FEBRUARY 2025

Howdy,

Many years ago, at my very first graphic designer job at Airwalk shoes, I worked with Lisa Hudson, who did marketing and athlete relations. Over the years we have worked together at many companies in many ways. Along the way, Lisa introduced me to Todd Lieman, who hired me to work on merch for Airstream Travel Trailers. Todd and I have now worked on numerous projects. And last year, Todd introduced me to Debbie Kornberg, another new client who is just the best. Relationships are so important as we move through this world, both professional and personal. I find myself in client meetings having long personal conversations and getting to know people way beyond normal “professional” relationships. I know that’s not the usual way of doing business, but it seems to be how it works for me and I love the relationships I’ve built while working on other people’s dreams. A number of years ago during one of these “meetings” that turned into a much deeper conversation, Todd told me about a little town right off Highway 101 in the Santa Ynez Valley, north of Santa Barbara, called Los Alamos. He mentioned an amazing artisan bread shop, Bob’s Well Bread, started by an original Google exec that cashed out, and a really cool little boutique motel, The Alamo Motel. It took a year or two, but I always remembered Todd’s recommendation, and eventually booked a room at The Alamo. There doesn’t appear to be a lot going on in the two blocks of Los Alamos at first glance…you can walk the whole town in 10 minutes. But in those two blocks are a Michelin star restaurant, amazing dinner spots, wine tasting, a terrible little antique shop, a locals dive bar, a very expensive gas station, the unmanned post office, and most importantly, a sense of creative peace. The Alamo has become my beautiful little getaway spot that I now frequent whenever I get the chance. The rooms are artistically stark with a western flair. I’ve sat around the fire pit with my guitar and met people from around the world, and I’ve written a couple of good songs sitting in my room when the whole town closes down at about 7:30 pm. For a night owl like me, that’s a lot of time to kill before bed time. So, thanks to someone who started as just another a t-shirt design client, I have this wonderful part of my life that I look forward to and brings me much joy. Some projects or jobs become bigger than a paycheck. I hope you have that in whatever you do.

Pinballs and Junk Girls

I love old pinball machines. Love the graphics and the color and, if they still work, the sounds and memories they bring up. A few months ago I saw an ad on Facebook Marketplace for some old pinball machines. In the background of the photos, I noticed lots of other parts and pieces. I contacted the guy and asked if I could come check out all his stuff. He invited me up to Wildomar, CA, about 45 minutes north on the 15. I spent the afternoon talking with Richard, who had an entire metal building behind his house, full of his collection of old pinball machines, arcade games, shelves full of parts, and walls full of colorful pieces of broken machines. He was a little wary at first, but after he could see I was as excited about this stuff as he was, he warmed up and told me stories and showed me his prized possessions…and where he hides the good stuff. I was able to buy some parts and pieces from Richard and really enjoyed the afternoon. I took some of those parts, including some little animal targets from a 1940s target shooting arcade game, along with some 1960s pinball parts, and made these little art pieces. A few have sold, and a few are still for sale in my website store. Right now they are 35% off! Check them out.

About a month later, I came across the coolest 1940 pinball machine on Marketplace that was priced to sell and I couldn’t resist. It’s called the Mills Owl, and it’s the only pinball machine ever made by the Mills Novelty Company of Chicago. They were already known for making early slot machines, and this was their first pinball. But then World War II started and their workshop was utilized for the war effort. The owl graphics on this are incredibly cool. I bought it from a pinball restoration guy and, unfortunately, it doesn’t work and can’t be affordably fixed. I recalled a visit I had paid to a great retail shop in San Luis Obispo called The Junk Girls. They take old things and repurpose them into cool new things. Something I saw there was parts of old pinball machines repurposed into art pieces in cool ways. And that’s what I’m going to do with the Mills Owl. Stay tuned for some upcoming items I’m starting to create…(Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

PROJECTS & THINGS: GUITAR EDITION | 2025

In January, I headed to Anaheim for the 2025 NAMM Tradeshow, which features all the music instrument companies showing their newest products. I’m lucky to have a number of clients to visit at the show each year…Iris Guitars, Circle Strings, Fairbanks Guitars, Northfield Mandolins, and the Fretboard Journal. This year I also created a label design for a really cool, high end Lyon & Healy guitar that will be produced in the upcoming year. They’ve only been around since the 1800s, so, you know…a real upstart. And I got to see some guitar string packaging I designed for a collaboration with LaBella Strings and Iris Guitars. Following the show I picked up a job designing a new logo for Shubb Capos…if you don’t know what a capo is, that’s okay. It’s a little tool you put on your guitar to change the key of the music. And I have been using Shubb Capos since I first learned to play guitar in about 1981. So this one will be incredibly special to me.

At the end of 2024 things were slowing down for the holidays and I tend to get antsy if I am not creating something for you or for me. So I published a couple of books. Soft cover, great short reads. The first is “The Ones That Got Away.” It’s for all you guitar nerds who know that there is always that one (or more) guitar you wish you had back. There are stories of how I bought some guitars (one crazy one in particular), and of how I sold them for a wide variety of reasons…not all happy. Get it here.

The second book is a short story…okay a medium story…of my trip to nowhere. Sometimes you just need to get away. Take a break. Head to nowhere. Get rejuvenated. Find inspiration. This is that trip for me. “Destination: Nowhere.” Get it here.

I have known Mike Franks of M.J. Franks guitars for probably 20 years now. When I first met Mike, he had only built a handful of guitars, but oh my. They were great from the start. I built Mike’s first website and then a whole new one and along the way I have acquired a few of Mike’s gorgeous guitars. One M.J. Franks guitar that was owned by Dire Straits guitarist/singer Mark Knoepfler was recently auctioned for nearly $20,000!

Mike and his apprentice of many years, Tobin McGlassion, teamed up in 2023 to start a new brand of guitars called Cirrus Guitars. Still up to the demanding standards that they had been holding themselves to for years, but utilizing modern equipment to streamline things and help control prices. I was honored to design the Cirrus logo, website, marketing materials, merch and much more. Cirrus is now in it’s third year and continues to grow and thrive. They have a new celebrity signature model guitar with Americana artist Drew Holcomb. Check it out below…