A Smartphone Synced a Website

  Thankfully I have a smart IT guy with the clairvoyant four-site that advised me to get on board with the brilliants that is all things Google.
   As I conceived signblazersigns.com I stressed that an "ease-of-update" theory must be a priority. I wanted control over the loading of new photos. That's why we decided to use Picasa as a photo gallery. We skinned over the stock page format to seamlessly blend with my site. I then built category folders within Picasa using the free software provided. All I had to do is load all my photos from my camera to my laptop once a week or so, and they were viewable to the word. Little did I know at the time that the process would get even more streamlined.
   The upshot in the game plan came as I discovered the Android powered Motorla smartphone. This devise allows me fantastic freedom and ease of accessibility beyond any expectations. I carry a handheld pipeline to the heart of my company website (this blog included)!
  The current procedure:
     1. Choose the subject (a sign etc.) and take a photograph.
     2. Tap the screen to expose the menu- choose the "edit" option. At that point I can do some simple alterations such as: crop, brightness/contrast, etc.
     4. Then save and name the pic.
     5. Choose "share" from the menu an select "Picasa", then the desired album and "Upload"
     Vuala-- For the world to see!

   There's also many alternate ways to configure Picasa albums via PC or from the phone. I recommend setting up your albums from the PC in order to take advantage of the broad visual interface. The small screen is very limiting until used in the above described manor. After the initial learning curve, I found the process easy to retain and fluid.
   This has not been an advertisement for Google. What this has been is an illustration of a well executed plan using a free service and a handheld device.
   Happy Picing!

  

A Non-Advertising Advertisment

   I've done plenty interior wall paintings and a few barn sides in my day,  but this old alley brick wall was my first with an uneven surface to contend with. The objective was to produce a simple but effective sign for a jewelery store without infringing upon his allowed sign allotment. Generally, symbols trump words anyway. In this case it's absolutely true...

   To start the project, I rented a 3000 psi pressure washer from my local hardware. It managed to remove most of the loose paint, but also managed to eat into some of the actual brick and mortar. A little less pressure was needed. I then used a gallon of high quality semi-gloss and a 3/4" nap roller to coat out the area in need. The next day I went to work masking the shape out.
   Back at the shop I prepared the stencil using my 40" vinyl cutter and a roll of vinyl paint mask. I was somewhat apprehensive about attempting to use this product on the uneven surface, but it was a nice sunny warm day and the material stretched a bit as I massaged it into the low spots.

This picture (above) shows the first layer stencil applied.

This picture (above) shows the second layer mask applied. A couple pieces were left out, ready to paint!

An odd color pallet for me, but to achieve a translucent quality it was necessary to use pastels.  Wal-Mart had a nice selection of spray paint that day!

  I added some diagonal highlights into all the individual color blocks to indicate a see-through prismatic element.

Back-masking was needed so I didn't contaminate my previous work.

This picture (above) shows a final mask layer allowing me to spray a shaddowing effect. This helps to bring out the light colors off the wall.

All the mask removed. Almost there. Just the freehand highlights and a darker outline to make it pop.

Believe it or not, the further you get away from it, the better it looks. From close up it seems a bit washed out, but from the street it's quite an eye catcher.
Many thanks to David Mann Jewelers of Geneseo for the opportunity to expand my portfolio. I'm certain it will drum up some conversation among the locals.

Long Point Park Project Update

  Well, It's been a hot busy summer with plenty of ups and downs (mostly ups).
I completed a (personal) record number of 18 gym floors decorated and had a blast in the process! We're now approaching  fall, which means a bit of a fall-off in the warm weather which tends to coincide with a fall-off in business. A transition that is sometimes more difficult than the weather to acclimate to. Fortunately it appears that an anticipated project may come to fruition in time to entertain me through my seasonal decline. That project in reference is the Long point Park Sculpture.
   It was nice afternoon for a meeting that took place in close proximity to the future home of said sculpture. The reporter from The Livingston County News sat with the project leader, two artists and myself to discuss the finer and larger points of the concept. We hope to ignite the public interest along with a fund raising campaign by the positive words in the article.
   I intend to start mocking up portions of the sculpture to explore my ideas further very soon. This, in turn, it should help my artistic contributors on their end, by defining the space in which they're sculptures are to be incorporated.
  The meeting was certainly a step in the right direction. Refuelling a low level motivational tank. I'm now looking forward to a fall, fall-off to shift into second gear. With any luck, the public will demand to see more.

A Walk With Gym

   
    From design to fruition- what a divine process. It never ceases to amaze me- with the endless verity of projects I undertake- that there is a never ending spectrum of special ways to handle each conundrum.
   What I set out to understand today was the direct relationship between my paint mask product and the entity installing it. To be blunt- I want his job. Or at least- I want the revenue his position demands. But more importantly- I know I can do it better and more efficiently. And in turn- generate more time for his specialized employees to do what they do best- install hardwood floors.
   What I'm proposing is nothing short of a hostile takeover of a division of the specialized process of painting a basketball court. The elbows are sharpened and I'm ready to employ them. Just give me a chance to prove my hypotheses and (I feel) we will all prosper from the en devour.

Nice work!

Too Muggy for Blogging

Summer is changing my mind about blogger.
I may trim back to once a week for now.
We're going Google Plus soon so...

Tweety Droid

   I thought I saw a baltimore oriole while enjoying the sunset this evening. It's rather ironic because I just had a conversation with my grandma on Wednesday about her seeing one. I questioned what I was seeing because they're rather rare in this area, so I brought up a picture on my Droid to confirm. I still wasn't certain so I kept googling until I came across this site:
http://www.birdjam.com/birdsong.php?id=2
   It's beautiful song automatically starting playing. It played for 30 seconds or so until I saw the same bird pop up. It had to have heard the audio because it kept coming closer and closer until I could see it perfectly.
   What a nice treat. Thanks Droid. Couldn't have experienced it without you!

The "Why" Part of the Brain

   In my world, creativity is directly related to my state of mind or mood.  Some days, I'm seemingly unable to engage the necessary faculties to produce innovative designs. I'm not sure why this is, but I recognise it and adapt. I shift gears and go into manufacture mode and pump out all the small jobs that don't need creative attention. Occasionally, a conversation or event can alter the current mood and allow me to dive headlong into an idea or design development. Why? 
   It's an ironic control issue. The more I try to drive my brain in a direction, it seemingly applies the break, slowing the process. If I leave it to drive itself, it sometimes drives erratically, forcing a countering action. Some days creativity seems to be in a glider plane on autopilot, starting from a lofty point, then gracefully meandering to the obvious destination. Why?
   Some nights I go to sleep with a problem I wish to solve. A very sound rest occurs and the problem pops into my head as if the hand of god placed it there. Other times, I dream of a problem as if it were a tin can that I kick around until it's unrecognisable. I assume that there's many factors related to sleep that contribute to those questions. But why?
  I guess there's no clear conclusions for these questions. The billions of neurons  fire like a lightning storm in my head can't construct the reasons, but if I can just help guide the outcome, I will deal with it.
  

Frankenprinter

   Back after major surgery and a glimpse of hardware heaven, the big printer is back and ready to print to the best of it's ability. He's been transplanted with a few custom fitted parts especially designed to replace flawed engineering. 
   Amazingly enough, I managed to guess the correct specs on a gear that had melted away due to a leaky hose union. Who would think to use a plastic that's adversely effected by the actual ink that the machine uses? I, in turn decided to replace it with an aluminium gear that will not deteriorate under those conditions. Although, the new pump I installed has an updated connection designed not to leak. Thankfully that shouldn't ever be an issue again. Oddly though, the new pump did cause another unfortunate problem. The gear that I replaced still had the original hub with a plastic nipple that seated into a plastic dimple. I noticed that the connection was a bit snug so I sanded it down a smidge and added a bit of lube to attempt to remedy the issue. As it turned out, it didn't work. It melted the nipple clean off, welding itself into the female recipient, while spinning the gear loose. The whole lot was then replaced with an aluminium rivit, ground down to fit the socket. Dr. Frankenstein- eat your heart out!
   Once I made the decision to resurrect the anaemic beast, I through all of my McGyver skills at it. Thank goodness my new friend Tony was there to lend a helping hand and some good ideas. His knowledge about printers makes me look like a caveman.
  To wrap this laborious story up:
The monster has awakened from it's slumber, to slave and encumber. Ink flows through it's veins, no more will it strain, to decipher the binary numbers.

Referbished: An Update

   It's always nice to put projects to bed. Especially the ones that have caused brain-strain throughout the process.
   Roger from Roger's Hair Craft in Lakeville came to pick up his referbished carved redwood with 23k gold leaf lettering today. He seemed pleased with the outcome. I saw it for the first time in the daylight and the gold damn near blinded me in one eye!
   This project wasn't as bad as I projected. Mainly because Bruce and his magic brushes performed so precisely. Plus, the original paint was in decent shape and it brightened right back up with a little elbow-grease.

The installation was done by his crack remodelling team who did a splendid job with the siding. An excellent choice of color I might add. It accentuated the sign's tones quite well. I would have liked to see the brackets hidden however, but it's too late for that- the holes have been made. Other than that small detail, I'm delighted with the finally (the payment has already been deposited). Thanks Roger and thanks Bruce of the help. Another project laid to rest. Can't wait to see what he does with the other repaint project. That's for another posting. Go Bruce!

Here's to You, Heroic Hammer Monkeys

  When it rains it most defiantly pours! The Gym floor decorating business is in full swing. WNY Floor Co. has been piling on me the last three weeks. A few little quickies, but one whale of a job which I came close to completing today.
  What a fun challenge this bugger has been. I've had to pull out some old tricks and a few new ones to make this happen. The biggest challenges are yet to rear their ugly heads though. The task of actually installing those massive panels of paint mask intended to flank the multi-colored floor adornment. I thank my lucky stars I'm not the craftsmen destined for that task. I will, however be handy at the end of a smart phone, ready to field a barrage of questions pertaining to the specifics of this manifestation. Don't get me wrong, I'm there in spirit. In fact, I've already been there-- in my mind. This has all been virtually constructed using several methods. I've been over it time and time again- trying to work out the kinks and pitfalls.
   Kudos to the hammer monkeys in the field. These guys translate all my scribbled nonsense into time transcending artwork, worthy of television time. My only regret within this process, is that I never get to at least shake those men's hands for their exocutionary prowess. Cheers my mythical heroes. You have your work cut out for you!

Go Cart, Go!

   Involvement in community seems to be of utmost importance to many of my fellow business owneres in this area. They all tend to practice shopping locally and encourage others do do the same. I certainly concur. Without that type of loyalty, we would leave it all to the big companies, possibly located outside our state, or worse, outside our country. The trick is to entice the residence to adhere to the same mindset.
   Recently my neighbours purchased 8 new go-carts for their mini-amusement park operation. They were very intent on decorating them as soon as possible. After learning of their intentions, it dawned on me that they might be missing out on a golden opportunity to involve the community and incidentally earn a few duckets to put into the new rigs. Currently I'm concocting a proposal that will bring this entertaining pass-time together with local commerce.
   The rest of the story is yet to be told. What I can say is that there is plenty of interest around town in cart sponsorship. With any luck it will generate a buzz worthy of a waiting list and a renewed commitment to small town shops. Vrooom... let's go!

The Man with the Golden Brushes

   It's important to know One's limits and understand that sometimes it's better to hire an expert for a task that may take One longer to accomplish alone.
   That's exactly what I did today. I called upon a fellow sign maker, or perhaps more accurately, a sign painter. Bruce has been spending most of his time painting homes rather than signs lately so he was he was happy to use a rainy day to get back to his roots.
   A few days ago I wrote about a couple of restoration projects I decided to take on. Well, time has become a factor so I decided to ask for a little help. Bruce came through with his case of fine brushes to add the sizing (or glue) necessary for me to add the new gold leaf to the nice old carved sign. After spending a good bit of time washing and preparing, he got right to it.
  I was surprised that the process took as long as it did, but I'm glad that he took the time to do it right. Tomorrow I will apply the gold and see the true skills that brought to the table. Thanks Bruce!

Old Dog, Old Tricks

   Approximately 28 years ago, I learned how to plot provided points onto a home made grid with the intent drawing some sort of silly cartoon character. Who knew that there was actually some validity to that exercise rather than a middle school afternoon time filler. I was able to apply it to my work in effect further my existence.
   I pride myself upon having a full bag of tricks. It's necessary to constantly compile techniques and information if I want to stay competitive while working with many varieties of media and materials. Who knows when I will need to reach into that bag. It's just been a while since I've had to reach that deep down.
   The purpose behind this method is to take a small graphic and make it larger. In this case I'm able to use the computer to scale up the artwork then build the grid over it. Once I accomplished that I was able to precisely pinpoint the location of a series of arks that create the majority of the perimeter of the drawing.
   I can't help to be profoundly hopeful of the success of this project. Thank you to my 6th grade teacher for introducing my to graph paper.

Gardening in mourning

   It seems that due to blatant neglect of any common sense by the neighbouring field's tractor operator, all of my plants in my garden have been destroyed. Apparently when you back the spray rig up to the edge of the field, which happens to be 10' away from my garden, and blast the Roundup weed killer wide open, it tends to have ill effects on tender young plants.
   I realize that they have their own agenda and time schedule, but some curtsey would be appreciated. The home owner here actually witnessed the event, so they could have warned us of what was to take place.
   I personally raised those plants from seed starting several months ago. Many of them were exotic strains of peppers which cannot be replaced even if I were able to receive compensation. My hopes of a fruitful season are sadly over. All I can do is learn from the mistakes and perhaps post some signs next year stating the obvious: DON'T SPRAY MY GARDEN WITH HERBICIDE!

Of Blacktop and Chalk

The unexpected events always keep me amused. In my business, one cannot predict who will walk through the door or what crazy ideas they'll tote along with them.
  Yesterday morning started off mildly until a large African-American man came in acting all shifty while inquiring into pricing. His eyes kept darting back and forth and he seemed to have trouble keeping his train of thought. I politely answered his questions and finally determined what sort of thing he was after. He ordered some basic lettering for his parking lot sealing business' trucks. He tried dickering the price with me but with the short time frame I was given, I felt that there was no room to move. We also decided that he would install the graphics himself to save some cash. He gave me a small down payment then rushed out. I didn't think all that much about it at the time, but as I was preparing the graphics I just had a funny feeling that something wasn't quite right about the whole transaction, but I followed through with my end of the deal. Fast forward to this afternoon when he called to see if I could stay to receive him after-hours. I begrudgingly agreed to wait 30 minutes more. Thankfully he arrived as advertised, along with his two man crew. That's when the fun began.
They blast in the door and promptly knock over several finished signs that were awaiting pick-up. The man I was dealing with was on his phone having a heated, vocally pronounced coversation that went something like this..."NO YOUR FOOD AIN'T INCLUDED! I DONT GIVE A F**** WEATHER YOU EAT OR NOT! GO OUT AND KILL A G/D TURKEY FOR ALL I CARE! I'm not sure what to think at this point. His men are just wandering around my shop while he paces back and forth. Now it's about 5:40 and I'm feeling waves of pissed-offness and amusement roll over me. He finally hands the phone off and deals with me. I hand him the lettering and he says, "The truck's out there- go put it on- you told me you would put it on- remember? I replied, "Mmmm, no. In fact we discussed it and you wanted to save cash". "Oh no!"he blurted, "for this price- you puttin' this on there!" So of course, I snatched them back from him and grabbed my cleaning supplies and followed them into the parking lot. I tear off a couple of paper towels and move towards the truck. Just then he jumps in front of me and says, "You don't need to clean nothin'- just stick it on". I thought that was odd until I smelled the faint odour of wet paint. I shouted, "IS THAT WET PAINT?". He replied, "Don't worry about it- just stick it". It appeared that he had just painted his truck before he came to visit me---with a ROLLER! So I thought, what the hell. I pulled the release liner off and quickly eyeballed the placement and...ppplllaaattt! Right into the wet paint. "There you go" I said as I wiped the red paint from my knuckles. Then it was time to be paid. "Where's the bill?" he shouted. As I handed it off to him, he demanded to his associate to give him some money. The man reached into his pocket and produced a $100 bill. He plucked it from the sad man and hands it over to me. So I say, "That's not quite enough". He replies, "Make it enough- I ain't got no more!". They then all turn face and piled into the truck and tore out of the driveway. I was left stunned, bewildered and a bit thankful that I actually got $140 of the $160 he owed. Chalk that one up to a hellava good story to tell.  

Take a mud bath instead

A liquid displacing vessel designed especially for the sole purpose of leisure. What could be more senseless and illogical? Save yourself thousands of dollars by filling your bathtub and toss a shovel full of dirt and some duck crap, the crack a beer and jump in.

To refurbish or not to refurbish

   Generally, I don't touch foreign old signs for several reasons. The first thing is that it's not my work. Who's is it and why don't they repaint it? I would be rather put-off if I discovered that some punk bastardized my work. Next, the layout or lettering is probably out dated or "incorrect" if you will. Ever attempt to put lipstick on a pig? Furthermore, the labour involved with the clean-up, resurfacing and hand painting usually outweighs the material savings.
   There are a couple of exceptions. For instance, a good customer came in with an old sign that her deceased brother made. Obviously there is sentimental value attached and certainly should be preserved. I will take great care and pride in doing so. Another example is another sign that recently came in. It's an enormous 30" x 10' plank of redwood. Unfortunately the gold leaf adorning the carved letters had degraded beyond salvage, but is still all there and has more years of life left in it.
   With any luck, the finish I'll apply to these signs will last longer than the previous application. I only hope that not too many more projects such as that wander in this year. For me, new is always the best policy.

Cotton Wood You Stop?

   Well, it's that time of year once again...snow in spring...the cottonwood seed is flying. Luckily the new location is less susceptible to the floating menace, but is still a real pain in the rear when it comes to laying paint or vinyl. Unfortunately my overhead door is just too short to accommodate many of the vehicles I'm hired to decorate, leaving me to once again work outdoors.
   Over the years I've conceived of several methods of capturing, avoiding and detouring the darn wicked white stuff, but have never fully succeeded. Even having full coverage inside is not a fail-safe. Just when you think your in the clear- a seed rears it's ugly head.
   Tomorrow is the day when I tackle Albrights cube van. Laying out large sail-like panels of adhesive backed vinyl, all ready to attract all that lovely air bound project wrecker. The only thing I can do is to get an early start and hope for a still day. Let's hope timing and a little luck is on my side.

For the Love of Fumes

There's just something about wrenching on cars. These days I'm more of a "doll-up" & maintenance guy but it's all about getting my hands greasy. The true fun of it is helping the ladies of my family. Recently  There's been a bunch of break jobs rolling out of my shop. However my latest amusement is the ride my Mom picked up. It's a 2001 Chrysler Sebring Convertible. A well serviced southern car with low miles. Really clean inside and out.

Personally, I dig this car. It was a nice piece to begin with. Before she bought it, I drove it to my local mechanic and through it up on his lift to inspect it. It's rare to see no rust, but to see factory labels and markings in tact is extremely rare in NY State. Just then I knew we had a gem on our hands. All it needed was the regular wear items like breaks, tires, grease and filters. It was missing the center caps to the rims as well. I lucked out and found a complete set OEM set of chome rims.

Wheels are the icing on the cake as far as I'm concerned. Usually, It's the first thing I nail down- as it was in this case.
A fantastic craigslist.com find. The difference it made to this particular vehicle is nearly immeasurable.  Add the (correct size) BF Goodrich tires with gnarly aggressive street tread and she's off to the races!  Mom is just gleaming pearly whites from ear to ear. The

 tops down and those rims blinding oncoming traffic. Sam Mitrano of Mitrano Tire in Fowlerville set us up nicely while managing to keep the birthday surprise a secrete. The look on mom's face was priceless. I think that inspired her to want to tighten up all the other loose ends on this ride. Today we pulled the front wheels so she could paint the callipers fire red. That really set the chrome off nicely. Plus, we gave her an oil change while the tires were off. Perhaps a fresh set of plugs and wires are the next items to tackle.
Overall it's been a great experience working with my Mom on this vehicle. There's still a few things to button up, but it's defiantly drivable now and she's racking up the miles. Stay tuned for updates and other projects!

Catfish for Dinner

Grilled pretzel breaded catfish with fresh veggie relish and jasmine rice over raw greens to serve 5 health-hungry mouths...

Fairly straight forward dish featuring brightly colored vegetables. The trick was grilling the fish while keeping the breading in tact. I only had marginal success. Luckily I was planning on the relish topping.  Not only did it hide some missing breading, it also added a slight acid tang plus a crisp texture crunch. A needed counterpoint to the oily flesh which I marinated in milk and crushed garlic. I'm a firm proponent of using milk with the catfish. It seems to tame the natural gamy flavor.

Veggie relish:
5 small tri-colored mini sweet peppers- seeded
4 celery sticks- leaves and all
1/2 sweet onion
5 cherry tomatoes- seeded
3 Tbs. extra virgin olive oil
2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar
1 Tsp. granulated sugar
1/2 Tsp. celery salt
fresh cracked pepper

     Slice and chop veg to an 1/8" dice. Add wet and dry ingredients. Toss and refrigerate for an hour or more.

Catfish Marinade:
1 cup milk
3 crushed garlic cloves
1/2 Tsp. dry chilli flake
salt and pepper
1 large egg white- reserve for breading

   In a large container add 5 catfish fillets. Pour in liquid and refrigerate for an hour or more.

Catfish breading:
2 cups mini pretzels- processed
1/2 cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1/4 cup corn starch

     Remove fish from liquid. Drain off 75% of milk and add 1 egg white. Whip until mixed. Dip fish in liquid then dredge in breading mix. Set aside.
     Oil grill grates then heat grill on high to 400*. Place fish on grill and reduce heat to 250* (could also be done in oven). Cook for 5-8 minutes. Carefully flip fish and continue to cook for 5-8 minutes until fish has firmed up. Serve warm over raw greens and top with cold relish and cooked rice on the side. Enjoy!

Weekend Review

   The dream of a nice warm sunny weekend came to true this Memorial Day. Right on time too. May took the opportunity to do lawn and garden work. Others played games or frolicked about the beach.
   Personally I chose to volunteer my services and paint my Aunt Mary's rough old barn. Of course this was not my original notion. First I thought I'd go to the shop and get ahead on the workload. But quickly scoffed that off knowing that some time away would be beneficial. Then I thought about joining my group of friends for some recreation. But that seemed like a unwise use of my time and skills. Then as I showered (where I usually get my ideas) Saturday morning, it dawned on me...Why don't I take care of that peeling paint situation on that old garage? All I needed was some good weather, a bounty of equipment and a good head of steam. Fortunately I had plenty of everything. So off I went.
   I arrived before noon to learn that I was alone in my venture. I opened the door called out and waited for a reply. The only answer I received was from the little weiner dog Matty. She waddled over the threshold so I hooked her up on her line to keep me company. I quickly got to scrapping only to realize that I should probably be wearing a dust mask- so a hardware store run was in order. When I returned I looked to the deck only to see Matty's leash was lying on the floor...empty. Great! I came to help my Aunt out but I lost her dog instead. Long story short- Mary came by, picked up the dog and took off in a flash. Most likely just to screw with my head.
   After I regained my wits, I hit the project hard. With some much need help from the homes residence, we banged out the scrapping and priming by Sunday evening. Then came the big score...
   My house mate offered up his industrial airless paint chucker! That news turned this project from a two weekend project into a Memorial Day wrap-up. So I returned Monday bright and early toting hardware ready to kick it- and kick it I did. Four more hours and it's a wrap.
   Thanks everyone who lent a hand with my spur-of-the-moment folly. I know I made my Aunt happy- mission accomplished!

In a world where we all take life for granted, it's nice to know that there are still people out there that take time to stop and smell the roses.
Personally, I frequently make a point to slow down and really take in a place, situation or conversation. Just recently a couple people took the time to remark positively on my work. I wish they knew how much it means to me. You can thank a person for the recognition, but it's hard to covey the lingering feeling of gratitude attached to an event like that. It's just the thing to make me get up and try even harder next week.

I saw the sign...

Whoah,ah,oh,oh, YEA!

I,I gotta new life
You would hardly recognize me I'm so glad
How could a person like me care for you?
(Why?)Why do I bother
When you're not the one for me
Ooooo, is enough, enough?

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong...
But where do you belong?
Under the clean moon
For so many years I've wondered who you are
How could a person like you bring me joy?
Under the pale moon
Where I see a lot of stars
Ooooo Is enough, enough

I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
Life is demanding without understanding
I saw the si-ign and it opened up my eyes
I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong...
But where do you belong?
Oh!Oh, oh, oh

(Larger instrumental break)

I saw the sign and it opened up my mind!
And I am happy now living without you
I've left you, oh-oh-OH!
I saw the sign and it opened up my eyes I saw the sign
No one's gonna drag you up to get into the light where you belong

(I saw the sign - I saw the si-i-ign) I saw the sign!
(I saw the sign - I saw the si-ig-i-ign)
(i saw the sign - i saw the si-ign) i saw the sign!

And it opened up my eyes, I saw the sign! (sign, sign,sign)        Ace Of Base 1993

Hot Rod Prius

Here's an interesting project:
   Our local taxi has gone Prius! He's traded his gas sucker for a gas sipper, but that doesn't mean he needs to look the part. That's why he came to me.
   Today I fashioned a drawing attempting to "spice up" the drab silver car.

I believe that this design fits the bill. In fact, the customer approved the design with a couple minor changes. The application will be a challenge due to the limitations of my printer and perhaps budget restrictions.

Hardware and broke folk

Hardware...why are you so hard on me?
Perhaps its me that's hard on it?
It's time to upgrade the large format digital printer. Currently printing has halted in my shop due to faulty parts which I may or may not choose replace. When does one decide that maintaining a piece of equipment is no longer cost effective? My decision will be made once a call back comes with the dollar tally. Of course I will need to do the parts installation personally, which may also factor into the thought process. Whether or not I pop on the parts, I still need the upgrade.
The thought of going through the loan process again is daunting. All that paperwork stinks on ice. Hopefully I can pull it off in cash. Maybe a fat job will walk through the door tomorrow to foot the bill. Fat job...fat chance. All I've been wrangling lately are broke folk. But hay, ya never know. 

Solar Ligting Update

I'm very happy to report that the solar sign lighting idea will be a reality.
The basic "Christmas" style string lights will be my first purchase from the site shown below. They will illuminate my glass block posts.

                                    http://www.solarilluminations.com/

They have integrated solar panels with replaceable  batteries. It remains to be seen how bright and how many hours of light they will actually give off. Never the less, I believe that there is much potential for many applications. Stay tuned for specs and reviews.

The Floating Enigma

   Boating season. Lovely. I set up shop on the lake thinking boat decorating would be a decent source or revenue. As it turns out- not so much.
   After nearly seven years doing business near the water, I still haven't quite pinpointed the odd stigma surrounding boats and their owners. Perhaps it's the onslaught of seaweed or the fowl odour of rotting fish taints the minds of sea-bearers. One can only infer.
   This years tactic is to hike the price all things aquatic. Everything else related to boats is outrageous, why shouldn't their names, numbers and striping? In prior years I've priced nautical projects similarly to terrestrial. he problem there in is that cars and trucks can come to me. Boats however, seem to be tethered to their resting places, putting extra burden on my shop, requiring me to travel to them several times. The cost related to this have risen measurably as of late as have the materials associated with the actual decoration.
   All the factors listed sum up to a change in my approach to my floating friends. All aboard?

No "Lightbulb Moment" Here

   Let's explore the possibility of solar powered lighting for outdoor signage.
From what I understand, the power output from an average system, is not enough to light much of anything. Passive photovoltaic is really the only option. As much as I'd love to set up a wind generator,  it's just not practical. But let's face it- It's New York after all- not much sun to speak of.
   LED lights are the only legitimate option for fixtures, but they don't throw or project much light. One must be creative and resourceful to accomplish a working system.
   Expense must be considered. Solar and LED's with batteries can carry a hefty price tag, but for some applications, it may be cheaper than running the expansive wires, dedicated breakers, many feet of conduit and the professional installation involved will most likely balance the cost. Weather the desired effect can compare remains to be seen.

psyco-craftsman

 Attention to detail is the first thing to go when rushed. Some things just take time to accomplish correctly.
   I understand that premise, however periodically disregard my own rules. Usually due to the customer breathing down my neck to produce. Granted, I've gotten quicker over the years (without loosing quality) although when I keep getting pushed, inevitably somethings lost in the haste.
   Perhaps the answer is not in getting quicker, but learning to handle the impatience of the "want it yesterday" crowd. Maybe I should develop my psychology skills to ease off the pressure. Looks like a trip to the Amazon book store is in my future.
   There must be a way to get thing done without making costly mistakes. I suppose exploring options is the first step. I just wish folks could understand that I am not a machine or even a factory that pumps items out to stuff 12 foot high shelves. I am a craftsman creating one sign at a time. The patient people defiantly benefit.
Amen.

P-5 to stay alive

Persistence, performance, perseverance for prestige and preservation.
The 5 P's of survival in the land of public relations. I must constantly remind myself that I am a servant to the demands of the customer. They dictate the direction in which I travel. All I can do is provide suggestions along the way.

dueling hemispheres

   If I didn't know better, I'd admit that the fruits of labor out weigh the passing (or loss of) time. When you get seriously involved in a task, time seems to slow down to a snails pace. So much so that ten minutes may seem to be only one. This phenomenon is helpful when pulling overtime, but detrimental when you're working by an hourly rate. For me it's a delicate balancing act between the two hemispheres of my brain.
   Making folks proud is the name of this game. I know I've accomplish my goal when is see my customer standing tall with a grin upon their face. "It's the cherry on top of their sunday". The finishing touch that ties everything together. It makes all the long hours of designing, cutting, sanding and painting worth every second....until the other half of my brain kicks is and actually measures time to materials. That's when I come to the realization that in order to survive in this economy, I need to make harsh adjustments to survive. The romance of being an artist out to produce art needs to be precisely countered with actual currency.  

Meromorphic Evolution of a Noodle Tosser

   After reading, surfing, watching and listening to many types of media, I understand that there needs to be some consistency to the production. I was originally planning not to follow a regiment, but after careful deliberation, logic got the best of me. Most magazines, programs or web sites are a mix of entertainment and information. I will attempt to provide a textured environment using this medium as well. Meromorphic evolution is the name of this game. Many noodles will be tossed against this wall until some stick. That will be my amusement through this process. No doubt most of the discussion will be of personal experiences, so please bare with me. Below is a rough outline intended for this blog...

Monday: Weekend Recap in Verses
Tuesday: Olfactory Projections
Wednesday: Snips & Clips- Video Train-wreck
Thursday: Hands on Hardware- A Mixed Bag
Friday: Week in review- Pics & Parables

...The good Lord only knows if this tree will fruit, but it can't ever grow without first planting a seed.

M&R's Referbished Tow Truck

Nice classic design, with a modern twist. Contrast may be an issue. Time will tell.

Abstract Extraction

Friday The 5th of May addition:
Many thanks to my external team, Todd, Wes and Jason.
Todd and Wes run two separate businesses in the computer field, filling unique niches.
   Todd from Rockhopper Technologies in Livonia is my software engineer and web master. He built my website to my specifications and has been instrumental in my advancement in web based promotion. He always hooks me up with  appropriate advise and hardware.
   Wes runs The PC & Mac Pitstop in Avon. He and his team resurrect dead laptops and other hardware. They just exterminated an object that I can only describe as a "fur weasel" from my HP dv7's heat sync. I have great respect for the skills involved with the dismantling and repair of intricate electronics.
   Additionally, many thanks to Jason at BSR Painting who built some fine post structures for me today. I presented him with a measured drawing and he fetched the materials, cut, drilled, glued and screwed well past 5pm in order to erect 3 perfect sign posts. With a couple coats of solid color stain, this project is one huge step closer to completion.
   I would also like to thank in advance to my cousin Seven who's secret identity, is in fact, Sign Blazer Man. I have secured him for an appearance for our second annual grand opening celebration at the new shop. This year we're making more of event of it. Stay tuned for the line-up of events and features coming on the 4th of July, 2011.
Talk atchya Monday...

Hey, May Day

Late in the day, a Thursday in early May.
A cool spring breeze dancing past the maple buds.
Musky soil scent permeating the sun drenched air.
Conjured thoughts of techno-babble, TV theme songs & morning foreshadowing bouncing in my increasingly cluttered cranium.
Tomorrow, it will be Friday after all, another day in early May.

Right off the battery

As a suggestion from my ace IT pro, I'm starting a blog.
Not sure of the who, what, where & whens yet, but I'm the adventurous type.
What the hell. Google seems like a good place to hang my hat. Love all that free talk. I remember a wise old soul telling me, "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch". I'm certain he was correct. However, there are a few good deals out there and I intend to take advantage of one now and again. Let's ride this gravy train for a spell and see where she goes....

     I'm Dang. The owner of Sign Blazer. The salesman, designer, builder and installer. That's a lotta hats for one guy. It's all good though. I handle the helm through the turbulence by mostly just plain hard work. "Nose to the grindstone", I always say.
     I've been blessed with the gift of perseverance and a unique ability to bring other peoples artistic visions to life. I derive much pleasure (and sustenance) from doing so.
     What I am not however, is a manufacturer. Every last thing I do is custom. Practical images tailored just for you. I make the look and feel of your business...well,  my business. And I actually do care about you. As an individual- as a community. That's why I where all those sweaty hats. To see you through the process of developing an image for your group, organization or just a splash of color on your car. The only limit is imagination. From concept to completion, I'm there.

Nice ice-breaker. Thank goodness all that's out of the way.  Oh boy... now I better decide what to "for real" discuss in this blog. A wise old man also told me, "Act like you've been there", so I suppose I better listen to that dude again. I attempt to study my lines before I hit-the-set. Talk atchya soon.