board#164: first board for my daughter

Happy

Dimensions: 5'8 x 19 5/8 x 2 1/2
[completed in July 2017]
Model Versatile

The story: my 8 year-old daughter was playing in the white wash in Costa Rica when a girl passed by on her way out to the line-up. That girl was probably 11 year old at most and surfed really good. But the way she looked (down) at Victoria decided my daughter she will surf as good as her one day, or even better! Since that day, and from her own will, Victoria has been surfing 3-4 times a week and compete in regional surf contest. This board was her first one.

The shape: for a first board, the goal was an easy paddle into the waves as a priority. I made an eggy board that had a generous outline but with proper concave on the bottom and a progressive rocker. 

The artwork: I have a hard time saying "no" to my daughter. She knows how to play with the mommy cord... Anyway, she decided she would have food on her board. Her favorite sweets from USA and France: Cupcakes and Macaroons ! I bought the perfect image on a stock website and have it printed on rice paper by Boardlams. Then the magic of my Dewi Malopsi, my glasser and owner of Tiger Glassing, operated. She laid in the printed rice paper on the painted board and added glitter on the pinline ! 

This board is and will always be very special to my heart.

board#150: shortboard for Lizzy

Dimensions: 6'1 x 18 3/4 x 2 1/2
[completed in December 2016]
Model Vedette

The story: if there was an award for the best story of this blog, this board would won. Board #150 was the second board for Lizzy (see Lizzy's previous board#133 here). Not any second board. The board she was planning to take for a once-in-a-life-time surf trip around the world: 6 weeks, 3 destinations: Fiji-New Zealand-Hawaii. And she did ! She sent me the pictures as proof !

The shape: since Lizzy was going to surf world class waves, known for being steep and powerful, the idea was to shape a step-up board with more rocker than her everyday board. The outline would be more performance as well as, with all shortboard classic attributes. 

The artwork: as much as I would like to own it, the brilliant idea of the artwork was from Vincent (my husband).  I just graphically translated that idea and Lizzy picked the color. As a result that board was one of the most successful in Boardporn (I even got an message from Ron, Boardpoarn owner, to congratulate me on that board !). But my ultimate reward was to see pictures of the board at all destination. Thank you Lizzy for trusting me on that one ! Best project ever. 

Glass was done by Tiger glassing.

FIJI

NEW ZEALAND

HAWAII

board#149: shortboard Clement

Clement and his Voldemort

Dimensions: 5'10 x 20 1/4 x 2 5/8
[completed in November 2017]
Model Voldemort

The story: This is Clement's second Mere-made board. Number one (board#105) was made in presence of Clement in a rented shaping room in Hossegor, where he lives. He wanted to see the process and the making of his board. For this one board, Clement was also present in the shaping room but in my shaping room in California! Clement was visiting us for 6 weeks and the goal was to have him surf his new board before he goes back to France. The challenge was accepted and  completed on time !

The shape: definitely one of my favorite shape I ever made ! Clement was super specific about what he wanted and him and I created that insane model he named Voldemort (I LOVE THAT NAME!). It was very helpful to have Clement watching the shaping except for the infamous episode when he dropped the air blower thingy onto the soft foam of the freshly shaped deck. It made a big ding we were able to fix using my magic steamer. Definitely a lot of fun shaping that board. (We even the visit of Jonathan N'Guyen, the french shaper of Native Shapco (no picture, unfortunately)!)

The artwork: Clement was also very specific about the artwork!!! It took many back and forth discussions to come to a mutual agreement on what would look cool or not (and what is technically feasible because I am a shaper, not a painter :)). But I have to say that I was very pleased with the result. Great team work !

Tiger Glassing was nice enough to expedite the glass so Clement could surf it in California. And he did ! Mission accomplished !

(Board featured in Boardporn!)

board#146: egg for Chris

Chris and his pink board :)

Dimensions: 7'2 x 22 2 7/8
[completed on November 2016]
Model Vortex

The story: Chris is an old friend of mine who ordered his first Mere-Made in the very early days of my shaping adventure with the number 013 [board#013]. When he was ready for his second Mere-Made board, I had 133 more hand-shaped board in my CV!!!  Always a great pleasure to shape for my dear friends!

The shape: Chris wanted one of those popular pintail shapes we see a lot around in SoCal. I based my shape on one of Mandala board (Avocet) and was not shy to ask him, the shaper of Mandala himself, for shaping tips in the line-up (since Manuel and I share the same home-spot).

The artwork: a burgundy resin tint over a tiki mask was the goal. The tiki was spot on, the color of the resin tit turned out more pink than red... I offered Chris to sell the board in store and remake another one since the color was not matching his vision. But Chris is an amazing human being and he said it was just happy with what he got. 

(Glass by Tiger G glassing)

[selected by Boardporn]

board#145: keel fish for Nick

Dimensions: 5'9 x 21 x 2 5/8
[completed in September 2016]
model V-bomb

The story: I shaped a couple of boards for Nick's family (board#024 and board#021 ). This order was in for a second keel fish for Nick.

The shape: I used that template I used for all my retro fish. Round generous rails. Flat bottom. A traditional keel fish !

The artwork: Nick gave me the freedom to create anything that would be simple to execute since he was not particularly set on any color or design. I tried that tri color fading (dark blue to lighter blue to white). 

Glass by Tiger G glassing.

[selected by Boardporn]

board#126: egg for Mila

Dimensions: 5'2 x 21 x 2 1/2
[completed in June 2016]
Model Viloute

The story: when my husband learnt he would become the godfather of his best-friend to-be-born daughter, Mila, he immediately thought about giving her her first surfboard.  

The shape: for a special occasion, special shape: very round, no edges: baby-proof !!! :) This shape was inspired by the Bean Bag model from Lost to which I added aesthetic channels. So fun to shape except it almost didn't fit on the stand (too short!).

The artwork: also very straight forwards as I ordered a baby pink resin tint from my glasser, Dewi (Tiger Glass) who got the color perfectly. The decorative channels were meant to be filled with more tinted resin and therefore would appear darker. The white logo makes the board even more intended for a baby girl.

[selected by Boardporn]

Happy Godfather with happy father...
(France, July 2016)

board#124: noserider for Kendra

Dimensions: 9'0 x 23 1/2 x 3 1/8
[completed in March 2016]

The story: Gauthier and Kendra is a sweet couple from San Francisco. They both surf and they both picked me as their shaper for their new board. It was Kendra's idea as she liked the fact she would have a female shaper making her board. There is actually more behind that. Unfortunately Kendra had already ordered a custom board from a shaper in the Bay area. However when she picked it up, she realized that the board was extra heavy and the artwork/glass looked like it was rushed. She was so disappointed that she contacted me with the hope, as a woman, I would be more careful to details. It was therefore an interesting case where I had to compete with a board which existed already. Only I had to make it better. Pressure.

The shape: I followed the outline of the actual (defective) board since according to Kendra the shape was fine. It was a classic noserider shape with  squash tail and a spoon. For the details,  I made it a "Mere-Made Surfboard" because each shaper has his/her own style :)

The artwork: I had a very precise document in hand. Probably the most detailed and fancy sketch I ever received. It was created by Gauthier and showed me exactly what to do. I fell in love with that artwork which helped me going through that very technical spray. Basically I needed to create the effect of a resin tint but with spray paint. For each color I needed to mask/tape the whole board. And there were 5 colors... The time spent on this board was definitely extensive but so worth it !

The testimonial: I passed!!!! Kendra loved her board, so much more than than the original version she was so disappointed in! Plus I saw her riding it for the first time. Mission accomplished!

[selected by Boardporn]

Document sent for Gauthier for the artwork...