectors, and wearers of mountains of shoes.

Right out of the gate, I’ll say I don’t fit that box, though I admit I have more shoes than my husband. My “shoe”, my weakness in the land of shopping, is perhaps less common. I simply love to admire, assess, and purchase picture frames. I have very specific parameters. I mean come on; I’m not some cheap frame floozy. Having worked in the photography, art, and framing industry for some time now, I have somewhat distinguished tastes. I’m interested in neither plastics nor metals for framing art. No. My preference is for handcrafted wooden frames from such classy places as Italy where master frame makers do their magic. Or straight up Canadian-made. I prefer high quality, real wood, non-mass-produced frames.

There was a stage when I was a bit out of control in my purchasing of frames. On one occasion I came across a sale at a custom framing store that was clearing out off-sizes (presumably that clients failed to pick up or decided against at the last minute). I recall a number of elegant, Italian-made beauties were to be found there. I recall it because I still have one! My justification for my bargain basement purchases of framing finery was: “I’m going to paint something for that frame one day! I’ll totally use it! Heck, I’ll need frames. It only makes sense to pick up this great deal.” There is something delightful about finding a unique frame that pairs perfectly with a painting. The one below around the bird was a beautiful warm tone and seemed to me to mimic the pattern of feathers. The chunky one around the fuschia flower, though difficult to tell here, had a perfectly matching pink wood inset, and the dark surrounding wood was ribbed much like the ribbing on the hibiscus petals featured in the painting. To this day it makes me sigh in contentment.

Various frames that paired well with the artwork

Eventually I did use a lot of the frames, though as I mentioned, I do still have a few. I realized I had a problem when I’d specifically go to second hand stores to hunt for treasure in their paintings/art section. I was buying stuff just because it was great quality, in impeccable shape, and was – well – pretty. I had no real plans for the frames; I was just hoarding. I’ve had to cut myself off now. I no longer place myself in dangerously tempting frame-purchasing scenarios. And, I require of myself that I have a specific purpose for a frame before buying it.

No more impulse buys.

Until this week.

On Facebook Marketplace, I stumbled upon a splendid, artificially old-looking frame that was, alas, mass-produced. It was just such a great deal though! I paid less than a third of its original [wildly marked] price! And I got some other stuff with it….  Oh let the justification begin.

So now, I have had to quickly plot a true use for it and have even begun to secure a model for my intended painting. I’ve got a canvas properly sized to fit the unusual sized hole. Now my job remains to paint what I have frames for and not to buy any more until I use what I have. Here’s hoping I don’t come across some glorious specimen that derails me again.

My confession is now complete. If it’s not shoes, what’s your weakness?