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Ed, Caroline, and the Northwoods

Ed, well, he came into the bicycle shop one day looking for an old Raleigh. He ended up finding a beautiful vintage Raleigh Super Course in that nice, rich, brown color. We probably drank a beer looking at the moustache handlebar and bar end shifter upgrades. 

Then, Ed came back. Ed saw my newest find (at the time)... a vintage olive green Raleigh Grand Prix. Oh, Ed, it happens to be in your size.

Well, then, Ed decided he'd like to try on some mechanics' hands and we built the Grand Prix together. 

We drank Modelo in the summer and ate cheese tamales at night.

Then the bicycle was done.

Then, Ed came back with Caroline. Caroline got a bicycle re-worked. We probably drank a beer and talked about those awesome half moon handlebars.

Then, Caroline called and said yo Beaner, let's do a wind-ow yo. And while I drank a beer, I painted a wind-ow. Caroline wanted it to be a surprise for Ed for X-mas.

Caroline made a sweet move... the wind-ow was a surprise for Ed.

"The Northwoods" is Ed's family house in the northern woods of Wisconsin. 

Sounds nice.

Caroline's and Ed's... "The Northwoods" Approx 28 inches x 16 inches SOLD
Thanks guys!

Rettig Tea Co. Commission for the Ho-liday

The Rettig Tea Company isn't an actually brand, tea just happens to be a common interest between the three family members this window was commissioned for. Rettig daughter, Clare asked me to whip up a lil somethin' before she visited some family in Indiana for the ho-liday.
So here we are..

"Rettig Tea Co" Approx 18x18 inches SOLD

'Bad Liver and a Broken Heart'

     Well, here is another Waits wind-ow.
     From the album "Small Change" comes the song 'Bad Liver and a Broken Heart.'
     Aw, Tom had his heart broken. Poor fella.

Listen to 'Bad Liver and a Broken Heart' by Tom Waits

     Mostly intriguing was the line from the song...

'And so I'll meet you at the bottom of a bottle of bargain scotch.'

     After much thinking and decoding I concluded that Mr. Tom was meeting his broken hearted ex lover at the bottom of such a bottle. And not just any ol' bottle but most likely DeWars. But then I though, he talks about a red label... "and I'll see your Red Label and I'll raise you one more" ...well that's none other than... good ol' Johnnie Walker! 

Well please check out Waits' latest record, 'Bad As Me.' 

He features Mr. Keith Richards on gee-tar. Here is a song from the record where Keith throws down and Tom gives a shout out to Mick J.

'Satisfied' Tom Waits - Bad As Me

Double pane wind-ows... always a pain. Refinished wood frame.

"Bottom of a Bottle of Bargain Scotch" Approx 33 inches x 24 inches $SOLD

 

 

Manly

     Man Cave as defined by the mancavesite.org

man cave n. A dedicated area of a house,
such as a basement, workshop, or garage,
where a man can be alone or socialize with his friends

     
This is a commissioned wind-ow for.. guess who? A fella named Lonny.

     

     Manly name, Lonny. Manly wind-ow, man cave. The cave in question is, from what I'm told, more of a complete barn on a farm. Ping pong is the main attraction but I do believe there are alcoholic beverages and darts as well. I would hope, at least, there's more than just ping pong in a barn on a farm! Barn cave just doesn't have the same ring.

    
Here is the 12 coolest man caves brought to us by oddee.com. 12 coolest man caves

This window was found at a Cincinnati building material recylery. The banner in the design is from an old matchbox label. The font is similar to old whiskey bottles. Fire and booze... manly. The frame was clear coated with a lovely semi-gloss to keep the red paint detail.

"Man Cave" Approx 28 inches x 26 inches. SOLD

Here, We Fill Up A Bucket E'ry Day

"Loserville" Clip by Freakwater of Chicago Listen

      Freakwater, as my late night bourbon and country music partner Scott told me one evening, is a lady band outta Chi town. They sing song old style country twangin' songs or as Wikipedia wants me to say, they are 'American Alternative Country.'

     Sure. Anyway one of the founding members has the last name of 'Bean' so I was sold.

     We weren't actually sippin' on bourbon, Scott and I, at the time.. I believe it was a chilly evening appropriate only for a tawny port. Jack Kerouac would be proud.

     Anyway, good ol' Scott likes those women howlers and threw on this song, Loserville where they sing of a distant land where the bourbon flows like a river so deep and still.

     I tried buying train tickets later that night. Needless to say I was unsuccessful.

     So here we are, my wind-ow 'bout bourbon. ALSO I've included some installation photos to show some ways of displaying these charming glass things.

     The frame has been refinished as well and there is documentation of frame before and frame after.

"Bourbon River" Approx 24 inches x 33 inches SOLD

 

Nice detail. Some xmas lights in the background..

Close up of detailed wood and using open hooks for hanging. I like a chain or a rope to hang.

Here we are at "High Design Holiday". I was showed 4 windows and 3 photographs. My favorite hang, 2 screws, 2 hooks, 2 sets of links of chain.

Here is my roommate's decorating xmas style, on her record cabinet. Bourbon River looks great just hanging out behind the knick knacks.

Wizard Vortex #1

Here is a shout out to a buddy who's been really great to me.
This guy has worked very hard in assisting me complete some great wind-ows.
With experience in striping hot rods and adding much needed flair to motorcycle tanks this fella ain't gonna be forgotten.
All of his hair fell out and his body broke twice.

He is... The Wizard Vortex Size #1 

Rest in Peace

Commission Week - Today: "For Madmen Only" for Justin in Cleveland

Herman Hesse's 'Steppenwolf' has been in my back pocket recently. I found the first Chapter title or opening line, "For Madmen Only" to be just charming.

So charming, in fact, I made a wind-ow for it. The font style used is representative of a vintage book cover font.

"MADMEN"  28 inches x 16 inchesSOLD

So I watched Ken Burns' Documentary, Prohibition. And I feel my home resembles a Speakeasy.

I don't know if  a speakeasy is where I lay my head at night but what a neat 3 part documentary by Ken Burns. Never failing at creating an interesting and educational flick, Prohibition talked about some of my subjects: whiskey, speakeasies, jazz, and Cincinnati. Check it out.
Here we have a similar representation of fonts that were used in banks and government offices around the 1910s, 1920s. This is a great thick window that has a refinished frame.
Perfect for a bar, or above my front door.

Speakeasy Measures approx. 34in x 14in with a refinished wood frame SOLD

Fresh off the Press... The Very Attractive Signs By Bean Business Card

You'll have to visit my new venture, Business Cards By Bean! Ha!

Transparent plastic and good ol' black and gold print.

Square approx 2.5in x 2.5in

Happy Birthday Jumpin' Jack Flash

Every year I scoot on home for the end of November not only for the Thanksgiving holiday but also for good ol' Dad's birthday. This November I rolled home with a window under one arm. "Jumpin' Jack Flash" by "The Rolling Stones."
I can't tell you how many times teenager Bean had to wake up to a man 'singing' START ME UP! Start me up I'll never stop! Or the thousands of times I heard this as a response to a question: "You can't always get whatcha waaaaannnttt."
Growing up with a Rolling Stones enthusiast taught me many things. I know how to make a grown man cry, I know how to avoid getting stuck between a rock and a hard place, that fishing tackle makes a lovely hair accessory, record covers can have zippers, and that Jumpin' Jack Flash is a Gas Gas Gas!

Jumpin' Jack Flash is a reclaimed window, refinished wood frame,  measures 27in x 22in SOLD

 

In the studio before the frame was refinished

Classic Boozin'

A 4 pane window will bring creative difficulty, believe it or not. In response to the unique 4 pane style, I went with a classic boozin' paintin'.
Perfect for a bar or restaurant.

LIQUOR BEER WINE SPIRITS 32inx26in SOLD

Vagabond

Here I am, in my suspenders, brown paper hat, denim shirt on cuffed jeans, 1950s aluminum eyeglasses, staring off into the distance while sitting on my leather suitcase while my green military backpack hangs off my shoulders.
Psh.
Might as well be in a Jack Kerouac novel. Though...
I must say, I would love to hop a freight train or two before I kick the bucket.
What a life it can be. Living off the land. Meeting new people everyday. Being alone, just you and your imagination. Seeing faces of the American landscape in a way not many ever will.
Drinkin' port and whiskey by a fire. Cozyin' up in a warm bag to stare at the stars. Awww, all those Kerouac characters must not have had any jobs.

I just recently took a drive through the most exciting face of the American landscape... Indiana and Illinois. Yee haw.
I went for the yearly September visit to see the ol' family for some birthdays. Instead of rockin' out to some good ol blues and NPR for the drive, I decided to renew my Chicago Public Library card and download (I know, I never thought I'd say it) some audio books.
The selection was a bit slim and Jack Kerouac's The Dharma Bums ended up on my ipod.
A life of adventure, feeling carefree, and exploration (with some drunkenness and creative soul searching thrown in there) isn't a bad thing.


Here's to the vagabonds. My favorite so far. Approx 32in x 24in. - SOLD