My name is Bob Dedrick. I’ve been teaching people to cut their own mats for all their picture framing needs since October, 1993. Since then, I have been traveling about 40,000 miles across this great country, providing hands-on instruction at THE WOODWORKING SHOWS, THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY FAIR, several “craft and art” shows (including a Donna Dewberry Show) and several seasons at THE WISCONSIN STATE FAIR.
The travel began because of diminishing eyesight- not mine, but the eyesight of Liz, my wife of 23 years. Many long-time customers remember Liz and her very tiny chihuahua “Precious” working at the shows. It was because we wanted to SEE THE COUNTRY that we took on the RV lifestyle, and we both loved the travel AND working with the public at the shows. Although Liz lost her lifelong battle with diabetes, I had discovered that I wanted to continue teaching, and had formed many long-term friendships with customers all over the USA.
The summer of 1999 found me continuing my teaching/travel quest, driving to a HOME SHOW in Anchorage, and the FAIRBANKS FAIR, where I found the native peoples needing help displaying and preserving remembrances of their unique heritage. I had a picture on my display showing an elderly early native in his winter attire. a young customer was particularly captured by this, and exclaimed “That’s my great grandfather”! I had used a picture from a periodical, and was pleased with the joy it brought.
Returning to “the outside” (the lower 48), I continued teaching mat-cutting at shows all across the country, building on a “long-distance” telephone relationship with my sisters’ best friend, Lucy. Lucy had insight I needed, in that she had survived the loss of her husband, Carl a few years earlier. Carl and Lucy had been friends for many years, and Liz and I had referred to them as “the little people”. Carl was a farmer, and one of the nicest, hardest-working people we had known, and Lucy fit right in, creating a beautiful “farm home” in Maryland. She had gathered together all the “old farm kitchen stuff” and displayed it in a delightful manner all over their home. Lucy has a talent for display.
In January, 2000, Lucy and I were married in Dover, Delaware, and we have continued teaching at fairs and wood-shows throughout the land. I have been BLESSED with a wife who enjoys this lifestyle as much as I, and loves the Lord above all! We have the privilege to visit friends, family, and “church family” all over the nation as we travel between shows, and to visit our “regulars” at the shows.
We have FINALLY started the next phase: the Internet! I have resisted, resisted, and resisted, but have relented, and now have an ON-LINE presence. Roger Kelley, an Internet professional, has taken simple thoughts and turned them into the web page you now see. Our prayer is that this format will allow us to “slow down” our pace without giving up our presence in the marketplace. With our NEWSLETTER, we strive to keep our customers abreast and enthusiastic about mat cutting, answering questions and providing information and ideas. The newsletter will also provide a forum to let you share interesting ideas YOU have as well!
We expect great things, and have already been wonderfully blessed in all ways.
Bob & Lucy Dedrick
