Custom Framing Project: Forest Service Memorabilia

February 25th, 2026

Project Brief:

Our framing client came in with several pieces of her grandfather’s Forest Service memorabilia, including uniform patches, photographs, and an appreciation certificate. We wanted to keep the photographs straightforward, but thought that creating a unique display for the certificate and the uniform patches would honor the legacy of our client’s grandfather, H. Donald Miller.

A framed certificate from the USFS to H. Donald Miller

Project Parameters:

We had full creative license for the project except for the placement of the patches either above or below the certificate. This allowed us to play with mats, moulding, and elements of layout!

A soft forest green woven mat with a beveled cutout of Oregon.

Project Creation:

The original design felt imbalanced because of the size difference between the patch and the certificate, so we started brainstorming ideas for a mat cutout. Eventually, we decided to honor H. Donald Miller’s legacy with a cutout of the state in which he was employed.

A sitting area in a home with a grey chair and side table. The doors and trim are wooden and the walls are painted white. Three vintage photographs and one certificate and patch are all framed cohesively and hung on the wall above the chair.

The main mat opening has rounded bevel corners instead of the standard 90 degree corners to match the style of the certificate. The patch is sewn down with matching thread secured to the back side of the mat board. We used glass spacers in this project to ensure the conservation museum glass does not come in contact with the patches.

This was a fun and fulfilling project, and we are excited to share it with you!

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