A few weeks ago I wrote on one of Linda Starr’s posts about her new tiles and tried to explain how to make a wooden tile frame. In words alone this was a bit of a challenge so here are some explanatory photographs to illustrate the way I do it.
The most challenging part of the process is to source framers moulding that is completely plain on the reverse, i.e. without makers marks or stamps or indeed the residue of front of the mould staining. The tile is placed into a mitered picture frame backwards so that the rebate is the platform the tile sits on rather than the lip that would normally hold a picture and glass in position. If I get the wood cut just right I can just push into place the tile and it stays firm, if not I use epoxy cement in each corner. The best part of this frame is that the reverse of the tile can be viewed. 
Clear as mud now, isn't it?
6 comments:
that's a lovely tile that you have in the picture
YES! Thank you, I have been looking at frames and taking to Mark about doing something different with my tiles.
I just talked to a friend who is a kitchen/ bath guy and he is going to work something up for me.
Great and clear as mud!
Well Done Kitty,
Not muddy! That is a clear and helpful set of photos, and a charming result too! I've been wondering about seeing if my Laura's paintings would be adaptable to ceramic designs, and as framed tiles they could work very well. So thanks for the technical stuff.
Hi Kitty, I couldn't quite figure out what you meant when you mentioned the reverse of the frame, but it really is clear as mud to me. Now if I make tiles I would have to be more exacting to fit them within a frame which is ready made such as these.
Your tiles are lovely and the frames really complement your work. The altar tile is so detailed and colorful and I can't imagine cutting away for the bas relief tile. I've wanted to do some bas relief but was wondering if the raised portion would be too thick and explode when I fired it.
Oh our neighbor with a private observatory came to our barn sale today and was telling us all that he can see in the night sky, can't wait to go over there to view the celestial heavens up close.
Thanks so much, Kitty.
Linda, I cut the wood to fit the tile, or in the case of the ones in the pictures I had a framer cut and staple the frames for me. When I do it myself I use wood glue and panel pins and a sort of cats cradle contraption which holds it all together while the glue dries.
I had another night with Venus, it is completely absorbing!
Good luck you all with the framing it really helps the selling of a one-off tile.
Hi Kitty, thanks so much for the further explanation. I see what you mean about cutting the wood to fit the tile - much easier. A cat's cradle - what a unique description. Reminds me - we just found a mother cat and 4 tiny kittens in our barn living under a wood pile, almost skin and bones - I am so sorry we didn't even know they were there. We are feeding them now and hopefully we will find homes for them real soon. We have three cats already and that is enough. Thanks again.
Oh your moths (tile is) are so beautiful - I came back for a second look. When we lived in Arkansas there were two types of moths there which were very large and so beautiful - one was a luna moth - a large pale green moth and I made a ceramic plate with an applied luna moth some time ago. The other moth had an "eye" on each wing to fool predators - not sure what the name of it was, but one day I saw one and jumped back as the eye startled me - it was that effective. I must look it up again and perhaps make a ceramic piece with one. Thanks again, and happy star and planet gazing.
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