The "Framing 'The Truth'" Story

It was an ordinary day.  Working once again at Grebinger Gallery in Neffsville, Pennsylvania designing a mat and frame for another athletic jersey and sport memorabilia.  Today's project has me framing a professional basketball player's jersey, Paul Anthony Pierce, who played 19 seasons in the National Basketball Association, fifteen years with the Boston Celtics who drafted him with the 10th overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft.  He was the Celtics captain  who earned ten All-Star nominations as well as becoming a four-time All-NBA team member.  

Pierce, along with Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, led the Celtics to the 2008 NBA Championship.  He was picked as the 2008 Finals MVP.  Pierce is one of three, including Larry Bird and John Havlicek, Celtics to score 20,000 points in their career with the Celtics.  He also holds the Celtic's record for most three-point field goals made and ranks third in team history in games played, second in points scored, seventh in total rebounds, fifth in total assists and first in total steals.  He also has made the sixth most three-point field goals in NBA history.  It was in March of 2001 that Shaquille O'Neal dubbed him "The Truth".  He also played for the Brooklyn Nets, Washington Wizards and Los Angeles Clippers.  On July 17, 2017, Pierce signed a ceremonial contract with the Celtics in order to retire as a Celtic.  The ultimate honor a team can bestow on a player, retiring their number, was announced on February 11, 2018.  He is now the 23rd person in Celtics history to be so honored.  And, today I had the chance to frame a Celtics #34 shirt for a customer.  Along with the shirt I framed the front of a t-shirt that featured seven of the 23 retired numbers along with an embroidered autographed placard that was a limited edition souvenir.  Follow along as I show you how I matted and framed the souvenir piece.  It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy.

I first designed the double mat on the computer and then cut it on the table in the background.

The cut mat is laying upside down in the background with the shirt, wrapped around a piece of black foam board, to the left on the bottom matboard.  I use fishing line to fasten the shirt to the board.  In this case I used 10 stitches to fasten it.

The shirt is attached.  Next, I line the sides with strips of layered foam board to build up the sides so I can fasten the top mat, which is black and green, to the top.  On the top right you can see the autographed placard in a small opening.  The larger bottom opening on the right will accommodate the t-shirt that the customer gave to us.

I have stretched onto a piece of white foam board and then inserted the shirt in it's opening and placed the top mat over the job.  Looks great at this time.

This is a photograph taken with the mat inside the frame, but without the 24"x40" piece of regular glass in place.  Makes for a better photo without glare.  After being completed with the glass in place, I placed "Wall Buddies" on the rear corners for hanging.  The cost: Priceless!