This is what happens when you trainwreck my surname and a popular song title.

“You’ve got to make another one. Now that I’ve got a new Weber, I need a matching sign for the McKannaritagrill!” Johnny loves bad wordplay as much as I do.

A single plain etch on a single plane of wood.

One of the earliest projects I worked on in wood was a sign for my brother Johnny’s back yard. He had recently renovated his back yard, turning it into a tropical-themed relaxation destination perfect for family get-togethers like the Father’s Day event I visited over the past weekend.

The sign sits comfortably below the television typically tuned to NASCAR races.

Taking obvious inspiration from Margaritaville imagery, the design was etched into 1/4″ thick oak ply. I wasn’t sure what to do with the outline so I just used some plain rounded edges that I’ve never been satisfied with. I think if I made this sign today, I’d cut out individual letters and work on a more layered appearance, rather than relying on a single plane of material and a single etch depth.

All the same, it’s a fun reminder of where laser teeth were once cut, and if I do end up making a sign for his fancy grill spot, I might have to remake the original to match.

My siblings, father and I relaxing together in McKannaritaville.