Signs of Spring
I’m starting to see the first signs of spring. Even though we’ve had some recent cold spells along with snow and ice dumps, there have been a few days when no coat was required. When the sun shines and the wind is minimal, it just feels good.
Spring revitalizes the mind and body—just like it does with animals. We really are no different. It’s time to slowly wake up from the long, real winter we had.
I’ve been working on some new Easter designs. As shown in this image, I created laser-cut bunny ears with different patterns on the inner portion of each ear. The plan is to position the ears behind a spring floral arrangement for a layered, dimensional look.
I sold the first Happy Easter Bunny sign I made, and I’m happy to say it went to the best kind of customer—a dear friend of ours who absolutely loves Easter. She told me it’s her favorite holiday, and the bunny would help accentuate her décor. I decided to make another one, so everything is cut and ready. Now I move on to the shaping stage.
With spring on the horizon, I’ve also started thinking about my Harvest Time Sportfishing apparel line. I’m reworking the logo and exploring ways to introduce some bold, loud colors that really pop. Stay tuned for that evolution.
Laser engraving and marking can now be achieved using several different methods, and new technologies seem to emerge every three to four months. Like many industries—cameras are a good example—it’s difficult to keep up with the pace of change. I’ve been doing a lot of research and exploration, and I’m fairly certain I’ll be adding something new to my hobby house in the near future. I like to thoroughly investigate my options before making a move. It may slow down acquisition, but that’s just how I operate. Stay tuned.
The creation of my Happy Easter Bunny sign sparked another idea and led me into more scrolling and shaping work. The next step was trying my hand at shaping a Chinook salmon, so I started with the head.
This image shows the head after completing the scrolling phase. The salmon and the new bunny are my current shaping projects.
Spring also signals the start of a new fishing season for Team Crozier—my son Trevor and me. Preparation of the boat and gear has officially moved up the to-do list. Trevor has been working all winter modifying spoons and flashers, adding attractants to some of our high-producing gear. My responsibility is to inspect the rods and reels and get the boat ready for an April launch. It’s a good thing I’m retired and can manage my schedule as needed. I can say with complete certainty—we are already excited.
Just the other day, I smoked my last batch of trout and salmon.
The smoked salmon turned out excellent. As the chef, I get the privilege of sampling it straight off the smoker while it’s still warm. There’s really no accurate way to describe how good it tastes—you’ll just have to trust me.
While the smoker was running, I was also completing a major Yeti engraving project for one of my longtime friends. In the image below, you’ll see Yetis in various sizes, colors, and styles. The smoker ran for about five hours, and that’s roughly how long it took to ensure every Yeti received an accurate, cleanly engraved logo. I was running both jobs at the same time—smoking fish and “smoking” Yetis. Thankfully, both projects turned out great.
With spring approaching, production is ramping up in the shop. Easter pieces are underway, new engraving projects are in motion, and fishing season prep is officially on the calendar. If you’re thinking about custom décor, personalized engraving, or branded apparel, now is the perfect time to get on the schedule.
For more behind-the-scenes photos, project updates, and short videos of what’s happening in the shop, be sure to follow Harvest Time Designs on Facebook. That’s where I tend to post the latest creations as they come off the bench. The ideas never stop—and neither do I.