In 2 weeks, Simpson Gallery will be starting our 25th year in business. That’s alot of painting of pictures, selling pictures, and framing pictures, selling gifts, pottery and jewelry too. If I had thought I’d be doing it for this long I might have done it differently, but I can’t say for sure.

For several years we even sold dog food and dog gear. We were running sled dogs at the time in addition to working the shop and I was having the dog food delivered to the shop by the pallet load. We had 39 dogs at one time. Customers coming in to get their pictures framed would see the dog food and ask about it. I told them it was good for our dogs and they started buy it for themselves. Soon I devoted have of the shop space to several different brands of dog food and a wide selection of “working dog” gear. Back backs, harnesses, carts, sleds, all kinds of unique gear that you couldn’t find in the regular pet stores. That was alot of fun. I used to bill the shop as the only gallery and frame shop in 7 western states that sold dog food. Diversification I guess you could call it. Those were some good times.

I’ve been doing this so long now that I’m starting to frame pictures for the kids of my first customers. That makes me feel old. A few changes over the years are a computerized mat cutter, a pneumatic joiner for joining frames and just this week I got in a “visualization” system consisting of a digital camera that will be positioned over the design counter and along with the included software, customers will now be able to see what their picture will look like framed in the selected mats and frame choices.

The current state of the economy has taken it’s toll. I started out as a small shop with an employee. Gradually over the years we expanded into two adjoining store fronts and at one time I had 6 employees. Right now it’s me, myself and I doing it all. Fortunately I have the bookkeeping farmed out and my lovely wife Kathy cuts the checks and keeps tab on how much money we have or need. The good news is that we are still here. I’m thankful for that.

In celebration of starting our 25th year, I had the above commemorative stamp made. It features a watercolor of mine. They are the old fashioned, perforated kind of lick ’em and stick’em stamps. For you  collectors and enthusiasts out there, I am offering them for sale. A sheet of 24 is $9.95 and a block of 4 is $2.95, both plus postage. Let me know if you’d like some.

I imagine I will continue painting pictures and framing pictures for folks for some time to come. Stop by sometime when you are in the nieghborhood and say hi! I’ll be here. Thanks.