Unusual Items We’ve Framed

Beyond Artwork: The Most Memorable Items We’ve Framed Over 30 Years

A bride once brought us a small piece of lace from her wedding gown, carefully folded in tissue paper. A marathon runner arrived with shoes still dusted from the course. A family entrusted us with a Purple Heart medal and letters written home from war.

At Columbia River Gallery, we’ve seen just about everything come through our doors, from delicate wedding lace to well-worn marathon shoes. Well, almost all. After more than three decades in the custom framing business, we’ve had the privilege of preserving some truly extraordinary items for our clients. While photographs and artwork make up a significant portion of our framing projects, it’s often the unusual, unexpected items that bring us the most joy and creative challenge. Today, we’d like to share some of the most memorable and unique items we’ve had the honor of framing over the years.

Wedding Dresses: Preserving Precious Memories

One of our favorite unusual framing projects involves wedding dresses. Rather than keeping these beautiful gowns hidden away in a box in the attic, many of our clients have chosen to preserve and display sections of their wedding dresses in custom shadow boxes. We carefully select a portion of the dress that showcases the intricate lace, beadwork, or other special details, and create a conservation-quality display that protects these delicate textiles from damage while allowing them to be admired daily. Often, we’ll incorporate the wedding invitation, dried flowers from the bouquet, or photographs from the special day to create a comprehensive memory piece that tells a complete story.

Sports Memorabilia: More Than Just Jerseys 

Sports enthusiasts have brought us everything from signed baseballs to championship medals. One particularly memorable project involved framing a complete set of golf clubs that had been used in a tournament by a professional golfer. Rather than framing just one club, our client wanted to preserve the entire set as a conversation piece for his home office. We designed a custom shadow box with specialized mounting to display the clubs in a fan pattern, along with tournament photos and scorecards.

Another unique sports memorabilia project involved framing a pair of running shoes worn during a client’s first marathon. We incorporated the race bib, finisher’s medal, and a map of the course route to create a comprehensive memory of this personal achievement. The finished piece became not just a display of memorabilia but a testament to personal accomplishment and determination.

Concert Tickets and Music Memorabilia

Music lovers have brought us everything from vintage vinyl records to guitar picks used by famous musicians. One client brought in a collection of concert tickets spanning three decades of shows they had attended. Rather than simply mounting the tickets in rows, we created a collage that incorporated photographs from the concerts, snippets of lyrics, and other memorabilia to create a visual history of their musical journey.

Another memorable music-related project involved framing a signed drumhead along with drumsticks and backstage passes from a legendary rock band. The challenge was creating a design that protected these diverse items while showcasing them in an aesthetically pleasing arrangement. The finished piece became the centerpiece of our client’s music room.

Military Medals: Honoring Service with Dignity

Perhaps some of the most meaningful items we’ve framed are military medals, uniforms, and service memorabilia. These projects require not only technical skill but also a deep respect for what these items represent. We’ve created shadow boxes that display medals, patches, photographs, and service documents, often incorporating flags or other patriotic elements.

One particularly moving project involved framing a Purple Heart medal alongside letters written home during World War II. The family wanted to preserve these precious items for future generations, ensuring that their ancestor’s sacrifice would be remembered. We used conservation-grade materials and techniques to ensure these irreplaceable items would be protected for decades to come.

Sentimental Keepsakes: Preserving Personal Histories

Some of the most unusual and most meaningful items we’ve framed are deeply personal keepsakes that might seem ordinary to others but hold immense sentimental value. We’ve framed children’s first shoes, handwritten recipes passed down through generations, antique keys to childhood homes, and even locks of hair from a baby’s first haircut.

One client brought us her grandmother’s collection of thimbles along with the well-worn sewing scissors she had used throughout her life as a seamstress. We created a shadow box that displayed these items alongside swatches of fabric from memorable projects and a handwritten note explaining the significance of sewing in their family history.

Vintage Objects: Giving New Life to Old Treasures

Vintage and antique items present unique framing challenges but often result in the most striking displays. We’ve framed everything from Victorian-era fans to antique pocket watches. One client brought us a collection of vintage typewriter keys that we arranged to spell out a meaningful phrase in a shadow box.

Another interesting project involved framing a collection of vintage kitchen utensils that had been passed down through four generations of family cooks. We created a deep shadow box with a background that resembled the original kitchen wallpaper, transforming these utilitarian objects into a piece of art that celebrated family tradition.

Preservation Framing Techniques: Protecting Your Treasures

When framing unusual items, especially those with historical or sentimental value, proper preservation techniques are essential. At Columbia River Gallery, we use conservation-grade materials, including acid-free mats and backing boards, UV-protective glass, and archival mounting methods that prevent damage to the items.

For textiles like wedding dresses or vintage clothing, we never use adhesives directly on the fabric. Instead, we carefully stitch items to acid-free backing using conservation-approved threads. For paper items like tickets or letters, we use corner mounts or other reversible mounting techniques that don’t damage the original.

Three-dimensional items require specialized mounting solutions, often custom-designed for each unique piece. We consider factors like weight distribution, pressure points, and long-term stability to ensure your treasured items remain secure and undamaged for years to come.

Your Treasures Deserve Custom Framing

Every meaningful object tells a story.

Whether it’s something passed down through generations or a piece that marks a special moment in your life, those stories deserve more than a drawer or storage box. They deserve to be preserved and displayed with care.

If you have an unusual item that holds a special place in your heart, we’d be honored to help you showcase it in a way that protects it and celebrates its significance. There’s nothing we love more than helping our clients turn cherished keepsakes into lasting works of art.