Cheri’s Hang-Ups began as a small, determined experiment in seeing the world differently. From childhood, I had an unshakable eye for art—drawing, mixing colors, and arranging compositions whenever I could. That natural inclination led me, years later, to open a picture-framing shop that became more than a business: it was a place where objects were transformed, memories honored, and unexpected beauty was revealed.
At first, framing was simply practical: to protect the work and present it neatly. But I treated framing as its own art. I taught myself through trial and error how the right frame and matting could elevate a piece from ordinary to extraordinary. I learned to sense color relationships instinctively, selecting multicolor mats that added depth without overwhelming the artwork. Often, I would confidently set aside her first two combinations; one would nearly always be the perfect choice. That trust in instinct became a hallmark of my work.
I loved to experiment. I designed deep frames capable of holding objects of varying sizes and dimensions, creating shadowboxes that told stories and housed keepsakes. At other times, I abandoned traditional framing altogether, using clips to suspend prints, mats, and glass for a minimalist, modern display. The freedom to break rules while respecting the piece beneath was central to my approach.
Restoration became another passion. I valued old frames, seeing the personality embedded in chipped gilding, multiple layers of paint, and fragile carving. An encounter with an elderly European craftsman in Edmonds changed everything. He had trained in restoration in his homeland and carried centuries-old techniques with him. I spent as much time as he would allow in his shop, watching, learning, and absorbing methods for making impressions of frame designs and fitting new pieces seamlessly. She learned to work gently, to honor the original while repairing and stabilizing the frame so it could continue its life.
Over two decades, I opened and ran two frame shops. One, focused on restoration, was based in Tacoma and attracted clients who brought heirlooms, war medals, military items, and cracked mirrors needing careful hands. The shops were small but busy, with a steady flow of canvases, prints, textiles, and curious objects. People brought pieces with stories, graduation portraits, watercolor landscapes, and pressed flowers. And I felt a responsibility to treat those stories with care.
I also created my own art. I drew and painted, often turning her pieces into framed statements, blending her creative practice with her craft. Being both artist and farmer gave me a unique perspective: I knew how a maker wanted a work to be seen, and I knew how to deliver that vision. Customers trusted her not just to protect their art, but to enhance it.
Cheri’s Hang-Ups was more than a name; it captured a devotion to detail, a love of color, and a belief that every object could be given new life. Through restoration, inventive framing, and an artist’s eye, I turned ordinary pieces into masterpieces, honoring the past while crafting durable, beautiful presentations for the future.
I still straighten a crooked picture on a wall when I see one. I look out the window and see a sunset that evokes past sunsets, yet it is an original work of art, changing all the time; no two are the same. Memories of nature’s beauty are everywhere, and we can find it if we close our eyes and let the impression take hold.
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