Nov. 23th, 2009

DBA'ers,

With Thanksgiving at our doorstep and Christmas right around the corner, it seems like a good time for all of us to say thanks for the good things that have come our way over the last year. For some, it might be family and friends. For some, it might personal challenges faced down. For others, it might be new additions through marriages and births. It might also be sometime as simple as being thankful for the same old job you have had forever or the new one that you hope will last forever. Whatever your situation, there are plenty of things to be thankful for and plenty of reasons to stop for a couple of minutes and reflect on some of the good things that have happen over the last year.

And now having said that..........

Let us also say that if you are just dying to spend some money on gifts and framing, let us in on that also! In particular we love to frame the fun family stuff that means so much to everyone in the years to come. The old family photos, the diplomas, the wedding pictures, the family vacation picture.....all of it. You get it to us and we'll take it from there. Janice and VC have been doing it this way for years and we are thankful for your business and friendship. Simply said.....You are what We are thankful for.

Nov. 29th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Jerry and Kathy Chappelle have more stories, history, experiences, prolific production of clay, workshops, apprentices, and emotion tied to their several collective careers than most people could stand. Degreed, Juried, and Commissioned, Jerry left a tenured track Art professorship at the University of Georgia, and with his wife Kathy, created Happy Valley, a somewhat free form Co-op of experienced artists, newbies, dedicated craftsmen, apprentices, and various levels of hanger ons that have helped shape the creative community in the Athens and Watkinsville area for a generation. His quote of who he is and what he believes in when it comes to clay is, “I am traditionally a ‘romantic’ in approach while striving to incorporate my sense of humor. Over the years, designing functional and non-functional clay objects and marketing them has been a means of survival.” And once you meet Jerry and Kathy, you understand the depth, energy, color, and form of their work.

Jerry is celebrating his 70th Birthday this weekend. DonByramArt wishes him and Kathy a very Happy Birthday and are pleased to offer to our customers a very special Birthday Sale on Chappelle's Happy Valley Pottery. Our complete inventory of Happy Valley Pottery is now 25% off through Thanksgiving weekend (just in time for Christmas gift giving)!!!

Take advantage of this once in 70 year sale:) !!

Oct. 26th, 2009

DBA'ers,

We all played "Simon Sez" as kids. Most of us still have the majority of our fingers and toes to prove the game wasn't all that dangerous. Except for Little Billy in the 3rd grade. But that's a different story for a different email.....

Janice, VC, Donna and I were talking at the store the other day about Christmas orders and decided to update the game "Simon Sez" to "Janice Sez". Janice is concerned (thus VC, Donna and I are also) that people are going to wait till the last minute to get their Christmas framing done. You know, the family portraits, the picture of the great aunts and uncles from back in the day. Even that picture of your first car that your wife has kept for the last umpteen years. You know, all those perfect Christmas pictures. For the record, she was concerned last year also.....and was right!

So our new game this year is "Janice Sez" and it works like this:

Janice Sez......"HURRY!!! GET THOSE CHRISTMAS FRAME JOBS TO US NOW!!!"

See.....that didn't hurt, did it? Now, let's talk about Little Billy.....

Oct. 10th, 2009

DBA'ers,

In this fast pace time of year (Christmas is how far away??!!), when we are all running around like our hair's on fire.....we could all use a little relaxation, inspiration, and plain ole down time. We all could use a little "stop and smell the roses" time.

At DonByramArt, one of our favorite place to slow down is the Georgia Botanical Garden in Athens. Not only for the beauty and serenity of the gardens but also because we are in our last week of a 36 piece photography botanical exhibit entitled "Intimacy". The show will run through this weekend. Erin Rossiter and the Athens Banner Herald ran a wonderful article on it this last weekend. The article is located on the web at

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/100409/liv_500603790.shtml .

30% of the purchase price of the artwork will go back to The Botanical Garden and if you mention you saw the display when you get your next frame job done, 10% of your order will be donated to The Botanical Garden.

Also, Janice, who is still running around like her hair is on fire, wanted me to remind everyone to get your frame orders in now before the Christmas rush for framing. She said, "It's OK if they stop and smell the roses, but they need to do it now!"

August 28th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Deal With Cecile!!

Some of you have met my wife, Cecile. If you have, you know Cecile doesn't mess around when it comes to pottery. She loves the stuff and since DonByramArt is all about making things happen, Cecile decided to have a serious sale this weekend.

Christmas is coming, people always are looking for unique locally produced one of a kind gifts, we need to move some inventory, our potters want to sell us some new stuff....it all makes sense.

So.....This Saturday, between 11-3, we are having our first Deal With Cecile Pottery Event.

All pottery in the store will be on sale....at least 20 percent off!!!!

And knowing Cecile.....I wouldn't be too surprised if 20 percent became 25 percent or more....so visit us Saturday and

Deal with Cecile!!!!

July 21st, 2009

DBA'ers,

In our never ending effort to keep you, the gentle DBA email reader, informed and entertained, DonByramArt is constantly working on new and improved ways to keep you informed and entertained through our DBA emails.

What? What was that I just wrote?

OK, let me explain. A couple of weeks ago, a long time customer and retired magician brought in an honest to goodness, hand autographed picture of Harry Houdini for us to frame. We really get to see some wonderful things, not only collectibles like this photo (see attached), but also very personal and touching family photos and history. We recently framed a picture of an Astronaut getting his helmet screwed on by a ground control member, who just happens to be the Father of a DBA'er. How cool is that? We have done enrollment records from the Civil War forefathers and Janice does all kinds of wonderful, Back in the Day, shadow boxes with everything from old high school sports jerseys, to a couple of swim suits (see attached) from a Grandmother who could still come pretty darn close to fitting into them. The cool things people bring in just never ends!

The above paragraph, gentle email reader, is the entertaining part of this email.

The educational.....or sales part of the email is about vacations......

Summer is in full swing, but school is around the corner and vacations are winding down. Our vacation special is from now through the 15th of August. Anything that is even remotely, possibly might be, or should have been related to a vacation can be framed at 15% off using instock moulding!!!! Yep...you read right! So, bring in the family pictures, the silliness, sweetness, events, and even the sand of this years vacation and receive 15% off your next frame job at DonByramArt. We carry a huge amount of moulding in our store, so feel assured we have just the right moulding for you and your vacation memories!!

We also can print your best vacations shots on canvas for a fraction (like, 1/2 or 1/3 or 1/4....you know, one of those fractions) of the cost other folks charge. All we need is a digital file!

And as Harry Houdini was fond of saying, "Act now, before this deal disappears before your very eyes!!"

July 7th, 2009

DBA'ers,

DBA'er Ruth passes a tire and brake shop everyday that has advertised specials on a road sign. It frequently advertises Buy 3, Get 1 Free on tires, shocks, lug nuts.....whatever. She claims it always bothers her when she sees it. She thinks it is a little underhanded, among other things. "I mean, what if, the free tire you receive at no charge is the wrong size, or doesn't have the right amount of air pressure, or if that is the one tire that goes flat?? What then? How is that a bargain?" She says she would feel more comfortable knowing she paid a fair price for all four tires because she has a sneaking suspicion the garage makes their profit with the first two tires, sells you 3 tires and dupes you by making you think they are giving the 4th away.

Ruth (who never has been shy about sharing her thoughts with us) then brought her sentiments closer to home. She said it is the same in the framing business. When a retailer runs a 50% off sale on framing, what does that tell you about (A) their everyday prices and (B) what they really think about their customers????? Shouldn't the customer get a fair price and quality every day?!

So......

(With Ruth in mind,) instead of having a buy 3, get 1 side free (feels sneaky type sale), DonByramArt is having a BUY 4, GET 1 SIDE FREE (honest-to-goodness type) promotion!! Yes friends, you too can rest easy knowing all 4 sides of your frame will match -- there won't be goofy 4-inch frame on one side with 2-inch wide frames on the other sides. You'll sleep better knowing that all four sides of your frame will also match in color and quality. And as an extra Ruth-Bonus, you can even personally pick-your-own-5th-side (you know, the honest-to-goodness-free one!) fresh from our cutting saw bucket in the back!

Now that's a deal!!

I know, it's a concept that takes a little getting used to.....but wouldn't the world be a better place if you not only got better-than-what-you-paid-for, but a little extra?? While having a 5th side free might not be ranked up there with world peace or fixing global warming....it might make you laugh a little, and that has value also.

And who knows....a little laughter might really be the key to world peace and fixing global warming.

So laugh well, gentle reader, at DBA we have Ruth in Advertising!

June 30th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Janice loves summer and all the craziness it brings with kids and grandkids. Not only her own, but any and everyone who brings kids in the front door of the store.

When she suggested she spend a little time creating some mats to frame kid pictures…..VC and I were on board with the project 100%.

Wait till you see what she came up with!!!!!

She created personalized, school-color, cut-out mats for all the local High Schools: Commerce, Banks County, Madison County, East Jackson, and Jefferson—your mats are “run-ready” (that’s our technical term for leave the engine running while you sprint into DonByramArt and do a fast point and pick). Need a middle school or any other school? Janice can do that! She has you covered on your sports as well as special cut-outs for band and Senior picture mats!

She has mats for babies, horses, dance, gymnastics, puppy and cat mats. You get the picture! She even has a whole series of hunting and fishing mats. My personal favorite is a pink and white “MY 1st DEER” mat for the girl hunters! VC’s favorite is the green and yellow tractor mat. Says it reminds him of his favorite “back in the day” tractor. Janice’s favorite….well, whichever one she is working on at the moment!

And since these mats are the same museum quality mats as we use for our custom framing, they are archival, acid free, and will never fade. We have a technical framing term for this kind of mat…..it is called “The Good Stuff”. We have most of these mats available in standard 8x10, 11x14, and 16x20 sizes.

I’m attaching a couple of photos. One of them is Janice standing beside her mat rack holding some samples. The other picture is a wonderful little project brought to us by Lori Drummond.

Lori had an absolutely darling picture of her daughter drawn by an artist we represent, Deborah Cidboy. Lori couldn’t make up her mind which mat would be best. The pink mat brought out the color of the hat. The brown mats brought out the skin tones, hair and eyes. The blue mat brought out the clothing and background. So…..she just picked them all…..seemed like the best thing to do!! Once again, we have a technical framing term for this process. It is called “Really Cool Stuff”! The whole project was a lot of fun and looks downright fabulous! Proving it is sometimes good to let yourself go when creating the perfect mat and frame combination!

As for Janice and her mats?? It is all about kids, grandkids, and Mid-Summer Mat Dreams!

June 13th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Last week we received the infamous Nigerian email claiming a lost $15M fortune from our Father was ours to be transferred to the bank of our choice, they just needed $915 for the "Waiver Commission Registration Fee"......

We were a little confused, because Janice, VC and I didn't realize we were even related until we got the email. But, surprisingly, as we started comparing details of our lives, we discovered we had enough in common that maybe, sorta, kinda we could have had the same Father......especially for $15M.

Sadly, we couldn't come up with the $915 for the registration fee so we weren't able to claim our mutual inheritance from our Father (I never knew Dad was in Nigeria! Must have been during the War). But it was nice of the Nigerians to think of us and we sent them a nice little note back suggesting several things they could do with the $15M. I even added them to our email list. Seemed like the least I could do for them.

But it did get us talking about the wonderful Fathers we were blessed with (just don't tell the Nigerians we don't have the same one) and as Father's Day approaches we decided we would like to say Hi to all the special Dad's out there. Thanks for taking care of us and the $15M, even if we never see it.

Our Father's Day Special, by the way, is for any frame job that totals $915, we promise to cut you in on our $15M inheritance......just as soon as we get ours. We promise.

Also, don't forget we are running 10% off framing (mention the email......cause we forget!!) for the rest of the month of June!!!

June1st, 2009

DBA'ers,

Save up to $1M at DBA.

VC came into the store this morning and unveiled his DBA promotion for June. He says we will be happy to give you a 10% discount on any purchases over $10M. He pointed out all the wonderful things a customer could do with the extra $1M you would save by framing with us. Including new houses, lots of slightly used Lincoln Town Cars, funding scholarship programs, donating to hospitals and/or churches, saving the whales, spaceflight, etc., etc.

Janice was a little skeptical anyone would take us up on the offer. And, at DBA, when speaks, people listen. She was in favor of lowering the threshold from Janice$10M to a little bit lower......like $100.00. We discussed it more. I pointed out that even if we had one person take us up on the $10M offer, we could all pretty much retire. We all thought that was a good point. But like usual, in the end, Janice got us to listen......which is probably best. She pointed out that on a $200 order, the customer could save $20 and spend that extra money down the strip from us for gifts at Sassy Rabbit, new-old stuff at Fabulous Finds, really old stuff at Vintage Blessings or maybe yummy stuff from Nessa-Rays Bakery, a banner from Pak-Mail (new service from them), a pile of books from the Bookstands or even buy a bunch of crickets at FFS Pets for their pet Boa Constrictor. She also pointed out that if 5,000 people did that this month, then that would add up to the same $1M that VC wanted to save for our customers and a lot more people would get to share the wealth. VC and I thought it made sense.

When Janice is right......Janice is right. Our June promotion is 10% off all framing over $100.00!!!

Our goal is still the same. We want to save our customers $1M in June.....we just need 5,000 people.

So, if you know anyone who might need diplomas, wedding pictures, portraits, family shots, artwork, or anything else expertly and economically framed.....pass this email and this great June 10% off all framing orders over $100.00 along to them:)

May 15th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Sometimes.....in our busy lives, it is important not only do the things we know are right, but also take a second and remember why we do them. Please read the following.

The mission statement for the Boys & Girls Club is:

Our Mission is the Movement's Reason for Being

To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

A Boys & Girls Club Provides

A safe place to learn and grow...

Ongoing relationships with caring, adult professionals...

Life-enhancing programs and character development experiences...

Hope and opportunity.

In Jackson County, close to 200 children are served by our Boys and Girls Clubs with facilities located in Jefferson and Commerce. Having double the everything in one organization is both a blessing to our communities and an extra responsibility. I won't ramble much about the blessings children bring to us or the responsibilities we have to them. All you really need to know is written in the Mission Statement and maybe a quick look in the mirror.

Last fall, DonByramArt sponsored the first YART SALE where our customers, communities, corporate partners, charity organizations, and just plain folk donated new, used, old, wonderful, meaningful, not-so-meaningful, extra, weird, personal art they had at their houses or businesses or in the old rusted school bus that they used to take to deer camp every fall. It was wonderful and a little amazing what came into the store in support of our Boys & Girls Club. We had everything from original oil paintings of flowers carefully painted by Grandmothers to prints of a surface to air missile system by Rayatheon. We raised $1100 in two days......$5 and $10 at a time. Not a huge fundraiser by a lot of standards, but not too bad for a first time out either. And Janice, VC, and I were pretty old fashioned proud of it:)

This Memorial Day weekend (Saturday 23rd and Sunday 24th) we are doing it again.

First, we need art donations. Whether you are reading this from home, work, school, or wherever, take a look around. We need art. All kinds of art. Whether it hangs from a wall or sits on a table or lives in the garden. If you thought it was art, cute, interesting or just a strange gift from a distant relative at sometime or another.....we want it! Most of us have "objects de arte" that we don't know what to do with or feel bad about throwing them away because of how we received them (or how much we paid for it!!!). That's what we are looking for! Not only do you get to feel good about recycling and finding a good home for some art, it is also tax deductible since it is considered a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs. We have a very broad definition of art, so very, very little will be considered "not art". We need these donations between now and next Thursday the 21st. To quote Larry the Cable Guy....."Get R Done!!"

Second, we need you to visit us over the Memorial Day weekend and shop!! Last fall, we had people who bought art to finish their game room in the basement, gifts for people they liked and some they didn't, they needed the frame the art came in, and art for their office and/or home. A little bit of it all!! We have also already contacted Jim Cantore at The Weather Channel and he has given us a green light for great weather.

The YART SALE is truly a win-win event for everyone. You win and feel good by donating and buying, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Jackson County win, and most importantly, the children we are blessed with and are responsible for in our communities win!!

May 7th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Gentle reminder about the Athens Photography Guild Juried Show opening this Saturday with a reception at 11 o'clock. Refreshments will be served (good stuff from Burns-Teleford House in Maysville!) Come see us!

We have 21 photographers showing 32 pieces of work. The APG is made up of a wide ranging group of amateur and professional photographers who enjoy sharing their passion for photography, art, and wonderful fellowship on the 3rd Thursday of the month at the Lyndon House in Athens. Their website is www.athensphotographyguild.com (works best with IE....firefox has issues with it). The show will run through June 6th.

Participating photographers are:

Tony Amdur
Richard Botters
OC Carlisle
Stefan Eberhard
Anne Edens
Lee Fox
Ben Hodges
Elizabeth McDaniels
Jim Midcap
Chris Mitts
Roger Moore
Franklyn Dee Myrick II
David Noah
Ralph Perdomo
Sherrie Pruitt
Phil Pyle
Randy Ross
Melissa Scott
Jim Strawser
John Weber
Shannon Williams

We are located across the parking lot from The Pottery on the way to Outback Steakhouse, just south of I-85 in the Commerce Crossing shopping center.

May 4th, 2009

DBA'ers,

Simple and straight to the point today......

You are cordially invited to the opening reception of The Athens Photography Guild Juried Photography Show this Saturday, May 9th at 11am at DonByramArt. We have 32 accepted pieces from the wonderful and eclectic group of photographers making up the APG. The Athens Photography Guild meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at 7pm at the Lyndon House in Athens. If you are a newbie photographer with your first point and shoot, or a seasoned veteran with thicker lenses than George Burns, you are invited to join in as we share images, learn a little technical stuff, and most importantly, share your passion for creating.

It is in this spirit DonByramArt is very pleased to be a member and partner with The Athens Photography Guild. We are proud to present the Juried Show which visualizes the emotions, spirits, moods, movement, colors of the world we live in. There will be light refreshments, provided by The Burns-Teleford House of Maysville and more creative people in one spot than should be allowed by law! The exhibit will be displayed though June 6. Please join us!

Our other big event for the month of May is the YART SALE to benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County. It will be held over the Memorial Day weekend of May 23rd and 24th. We are asking all of our DBA'ers and the community to bring in all your art you are no longer using as a tax deductible donation to The Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County. This is a great opportunity and excuse to redecorate and recycle your artwork, all for reasons you can feel good about! So, join us on May 23rd and 24th for the YART SALE and between now and then.....dig out all the art that has collected in all the odd corners of your house and life and bring it to us!!

April 25th, 2009

dba'ers,

This is an exclusive DonByramArt email concerning Matthew Stafford and his being picked overall number 1 in the NFL draft by the Detroit Lions.

Matthew Stafford was shocked today shortly after closing the 6 year $72 million deal with the Detroit Lions to discover his right arm (throwing arm) has signed with a separate agent than the rest of his body and flatly refuses to move to Detroit. His arm stated, through his own agent, that regardless of what the rest of Matthew decided, it was "insane" to physically relocate to Detroit and try to fix what "even Obama can't fix.....namely Detroit". His arm said it was willing to play in the NFL anywhere else and hinted that it had heard that Denver "might need another starting SEC quarterback". "I would be willing to play in Detroit, only if I was there to win games, which means I would be playing for any of the other teams in the league".

Matthew Stafford's agent was unavailable for comment when he discovered the terms of the deal Matthew's arm made with it's agent. Rumors have it that 85% of Matthew and his agent are renegotiating the terms of their deal.

In a related story, Lion's wide receiver and former Georgia Tech's Tallest All American In A Long Time, Calvin Johnson was surprised to discover a bullseye painted on the back of his helmet in Red and Black when he went to pick up this year's Lion's playbook. Previously, the always gracious Johnson was quoted as saying, "I would be happy to catch footballs from Matthew or anyone else for that matter, as long as they (Lions) don't re-sign Reggie Ball". Reggie Ball couldn't be reached for comment as he was working on a tight deadline to get the pizza delivered in less than 30 minutes.

Thanks for playing nicely....well kinda...

April 21, 2009

DBA'ers,
In a previous life, I had a friend named Jim Kaiser who owned a Ben Franklin store in West Memphis, Arkansas.

In the early 70's one of Elvis's "people" would give Jim a call every few months and ask him to open his store on Sunday afternoon or keep it open later than normal hours because Elvis wanted to come over and shop. Jim and his wife Francis would agree to a time and The King and his court would cross the river to Arkansas and shop for 2-3 hours all by themselves. Jim and Francis would sit behind the counter, keep to themselves and at the end of the shopping trip ring out Elvis and his entourage. Elvis would always make it a point to personally come to the counter and thank them for keeping the store open for him. Jim said sometimes it would be $200-$300 and sometimes it would be $2,000-$3,000. He never asked for Elvis's autograph and Elvis never offered it. Jim always got the feeling that Elvis enjoyed the chance just to be normal for a few hours.

I was sharing this story with Janice and VC and we decided we should do the same thing. So we are offering "Shop like Elvis at DBA". Here is how it works. You call us and tell us when you want to shop. We will be happy to be there anytime between 9am-7pm, Monday through Saturday. You come in and browse all you want and we won't bother you. When you get done shopping, we will ring you out and not ask for your autograph on anything but the charge slip. And as an added bonus, we will softly play Elvis tunes on VC's record player and say things like, "you ain't nothing but a hound dog" and "don't step on my blue suede shoes". We might even say, "Dance like no one's watching, love like you've never been hurt" in an Elvis voice. While that's not really an Elvis quote, the conspirators say he said it to either Ann Margaret or Priscilla....when no one was watching. Lastly, for the true Elvis treatment, we will make sure to have a peanut butter and banana "samich" handy so you can not only shop like Elvis, you can munch like Elvis.

In other DBA NEWS, we have just a few days left of the Alex Chambers April Special. Alex is a wonderful watercolor artist from Homer and for the rest of the month we are offering any of his prints FREE when you frame it. Quite a deal and we have done several great pieces this month. You can see his work at www.donbyramart.com/carpediem.

May is a huge month for us.

On Saturday, May 9th, we will be opening The Athens Photography Guild's Juried Show at the store. The APG is a passionate group of local photographers, both professional and amatuer, who meet monthly to share their work and experiences with each other at the Lyndon-House in Athens. It is a great way and setting to learn a little and get the creative juices going. The APG website is www.athensphotographyguild.com for more info. We will be showing some of the APG member's current work and we are proud to be both a member and partner with The Athens Photography Guild. Most of the work will be for sale.

May 23rd and 24th is the YART SALE to benefit The Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County. It's officially time to bring into the store all the art you don't use anymore as a donation to the Boys & Girls Club. We have a fairly large concept of what art "is", so don't worry if you're not sure if that weird wall thing you got for a birthday 10 years ago is really art. We promise it is. On the 23rd and 24th, we will have the actual YART SALE and all the goodies will be for sale at yard sale prices! It is a great way to redecorate, recycle, and reevaluate your art!!

I know we covered quite a bit in this email....thank!!

April 7th, 2009

DBA'ers

We've done another study.

And people who read our emails are more likely to frame with us.

Thank you for reading this email.

See you soon!

DBA EMAIL: 4/2/2009

April 2 , 2009

DBA'ers,

VC said I better stick to the facts in this email. Said we had too much real information to communicate this time around, so I should back off on the normal stuff I make up. So, you will have to wait til the next email before you find out why there is a bowling trophy on the front page of our website and what that has to do with Easter. But....I promise there is a connection....next time you are there, wiggle the cursor around it:) (donbyramart.com)

OK, let's get to the important stuff.

1. We still are running our Alex Chambers special through the end of April. Because people like his work (and Alex) so well, we are giving away his artwork when you get it framed with us. We call it the "Frame Alex for Nothing.....well, Kinda" promotion. To see his work, click www.donbyramart.com/carpediem.

2. It's time to start collecting art for our YART SALE in support of the Boys & Girls Club of Jackson County. If you remember, we had one last fall and raised $1100 in two days for the Club. Our date this year is Saturday, May 23rd and Sunday the 24th. We are hoping to kick it up a notch or two from last year and we need your help to do it! Dig in your attics, basements, closets, behind the sofa and find all the art you can and bring it into the store. It will be a donation to the Boys & Girls Club. On May 23rd and 24th, you can come here and find new art treasures or just rebuy the ones you donated! We're good with that also. In fact, that almost happened last YART SALE. I won't mention any names (Jon Massey) cause I wouldn't want to bring it up to him (Jon Massey) again, but he (Jon Massey) did pretty good giving and receiving this last YART SALE. But seriously, this doesn't happen without your participation, so bring in your art and help our own Boys and Girls Club of Jackson County. Children are too important not to.

3. This note is also for May. We are very pleased to be hosting the Athens Photography Guild Juried Show starting on May 9th. More details to follow, but some of the best work of some of the best photographers of the Athens area will be on display here at DonByramArt. Mark the opening day on your calendar.....before you forget like you did with Aunt Sophie's birthday (may God rest her soul).

4. Check out one of our customers, Linda Springer and her artwork at www.southernshopper.net . Linda is on page 7. She lives in Jefferson and these are some of her oils. She doesn't sell any of them (the story will explain), but they are outstanding!

5. Lastly, I want to tell a true story that happened a couple of Saturdays ago. We had a Mother and Daughter come in with a large oil painting (32x48) on canvas. They were looking to frame it (we do those kind of things here). We found the perfect frame for it and the whole process was quick, easy, and painless. When I figured the price, it was $188. They were thrilled. What I hadn't known was that they had just left a big box retailer....I won't mention any names (Michaels) and the quote they had been given was $350 for a frame they didn't like as much and was much skinnier (you need a decent size frame for such a large piece). VC got the artwork framed today and it looks fabulous! Folks, I don't know how to say this any clearer, we are proud to be the best framing value in Northeast Georgia, maybe the whole state. Not only are we the best price value, but Janice and VC have been framing for a combined 40 plus years here. We are the best value in quality, price, and old fashioned niceness. To quote a lady I won't name (Cheryl) I used to work with in a previous life, "We got it going on".

As always,
thanks for playing nicely!
Janice, VC, and Don

DBA EMAIL: 3/24/2009

March 24, 2009

DBA'ers,

After his retirement from the Post Office, Alex Chambers took to watercolors like strawberries to dark chocolate. It was a really really good thing.

So, DonByramArt is extremely pleased to offer it's first Alex Chambers special!! As many of you know (cause you have bought them!), we carry Alex's prints unframed. Remember them? We keep them all messy on the desk in the front of the store cause after a 30 plus year career keeping the Athens Post Office organized, he's allowed to shift to the other side of his brain a little and it just feels right to allow him to finally have a messy desk!

Now, through the end of April, we are offering any of Alex's prints FREE when you frame one! And as a visual aid to help you make your selection, we added a "Carpe Diem" section to our website donbyramart.com/carpediem. We have most of his watercolors pictured here.

For those of you that aren't familiar with Alex, here is a short history. He was born and raised in Banks County. He served a tour in Nam and after returning home, began and finished a 33 year career with the Postage Service. After his retirement in 2001, he was looking for something useful to do and his beautiful and talented wife Aneila taught him to crochet as a hobby. His cousin in England encouraged him to try his hand at watercolor. He took a course and discovered his passion. Since then, he has created a wonderfully consistent and delightful body of folk and primitive work.

He loves doing local landscapes, such as downtown Maysville, Homer in the 1950's, the Methodist Church in Jefferson, a swayed backed barn in Clarkesville, and Prather's Bridge in Toccoa. His skies are transparent with clouds and birds floating across the surface of his prints. The earth, trees, water are grounded in the colors of life long experiences. One of his first paintings was of Cardinals. It proved to be so popular he started adding a tiny one to most of his landscapes. Now, one of the first questions that come from his customers when he paints a new piece is, "Where's the Redbird"?

There is a "warmth" to his watercolors that is hard to describe and unusual. My best stab is saying you receive a feeling of joyful experience when you study his work......kinda like dipping a fresh country strawberry into a double boiler of dark chocolate when surrounded by friends and family.

Take a look on the website for his work or, better yet, come visit us to pick your print and frame.

As always,
Thanks for playing nicely,
The Double Boiler Gang at
DonByramArt


PS....VC wanted me to let you know we just topped 900 folks on our email list. He wants to have "You are our 1,000th DBA SpamNet Customer" sale. So if you know of anyone who might want to be on our email list, pass this along to them and tell them to let us know....never can tell what they might win!

DBA EMAIL: 3/3/2009

March 3, 2009

DBA'ers,

VC, in his role as VPVC of Marketing for DonByramArt, has been studying the internet marketing process.

He analyzed over a thousand "Forward this email" messages he received yesterday and came to this startling, yet undeniable conclusion. If you forward this email along, something will happen. Somewhere. Somehow. Sooner or later.

Like death and taxes, sunrises and sunsets, can't change it......something will happen. Just a matter of time. Hopefully, it will be something good. Like finally getting the money that guy from Nigeria promised you when you sent him the check for postage, or Aunt Mary will not need that operation, or your kids will finally call. Might be something complicated, like finally proving Elvis and UFO's are not real, discovering you have supernatural powers to back off hurricanes (like Jim Cantore!) and old age. Or something simple, like finding pennies in the parking lot. But, Ima telln you, VC has a big chart with big chunky lines in red and blue that prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt......something will happen. He even added a soundtrack of the 1812 Overture to the chart, to make it really important.

We were so overwhelmed with this conclusive study and data (not to mention deaf when the cannon went off behind the mat cutter) we were also concerned with what wouldn't happen if you didn't forward this email. Don't want you to worry.....too much, but what if:
-Brad Pitt and Angelia Jolie do or don't do something that affects you?
-Commerce and Jefferson start getting along?
-The moon isn't really bleu cheese or swiss.....or is it?
-You don't remember what happens when you add your birthday to your SS number and send it to us?

So, after careful consideration, we have come up with a solution to this stressful forward/not forward national question. We, at DBA, want you to forward this message to yourself as many times in the next ten minutes as humanly possible. If you do that, something will continue to happen, somewhere and somehow, at some time in the future. We guarantee it. Personally, we highly suggest you use it as a reminder to bring something in to get framed.

Now DBA'ers start hitting the forward button and get ready for all the good things that will happen.

As always,
Thanks for playing nicely,
Janice, VC, Don and Elvis

DBA EMAIL: 2/27/2009

February 27, 2009

"Humbled and astonished."

Those were the words from VC Perry, the Vice President of Marketing for DonByramArt after he was informed by Someone Important that DonByramArt was named "Retailer of the Year" for Commerce Crossing.

During the Lavish Awards Banquet, held in the space formerly known as Georgia Leathers, DonByramArt was awarded this prestigious award recognizing the retailer as being the Retailer that "Upholds the Highest Standards Known to Mankind....and All That Stuff".

In the past 30 odd years the winner has always been The Pottery, so the emergence of DonByramArt as the new "Retailer of the Year" is noteworthy. While there is no monetary award to go along with the former Bowling Trophy, the employees of DonByramArt will have the option of parking of where they want, when they want and don't have to care one whit what anyone else says about it. The award also awards them the honor of throwing away any personal trash in any of the numerous trash receptacles that surround the shopping center for the next year. VC was overheard to say he was planning on parking in the first parking space in front of each of the current (and former) stores, starting at the Chinese Restaurant and working his way around the center during the upcoming year. Don Byram, owner of DonByramArt, was heard talking to his wife on the phone directing her to cancel their trash pickup at their house. Quote, "Hey sweetheart, guess what? I can bring all that crap up here for the next year!!" Janice Adams, Manager of DonByramArt, was seen just shaking her head as she listened to VC and Don's comments. Her quote was, "What a couple of Yo-Yos. I really miss The Pottery".

Notably absent from the banquet was any of the other retailers in either this Commerce Crossing or the other Commerce Crossing located down Hwy 441 at....Commerce Crossing. Also missing were any representives from the Ownership Group of Commerce Crossing. In fact, upon being reached for comment, they said they were as surprised to hear that DonByramArt won as the employees of DonByramArt. One, unnamed tall female leasing agent said she was "going to review DonByramArt's contract cause they didn't have to put up with crazy made up stuff like this."

Gilbert Martin from Vintage Old Things was heard to say....."wait til next year.....just wait til next year".

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to our friends and fellow retailers at the Center formerly known as Banks Crossing, I mean Factory Outlet, I mean....well, you get the picture!

Please see attached picture of this year's winners.....

Not only was DonByramArt "Retailer of the Year" for Commerce Crossing, the Commerce location of DonByramArt was also the number one ranked store in the vast DonByramArt chain.

As always,
thanks for playing nicely,
The Number One Retailing Team of
DonByramArt, LLC, ABC and XYZ
To quote Reece Bobby from Talladega Nights, "Remember, if you're not first.....you're last!!"

DBA EMAIL: 2/24/2009

February 24, 2009

DBA'ers,

VC has a new "product" he's wanting us to highlight and advertise. Actually, it's been around for a long time, but as all the white lab coat marketing types will tell you, these things run in cycles.

When you come to pick up your frame job, we always pull the plastic off your artwork so you can see it. We do this, in part, because we want you to take a good look at the finished product before it goes out the door. If there is anything nutty with it, we want to know about it before you leave. Like the one time I inadvertently put one side of the frame on facing backwards.....honest, I didn't do it on purpose. Don't know what happened. Our Quality Control Division (Janice) is still reviewing the matter. If someone else starts sending you emails, you know what the findings of the QCD were.

We also do it for very selfish reasons. We love seeing people's faces when we pull the plastic off and flip it around with a flourish and say something intelligent like, "Ta-Da"! We love seeing people's faces, because we are just as proud of it as you are. And we get just as excited about how good it looks as you do. Especially those of you who spend an hour picking out the moulding and matting (you know who you are!). It truly is one the fringe benefits of our job....we get paid to make people happy. Good stuff for Good Work (GSGW!)

VC calls this "product" Swagger. It's not boasting about something you can't do. It's not boasting about something you can do. It's not making stupid stuff up that didn't happen (that's my job). You can't spray it on and it doesn't come out of a can. It is about doing. It is old fashion pride and knowledge that you have done something right, for the right reason.....and the look on the customer's face is the right result. That's called Swagger.

All you have to do is watch VC and Janice work and you know what it is. Might not be able to quite define it, but you know it when it is genuine and real. VC has probably measured a million miles, 1/8 and 1/16 inch at a time with his sad worn out plastic ruler, to make sure the print is centered and the matting is exactly in the right place. Janice has probably gone through a million miles of thread, one stitch at a time tying down needlepoint and shadowboxes. And both have done it consistently for years. When we get a re-frame job in from years ago, they can take the paper off the back and tell who did the framing, just by looking at how it was put together. That's Swagger.

And guess what? When you walk out the door with your newly framed pictures of your Grandkids or the artwork your Grandmother did when she was a teenager......you get to keep the Swagger....no charge.

In the Customer Swagger Department check out the Valentine's Day article in the Athens Banner-Herald on one of our customers, Selina Hayes of Maysville about how her Grandfather proposed to her Grandmother. That's Swagger! The picture shown in the article is one we framed for Selina.

http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/021409/liv_387684864.shtml

Thanks for playing nicely,
The Swaggermeisters of
DonByramArt