HERE'S A GOOD SIGN!

ThumbTack.com

2012-02-02T09:04:00.002-06:00

ThumbTack.com an old friend. They refer many customers to us through their referral, testimonial and review directory. You should check them out. There's a lot of things there about us that are pretty flattering and worthy reading if you need to get some sleep! On the other hand, our Rustic Custom Hand Carved Outdoor Wood Signs Rustic Custom Hand Carved Wood Signs make us North America's favorite Custom Hand Carved Outdoor Wood Signs...'Nuff Said!

Cabin Naming Ideas

2011-10-24T12:52:00.001-05:00

If you have a cabin or summer place, nothing welcomes people in the same way as a creative name on a carved wooden sign. If you are looking for a custom sign, nothing matches the look and feel of an old world style, deeply carved wooden sign. Here's some help creating a great name

A creative name for your special place and your wooden sign require considerable thought: it is the first and most prominent thing that people will see. Text however isn't the only option you have with a wooden sign! You have the freedom of being able to place an image on your wooden sign; choosing to do this can greatly increase your signs visibility, in fact in a lot of cases people are far more likely to notice and develop an interest in your sign if an image is featured on it. In many cases people will often notice this image before they notice the actual text on it..

Here are some ideas for your custom wood welcome, cabin or RV signs to shake loose your imagination. Have some fun with your carved wood cabin sign: Chipmunk Hill, Chipmunk Field, Boulder Ridge, Raccoon Ridge, Salmon Trail, Bluebell Estates, Tree Land, Eagle Cliffs, Cardinal Valley, Sunrise Pines, Tree Bluff, Salmon Valley, Birch Hutch, Huckleberry Run, Summer Bunker, Bush Hearth, Breezy Basin, Hank Peak, Wildflower Edge, Skyline Retreat, Rainbow Inlet, Grassy Willows, Deer Beach, Sage Peak, Sunshine Greens, Log Manor, Hare Lake, Soggy Banks, Caribou Chalet, Juniper Lands, Whistling Yards, Black Bear Loft, Bass Villa, Sun Rapids, Moose Crest, Foggy Forest, Trout Shores, Spring Bay, South Firs, Timber Mound, Summer Sands, Winter Beach, Sunflower Pond, Huckleberry Bunker, Eagle Pastures, Walnut Cove, Black Bear Hill, Trout Shire, Wood Pecker Hideaway, Sunflower Stream, Huckleberry Yard, Blue jay Banks, Sunflower Woods, Sunrise Ridge, Rainy Mountain, Turtle Pond, Shady Chalet, Buck Rapids, Breezy Acres, Trout Pines, Sighing Home, Bass Mesa, Mountain Land, Autumn Park, Birch Bluff, Hawk Wood, Raccoon Bluffs, Log Vista, Buck Crest, Buck Greens, Cottonwood Cascades, Frog Pond, Leafy Run, Eden Cove, Whitetail Edge, Grouse Vail, Coyote Mound, Sunflower Cottage, Grassy Harbor, Cardinal Banks, Elk Summit, Canoe Resort, Tree Field, Crappy Glades, Cedar Acres, Boulder Den, Perch Garden, Leafy Lake, Cougar Mountain, Sage Creek, Elk Lodge, Hillside Courtyard, Cedar Hillside, Raccoon Shanty, Leech Greens, Mushroom Inlet, Rainy Banks, Rocky Nest, Still Waters, Pine Manor, Sun Cascades, Trout Falls, Rainbow Ridge, Haven Loft, Hillside Cottage.

Thinking we were done with ideas for Carved Wood Cabin Signs, did you? The Rose Cottage, Plum Cottage, The Rose Rabbit, Echoes Echos, Echo Lane, Critter Cottage, Heartland Gardens, La Casa De (last name), Chez (last name), Home for Wayward Animals, Penny Cottage, Ward 81, Electric Garden, Teacup Cottage, The Happy Farm, Fuchsia Villa, Tulip Villa, Dragons Den, Penny Wort Cottage, Country Cottage, Wildflower Cottage, Country Estate, Wildflower Estate, Poverty Gulch, Fern Cottage, Cookie Cutter Cottage, My Starter House, 70 Mile Beach, Morning Glory Farm, Paid Off, Peaceful Oasis, The Sunflower House, Midnight Farm, The Clarkarosa (you get the idea), Firefly Cottage, Hillside Cottage Gardens, Barefoot Cottage, Barefoot Manor, Barefoot Gardens, Moon-dome cottage, Cincinnati Cape Cod, Even-side Cottage, Daisy Cottage, Lemonade Cottage, Garden of Weedin', Citrus Grove, Yellow Hill, The cottage, Permanent Vacation, The Egg Place, Belly Acres, Even Shade, Crazy, Skye View, Skye Garden, Skye Grounds, The Dollhouse, Weathering Heights, Thrush-Cross Grange, Amy's Garden (thus), Sycamore Cottage, Angel Feathers and Critters Cottage, No Vue, Mantis Manor (thus), Windy Hill, Crow Hill, Fox Run Quail's Nest, In Over My Head Acres, I can Chew Meadow, Nine Acre Hill, CaliforniaTropiCottage, Lakeview Acres, Meadow-Crest Farms, The Cabin (simple enough), A-Frame, Turkey Run, Almond Joy (Brown house with a nut inside), Heavenly Pines, Spruce Spread, Martins Grove (thus), Grove Cottage, Cranberry Cottage, Cricket Hill, Maple Hill Cottage, Journeys End, Frog Holler, Cottage Cheese, Star Wood, Dancing with Weeds', Hundred Roses, Deer Salad Bar, Foxes Earth, Work in Progress House, High Elven, Weathering Heights, Mockingbird Cottage, Frogs Haven, Mount (last name), Rosemount, A House of Happiness, Angel Lane, Meditation Retreat, Peaceful Path, Enchanted Forrest, Secret Home of (name), Dunmovin, The Flower Bin, Last Nickel Farm, Lake Louise, Tumbleweed Cottage, (Last Name) Hotel, Massive Disaster, Heaven on Earth, Ladybug House, The Morning Glory House, No More Tears, 5th Acre Farm, Section 8 Station.

Believe me we've seen 'em all...been making custom wood cabin and Lodge signs since 1966! Procrastination Place, Book and Blossom Bungalow, The Bunny Buffet, The Deer Diner, Fog Hollow, Peace Palace, "Grin'Inn Bear It", "Gone With the Win Inn", Sanctuary Much, Smokey Haven, Dream Come True, My Little Heaven, Smokytop, Pine Forest Lodge, Misty Point Lodge, Blueridge Inn, Trails End Lodge, Sleepy Hollow Inn, Bear Run Hill, Wind-walker Landing, Whispering Pines, Cherokee Point, Journeys End, Mount Hushmore, Smokey's Playpen, Logirythyms, Whisk-a-way, Camp Carefree, Le dulce vie (The Sweet Life), Hidaway House, Smokey Lodge, Falling Leaf Retreat, Totem Pole Paradise, Whiskey Mountain Lodge, Magistic Manor, Bear Claw Trails, White Cloud Retreat, Nature's Lullaby, A Bend in the Road, Misty Mountainside, Home Away, Rustic Paradise, Living the Dream, Mountain Getaway, Log Tranquility, Happy Cabin Times, Spectacular Views, Country Charm, Deer Walk, Pine Top Dream, Permanent Vacation, Crown Ridge, Serenity, Crest Mount, Crest Wood, Harmony Haven, Furthest Point, Barefoot Gardens, Critter Cottage, Sandy Rock, Shady Cottage, Sunflower Estate, Log Spring, Caribou Lands, Kitty-Wampus, Seldom Inn, Fogged Inn, Frogg Hollar.

Consider these terms when thinking about the carved wooden cabin or summer home sign: Bluff, Ranch, Run, Knoll, Beach, Estates, Gulch, Ranch, Fields, Shores, Courtyard, Vale, Glen, Draw, Bridge, Resort, Grove, Springs, Shores, Bluff, Haven, Camp, Shanty, Inn, Park, Grounds, Lea, Sands, Rapids, Yards, Valley, Manor, Willows, Hearth, Grounds, Inlet, Place, Camp, Hut, Court, Point, Rock, Perch, Peak, Crest, Den, Mound, Forest, Pond, Firs, Basin, Pastures, Shire, Hideaway, Rapids, Getaway, Chateau. I love Western Red Cedar and have been using this amazing and legendary material for over 40 years in construction and my art of carving personalized outdoor welcome signs. Find us at www.cedarsign.com where we've been hand crafting personalized cedar outdoor signs since 1966.

I love Western Red Cedar and have been using this amazing and legendary material for over 40 years in construction and my art of carving personalized outdoor welcome signs. Find us at www.cedarsign.com where we've been hand crafting personalized cedar outdoor signs since 1966?
May The Forest be with you!

Name your Lodge, Cabin or Summer Place with a creative Wooden Sign

2009-10-28T10:16:00.000-05:00

Whatever you own, run or visit, whether it is a lodge, cabin or summer place, nothing welcomes people in the same way as a creative wooden sign does. Basically if you are looking for a custom sign, nothing will beat the look and feel of an old world style hand carved wooden sign. This is primarily because with this type of sign you have no limitations. You can make your sign as creative as you can imagine regardless of what message you are trying to get across, whether it is your house number, family name or a message used to create a decor piece to hang on a wall inside you can achieve any or all of these things with the help of a carved wooden sign.

Why settle for a practical, standard run of the mill sign for your lodge, cabin or summer place when you could invest in a handcrafted wooden sign that can say so much more about your business, home, cabin or camp and lodge. The reason that I say this is down to the fact you can use this type of sign to convey a lot more than merely who you are or what number your cabin is. As you can place both text and images on these signs you are able to convey traits about your business or personality. With this in mind you have to consider the fact there are so many factors to take on board when you are planning how your sign will look. You need to consider font and images as well as the type of wood that you are using for your sign.

One of the best types of wood that can be used for these signs is Western Red Cedar. This is down to the fact when this type of wood is properly finished Western Red Cedar will last for decades; this is even in the harshest environments. This is thanks to the fact it has a natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage, which makes it a great choice for a wooden sign that is going to be in the line of sun, rain, heat and cold all year round. It basically has a natural durability but it also has a natural beauty and it is these two things combined that make it perfect for use on a wooden sign.

Going back to the font that is used on the wooden sign, you need to put a lot of thought into it, as it is the first and most prominent thing that people will see. One font can give out a completely different meaning than another one so you need to make sure that the font you use is giving out the correct message that you want. If you have bold stand out strong structured font then this will give out a serious message that generally informs people. I would say that this font is mainly used on warning messages. This kind of helps you gain the idea of the sort of font you will want to be looking for. Text however isn’t the only option you have with a wooden sign!

You have the freedom of being able to place an image on your wooden sign; choosing to do this can greatly increase your signs visibility, in fact in a lot of cases people are far more likely to notice and develop an interest in your sign if an image is featured on it. In many cases people will often notice this image before they notice the actual text on it. It is down to reasons such as these as to why you may wish to include an image on your sign.

The images on your sign could be anything from an animal to a portrait as well as objects. The main way in which these images are placed on the wooden signs is through the use of photographs. If you have a photograph of the image that you want placed on the sign then this image can be copied and carved into the wood.

So what else do you have the option of with these signs? Well the size of course! The larger it is the more detail you can place on it. These larger signs will cost more but if you need the extra detail then the extra cost is worth it.

So whether you want a welcoming message or just a fun message, nothing says it better than a wooden sign so start picking out your font and images now!

Carved Wood Signs deliver Class

2009-10-26T08:28:00.000-05:00

If you are looking for a compelling Welcome Sign that will distinguish yours from all the others you’ve seen, you should consider a custom made carved wooden sign. Whether you are running a Country Inn, a Lodge with rustic cabins, old family General Store; or, simply a Lake Cabin, second home or RV Camping Site…a custom carved wood sign will provide you that special distinction that will set you apart from others around you. It will also make a statement for those who visit your business, arrive at your home or extend a Howdy to those other campers at the sites you frequent. Everything about your sign speaks volumes about you and your uniqueness.

Because there are hundreds, indeed thousands, of fonts and varieties a powerfully designed wooden sign becomes a composition. For instance, a simple font is often used to deliberately convey a rustic look, different even simple, font choice of the same text will profoundly change the balance and harmony of the sign. The right font can determine the overall look, which, in turn, can serve to make the message on the sign more appealing. Remember, your overall goal is to grab the attention of potential customers, quests, visitors or neighbors and give them something to remember. Since your sign will likely be one of the first aspects of your business or abode they will see, the way it appears is a crucial part of customer attraction, personification and identification.

The message itself is just as important as the look, as it will make a statement to the viewer – receiver - target. You want them to continue coming back; to tell others about your style; to express your warmth, personality and affections; so be sure it is something they will be likely to remember: the more distinctive the better. It may even serve to define you; or, at the very least, something about who you are and what you have that’s unique - so choose your words carefully.

If you are unsure about how the sign should look, consult with the person who will create it. Collaborating directly with the sign artist is the single most powerful tool you have to customize or tailor just the right message, balance and harmony. Once you have established exactly what you are going for, (sometimes you just don’t know what you are looking for but know it when you see it) you will have an easier time deciding just how it should look.

There are many designs that can help present your message. The one you choose should compliment the message on your sign. If the message is simple and rustic, go for that type of design. If you are going for something more complex, there are designs available to fit those types of signs as well. It’s all in the presentation. Avoid vendors who have a page of images you may select from. Or, a page of fonts you must use. Or worse, how many letters per line that you are restricted to. It requires a great deal more than counting letters on a fixed shaped and sized panel and then hoping folks will notice your message.

I love Western Red Cedar and have been using this amazing and legendary material for over 40 years in construction and my art of carving personalized outdoor welcome signs. Find us at www.cedarsign.com where we've been hand crafting personalized cedar outdoor signs since 1966?

May the Forest be with you!

Images Enhance Carved Wood Signs

2009-10-24T13:24:00.003-05:00

Carved wooden signs will say a lot about your business, home, cabin, camp, lodge or RV. Aside from telling customers, visitors and friends who you are, it will tell them a little about the business, your personality or your sentiments as well. There are many important factors to consider when planning how your sign will look. Font is powerful factor, as it determines how the actual text will appear. Text in one font can deliver a different message altogether than the same text of another font choice. Font choice alone can deliver formality, whimsy, rusticity and hundreds of themes: Western, Cartoon, Sailing, Hunting, Fishing, etc. The size of your sign can also make a difference, but the larger it is, the more it will cost. This is because it will take more materials to build it, and therefore, more labor as well. Often larger signs require laminating many cedar members of greater thickness to create a plaque large enough to make a solid and stable sign panel. It’s not unlike a bowling alley or a chopping block. Those elements; however, aren’t the only ones that should be considered when planning to have a custom personalized outdoor welcome sign commissioned.

Choosing to place an image on your sign can greatly increase not only the signs visibility, but also the aesthetic interest from potential customers, friends and viewers. Sometimes, the image will grab a person’s attention before the actual words even come into view, thus making that person want to read the words because they were captivated by the picture they just saw. This is why you might want to consider adding an image to your carved wood sign.

Images also have a very powerful impact on the message on your sign. One picture can make an interesting message even more compelling. An appropriate image, properly incorporated into a carved wood sign can actually serve as a demonstration of who you are, what your sentiments intend and profoundly supplementing the message with something that will show the viewer as well as telling them. This visual leverage will serve to enhance your sign, and your message, in a positive way.

While adding an image or multiple images will raise the cost with distinct predictability, it is always worth the investment. The reason for the higher cost is the increased amount of carving time and complexity necessary to engrave images into cedar sign panels. The costs will vary, depending on what you want on your sign, how large the image is and how complex the image is to carve. A simple image will obviously be the least expensive, while a complex image will require more work, and added cost. The most expensive option is custom designed, original art unique to the message, the owner and the carving artist’s repertoire. Here, graphics can be added according to your specifications, imagination or inspiration.

No matter which option you choose, keep in mind your sign will last you a long, long time, so you will see a return on your investment. It’s all about attracting attention, customers and visitors. Images often make or break an amazing sign. And that, after all, is the whole point of the investment

Good Wood

2007-08-24T08:25:00.000-05:00

The tree that never had to fight
For sun and sky and air and light,
But stood out in the open plain
And always got its share of rain,
Never became a forest king
But lived and died a scrubby thing.

The man who never had to toil
To gain and farm his patch of soil,
Who never had to win his share
Of sun and sky and light and air,
Never became a manly man
But lived and died as he began.

Good timber does not grow with ease,
The stronger wind, the stronger trees,
The further sky, the greater length,
The more the storm, the more the strength.
By sun and cold, by rain and snow,
In trees and men good timbers grow.

Where thickest lies the forest growth
We find the patriarchs of both.
And they hold counsel with the stars
Whose broken branches show the scars
Of many winds and much of strife.
This is the common law of life.

Sterling W. Sill, Making the Most of Yourself

Apostrophological Anomalies and the Welcome Sign

2007-01-16T17:31:00.000-06:00

Putting your apostrophes in the right places on those ubiquitous carved wooden Welcome Signs is pretty easy once you know the rules. There is no greater motivation than having all those grammatical fuddy-duddies think better of you, either! But, before examining the rules for the apostrophes use and how its literary status has earned it’s reputation, I want to make one thing really clear…I’m writing this to be helpful – that’s all. I couldn’t care less if you get your apostrophes wrong. There are plenty more important things in life and nature to get on a soap box over! Besides, this stuff (and the rules) is not written in granite!
The apostrophe has four primary uses: possession, omission (contractions), plurals, & phrases of time or measure; however, when it comes to knowing how best to create proper identification on Personalized Welcome Signs we’ll focus on the mystery of the possessive and plurals business only – time and omissions wait for no man! At the most basic level, if you need to make a possessive, turn the phrase around and make it an "of the..." phrase. For example: the man’s hat = the hat of the man; or, three days' trip = trip of three days. Once it’s been determined that you need to make a possessive, here’s the rules to create one: add 's to the singular form of the word (even if it ends in -s) like the neighbor’s car or Louis's hat. Add 's to the plural forms that do not end in –s like, the children's toys and the moose’s whistle. Add just the ' to the end of plural nouns that end in –s like, houses' decks and three dogs’ tails. Add 's to the end of compound words like, my mother-in-law's comments. Finally, add 's to the last of compound nouns to show joint possession of an object like, Thom & Elaine’s house.

And, of course a few exceptions (as shocked as I am sure you are!): Some words sound awkward when an apostrophe 's' is added, like Jesus's disciples, so the accepted form is to just use the 's' apostrophe: Jesus' disciples. Interestingly enough, this only applies to names of Biblical or historical significance e.g. Jesus, Moses, Ramses…Moses' followers, Ramses' pyramid. Still others don't have a clutsy sound, like the princess's bed. Just be consistent! Although it may be worth noting that some “experts will say something like, “…words ending with an s present a problem. There are two valid options in this case. It is either Jesus' teaching or Jesus's teaching. Elegance would seem to preclude the latter….” See what I mean about being consistent!
The confusion really arises when the apostrophe is used with a plural noun – The vipers’ den…more than one snake in that den so the s’ – the den of the vipers! Generally speaking, if there's one owner - add an apostrophe and then 's' and if there are two or more owners - add 's' then an apostrophe.
For words which form their plural by changing internal letters (instead of adding 's'), like the children’s table…it’s already plural – we don’t pile it on! It’s the same with words people, women…and so on. When using names that end in S, you follow the same rules as with any other name and add apostrophe S: Thomas’s car. Plural names also follow the same rules: Thomases’ house (add -es to names that end in S to indicate plural form). For anyone else whose name ends in S, you generally let your ear be your guide. If Lars's house sounds awkward, feel free to omit the final S. The only rule in this case is that you must (MUST) be consistent. You can't have Lars' two-car garage then Lars's property. On a Welcome Sign – it’s just not going to happen!

This whole business of Apostrophological Anomalies (I can’t believe I used that again!) stirs passionately among some folks, and there have been whole sub-cultures formed to lobby for the universal observance of the mystery of the apostrophe. I am not of that belief set; I’m just a sign guy; however, I'm pretty sensitive about getting these things right. I think all you really have to ask yourself is, “Does my sign refer to the object to which it’s attached, Larson’s Cabin?” And then, is it the whole gangs’ cabin? Either way, I just don’t think it’s grammatical its, “Apostrophological!”

Top 10 Signs Your Family Is Stressed

2006-11-29T07:58:00.000-06:00

10. Conversations often begin with “Put the gun down, and then we can talk”.
9. The school principal has your number on speed-dial.
8. The cat is on Valium.
7. People have trouble understanding your kids, because they learned to speak through clenched teeth.
6. You are trying to get your four-year-old to switch to decaffeinated.
5. The number of jobs held down by family members exceeds the number of people in the family.
4. No one has time to wait for microwave TV dinners.
3. “Family meetings” are often mediated by law enforcement officials.
2. You have to check your kid’s day-timer to see if he can take out the trash.
1. Maxwell House gives you industrial rates.

Here's a Good Sign

2006-11-11T12:00:00.000-06:00

The most important purpose of a sign is delivering a message. It takes a whole lot more than throwing a bunch of letters on a panel and hoping folks will see it. A completed sign is really a composition. Whether it’s any good or not depends on four critical factors: Balance, Rhythm, Oneness, and Harmony. For balance a good sign must be “pleasing” to the eye. It is the weight distribution that is considered first. It’s not necessarily done symmetrically; rather, a well-balanced sign composition is optically effective and has a stability of sorts in the arrangement of the copy in relation to each of the other elements. There is a lot which is involved in this judgment for the competent sign writer – the amount of copy, any illustrations or supporting images, letter styles, and certainly what the sign is supposed to do; advertise, sell, welcome, etc.
Also, how far will it the sign be viewed from and how fast will the viewer be traveling, if at all. When the customer brings the sign writer copy that looks like a newspaper ad and doesn’t allow any freedom for the professional to edit believing every word is essential there is often no hope for achieving a balance in the sign’s layout.

Rhythm is what many signs lack due the sign writer’s judgment in selecting too many letter styles in the same work. Aesthetically speaking, most signs look best when only one or two letter fonts are incorporated. Often modest variations of a font can be introduced to reduce rhythm interference when bringing impact and interest; however, too many styles of lettering on one sign visually distressing.

Oneness is when signs that have several groups of copy or messages and the viewer’s eye smoothly follows the flow of the message from the primary message on to the secondary and finally onto the most subordinate. It can be achieved, or at least enhanced, by dividing the three messages and creating emphasis using reverse panels, bolding and other emphasis techniques.

Harmony is nothing more that incorporating the first three elements with discipline – balance, rhythm and oneness. Without being sensitive to copy grouping, letter styles and things like coloring no layout will be achieved that has harmony. A prefect example of this is in the use of borders. Often borders on signs are completely unnecessary and only serve to distract the eye instead of supporting a certain style of letter. This is especially true when the border is excessively strong or of strong color. In the case of borderless signs, it is the flow of the graphics, shapes and lettering styles which provide the design and unity, balanced with uninterrupted harmony.

Often in my work with customers at Cedar Sign Company, a retailer of personalized welcome signs carved from red cedar, folks will deliver copy and design expectations which are a far cry from the proof we render for their approval. It’s been my experience that when folks let us exercise our sign writing expertise by interpreting balance, rhythm, unity and harmony with professionalism and style their welcome signs and family name plaques deliver attractive and effective composition.

Out on the Porch

2006-11-02T17:31:00.000-06:00

The sound of those words can shift my mood, shape my posture, awaken my memory and conjure images of rocking chairs. I can almost feel the cool breezes on warm afternoons. Simply thinking about the porch, on the house I grew up in, lowers my blood pressure
and reduces my stress. It was my place for reading, rocking, storytelling and sharing with family, neighbors and friends. It was a fort, a rocket ship, a safe harbor and sanctuary.

The porches of our lives hold fond and vivid memories for families. All of our greetings and partings of family and friends take place there. For most, the porch became the outdoor living room - a place to spend hours sitting and talking with family and friends. Folks didn’t
really used to think much about their porches – most people had them and used them. It was just there, open and social, an unincorporated part of the house that belonged to everyone and no one. It was the heart and soul of home where family and friends passed the time.

I would venture to say that more of life’s issues were resolved on the front porches of my childhood than in any other place. Today, televisions, computers, cell phones, air conditioners and privacy fences have usurped the porch for stairs and stoops. I mark the disappearance of the porch with the declining popularity of Halloween, the appearance of the ATM and our fascination with drive up windows. With so many things pulling us away, it may take some special effort to get back, “out on the porch”. We’ve become accustomed to watching the kids whack the waffle ball, chase the dog and celebrate birthdays – out on the deck. Don’t get me wrong it can be nice out there; but, in all these years I've not come to know my neighbors the way I did when I lived in the house with the big front porch. About the best we can muster is a wave when we are getting into our cars.

This is all quite contrary to the human spirit and my experience is folks find ways to balance the ledger. Which brings me to my point…does you porch say welcome? Do you have a cheerful porch? The front door gives a glimpse of the personality of a home and its owner. The entrance to the place you call home speaks volumes about who lives beyond the door. No matter how big or small your porch, it can call out a warm welcome to guests with a little creativity. Dress it up on holidays and get yourself one of those ubiquitous outdoor welcome signs that are hand carved into cedar and offer a friendly, Hello! Remember, it is your front porch, the place where you welcome others into your life.

I love Western Red Cedar and have been using this amazing and legendary medium for over 40 years in construction and my art of carving personalized outdoor welcome signs. Find us at http://www.cedarsign.com where we've been hand crafting personalized outdoor welcome signs since 1966!

Healing Tree

2006-10-30T14:20:00.000-06:00

Western red cedar has been revered for thousands of years. Its versatility made the tree essential to Native people, prompting them to place it as a central part of their lives. The cedar tree represented the visible and invisible forces of life. They recognized the tree fed with the help of fungi from the nutrients in the soil. The trees drank water from underground streams that once were oceans – which were clouds. They understood the leaves feed on sunlight. They recognized the freshness of the forest air breathed out as oxygen and water-vapor. They watched quietly as birds, wind and rain spread the tree’s seeds; as insects and the wind pollinated the tree’s flowers; and, creatures broke down the fallen leaves into topsoil.

The great cedar tree became the metaphor for great wisdom. The cedar’s giving spirit provided people with food, shelter and medicine literally from the wooden cradle to the wooden coffin. Working with tools made of stone, bone or shell, craftsman carved canoes, totem poles, storage boxes and ceremonial masks from the generous wood. Mats, baskets and water-repellent clothing were shaped and woven from the inner bark.

Perhaps most importantly, western red cedar was employed medicinally by a number of native North American Indian tribes. Principally, they utilized two fundamental techniques for extracting the cedar’s elixirs. The some extracts were gotten by boiling the parts in water and straining the liquor, or parts were steeped as tea for infusion. It was these elixirs from powdered leaves that were used externally to treat various internal pains, including rheumatism. The leaf buds have been chewed in the treatment of toothaches, while an elixir of the buds has been used as a gargle.

A weak infusion has been drunk in the treatment of painful joints caused by rheumatism or arthritis and a poultice of the crushed bough tips and oil has been applied to the back and chest in the treatment of bronchitis, rheumatism and stomach pains. The boiled concoction of the boughs has been used as an antidandruff shampoo. A poultice of the inner bark has been used as a counter-irritant for the skin and poultice of the inner bark has been applied to carbuncles. Even the bark when pounded until it is as soft as cotton can be used to rub the face and has been used to bind wounds and as cover for wound dressings. Shredded bark can be used to cauterize sores.

Martin Luther said it best almost 500 years ago when asked what he would do on the last day of his life. He simply stated, "I would plant a tree."

Cedar Vs Redwood Sign Boards

2006-10-22T14:38:00.000-05:00

There has been a lot of talk about how California Redwood makes the better wood sign board. Some sign people even suggest they only use "Clear All Heart” Redwood, most of which is old growth. Well, I’m sorry, I don’t care how well managed or thoughtful - old growth Redwood forests are NOT a sustainable resource. These same folks will often suggest that Redwood takes and holds paint better than Cedar - that Western Red Cedar doesn't even come close. I’m afraid these folks have it all backwards!

First of all it is important to say that Western Red Cedar and California Redwood are really from the same genus (an organism's taxonomic hierarchy e.g. species, genus, family, order, class etc.) and have a lot of similarities. The biggest difference is that Western Red Cedar has much greater structural integrity for two fundamental reasons. Firstly, Western Red Cedar has far greater flexural strength (the ability to flex without shattering or splintering) than California Redwood. Hydro-electric poles are often made of Western Red Cedar rather than California Redwood because vibrations in the environment around the dam would cause California Redwood to crack. Secondly, California Redwood has greater density than Western Red Cedar and it also contains more oils. For these reasons; Redwood is more difficult to glue, does not retain stains and paints well, and splits when screws fasten Redwood together.

Speaking of oils, Western Red Cedar also contains natural oils. Cedar's unique aroma comes from naturally occurring thujaplicins in its heartwood. These compounds resist moisture and are toxic to decay-causing fungi and insects and preserve the wood against decay to give it long lasting appeal. Properly finished with natural water-repellent preservative and refreshed, Western Red Cedar will deliver decades of trouble-free service. The hallmark characteristic of Western Red Cedar, its profound natural durability, has preserved examples of native cultures for more than 200 years.

Western Red Cedar's lower density enhances its insulation value and makes it an easy wood to transport and handle. It’s also more stable dimensionally. Western Red Cedar is hygroscopic so it absorbs or releases moisture and maintains equilibrium with the atmosphere. It shrinks very little and is superior to all other coniferous woods in its resistance to warping, twisting, and checking. It is Western Red Cedar's exceptional dimensional stability that makes it so well for use in high moisture areas.

Western Red Cedar is light-weight, achieves fine joinery, accepts finishes with ease and possesses outstanding dimensional stability and legendary durability. Western Red Cedar is the superior wood for nearly all purposes where attractive appearance and resistance to weather is important. Cedar Rocks!

Western Red Cedar Finishing

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Western Red Cedar is one of the few wood species that are just naturally at home outdoors. When properly finished, Western Red Cedar will gracefully weather for decades, even in harshest of environments. Its natural resistance to moisture, decay and insect damage make it the ideal choice for a surface that is exposed to sun, rain, heat and cold all year round. Along British Columbia’s Pacific coast, aboriginal people have used cedar bark to make rope, clothing and baskets for thousands of years. The logs were used for canoes, totem poles, masks and long houses. The hallmark characteristic of Western Red Cedar, its natural durability, has preserved examples of native culture for more than 100 years.

For centuries builders and artisans have valued Western Red Cedar for its natural beauty and durability. Cedar's unique aroma comes from naturally occurring thujaplicins in its heartwood. As many homeowners are too well aware, readying their deck for summer is all about tending to their "thujaplicins." These aren't exotic plants or an endangered species. They are the fragrant natural compounds that give western red its pleasant aroma and protect the wood from deterioration. These compounds resist moisture and are toxic to decay-causing fungi and insects and preserve the wood to give it long lasting appeal. Unfinished cedar has richly textured grain with colors ranging from mellow ambers, reddish cinnamons and rich sienna browns. Its warm coloring is complimented by a uniform, fine-grained texture with a satin-like luster. Because cedar is virtually pitch and resin free, the wood easily accepts a range of finishes, from oils and stains, to solid coatings and paint.

The choice of an exterior wood finish for cedar depends upon the desired appearance and the degree of protection required. Conversely, the amount of protection provided to the wood depends on the type of finish selected. Regardless, they perform best when the coating is applied to all surfaces: face, back, edges and ends.

Even though cedar weathers over time to an attractive silver-gray patina that has a certain architectural appeal, research chemists and wood scientists strongly recommend that some form of protective finish be applied to prevent surface degradation. Weathered surfaces provide a poor substrate for finishes. Even a few weeks of exposure will decrease cedar’s ability to hold a finish. Once the finish-wood interface fails, the coating will debond, blister, crack, flake or peel. The longer the period of weathering, the more rapidly the finish may fail.

Transparent, non-flexible, film-forming finishes such as lacquer, shellac, polyurethane, and varnish are not recommended for exterior use on cedar. Ultraviolet radiation will penetrate the transparent film and degrade the wood. Regardless of the number of coats, the finish will eventually become brittle, develop severe cracks and then fail.

The natural coloration of newly milled cedar can most appropriately be retained by applying finishes that contain ultraviolet-blockers. Finishes containing both an effective mildewcide and ultraviolet protection are recommended. Since these finishes contain a low percentage of solids, they tend to be high maintenance. Penetrating oil-based stains or light-pigmented natural tones can also be applied to provide uniform color and protect the wood.

I love western red cedar and have been using it for construction and art for over 40 years. I love its taste, smell, feel, sound and its colors. I would venture to say I have forgotten more about WRC than most folks know!