posted
The 20th meet at Fred's in Oklahoma City is over and a great time was had by all...at least for me it was a great time.
It was good to see old friends and to meet Duncan and John from the great, white North. New faces were evident and some of the old ones looked even older (like me).
Robert Beverly began a collection of money a few months ago to present Fred and Marilyn a gift of a trip to Yellowstone. Robert worded a beautiful card and we presented the Self's with a check for $4,000. He wouldn't like me saying so in public, but Robert gave the majority of that himself, along with contacting and collecting funds from the rest of it. Thanks Robert.
Fred and Marilyn were completely surprised and overwhelmed by the gift. There were quite a few with tears in their eyes when it was presented.
Some of us drove through snow to get there, which is no big deal to you Northern guys, but to us in Texas it is rare, indeed.
I bugged everyone with my video camera, but got a lot of really nice stuff for a future Letterhead documentary. Also, we asked folks to record a personal "thank you" greeting to Fred and Marilyn and I'll combine those onto a DVD to send to Fred sometime later.
Now, back to the reality of everyday. Maybe even a nap later.
[ March 10, 2008, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: Raymond Chapman ]
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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After 6 years of Fred's it will be a shame if it is the last...but I am so appreciative that I got any at all!
As for their gift...I think it was the best investment I have ever made...and they just got a little dividend back!...It was a steal!...
As a quick view to those who did not come, I will share the follwing. I took what I consider to be those photos that represent the embodiment of the weekend to me!
The weekend was of course filled with wonderful work and some awesome talent...as usual and from different corners of the continent!
The fun we have with the host...making sure he is allowed to have and enjoy it with us!
Just so we can see more of Fred's great talent and techniques that he willingly shares with any who will listen!
We honored him with a little gift of appreciation for putting up with us for 20 years!
Why?....Where can you go when you just want to stay with your freinds until 3 am in the morning talking, having fun and laughing and not wanting the night to end! They had to be run off!
And wow....was it especially worth it when a young lady appeared (someone that I had never met before) that had never painted a panel before. She had only had experience with paint and canvas, and to create something like this panel...THAT is what this movement called LETTERHEADS is all about...boy, the future is bright for her!
and as I get older, the fun just seems to increase exponentially! There was not one moment I did not enjoy until Raymond and his camera showed up!...
Thanks Raymond...The work you are putting into this video collection of thoughts on Letterheads is ambitious and will be appreciated!
Robert
[ March 10, 2008, 06:05 PM: Message edited by: Robert Beverly ]
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas Posts: 1023 | From: Arlington, Texas | Registered: Jan 2001
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posted
Robert almost had to literally be dragged into the "film room" (as it came to be know) for his portion of the video, but he did an excellent job of describing what the Letterheads are all about.
Many others came reluctantly, but were truely "word masters" when they poured out their hearts about the passion within each of them.
Thanks to all who endured and tolerated me. You are all great inspirations and heroes.
"The Letterheads"....coming soon to a theatre near you.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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posted
A stunning line up of talent, knowledge and carring people. It was terrific meeting some for the first time and to see many familiar faces as well. Many thanks to Fred, Marilyn, Skip and all the family and friends that helped make it such a special time. I'm in Denver on my way home. I'll be posting some pictures and telling some stories when I get back to Edmonton.
posted
Raymond, for a while did you feel like you were being avoided? None of us wanted to be intimidated in front of that big 'ol camera. When you came into the shop most of us would look the other way or take off in another direction hoping you wouldn't catch us.
Robert, thank you for your organizing efforts and contribution to Fred and Marilyn's trip. We all were touched by their response.
To those that couldn't be there - there's nothing like the combination of seeing old friends, playing tunes, and breathing fumes. Glad I got to meet new some faces. John Lennig, Duncan Wilkie, Joe Cieslowski, Hoogie, and Mr. C to name a few.
I enjoyed seeing my good friend Don Dennis there for the first time. When I was asked to hand-letter something I suggested to have Don do it. I consider him a master at script and calligraphy lettering. Like a pro he took on the last minute task of lettering the showcard to Fred and Marilyn you see above.
Fred, thanks for some great memories. Hopefully, I pray this won't be your last meet.
-------------------- Ray Skaines League City, Tx www.srsigns.com Posts: 130 | From: League City, Texas | Registered: Mar 2003
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Every one of Fred's meets that I've been able to attend has had a special kind of almost magical effect on me that's like a breath of fresh air. The combination of seeing old friends and meeting new ones, the hospitality provided by Fred, Marilyn, Skip and the rest of the folks, and the sheer joy of being in the middle of so much talent at work always leaves me with a feeling of having received much more than I've been able to give. Somehow things just haven't ever worked out like I'd planned but I'll take the reality instead of my plans.
This year was no different. It was like living out one of those old "ohh,that's good...no, that's bad; ohhh, that's bad....no, that's good" jokes. Regardless, I planned on meeting Big Top John at the OKC airport at 7 pm Thursday evening but I was delayed getting out of town. (that's bad..no,that's good, because John called from Denver & his flight is gonna be late) I wound up driving up to the gate just as John walked out from the luggage claim. And so it began. Anyway,I FINALLY got to the meet EARLY!! Although I ended up spending most of the meet back in the motel room trying to fight off a resurgent case of "Crud" (apparently that's what they're calling the current strain of upper respriratory infection that's goin' around) I really enjoyed myself.
p.s. Raymond...you ARE kind of intimidating with that video cam, maybe you can give it a 'camo' job with some MDO scraps or something?
Robert, thanks for the effort you put into Fred & Marilyn's surprise. Sorry I wasn't able to be there for the presentation but I'll give you a call tomorrow.
Pierre.....I TOLD you this was gonna be a good meet. Do I gotta come up there & drag ya back across the border?
Ray S., if you find any copies of your cd I'd like to get one. And tell Don he did a great job on that lettering.
And special thanks to Big Top John for putting up with splitting a room with me. Sorry I wasn't better company.
[ March 11, 2008, 03:05 AM: Message edited by: Chris Elliott ]
-------------------- Chris Elliott 1longshot@classicnet.net cell 62084two2232 Posts: 686 | From: Scottsdale, AZ & Anthony, KS, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Man am I sorry I missed another obviously great meet...Pat was down with the flu for 3 weeks prior and I was down the week of...I just didn't think you guys needed me and my "crud" there...I'll be there next year for sure.
Back verticle now and trying to work and feeling sorry for myself that I didn't make it..
Sorry Ray I'd like to have seen everyone especially you.
-------------------- "Werks fer me...it'll werk fer you"
posted
Fred stuck me in the bad boy corner with Geet Faulkner. He let us out to eat, though.
This meet was special in a lot ways. It was the first one I have been to since the heart attack and moving and all. I have not lettered a thing with a quill since August of '05. I felt like a kid again.
New faces, old friends and buddies... What an awesome time.
Thanks, Fred and Marilyn!
Let's do it again!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6451 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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Monte, sorry to hear about you & Pat bring down with the flu. (is the crud a type of flu?) Y'all were missed. In hindsight, I probably should have stayed home too (Especially if anyone caught it from me). I got hit with the crud about a week before the meet but thought I was over it when I felt better the day before the meet. I was wrong about being past it, turns out the warnings about pacing myself & not trying to do too much too fast were right. So....y'all pace yourselves, ok?
-------------------- Chris Elliott 1longshot@classicnet.net cell 62084two2232 Posts: 686 | From: Scottsdale, AZ & Anthony, KS, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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Chris...so sorry that you were not up to par and had to miss a lot of the meet. Mike and I saw you briefly as we were checking out of the Red Roof and you looked liked you had been run over by a truck. Hope you are feeling better now. It's always a joy to be around you.
Monte, I thought that you were in Mexico. We missed you and that long mahl stick. The flu seems to have effected a lot of folks. Get well.
One of the highlights of this year's venture north was getting to see Mark Yearwood's new shop and spending some time with him and E.J. He is simply one of the best designers around and just keeps getting better.
Mike and I also stopped in to see Joe Crumley and his new shop in Norman. Envy was everywhere as we drooled over all that space.
Fred and Marilyn are special folks. He is unique in a world that seems to be spinning out of control. And I think we are all better people for associating with such a giving person.
Rebel was missed this year. It seems to back trouble is keeping him close to home.
Great memories.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I've been wanting to go to Fred's meet for years now. Timing was always wrong in past years, but this one just slipped by me. Don't know how but I'm bummed. If this was his last meet I will have missed a real gem.
You always think there will be plenty of time.
-------------------- Dave Sherby "Sandman" SherWood Sign & Graphic Design Crystal Falls, MI 49920 906-875-6201 sherwoodsign@sbcglobal.net Posts: 5400 | From: Crystal Falls, MI USA | Registered: Apr 1999
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oh, speaking about Rebel...I gave him a little call before we left when I heard through Beverly that he wasn't coming....(this is to everyone who had an "excuse" for not being able to be there..!) I brought Rob up there in '06..he had just been out of the hospital for 2 weeks, no skull covering his itty-bitty brain, wasn't walking, was tube fed, couldn't talk...blah, blah....no excuses for anyone! If it happens next year we should ALL make the best effort to be there. Fred & Marilyn are awesome and they go through a lot of preparation for us. Also the talent and people are so great to be around...just amazing! Are we all rubbing it in or what??!?!
-------------------- Robert Nouis LazerLines.com/Nuclear Designs Pinstriping 6522 Inverness Way Pasadena Tx 77505
"Trust me, I do this all the time" Posts: 36 | From: Pasadena TX | Registered: Sep 2001
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quote:Originally posted by Raymond Chapman: Joe...I wasn't invited! I was running all over the country with Ray Skaines - who was lost most of the time.
Yeah, I learned my lesson. So much for driving 4 talented extroverted alter-egoed artist to find a place to eat and make 'em happy. I feel sorry for their wives - I see what they put up with. They almost got dumped for a long walk back to Freds.
-------------------- Ray Skaines League City, Tx www.srsigns.com Posts: 130 | From: League City, Texas | Registered: Mar 2003
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posted
Hey...I wasn't the one standing in the freezing temperature reading the outside menu at the Italian place and then deciding to go somewhere else.
Driving an hour to look at a bunch of soda bottles. You don't get out much, do you?
Next time...I'm driving. Just a hint to all newcomers - don't try to follow Mark Yearwood anywhere. He drives like a maniac.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Why would you say that......I followed him to the motel. When I got there I pulled up behind him....I thought....This guy in a suit gets out and looks at me like I'm gonna rob him...oooooops.
Mark musta done the "Highway Shuffle" on me???
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
joe,
Makin Chips and Havin Fun!
-------------------- Joe Cieslowski Connecticut Woodcarvers Gallery P.O.Box 368 East Canaan CT 06024 jcieslowski@snet.net 860-824-0883 Posts: 2345 | From: East Canaan CT 06024 | Registered: Nov 2001
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posted
We all walked up to the door to go into the Italian restaurant. We're ready to walk in. And what does Raymond do? He wonders over to corner of the street to admire the signs and leaves us standing. Admit it Raymond, you've probably done that to Jeanne many a time.
Even with all the jawing I thought it was pretty cool to go to Pop's on Route 66.
Never a dull moment...
-------------------- Ray Skaines League City, Tx www.srsigns.com Posts: 130 | From: League City, Texas | Registered: Mar 2003
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Who...me? You must be thinking about someone else. That was probably that other short guy that was with us...the Okie. He's too busy making money, so he won't post anything about the situation.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Now if you all just had a tab running at the Martini Lounge..."give me a name, ok"...things were looking up, i say!
Watching Robert just walk backwards down the side of that black pickup truck, oh, with a striping brush in his hand...i was in total awe!! and the guys striping panels with varigated...designs that sang!! everywhere you turned, Good Things Happening...then Marilyn announcing yet another meal to keep our strength up!
I felt for you, Chris, knowing how much you wanted to be there, when you're hurtin', tho, it just doen't work...Next Year!
again, Most fantastic time!! worth all the little Travails of Travel...
-------------------- John Lennig / Big Top Sign Arts 5668 Ewart Street, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada bigtopya@hotmail.com 604.451.0006 Posts: 2184 | From: Burnaby, British Columbia,Canada | Registered: Nov 2001
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Making the simple complicated is commonplace; making the complicated simple, awesomely simple, that's creativity. — Charles Mingus Posts: 6724 | From: Mendocino, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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Rick - it was done by Don Dennis. The words were Robert's and he asked Don to pen it. It was beautifully done, both the words and the calligraphy.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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