Demanding client, fun project.

[Dhaffner]

A client came to me recently and asked me to make a sign...the client asked for something that would definitely be a copyright problem.
She wanted a sign relating to "Harry Potter" and "Hogwarts".
I told her that I don't want to end up in jail for making things for a brand that is very much in control of the products that come out.

My client insisted. She wanted this so much that she offered me her entire life savings! She then offered the most important item she owns in trade. Her life savings wasn't much incentive. It was only 12 dollars and 34 cents. It wouldn't cover the materials, let alone the lawsuit costs. But her other offer got to me. She was offering her favorite blanket or "blankie" as she calls it.

She decided to play hardball. "Daddy, you are always making signs for people now, but you haven't made me one. Plllleeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaassssee?"

Ok. I told her that I would not be able to accept any form of payment, so that I could avoid the lawsuits. This was going to have to be a non-profit gift. I also explained that she could not sell it, or put it on public display (we agreed that her bedroom isn't public).

With that, we talked about what she wanted. She has a good imagination, and she had it all planned in her mind. She wants the Hogwarts shield with the four houses on it, but it should have Harry Potter's owl (Hedwig) perched on it- and a holder on bottom for a wand.

So I'm hard at it. This client has a tight deadline- she wants it yesterday. She's very picky and has been hanging over my shoulder as I do the work.

Here is some early rough work on the owl-which will be covered in Magic Sculpt and mounted on a sculpted limb that will rise out of the logo.

The Sign was carved in two parts on the CarveWright- each about 11 1/2 inches wide by 20 inches long. I glue the sections with gorilla foaming glue. The white lines are where I've filled the cut lines that are already put into the pink insulation foam at 12" intervals. I wish I could get that foam without those.

41651

[lynnfrwd]

She has a good imagination,...

LOL!!!!! I can't imagine WHERE she gets that from!!!

Precious story!!! Can't wait to see the finished product!

[fwharris]

Great job!! I get she had a real hhhaaarrrdd time talking you into it...

[chebytrk]

The imagination, the talent........... just amazing! Some people have a gift and you sir (Dhaffner) are one of those people. It's your works that keeps me hangin' on and dreaming to do something like that one day.

[robbrigg2]

Just fantastic... great job Dad

[Ike]

Love the story, well played! Well played by your daughter! I love the sign and I am so intrigued with the use of pink insulation. I can't wait to try it out!

Ike

[Capt Bruce]

Once again we're hooked and we want to see more. She drove a really hard bargain Dad.

[SharonB]

I had to smile when I read your story. Your daughter is a woman after my own heart. She's learning early to wrap you (men) around her finger to get what she wants. All kidding aside... Your daughter will be the envy of anyone that enters her kingdom. Your great Harry Potter design will be treasured by her for years to come.

[gwhiz]

Love the story, well played! Well played by your daughter! I love the sign and I am so intrigued with the use of pink insulation. I can't wait to try it out!

Ike

It carves great! Lots of 'dust' though if you don't have collection. I sometimes use it for test carves when I don't want to commit a piece of wood...

[Ike]

It carves great! Lots of 'dust' though if you don't have collection. I sometimes use it for test carves when I don't want to commit a piece of wood...
It so hard to believe it is dense enough to carve! I am going to try it for a new top sign for my portable sign shop! I will most likely hand rout the sign. I want something that is light.

Still I love the story and the great signs Doug is making! I need a total make over for my portable shop to attract more buying customers!

Ike

[want2b]

Being a hard ball player I would demand unllimited hugs and kisses as payment. Mistake, read your post to LOML and now something similar
seems to be brewing for grandkids. Great design and love your post.
Rick H.

[Kenm810]

Great Project Doug,

Some of our very best work is done for those at Home,
and will always be the the most remembered!

[Dhaffner]

I still have some sculpting to finish on Hedwig, but here's the Hogwarts portion so far...

http://inlinethumb27.webshots.com/21018/2686717510101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[chebytrk]

All I can say is .................... Dude !!!! : )

[Dhaffner]

Still working on Hedwig- but I thought I'd share a "work in progress" pic-sculpting is good fun.

http://inlinethumb43.webshots.com/22058/2205442980101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[dbfletcher]

Note to self... do not show Doug H's work to any family member.. they will expect me to match his skills. THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN IN MY LIFETIME!

On a personla note... I am in awe......

[Dhaffner]

Every day a little further. I work on this between other projects- a nice way to spend 10-20 minutes.
I put the legs on the letter which will hold the wand- I also made the wand. It is a replica of Hermione's.
Bird is further- hope to wrap it up this weekend...and attach it to the sign. Pending the client's approval, of course.

http://inlinethumb30.webshots.com/40029/2584755880101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[Ike]

Wow all I can say is WOW! Your work is fantastic!

Ike

[Dhaffner]

I think I'm about done with the bird..now on to paint and some carving for the mount for the bird to the sign!

http://inlinethumb17.webshots.com/47312/2658609240101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[dbfletcher]

Just simply amazing!

[PCW]

Speechless here....

[liquidguitars]

Wow!
Wow!
Wow!

[eelamb]

No words can describe what I see, it is more than amazing, and fantastic.

[Capt Bruce]

Wow!
Wow!
Wow!

What LG said times two. Can't wait to see the final assembly.

[Dhaffner]

Thanks everyone!
I've called this my lunchtime project....I have tried to keep my time limited on it. I spend about 20 minutes a day at lunch on this-My daughter has been patient, but wants it! I have a mount to finish, and then it can all come together.

http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/44712/2071475820101109960S600x600Q85.jpg

[dougmsbbs]

Now that is one awesome piece of work!

[dbfletcher]

Thanks everyone!
I've called this my lunchtime project....I have tried to keep my time limited on it. I spend about 20 minutes a day at lunch on this-My daughter has been patient, but wants it! I have a mount to finish, and then it can all come together.

"] ("http://inlinethumb41.webshots.com/44712/2071475820101109960S600x600Q85.jpg[/IMG)

Man.. now I am depressed. I could spend 24x7 for months and still not approach that. And you just play at lunch..... I am sooooooooo envious.

[William Blankenship]

Great Story!! You are a model Dad!! Good job!! I can't wait to see what you call coming together. It looks really great so far. Now I know I don't have any talent.

Bill....

[Fletcher]

Excellent work!!! You are very good with your hand sculpting too!

I don't think the copyright police will nail you to the wall for making your daughter a gift - they can be nasty though. I know a woman who makes cakes professionally and they are works of art like your sign. One day, she made a cake that looked just like a Gucci handbag which ended up getting photographed for a magazine article related to the party it was for. Several days after the article went to print, she got "the call" and was ordered to cease and desist making "Gucci cakes". I guess they were worried that somebody may think it was a real purse and pay way too much for it... ;)

[Dhaffner]

All of you saying you have "no talent" or couldn't do this are totally wrong. I'm finding that it's about practice and trying to do a little each day.
I think we all have abilities that we just haven't sharpened. The more you work that muscle, the more you find you can do. Once you learn a few techniques, whether it's for designing stuff for the CarveWright, or sculpting...ZOOM you're off!

[andes]

WOW!! that's really awesome...... is that a snow owl?

[Dhaffner]

It is not an accurate snow owl...far from it. It's my "interpretation" of Hedwig for my daughter. I've little experience in
the anatomy of an actual snow owl, so opted to go with a stylized one for her. If you back up far enough and squint your eyes, though....
it's spot on. Ha!

[Dhaffner]

Well,
It seemed to me the sign had to hang on something, so it should probably be a wall. I came up with a gothic door similar to those in Hogwarts and
carved up some wood and rivets and stone. The I painted it. Now I need to put the "pull" ring door handle on and install this thing. A wall, door, sign, wand, wand holder, owl...that's it. You have to have limits with these clients, you know? Honestly, this is also good practice. I'm learning more each day about large scale work with the CarveWright, and it's a lot of fun.

http://inlinethumb56.webshots.com/45303/2481811800101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb24.webshots.com/42007/2736064410101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[lynnfrwd]

I think you should just build your little princess a castle! ;)

[mtylerfl]

What you do is just too cool for words!!

[glassocean]

Great stuff! As far as I'm concerned, making this kind of stuff is what it's all about. Great sculpt too!

Have you been to see the Harry Potter exhibits at Universal in Orlando yet? It is truly the ONLY time I've ever enjoyed waiting in line 40 minutes to ride a ride. Your daughter would love it, if she hasn't yet seen it. Butter beer isn't bad either!

[dbfletcher]

I'm available for adoption.... just thought i'd throw that out there.

[lawrence]

That is just AWESOME-- you'll have to send a picture of it when it is done into one of those HGTV shows-- maybe they'll do a highlight on it (and both you and the CW would get some notice as well!)

No matter what though, awesome job. I can't wait to see pics of it completed and all together

Lawrence

[eelamb]

Truely amazing what you are doing.

[Dhaffner]

Well, until the client's boss (my wife) allows me to add the columns I want to add on either side, this will be considered done.
It's been fun. While I could have carved the picture frame with the CarveWright, I found this frame for 3 dollars at a local store- couldn't pass it up.

http://inlinethumb04.webshots.com/45187/2426972790101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

http://inlinethumb59.webshots.com/6202/2104161510101109960S500x500Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb33.webshots.com/48288/2987279280101109960S500x500Q85.jpg
http://inlinethumb25.webshots.com/46168/2994448590101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[Kenm810]

Outstanding!! ---Totally Amazing

[LittleRedWoodshop]

Nicely done ... Mr. Doug. Very nicely Done.

[Dhaffner]

One more, just a little closer....

http://inlinethumb08.webshots.com/5511/2124397100101109960S500x500Q85.jpg

[lynnfrwd]

I know you used the CW to make the sign out of the pink insulation foam, but can you tell me specifically, which other pieces were done either in part or in whole on the rest of the projects?

By the way, this is exactly the type of project that would make a great blog. Anytime we can take a project from concept, through setbacks and successes, to final completion...great blog material!

Your little girl must be so so happy and you should be VERY proud!

[Dhaffner]

The sign was all carvewright.....the door frame was pieced out as 3d pieces and brought in with the STL tool and carved with the Carvewright, then I add some "detailing" as I go with a dremel.
The individual door elements are a combination of carved and hand made. To make the wood for the door, I tried using the CarveWright, but found that the look I wanted
was going to require a finer "point"...I actually used a wire brush and drug it through the foam to make the wood texture. The wall could be carved, and for an upcoming
project I hope to carve textures for an entire room- but in this case the simple technique was the quickest- I put tape down to form the grout lines in the wall, then painted
over the wall with latex paint. Then I pulled up the tape- revealing the pink foam underneath. Pink foam doesn't react well to spray paint...it kind of "melts"..but the areas covered
in latex paint don't melt...so when I spray over the grout lines, they "melt" into the foam, looking like stones.

The owl was a full sculpt, but I have a plan for the future if I can afford it---
There are 3D scanners on the market that allow you to take a relatively small object and scan it into a 3d format. So eventually, I hope to be able to sculpt a shape (like the owl) then scan it....
and then enlarge it and reproduce it with the CarveWright. So, for instance, I could have scanned the wand which I made out of a dowel rod and some magic sculpt- and I could make 20 more with the
CarveWright.

[atauer]

Doug,

I know the scanners you are talking about. I have seen one first hand, and they are awesome! The guy is still trying to figure it out, making complex multiple scans isn't easy, but once he finishes, I will hopefully have a 3D model of a tiger that I want to try slicing and piecing together.

[ajk]

That's is an amazing work. evrything is wow.
Hilda

[DurhamDev]

You mention using insulation, but can you let us know how it is to work with? Are the results similar to using wood, or are there specific challenges you would encounter when carving it? (I'm certainly not saying your work isn't quality!!! I'm only concerned with what the layman could encounter!) I am considering making some signs to be hung indoors, and obviously the foam would be much, much lighter, and much better for nameplates for my kids' rooms, and the like. Can I hope that it's as simple as carve, prime and paint? (...or are there trade secrets involved with getting such a professional look?)

Also - is it a product like this (http://www.homedepot.ca/catalog/wall-ceiling-insulation-foamular/173076+4294953806) that you are using, or something different?

[Dhaffner]

Working with insulation foam (pink in my case) has been great since I installed the dust collection "hood" on my machine. It does get a fair amount of "fuzzies" but you can use a stiff toothbrush to clear them.
I get mine at a local store (Menard's) but have also purchased it at places like Lowes and/or Home Depot. It comes in 3/4, 1 ", 1 1/2", 2" here.
You have some options for coatings....a good primer and paint will do just fine (acrylic latex or any interior latex paint). Just paint, though, means the foam is still pretty susceptible to damage.
You can coat your foam with a variety of products. I happen to currently use a product called "styrospray 1000" which goes on a bit like elmer's glue. I ALWAYS paint the foam first with latex paint, then
the styrospray primer, then the styrospray. I do this because the stryrospray seems to hold better to the foam and not bubble.
The styrospray is a resin coating which drys almost like a plastic. The heavier the coats (or more coats) makes a harder shell.
The ultimate in "hard shell" is a two-part epoxy coating called Magic Sculp (sold in Canada as Abracadabra Sculpt). It is very much like clay when mixed, but dries to a super rigid hardness (The owl was sculpted with this). I have also used it to coat signs I've carved in a thin layer). Hope that helps!

[DurhamDev]

Hope that helps!

OMG, that's awesome information to have! Thanks! (Can I assume that cutting fibreglass is much, much quieter than cutting wood?)

[Kenm810]

Insulating Foam Sheets --- Not Fiberglass Insulating Products

No way!! Don’t try to cut or carve any kind of FiberGlass products on your CW or CC Machine.

Any dust or chips of the fiberglass that your dust collection system misses will become an airborne nightmare
that will be circulated by your Heating or A/C throughout your house or shop.
It can severely damage your eyes and lungs, or possibly kill you, your family members, and pets.

[Dhaffner]

Ditto...I'm purely talking about foam insulation sheets. NO fiberglass.

[DurhamDev]

Ditto...I'm purely talking about foam insulation sheets. NO fiberglass.

So, not this (http://www.homedepot.ca/catalog/wall-ceiling-insulation-foamular/173076+4294953806)?

[dbfletcher]

That should be it... foam (Extruded Polystyrene).. not fiberglass.

[safira218]

That's is an amazing work. evrything is wow.
Hilda
I know the scanners you are talking about. I have seen one first hand, and they are awesome! The guy is still trying to figure it out, making complex multiple scans isn't easy, but once he finishes, I will hopefully have a 3D model of a tiger that I want to try slicing and piecing together.

[safira218]

That's is an amazing work. evrything is wow.
Hilda
Thanks for sharing.It's great