I don't really have a problem with them using the name to direct traffic to their site. I guess that's a pretty smart business move - for someone to buy the domain name of a defunct business. (Of course, I've known instances of unethical practice like buying the domain name of an existing business w...

James, I was looking forward to seeing the Emerald Isle and participating in this event. However, as much as we value preserving the legacy of our craft through such events, your wife and baby are the ones who deserve the true legacy of your time and energy. Better to face the music now and cancel. ...

Erik, The gold I ordered is for a dimensional HDU sign I'm doing with some surface gilding. The design isn't my own and I'm subcontracting for another sign company on the project so I won't post any pictures. Mark, It was interesting to look at the site for Mystic Blue Signs. I like this description...

Larry, Congrats on selling the pieces off your website! Everything you do is a piece of art - and you know me well enough to know I'm not a flatterer. I just don't understand how you turn out the volume of work that you do - most of it seems like it's just for the love of the craft. I'm glad you've ...

Nice work, Aaron. It feels good to step back & look at it, huh? As Dave recommended, if your varnish has dried, rough it up with 000 Steel Wool to give a nice, even matte finish. If you're trying to get it all done at once, use gold size (as Robare recommended) instead of varnish and it will hol...

This is really stunning, Dave. Is this reverse-painted on the glass? I've done some reverse pictorial work and it's pretty difficult so I'm curious if this is a painting adhered to the back of the glass or if it's painted on the glass. Either way, it's beautiful and as usual, I appreciate the stuff ...

Robare, I currently have 2 sons living in NYC and I’m due for a visit. I hope you'll fall in love with the city as I've done. An absolute MUST SEE is the Rockefeller Center. I could spend days wandering around the several buildings located within the few square blocks of that project. Not only the g...

Several years ago (has it been 10 years?) Dave McDonald was having a small gathering at his shop and Rick & Lola came up to visit one day. Rick had several photographs of this job and a little sample piece they had done beforehand for the corner ornament. I took pictures of the sample which I'll...

Several years ago (has it been 10 years?) Dave McDonald was having a small gathering at his shop and Rick & Lola came up to visit one day. Rick had several photographs of this job and a little sample piece they had done beforehand for the corner ornament. I took pictures of the sample which I'll...

Hello Mike, Welcome! The Colorado Letterheads are a bunch of us here in Colorado who almost never get together but who talk about doing so from time to time. Probably Kent Smith would be the one most conversant with what our non-activities are at any given moment. (Actually, I missed the most recent...

Hi Mark, I've done a similar treatment on the oil size using a sponge instead of the stiff brush you're referring to. It does even out the strokes and give some texture to catch the light. You're quite right - about me filling up a memory card with architectural features. I never imagined Tuscany &a...

As promised earlier: The front door for Papini Leather became my favorite window sign in Florence. The store was located just a few doors from our hotel on the Arno river. I went inside & spent some time speaking with Mr. Papini. His grandfather started the business in 1896, and currently his da...

Roderick,
The photo you have on your website (Orologeria) is, if I recall, part of the same storefront but the background was beginning to flake off. So I've posted a picture of "Gioilleria" - which was in better condition.

Hi Ron, What you are seeing behind the Cafe lettering is actually the ceiling of the shop. I don't think I saw any copper gilding on our trip, but I did see a lot of copper in Asissi - statuary, bas-relief, light fixtures, etc. Seemed to go beautifully with the pink stone quarried from Mount Subasio...

Last fall my wife & I spent 3 weeks in Italy. One of the most enjoyable aspects of the trip was the week we spent in the heart of Florence. We had a room in a vintage hotel located on the Arno River right beside the Ponte Vecchio. Ancient history oozed from the architecture and art as well as ev...

Sweet!

Robare,
Judging by the underwhelming response, I think this revolution is going to have a slow start!

Noah, Correct me if I'm wrong: After reading Bruce's and Kent's posts about wanting their leaf to be 18 grams, did you then order 18k gold (Lemon Gold)? There is a difference. 18 grams refers to the weight, thus the thickness of the leaf, whereas 18k refers to the amount of gold in proportion to oth...

I haven't visited the forum for a while. What a treat to see this newest creation, Dave. It is over-the-top-beautifu l! Bruce - I've always admired your work. The photo you've displayed here is elegant in it's simplicity. Exquisite work by itself - but incredible to hear that it is hand-lettered. Ve...

Tony - if I win, what's the prize? Maybe you could recreate this in glass and give it to me!!! Miles, if you look above the awning at the center (where the panels don't quite line up) you'll see the name of the sign shop. I think it says "Quail & Co." or something like that. Found this...

Thank you, Miles. I love that web site.
Here is a good one I found through the links you sent.

http://www.shorpy.com/node/9413

Theatre Comique: It's a great example of theatrical opulence.

I've heard of this saw but have never seen it in operation. About 4-5 years ago I was careless with my table saw. (See the photo.) My fingers are already short & stubby & I wasn't really eager to give up any extra length. Thankfully the blade only went through to the bone. Immediately after ...

Wow.
Gotta get over there.

Wow.
Gotta get over there.

Thanks, Jeff.
That was beautiful.

Hi Doug, The borders on all 3 look pretty much the same. Some of the background on the middle one (like in the arch at the top) looks like it could be a bit faded so I took that into account in choosing it as the original. The top lettering on the one on the right is more similar to the middle one t...

Hey Doug, Well, here it is - Good Friday evening & still no answer! And not even a hint. That's a tough one. Even looking at them up close it's hard to see much difference. I'm going to guess, from Left to Right: Recreated, Original, Restored. I have some arbitrary reasons for my choices but it'...

Dave, It'a hard to believe that it has been 7 years. I owe so much to Rick. The first time I walked into his shop with Tom Seibert, we were both completely blown away. I had no idea that this kind of work was being done. Over the years as I continued to return to that esoteric conclave in Wilmington...

Dave, Over the top, as usual. What a beautiful piece! Yeah, you're right - it really is missing something. Really needs the edge cuts and diamond cuts running up through the letter. (You've gotta be kidding.) I'd love to make it to England some day to take a workshop with you. I have a hard enough t...

Nice addition, William Blake. Just one question:

Do Lee and I get a discount on our so-called "haircuts"?

Marvin