Top of the World...or not

[Mikki Kavich MCPF]

I imagine anyone that has talked to me more than a minute knows that I am in every frame finishing class that is ever offered.
I have to make myself take a business class like a dose of medicine.

This year I took two classes from Yozo and two from Eric Tollifson. I love these classes but I had a moment half way through Frame Restoration class this year when it hit me I will never be/do what either of them do and it totally took the wind out of my sails.

It took me the rest of the day to process what that feeling was and what I could do about it.

So I can monkey with guilding or fixing chips in frames but never be a "master" at either one...however the zen place I found carving and waxing raw wood mouldings tells me that I can find a niche to put that "best energy" in!

I think that is the best thing to find in classes from experts....what you can and what you can't do, what you want to and don't want to do!

{ and by can't I mean not turning my current world upside down to do it }
{ and business expert...more like a won't }

 

[Paul Cascio]

Don't feel bad. When I started in framing, like most, I wanted to learn all kinds of fancy stuff -- French matting, guilding, etc.

I bought a gold leafing kit and everything in my house that didn't move got gold leaf applied to it: door knobs, tooth brushes, the cat would run from me... Then, I realized that most of the sales and profit comes from the basic bread and butter framing we do on a daily basis.

 

[Cathy Coggins]

Took two lectures from Susan Smeaton and one from Rhonda Feinman and realized, "Why am I studying frame history when I frame needlework?" Granted it was enjoyable. And I do have a period piece to get a frame for al la Feinman...but, lets get real. I need to choose my branch and fortify it.

That being said, Mikki your frame for Open was a stunner and was inspiring. So who knows what next year will bring? Or Frame Fest, still nailing down the direction of instructors for Frame Fest. We'll see.

 

[Cliff Wilson MCPF]

Something I've tried to say at every class I've given ...

"Nothing is for Everyone and Everything is for Someone."

That said, it's tough to eat if you don't pay some attention to business.
How can I help?

 

[Dave Wetterstroem]

I took Barb and Rob Markoff's class on art consulting and found it extremely valuable in the fact that I don't want to be an art consultant and or focus on corporate work. Just not my personality.

On the other hand, taking classes like the ones that you mentioned give you a deeper knowledge base that expresses itself with a stronger confidence at the sales counter.

 

[Mikki Kavich MCPF]

Cliff I really want to talk to you about the value framing model you have.
I have a clientele that will appreciate the concept.

Thanks all!

I take something away from every class and finally letting myself know that I am not going to be a master guilder was a good thing to let go of.

I will still be a Yozo addict!

 

[John Ranes II CPF GCF]

Mikki,

I don't view your realization moment as a negative thing at all. I think that the skills we learn and perspective we gain all contributes to who we are even on a business level. Knowing the creative element that lies within you, tells me that you will take all of those traditional things learned, and you will make them your own. As you already know, a good framer is a technician, but still an artist none-the-less.

This if anything is empowering knowledge.

John

P.S. Cliff and Harry both have excellent Value Packaging models that are well thought out and executed.... what's fantastic, is that they are both willing to share their experiences.

 

[Paul Hickman]

Learning when to walk away at the right time, from the right thing, is a sign of wisdom. Personally, I am still working towards that.

 

[Les Martin. MCPF]

Dear Mikki, John Ranes has a way with words - well done. When you get old (like me) you may want to down size but still stay "a little" in the business, and these less widely sought after skills may be the area of interest to land on. Just saying a guilder or frame restorer could stay controlled busy after selling their frame shop?

 

[Rob Markoff]

I find that taking classes from Suzanne, Bill Adair, and those that offer gilding, toning, repair etc. do several things:

1. It opens doors for personal growth and knowledge. Several PPFA members might agree with me that touring the MET with Suzanne provided a life changing perspective and behind the scenes knowledge that forever will change the way I view a museum collection. It also introduced me to other industry professionals and authors I would not have otherwise met. One of those authors writes a wonderful blog and I have communicated with her using Suzanne for an introduction.

I was able to tour Rhonda's workrooms (as well as visit Eli Wilner's showroom) because of access I gained through classes.

2. It reinforces the notion that there are some things that others do that are better at it than I am. It gives me the tools to know when to subcontract those services and allows me to better communicate what needs to be done or understand the procedures those experts say they will do - which also allows me to better appreciate the costs involved and allows me to sound more knowledgeable to my clients.

I heard from several people who took my oversized class that the best thing they learned was that they don't want to do it (before they lost money or got themselves into a project that was over their heads.) I also heard from several that that felt reassured that there was no "shame" in not doing everything themselves and that outsourcing was a sign of strength and not weakness.

3. There is value to "education for education's sake." I find that learning the history of frames as well as motif and ornamentation gives me a better perspective as to where things come from and why frames look the way that they do.

Interestingly, if I NEVER framed a needlework in the rest of my career it would be fine with me but I study how to do it and have a much better appreciation for examples that are well done. That knowledge makes me a better "judge" for the many competitions that have (and will continue to) taken place.