28.5”x39”

An antique brown and gold frame found in a storage room in a Houston law school sparked the idea for this latest food related sign. This sign’s design and written content was inspired by an old salvage piece we came across online. We can’t claim this as an original design as we respectfully replicated the original lettering style for “Rooms and Meals” exactly, and changed out the bottom verbiage to our own liking. We think this authentic looking piece drips character and is perfect for a busy farmhouse kitchen or vacation home.

Not for sale at this time.

72” tall x 53 wide”

Back in the late 1950s, the Court Club was the place for live music, staged plays, and the local buzz was that Hal and Zora Schumock served the best steak dinners for miles around. They sold their “supper club” in The Dalles, Ore. in 1963 and their son wanted to commemorate this lost chapter in his family history with an oversized centerpiece for his billiard room in his home. The design was replicated as closely as possible from an old, faded photograph and an original, conceptual sketch. Complete with multi-levels, dimensional letters, and working lights.

Production notes and process photos

36”x50”

We found this oversized, scalloped frame at a backroad Texas antique shop and it perfectly suited the proportion for a sign layout we’ve had on the make-list for some time now. Inspiration for this sign came from hand lettering we saw on an early 1900s trade sign and we feel we channeled its personality here with utmost respect and reverence. A sign such as this would have hung proudly inside a busy market 100 years ago, so we bypassed our weathered look for a more appropriate “indoor” patina. Original design. For sale.

120”x 14.5”

This sign was inspired by smalted-paint signs from the late 1800s and early 1900s. Smalted paint has a layer of finely ground pigmented glass or colored sand (smalts) sprinkled and embedded into it. Once cured, this reinforced paint gives sign boards long-lasting protection against the elements and an elegantly textured finish. We chose “The Port of Galveston Tex.” to commemorate our region and our fascination with oceanic travel. 10 feet long, with hand-cut, dimensional letters. Original design.

More photos and production notes here

36” x 7.5”

Anything nautical inspires us to no end. This sign is quite small and fits nicely over a standard door frame. Original design. For sale.

29”x13”

This small sign was made for an ol’ college buddy and his wife who make an annual trek for a week of beach combing, fine dining, and relaxation. Ogunquit, a quintessential coastal Maine village south of Kennebunk, was settled in 1686 (yes, 1686) and has managed to remain small with just 1,500 year-round residents today. Where’s your favorite getaway? Original design.

More Ogunquit signs here

48"x37"

Just four miles from downtown, Houston Heights was one of the original planned communities in Texas. Back in the 1890s, its main boulevard was modeled after Boston's Commonwealth Avenue and was lined with high reaching oaks and classic Victorian and Craftsman style homes, many of which still grace the boulevard today. After 125 years of storied history, including hitting rock bottom in the 1970s, The Heights is now one of the most desirable places to live in Houston. What’s your favorite city? Four feet wide.

For sale.

Note: This design was inspired absolutely by brethren sign maker and master craftsman Peter DiScala of Strafford House. Check out his beautiful work here, along with his wife Jana’s folk art paintings.

28"x37"

Indeed! That’s our work on the cover of Portland Monthly magazine. We were honored when they called to explore the possibility of having us design and produce a cover piece for their Farmers Market issue. Many thanks to Jason Blackheart and all at SagaCity Media for believing in us and offering us this regional exposure. Original design.

Step-by-step production photo album

Cover Junkie – Best Covers

46"x26"

Primer, a brand development agency located just north of Philadelphia, contacted us to paint their logo on a sign that would hang in the front window of their storefront studio. It has a new home right above their studio’s centerpiece, a working 1872 Gordon letterpress.

96"x 24"

This project represents an exciting collaboration with new friends at Parliament, a Portland, Oregon, creative firm. Their videographers captured the making of this sign from start to finish. The final 2-minute shop promo is available here on our site in the navigation bar. Our friends just completed a multimillion-dollar seismic upgrade and remodel of their historic, three-story 1890 Witherspoon building, and this sign hangs in their new space. Original design.

27"x27"

A gift for friends of the Workshop to commemorate their lineage to the Meier family. In 1857, 26-year-old Aaron Meier (great, great grandfather) opened his small mercantile shop on Front Street in Portland, Oregon. Twenty-eight years later he partnered with Emil Frank and the store became known as Meier & Frank. In 1909, construction began on their magnificent flagship Portland store which still sits opposite Pioneer Courthouse Square in the heart of downtown. After 151 years, the Meier & Frank name was discontinued in 2008 when the store became Macy’s. Inspired by a sign seen tucked away in a 1905 photograph.

52"x40"

A client in Madison, New Jersey ordered this large custom sign to commemorate the history of his hometown. Every October, this historic burgh hosts the community-wide Bottle Hill Days to celebrate the town’s humble beginnings. There are records of a Bottle Hill Tavern having anchored the main intersection in town as far back as 1812, but no known photographs or illustrations exist. Several designs and color combinations were presented, and this one seemed to fit our client's imagination perfectly. After receiving their sign they emailed: “You crushed it! This thing looks ridiculous!” Original design.

36” round

This piece was absolutely inspired by a similar Japanese bazaar sign spotted in an 1890s photograph of downtown Portland, Oregon. Though we chose San Fransisco for our interpretation, this design, with four different lettering styles, is forever cemented in history as is the annual Nihonmachi cultural festival and the restaurants and import shops along Post Street in San Fransisco’s Japantown. This sign is gracefully domed at the center (2.25” convexity) and hangs away from the wall one inch for added dimension. For sale.

48"x32"

We’ve been wanting to make a teapot sign for some time now. Inspired by the iconic shape of the Robur Tea Co. logo (Australia, 1928-1949), we decided on Harbor Tea Room for the name of our fictional place that reminds us of stormy days, the sound of seagulls, and the aroma of exotic teas. Short and stout (thank you), this piece is perfect for any kitchen or dining room, from rustic to modern.

48"x13"

The tag line was the result of a brainstorming session with a fellow art director when tossing around marketing ideas for a Portland, Oregon bike shop. Perfect for the bike enthusiast, bike commuter or over the workbench at a bike shop. Just over 4 ft. wide. Original design.

42"x32"

An eastern Oregon doctor and his wife thought it best to honor his grandfather when deciding on an art piece to hang above their stone fireplace. Dr. Roy L. Peterson (and his father as well) worked as a doctor in Boise, Idaho generations ago, often flying to remote backcountry areas to treat his patients. Original design.

48"x65"

“Portland, Oregon is the craft brewing capital of America and supports an extensive, thriving pub culture. Portland also hosts more non-profit organizations per capita then any other city in America.”

On this premise, the nation’s first nonprofit pub was established. North Portland’s Oregon Public House is now celebrating a wildly successful first year with 100 percent of net profits donated to local charitable organizations. In fact, patrons get to choose how they want their money donated from a list of charities. Have a pint, change the world! And a coveted founder’s mug was bestowed upon us for donating this sign. A free pint a week for life! How cool is that? Featuring a deep, shop-made beveled frame. Original design.

Visit Oregon Public House

28"x42"

Florence, Italy’s Basilica di Santa Maria del Santo Spirito is located in the Oltrarnoquarter, facing the bustling city square. As a young archaeologist some forty years ago, our client spent a memorable two years working in Italy and had an apartment just around the corner from Santo Spirito. He commissioned this sign to remind him of his time there. The church was originally founded in 1252 (that’s right, 1252), and the current structure (1481) is a preeminent example of classic Renaissance architecture. Original design.

36"x26"

This replica of the iconic 1930s-era King Edward sign is a gift from a wife to her husband, a Swisher tobacco company career man, and the very first sign order to come out of our Houston workshop.

Back in 1895, the Swisher tobacco company employed over 1,000 people and produced as many as 300,000 cigars a day. In 1901, soon after assuming the throne, King Edward VII struck down Queen Victoria's ban on smoking with the now-immortal words, “Gentlemen, you may smoke!” Back in the states, the Swisher brothers honored his proclamation by naming a cigar after him and business quickly flourished. During the darkest days of the depression, Swisher was able to hire hundreds of workers to meet demands, and by 1940, King Edward became the world’s best selling cigar. 

32"x16"

This beloved beach retreat has known just one family since it was built more than a century ago in 1897 and is listed with the local historical society. Cottages along the Connecticut coastline are as quintessential as cottages get and are the stuff of summertime memories, no doubt. This sign was ordered as a gift for the owner by his brother-in-law to commemorate the cottage’s sentimental value to the family and its place in local history. Original design.

98"x28"

Inspired by the history of Houston’s large shipping port in the Gulf’s Trinity Bay (North America’s largest in foreign tonage), we set out to make our first Houston-themed sign. Ship chandlers were merchants who stocked supplies of whale oil, lard, varnish, rope and cordage, sail cloth, brooms, mops and galley supplies such as cured meats — anything needed for an extended voyage at sea. Original design with classic gold on black. Measuring just over eight feet wide, this piece can fill quite a large space in a loft or in restaurant or pub settings. Original design.

52"x53"

At first, we wondered why the Nike basketball folks would ever want this particular sign reproduced. After all, it has nothing to do with basketball, right?

They asked us to make this replica of an Akron, Ohio sign as part of a high-profile internal presentation to the biggest name in the NBA — current Nike torch bearer and Akron native (now it makes sense), LeBron James.

“Go ahead and beat it up really good,” was the only art direction we were given. Music to our ears!

98"x16"

This sign is right out of our client’s favorite Twilight Zone episode, A Stop at Willoughby (1960), about a stressed train commuter who dreams he’s pulling into the idyllic 1900s town of Willoughby. We replicated the lettering as closely as possible from this frame captured from the episode. This eight-foot sign now hangs on the front of a our client’s new barn in the Maryland countryside.

36"x42"

Rucker’s Coffee Cup was a well-known 1950s landmark in downtown Portland, Oregon. After seeing vintage photos of this sign, we just knew we had to make it. The original was a neon sign that hung over the sidewalk at the corner of S.W. Broadway and Stark Street and it was rigged to have real steam piped out of the top of the cup. Perfect for a kitchen, coffee shop, brewpub or anyone who may have frequented Rucker’s back in the day. Read more at Vintage Portland, a photographic blog about Portland’s history.

60"x10"

Our client wanted to surprise her fiancé with this replica of a historic sign that hangs in their favorite New Jersey pub. Here in the United States, Prohibition was enforced from 1920 through 1933. Russia, Finland, Hungary, Norway and Iceland also grappled with banning alcohol in the early 1900s. The first known prohibition was imposed 4000 years ago by Yu the Great during China’s Xia Dynasty. After his death, alcohol was legalized once again during the reign of his son Qi.
Cheers, Salute, or, better yet, Broscht!

63"x21"

Long ago, “Ginette’s little market” offered locals fresh fish and vegetables — exactly where and when, we’re not sure. We spotted our inspiration online when researching old French signs. We liked the simple arched design and script lettering so much we decided to offer a reproduction. Distressed with multicolored paint layers and plenty of weatherbeaten character. Perfect for any room in the home or as vintage decor in restaurants and retail businesses.

24"x36"

Passing a downtown Portland shop after a Timbers soccer game, we noticed a charming sign through the window surrounded by vintage women’s wear. We loved the simple elegance of the gold on black and the one-of-a-kind hand painted script lettering. The very next day we got started on this reproduction. Finished with a quarter-inch beaded frame and a smokey-aged patina.

60"x8"

A recent trip to the stormy Oregon coast and a plate of oysters on the half shell inspired us to offer this weathered-looking piece. A useful size at 5 feet wide, it’s simplicity will add rustic charm above a sideboard, resting on a mantel, or sitting above a row of upper cabinets. Perfect for a vacation home or beach house. Original design.

25"x14"

In our relentless attempts to channel the golden age of dining, we offer up this recent effort. A rickety tea table found at a thrift shop presented a uniquely framed tray top and a patina worthy of our attention. As one of our new favorites, this piece is small enough to hang anywhere. Original design.

For sale.

27"x16"

A young ballerina’s aspirations will be kept alive with our interpretation of a century-old  Royal Ballet stage door sign. Original design.

48" x 28"

A nonprofit organization committed to sustainable farming and the education of youth offers 250 acres of northern California countryside to students and their families. Lakes, woodlands, high-ropes courses, farm-to-table classes, and fishing are just some of the activities enjoyed by guests. Their restored vintage farmhouse’s interior is this sign’s new home. Original design.

24"x18"

A small sign spotted in a 1912 postcard scene from Surrey, England, was our inspiration to celebrate the handpainted letter form. Municipal sign shops were once staffed with career signwriters and eager apprentices, and their unadorned works were hung throughout villages by the hundreds. The human hand brought warm personality to the most mundane of signs with nuances that can only be appreciated now that the golden age of the signwriter has passed. Original design.

For sale.

You’ll appreciate this link to Peter Hardwicke’s story, a modern-day village signwriter in London.

24"x18"

The Bike Commuter, one of Portland, Oregon’s newest bicycle shops, recently opened in the historic 1907 Sellwood Bank building. Creaky floorboards and period details add historic flavor to the interior space — and the walk-in bank vault still occupies the basement, now re-commissioned to protect stockpiled inventory. As the official bike mechanic for Nutmegger Workshop, we thought we’d make them a sign to show our appreciation for their trusted service. Original design.

65"x11"

In 1933, the “million-dollar” indoor Portland (Oregon) Public Market opened on Front Street. As ambitious as this venture was, it was never quite as successful as the city’s smaller predecessors such as Central Public Market, which it was intended to replace. The venture closed in 1944 and the colossal building eventually became the home of the Oregon Journal newspaper (Tom McCall Waterfront Park now occupies this space). Today, market enthusiasts and developers are pursuing a new site for the next-generation Portland Public Market. Perfect for a kitchen, loft or commercial space. Just over 5 feet wide. Original design.

Sold.

64"x13"

“Do not stir your tea in sweeping circular motions. Place your tea spoon at the six o’clock position and softly fold the liquid towards the twelve o’clock position two or three times.”

Ah, yes, tea etiquette is paramount with Brits and practiced in tea rooms all around London and the United Kingdom. This near-replica was inspired by a weathered sign above an old shuttered tea room in London’s Camden borough. New tenants recently painted over the entire facade, including the sign. Just over 5 feet wide.

60"x10"

Throughout the mid-1800s, Boston’s “Old Corner Bookstore” (circa 1712, Boston’s first brick-made building) was the home of Ticknor and Fields Publishing and was a gathering place for literary giants such as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, Ralph Waldo Emerson and Charles Dickens. Ever since, a succession of other publishers and booksellers have occupied the space. Threatened with demolition in 1960, this enchanting building (shown here in 1900) was restored and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This authentic-looking sign reproduction is perfect for the historian, the avid reader or bookshop enthusiast.

Read more about the Old Corner Bookstore in our journal

48" x 28", 27" round

Westland Distillery, located in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood, spared no expense when they set out to brew the finest single-malt whiskey. Their stylishly renovated facility boasts a 6,000-liter mash house and a double distillation still room comprised of a 7,560-liter wash still and a 5,670-liter spirit still. Guests can tour the entire brewing process while also seeing the state-of-the-art quality control lab, a well-appointed tasting room and a whiskey library. Founded by two Seattle schoolmates who say their passion for this business was born in high school chemistry class. Original designs using corporate color palette.

60"x36"

He’s an avid wine collector, and she surprised him with this piece to hang outside his new, exquisitely appointed wine room complete with floor-to-ceiling 1,500-bottle storage (1,500 bottles!). Let the entertaining begin! This sign is generously sized at five-feet wide and features a deeply beveled handcrafted, shop-made frame. Original design. 

66"x23"

A Portland, Oregon patent attorney’s wife decided his firm’s lobby needed functional art with a bit of scale to fill a void that had needed attention for some time. Our instructions were to design a vintage-style sign that “looked old — but not damaged.” A refined black-and-gold combination with classic early 1900s letter forms make for a warm and trusted greeting. Original design.

36"x24"

A friend of the Workshop with promising entrepreneurial spirit, a solid business idea, dreams to one day open his own old-time tavern. When he approached us to make a sign to keep his dream alive, we were happy to oblige. Best of luck Ryan! Original design.

46.25" x 30"

An original design inspired by 150-year-old factory documents from a mid-1800s pianomaker in Dresden, Germany. No other known records of this factory exist due to the fire-bombing of Dresden in 1945 and the total destruction of city archives. Our efforts to locate an F.E. Vogel piano proved futile until a woman in Scotland found this very post while researching her F. E. Vogel piano. Sign made from a 1920s reclaimed door panel. Original design.

18"x24"

Innovative graphic design studio MineTM asked us to produce an interior decor piece for San Francisco’s newest sandwich shop. A bold new identity design and crisp interior renovation sets the stage for their “traditional and modern takes on street food and bánh mi inspired sandwiches.” Sign features the first letter of the restaurant’s new logo.

Photos courtesy of Bun Mee and Nathan Sharp

20"x13.5" and 21.75"x 14.75

Belly up to the crowded bar with friends for a dozen oysters and a few cold beers, then head upstairs to the bustling dining room for the specialty of the house. Inspired by 50-year-old memories of Boston’s historic (1827) Durgin-Park Market Dining Rooms. Add nostalgic character to your home by commemorating your favorite restaurant or destination. 

Below: Vintage Durgin-Park staff photo.

30"x22"

A wife’s wedding anniversary gift for a husband who loves crabbing on the Oregon coast. Original design.

60"x26"

An Aberdeen, Washington collector commissioned this prohibition-era replica. The Seattle-based Hemrich brothers brewed beer in various forms from 1897 through 1940, when the company was sold — ending the Hemrich brand. Hemrich’s Select was the the first beer sold legally in Seattle after the 1933 prohibition repeal. The original sign was recently discovered in the attic of Duffy’s restaurant in Aberdeen, Washington and has been tagged for museum display. 

36"x26"

An antique tractor enthusiast commissioned us to make this handsome replica of the Rumely Oil Pull logo. From 1853 to 1931 Meinrad Rumely’s massive tractors and threshing machines were lauded as the “best tractors ever built.” Nowadays, Rumely collectors gather at events and expositions around the country to proudly display their mechanical relics. Below is our client’s 1928 Rumely Model X and 1926 Model M.

96"x26"

A respectful interpretation of a great old sign on a country barn in France. Vetements de Travail, or “working clothes,” was Monsieur Fichot’s business. A warm, golden-tan background, red lettering and a generous 8-feet of rustic charm is guaranteed to warm up any space. 

For sale.

60"x24"

We jumped at the opportunity to design this custom piece. A family’s love for the rugged outdoors led them east of Seattle to a site on the Snoqualmie River, where they built their dream home as close as possible to what they love most — flyfishing. Rustic beams and reclaimed wood on the interior and exterior has this comfortable Craftsman-style lodge feeling as though it was built generations ago. The large foyer was the perfect spot to proudly celebrate their new home’s name. 5 feet wide. Original design.

17.5"x25.5"

Our inspiration still hangs along the boulevard in Paris’s upscale 8th arrondissement. A vintage remnant from a local grocery — or épicerie. “Milk guaranteed pure, arrival 2 times per day.” Will feel right at home in a country kitchen, and equally as well in a sleek, contemporary counterpart. 

97"x10.5"

As early as 1630, a trading post was established on the eastern bank of the St. George River in southern Maine. 150 years later, Thomaston — named after General John Thomas of the Continental Army — was incorporated in 1777. Many settlers arrived in Thomaston following the Revolutionary War in 1783, and today, about 5,000 residents call Thomaston home. Original design inspired by old town hall and post office signs. 8 feet in length.

48"x20"

An anniversary gift to commemorate where a couple first met years ago while working at this inner-city youth shelter. In 1975, the neighborhood center was founded to “involve and empower low-income residents,” and today, “Preble Street has become the hub of programs for the most vulnerable and underserved residents of Portland — creating solutions for homelessness, hunger and poverty.” Please visit their website. Original design.

60"x22"

Commissioned by Mr. Paulsen’s family to commemorate his self-made career that has spanned more than five decades. In addition to crafting small, precision aircraft parts, Paulsen’s unassuming machine shop also crafts the indispensable Rigby cloth stripping machine, a table-mounted, hand-cranked workhorse used by rug braiders and weavers around the world. Original design.

58"x16"

This sign was commissioned by an interior designer whose clients are a pair of firefighting captains who happen to work at the same Engine No. 4 firehouse—and, who just happen to be husband and wife! Pretty cool. She transformed their master suite to have the feel of a historic firehouse, complete with brick accent walls, tin ceilings and this new, rustic firehouse sign.