SecondMoonshot Custom Picture Framing

09/25/2025

Definitely Not Your Typical Frame Shop

There is definitely nothing “traditional” or typical at the SecondMoonshot shop. I retired early and through a few years and soul searching, landed into custom picture framing. A while back, I decided to devote every minute going forward doing things that are creative, excercise the mind, and fun. The fact is, I do custom picture framing but also so much more including to name a few,….woodworking, photo/slide/negative scanning and restoration, collecting (and selling) various types of art including pop culture, traditional art works, vintage photography (from negatives and slides), and the funnest stuff is the obscure things I find. No doubt about it, this is an eclectic growing collection that is solely made up of “things I like”.

Every once in a while I like to take a few picture of the shop to share here and a sampling of what you will find.

We are here every weekday from 10a to 5p and no appointment is necessary. You can also just text me if you’re on your way in case I am running to the post office or something, but rarely away for more than 15 minutes. I keep my hours always updated on the Google Business Profile in Google Maps.

I get lonely sometimes being more or less a one-man-shop, so a few walk-ins would be nice. Come and see my constantly evolving creative space!

09/24/2025

Work in Progress: Framing the Pokémon 151 (+1) Original Card Set 1999

I have had a couple inquiries over the last year and a customer just pulled the trigger. Brought the cards in (in order and I confirmed) and also had him put them all into the sleeves which ultimately will be mounted directly to the board. A UV 99% acrylic covering and contemporary black frame, and while a tedious doing steps 152 times, shouldnt be too bad.

I’ll post the progress and final over time.

09/15/2025

What I am up to? Custom Counter Top (yes….really), Vintage/Antique Negatives, Photo Restoration, and Negative & Slide Scanning

With all the construction in Rolesville at the intersection of Young and Main, business has slowed down a good bit as they closed our parking lot and made it very difficult for anyone to have a chance to come by. I am sure the local shops such as Main Street Collective and others are taking a hit, but they keep pushing and coming up with creative ways to keep the customers coming. The good news is that the crews are working hard and have heard the intersection could be opening up by end of September.

During these slow-down times, I use the time to do some of my other interests and ‘asks’ from my family members. Recently, my daughter (with the required ‘Daddy, Will you..’ (knowing damn well I will say Yes)….in this case, it was ‘make me a butcher block counter top’. Well, I think I may have found my match, but giving it a shot and starting off with a large pastry rolling / bread board with the same design. It’s coming out good, but this will be a real challenge….I am up to it.

Now, more related to art and framing, I have been acquiring some negatives from the late 1800s and early 1900s. With some of the new hardware and software I have purchased, I have the capabilities to scan photos, slides, and negatives with very high resolution. Then using a suite of tools from Adobe, Topaz Labs, restoring, cleaning up, and some of the nicer ones…printing and offering. Some of them you may have seen and some come from what are called “duplicate” or “copy” negatives where make a copy of the negative into a new negative…albeit even that copy was made in early 1900s and of high quality/detail. That said, many of the negatives are in bad shape and that is where I move into the photo editing tools after scanning them and clean them up. The black and white prints can be printed in-house and those will use the pigment black (archival ink) on a matte paper up to 13”x19” while color photos and glossy paper prints will use a dye-based ink. Think of this as the difference between the print lasting 60-80 years with dye ink and 400 or so years with pigment ink. If you see some you like, I can print them in the size you desire and offer optional framing of course. The photos are a sample of my rapidly growing collection.

I am offering the photo and slide/negative scanning and digitization, photo restoration and similar services to those that need it. Now…don’t think you can come in with a box of 1000 photos and negatives and expect me to even take that job….think of me in the low-volume arena but with attention to detail and high quality work.

09/14/2025

Something Small

Not a particular high dollar job, but for the customer, it instilled an emotional memory of her father. Complimentary Museum Glass since it was under 6” square. Opted to mount with 3 points of piano wire covered with a heat shrink tube.

09/02/2025

🚙✨ Parking Update!
Starting today and for the next couple of weeks, there will be a parking shift. Please use the large public lot directly across from our building. Thank you for rolling with us while these changes are in place! 🩷

09/01/2025

Hmmmmmmmm (Part II - Finished restoration)

As I worked on this, it was so fragile other pieces kept falling off and decided to just do the back where there would be more stress first, then make any corrections necessary at the end. Probably 5 to 6 hours total invested on it, but looks a good bit better, but this is probably the limit of what I can do.

I covered the places where the gold was turned black on the sides, but in general tried to match the patina using 1:4 Rub-N-Buff Ebony and Grecian Gold which approximated pretty well.

There were a couple large section just missing and decided to just either leave them missing or do a filler with a simpler design and that worked out ok. I used a good bit of Walnut Timbermate which is my go-to filler and then covered with the matching Rub-N-Buff.

I liked the one section from a previous repair which was just a bunch of mismatched gold pieces all glued into a section.

08/30/2025

Hmmmmmmmm

My daughter loves go bring in art in need and this frame repair will test my limits…

08/27/2025

My First: Acrylic Display Case (Hanging) for Skateboard Deck

My framing days are often filled with first…and so a customer brings in a skateboard deck she wanted mounted in an acrylic hanging display case, she had an example but game me some latitude on the design. I was all in.
Oh…that was over 3 months ago.

I had already anticipated doing this and with some disclaimers, embarked on the process, reading…watching…and a lot of testing. I wanted to ensure the deck could easily be removed if needed or even replaced and went with an acrylic mount pair where each of the trucks go and they slide into each other, help finally with a set screw.

Edge polishing was tricker than the YouTube videos let on but feel I got the hang of it, although this one may show some of the learning in that area.

The “welding” of the UV acrylic pieces is done by a special solvent and applicators. I used the Weld-On 4SC product and proved very good. Applying the solvent with the needle applicator is a delicate process and one drop on the acrylic will essentially ruin it. I did have a drop or two but they were on the top and bottom, essentially not visible so proceeded.

The base was a thicker black acrylic which I mounted to a painted basswood backing for both hanging hardware as well as a more easily fabricated area for which to attach the display top.

End result came out better than expected and know the changes that I will make to the process to make any corrections.

08/15/2025

We block, mount and frame Needlepoint and Cross-stitch!

We carefully block after testing for colorfastness, then use a sink mount, cut mats and do final framing assembly. We don’t use adhesive tape to mount, but use a lace technique which provides more consistent tension and is fully reversible.

We will initially apply steam, then for more aggressive smoothing will mist as needed. When the selected moulding is too shallow, we extend it out as shown in last picture with RabbetSpace trimming from FrameTek.

08/09/2025

Repeat! Weaver Gallery Blown Away Porsche and Man in Chair

I made a deal with someone for my last set of the Porsche and Man in Chair Blown Away posters. These with be going to Northern Virginia.

A little sad to see the Porsche go.

You can see the level of detail that goes into these at: https://www.secondmoonshot.com/post/steve-steigman-weaver-gallery-blown-away-posters

08/09/2025

Great crew and artists…right in front of our shop.

🎉 Happy Birthday to my biz bestie + co-owner of chaos! 💥🎂
From late-night brainstorms to early-morning coffee runs, I wouldn’t want to run this wild retail ride with anyone else!

Here’s to another year of big ideas, bold moves, and LOTS of snacks in the file cabinet. 😂🗄️💖
Help me wish Michelle the happiest birthday ever! 🥳👇

08/09/2025

Some of the best prints may not be priceless, but have a good memory or story associated to them that creates the greatest value. It is so often that someone brings in a print they have had for years that evokes great memories that they want to preserve or pass on to the next generation. Last week a woman brought in print she bought at a K-mart probably over 50 years ago and wanted to get a new frame for it…it just meant something to her. I love it when the customer tells me the stories related to the cherished pieces they bring in.

A few weeks ago, Carrie picked up a few prints from Hoy Auction Co. not very valuable, more just attractive home decor. As I was prepping to reframe them, I noticed the artist was a well respected artist and framers whom I had interacted with over the past year. I reached out to her in California and asked if she would mind signing the prints for my daughter and she agreed. I packed them up and shipped with prepaid return postage and just got them back.

A great memory that add emotional value to these prints.

(The last picture is the K-mart print)