Personalized plaques are great as everyone likes to see their name on plaques at a front door, on a Wine Cellar, or for their kids room.  Personalized plaques show ownership and affiliation.  Personalized plaques show what we love and what is important in our life.  That’s why personalized plaques always make great gifts.

When we first started our business 20 years ago, we created kids room plaques for LL Bean. We created a bear plaque, a moose plaque and a dinasour plaque.  Our only way to personalize at that time was by hand–my hand!  I did the calligraphy on hundreds and hundreds of plaques!  We also did plaques for LL Bean-Japan so I had the task of printing lots of Japanese names too.   

Carved sign for Kids Room.

Nowdays we actually carve the names into the plaque.  This creates a very high quality plaque as once we carve the name we then apply a stain which captures the depth of the carved name and it looks fantastic.  We also do lots of different fonts and styles so if you want a certain typeface we can probably produce it!

Tiki Bar Sign, personalized with your name

 

 Years ago we did a personalized Tasting Room sign for a catalog company called International Wine Accesssories.  It is a beautiful plaque for any wine lover or anyone with a wine cellar.  It is one of my favorite Wine pieces even after all these years.

I also carved signs for customers to use their own phrase. This is a great option for anyone with a spiritual sentiment or phrase that defines who they are.

Sunflower plaque, personalized with a phrase

 

Tasting Room Wine Cellar plaque personalized with a name

I have carved signs that can be personalized for all types of decor themes. We have nautical themed signs and French Chateau plaques. 

Boat Sign, personalized with a name

I hope you visit our webstore www.piazzapisano.com to view all of our personalized plaques. All of our plaques are made in the USA from my original wood carvings. We appreciate your support of american business.   Al 

Buon Cibo (Good Food), Buon Vino (Good Wine Buoni Amici (Good Friends) Tuscan wall door topper

   Many of the Tuscan inspired wall decor pieces that I make recreate the beautiful wood carvings you find throughout Tuscany. In my Villa plaque,  I used as a model a Villa we stayed at near Sienna. It was a a grape growing region so I carved the Villa with grapes vines surrounding the Villa.  I also created a space on the plaque where we can carve your name into the plaque.  This makes a great gift for anyone who loves Tuscany and wants to bring a bit of Tuscany to their own home.

Personalized Italian Villa house sign created from an original wood carving by Al Pisano.

Each trip I take to Italy usually includes a visit to Florence.  Who doesn’t love Florence–the museums, restaurants and the surrounding villages.  Artistically Tuscany is such an inspiration. 

Even though my Pisano family originated in Naples area, we have roots in Tuscany.   One of our forefathers, Niccola Pisano, was a sculptor known for his Roman sculptural style. Wikipedia says that Niccola Pisano is the founder of modern sculpture.  Niccola Pisano worked in Tuscany in the 13th century, sculpting lions for the Prato Castle and the relief facade of the Cathedral of Saint Martin in Lucca. He also created the beautiful Carrara marble pulpit of the Siena Cathedral. This pulpit is considered Niccola Pisano’s masterpiece.  His final work in Perugia of the Perugia Fountain, was done in collaboration with his son Giovanni.  A statue to Niccola Pisano is in the collanade area of the Uffizi Gallery.  When my kids were young I took them to see the the statue of their “Uncle” Niccola Pisano. 

Pisano statue Uffizi Gallery

I hope you will look at all the plaques and clocks and other decor items I have created for people who love Tuscany and wants to decorate “Tuscan style”.   All of my artwork is created here in our studios in Florida. 

Buona Fortuna clock for Tuscan decor

I suppose the biggest change in that all of the large companies we used to sell to now import products from China.  We just can’t but help feel that this is really hurting the American economy.  While the Chinese government works to make sure they have full employment, our government works to make sure we have cheap goods to sell to consumers. 

 Would we have an unemployment problem if we had a trade balance with China?  Or if China didn’t manipulate their currency to keep the value of their Yuan low so their exports are cheaper?    

When we started our business we felt it was important to also develop our manufacturing capabilities so we could maintain control over quality.  Our manufacturing capabilities have also enabled us to develop many more new products and not be forced to sell what is in inventory.  We only make what we sell.  So we have developed over the past 20 years an amazing library of artwork that we believe stands the test of time.  We have never really followed desig trends anyway–always sticking to concepts that we thought were timeless.

When we started in business 20 years ago we sold to companies like The Country Loft and Sturbridge Yankee Workshop and Faith Mountain.  Our Dove Door topper was a big hit in Sturbridge Yankee Workshop catalog.

Our Dove Door topper was featured for several years in the Sturbridge Yankee Workshop catalog.

For Country Loft I created a Pineapple Welcome sign–it’s still popular today. As you all know, pineapples are an historical symbol of prosperity and many people use them in the traditional theme homes for decorative purposes.  It’s still one of my favorite pieces.

Handcrafted Welcome sign with carved Pineapple

We also did a lot of work for LL Bean and designed a series of perpetual calendars for them.  They were a nightmare to assemble but we finally got efficient at it–and they sold very well. 

Wildlife Perpetual Calendar

Perpetual calendar

 That led to a series of Children’s room signs that we did for LL Bean and I personalized each one of them.  I think we sold thousands and I hand lettered each one!  Now we use a router to actually carve the name in to kids rooms signs.  All those kids I created signs for are now all grown-up!

Moose Kids Room sign, created for LL Bean in the 1990's

When we first started in business I designed several furniture pieces.  One that I am most proud of is our Americana Game Table. I carved the top (it is 40 inches x 20 inches) and there is a lot of detail in the carving.  Plus I recessed areas for game pieces.   We also apply epoxy to the table top which gives it a fantastic surface–almost glass-like–but extremely durable.  There is a small bit of assemly in putting together the base.  We also send game pieces with the table. I think anyone with a cabin or lake house would really appreciate how this table would fit into their decor.

Our Americana Game Table is coffee table size. There is minimal assembly involved.

By the end of the 1990′s the Country theme had faded away and we decided to do an Italian plaque as a gift for a family memeber.  And as an afterthought we took it to the Atlanta gift show and it was a big hit!  It is our Vive Bene door topper.  It actually translates to Live Well Love Much Laugh Often in Italian.  It is a beautiful door topper–and there are many companies that have copied it from us–but it originated with us!

Vive Bene Speeso L amore Di Risata Molto, translates to Live Well Love Much laugh Often

Well that was my walk down memory lane.  We are very sorry to see so many small manufacturers disappear but we also believe American consumers value products made in the USA so as long as that sentiment exists we will continue to design and make our own products and offer them for sale in our webstores.      Al

Some of the more popular choices for fellow wood carvers and wood workers are, Wood Carving Illustrated, Wood Worker’s Journal, Wood Craft, American Woodworker and Fine Woodworking. Each of these magazines covers many aspects of woodcarving and wood working and can become a valuable resource for those interested in this craft.

We’d love to hear some of your favorite wood carving and wood working magazines and any interesting articles you’ve discovered that you’d like to share!

After you’ve completed your woodcarving, do you ever feel that the piece seems to be missing something? Decorating your woodcarving with paint can change its entire look and is rather easy to do.

First, sand the carving with sand paper so to remove any rough edges. Be sure to wipe the carving down with a towel to remove any loose pieces. Then, using a medium brush, paint the base colors of the carving and remember to wash the brush out between colors. Add paint to the smaller portions of the carving to add detail and assure that the paint is reaching any time crevices of the carving. Then, consider outlining and creating shadows with black paint and highlight using white paint. Let the carving dry thoroughly and check the area for any needed touch ups. Once you are satisfied with the painting of the carving, be sure to spray the carving with a sealant to keep the paint from flaking away and the wood from warping.

If you haven’t considering painting your woodcarvings, perhaps you will consider doing so on your next creation. Adding a few brush of color to your carving can be just what your carving needs and you’ll enjoy seeing the piece come alive with color!

The Woodworking Shows offers educational seminars, product demonstrations on some of the latest woodworking tools, and gives the attendees the opportunities to meet their favorite authors and interact with other individuals who share the same woodworking and woodcarving passions.

If you are confident about your own work of art, you have the opportunity to submit your piece of work for The Woodworking Show Educators to vote on. Whether your woodcarving was created out of unique inspiration, a family heirloom, or of special wood, with a simple submission and registration, you can easily become qualified for the Grand Price winning of a Delta Unisaw and your work will be displayed at the ShowOFF display area at the show. For more details, visit, The Woodworking Show’s site at www.woodworkingshows.com.

To see if The Wood Working Show is coming to your town, check out the list of cities at, The Woodworking Shows.

Wood carving can be both relaxing and fun, as well as a great hobby for many. Whether the art of wood carving is enjoyed by another member of your family or circle of friends, or if you are the first to dive into this exciting craft, you have to start from somewhere and build your skill and confidence along the way.

If you are starting off wood carving for the very first time, follow the steps below as you begin your first wood carved masterpiece:

1.Decide what you want to carve. Either choose a pattern or draw your own sketch.
2.Different woods vary in color and textures. A soft pine or maple is better suited for beginners.
3.Trace your pattern or drawing onto the wood with a stylus or carbon paper.
4.Using your simple tool, a utility knife, trace around the outline of the pattern or drawing.
5.With your knife at a shallow angle, cut the wood around the outline.
6.Repeat steps 4 & 5 until all lines of the outline are cut.
7.Begin rounding edges, adding dimensions with different depth cuts to add detail.
8.Use a sheet of fine sand paper to smooth over your cut marks.
9.Choose to stain your wood carving to add depth and bring out the textures.
10.Apply varnish and a sealer for added protection.

Trying out wood carving for the first time can be very inexpensive. With the use of a utility knife and a small wood surface, you can test out your skills and move on to more advanced designs and other wood carving tools.

Carving In The Round
This style gives more of a lifelike surface and texture. Many objects in this style are portrayed as people and animals. The carvings may vary in sizes and can be painted or left natural.

Relief Carving
With relief carving, the carving has a flat back and the image in carved in 3 dimensions. Typical works include sceneries, but any object can be carved and the finished good can be found hanging on a wall or as another type of decorative piece.

Chip Carving
This technique requires you chip or remove selected pieces of wood. Chip carving is also know as kerbschnitzen, which is Swiss for engraving carving.

It’s necessary you choose the style of carving before getting started because you want the proper tools on hand before your project is underway.

Do you have any other carving styles you’d like to share?