My goal with this project, is to separate the pair of 80's electronic games and mount them in individual cabinets that give a more dramatic appearance, and allow them to stand alone... I love the 80's, and amusement parks, and this seemed to be a perfect assignment!  We started with two Mr Vend games, in reasonable condition. After going through them to clean and get everything working as it was intended, we designed a cabinet that wouldn't take much floorspace, and that would resemble a penny ... Continue reading ...
This project is moving right along on schedule, as our friends and accomplished local business folks James & Tamara move back into their original location of this great gallery on East Elkhorn. Tamara is very concise with what she likes, although she says she knows what she doesn't like better, and is open to things she may not have thought about... Music to the sign builders ears!We're 3 layers into the paint chapter of their dimensional signs that will hang on the wall adjacent to the doors... Continue reading ...
When most people hear that I make signs, they generally attribute how busy we are to how many signs we have completed along main street in our town, and that's not the way it works. You see, signs are a lot more places than along the street! This morning, a couple of projects that are completely out of sight from the general public, but a major part of our time and income. One of those projects was a job for the YMCA, as we brought the new Y logo and branding to their administrative offices. E... Continue reading ...
 Why just make a rectangle? We didn't. In fact, not long after the school district inquired about 'a sign for the driveway', they left with custom shaped driveway signs, that matched the window stickers on the doors to the schools to announce the ongoing surveillance at the school campus.  For not much more than a few rectangular driveway signs, they have an easily recognizable system of notices that should help in the effort to deter bad guys from causing mischief, or mayhem before it starts. Is ... Continue reading ...
...so a man calls, and needs a sign. He has an idea, and a business card that 'he can email me' to get the logo from.  Above is the print of the logo he sent: a horse head (faintly in the background) behind the HD text, and quite small. We discuss the idea and cost, and he says to go for it. A few days later, I send him a concept, and he OK's that, now onto fabrication. Once routed and carved, it's time to paint, and several days later the sign is complete. From the marginal artwork provided, t... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, January 16, 2013,
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 OFFICE PAPER! The most remarkable source of potential recyclable material.As a thrifty business owner, I am always on the lookout for ways to conserve expenses. Trash service and trips to the dump are a part of the budget, and we have found over the years that we can trim these expenses considerably, while we look out for Mother Nature, as we Recycle. Many folks recycle a little bit, but I'm surprised at how many don't, at all. I'm quite pleased that our kids will ask where the recycling contai... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Thursday, January 10, 2013,
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OK, we're embracing change. We are giving in vs. We are participating If you didn't visit the facebook page in the last 2 weeks, you missed out on the cool GPS giveaway! Today, there's a quick clip of a cold weather, inside job of printing Ski Hidden Valley bumper stickers.... Hurry on over and take a look- and 'Like' that page to get the inside track and occasionally a You-Heard-It-Here-First news scoop. Our Facebook page will be in an interesting feed to follow for an insiders view of Es... Continue reading ...
 James Frank, a talented local photographer, captured the high resolution images of the Santa and Sleigh display for it's renewal.Every time I drive through downtown Estes during this time of year, I glance up at the seasonal display on the Knoll and see the reindeer and sleigh that were recreated and reborn in our shop. That's the way it is with so many signs and projects in our community, which is a great source of pride, and strong encouragement to do better on every job! That pressure, to d... Continue reading ...
 Working on Christmas Eve? The perks of being self employed: unlimited wealth, flexible schedule, and ah, sometimes staying at work until 2am, or putting another layer of paint on a horse on Christmas Eve..... but I wouldn't trade this for anything. The horse is headed for Durango, Colorado later this week, and must be ready. You can only put so many coats of paint on each day, so it's handy that the sign shop is only a long stride from the house... It will be ready to go on time...  The other pro... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Monday, December 17, 2012,
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It's the last couple of weeks of our year long 20th anniversary celebration- and it's been a party, whew! To celebrate that, we're going to draw names from a hat that we'll fill with folks who 'like' us on Facebook at our new Signs of Life fan page. We're still working out the kinks, so you may also consider this a payoff to bear with us as the details get worked out. Someday, the vision is to sneak details of new businesses and some of the other secret details that only a sign-man knows.... So... Continue reading ...
 It's really so true- you get what you pay for. In signs, I've never seen this old mantra be more true. The cost of course is directly related to the cost of finishing and materials. What is easy to overlook at the time that we'll discuss your sign, is how it will travel the marketing road over the next few years.... Your audience will see and understand your sign whether it's flat or dimensional, but will they put their hand to the face of the sign just to 'see what it feels like'? That's the ... Continue reading ...
 So, today we updated the sign panel at the Feed Supply Store on Moraine Avenue that in a previous life, said TOURIST GOODS. Angela, the owner, takes a healthy hands on approach to running her stores and wanted to be able to keep a fresh message in front of her customers.... so this is what happened (photo below).  We put up our traditional "For a Good Sign Call..." message, took the photo, and then they added a more important and timely message of love and thanks to the firefighters that have in... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Tuesday, November 27, 2012,
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 Balancing the first batch of maps headed for the Post Office. Today we're shipping a map to Alaska, which means that we have now shipped our RV Maps to every state in the US.It's what we get for leaving town... A couple of dozen maps were ordered and the RV owners are ready for them to arrive! Usually we send RV maps out within a day or two of the order, so it's strange to have so many in hand on the way to the Post Office. With Christmas around the corner, map purchases will pick up and I may... Continue reading ...
 BEFORE (above) AFTER (below)  "Quick" in that the agent said to go ahead yesterday, and today the changes were installed. You'll recognize this sign if you've driven by it... very colorful. After today, it's not as colorful as it once was, but a little woods-ier, and a better fit to the project- "Luxury Cabins". This project is located on the Spur (Colo Hwy 66) and has great exposure, so this sign change will be well noticed, and w... Continue reading ...
It's the time of year that we usually see a few house signs that are intended to be a special gift, which works great if you don't wait until the last minute! This week we installed a house sign (that wasn't a gift) on a home that has been undergoing some fall projects, and we tend to think the sign is the icing on the cake. Sandblasted signs are pretty timeless, and in this case fit perfectly with the field stone and wood siding that had been freshly painted.   The numbers are readable (and ref... Continue reading ...
 John is putting in the last lag bolts that will anchor the steel frame that connects with the sign panel for a secure, worry free installation. Leveling it down onto the frame, then attaching the anchor screws that will prevent the sign from shifting in the wind, or earthquake... you never know. The signs are in, and the workshop table is clear for the next project!Things went along very smoothly, and the experimental mounting bracket worked very nicely... Steel mounting bracket that will sec... Continue reading ...
 We've rescheduled the Ed's installation a couple of times, and tomorrow it will come to life! After laying out the letters destined for the high wall, we'll pack everything up and load up early tomorrow before the traffic descends on that little parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. After a quick survey today it appears that everything we have planned will 'slide right in' and make for an easy installation.... I'm making fun of myself there- one day about 18 years ago I told a friend that w... Continue reading ...
You'll see how this sign became old in an afternoon, shortly...But first, the weather: I know, it's just a trace, and it will be gone once the sun hits, but it happened. For several weeks the Continental Divide has been bathed in regular snowshowers, bringing the crisp white snowy peaks back to brilliant life (the dingy remaining snow from last year had almost completely blended in with the rest of the mountains). And so it goes, officially tromping back toward the inside work season. And now... Continue reading ...
 The bottom layer coming off the Multi Cam router, as it hogs away the HDU substrate to reveal the new life of this formerly plain-jane panel.
..that's right, Ed's Cantina is at it again- setting the pace for a fresh, clean look. They developed a contemporary logo several years ago and they have given us the opportunity to bring it to life! It's the step that so many businesses never make, from a neat logo that looks 'dimensional' on paper with shades or color blends - to a fully 3 dimensiona... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, August 22, 2012,
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 Loading up some of the BioBlitz project to help direct visitors at the event. It would appear that I disappeared from the Earth as a project that wraps up this week came together. Sometimes those projects come along and it's all that project, all day and night- like this one. National Geographic and the National Park Service are throwing an event this weekend in Estes Park that will explore and celebrate Rocky Mountain National Park- with hundreds if not thousands of guests, scientists and the... Continue reading ...
When a sign leaves the shop, it's like a little piece of us is gone. I mean, we've just spent the last few days or weeks with the sign, and the landscape of the shop is always changing. Sometimes we gauge personal events by what sign was in the shop at the time, for example:Kelly: "Mark, do you remember when the last full moon was?" (A common question Kelly might ask me)
Me: "Sure, dear. The last full Moon was the day before we delivered the Copeland sign" (Right, there's no relation to the d... Continue reading ...
 Down with the old! Trevor is removing the 23" high, 23kt gold letters that make up the previous name of the bank. The arrangement was pretty convenient here, with Trevor leaning over, and I coming up from below to tackle the removal. Installation would work just as well the next week when we came back to install the new name for the world to see. This one started out right: the Vice President (2 VP's actually) sat down and planned the sign updates with us for their name change a full month ... Continue reading ...
We started this project with a sketch- like every other project we do. A simple, pencil sketch that sheds light on what has come to mind for your project, but doesn't reveal too many details.... and allows us to embellish the plan from the time we discuss your ideas and work out a budget to the time it ends up on your wall.Today at 5:45am we started the installation, and thanks to planning our attack last night, we had the job completed before downtown Estes Park was inundated by tourists and... Continue reading ...
We definitely go through stages in our shop of techniques or styles, and I'm not sure if that's because of the fluctuation in economics of the town, or my design perspective, or the alignment of the moon... This week, we seem to have quite a few HDU projects in progress. HDU is an acronym for High Density Urethane, an engineered sign product that is commonly referred to as 'foam'. For many years we have been Sign Foam customers, as it was the only product available to us locally. This month we... Continue reading ...
 The wrench is about 4' long, ready to hang in Butch's Garage, or above his bed, or in the kitchen, or bathroom- or wherever his wife allows him to hang it! Trevor has struck up a great relationship with a guy that I've known for years though the fire department and fire museum- and this guy knows how to fix a carbureted motor.... and with a '68 Cadillac, Trevor needs to know a good old-school mechanic.Trevor was trying to think of a way to say thanks to Butch for his generosity and kindness d... Continue reading ...
 ..not like THAT Rest and Relaxation, more along the lines of Refresh and Repair!
We've got to take care of our own, and the Rustic Mountain Charm owners decided this was the year, that we would refresh their sign that we made many years ago- that has followed their store as they have moved within town. We installed it originally in Barlow Plaza, and now they own their own building right downtown. Great spot, but the sign was looking tired.  Trevor is bringing new life (through paint) to this ... Continue reading ...
 Touching up the Feed Store sign as we prepare to depart our friends at the Estes Park Feed Supply. Angela (the owner) has a great concept of how to start a business. If you're considering starting a business, ask her for some perspective first. The Feed store chapter has ended, with the installation of the feed sack artwork at the business this morning. Looks nice, feels nice, is nice. Just booked 2 great projects that will carry us forward another month, in addition to the projects already on... Continue reading ...
 This great window sign is a combination of sharp lettering on the outside of the glass, and a shiny pony inside the window display. It's easily read from across the street and proves that 'window signs' don't have to be just a line of text on the bottom of the window... Estes Park is funny- the season goes like this: Wind down from summer, make it through winter, get hit like a train on Memorial Day weekend, then siesta for the first 2 weeks in June- then- Hold On! Summer is a wild ride until... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, May 23, 2012,
In :
Sign truck
It seems there's never any time for ourselves, namely, our truck project. Every day, up at 530 to get set for the day before helping the kids out the door to school from 645 to 730. Then, back at work until they come home at 340, and family things, or Scouts, or Fire Dept, or dropping off or picking up or eating dinner, homework, reading books and everything else until around 9- then if I have any momentum left at all maybe another coat of paint or wrap up something from earlier - until midnig... Continue reading ...
A retreat center outside of Estes Park approached us several months ago about a sign... and after addressing the sign code in Boulder County (!) and the required red tape, this sign has been coming along exactly as planned. The sign will be installed by the customer, so all we have to do is build, assemble and deliver! Our favorite part- building! We should be delivering this sign tomorrow (5/16)- this is how it's been developing: In the rough cut stage of routing, this sign was a little longer ... Continue reading ...
 Out with the old - a 4" thick sandblasted panel (heavy load!)...
..and in with the new Feed Store signs  So for 20 years, I have calculated delivery dates by estimating how long it would take me to get through the stack of projects in Production. For about 19 years I have thought that a new scheduling approach would be good, and finally, it is! Last week was the first week of working off of the master schedule, which sets specific days and time frames for completing work, and allows specific d... Continue reading ...
 Just 30 minutes into the project, the router is roughing out the design.
The fire radio went off at 430am the other morning, then we were canceled just after I got dressed- so then the decision: Get undressed and back in bed and think about what there is to do today and not get back to sleep? ... or just get started on the day?I sat down at the 'Nerve Center' to finalize the router programming for the Vows wedding store sign, and then started up the trusty MultiCam router. By 630am the rout... Continue reading ...
 That is a big Diamond. We'll fit the sign around it. If it was really a diamond that weighed 2 pounds, we probably wouldn't be having this conversation! The business owner provided a glass gem to fit her Wedding Store sign, that will be carved Sign Foam (HDU). The ring will jut out of the face of the sign, and it will be another showcase sign project.....For this project, we'll fit the stone that was provided into the ring setting and bring some bling to this storefront- this is one of many ... Continue reading ...
... is the one we see, as the sign is being installed!  Although I'm sad to have it leave the shop (we sold a couple of jobs by showing off the finish of this sign in the shop), it's time to get pushed out of the nest and fly by itself... The Generations Salon sign is up and working hard- the silver text face was a perfect choice for this generally shady spot, as the metallic letter face now takes the light from the sky and results in brilliant, easy to read message from the street several hund... Continue reading ...
 With the second coat of lettering being painted today, the steel frame complete this week, we should have this sign on the wall by Friday! Paint a set of letters. Second coat, on the home stretch, should be on the wall this week. Spring has sprung, and the sign market is hopping. Can't wait for the truck to deliver on Thursday (our small town gets one delivery a week of sign supplies), so I'm headed to Denver today on a supply run, and back for soccer late this afternoon, then back to work af... Continue reading ...
Nothing is simple. Take for instance when someone calls up and asks: "How much for a sign with our name on it that is about 20" wide?"That generally translates into 2 hours of discussion through multiple phone calls and emails, and a budget of $50. No disrespect intended to potential house name customers, but we just can't make a sign for $50 that will be outdoor durable, look exactly the way you imagine it, consult for a couple of hours and meet your budget constraints.A couple of weeks ago a... Continue reading ...
 The wind picked up, so this inside school bus job was well timed (shorts on for warm weather outside).We don't have cable or satellite TV... haven't since Trevor was a wee lad, about 16 years ago... so we get a weather forecast if we go out looking for it, but generally start the day with a look outside to see what we'll be doing that day- work wise. There's always plenty to do inside and outside, but I'm more careful about planning things outside since so many aspects are temperature sensitiv... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Tuesday, March 13, 2012,
In :
Sign truck
 Standing tall among the other auction lots, the Dodge D400 'tow truck' was admired by many, but would be driven home by one man and his children (with wife following just in case)Ah, an auction in the big city. The sweet smell of the Platte River, the rumble of an occasional coal train rolling by, the chatter of the auctioneer. The temptation of a once-in-a-lifetime deal keeps us around for the entire auction. A couple of things caught our eye, although they will probably be the last 2 things ... Continue reading ...
Ethan has a project to report on his latest read for language arts at the middle school, and he has chosen the 'News Report' project. He'll report on a few key points from the Harry Potter book he just completed. We could take a shot with the beautiful evergreen trees in the back yard, or go across the street and use the Continental Divide as a backdrop- or even paint a scene from the book as a backdrop and then edit in MovieMaker... but wait! A little light comes on that reminds us that our fr... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Monday, February 27, 2012,
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.. for a day- and truthfully, it was only a carnival, and to be completely honest I didn't have to do any acts in front of people and nothing involving fire... All right, with complete transparency I admit that I merely sold cotton candy at the Elementary School carnival yesterday.  Ready
for action before the doors opened- this was a tough photo to take with
the backlighting. In real life, the lights and color (and smell) of the
floss machine drew folks in light moths to a floodlight. The di... Continue reading ...
 A special Valentines Gift- I was afraid she'd see the mini chocolate heart and miss the real gift... She did not miss this major bathroom change!This year, there seemed to be an abundance of people remarking that Valentines Day was a Hallmark Holiday and it was taking on a general conspiracy theory sound to it, so I fought back and did my little part against the conspiracy and made a gift for Kelly instead of just buying a card as usual. I admit that I used Valentines Day to give something uti... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Friday, February 10, 2012,
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 I felt badly posting the picture of the house sign with LIGHT BLUE background! Of course, I knew what it would look like when it was done, but that information was securely in my head- until now. The sign is taking shape and the paint details are going to make it all better, don't worry Coopers! The sand-like substance by the numerals at the top is actually glass beads that will provide some reflectivity at night. It will be a very cool sign, and we're within about 2 wash coats of paint from d... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Thursday, February 9, 2012,
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 ..that's what a day here is like (and I love that). As I speak there are 4 house signs and a a candy floss stand on the drying rack, 5 (10' tall) reindeer and a sleigh on the driveway, and a post begging to be transformed into a tree waiting in the workshop downstairs.   I failed to mention that it's time to get the taxes in and we're working on a new Smokey Bear Fire Danger sign proposal for review by the Forest Service. Sprinkle in about a dozen small items, and you're up to speed. No time for b... Continue reading ...
 Today was beautiful in Estes Park. One of those days that we have the advantage over the millions of folks that travel here- when it's nice we have the place all to ourselves... and we in the sign business choose these days for installations- although this install could have been handled in bitter cold and with our eyes closed- almost. For full disclosure, I spent a little while on site last week digging, setting the pole and preparing the site for today's installation. The owner was there too... Continue reading ...
..signs always swell with life once the paint goes on. Paint covers differences in base finish, texture and substrates- it ties the project together- and that's just what happened in this case - although it wasn't an uneventful walk in the park getting there... As I take you through this, keep in mind that this is an experimental project. An idea, sold to a willing (informed) customer at a great price that offers me the opportunity to take extra time and try new ideas... Paint being one of tho... Continue reading ...
 Early on, with the steel frame and thin rod welded together that would provide the framework for the lath, that would support the concrete. (the lath is already complete on the vertical post)So this house number project has turned into a great learning experience for me. You'll recall back in October I picked a few great ideas for new sign concepts up in Canada at a workshop.... The steel-and-concrete sign concept has been in the works too long from the customers perspective (thanks for your ... Continue reading ...
A couple of years ago, a local restauranteur approached me to erect a new sign for his (new) business. His assertion was that he could provide me an opportunity to promote my business by placing a sign above his door. He assured me that he would talk it up and tell everyone who made his sign. There was a catch... He wanted to trade: I create a $2,000 sign and install it, and in return he would 'give me' the exposure. -- Sometimes a response escapes me, and it sure did that day- I just had to s... Continue reading ...
..back to some cool signs! I should write about 'slow' stretches of our schedule more often. Three days after I posted the last entry about what I do when it's slow, the slow ended. It's really a double edged sword- so many days I say I'd love to have a week or two of no work scheduled, to get some of my own projects completed... Then the slow week arrives and I'm up at night wondering what the next day will hold- and how the bank account will look as a result, and you know what I mean if you o... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Tuesday, December 27, 2011,
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It always gets a little slow as the new year rolls into our tourist town, with many business owners opting to close until spring, or at least modify their schedule to coincide with the weekend visitors. With those schedule changes comes an unfortunate lull in many businesses owners self investment strategies. Some visionary business people recognize the opportunity to get our full attention in the off-season without having to compete with their peers that put off new signs until 'the season' ... Continue reading ...
Last week I was wrapping up about 5 hours on the MultiCam router cutting parts of various projects- and the neighbor stopped by while the router system was still running. For a couple of weeks she has been suggesting that we put together a 'DITTO' sign for her porch. (I think she's trying to avoid decorating her whole house- and she has a good sense of humor). I had agreed to it, although I had been avoiding it since the router hasn't run for several days, and I'm always in a hurry when it is ... Continue reading ...
That headline is misleading. They didn't rush me, I offered a rush delivery to meet a self imposed deadline of holiday accommodations traffic at the Y. There's been some development going on at the YMCA of the Rockies- Estes Park Center. Over the last couple of years, they have built, and remodeled and set a new standard for any-size-group facilities for conferences or even small family trips. This Y is impressive, not like the neighborhood YMCA you may have visited while growing up. Here, the... Continue reading ...
We traveled to the Boulder Dept of Motor Vehicle for Trevor to take his Driving Test last week, and during the course of waiting (and waiting), this sign stared at me intently. I don't think it meant to stare at me, but I was sitting right under it, waiting for the driving examiner to call Trevor's name, and then return with my son from one of the first real trials of becoming an adult.  I wonder if the person who said: "I can just make a sign, boss" knows how many people see their sign, and how... Continue reading ...
 Applying the metal paste/paint to the edge of the sign panel. This paint is embedded with iron particles that make the HDU foam look like it's really metal.Good news, in this case- the rusted edge of the D&S sign... It wasn't easy, either! To continue the macho-metal look of this sign, I chose a rusty edge and it's looking good, almost ready to deliver. It's a 2 part paint process, laying a thick iron embedded base down that is almost like a metal paste. Always going for the best finish, I app... Continue reading ...
Now, the existing welders probably don't need to take offense, or even take notice that I have taken up the fun and rewarding endeavor of MIG welding... If things continue the way are turning out though, having this tool in our arsenal will make a huge difference in the work that is leaving this shop. In fact, I wonder how I got this far without a welder? (I know the answer: I paid others to weld projects for me) When I visited Dan's shop in Yarrow BC (Canada), he introduced a technique that l... Continue reading ...
 Painting brown on top of the red?! Yup. That brown is a special blend of paint that creates a 'wash' that allows us to paint at full strength and then remove some of that coat to leave a protective coat of color- creating depth and life.It's not a lot of time actually painting- it's the paint prep, mixing, drying time and planning that takes the time on these projects. This background is coming together exactly as planned, and is gaining more rich life with each step. Last week I finished the ... Continue reading ...
 Actually, I expected it, so it's not really a big deal- the whole sign is bright red! I realized that I haven't painted a sign for over a year, considering our bus trip (www.ourBigtrip.us), and now I remember why I like making signs... Imagine a quiet day in the shop, talk radio in the background, heat is at 70 degrees, snow falling outside the window, snacks and drinks as close as the kitchen downstairs- and painting signs. Ahhh. Did I mention it's a 4' commute to the sign shop? Shoveling sno... Continue reading ...
 Creating a sign is a series of well-planned steps that must be completed to insure long life and the 'look' that the customer ordered. The steps don't change much regarding construction, but each step has ample latitude for creativity and embellishment, and this is where our signs stand out. The priming stage is regarded as a formality in many shops, but it's where the final texture and character is added before color. The CNC router creates the overall texture and layout as it is directed wi... Continue reading ...
 The scene of the crime this morning... Last time I wrote, the router had taken about 4 hours to get as far as: almost being done, I thought. Keep in mind that this is a learning experience (I keep telling myself, too). The router started running at high noon yesterday- with a 1/4" end mill tool to do the rough step in 5 passes with 75% overlap, then the same 1/4" bit to do a rough pass that would cut within .1" of the finished surface, making way for the finishing bit, a 1/8" ball nose bit tha... Continue reading ...
The project has been under the 12,000 rpm spindle for almost 4 hours,
and it's looking good! At this stage, I could finish it by hand if the
ol' MultiCam started to cut funny lines...
For this project, I had 15# Sign Foam on hand, so we'll see how it does
with the finished project. As much as this will be a great looking sign
for the customer, and the companion (duplicate) sign will work hard in
our showroom- it is an experiment.
I hope the router will be done by dinner with a real lif... Continue reading ...
I am hoping today is NOT that day. But if it was, it would just be
another lesson from the school of hard knocks. Life learning. Trial and
Error. Trial by Fire. Stupidity?
To get to this day, it has been a longer-than-I-expected road filled
with curves and surprises, and my head is recovering from all of the
beating against the wall late at night when things wouldn't go.
That's how I learn new things I guess. I can remember struggling to
learn Gerber software (I'm up to understanding a... Continue reading ...
 The perspective view of the D&S sign in EnRoute (our routing software).I always get a chuckle out of folks that are impressed by the power of the MultiCam router, for when you walk into the shop and the machine is running and I'm standing there marveling at the smooth efficiency of a CNC router- it looks..... easy. That is the fun part (watching the router work). When that same person sometimes makes comments about how nice it must be to have a router that does all the work for us and sometime... Continue reading ...
 (above) The sign layout on screen in the 2D stage of design. The red line on the
left and bottom indicated the edge of the substrate and isn't part of the sign.I recently visited our mechanic to drop off some used motor oil (he heats his shop by burning recycled motor oil), and on the way out he asked if I could letter his door. Well of course I could. But lettering doors isn't what excited me right now, so I asked a few more questions, and found out that he didn't really care what I did, as l... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Wednesday, October 19, 2011,
When we left Colorado for our 1-year tour of the United States (www.ourBigtrip.us)- we left behind our home, our sign business and loads of friends. We also left behind a hectic schedule, and the snow- so there were good and bad sides to that hiatus. It's just this week that I feel like we're really back up to speed personally, and in the sign shop. Of course, we lost some customers that continued on in business despite our absence (who we hope to earn back). The phone kept ringing, and we ref... Continue reading ...
Posted by Mark I on Monday, October 3, 2011,
 The rainy view from the Serenity Room at Hazelgreen B&B, just a mile from Sawatzky's (and only $60/night)Gazing over the hazelnut orchard, with sheep grazing among the trees from my twin bed at a bed & breakfast in Yarrow, BC (Canada) is a great way to start the day. Truth be told, it is the first morning I've actually been able to see out of the window, and I'm packing for the road trip back to Seattle, for my return flight to Colorado. Yarrow BC is the home of a man that creates signs, and t... Continue reading ...
Signs of Life, Inc Estes Park, Colorado (970) 586-6995
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... meet the signmaker
| Mark Igel |
| Estes Park, Colorado |
It all started in 1992, I was working full time as a Paramedic and made a few signs on the side. The word got out, so I made a few more... People will pay me to make signs? I was in! This business is an exciting creative outlet that has allowed me to use cutting edge technology and release the ideas from inside my head- while offering effective signs to our customers.
Today alongside my wife Kelly, we're doing our best to raise 7 children from 8-17 years old. I continue to volunteer with the Fire District, and enjoy Scouts with our sons.
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