About Carved In Grain, LLC
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Hi, my name is Louis Colasanti, owner of Carved In Grain, LLC. All my life I was always into creative endeavors. I love
drawing, computer graphics, and commercial art. I also spent some time
learning 3D animation. I always dreamed about being able to make a living out
of art and design.
However, in 2003, I put down the computer graphics and
joined the US Army where I served as a combat medic and later expanding my
training to work in Physical Therapy. I learned to love the military and had
made a decision to stay in and make it a career. I still missed my creative
endeavors but I truly enjoyed the medical field and taking care of others.
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Unfortunately, in 2010, I was diagnosed
with a muscle disease and although not completely debilitating, it did leave me
too weak to maintain my physical military standards and in 2013 was medically
retired.
That is when I decided that I needed
to get back to my creative roots and to figure out how to use that passion to
make a new life for myself.
My wife and I started getting more involved in wood working,
mainly because we had a difficult time finding furniture and home decorations
that appealed to our tastes. We decided that we wanted to learn how to make
these things for ourselves as well as learn how to carve these pieces to fit
our personal style.
We began discussing the possibility for
setting up a business to design wood working pieces and furniture that would be
more theme based, so that people would be able to not only acquire nicely made
furniture, display, and decorative pieces for their home, but that these pieces
would fit with the themes of their homes.
I started working more with hand carving which I really
enjoy doing, but unfortunately with my muscle problems, small projects were
taking a very long time to accomplish because of my need for short work times
and long breaks. I’d never be able to successfully create projects in a timely
manner which would make carving unprofitable. So, we decided to research more
technology based equipment.
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Our research led us to CNC carving machines. These machines
are capable of taking a computer designed piece of artwork, and with using 3D
modeling tools, are able to create elaborate designs into many surfaces to
create outstanding looking work.
For me, it was the best of two worlds. I could
use my computer based design skills to develop anything from a simple home or
business sign, to a highly detailed carving
without my muscle difficulties impeding on the final product. This would also
allow for a faster production time that is reproducible, customizable, and even
more intricate then anything I could do by hand, even without physical
limitations.
Our short term goal would be to set up shop in our home to get the
business off the ground until we can afford to move the work into a standalone
shop and showroom.
With profits made from doing work with smaller CNC machines,
we hope to be able to finance larger machines for more substantial products,
such as doors, bed boards, and wherever else imagination can take us!
Any money that we raise for Carved in Grain that
goes beyond our goal will go towards more equipment that would be required to
create a larger array of products and make our decision to open up a shop come
much sooner. We thank you for visiting us, and hope that you consider
us when looking for a business to support.
Thank you!
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Why we need your help!
The downside of the machines and the programs we need to
utilize is that they are very expensive to acquire for a machine that is
durable enough for constant production. This technology however will make the
difference between simply having a hobby and being able to start an effective
business.
Costs:
CNC Machine: $3,999
Professional 3D rendering program: $1,445
Router for CNC Machine: $149.99
CNC Table: $250.00
Dust Boot for CNC Machine: $89.99
Vector Art 3D models: $798.00 (Standardized 3D models for non-custom work comparative to clip art used by printing companies for business cards, brochures, etc.)
Computer system to run CNC machine: $500.00
CNC Touch plate: $89.99 (aligns machine for project height)
Bit Set for Router: $47.99
Shop Vac: $92.39
+ taxes, delivery charges, minor shop equipment, and materials to destroy until we get the machine figured out.
For your support we will be offering
ALL CONTRIBUTORS will receive a permanent thank you listed on our Facebook page as well as our website for supporting Carved In Grain, LLC and Veteran Owned Businesses, either listed as your name, or your business name. All contributors will also receive this full color postcard which will include any discount code you are eligible for.
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(Each postcard will include a discount code which you can use towards any future purchase)
$5.00 Contributions will receive a 10% off any future purchase.
$10.00 Contributions will receive a 15% off any future purchase and ALL CONTRIBUTIONS OF $10.00 OR MORE will also receive a Carved In Grain pen.
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(Promotional pen made from recycled wood and plastic)
$25.00 Contributions will receive a 20% off any future purchase and ALL CONTRIBUTIONS OF $25.00 OR MORE will also receive a carved wood key chain or magnet.
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(Key chain or magnet selection will be random based on supply and how many perk giveaways we have to fulfill)
$50.00 Contributions will receive a 25% off any future purchase and will also receive a 6x8 inch carved wood plaque thanking them for their support for Veteran Owned Businesses which will include either your name, or your business name.
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(Sample image of recognition plaque. This is a conceptional design. Actual plaque will vary in design based on utilizing actual machine program and 3D model art)
$100.00 Contributions will be listed as a "Silver Contributor" on our Facebook and website pages. As a Silver Contributor you will receive a numerical address sign up to 6x18 inches plus your 6x8 inch recognition plaque; or you can forgo the address sign and upgrade your plaque to 8x12 inches. As a "Silver Contributor" you will receive a lifetime 10% off any Carved In Grain products which can be used in conjunction with any other promotion.
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(Other stain variations will be available. Other border designs might also be available once our equipment and programs are up and running. We'll work with you on your final product)
$250.00 Contributions will be listed as a "Gold Contributor" on our Facebook and website pages. As a Gold Contributor you will receive a custom carved sign, plaque, or decorative piece up to 100 square inches (10x10, 8x12, 6x16) which we'll do a 1 on 1 consultation with you. You will also receive an 8x12 inch recognition plaque. As a "Gold Contributor" you will receive a lifetime 15% off any Carved In Grain products which can be used in conjunction with any other promotion.
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(This is where you can start using your imagination. Perhaps you have a collection that you would like to display more artfully on your wall. 1 on 1 consultation will help bring your vision to life!)
$500.00 Contributions will be listed as a "Platinum Contributor" on our Facebook and website pages. As a Platinum Contributor you will receive a custom carved sign, plaque, or decorative piece up to 225 square inches (15x15, 10x22) which we'll do a 1 on 1 consultation with you. You will also receive an 8x12 inch Thank You plaque. As a "Platinum Contributor" you will receive a lifetime 20% off any Carved In Grain products which can be used in conjunction with any other promotion.
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(Show off your favorite team, or perhaps a specific game such as a World Series in which your favorite team won. Carve out a wooden theme that will compliment you items you wish to display. We can work with you to make it happen!)
$1000.00 Contributions will be listed as a "Titanium Contributor" on our Facebook and website pages. As a Titanium Contributor you will receive a custom carved sign, plaque, or decorative piece up to 20x20 inches which we'll do a 1 on 1 consultation with you. You will also receive an 8x12 inch Thank You plaque. As a "Titanium Contributor" you will receive a lifetime 25% off any Carved In Grain products which can be used in conjunction with any other promotion.
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(These are actual carved wood pieces that were created using the same programming we will be acquiring for our carving system. These models are part of the hundreds of models included with the 3D model graphic packages. For all custom pieces, we'll work with you to find the models that will fit the style you are looking for, and utilize them to build your final personalized products!)**INTERNATIONAL CONTRIBUTORS** Due to the high cost of shipping overseas, we will need to bill you separately for shipping. Please contact us first to discuss shipping charges, or if you wish to opt out of some or all of your item perks. For some of the smaller items, the cost of shipping far outweighs the actual worth of the item (pens, magnets, key chains). For some of the larger perks, depending on what country you live in, shipping can be as expensive as 100-200 dollars. You can email me directly at louis.colasanti@carvedingrain.com
ALL DELIVERY TIMES FOR PERKS THAT INCORPORATE CARVED WOOD ARE ESTIMATED, BASED ON HOW QUICKLY WE GET THE EQUIPMENT RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND HOW MANY PERK PROJECTS WE HAVE TO COMPLETE. DELIVERY TIMES MAY BE SHORTER OR LONGER (WE HOPE SHORTER!). WE WILL REMAIN IN CONSTANT CONTACT AND GIVE YOU UPDATES AS FAR AS YOUR PERSONAL PROJECTS ARE PROGRESSING.
How your contribution will help us
One way or the other, we are going to make this business happen. The biggest difference will be how quickly it can come together. Our biggest route to success is to be able to get a free standing shop so that we can maximize our space, expanding our variety of equipment which we will need for more substantial products.
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Being
that we live in a large military retirement community, we hope that once we can
have our own shop, that we will be able to set up an apprenticeship program so
that we can bring in other disabled vets, whose disability prevents them from doing the work they’ve been trained to do, and teach them new skills that will be more
viable for their physical limitations.
We are very committed to the concept of training and employing Disabled Vets because, from my own personal experience, I know how limiting it can be to find gainful employment with certain disabilities.
You will find that most Disabled Vets want to work and feel productive. It's been "In Grained" in us!
Other Ways You Can Help
If you are not in a position to contribute to our campaign, or choose to offer another campaign your assistance, one of the best things you can do for us is to simply spread the word.
Feel free to like us on our Facebook page and share our campaign updates:
http://www.facebook.com/carvedingrain
You will be able to still keep tabs on our business progression and know when we are fully up and running if you are still interested in our products and services.
You can also follow us at:
http://www.twitter.com/carvedingrain
Any re-tweets of our campaign would be greatly appreciated!
Our main website (still under construction) can be found at:
http://www.carvedingrain.com
The Carved In Grain Blog:
http://carvedingrain.wordpress.com
Our campaign video and our Carved In Grain channel can be found at:
http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCB9MWyHZad7GBx9UL38PIjw/videos
Thank you!
Louis Colasanti
Owner, Carved In Grain, LLC
Music for our video provided by:
Ed Faust
BMI
www.edfaustmusic.com
www.soundcloud.com/edfaust
