This Weeks...

WIP...

I have a little easel that sits on the sidewalk of the front of the shop...pointing people in and informing them of goings on at Snap Snap...After a few years of dragging it in and out...it sitting out in sun, rain, snow and wind (sounds like the Postal Service doesn't it?) It was in sore need of TLC. I proceeded to take it apart, replace the hinges...and decided it needed a make-over on the side that is a blackboard, because the chalk wears off easy and washes off in the rain and snow...




Now, I painted the outdoor sign...as a matter of fact, I paint all of the things around the shop that need to be painted...

Part of my creative process you know...

I started by blowing up the image I wanted to use, cutting it out of paper, using an Exacto knife to do the more intricate detailing, taping and tracing...and then painting the base of the image white...







I then used carbon paper (yes, they still make it, and it's a bit expensive now...but luckily I have 100 sheets...so, if anyone needs any, let me know) to trace a rough outline of the design...

and then painted those parts, the outline, with black paint...

I used the left over paint I used for the outdoor sign. I bought it at Sherwin-Williams and paid a gazillion dollars for it, but, it's amazing paint and is holding up in the weather well. I had 5 quarts mixed: black, white, red, yellow, and blue...because I like to mix my own colors, and those certainly cover all of them...






Then, I "colored" in the lines with my paint brush...and designed a little bit of wordage to put within the "sign" part of the new sign...

This also happens to be the image I use on my business cards, and is a 17th Century Italian Map Cartouche, which I adore...and had a fun time painting!

So, here it is...

The finished sign, in the easel which is now all put together like new, and made it's debut yesterday (and I ran it in at one point because of the rain)

Dang.

Now the other side looks like it needs a makeover...

Plus, I'm hoping that the new sign may clear up any confusion there may be surrounding the shop. During the last couple of days, I've been noticing a disturbing trend (and it's not just the micro-minis people have been trying to foist off on me) coming from the young local high school students. Now, anyone who really knows me, can vouch for the fact that I think that the blank, wide-eyed-out-of-it-stare mirrored by the same in the personality is an act (it has to be right?) and I have been annoyed by these girls since attending high school with them myself...So, I suppose it shouldn't surprise me in the least that I have chosen a profession in which they would still run rampant in my life. Anyway...as I said, in the last few days, no fewer than 3 girls have approached the counter, using their whatever attitudes and throwing intelligence to the wind to ask the question,

"What kind of store is this?'

And, I'm telling you, the wit that is building in my brain is wanting to pour out...but, I only confusedly look at them, sigh and reply...

"A clothing store"

"Oh...OK! Great! Thanks!"

ummmmm....

I'll keep you posted on further progress...

Have a great weekend, I will be walking walking, and resting too, getting my voice back...