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Had a customer come in with Christmas ornaments, plain colors? The lady said she didn't want to buy new one's..too expensive, but wanted to snazz them up a little. She requested that I put different holiday slogans on them, Merry Christmas, God Bless America etc.. But with all my holiday spirit I told her that I was so busy it would be impossible to take on another job. I was extra nice, she reminded me of someone's grandmother Moral.. whenever you feel down or feel like you don't have enough in life there's always someone worst off than you be thankful for what you do have and don't be saddened for what you don't have.
-------------------- Ronnie Conrad Augusta,Ga Posts: 374 | From: Augusta,Ga. | Registered: Aug 2000
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Upon getting MY strangest request I answered that I was a happily married man, didn't care much for Mexico and was allegic to Penguins anyway.
-------------------- Pierre St.Marie Stmariegraphics Kalispell,Mt www.stmariegraphics.com ------------------ Plan on knowing everything before I die and time's running out! Posts: 4223 | From: Kalispell,Mt 59903 | Registered: Mar 2000
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This morning I was here at the studio and got a call from my ex wife. She works as an RN on an orthopedic floor at Baylor Hospital here in Dallas.
A recently retired well known surgeon suffered a massive stroke 3 weeks ago and his family decided this morning to take him off of life support. A frantic call was made to find someone who could take molds of his hands for the family before the life support was removed.
In desperation, the call was made to my x's floor thinking the same materials could be used that are normally incorporated into their procedures. And that is not the case!
The call came in and I was lucky enough to have the right mold making materials to accomplish the task, so we set out to the icu unit.
I have just returned and have found the experience to be a very moving and reflective one, having taken my daughter, I only hope the kindness and admiration the family displayed for this man is shown when I reach that position in life.
If you ever get the chance or put yourself in a position to offer this service, I guarantee you it is one of epic humanitarian proportion. Being able to provide this service on a moments notice was more gratifying than any sign I have ever made.
Merry X-mas too all of you and I hope this touches you as it has me.
-------------------- Robert Beverly Arlington, Texas
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Robert - that is a fantastic idea! Would that we had a life mask of Frank Atkinson's magic hands, or those of Charley Strong, E.C. Matthews, H.C. Martin, D.M. Campana!, Von Dutch, Shaky jake...
I'd like to know how you did it. Any chance of a step-by-step?
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just had one today...antique/collectable shop...asked me how much to paint a mermaid(guy is not near the water)on the window.told him $75....said it was just for a joke....but didnt want to spend $75????????....you know as much as i do!!!!!
-------------------- joe pribish-A SIGN MINT 2811 longleaf Dr. pensacola, fl 32526 850-637-1519 BEWARE THE TRUTH.....YOU MAY NOT LIKE WHAT YOU FIND Posts: 11582 | From: pensacola, fl. usa | Registered: Nov 1998
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the strangest request I have ever had was at a motorcycle show, this guy walked up to me and asked me if I can match anything, being cocky I said " sure! whataya got?" well he sat down in my chair and lifted his pantleg and showed me his leg, hairy sucker it was... I said uh, yeah, I ca pant that. what do you want me to paint? he then pulled up his other leg and took off an artificial leg and said " take your time on it I'll be back later."! he then proceeded to hop back to his bike and took off! I was totally flabergasted! hahaha well I did it and he loved it! hahaha too much! it cost him and arm AND a leg to have done too! hahaha only kidding!
-------------------- Work like you don't need the money, Love like you've never been hurt, And Dance like no one's watching. :) Mike Lavallee Mike Lavallee's Pinstriping & Airbrush Art Everett, WA Posts: 449 | From: Everett, WA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Well, I've had my share of El Cheapos - one lady wanted a sign to keep her husband out of the newly remodeled bathroom and wanted birds and butterflies painted in all the corners and said "Now I'm not going to pay ANY TEN DOLLARS for this, either!"
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Maybe the guy who came into the shop and demanded to know "Where you get all that rubber sh*t all you guys put all over the windows?" and left in a snit when I admitted I didn't know... I still don't - haven't a clue.
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Or the guy who wanted to know who does my signs for me and didn't believe I did them myself. Somebody has to do them - why not me?
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Maybe the guy that said "If you don't have time to finish the signs here at work, you can take them home and do them". (How does that save me any time?)
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One guy called and wanted me to read him all the prices in the SignWriters' Pricing Guide. (I sold them), when he said he'd rather just have me read them off to him I said "Come on in and I'll GIVE you one". He never showed.
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And then there was the guy who called every 6 months to ask if his talented daughter could come in and watch us paint signs. I always said yes. When I went to work at Lenny's he called THERE, too - always told him yes. Maybe he continuously called every shop in southern Cal., ya think? Neither he nor the daughter ever showed. I suspect she had the brains in the family.
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Mark Peters in Ashville NC flamed aguys fake leg. He walks around all the southern car shows with shorts on. He loves showing it off. Ill find my picture of it and post it later.
-------------------- Ryan Young Indocil Art & Design indocil@comporium.net 803-980-6765
I highjacked Letterville!! Winter Muster 2004 Posts: 904 | From: Rock Hill, SC | Registered: Sep 2001
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My straighest request, Was to paint a funeral home logo on the inside 3 back windows of the hearst (Days before vinyl..)
As I sat inside doing to work (Gold lettering with black outline) I realized this is what it felt like on your last trip before being placed into the ground!
At least they didn't take me for a ride as I was doing it!
-------------------- Stephen Deveau RavenGraphics Insinx Digital Displays
Letting Your Imagination Run Wild!
Posts: 4327 | From: Lower Sackville, Nova Scotia, Canada | Registered: Jan 2000
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I pinstriped the casket of a very good friend of mine. Back in the 70's I used to stripe at the van shows and my friend used to come up when I was'nt looking and steal a brush and paint "happy faces" on them (some of the owners of the vans were'nt so appreciative of it , but we used to laugh). Needless to say, I hid a "happy face" in the casket for him. The guys at the funeral home gave me some strange looks while I was working. The strangest part was his son went with me when I went to do the job (it was his request that I stripe the casket)and I made a joke about 1/2 way through the job about striping it in pink (a running joke i had with his dad, he hated pink). Well after that i had nothing but problems with it fish-eying, I guess my friend got the last joke on me there!
-------------------- David Thompson Pro-Line Graphics Martinsville, NJ
I'm not this dumb, it's just the paint fumes talkin' Posts: 397 | From: Martinsville, NJ | Registered: Oct 2001
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be thankful for what you do have and don't be saddened for what you don't have.
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