This is my dream sign.

Walnut and black have always been one of my favorite combinations, and adding spalted maple made it even better. I’d never tackled a round frame before, so I decided to design and build one for myself. The finished piece turned out better than I could’ve imagined.

The black backer features a routed herringbone pattern that adds subtle depth and texture across the surface. Instead of overusing the spalted maple, I reserved it for the focal point — the SG monogram and Texas outline — allowing the natural figure in the wood to stand out. The surrounding lettering is cut from maple to keep the design clean, balanced, and timeless.

That round walnut frame was easily the biggest challenge of the build, but absolutely worth it.

This piece became more than just a sign. It’s a statement piece I’ll probably cherish forever.