Second Opinions for Life: artwork

"Duo Rouge" by Emile Bellet
In December 2008 we went on a Caribbean cruise. The trip was a week long and I found myself going to the onboard Park West Art Auction on a pretty regular basis. Park West knows how to put on a good show...unlimited champagne was served, which helped keep my alcohol bill low on the cruise. I'm not much of a poolside tanner, namely because I burn and this was a fun activity to pass the time during the day or before dinner. Some of the artwork was gorgeous and before week's end I had purchased three pieces - all were signed and numbered serigraphs in color. Maybe they'll be worth something someday, but I bought them because they were reasonably priced and I fell in love with them.
I purchased the following pictures: (1) "Murania" by Shan-Merry, (2)"L'Escalier a Theoule" by Jean-Claude Picot, and (3) "Duo Rouge" by Emile Bellet. About a month after our cruise ended I received a large cardboard cylinder filled neatly with all three pieces. After I looked at them and admired them again for their beauty, I placed them neatly back into the cylinder, stuck the cylinder in my office, and forgot about my artwork for another two months. I pulled them back out because I was ready to frame them. I did some online research, took my artwork's measurements, and being the frugal shopper that I am began pricing out how much it would cost to get all three framed. I was not willing to fork over $600-$1,000 for them to be custom framed. I knew it would be expensive, but had no idea it would be THAT expensive. I rolled the three pieces back up, neatly put them into the cylinder, and there they stayed until two weeks ago...
Fed up that my artwork (that I spent a fair amount of money on) was sitting in a cardboard tube, I pulled my pictures out again. This time however I planned on getting them into a frame. I found my way to my favorite arts and craft store, Michael's, and with the measurements I'd taken months ago purchased ready made frames with mats for reduced by 40% each. As luck should have it, Michael's had all their frames on sale, and for $45 I'd purchased the frames that my artwork now hangs in. Okay, I know that these are not a perfect fit. I know that there is a skill to having artwork professionally framed. I plan one day to custom frame these pieces. However, today (or two weeks ago) was not that day. Check out my handywork. I was quite pleased with the outcome and it's a heck of a lot better than having them sit in a cylinder for another year.