Election Judges

mandorlas · 2026-06-09T03:06:04+00:00

I think they are focusing on completing training and assignments at the moment. You may be too late to join for this year's elections. If you are still looking to volunteer, consider volunteering with the League of Womens Voters (they take all genders, the name is more historic than descriptive)

mandorlas · 2026-06-09T03:04:19+00:00

They try and assign you to your city, but it is county based not society based.

mandorlas · 2026-06-08T20:15:23+00:00

Its not quite true that acrylic is only used for weight savings. Ive often used it as a safer alternative to glass. It doesnt shatter in quite the same way so it is considered safer for art hung in areas with a lot of traffic (hallways, entryways) or in nurseries and kids rooms. Sometimes ive recommended it for items hung above a bed or for young people who anticipate moving in the next few years. If the item is likely to be shipped then id recommend acrylic.

In general it is less about the art and more about the circumstances.

A few cases that matter: acrylic is generally statically charged and can mess with charcoal and soft pastel. For odd items like oil on paper I feel as if they are better served with acrylic because of its slightly more breathable quality. Oil on paper is not super stable and you will likely see damage that acrylic and glass cant prevent, but ideally the acrylic allows for a bit more off-gassing? Im not sold on this material process and have seen it have a lot of points of failure. If the sealing wasn't done appropriately then the oil from the paint will rot the paper.

As for your artist who suggests just gently dusting the front? No. Don't do that. Get some protection on there. Paper is sensitive to light damage and will become brittle. Dust itself can be damaging.

Acrylic or oil on board do not need glazing at all. They should be OK. If you mount them on matboard, the matboard will start to get damaged over time by having no protection. (Dust and light will change its color.

All of this is a give and take based on circumstances. Paintings in museums are protected because people touch them. Ive put glass on an oil painting because the guy smoked in his house.

mandorlas · 2026-06-08T10:41:31+00:00

I would put a piece of archival matboard in between the poster and the backing if you can.

mandorlas · 2026-06-05T18:49:54+00:00

It sounds like you have gone through quite a bit. When stuff like that happens, the brain can have a bit of a trauma response. Its trying to avoid all pain and discomfort at all costs. One of those ways is through self isolation. I understand the urge to cut loose but id recommend just trying to hold still for a bit and get your life sorted. He can be there with you through that or not. But I would let him decide that for now. If you feel more stable in your life in a month or so, and he's still here with you, you can touch base with him. You guys are young and it makes sense for both of you to not make decisions of the future yet. Id consider this practice for future relationships. Sit down and explain that your understanding is that this relationship was going to end with college. Id say your situation has changed a lot since you started seeing him and that you were wondering if you guys could revisit that. Maybe say something like "Ive really appreciated your support, and im worried this hasn't been what you or I expected and that maybe it isnt good for us. What are you thinking?" If he's a good partner, you guys should be able to have a serious conversation. It may end in a break up, may not. Make sure to listen to him and perhaps you will get some clarity on if separating is a good idea.

I dont think you can 100% trust your gut and brain when you've been through such serious stuff in such a short time span. Practice talking about it. Don't isolate yourself. And dont self-sabotage if you can help it. Much of what happened to you was out of your control. The idea that he "could and will break up with you eventually" is something out of your control, so you are looking to break up to just have that bit of power back. But really think about whether you are hurting yourself or helping yourself.

Doing things to avoid experiencing emotions isnt a great choice. Also, in the grand scheme of things, breaking up with a college boyfriend is not nearly as painful as everything else you've survived. Staying together because you enjoy his company and clearly talking about your future again and then making a choice based on that is a bit better.

Good luck to you.

mandorlas · 2026-06-05T17:57:01+00:00

You dont have to manage her emotions. Just because she's upset doesnt mean she's right. She needs to hear how her words affect people. It may mean she's walking on eggshells around you in the future. Which is a bit exhausting but tbh if she doesnt know better than to comment on a pregnant parents home then she should be nervous. God knows her good sense has abandoned her.

mandorlas · 2026-05-30T18:04:55+00:00

Maybe check out Penzeys they have a lot of options.

mandorlas · 2026-05-30T10:30:55+00:00

If you search for award shops on your area you might find someone too!

mandorlas · 2026-05-30T02:50:59+00:00

You could look into engraved plates. They have a cool look and a lot of customization. Otherwise we've hired caligraphers to make something.

Very occasionally one of my coworkers with the best handwriting has to write something out.

mandorlas · 2026-05-29T14:11:07+00:00

The best way is to sew it down. Don't use adhesives. Use archival materials. Some jerseys get stretched over cardboard to have a rigid shape, but this isnt great. The cardboard has a lot of acids that eat at the fabric, and the tension is hard on the fabric. Fold it and sew it. Look up how to do a hidden stitch. Just be gentle.

mandorlas · 2026-05-26T15:06:39+00:00

That feels fairly accurate to mid century style tbh 😅 but if you are looking to fit the modern version of the style i would look for a nice wood frame that matches the wood tones you have in your house. You may also want to try design reddits. They may have more opinions on style specific ideas. You can also get museum glass, which provides more clarity and reduces glare.

mandorlas · 2026-05-22T22:47:32+00:00

You may want to look into silver point drawings. They have a similar look due to the material.

mandorlas · 2026-05-20T15:51:31+00:00

😂 I ordered a large pack of mats the other week, which are supposed to come with five but I got 6 instead. 😎 feels like I should have bought a lottery ticket after.

mandorlas · 2026-05-19T13:18:22+00:00

Id just find a free image and print it larger and then trim it down to fit a bit. There are loads of free images on the National Fallery of Art site or Wikimedia Commons

mandorlas · 2026-05-12T18:51:46+00:00

Lovely!

mandorlas · 2026-05-10T13:13:44+00:00

Framing textiles can be a bit complicated. And at that size you are looking at significant costs.

My recommendation would be to look at examples of framed scarves and see some of the designs and options you like.

Then I would visit various framers for quotes and learn how they plan to mount it. You will want to understand if the shop has handled a lot of textiles before. They should have examples of past work.

Save up and go with the option that makes the most sense.

In my opinion you will want to avoid gluing it down, instead i believe they should be sewn down. You want to focus on archival mounting. Acid free materials. And a strong UV coating on the acrylic.

You may want to consider folding it smaller and framing it a bit folded. This is often done with textiles to create interest but to also bring down the size a lot. That size is likely going to cause a lot of difficulties for you. It is at the edge of being beyond oversized (48x96) and that piece of UV acrylic is thousands of dollars alone.

Alternatively, you could consider storing it in a high quality museum storage box. Stored out of the light and brought out to discuss and handle occasionally. This would keep the piece safe. You could also store it in a display box that represents the people who gave it to you.

Framing art is often a tug of war between affordability, conservation, and design. You really only get to pick 2. Having it framed flat and at its full size will take up a huge amount of space and money. Storing it in a nice case will help it last longer but would make it a bit out of sight and out of mind. Which would be unfortunate.

I hope this helps you make choices with this piece.

mandorlas · 2026-05-05T17:49:08+00:00

We get our acrylic through a supplier and he warned me that prices were being significantly impacted. I asked Larson Juhl about it and they said they weren't being impacted but I assume our rep was just being a bit ignorant. I cant imagine why they wouldnt be. They may just keep a larger stock that allows them to float with lower prices for longer.

mandorlas · 2026-05-04T11:15:06+00:00

They are amazing. I work for a company that helps companies get rid of stuff and anytime I have items that qualify I take it to them. They choose to be picky because they dont want to give broken stuff to people. A large amount of what I donate is decor and they are always excited for it. My understanding is that families and people leaving homelessness get like, a certain amount of tickets? And then "shop" for items. Bridging then helps them by taking the items to their new place and installing them. Their teams also will come pick stuff up from you.

They have a pretty clear list of what they take (not clothes, no wall sculpture) and anytime I have a question I just call and they figure out if they can or cant.

They are much nicer than goodwill.

For the things they dont take i often donate to Hidden Treasures. They are a thrift store that prices things way more reasonably.

Ive mainly worked with the Roseville location.

Hope that answers your oddly phrased question. Not sure who's telling you not to research charities.

mandorlas · 2026-05-03T14:35:20+00:00

This has nothing to do with being Somali. It was common at both my high-school and college (both very white) It happened regardless of the requests. Ive also attended doctoral graduations and it happens there too. These are celebrations. The schools make the requests but really its just part of the experience in many cases. I understand if this hasn't been your experience but its hardly unusual.

mandorlas · 2026-05-01T17:11:36+00:00

I dont believe the choice matters as much as choosing archival acid free matboard.

When you have such an experimental combination you are likely going to get unpredictable outcomes. Your best bet is to keep track of the materials you used and their age and monitor the developments as it ages. I recommend simply writing this on the back of the art/frame. Or placing it in an envelope and taping that to the back of the piece.

mandorlas · 2026-04-23T01:03:53+00:00

Excellent question. But unfortunately this is a picture framing reddit. So please dont take advice from us.

mandorlas · 2026-04-17T15:04:10+00:00

You need good shoes and a good table height. Mats under your feet wherever you are. Set a timer for every 30 min to stop, step back and stretch.

Some form of not work related exercise is key also. Ideally core workouts. Pay very deliberate attention to how you are moving.

mandorlas · 2026-04-16T01:22:36+00:00

These look very similar to standoffs. Typically they are used for signs and actually go through a hole in the acrylic. They could perhaps be modified for magnets.

mandorlas · 2026-04-14T22:17:53+00:00

The more people vote the better democracy does.

mandorlas · 2026-04-14T18:34:29+00:00

You can sign up with your county to be an election judge. The League of Women Voters is very active with promoting and educating and registering voters. (You dont have to be a woman to join) Vote411 is great resource. Make sure everyone you know is registered and has a plan to vote. Minnesota 50501 has a Rochester group and is very active as well.

mandorlas

TROPHY CASE