CAFowkes Framing, owned and operated by Caitlin A. Fowkes, incorporates both American and French framing techniques. American framers use machines to cut their bevels and use traditional one-color mat boards. French framers wrap their hand cut bevels and mats with papers from around the world.

Pricing varies from piece to piece, with sizes like 8"x 10” ranging from $70-$250 on average, 16"x 20" ranging from $110–$380 on average, and 24"x 36" ranging from $170–$450 on average. As one can see, pricing varies a great deal depending on the products chosen and the amount of work required.

 Ideas to keep cost down are:

-Buy your own frame and let Caitlin fit up what you’d like framed with a custom mat. Buy custom size frames from stores like, Michaels or AC Moore, HomeGoods, Ikea, etc.

-Keep an eye out for the right size at thrift stores, antique malls or even Good Will. Frames can always be wrapped with a special paper or spray painted the right color.

 Turn-around time is usually about two weeks. Caitlin is happy to pick up items to be framed at your home within reason. Feel free to stop by with an appointment to look through all of the paper choices and frame options. Lastly, feel free to ship what you would like framed and Caitlin will be in touch with photos of ideas about how to frame your piece with pricing options. Framed pieces will be mailed back free of charge.

Background

The owner and framer of CAFowkes Framing is Caitlin A. Fowkes. Caitlin started framing back in 2000 working at Michaels Arts and Crafts in the Framing Department. There she learned the basics of framing before going to Lycoming College to major in Art. Following College, Caitlin worked as an apprentice for the Gilt Complex, a high-end frame and art conservation and restoration company. There she learned how to archivally keep artwork safe inside a frame. After some time, Caitlin began working for a French Framing Company called, L’Eclat de Verre. Learning the French techniques in framing is what gives Caitlin’s framing here in the USA the extra creative touch. By using papers from around the world to essentially wrap American mat boards helps to pull out a texture, color, or pattern to what is being framed.

After having two children Caitlin decided to start CAFowkes Framing and work from the comforts of her home. Feel free to contact her anytime via email about a project on your mind.