Our Story

Every person who works at Baas Framing Studio is an artisan who brings skill, care and creativity to the job. To us, each piece of art is a unique opportunity to design a lasting presentation that clients will enjoy for years to come. Our commitment to archival materials, proper mounting options and UV protection for items of lasting significance means we deliver the best quality framing product.

We are celebrating our 28th year in business. Clients new and old come to our Madison Valley location  for our large frame selection, experienced staff, and clear design and conservation knowledge.  When you come to us, you will get friendly service, clear advice and estimates and a beautiful finished product. 

Founder Karrie Baas opened Baas Framing Art Gallery and Framing in 1995. A graduate of Cornish College of the Arts, Karrie is a painter, sculptor and creative visual thinker who loves the design challenges of framing. Her passion for art and artists shaped the business. Karrie was President of the Alumni Association and served on the Cornish Board of Trustees. She continues to support students and alumni with their framing needs. Karrie is a longtime member of the GSBA and was also honored with the Mayor's Small Business Award in 2007.

From 1994 - 2009, Baas Art Gallery presented solo and group shows of Northwest artists including Fulgencio Lazo, Ellen Rutledge, the late Eugene Pizzuto and Pat Clayton.  We continue to feature Northwest artists, jewelers and craftspeople in a retail environment, and value our ongoing relationships with artists and our community. We support a number of local school auctions and charities every year and are a member of the Madison Valley Business Association. 

2022 brought a new chapter to this successful small business: founder Karrie Baas retired and passed the torch to a new owners, Colleen and John Godfrey. An artist in her own right, Colleen brings fresh energy and leadership to Baas Framing Studio as President as we enter a new chapter! Longtime staff of Julia Ricketts, Peter Keller and Heather Wehman continued in their substantial roles to ensure a smooth transition and the highest standards in workmanship. Heather retired as well after many fun years together in 2023.

Meet Our Staff

Colleen Godfrey, President of Baas Framing Studio, is proud to continue a legacy of female small business ownership in Seattle’s Madison Valley fine arts community. She graduated from the College of Saint Benedict in 2012, earning a BFA with an emphasis on painting. Focusing on watercolor and acrylic figurative subjects, her art celebrates the intersection of fantasy and the female form in all its shapes and colors. Colleen is just as passionate about other artists’ masterpieces as she is about her own. She enjoys helping customers with both simple and quiet framing designs as well as over-the top ornate and unexpected choices. She loves baking, caring for her exotic pets and speaks fluent Mermaid.

Julia Ricketts has been with Baas Framing Studio since 1996 and is pleased to celebrate 28 years of framing and fun. Julia loves designing framing for original art of all kinds. She likes achieving elegant design solutions that work with both the artwork and the customer’s taste, budget and decor. Julia’s special skills include canvas stretching and painting touch-up and repair. She is a painter and former instructor of painting and drawing at the Gage Academy of Art. View Julia’s website. 

Peter Keller joined Baas Framing Studio in 2013. A graduate of Columbus College of Art, Peter has 25+ years of picture framing experience. His skills include problem-solving unusual projects and building stacked frames. When he’s not working here, you can find Peter creating sonic experiences as a sound artist, performer and DJ. From among his many projects, check out audio clips of Kōan-Din (meditative feedback) and Dosenöffner (analog synth collaboration). 

Rich Stevens is the newest member of the team, joining in 2024. After receiving a BFA from Birmingham-Southern College in 2001 Rich has exhibited and sold his art extensively on the East and West coasts. Rich’s work includes acrylic paintings, polymer clay sculptures, resin coating, resin casting, and LED lighting. Bringing LED lighting solutions from his own artistic practice to bear on design projects at Baas Framing Studio continues to excite and fulfill him artistically. Rich’s mixed-media work is best viewed at https://www.instagram.com/rich_m_stevens/