Business

Signs

ROSS IRELAND entered his first design contest

this year and won big.

By DAWN BURKE

In fact Ireland, founder
of Cypress Carving and the
new Sign Language, won
more than any other entrant
in the Signs of the Times
magazine design contest. In
the ‘3-D Wall Mounted”
category, Ireland won first,
third and fourth prize as well
as three honorable mentions.
1,200 competitors from
around the world were
entered.

And the winning sign was

| OO

“We do very out of the or-
dinary stuf,*’ Ireland says.

He has done custom work
for the Queen’s Cross pub
on upper Lonsdale, all of the
Kegs, the Deep Cove Bike
Shop, Russell Davies
Goldsmiths ‘in Deep Cove
and the now-defunct Village
Owl in Edgemont Village to
name just a few.

In additioin, he has been
commissioned to do all of
the signs at the Whistler

- Delta Conference Centre in

the new etched ceramic tile
form.

A careful craftsman,
Ireland treats his work to
ensure its lasting beauty.
His work sells from $60 up-
wards to about $10,000. His
technical ability combined
with his artisite eye makes

the work he does original and

eye-catching.

Ireland’s partner in
Cypress Carving and Sign
Languge is John Peachey,
also a carver. Peachey runs
the business end, soliciting

orders and promoting the -

product, while Ireland is the
creative head. The two also
employ two others to help
with the carving and
assembly of the signs.

After high school and a
stint at the Carver's Studio,
Ireland travelled extensively
through south-east Asia and
the South Pacific. Ait one
point he ran an_ island
coconut plantation off
Raboul, New Guinea.
Returning to Canada in 1977
he got into the junk business
while carving on the side.
By 1980 he was making
enough money carving to
give up the junk business en-
tirely. Ireland ploughs the
majority of his profits back
into his young, growing
company.

Ireland has fun with his
work, constantly experimen-
ting with new techniques and

25 - Wednesday, May 8, 1985 - North Shore News

mediums. But his first love
remains wood. ‘‘Wood,”’ he
declares, ‘‘can be very
forgiving.”’ In his spare time
Ireland builds guitars for a
hobby.

k good for N.Van carver

Married to Ronaye with a
new daughter, five-month-
old Ainsleigh, Ireland revels
in working in a specialized
business that does not cater
to a specialized market.

TonesB

CARTAGE in.

7 DAYS A WEEK

937-3000

& 300 Bik. Saymour Blvd.
the one that graces the front a net din me ane
of the Rusty Gull pub on
East ist in North Vancouver. _

Ireland has come a Jong
way from the eight-year-old
kid who carved simple totem
poles just for the fun of it.
His company, Cypress Carv-
ing has expanded to include
all kinds of signs, except elec-
tric ones. Ireland recently
began ‘Sign Language to. ac-
commodate the amount of
work he Produces:

Ireland has no formal ‘art ;
training. yet it ‘is from his
designs and hand carving *
that: Cypress Carving grew. .
Creating ‘*graphic

North Shore News
CLASSIFIEDS _
CLASSIFIEDS

CLASSIFIEDS
CLASSIFIEDS

986-6222

1S EXPANDING!

New and profitable PASTA-EMPORIUM

FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES
are available in ,
West Vancouver & North Vuncovuer

COME TO AN INFORMATIGN MEETING
Monday May 13, 1983

Call 687-7676 for details

etching, fabricate:

ters, custom’ door. handles
and vinyl graphics as well.as
sandblasting and ‘custom
wood carving.

On the North Shore since 1955

Marine Cargo
Container
investment

Seminar

a Tax advantages
e High rate of return — 14%
e@ Secured — insured asset

An extra measure of fashion-
wise comfort. Ciassic sofa
and matching love seat with
the perennial favourite
Queen Anne style wing chair.

SOFAS from $798
LOVE SEATS from $668
CHAIRS from $398

Furniture & Appliances

MAY 15/85 8 PM
HOLLYBURN COUNTRY CLUB
Please confirm attendance

rT
i Cc S by phoning 980-6524

INTERNATIONAL CONTAINER SALES, LTD.

HOME FURNISHINGS

Warehouse/Showroom
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
(2 biks. behind the Ava‘on}
at 1075 Rooseveit Cres., N.Van.

12-4 Sun 9O0-B738

_ UNDER THE BRIGHT YELLOW AWNING
1580 Marine Dr., North Vancouver
Open 8:30 to 5:30 Mon.-Fri., Sat.9 to5 Use your VISA ar

987-2253
MASTERCARD _

SGabiwiawe
&