Graham Jaehnig/Daily Mining Gazette Kathy Archambeau, owner of Framed by Kathy, stands behind her counter, where she was, by coincidence, standing when the first photograph of her was taken when she opened her shop 27 years ago. Here, she is pictured with items she framed that belonged to her grandmother. Among the keepsakes are a pair of eyeglasses, remnants of a china dish, silver spoons, and other treasures.

HOUGHTON — Most people you think of who are approaching retirement, start counting the days a couple of years before they actually leave the workforce. Most — but not all.

Kathy Archambeau, who for the past 27 years has owned and operated Framed by Kathy, on Shelden Street, is closing her business.

On Saturday, August 26, she is conducting a one-day sale, from Noon to 4 p.m. She emphasizes, though, it is not a going-out-of-business sale. Rather, it is her way of bidding a very sad good-bye to loyal customers, many of whom, she said have become good friends.

“It’s not like I’m leaving it on purpose — which I am not,” she said. “I’m leaving it against my will.”

Kathy said that if she was not of a certain age, she would probably keep doing it. But, she explained, she has to think about her family. She does not want to leave the responsibility of liquidating to her loved ones if something should occur unexpectedly.

“If something, God forbid, should happen to me,” she said, “I don’t want them to have to do this. I want to do it myself, so that I don’t leave all this mess to somebody. And I am of that certain age.”

So the sale is a thank-you to all her customers, said Kathy.

“So many of them have become good friends, and this is the best business anybody could have,” she said, “because fortunately, the people who come in here are always happy.”

Framing is such a pleasant business, she said. People come to her shop to make something beautiful more beautiful.

“I have one man who has been a customer, I believe, since I worked at Commercial Systems,” she said.

“He told me ‘my whole house is framed by Kathy.”

She added that she has had several people tell her that everywhere they look, they see memories of her.

“So, those are the connections I’ve made through the years,” she said, “and it’s been wonderful. I love this business.”

Kathy started custom framing some 35 years ago. It was after she and her husband, both Houghton County natives, moved back to the area. Her husband was born, and grew up in, Chassell. When Kathy was born, her family lived in Houghton, but her parents moved around.

“But,” she said, “We always came back.”

She and her husband moved away in 1970. After 18 years in Texas, they returned to Houghton County, she said.

She was an artist until then, something she wants to reconnect with. After she completes closing the business, she hopes to return to painting.

“I haven’t had time for that since we moved up her in ’88,” she said. She has been a custom framer almost since that time.

“We moved here from Dallas in 1988,” said Archambeau. “I started working at Commercial Systems in the Office Supplies Department.”

After hearing that their custom framer was leaving, she took that position, which she held for seven years, until the owners sold the business to Northern Stationers.

It was then she decided to become independent and in February, 1996, she opened Framed by Kathy, in Downtown Houghton. She did not realize then that she would become so close with so many of her customers.

“I’ve had so many customers stop by,” she said, “just to say hi, and ‘we’re going to miss you,’ and ‘what are we going to do without you?’ and all this other stuff.”

Kathy said her customers are not limited to artists and photographers wanting to frame a picture. They’re everybody, she said.

As an artist herself, Kathy understands the visions of her customers and she finds it easy to work with them to achieve that vision.

“And,” she adds, “you have to love color to be in this business. My husband shares that with me.”

Looking out from the windows in their home, she said, they are amazed at the beauty.

“Even if it’s just green,” she said. “There are so many different shades of green.”

As she said, Kathy is closing the shop against her will. Closing it has made her sad.

“I’ve shared a few tears with my customers coming in here, telling me how much they’re going to miss it and everything,” she said. “But, it’s been a fun run. I live the old saying: If you love what you do, you never work a day in your life.”