The Village Gallery

Having inherited a two hundred-year-old needlework sampler that was in desperate need of re-stretching and reframing we looked at the usual big craft stores’ framing departments and saw that those doing it were not knowledgeable about the care of an antique object and most were students who framed as a pert-time job. On the recommendation of a friend, we went to The Village Gallery at Gatlin and Orange Avenues. Craig Factor, owner/operator of the Village Gallery has been doing custom framing for 48 years in Orlando. He carefully examined our sampler and informed us that he was going to contact a conservator to get recommendations on the proper materials to use. He helped us pick an antique looking frame from the hundreds of samples he has in his shop. We felt that he was a trustworthy professional and gave him the go ahead to mount and frame our piece. In less than a week he called and we came in to see the perfect job he had done. There was a special fabric stretcher with a non-acidic cloth backing. An acid-free spacer separated the sampler from the original glass that he suggested we keep as its age was an enhancement to the overall look. His quoted price of $300 was extremely reasonable. We also had a print framed and he again spent all the time we wanted to compare matting and frame samples. He inquired about the setting of the room where it would be hung, wall and furniture colors to advise us on the proper combinations and glass. What surprised me is his “guarantee” that if we weren’t happy with the matt when we saw it in our home or the non-glare glass, that he would replace them at no charge. I don’t think that the overpriced Michaels or Joann Fabrics framers would do the same. His gallery also has some excellent representational artwork in the form of original canvases and prints.