We don't do many private house signs but when we do you can bet they are fun! A current project is for a local family that owns a chicken farm. They asked for a sign that would go between two posts on their porch entry. Much to my delight they asked for chickens of course. I immediately knew the sign would have a plump chicken rousing in the center. But the family had requested more than one chicken. So I quickly designed some rooster brackets which would fasten to each side of the sign bracket. While I was at it I added two more similar brackets on the outside of these posts to hold up some hanging baskets. The family loved the idea so much they asked us to create another twelve rooster brackets for all of the other posts on the porch. We used our MultiCam CNC plasma cutter to cut out all of the quarter inch thick steel pieces. After I finish welding everything together tomorrow we'll send them off to the powder coaters to get their protective layer of black paint. When we get everything back next week the sign will be laminated over the frame. I'll sculpt the plump rooster into the center then too. It's going to be a whole lot of fun!
Helping someone else dream
Last year a local couple asked me to help them design their new house. Their architect had already done much of the planning work but they weren't satisfied with the way the outside was looking. They wanted something more whimsical and fun. They had seen our house and felt I was the guy to help them with their dream. I listened carefully to their thoughts and then set to work with my pen. I didn't need to make any major changes to the plan but adjusted rooflines, the shape, sizes and locations of windows and the final finishes on the exterior. The couple was delighted with the result.
The house is now under construction and they have called me back from time to time to help them pick finishes, colours and materials and make practical adjustments as necessary. The house is looking spectacular and as it becomes more finished will get even cooler every day.
Rich in colour and detail
The process of painting the scale model of the Hazelnut Inn is exactly the same as it will be for the real thing when we build it, save for the scale. As we considered the model we selected a range of colours and bought them in gallon quantities. They are the very same paints we will use on the real thing when the time comes in a few months. The base colours are layered on and then custom glazes are applied creating an incredible richness. The result is breathtaking as it will be on the inn itself. I can hardly wait to see the entire model in colour!
