Signs Never Sleep

Simply Said Designs: Decorative lettering for the walls of your home

10 or 15 years ago, if you had wanted a word or phrase painted on the interior wall of your home, there would have been few options available to you.  You certainly could have done it yourself, but if you lacked the precision, skill or confidence, you would have needed to hire either an artist or sign-painter to get that inspirational phrase up on the wall.

Times have changed, and now there is a wide variety of companies that can produce phrases, murals and photos that a homeowner can order and then install themselves.  Simply Said is a company that specializes in helping people select and design such interior design lettering for their homes.

" Simply Said has created a product that gives you the opportunity to use sayings and designs to bring the perfect atmosphere to your home or office.  You select the size, design and font! We focus on customizing and catering to you! Express yourself with our high-quality vinyl that is so think it looks like it has been painted on.  Using Simply Said Vinyl lettering is a great way to decorate your office, home, or dorm room.  The designs are cut from vinyl, and you have many options to help you create the environment you desire."   Link

 

Craftsman CompuCarve Computer-Controlled Compact Woodworking Machine

Sign-making is a skill, and it is a skill that does not come easy.  Talk to any sign-maker, and not only will you hear about all of the horror-stories of how "Murphy's Law" tends to work in overdrive in the Sign Industry, but you will also get a sense that it takes years to build up the knowledge necessary to become a proficient sign-maker.  We do have a section on Signs Never Sleep for "Do It Yourself Sign-Making", but there certainly are times when I think that category is on equal footing with a "Do It Yourself Gall-Bladder Surgery" on WebMD".

That is the reasons sign-makers feel so threatened by something like the Craftsman Compucarve 3D Woodcarver.  This is really the first in what will probably become a long line of devices that will allow people to make their own signs at home.

"Compact, computer-controlled, 3-dimensional woodworking machine with an easy-to-use interface. It allows a novice to make a complete project without a shop full of tools.The unique configuration allows it to perform many other woodworking functions, including ripping, cross cutting, mitering, contouring, jointing and routing. The CompuCarve can work in most soft materials, including wood, plastics (polycarbonate or cast acrylic) and certain types of high density foam."   Link

The basic idea here is you pop a piece of wood in, program the machine, and out pops a sign.  (Trust me - If it were that easy, I would buy one!)  Don't get me wrong.  I am all for people trying to make signs as a hobby.  (Isn't that what the Revolutionary War was fought over, the right for the colonials to stop buying signs from the British?)  But people should always be aware of what they get into as a hobby, because many times you can get into much more than you bargained for. 

Anyway, I do not own one of these machines and can't give it a review.  There is a section on the Sears website that does give customer reviews of the machine that goes from positive to very scary, so you be the judge.

I would also like to comment that this machine is also called CarveWright and they have a very exhaustive website.  The machine has been out for a few years and it will be interesting for us to keep our eyes on it...

Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation: 3D Sign CNC Router Workshops for 2009: Router Magic!

Most people who are not in the sign business are very surprised to learn that there is very little, 2-year or 4-year formal training for someone who wants to become a sign maker.  As well, there aren't any official sign making apprentice programs available either.

Much of the education that happens in the sign making community is run by sign-makers for sign-makers.  Dan Sawatzky has been holding his "Router Magic" workshops for the past few years and the program has gotten rave reviews.
======

"We have now set firm dates for two Sign Magic Workshops in 2009. Interest is strong for both dates with some folks already signed up for the February workshop. I'm looking forward to them with great anticipation! We'll have some new things and wonderful surprises in store... as always.

While we certainly teach about the CNC router and the magic we can create with it, the workshops deal with so much else as well, including painting with acrylics, faux finishes, sculpting, designing, marketing and much, much more.

The dates for the 2009 Sign Magic Workshops are

February 19-21, 2009
October 16-18, 2009

Location:
Sawatzky's Imagination Corporation
Yarrow, British Columbia, Canada

For more information go to
http://www.imaginationcorporation.ca/workshops.html

-grampa dan"

The New Yankee Workshop did an Episode on Do-It-Yourself Signmaking

"Way back in 1988, when we needed to make a sign for "The New Yankee Workshop," we turned to a small company in Lincoln New Hampshire whose signs we admired and asked them to create ours. We have always wanted to pay them a visit and to find out how professionals create these masterpieces. In this program Norm does just that and finds out how a router, a sand blaster, a hand chisel, and a sophisticated computerized machine can be used to carve modern signs. Then he learns how the professionals design, hand letter, paint, and gild these beauties. He returns to the New Yankee Workshop and applies the lessons he's learned to his own collection of shop-made signs."  Link

Making a House Number Sign with Pumpkins

Typically sign shops use Redwood or Western Red Cedar to carve house-number signs, but I suppose you could do it with pumpkins.  The advantage of using pumpkins, is that you end up with a lighted sign at the end of the process.

Sunset Magazine recently had a great website feature about how to turn jack o' lanterns into house numbers.  This is certainly a great idea for next Halloween, but it would also be a terrific idea for Thanksgiving.  I actually might just try this for our Thanksgiving this year.   Link

~written by J.D. Iles

Photo by Rod D. Brodman