I make reclaimed wood frames and mirrors.
Do you only use recycled materials in your work?
Almost. The wood for the frames is recycled from homes and
apartments around the greater Montreal area. The cardboard backing for the
glass and mirrors is from recycled cardboard boxes. I ship my frames in
overstock or recycled boxes as well. The hangtags are made from recycled stock,
as are my cards. The glass and mirror however, are new. I haven’t yet found a
'vitrerie' that uses recycled glass and mirror. I think it’s important to note
that I also give 5% of the retail sale price of every frame sold to Équiterre,
a Montreal based not-for-profit organization that works to promote sustainable
choices both locally and globally.
Do you source all of your materials from the same place?
No. Every frame is part of a collection, and every collection
is named for the place/area/street where the wood is taken. For instance the
Clark Collection is made from old flooring from a duplex on Clark Street in the
Mile End, whereas the Centre Street Collection is made from old wainscoting
from a kitchen in Point St-Charles. Taking wood from different places not only
makes for interesting frames, it allows me to keep the history of those places
that would have otherwise been thrown out in the trash. For the De Cambrai
Collection, I even helped to demo out the wood from the home in St-Bruno! My
policy is to make a trade with anyone who has wood to give – if there’s enough
of the “right” wood to make a collection, you get the first frame for free.
Can you tell us about some of the things people have framed with your work?
Well, it’s hard to keep track of the frames once they head
to their new homes. Family photos are the most frequent things framed, along
with artwork. I know someone who used a few frames to hold d.i.y. pressed
flowers. It was a lovely installation.
Do you do custom orders?
Yes! I make custom sized mirrors for bathrooms or living
spaces as well as custom frames for artwork. I try to keep a few pieces of
wood from each collection so that clients can order custom frames in their
favourites, but every collection is made in limited editions. Once the wood is
gone, it’s gone! So I try to work with the client to find a wood that I have in
stock that will best fit their style and the style of the item they want
framed.
What is your favorite music to listen to while creating?
Working in a wood shop is loud, so most of the time I’m
wearing protective ear muffs! When I’m varnishing the frames, I like to listen
to something upbeat. Old soul (or new-old soul) works well for that.
What are your goals for Heidi Barkun Frames in 2012?
Right now I’m working on a very exciting project in
conjunction with Le Jardin Botanique, called “1000 jours pour la planète.” One
of the stations in the exhibition (opening in June, 2012) is an installation of
about 30 of my frames. The exhibition is working with several different
artisans who use recycled materials, so it’s really nice to be in such new and
wonderful company.
As for goals, I hope that the business continues to grow.
It’s really wonderful to know that boutiques and individual clients are
“getting” the idea behind the frames and are willing to spend a little more for
handmade, sustainable items that not only look good, but also have an important
historical significance. My slogan is “Every frame tells a story,” and I hope
there will be plenty of new stories to tell in 2012!
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