LION Framers Event - Birmingham - Sept 27

[Martin Harrold]

The Lion FRAMER'S EVENT on Sept 27th is proving to be very popular with over 100 framers and gallery owners already booked into the Expert Seminars. But, if you have not booked yet, don't worry, we are ordering some more chairs. For more info, contact: debby@lionpic.co.uk

The Active Demonstrations are further enhanced with Pete Bingham GCF , the sage of Sheffield, extending his Everest demonstration to include 'Agony - Live'. So, meet Pete face to beard (so to speak) and challenge him with your framing problems and experiences.

[The Jolly Good Framer #1]

Just got back....
Had a good day. Many thanks Martin.

[Roboframer]

Thanks Martin - great to meet you, great place, great event, great spread.

I got back about 6pm - a 347 mile round trip. Being Sat Nav-less I printed out some Google maps and an AA route, well the last bit of one - I know how to get to the M42!

What a load of fuss those things are - 'roundabout - 2nd exit A45 - lights, straight ahead A45, roundabout, 3rd exit A45, roundabout 2nd exit A45 ............ etc etc - roundabout - 4th exit A4540........ "

Why not just say 'stay on the A45 until you hit the A4540!!!' Anyway, when I knew I was pretty close I turned up a quiet street to check the map - I'd stopped in Garrrison lane! (Lion is in Garrison STREET) and as it turned out Garrison street is no entry from the A4540 so I'd gone the way I should have!

Met Dermot, John (JGF #1) & John Buck for the first time, other forum members were Mike (Welshframer) - Stephen34, and 'Frameboy UK' & his brother in law (who has yet to make a post - but has done my course, with his brother in law). Also just realised one (at least) of the demonstrators is a member - Richard Christie

Going to be a Lion SOUTH event next year - 'bigger and better' - can't wait!

[WelshFramer]

Great day Martin. Many thanks to you and all your staff.

It was well organised and the speakers were good. Lunch was pretty good too and I appreciated the way the veggie options were labelled - very thoughtful.

A few suggestions for next time:

Try to avoid seminars interfering with other. Seminars at points 2 and 3 (I think it was) were a bit difficult to hear at times because of the sound from the other one.

Provide participants with an order form and a pencil when they arrive. I was part way down the motorway when I remembered some things I'd meant to buy.

Overall, it was a great day out and I went home with more than enough ideas to justify spending the day there - even though I didn't get home as early as Robo. But then maybe he didn't get stuck on the M25 for an hour.

[Dermot]

Many thanks Martin, a very good day.

Well worth the 3.45am start and the 10.00pm finish.

[Martin Harrold]

Thanks to those Forumers who came along on Sunday - it seems that you enjoyed being there as much as we enjoyed having you. I quite enjoyed putting names and faces to some 'Noms Du Forum'. You can look at lots of pictures on Flickr at: http://tinyurl.com/yc4a9az

For your 2010 diaries:

The next Lion Framer's Event will be at Lion South, near Heathrow, on Sunday, May 23.

The next one at Lion in Birmingham will be in September or October. We'll set the date when the 2010/11 football schedules are published, around June, as we need to know when Birmingham City are not playing at home.

We look forward to you joining us at one of those Lion Framer's Events. Before either, our next big trade show is 'Focus On Photography' at the NEC, Birmingham, March 7 - 10.

[Grahame Case]

Hi Martin,

judging by what i have heard from attendees it was a success!

We'll try attend the date next year, given there is no point in our attendance at Spring Fair in 2010.

[framemaker]

Thanks Martin and all at Lion for a great day, I really enjoyed giving a gilding demonstration and appreciated the interest and many questions from attendees. The only downside was not being able to see any seminars or watch any other demonstrations!

One thing I should have done is prepared a handout sheet with some step by step info for those interested in trying it themselves. Anyone who does want a guide can email or PM me for details.

I was a bit disappointed I didn't meet (or didn't realise I'd met) more forum members, I did meet YPF (Steve), who has since popped over to my workshop for a cuppa and framing chat.

Here is a finished photo of one of the frames I was gilding on the day, the painting is by David Cobley.

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

Wow! Martin, I am very impressed by the magnitude and response to this event - it had to be the most comprehensive educational event held by a distributor (stockist) in the UK outside of a major trade fair - Congratulations.

Many good faces made it to this event as well. Keep it up!

John

[Martin Harrold]

John - such kind compliments from you and many others encourage us to develop the idea for 2010.

The next Lion Framer's Event will be at Lion South on Sunday April 25th (date change from May).

We'll have another Framer's Event in Birmingham next September, but we can't set that date until we know when Birmingham City are not playing at home - which is not until next June.

If those nice people at Fletcher are working with you to plan your travels for next year and they bring you to UK on either of those two dates, then we'd be very pleased to add you to the roster of Expert Seminar leaders. Food is good, the attendees are great, the money is rubbish!

How did the move to your new shop go?

[John Ranes II, CPF, GCF]

How did the move to your new shop go?

Yesterday, 12 days after we opened the new location, we moved over the Morso along with a large storage cabinet - those were the last key items. All that remains at the old location are some mat storage dividers and a couple of boxes of hardware. Tomorrow, I'll remove the small hanging sign outside the front door (SENTIMENTAL).

Do check out our Facebook page, Martin - it has 75 photographs over a ten week period of transition of the new location.

I'll never move another business again!

John