Framer turns words and photographs into career

Framer turns words and photographs into career

Written by Michelle Davis Wednesday, 07 December 2005

Jean Garlick saw a picture mat inside a frame in a trade magazine 28 years ago that spelled out the word ‘cat’ and with it was a picture of a cat. She decided to expand on this idea by creating other ‘wordyisms.’

“I just thought that was the neatest idea, and we could do so many different things like spell out someone’s name with their picture or spell out the word Texas with a picture of bluebonnets,” Garlick said. “That idea just kept boiling and one day I thought, ‘Wow, wouldn’t it be cool if we could cut out the letters UT and put it with a diploma.’”

Garlick put together a prototype which left a space for a diploma. The frame also included a picture that local photographer, Rita Baughman, took in 1969 of the University of Texas tower lit up as a number one celebrating the university’s football Championship. That photograph is still used today.

“I took the prototype to the president of the UT Alumni Association and asked him if he would be interested in selling them,” Garlick said. “He said he’d give it a whirl and orders came in and it just grew.”

This spurred the idea to target high schools using the same format and from there came the framing of valedictorian and salutatorian awards.

But even before that, in the late 60’s she became interested in framing when her husband created pencil drawings of Indians and wildlife.

She learned how to hand-cut mats, frames and glass for the drawings. The first frames were assembled using only hammer and nails. She had no framing equipment available. She and her husband showed and sold them at arts and crafts shows.

Today, Wordyisms services more than 50 different alumni associations and college bookstores as well as 700 high schools and 350 web orders.

“I like my job because I get to work with people to create something that is beautiful for them to hang on the wall,” Garlick said. “It’s a cool feeling to make someone happy; it really keeps you going.”

Wordyisms changed their gift focus in November and now carries only college logo merchandise. They will now have college blankets, trash cans, chairs and other college items.

“I thought it was a unique niche that hadn’t been filled in Pflugerville,” Garlick said. “And it’s a nice compliment to the store and our diploma framing.”

Wordyisms also does custom framing for walk-in customers. Fran LaMantia is the custom framer and has been there for six years.

“We hardly turn anything down,” LaMantia said. “I can do shadow boxes for unique items and any mat design at competitive prices with conservation museum framing quality.”

The Road to Wordyisms . . .

• 1966 - 73 - Visiting Arts and Crafts shows
• Late 60’s  - Jean’s husband David began pencil drawings of Indians and wildlife
• 1975 Self published 5 prints;Framed prints for David and friends with no equipment, all by hand; Turned garage into work room; Bought first piece of equipment-a mat cutter
• 1975 - 81 Traveled to different art shows selling prints
• 1980 - Saw in a trade magazine the CAT idea that began wordyisms
• 1983 - Moved to shopping center on Rutland; Showed prototype of UT diploma frame to UT Alumni Association; Began framing high school diplomas, valedictorian and salutatorian awards
• 1999 - Bought old Pflugerville Post Office
• 2000 - Renovated interior creating gift and custom framing area
• 2000 - Ron Sanford renovated exterior to fit downtown look
• 2005 - Spirit shop added