Lake Grove Arts & Frames

What a great experience… especially after going to Aaron’s and being told the 17″ x 26″ print I had would cost $ 968 to frame! («Oh, but wait. we’ll let you use this 50% off coupon.» GREAT! I’ll take two!) Apparently, those guys don’t even frame in the shop, they send it off to SEATTLE. No wonder they charge so much.
I remembered I’d used this family business in the past, about 8 years ago, but couldn’t remember the name of it. After I ran screaming from Aaron’s, I dusted off my brain and managed to find Gayle’s home (the business is part of the house, a converted garage). Gayle has taken over for mom, and has a wonderful eye for choosing mats that will pick up tones in a print or painting that you don’t even see. She’s super-​friendly and and has a sweet white German Shepard who hangs out in the shop. Framing can be spendy, but Gayle has great ideas to reign in the cost. My huge frame cost less than half the «discounted» price Aaron’s quoted me. Plus, she’s just a cool person and it’s fun to see how she works. When I was there, she was framing some Harry Potter stamp series (if you know anyone who loves Harry Potter, she’s selling a few of them, I think).
Again, the cost of framing in general is sobering„ but is much less painful here. You’ll save a bundle. I’m very happy to support such a wonderful family business, and I’m so glad I found them!

So I’ve been extremely delinquent in getting my diplomas framed. After I passed my second bar exam, and still hadn’t framed my college or law school diploma, my mother insisted I do so when I was home one weekend before I moved to Chicago.
I brought my bar certificates and diplomas into Lake Grove framing, and I am SO glad I did. Gale did absolutely BEAUTIFUL work on my diplomas. She has a great eye, and helped me chose the mat and frames (let’s be honest – I’m a lawyer because I have absolutely no artistic ability whatsoever).
One college diploma is oddly shaped – it actually folds out and is extra-​wide. I wanted to preserve this, so Gale suggested we create a shadowbox, and place the entire diploma (holder and all) inside the shadowbox. I get SO many compliments on the shadowbox from fellow attorneys and clients who wander into my office, and they always ask where I had it done. I’ll try and post a picture later.
The kicker is that the framing was extremely reasonably priced, and Gale expedited the framing when I told her I was driving across country to Chicago in a few days. Gale, your work is greatly admired by those here in Chicago.
I highly, HIGHLY, recommend this place for all your framing needs. You won’t be disappointed.