Framing Tip- Framing Japanese papers

Japanese papers can look fantastic framed!

Rarified was inspired by a clients choice when framing her Japanese papers and so the team have added some framed decorative papers as Rarified wall stock. Here is a gorgeous decorative piece of Japanese paper, featuring blossoms against a swirly green background. We chose an alphamat luxe gold top matt and teamed it with a cool, apple green inner matt, before finishing the piece off with a waxed asian look black timber frame.Fabulous!

The finished result looks fantastic and is hanging on the Rarified gallery walls as I write, until someone comes to take it home...

Must See- Yoko Yamaguchi's show at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre Gallery!

You all must see Yoko Yamaguchi's show, on at the Tuggeranong Arts Centre Gallery until October 13th 2008! Yoko is Rarified's new trainee framer and a dedicated and talented artist. Her works deal with issues of cultural identity and the work is absolutely stunning in the space. All serious collectors take note, this artwork from an up and coming emerging local artist is so worthy of collection! I'll let Yoko's work do the talking, please go along and see it and support Yoko. Below is Yoko's artist statement from the show, titled; 'Only Me'.

"Name is one of the ways we identify self. Our name goes with us our entire lives, from birth to death. It may even continue after death as a memory. There can be so much feeling, passion, belief and love associated with a name.

Ones name is a very dear thing to most individuals. It is a gift from their family, and everyone has their own. My name is my only treasure. I am eternally grateful for the name my family bestowed upon me; Yoko.

My solo exhibition at Tuggeranong Arts Centre Gallery is including recent of my works which I created in School of Art, and also recent new works. This show provided a good opportunity to get to know myself, and to think about my past experiences and memories one more time. Japan and Australia are two countries that I feel a personal connection with. Each of the keywords I identified as being important to my life (self, family, personal identity, Japanese and Australian culture) opened up feelings and possibilities within my art that I have and will continue to explore. The questions I forced myself to answer regarding my own identity created answers that inspired my art.


One particular aspect I explore in my art is culture. Two different cultures dwell within me at all times, mixing but not quite blending with each other. My formative years were spent immersed in Japanese culture. Who I am now and how I perceive the world owes much to this time. Despite this heavy influence and the deep regard I have for my cultural heritage, I also feel that bit by bit, piece by piece, my identity is being transformed under the influence of Australian life. Ever so subtly I note changes in my way of thinking, my point of view.


I spent a long time trying to find a commonality between Australia and Japan until I realized that I was the answer I sought. It was me that connected these two cultures together in my mind and it is my experiences that I should try to express in my art. "


Source- Yoko Yamamguchi - Artists Statement- 'Only Me' Oct' 2008.

Exhibition Murray Kirkland- 'Clouds and Flying Dreams'

'Clouds and Flying Dreams' an exhibition of paintings by artist Murray Kirkland opened at Rarified Friday 15th August at 6.00pm and runs until Wednesday 27th August 2008.

The exhibition features sublime images of clouds, juxtaposed against whimsical paintings of aerial views of the Australian landscape.

In Murray's words;

'I originally started painting clouds as a release from working on the war related work that I have been doing since 1994.

Often people ask how I manage to make them look so peaceful, I guess if they know the other artwork I do, they would understand.

I enjoy the challenge of representing the subtle tones and play of light in clouds, so now rather than a counter to the war related work, clouds have become something I seek out.

I read in a food column in the Sydney Morning Herald a couple of weeks ago, “When was the last time you lay on the grass and watched the clouds?” The author went on to say that the reader probably can’t remember, but I do and I do it as often as possible.

It’s not just painting clouds that works as therapy, you have to take the time to look at them, it’s bit like smelling roses, you should always take the time.

I guess the aim of this exhibition is to show others how I perceive things; I’ve been having flying dreams all my life, a beautiful and exhilarating experience.

Personally I want to encourage people to look up more often, to take the time to
look at clouds, to smell the roses, to slow down.'

The exhibition is on show at the Rarified Framing Gallery until Wednesday 27th August 2008.

Match your frame to your Spoodle, Poodle, Moodle.... Or any pet for that matter!

Here's great idea- match your frame to your pet animal!

Pictured here is Odie, Rarified's new mascot, a gorgeous Spoodle puppy, Sam's new 'fur child'. Here he is luxuriating in his bean bag in the store. Drop by most mornings to meet him- he loves people!

What's a Spoodle? A poodle crossed with a cocker spaniel, brains and beauty in one woolley package. The perfect dog for Woolley St.

We framed him in what I like to call the 'spoodle frame', perfect for the new decorative look creeping into interiors and great for adding some luxe to your walls. It's a 10 x 10 cm frame, Rarified makes these eclectic frames from custom framing offcuts and this sized frame retails for a very affordable $12.00!* We think the curly pattern and sophisticated style of the frame are perfect for framing a dog of distinction!

And for July, buy two ready made frames of the same size and receive a third readymade frame of the same size or smaller for free! Offer valid until 1st August 2008.

Plus, for the seventh emailer who answers the following question; 'Who is Rarified new mascot?', we'll send you a $50 custom framing voucher, valid until 30th August 2008! Entries close 30th July 2008.

*The Rarified ready made frame range is an eclectic mix of frame styles-we cannot guarantee matching styles, yet all styles can be custom made to order.

Gorgeous New Stock from Yumi Yumi

Rarified has just received some gorgeous new prints from Yumi Yumi from etsy.com.

Yumi Yumi- alias Aline *Yumi* Yamada is a; 'fine artist and illustrator originally from Brazil. I currently reside in the midwest with my husband and son, where I'm still learning how to cook, garden and keep up with my toddler.'

Click on her shop name to see other examples of her art and purchase works directly.

The Rarified team love her whimsical illustrations, fine art skills and beautiful sense of colour.

Stay tuned over the next few weeks as they are framed and added to the Rarified gallery walls.

* Images copyright - Yumi Yumi.

Super Saturday Sale 24th May 2008

Super Saturday Sale

Get ready for day of fun!

Saturday 24th May 2008, Rarified is holding a 'Super Saturday Sale'!

Buy two framed wall stock prints and receive the third for half price!*

Or bring in three items to be framed and receive the fourth framed for free!**

This great offer is for one day only, from 9am until 4pm on Saturday 24th May 2008, so don't miss out!

Rarified is currently stocked with a great selection of framed prints and ready made frames to choose from.

Plus- 10% of proceeds from the day will be donated to the World Vision Myanmar Cyclone Appeal.

To find out more and how you can donate to the World Vision Appeal in the meantime click here


* The half price frame is to be the lesser in value of the three.

**The free frame is to be the lesser in value of the four. Offer is strictly limited to sales made on Saturday 24th May 2008.

Using colour to give your framing impact - pink

Recently the Rarified team framed this wonderful original Nina Simone record cover for a special client.

Our client is a big fan of Nina Simone, her music means a lot to her and she wanted to choose a frame that represented Nina's individual style.

Our client's favourite colour is also pink, a happy coincidence, as the use of this musk stick pink frame perfectly compliments the yellow and pink in the record cover design, making for a stand out individual piece!

In her words; 'I love it, the colour is from the era and suits the artist, as she was so unique'.

Framing Medals and Memorabilia

With Anzac day approaching, the Rarified team thought we would share this story with you.

Framing medals and other memorabilia makes a powerful and lasting tribute that honours loved ones, their lives and achievements, whilst allowing every day viewing.

Pictured here is a collection of medals and a photo booked in for framing by a private Rarified client. Here the medals were hand sewn into position, using minimal stitching and no glues. The matt colour chosen, a lovely warm beige, suits the serious and traditional subject matter and helps to 'lift' the metallic tones in the medals.

The personal story here honours; 'Wal- a father, grandfather & great grandfather. In memory of his service in the Great War in France and Belgium'.

Finally, the bronze coloured timber frame compliments the piece and pulls it all together without competing for attention, adding just a hint of metallic sheen.

'Thanks for the job, the finished result was excellent both in the quality of the work and the colours used for the frame and background, which really work well with the medals & badges.'

Who do you know who owns medals or other memorabilia, that would love to honour them with framing, or elevate them through the framing process?

Vision Boards

Lately I've been talking a lot about goals and values.

Naturally that leads to discussion about vision boards!

Vision boards are wonderful things to create, a strong visual reminder of those goals you working towards and attracting into your life! A well thought out vision board is powerful tool and can lead to great clarity of mind and self awareness.

Rarified custom makes vision boards for clients, in your choice of colour and your choice of frame. How do you know where you are going if you don't define your goals and values and display them in a way that makes you feel great to look at?

Pictured here is an example of a sample vision board that is hanging at Rarified, covered in fantastic quotes about art.

My vision board hangs in my study. It is pink, for me the colour of passion and love and is covered in pictures of what is most important to me; beautiful and innovative houses, hand written lists of my values, the standard poodle that I am attracting into my life, plus other things that mean a great deal to me!

What will you put on yours?

Contact Rarified if you have a story to tell about the power of a vision board for you!

Keep Calm and Carry On...

You may have seen these great images featuring in modern homes, in recent interiors magazines.

Titled; 'Keep Calm and Carry On', it's a great piece of revisited British propaganda art from WWII.

Of course the poster is now laced with post modern irony, available to purchase in many colours and applicable to any stress inducing situation! The Rarified team thinks it's great!

Rarified has stock in red, pink and aqua blue. Red and pink are currently framed and in the window, selling for $260 each.

Now there is no excuse for feeling less than calm...

Solution to using black matts- when framing travel memorabilia and art

What do you do when you've bought some lovely pieces of art, yet the art looks so heavy by the black card put around it?

If you scroll down, you'll find the first installment to this story...

Poor Ganesh and the Goddess of Knowledge were sadly dampened by the heavy black card around them, when I bought them on holiday in Bali in January.

When changing from black matts, one solution is to go either side of black; either to charcoal grey, or a warm grey/brown with the matt. The darker tone makes the lighter areas of the image stand out and the softer tone helps the artwork to speak and breathe.

On my paintings here, I used a deep warm/grey outer matt and a warm peach cream inner matt. Finally, these lovely paintings were finished off with a dark, carved timber frame, for a rich asian-inspired decorative effect!

It's so exciting to have new artworks on my wall at home! Especially ones that remind me of such a great holiday!

Wanted -Two New Rarified Staff Members!

Wanted - Chief Framer!

Rarified needs your help! We are looking for a full time chief framer to help us take our first class creative capability to the next level.

Who do you know who has;
Fine framing skills
A positive and dedicated attitude
Is self-motivated
Loves Art and
Wants to grow as part of an exciting, creative, small business team?

At Rarified we look after our team and will provide a strong financial package and significant career and self development opportunities.

Introduce us to our chief framer and receive $1000 custom framing!!

But wait, there’s more...

Fame Design Consultant and Front of House

Rarified is also recruiting for a frame design consultant and front of house, on a part time basis.

The ideal candidate will be outgoing, friendly, love art and design, have a great eye for colour, a love of interior design and have outstanding sales and customer service experience.

Introduce us to this star recruit and receive $500 of custom framing!!

All applications to be submitted by Saturday 23rd February 2008.

Call Rarified today with anyone you know who might be interested in joining our team, or pass out these details and have them call us for further information on 6257 4270.

Thank you sincerely for your help!

Samantha Simpson-Morgan

Ideas for framing travel memorabilia and art

I have been lucky enough to have holidayed in one of my favourite parts of the world, Ubud in Bali.

Thank you to all the special Balinese people I met, especially Leroy, Nyoman and Made and a big hello to Francesca!

Bali is one of those special spiritual places that is so friendly and generous with sharing its culture. I especially love Ubud for its emphasis on the arts and culture and for the attention to aesthetics that is evident everywhere.

Whilst there- apart from relaxing, meeting people, eating great food and (joy of joys), keeping a sketch book, I also bought some traditional Balinese paintings from Leroy K Puspa. Above is the before framing image of these paintings, of 'Ganesh' and the 'Goddess of Knowledge'.

Both are exquisitely detailed paintings that are sadly let down by the heavy black card that surrounded them when I bought them. Black is often thought of as a 'neutral framing colour', yet it is a shade that needs to be used sparingly and with caution in the framing process. It can be very heavy and flat and leech the art work of its life and vitality.

Stay tuned for my solution to this problem and how I still use a dark tone (not black) in the framing process that really helps to elevate these two lovely pieces!

Although I feel I've only scratched the surface of this amazing place, my favourites were; lunch, dinner or coffee at the 'Three Monkeys Cafe', A trek through the rice fields for an organic meal set high above the rice fields at 'Organic Sari', chai at 'Cafe Nasi Goreng' and the best service, food and ambience I have EVER encountered at 'Arys Warung'!!

I can't wait to return to this magical land!