Karin Well's framing source
 

I finally went to the web site Karin suggested in the "still life/landscapes thread" for frames. After registering and and getting the chance to view the whole web site, I can't get over the incredible pricing.

www.jfmenterprises.net

To Karin or anyone else who has used JFM Enterprises for their framing needs; what are they made of? Are they ones that are listed as "light gold" made of wood with a finish that is not gold leaf, but meant to look like it, or are they the plastic wood stuff that you see so much off?

Karin's paintings all look so lovely in them, I am not sure I need to be concerned. But I am amazed with what shows up at my door step when I order on-line.

I did notice they carried traditional wood frames, do you just order from this segment?

A lot ot the frames I have ordered were a combination of wood and composition.

I doubt that there is any real gold leaf in the lot. They use various colors of "Dutch gold." I like frames "toned down" and shiny gold doesn't work on my paintings very well.

I have ordered a lot of frames from JFM and sometimes the manufacturer varies and the frames are not all exactly alike, but for the price...who can complain?

I have ordered a dozen or so frames from JFM and have been delighted with the quality, especially for the price.

One of their beautiful 36x48" frames cost me about $100 and something similar would have been about $600 from a local guy I used to work with who charged me his "wholesale" prices.

On one occasion the frame was not the dimension that was specified on the JFM website, however. It fit the size of painting it was meant for but the wood was about 3 inches wide instead of the five inches that it listed on the site. I decided to use the frame anyway, even though JFM said they had no problem if I had decided to return it. Since then I check via phone or email to be sure that dimensions I think I am getting are accurate.

None of the frames are Whitaker-approved real gold leaf, but look fine anyway. They are real wood, not plastic.

I just checked out that site, but did not see any prices because it requires a resale tax certificate. I am guessing this is a sales tax license? I do not collect sales tax, I wonder if there is a way to view these prices without one.

Their website says that you have to be a registered reseller to see the prices.

I have bought frames from www.artframes.com for good prices. A few years ago, I was shocked to find that the nice 19th cent. portrait that I had bought would cost nearly $500 to frame locally. That's about what I paid for the painting. Artframes set me up for a fraction of the cost. We've bought several frames from them, though none recently.

Their prices seem to have risen a bit since we bought ours, but are still quite low. Some designs cost nearly double the cost of others that look just as nice. Look through all their styles for the best prices.

Kimberly, you really should check out this thread about sales tax. I see you are listed as a Full Time Pro. The risks of not collecting sales tax in this (or any) business are just too high:

http://forum.portraitartist.com/show...ight=sales+tax

Actually Michele I was just reading that the other day. I had never given it a second thought since the galleries that sell my paintings collect it. The few portraits I did were out of my home & I didn't see it as necessary. Now that I have a public studio though...I need to get one I'm sure. I just sold a painting last night and set aside the cash to buy a license. As soon as these kids get back into school. Only 20 days left; not that I am counting or anything.

Price list for JFM
 

I just printed out the registration form for JFM so that I can get access to the price list. I have misplaced my sales tax certificate and called to order a new one last week, however who knows when that thing will actually show up. For those of you that buy your frames from JFM, do you think they will be sticklers for actually needing to see a copy of the actual certificate or will my number and maybe a copy of the form I pay quarterly taxes with be enough?

At any rate, I will send it all off tomorrow and hope for the best, but in the meantime does anyone have a price list they could share with me today? I was going to spend this afternoon ordering supplies and wanted to compare some prices on frames.

Thanks.

Price List
 

Mary -

Email me with the exact frame you want and the size and I will send you the price they quote in their current price list.

Mary, when you start to use JFM, as they have told me, if you order off the Internet make sure you call to confirm or better yet look on the Internet and then call them with your order.

Often you will pick an item that is out-of-stock or discontinued and they do not update the web site enough to reflect this.

They are always nice to work with.