Birthdays and other things.

Today was my 58th birthday. When Phoebe heard, she rolled her eyes and could hardly believe anybody could be THAT old. It's hard to believe for me too for I sure don't feel that old. On most days I still feel much like I did when I was a kid - at least on the inside. I get to do what I love each day. I am surrounded by loving family and friends. 

I can't wait to get up each morning. Often my head is already full of ideas that are fun and exciting. I head out to the shop, ready to put these far fetched plans into action. Each day friends and/or clients call or drop in, often just to see what I am up to - welcome interruptions that keep me interacting with the world around me.  I happily share talk of the things I am working on and what is just over the horizon... and learn what they are up to as well. Family is just outside the studio doors, across the yard and I frequently break from work to spend time with them on required chores or just to spend time. The line between work and play is often so fuzzy there is virtually no separation.

Each year on my birthday I reflect on things - more as I get older. What would I change? I'd be hard pressed to think of ways to make things better. While I still wish for things, there is little I am truly wanting for. Life is so good - even at 58 years old.  I am a lucky guy without a doubt, but we also made many purposeful choices along the way that helped put us where we are. We all do.

My advice to anyone who will listen - dream hard and work towards those dreams. Take small steps every day. Start today what you want to be tomorrow.

I wish the same for everyone.

-grampa dan

Let the fun begin...

Blue sky is a term we use in our industry to describe things that are very much in the idea stage. Anything is possible at this point. That is how I feel about our new four axis CNC router and the capabilities it will afford us in our shop. The sky is the limit!

Just before Christmas our new four axis router was installed. It's a beauty and it runs FAST! Sadly, the tech who came from Texas used up his time here getting the machine assembled and running. There was no time left in his schedule to train me in how to use the new part of the machine. I could run the flatbed functions perfectly well for it was very similar to my old machine that I operated for almost six years. But the massive rotary attachment was, and still is, a bit of a mystery. With my lack of technical experience and knowlege it was best I let it sit idle until my MultiCam fellow could return. Next week Shawn comes back at last! 

In the meantime I didn't sit and mope. Instead, I've been dreaming and planning some exciting things. They will be samples for the shop of course. Paying jobs will follow when I have a better idea of how to use the machine and a little experience under someone who knows how.

The first project will be a display piece for my studio. I've drawn and built various versions through the years, including a full size balloon at West Edmontin Mall. But with the new MultiCam machine to help me, it can be a much more complicated design this time around. This early drawing dates back to 2001. There were earlier version long before that.

I did a few more sketches as I got serious and then welded up a sturdy steel frame to act as an armature for the hand sculpted part.

Then I did a composite photo/drawing with to imagine how it would look hanging in my studio when it was done. Next week the new fourth axis CNC router will help me put form to this very old vision at long last. This drawing helped me determine the scale and final design of the balloon.

This is going to be fun!

-grampa dan

How we do our painting

One of the many things we teach at our Sign Magic Workshop is how we paint our signs and projects. Watching it and then practicing under our watchful eye is the best way to learn. The second best way is to watch how we do it. The sign I demonstrate on is the Fox & Hounds Pub founder. This is a single color glaze, where most of ours involve a buildup of two or three (or more) colors. But with the magic of video I'll show just how fast it all happens.

Here's the video 

And finally here's some clearer pics of the sign after I finished glazing it and then adding the last paint on the letters.

As quick as that the magic happens and the sign is done!

-grampa dan

Right-o on with it chaps!

Using the basic head form I routed yesterday, it was a quick and easy task to push on a thin layer of Abracadabra sculpting epoxy and then carve the details in with a small sharpened stick and my fingers. I spent about an hour and a half finishing up the sculpt. 

I was going for the stiff Victorian British gentleman look - a fellow who takes himself rather seriously.

Tomorrow I'll start in on the paint. There are so many ways this could go...

-grampa dan

Magical Memories

There was a time, back in the mid 90's, that our company grew rapidly. We were commisssioned to build some very large projects, the biggest being all the theme work at West Edmonton Mall. Our projects included GalaxyLand, Professor WEM's Adventure Golf, Deep Sea Adventure and a whole lot more. To do all this work I had to enlist the help of a large crew. Most were fresh out of high school and friends of our kids, then about that same age. The crew was high energy, we always seemed to be right at the edge of control but it worked and worked well. We did an amazing amount of work in a short time. Those were magical days I will always remember fondly.

During that time we asked our daughter Rebecca to put together some music and Phoenix (then a soon to be son-in-law) to put together a presentation showcasing our work and the crew that did it. They did a marvelous job. Here's that video...

It is fun to remember!

 Here's the youtube link to paste in your browser if the viewer above doesn't work for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFrg0iDu0ns

-grampa dan