Last week Atlas Signs and Plaques was given the opportunity to write a guest blog post for the popular customization website www.custommade.com. How did we respond? By taking advantage of that opportunity of course!

The process of our sign creation is now embedded in the archives of custommade.com. You can check the post out here, and while you’re at it, scope out our new Victorian name plaque, perfect for those seeking a crisp, modern name plaque design without sacrificing the classic style sensibility of Victorian era style.

You Could Say This is a "Crisp" Looking Sign

A Fine Example of the Mackintosh Font

Charles Rennie Mackintosh (1869-1928) is the namesake of our Mackintosh font, which appears on many Stickley-style signs and plaques. The Mackintosh font reflects the style of Mackintosh’s architecture in that it is simple (par the craftsman era) but also plays close attention to the values of aesthetics. Mackintosh was greatly honored during his career and his most iconic work—the Glasgow School of Art—stands proudly to this day. We are thrilled to add the Mackintosh font into our library of usable fonts.

Inside the Glasgow School of Art

It is said that Mackintosh meticulously hand-lettered the print on all of his writings using his own distinct personal style to convey the mood of each project. Likewise, his buildings reflect the mood of their setting. For instance, if a building were to be placed in an urban area, then Mackintosh used urban style brick to blend it with its surroundings. This characteristic is best seen in the Glasgow school of art, which Mackintosh designed from the inside-out using woodwork, decorative borders and trims, thematic inlays, stained glass windows, craftsman furniture and original lamps.

Outside the Glasgow School of Art

The exterior of the Glasgow school of design demonstrates a simple style that average modern consumers wouldn’t bat an eyelash at. But do not be deceived—the style of the Glasgow school of design was eminent in its day—nothing before or after matches its display of architectural virtuosity.

Though Mackintosh’s architecture was wildly popular, his wealth slowly diminished as a cancer, which ultimately claimed his life, grew. He passed away in 1928 leaving behind an estate valued at only a couple hundred dollars. His legacy, however, continued to grow. Fifty years after his death one of his personal chairs sold for $13,600. Sixteen years later, in 1994, another sold for a whopping $415,000.

To this day Mackintosh is considered one of the fathers of modernist architecture, exemplifying an exceptional understanding of restraint, modesty, and visual integrity. It is with great pleasure that we offer to you the Mackintosh front for your signs or plaques.

One of My Favorite Plaques

Today we are proud to introduce our new Nautical-themed collection of signs. You can check out the collection here. There are a lot of top signs in this group, but I have to say (as a Maryland native) my favorite is the crab plaque followed by the whale house numbers plaque— one of our most unique signs. If you are a fisherman, outdoors-man, whale lover, fish keeper, or sailor—then you are sure to find something very appealing in this new category. Swing on by and give it a look!

To celebrate this new nautical themes category, I bring to you the top 5 longest living sea animals on Earth.

Lake Sturgeon

#5) The Lake Sturgeon. Lake Sturgeons are the longest living freshwater fish on earth, often eclipsing 100 years of age. These fish once massively populated the great lakes, but due to overfishing and stunningly slow sexual development (30 years) they are now protected by DNR agencies.

Just Look at The Rockfish's Blank Stare

#4) Rougheye Rockfish. This small fish (38 in.) has an average lifespan of 20 years.Researchers say that if given the proper situations, it can live up to 140 years. Why then, does it only live to 20 on average? Because it suffers from the 3 S’s: slow, small, and stupid.

A cluster of Red Sea Urchins

#3) Red Sea Urchin. The porcupine of the ocean. Red sea urchins can vary in color from red to dark burgundy. They have no visible face, instead hiding beneath their spikes where their mouth and teeth reside. Urchins have been known to live for over 200 years.

Bowhead Whale with Calfs

#2) Bowhead Whale. The bowhead whale is considered to be the second most massive animal on the planet (second to the blue whale) and is the world’s longest living mammal, living from 150-200 years. Estimates report a former population of around 50,000, but due to whaling that number has been slashed in half.

#1) The Ocean Quahog. A clam. The Ocean Quahog is known to live for up to 400 years. Certainly a very long time for such a boring animal. To put the quahog’s lifespan in perspective, if a quahog reached its life expectancy today (and died) it will have been alive for about 150 years when the American Revolution started.

The Longest Living Animal on Earth

Very Similar Features as the Bungalow

Architecture, like music, art, fashion, culture, technology, and philosophy constantly evolves. It evolves to reflect the zeitgeist of its time. Take Gothic architecture for example: God was almost universally deified in medieval Europe, therefore, architects created massive cathedrals to glorify him. Look at music as another example: punk rock was a direct rejection of the Pink Floyds and king crimsons (prog-rock) of their time. The zeitgeist of an era often rises as a rejection of its precedent. It is in this philosophy that the craftsman movement was born.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8HnwLDz4HA

Before the craftsman era Victorian style ruled the roost, a period known for being over-styled and excessive. Mid 1800s Britain also marks the emergence of factories and thus, factory workers, who were often subjected to less than humane conditions. In 1901, when the craftsman era started to percolate (it had been brewing for about 20 years prior) that all changed. Continue reading →