Introduction
If you think it deserves it, don't forget to vote :) This was my real first commissioned "woodworking job", and I was very excited to be provided the opportunity.
I was asked to create an "Old English Pub Style Sign" for an art shop/boutique in Boerne, TX (www.copperdragonfly.net). They told me the basics of what they wanted [size, 2 different "signs" (one large, one small underneath), look, etc], but really allowed me to "create" it the way I thought would look the best. After looking at many different types of wood, I decided to make the actual sign out of Walnut, and then use Cedar for the rest (words, border, dragonfly image, etc). I also knew this would be outside, and take a lot of abuse from the sun and weather, so I had to protect it as much as I could from the elements.
If you think it deserves it, don't forget to vote :) This was my real first commissioned "woodworking job", and I was very excited to be provided the opportunity.
I was asked to create an "Old English Pub Style Sign" for an art shop/boutique in Boerne, TX (www.copperdragonfly.net). They told me the basics of what they wanted [size, 2 different "signs" (one large, one small underneath), look, etc], but really allowed me to "create" it the way I thought would look the best. After looking at many different types of wood, I decided to make the actual sign out of Walnut, and then use Cedar for the rest (words, border, dragonfly image, etc). I also knew this would be outside, and take a lot of abuse from the sun and weather, so I had to protect it as much as I could from the elements.
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Signing UpStep 1: Beginning Process
Once I bought all the wood, I then started working on the actual "design". I went to the computer, and found a font that best matched what was on the companies website/business cards. I printed out "Copper Dragonfly", cut each word out, spray glued each "paper word" to a piece of cedar, and cut each one out with my scroll saw. I knew this was going to be a double-sided sign, so the cedar I used for each letter was fairly thick. Once I had the letters cut out, I then took each one to my band saw and cut them in half. That way, each side would be 100% identical.
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Good luck with your dragonflies! I checked out the video, and it looked pretty cool. I must admit though...the clip AFTER your dragonfly under the bridge was probably my favorite, haha. I kid, I kid!
I love the natural patina that copper gets, so I haven't experimented too much with trying to keep it shiny. I use wax to fill in the wings on some of my dragonfly pieces, and it seems the wax coating keeps the copper pretty shiny.
Just wondering instead of cutting you excellent dragonfly up to round the edges whether it could be done with a router bit on a dremel. Just a thought yours looks great anyhow