It has been very busy around here of late. I just completed a commissioned project for custom engraved picture frames and custom boxes (more on that later). I have also been doing many custom plaques. As a matter of fact more custom plaques than anything else. It seems clients have their own ideas about is what is important to them and how things should be. I really enjoy this. The interaction with people who are seeking an intensely personal gift brings me much joy. From the student desiring a special retirement gift for a mentor or a young man wanting a special saying for a “true love” to those wanting special words to remind them of a loved one now passed, these projects always make me feel connected. There is always a person behind the personal. Making simple things that makes people happy or touches them makes me happy.

A case in point, I received a phone call from a great guy in Kansas City who was interested in my Henry David Thoreau Fishing plaque. He stated that he had always loved the quote “Many men go fishing their entire lives without knowing it is not fish they are after”. He had searched for this on a plaque for 5 years. Ever since he had seen it in a bass shop. However, he did not feel my work was quite right. I inquired as to what was wrong with it and he replied “Nothing, if you like that kind of fishing”. He went on to explain that he is a fly fisherman. Fishing is done with ties and casting, not standing on the shore dragging a line in the water. He further explained that no “real fisherman” would cast under a tree! We had a great time talking about tied flies and casting and the Robert Redford movie “A River runs through it”. He still wanted the plaque and purchased it.

I was in the process of wrapping the plaque for shipment, when I thought “Well why couldn’t it be a fly fisherman?”
I started playing with graphics and editing the design. I called my client back (he doesn’t like email) and informed him I was not sending him his plaque but a unique one depicting a fisherman in a stream using a good “10 o’clock to 1 o’clock” cast. The result came out very well. The fishing line whipping over the fisherman’s head and scrolling under the Henry David Thoreau name. He was delighted and suggested that I contact Bass Fishing magazine to show this work to all the dedicated and often fanatical fly fisherman out there.

I still think the original plaque is a beauty but sometimes little changes are needed to get it just right and make it special. Everyone has their passion and their own need to express their uniqueness. This is a beautiful thing. My grandmother used to say “The Lord God made them all”. Indeed He did, both those whose use worms and those who tie flies.

Peace

George

Remember when we were children and we would look at clouds to see what shapes they resembled? I remember being on a scout camping trip and looking up through the trees in the woods and seeing shapes formed by the branches and leaves. Today, my workbench faces a large window which allows good lighting but also lets me look out the window through the dogwood trees and watch the birds and chipmunks, busy with their daily tasks. At times, I will still notice the natural shapes formed by limbs and the curl of leaves. It often suggests a shape for something I am making. Many of you that have some of my plaques may notice that I often use the bending of tree branches as a border, a quote hanging in the sky under the trees. My shop window may well be the inspiration for this. I think it is essential to have time to dream and ponder the visions we see in the sky.

When I retired from the corporate travel road, I swore I would never wear a watch or carry a cell phone ever again. However, I was planning a trip to Las Vegas and had some conferences to attend and the web site has been busy, so I wanted to stay in touch with orders and clients correspondence while away. I purchased an iphone, an elegant device, to stay connected while I was away. I was playing with wallpapers and photos when I spotted a photograph of a face formed by the branches through the trees. I thought, “This looks like some of my plaques”. I wondered if I could convert this to black and white and then trace as a vector(lines) image and then laser engrave it onto a piece of wood. One of the things I enjoy about this little journey of mine called “Fishers Laser Carvers” is using the laser as an artistic tool, a brush to canvas. After all, whether one uses paint or chisels or power tools, makes no difference. The object, to me anyway, is to achieve interesting effects on interesting wood. This is a bit of playfulness I call “Lucy in the sky” ( you can click on the picture to see a larger version). Let me know what you think.

Peace

George