The lights are on!

There are few things that add more sparkle to a sign than lights. With the advent of modern LED lighting, it is now possible to include lighting in ways we could only dream of years ago. Now it is easy, safe, efficient and economical.

I found a new lighting system a couple of years ago that looked promising. It is called Heico Lighting  It was a while before I had a chance to try them out on a project. Late last year, the MultiCam office project was the first time I got a chance to really give them a test drive. I was impressed to say the least. After more than a year in operation they still are just as amazing and still work perfectly. 

I couldn't resist adding some of these little LED lights to brighten the windows of the Rovers Return Inn sign. Peter and I picked up some white plexiglass today, cut it to size and popped the pieces into the window frames from the rear. Then we tested out a couple colors of the Heico lighting modules. We both agreed the amber added the perfect colored glow. The warmly lit windows were the crowning touch. In the subdued light of the pub this sign is going to look stunning! One more piece of eye candy is now ready to hang at the Fox and Hounds Pub.

We have a number of very creative projects lined up for the New Year that will use this amazing technology. Stay tuned...

 -grampa dan

Marketing through the eyes of a seven year old.

Phoebe is big into 'owning and operating' a store these days. All through the holidays she has been busy producing copious amounts of drawings and other art and then selling them to relatives - especially her grampa. The proceeds she is donating to Pipsqueak Paddocks (her idea). She has a table set up in the play room. The art is carefully laid out in an elaborate display. Paper signs she has designed and colored are taped to the walls. Hand drawn business cards (complete with her own logo) with all her information are handed out to those she meets to spread the word of her enterprise.

Since before Christmas she has been asking if I could please make her a real dimensional sign. I of course said yes but needed a design. Today she was helping in the shop and she went into the studio for a long time while I was busy. She came out with a design in hand - all excuses were gone.

Dragons seem to be Phoebe's current interest and so her sign features a nice one - holding a sign with her name on it. She explained the design at great length to me. It would be 24" wide and showed me how big that would be with her very own tape measure. The sky (background) would be blue. The sun would have to be yellow (like in all her drawings) The dragon would be colored as pictured. It needed hangers with real chains so it would be very strong. And I was not to worry about the details for she would help me as we got that far into the production of the sign. She also set a deadline. Could I please have the sign ready in 3 days?  I told her it would indeed be possible if she helped me.

With Phoebe looking carefully over my shoulder I painstakingly drew out the vector art I would need to do the routing file for her sign. She corrected me when I strayed too far from her original design.

Then I created the routing file which we'll put on the machine tomorrow.

Phoebe is very excited about finishing her very first sign!

-grampa dan

Working holiday

One of the things I love about the holidays is that our extended families are around. I get to spend a little time with some of them in the shop after the 'official' festivities are over. My son Peter helped me in the shop today. He worked with us full time for more than fourteen years before striking out on his own. Each day was a true adventure and we enjoyed countless happy hours on the worksites together. He is currently attending university getting his mathematics degree and we only see him on breaks. If the schedule allows, Peter helps out in the shop as well. We did a variety of two man tasks I needed done and then settled down to do the sculpting portion of a detailed sign for the Fox and Hounds Pub. In this shot he is pressing in the fine texture detail on the tiny bricks with a toothbrush.

There are few things better than working with those you love on what you love doing.

-grampa dan