Remnant Framing Weekly Journal
Updated: November 29, 2024

Thanksgiving week is like standing at the edge of a wave—you can see it coming, and you’re paddling hard, hoping you’ve done enough to ride it when it breaks. This week, I’ve been caught between reflection and action, balancing family, creative work, and the hustle of Small Business Saturday. It’s a beautiful chaos that feels like building something bigger than myself.

"Falling Through Space": The Gravity of Art

The "Falling Through Space" exhibit feels alive. Art has this way of speaking without words, and these pieces are no exception. They hold a certain weight, yet they pull people in with their energy.

There’s something poetic about the timing of this exhibit. It mirrors the work I’ve been doing—trying to build a business while staying grounded in a world that often feels like it’s moving too fast. The exhibit is up, and while it’s only been a week, it feels like it’s been here forever, as if the walls were always meant to hold these works.

The Blank Canvas: A Metaphor and a Tool

Blank canvases have been moving through the shop steadily—quietly, without fanfare, but with purpose. They’re not just a product to sell; they’re an invitation to create. I’ve been thinking a lot about what a blank canvas represents: potential, uncertainty, and possibility.

This week, a longtime artist in Huntsville stopped by to pick one up. She mentioned how much she loves the convenience of having a canvas pre-framed and ready to go. That’s exactly why I started carrying them—to make life just a little easier for the people who pour their hearts into their work.

If you’re looking for one, you can grab a blank canvas for 10% off at shopblanks.com with the code REMNANT.

Thanksgiving Reflections: Family, Food, and Focus

Thanksgiving was a moment to pause, but it wasn’t without its lessons. Between deep-fried turkey and a case of wine shared with friends, I found myself thinking about what it means to build something sustainable—not just for me, but for my family and the community around me.

My oldest daughter has been baking a lot lately. Watching her experiment with flavors and techniques reminds me of the early days of framing—working with raw materials, making mistakes, and slowly finding my rhythm. She’s got this drive to create that inspires me to keep going, even on the days when the doubt creeps in.

The house is starting to feel like Christmas. The lights are up (mostly), and the tree is next. These small rituals remind me why I do what I do. It’s about building something meaningful—both at home and in the studio.

Studio Progress: Every Frame a Story

This week wasn’t all family and food—I spent a good chunk of it in the studio, fine-tuning the gallery space and framing projects. A few things stood out:

• Lightbox Innovation: One client wanted a specific yellow glow for their piece. After a bit of trial and error, I found the perfect LED strip. It’s a small detail, but one that makes all the difference in the final piece.
• The Gallery Vision: The "Falling Through Space" exhibit is setting the tone for where I want to take Remnant Framing. Each piece tells a story, and I want the gallery to feel like a space where those stories can thrive—not just on the walls, but online, too.

Blogging has been another creative outlet for me. This is blog number nine, and the numbers are encouraging—traffic is up, engagement is growing, and the writing feels like a way to connect with people who might not walk through the shop’s doors but still resonate with what I’m building.

Looking Ahead: One Frame at a Time

Next week is about carrying this momentum forward. The gallery space—both physical and online—is my focus. Every frame, every project, every connection is a building block for something greater.

Closing Thoughts

This week, I keep coming back to the idea of time. Sometimes it feels like it’s slipping away, moving faster with each passing year. Other times, it stretches endlessly, as if the world is daring me to fill it with something meaningful.

Framing, for me, is a way to make time tangible. A frame freezes a moment—a piece of art, a memory, a milestone—and gives it a place to exist. That’s what I’m trying to do here, not just with frames, but with this business and the community it’s part of.

If you’re reading this, thank you for being part of the journey. If you’re in Huntsville, come by the shop this weekend. Let’s talk art, framing, or what’s next.

Until next week,
Ryan Diehl
Owner, Remnant Framing

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