I’ve been making things with a laser for years now — small gifts, signs, all kinds of little projects. These days I’m cutting and engraving with an xTool S1 20W, and I love it. This post is about one piece in particular: a slate coaster engraved with a photo of my parents on their wedding day. I make all kinds of things on this laser, and I’ll share more of them here over time — but this one felt like the right place to start.
My father would have turned 100 this year, on September 12th — he was born in 1926. He passed away in 1991, only two weeks after my daughter was born. Almost 35 years ago now, though it doesn’t always feel that long. He did get to meet her, though — just once. I still have the photo of that moment, and it’s stayed on my board ever since.
I couldn’t find the original wedding photo — it’s damaged, and I haven’t been able to track down a clean copy. So I worked from what I had, adjusting the contrast and cleaning it up until it was ready for the laser. This is the version I actually used for the engraving.
And here’s how it turned out — engraved onto slate, ready to keep somewhere I’ll see it every day.
I put my “Made by Aebe” logo on everything that comes off this laser — it’s become a small signature of sorts. Here it is.
It’s a small project, but it means a lot to me. My father would have loved seeing this laser in action, I think — it’s exactly the kind of thing he’d have been curious about. More projects to come.
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