A bit of a diversion here.
For many years (14 actually) my house has sported a sign that was made for me by my late father-in-law:
![Dovedale Sign 01 The Original from 1997](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-01-The-Original-from-1997-Custom.jpg)
This is painted onto a piece of mahogany (probably a bit of old furniture) but is now beginning to show signs of requiring a bit of a refurb.
![Dovedale Sign 02 Take One Old Oak Floorboard](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-02-Take-One-Old-Oak-Floorboard-Custom.jpg)
So, need a piece of hardwaring wood (that’s oak then). This is a section of an old solid oak floorboard.
![Dovedale Sign 03 Cut and Plane and Sand](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-03-Cut-and-Plane-and-Sand-Custom.jpg)
Cut to size, plane off the old varnish and it is beginning to look good.
![Dovedale Sign 04 Drill](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-04-Drill-Custom.jpg)
Drill a couple of mounting holes.
![Dovedale Sign 05 Scanned Cheese Wrapper](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-05-Scanned-Cheese-Wrapper-Custom.jpg)
Here’s the “logo”. This was originally found on a packet of Dovedale Blue cheese in Sainsburys. I can’t find anything more on it – can’t find the cheese any more either (shame – it was delicious!)
![Dovedale Sign 06 Cut Out Stencil](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-06-Cut-Out-Stencil-Custom.jpg)
Blown up in Photoshop and printed onto two sheets of A4. Then cut out the letters to make a stencil.
![Dovedale Sign 07 Take a Break](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-07-Take-a-Break-Custom.jpg)
This is a very important part of any creative process.
![Dovedale Sign 08 Stencil onto Oak](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-08-Stencil-onto-Oak-Custom.jpg)
Stencil onto the oak.
![Dovedale Sign 09 Stencil onto Oak](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-09-Stencil-onto-Oak-Custom.jpg)
![Dovedale Sign 10 Stencil onto Oak](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-10-Stencil-onto-Oak-Custom.jpg)
Remove the paper stencil.
![Dovedale Sign 12 Paint in Letters](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-12-Paint-in-Letters-Custom.jpg)
Paint in the letters
![Dovedale Sign 13 Paint in Letters](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-13-Paint-in-Letters-Custom.jpg)
Beginning to look like a sign (at last)
![Dovedale Sign 14 One coat of Antique Pine Laquer](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-14-One-coat-of-Antique-Pine-Laquer-Custom.jpg)
One coat of coloured varnish.
![Dovedale Sign 15 Old and New](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-15-Old-and-New-Custom.jpg)
The old and the new.
![Dovedale Sign 16 Job Done](http://www.nirvana-motorcycles.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Dovedale-Sign-16-Job-Done-Custom.jpg)
Job Done.
The old sign has been retired to the back garden – I was banned from throwing it out by my kids: “Grandad made that”