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Hi everybody. My wife and I, decided to take 2 days out of the workshop to attend the Consac in Toronto. We got to Toronto on Thursday night after a 6 hour drive. Come Friday morning, we were just like kids hoping to find out more about our craft(mostly 3D wood signs), tools, equipment, new software etc... We were sorry to find that the show was 95% oriented to the printer/plotter industry which to me personally is cold and flat. The representatives would rave about their machines being the best and bla bla... To Nathalie and I, the 40, 50 000 square foot show was happening in a 20X20 foot area called "The Great Canadian Beaver Dam". What we found there was people talking about the craft, actually doing it with their own hands. Talking about a way of life that is ours. René Giroux gave Nathalie a "Gold guilding 101" that really helped her refine her work.Many thanks rené !!!
Doug Downey's seminar on layout and design was fun and creatively inspiring.
Dan Sawatski, who has always been an inspiration to me in my mind (not my work), has made me understand that I must go all the way with my inspiration and dreams, makin it FUN along the way. I all ready called a local organism and asked to forget the plans I sent and go with what I feel I should build for them.
Ghislain Grenier was instantly like an old friend, we talked about so many facets of the sign business,the competition, family life, Women...and more.
Pierre Tardif with his drive has given us the feel for hand lettering, we plan to attend his coming seminars in November. What a natural !!!
I could name many more, but I wanted to say that instead of coming back with new technologies and tools, we came back with the feeling of being part of a wonderful group of people with warm hearts, generously sharing the tricks of the trade, surviving with gouges and paintbrushes in a world of hi-tech cold ink gadgetry. We promised ourselves to attend more meets.
Wish you all a great day !!!
-------------------- Daniel Gervais (dgd34@hotmail.com on MSN messenger) Atelier d'enseignes Bois et Passions (Wood and Passions signshop) www.enseignesbp.com 75 rue Luc St-jean sur richelieu, Qc,Can dgervais@enseignesbp.com Posts: 74 | From: Saint Jean sur Richelieu, Qc ,Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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I'm very sorry I missed Consac this time.Dan I found the same when I was there last year.It was of no use until I got to the Beaver Dam and Tramps table.
-------------------- Randall Campbell Randy's Graphics, 420 Fairfield N. Hamilton Ontario Canada Posts: 2857 | From: Hamilton Ontario Canada | Registered: Jan 2002
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I had a great time at CONSAC! Getting to spend quality time with my creative friends is nothing short of amazing!
For me it was three days of valuable input of creative ideas and creative energy. I kept my eyes open to what the others in the Beaver Dam were doing... learning the whole time.
But it actually started at eight each morning as we sat for breakfast. Rubbing shoulders with and sharing stories and experiences with these folks made for constant learning. At the booth we concentrated our efforts to those who dropped by, but then we put our heads together once more until late into the early hours, over some great food and drinks afterwards.
Thank you to those in the booth! Thanks to the organizers who made it happen (especially Rene) and THANKS to all who dropped by and chatted with us through the show! It was non-stop inspiration and learning for me!
Still buzzing in Yarrow...
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8774 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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I found the Consac show very helpful. Yes the Beaverdam of course, and the seminars were great, but there was also many booths that had quite a number of interesting things. I needed a new source for flags (banners)not made of vinyl, but of material. I found one. I was interested in the heat presses for T-shirts and printing the designs with my Roland. Found one. There were new products- printable wallpapers for instance, that were there. The Consac show is directed to the larger sign shops yes, but there was also a LOT of very valuable information for the small shops with or without printers. And a lot of booths that subbed out work if you didn't have your own printer. If it was handcrafted info you were in need of a Letterhead Meet would probably be more down your alley. But I am sure that the people who do only sandblasted or hand crafted signs still get inquiries for printed work/ LED signs/3D plastic lettering etc. etc. etc. and it was a great place to get yourself some wholesalers and suppliers.
-------------------- Deri Russell Wildwood Signs Hanover, Ontario
You're just jealous 'cause the little voices only talk to me. Posts: 1904 | From: Hanover, Ontario, Canada | Registered: Dec 1998
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fun for us too, could do without the week or so of self imposed torture getting redy tho! haad a great time meeting customers/friends who are otherwise a voice on the phone and mucking about in the dam, hope to spend more time there next year, and renee, see you in la belle provence in the spring
-------------------- Pete Payne Willowlake Design/Canadian Signcrafters Bayfield, ON
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Yup! Lotsa fun and very inspiring. Also a great boost for the ego working the old way just beside all the latest technology! The good thing of the Beaver Dam is that even in case of power breakage, there would still be a show!!
Thanks for the kind words Daniel but we are just human beings trying to make a difference!
Thanks to everybody!
Life is so good!
-------------------- Pierre Tardif P. Tardif Inc. 1006 boul. PIE-XI sud Val-Belair QC. Canada G3K 1L2 418-847-4089 pierre@ptardif.com Posts: 800 | From: Quebec city | Registered: Aug 2002
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I enjoyed my time working in the Beaver Dam as well. It was my second year to attend, and another opportunity to work away on one of my current airbrush projects, along side of all the other talented artists who are there participating and sharing their knowledge.
Always great to do a little shop talk with my fellow letterheads, learn about some new things, and of course, chat it up with all the folks who stop by while we are working away.
It also gave me a chance to visit with my daughter at the end of the show, as she is attending her first year of university in Toronto in one of the Arts Programs at UofT. On Sunday morning we attended an exhibit of some of Robert Bateman's original wildlife paintings at one of the local galleries. Very impressive and inspirational !
Thanks again to Rene for doing such a great job. Hope you found a good spot to hang your tiger print.
quote: and renee, see you in la belle provence inRené, Is there a meet in Québec at spring ??? the spring
René, Is there a meet in Québec city in the spring ???
If there are any other future meets in Canada please post here !
Dan
-------------------- Daniel Gervais (dgd34@hotmail.com on MSN messenger) Atelier d'enseignes Bois et Passions (Wood and Passions signshop) www.enseignesbp.com 75 rue Luc St-jean sur richelieu, Qc,Can dgervais@enseignesbp.com Posts: 74 | From: Saint Jean sur Richelieu, Qc ,Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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-------------------- Daniel Gervais (dgd34@hotmail.com on MSN messenger) Atelier d'enseignes Bois et Passions (Wood and Passions signshop) www.enseignesbp.com 75 rue Luc St-jean sur richelieu, Qc,Can dgervais@enseignesbp.com Posts: 74 | From: Saint Jean sur Richelieu, Qc ,Canada | Registered: Apr 2005
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