Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Susan Kaulbars. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation; we’ve shared it below.

Susan, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

Early in my framing career, I had a customer who brough in a previously framed watercolor that her sister had painted. The sister had recently passed from cancer, and she wanted to reframe this precious watercolor. Upon removing the watercolor from the framing, we discovered a 2nd painting was on the reverse side. It was a painting her sister created when they were together enjoying a beach outing. It was a special gift from her beloved sister. Picture framing is about telling a story, why are you framing that item, why is it important to you, and translating those connections into the design presentation.

There’s more to framing than just a white mat and a black frame, or what you see online, in big box stores, or ads in a magazine. There are a lot of “Picture Framers” out there, but there are not a lot of custom framing “designers” with the complete knowledge of the diversity of skill sets to properly create the custom designs for all types of art media or textiles.

With a background in art, music, and theatre, the creative thought process of mixing art with materials to enhance but not overshadow the artwork – is my strength. Being a carpenter’s daughter, a mechanic’s wife, and a former vendor sales rep to the framing industry, combined with 20 years of education, experience, along with a national network of industry colleagues provides me with a vast skill set.

Finally, like any “creative artist”, I create and execute, all under the picture framer’s code of ethics “do not harm.” That code is the driving force to ongoing training and execution, using the correct quality of materials and execution for a project.

Susan, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Growing up in a small town in SW Minnesota in the early 70’s, opportunities for girls were nursing, teaching, maybe a hair stylist – or farm life. While all wonderful professions, none of them interested a creative thinker like me. My focus in high school and college was art, music, and theatre – and competing in science fairs competitions! While the creative process was strong, the passion to drive those endeavors into a career wasn’t there. Through different retail and business experiences, I eventually discovered the picture framing industry. 20 years year later and I have never looked back or even considered leaving this trade. Once a picture framer – always a picture framer!

At Framing Solutions, my creative atheistic is “unique, innovative, and unconventional” designs for my clients. I seek to enhance the project through a design that would never occur in any “expected or mass produced” look. I offer a large assortment of frames, from over 25 vendors, which provide details to draw out the image. My frames selections I call my “Legos’” and we just “play in the sand box” until we achieve a design that specifically works with that specific project. With my knowledge of the industry, and the resources I have, there isn’t much I cannot frame. And, I’m proud to say, a number of my referrals come from other framers!

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Pivot is growth. As a business owner, it is essential to understand how to pivot for longevity. As a solo entrepreneur, being in business is hard by yourself. Drive, determination, persistence, and a willingness to change or “pivot” is essential to obtain the results. My 2nd to 3rd year in business was a tremendous challenge. I didn’t know if my business would survive. I doubled down, joined networking groups and attended their events. I keep looking for ways to have potential customers get to know me, and my business. I relooked at all aspects of my financial structure. I knew I could quit but I also knew “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do” (Robert Schuller). I sacrificed, I pushed through, and recently celebrated my 9th Anniversary. I’ve pivoted many times to date, and I’m sure I’ll be pivoting again in the future.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

I make projects look “cool” and people love them. But when the story gets told, and I know that what I’ve created is a family heirloom. A veteran, an individual’s family history, a collection of any kind, mementoes, achievements, memorials…there’s so many times when a project is picked up that a tear or two is shed – that’s the ultimate reward. That’s impact. What I create for someone can really make a difference for a family. That’s the ultimate reward – and responsibility.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.framingsolutionsmn.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/framing_solutions
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/framingsolutionsmn