08/28/2026
Casa de Kelly
This was one of the most ambitious custom pieces I've made so far, and definitely one of the most rewarding.
The project started when Matt came to me with a concept image for Casa de Kelly. He had the vision; my job was to figure out how to make it real.
The sign began as a solid cherry board. I adapted Matt's concept into a design that could be deeply laser engraved into the wood while preserving the Celtic knotwork, shamrock and greenery, along with the Irish and Spanish flags representing both sides of the family.
Special thanks to Mr. Sawdust School of Professional Woodworking for helping me get the cherry prepared for this project.
Before risking the cherry, I first ran the project on cardboard to make sure the laser was going to put everything exactly where it belonged. Once that checked out, engraving began.
The Celtic designs were created by engraving away the surrounding wood, leaving the knotwork itself raised in natural cherry against the darker recessed background. The lettering and other decorative elements were engraved as well. With the amount of material being removed and the level of detail involved, the laser work took many hours over several sessions.
Then came the hand work. The engraved lettering, shamrock and greenery were painted, cleaned up and sanded. Both flags were hand painted. For the Spanish coat of arms, which has far more detail than I could reasonably reproduce with a brush at that size, I made and applied a custom waterslide decal.
After the artwork was finished, the edges were rounded and the entire piece was protected with multiple coats of exterior spar urethane. The finish also brought out the color and grain of the cherry beautifully.
The back was finished as well and received my engraved Kennedy Laser Works maker's mark and website, along with two D-ring hangers so the piece would arrive ready to hang.
There were a few challenges, changes and lessons along the way, which is half the fun of taking on something I've never built before. You start with an idea, figure out how to make each part work, and eventually get to stand back and see the thing that previously existed only as an image.
Matt had the dream. I made it reality.
I'm extremely proud of how Casa de Kelly turned out.
Handcrafted by Kennedy Laser Works
Laser Precision, Personalized Perfection
🌐 kennedylaserworks.com
