Hello everyone! I found this site yesterday and want to join in with you. I have been lettering since 1980 and I'm from Wisconsin where I hand painted billboards all over the state and owned a shop. I moved to Washington in 89 and opened shop. For the last several years I took up carpentry and as of this coming week I will re-open my sign shop. Sometime next week I'll become a resident and go from there! Happy to be here! Mike in Yelm, Wa
Posted by Dana Stanley (Member # 6786) on :
Welcome to Letterville. This is a realy cool place!
Posted by Michael Heaton (Member # 7731) on :
Thank you Dana. I may be a bit out of place as I haven't begun to use computers for signmaking yet, but hope to soon. I have so many questions about software etc. I'm motivated to join the 21st century:)
Posted by Dana Stanley (Member # 6786) on :
6 months ago I opened my cd for my plotter (the cut program) and now it's a breeze. You just need to play with it. Like anything, computers take a little practice.
It felt like walking off a plane in a foreign land when I opened up the plotter I had no idea how to speak the language.
If there is a letterhead near you I'm sure they will help you out.
Posted by Mike Clayton (Member # 723) on :
Welcome, Mike!
From, Mike Posted by Terry Baird (Member # 3495) on :
Welcome Mike, I think you'll find alot of old school here too.
Posted by Tony Vickio (Member # 2265) on :
Welcome Mike!
Like Terry said, there are "Old School" sign people lurking in the shadows!
Posted by Joey Madden (Member # 1192) on :
Welcome my son, welcome to the machine. Where have you been? It's alright we know where you've been.
Some of us are still there doing it by hand and still making a living, it all depends on how good you are Posted by John Lennig (Member # 2455) on :
Hi Mike, Welcome! Good to have more Letterheads on the NorthWest Coast!! Hey, Brushworks was(still is, under another owner) the name of my shop here in Burnaby!
btw, charge right into the 21st Century, but don't totally forsake your roots(that is, your brushes). Hope to meet you in the not to distant future, some brush work and a bike ride?
good wishes for you and your new Shop!
John
Posted by Wayne Webb (Member # 1124) on :
Welcome to Letterville Michael!
Posted by Duncan Wilkie (Member # 132) on :
Welcome Mike. You haven't lived til you've been to a live meet, but this is a great start.
Posted by Dan Sawatzky (Member # 88) on :
Welcome to Letterville Michael!
I looked up Yelm to see just where you are... turns out just south of Seattle for those wondering... about 5 hours south of us here in Yarrow.
If you want to see the 3D side of current signmaking you are welcome to drop in here for a visit!
-grampa dan
Posted by Bruce Bowers (Member # 892) on :
Welcome to the neighborhood!
I am an old school guy who embraces the new technology as well. I would be happy to help you any way I can.
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Greetings from Michigan!
I thought I saw a moving van in the neighborhood! Welcome aboard Mike! And remember, play nice!
Posted by Michael Heaton (Member # 7731) on :
Thanks for the warm welcome! Dan, I drive over to Horseshoe bay several times a year, (family) are you in that general direction? If you are I bet your excited about the Olympics, all the potential work there. I've been invited to move to Horsehoe Bay. I REALLY LOVE BC! I can go up there and have a beer or a cup with strangers and no one is talking about Mr. Bush! People still hitch hike. It's so causual compared to west of the mountains here
So, I never stopped painting, mostly mdo, it was severe burnout, 7 days a week from May through September that caused me to sell. I was not able to find someone that could letter in the fashion and quality that kept me so busy. I never found anyone addicted to our lifestyle (yep) My brother in law took me on as an apprentice framer. I learned, all aspects of carpentry and light cabinetry. I will now bring those skills into some trick sign frames and 3-D wooden stuff from the lathe and glue ups etc. Now for what confuses me, if I where to get the best software to cut some vinyl, make pounce patterns, import photos with, what would be the best bang for the buck. And while I'm here, which plotter?
John, I will be in Burnaby for a day or 2 within the next few weeks, we will hook up then! (I am painting an old moutain bike like Bamboo and will market it on craigslist jsut for fun)
To the rest of you, I am so pleased to have someone "like me". It's funny, the only one shot a person can find on the shelves anywhere is in the 1/4 pint size. Depending how you look at it, it says volumes huh. Northwest sign supply in Seattle greets me like a second citizen and their quill selection is hidden away and dusty:) Oh well, I got over the disdain for computers about 4 years ago and am progressing quite well in acceptance of all the fast sign type sign franchises like Starbucks on each corner. Everyone has a right to make a living. And I must admit, opaques and overheads became like ditch digging over 20 years ago. Mike
Posted by Judy Pate (Member # 237) on :
Hi Michael, Greetings from south Georgia! Welcome to the neighborhood...looking foward to meeting you at a live letterhead meet one day. I too went from handpainting to computers..a bit of a learning curve but you can do it. Judy
Posted by Nancie W. Phillips (Member # 3484) on :
Hey Michael... Welcome to Letterville. Sounds like you fit right in! This is a great community to be a part of...
Posted by Craig Sjoquist (Member # 4684) on :
Greetings from Florida surely you'll enjoy this great forum n ppl old school here just working on my 1st 10 computer aided advertisments
13 folds
Posted by Randy Campbell (Member # 2675) on :
Welcome from Hamilton Ontario Mike.Keep the brush working.
Posted by Deb Fowler (Member # 1039) on :
Welcome, Michael. I hope you find a lot of inspiration here. There are a good amount of letterheads in your part of the country too. We're here 24/7, that's what's nice. Joey, I remember that tune!
Posted by Deri Russell (Member # 119) on :
Another welcome from Ontario Mike. Remember to share your work and your thoughts. We have a lot of lurkers who don't really get themselves involved and I think they miss out on a lot by doing that. Glad to see you found the neighbourhood.
Posted by Len Mort (Member # 7030) on :
Welcome Mike from Massachusetts. I'm an old school signwriter, designer, pinstriper and fabricator along with the new school computer generated equipment as well.
Posted by Todd Gill (Member # 2569) on :
Welcome! Looking forward to seeing some of your stuff on the portfolio portion of the site....which is one of my favorite things here....glad to have ya.
Posted by Miles Cullinane (Member # 980) on :
Michael
Here are your directionS to you first meet starting on the 21st of june. Jump on a plane and head to Algoma. I'm on my way and see you there.
If you need to know more then read the post about Algoma at the top of the BullBoard.
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