Whats happening at Torchcraft....
If you drift down to San Diego Texas, where the Big Bucks roam, look for the Mew Ranch. I have made a new friend and customer who has a nice ranch and offers hunting of all kinds. You can visit the Mew Ranch website at www.southtexashuntingservice.com
A fun couple dropped in the store the other day while out riding their bikes on the labor day weekend. Turned out they bought a couple of pieces and the question came up as to how they would manage to get it home since they were on their bikes. They managed to get one item in a saddle bag and the larger item was attached to the back of the seat rack with shrink wrap and packing tape. I enjoyed these two and hope they come back someday.
A super nice couple from Oregon came into the store recently and ordered a dreamcatcher to be made with the silhouetts of a lab and sheppard who had gone on. This was to be a gift for their son who lives in South Texas. We ended up adding a third dog that is still with their son. The dog silhouettes were copied from photos that they had. It took some tweaking to get the heads right but we finally managed to get the right look and stance. I very much enjoyed meeting and working with the folks. Hope they will return someday.
A large gate is being built for the hunting ranch in Chama New Mexico. This scene will be an insert on half of the gate. Across the top of the gate will be an eagle, trout, mountain lion and turkeys. The bottom of the gate has two large windows. The sign shown here is a little less than 8 feet wide and cut out of 1/8" plate steel. The trees and mountain scene is a general copy of art that the ranch owner already owns and is hanging in the lodge. The other side of the gate is the same scene reversed and has an elk bull with two cows.
Ranch is located in Clayton, New Mexico. All of the critters included in this sign are native to that country. The only animals that are not included is a mountain lion and antelope. There are plenty of antelope and some really impressive ones. I really enjoyed putting this sign together as the customer who ordered it listed the items that he wanted included and I got to design it as I saw it. The sign was a gift from a genuine friend. Size is about 6 feet wide and cut from 3/16". The cactus bush to the right of the coyote is called "Cholla". Right now the cactus is in bloom with beautiful purple blooms. The tree is a pinion tree. The country is heavy with jack rabbits, so they are proudly displayed on each side of the ranch brand. I have been to the ranch recently and it is a beautiful.
The gate that this insert goes on is is a very large gate. Each side will have an insert and critters across the top. This insert is about 41" tall by 91" wide. Cut from 11 gauge (1/8") plate for the weight consideration. Each insert weighs about 50 lbs. Gate will be located on a 6,000 acre ranch in Chama New Mexico.
Years fly by. This ranch entrance was prepared for an old friend's son who was very young when I first met him. Grew up and now has a place of his own. This is his design and I was please to make it for him. Cut from 3/16" plate steel. Primed and painted. The three pieces are welded in place with welding tabs to keep the lettering up and off the main pipe. Really looks good to me.
The best part of this sign job was who I did it for. The man is Fred Vellutini, a World War II veteran who could pass for a 50 year old. As I only talked to him on the phone, I was really surprised to learn his age. He owns property in Northern California and we had a really good conversation during the ordering of the ranch sign. He had to satisfiy all of the members of his family and this is what he came up with. The best part of the conversaion was when he told me that he was out having dinner while wearing his WW II hat. Some man walked by and asked him if that hat belonged to his dad. Fred said "no sir, my dad was in World War I.....he had his own hat!" Too cool. Super nice and I hope he gets to enjoy that ranch for many years to come.
Cardholder was custom made according to the customer's directioin. State of Texas cut from 1/8" plate steel and tempered finish added. The name is placed on top of the state and welded in place. The card holder is mounted on a large horseshoe. Horseshoe nails are welded on the sides of the card holder to keep the cards in place. The entire piece is clear coated.
A recent request from a customer who wanted his 5 sons silhouette's cut out for a family sign that he was giving to his wife for her birthday.. The picture supplied by the customer was perfect for silhouettes and turned out very good. Cut from 3/16" plate. Primed with automotive etching primer and top coated with industrial black enamel. Finished product photo was taken in my shop.