Merry Chirstmas

Less than 4 days to finish your shopping! As usual we are working long hours to finish orders in time for Christmas and we ought to be right on time with them all!

Just a point to keep in mind when ordering a custom carved and painted sign from us or any other sign maker. Paint only dries so fast and bad things usually



happen when you try to rush it. So when we say it will take 2 weeks it is not because we don't like to work and we went fishing, usually:) its because we need time for the processes to work. Paints need time to dry, off gas, whatever you want to call it before additional colors are added or finish top coats are applied. If you rush it the finish will look like it was wadded up and thrown away, all wrinkled. And if you are getting gold leaf work done...that also takes time to get right.

Well, here are a couple of our most recent jobs. All three plaques are HDU with lettering enamel colors and a top coat of UV protective clear. The green one is for a family campsite. The other two are for the respective parents of a husband & wife. They don't live near each other so they went with the same design for each.

December

Time sure goes quickly. We were recently at Homestead Oak in Meadville, Pa for their Festival of Trees. Local charities decorated the model homes on display. The public is invited to view the homes and vote on which charity did the best job. One vote equals one dollar donated to that charity. And you get a chance to win the tree you think is the best!

Each weekend featured a different activity. Craft show one weekend, music, photos with Santa, and chinese auctions were just a few. The turnout seemed to be great and hopefully lots of money has been raised for the causes.

As usual at this time of year, we are working long hours to finish orders for Christmas. Well, time to get back to the shop. I'll be gold leafing a sign for a customers hunting lodge today and likely all day tomorrow.

Oh...checkout our friends at Compadre's Restaurants. We recently carved some things for the renovations to one of their locations (Grove City I think). Great Mexican food and nice people too.

'til later,
Al

Christmas Shopping

Yup here we are Christmas is getting closer by the minute!

You can find us at Conneaut Lake Park in the Hotel Conneaut each weekend until Christmas. Come on over and see the historic hotel and do a little shopping too!

November? Already?

Coming up this week end: Santa's Workshop in Titusville, PA. We will be there with selections from our "Decorator Series" of plank signs. We have several new quotes and phrases and as always, if we don't make what you are looking for; we will make especially for you. And, you can have your choice of any of the stock colors and even select the font!

We are continuing the Board by Board project at Conneaut Lake. The most recent load of 85 new, engraved boards were shipped this week!


If you are familiar with Conneaut Lake Park you know how important it is to the local area and the people. Folks from all over the area have spent their summers at the park for generations and have wonderful memories of the time spent there.

Although closed for a couple years the Park is once again operating and continues to bring more of the attractions back each season.

The boardwalk project is one way anyone can help in the restoration of this truly unique asset from days past.

For information on the Board by Board project contact The Crawford County Visitor's Bureau.

If you are looking for a special gift check out our website at www.yaksigns.com or come see us in Titusville!

The New Week

Well, we made it through the week end at the park! Lots of great people came to see what has been going on at Conneaut Lake Park. They dropped huge pumpkins on a boat and a car this weekend. If you want to draw a crowd just tell everyone you going to SMASH something!

This week we will be catching up on the quotes we need to get out and then start engraving more boards for the boardwalk project.

Our next scheduled show is at Santa's Workshop in Titusville. See ya there!
-Al

October

REALLY?
It is already October? Where has the time gone. Tonight I'm cutting some signs for the Pumpkinfest in Conneaut Lake. We will be there all weekend so stop by and say HOWDY or what ever you say when you see your friends.

The weekend will be lots of fun. The Park is having a Haunted Hotel and lots of other scary things for the upcoming holiday. AND I hear that someone is going to drop a huge punkin on a boat and smash it. Gotta think that will be some thing to see.

-Al

Wine County Harvest Fest

Hi everyone! Thanks to all the great people we met at the Stoneboro Fair.

Our next show is in North East, PA (that's the name of the town, really folks it is!) The annual Wine Harvest Fest. It is the 25, 26, & 27th of September. The following link will give you details on the event: Schedule


We will be located in Gravel Pit Park near where the bands will be playing. They have a couple of our favorites this year; Duke Sherman on Saturday, and Rick & the Roadhouse Rockers on Sunday. But, they aren't the only ones playing there are other great groups scheduled as well.

Stop buy and see us!

-Al

Stoneboro Fair

Well we made it! The 2009 Crawford County Fair is history. We met a lot of great people, got to see some old friends, and really enjoyed our eight days at the fair.
Thanks to all of you who stopped by. Thanks very much to those of you who bought signs from us and placed orders during the fair.

We had so much fun we are going to go to the Great Stonboro Fair this week. It begins Wednesday and runs until Labor Day. If you are near Sandy Lake or Stonboro PA stop in and see us!

Crawford County Fair

Hey Everyone!
Its fair week here in Meadville! Come see us in Home Show Building 1 all week. There's plenty to do for everyone in the family. Livestock, fair food, horse races, displays from many area businesses, and did I mention food?

You can see a selection of the home decorator plank signs that we offer and we can talk about any other projects you might have in mind too!.

Fair Time!

Wow! Where did the summer go? Here in Meadville we are getting ready for the Crawford County fair to start this Saturday.It is the largest agricultural fair in PA according to local sources. If you plan to attend look for us in Home Show Building 1. We should be on the right near the front so stop in and say hello.

Our booth will have a variety of our novelty signs featuring humorous and sentimental phrases and inspirational quotes for sale. Several new additions were made to our catalog about mid year. And as always, if we don't make the one you want, we will make it for you!

We will also have samples of different materials and techniques that we use to manufacture our commercial signs. Folks often ask us "So you carve these out of wood, right? Well, our answer is "Yes" and "No". Material selection depends on several factors such as the intended use, location, (where in the world will the sign be displayed), the client's budget, maintenance considerations, and more.

If you are looking for an unusual gift, need a house number, a name plaque for your hunting camp or cottage, or have a business that needs a new sign or an old one repaired, please give us a call.

Regards,
Al & Millie

Another recent project

This sign is for our friends at Goddard Park Vacationland Campgrounds near Lake Wilhelm here in NW Penna. They updated their logo and needed the sign at the entry to the campground to match.

We carved and painted it and they built the frame and mounted the sign within it. Really nice looking work Dennis!

If you are a camper and want to try a new place check them out. They have a lot of activities for all ages and the lake is really close. www.vacationland-campground.com/index.htm

And for us grown ups, there is a winery just down the road. Lake Wilhelm Winery has some great wines. www.wilhelmwinery.com/

Goin Up!

The photo is of the sign we installed earlier this week. They moved in from Calgary to develop natural gas & oil leases in our area.

River Valley

We just finished installing a large logo for a company new to our area. They are river Valley Energy Services and recently moved to NW PA from Calgary. I'll post pictures on our web site later today.

-Al

Time and changes

Wow! Has it really been that long since I posted? Well of course, Google wouldn't lie...

The last month has been really busy! My main supplier closed their warehouse here in town and moved it a convenient 2 hours away by combining it with a SMALLER facility in another state. Oh and they fired all but one of the local employees.

I found this out when I wanted to place an order and the person answering the phone filled me in on the situation. To make things even easier and more convenient for their customers they no longer carry many of the materials I often use. The name of this wonderfully managed company was Vinyl Sign Supply who has been acquired by Sign Supply USA.

If you use them and are having problems getting things you need I recommend that you call Pioneer in Pittsburgh. Rob usually answers the phone when I call and has always been helpful. Although they don't stock some of the brands I was used to using he was able to recommend alternates that have proven to be as good and in some cases superior products! Thanks, Rob!

Enough discussion about problems. We have been very busy with new projects over the last several weeks and will be finishing and installing several new signs in the area. I'll post pictures when we have them completed.

Since it is supposed to rain today I'll work inside preparing the site of one of our larger projects for installation on Monday.

I better get to work!

Remember,

The sign for your business is your 24 hour sales rep. New customers receive their first impressions from its appearance and what it says to them.

Regards,
Al

Spring

Has Spring come to NW PA? Easter is tomorrow and I hope so. Just last week we had a lot of snow in only 2 days. But we have had a few really nice days since then and today looks to be starting out great.

As always there is plenty to do in the shop. Today I have one sign finished and need to make delivery arrangements, another is ready for the primer coat, and I have one to begin carving. Then after lunch I'll see what's next!

Remember us if you are in the market for a carved sign. We can make 'em big or make 'em little. In addition to natural wood, we also offer HDU and other specialized materials designs for lower maintenance and longer life.

Check out our web site for more info:
www.yaksigns.com

See ya later,
Al

January 26, 2009

For those of you who may not know about my little corner of the country, NW Pennsylvania, I'll tell you a little bit about the area.

Meadville is the town I have called home since about '94. It's located in a valley between several low rolling hills. When my parents visited here from Iowa, Mom called them mountains. I guess its all a matter of perspective. A river called French Creek run through the community.

Several industries have called Meadville home since it was founded about 220 years ago. Textiles and fiber manufactures were some of the early industries. The zipper was invented in Meadville and was manufactured here by the Talon company for many years. Talon and other manufacturers spawned another industry in the area: the Tool & Die Industry. The area has been call the Tool & Die Capital of the World. Although the industry has gone through hard times like everyone else, dozens of shops, small and large, still call the area home.

We also have all the support services right here in town. If you want some thing made, it can be made here in Meadville. There are heat treaters, platers, machine shops, foundries, designers, molders, pretty much any industry you can name is represented in this community!

Allegheny College is also located here. It is a national liberal arts college recognized for its degree programs for educators and other fields of study.

Dad's Dog food is located here. It is a great example of a family owned business that has done well.

Channellock, the maker of the famous pliers and other hand tools is another company that started here and is still here and is a leader in their industry.

The Meadville area was also prominent in the history of our country. George Washington traveled though here when he was investigating the rumors for the French and Indians cooperating with each other to push the English back toward the coast.

Just east of here near Titusville Colonel Drake drilled the first oil well and started the oil industry we depend on today. Titusville is celebrating the 150th year anniversary of this well being drilled this year.

The famous abolitionist, John Brown, had a tannery northeast of Meadville. The foundation of one of the structures remains on the site and is in a small park open to visitors. There is even a small museum with pictures and artifacts from the area. Some of John Brown's family is buried in the cemetery just a short walk up the hill from the tannery site.

Well there is much more. But I'll get to that later.

-Al

Yak Signs

First what is Yak Signs:
We are a small full service sign shop specializing in carved signs and located in NW Pennsylvania.

A real Mom & Pop operation. My wife and I do everything here from sales, design, carving and routing, painting, to installing.

My plan for this blog is have a place where I can show recent projects. Talk about our business, the sign business in general, business issues that effect all of us, as well as anything else that comes to mind.

From time to time we will also put up posts with links to other companies and people that we work with to let you know about them as well.

Who knows maybe you will find the right person or company for the job you have in the planning stages now.

More to come later.