I used a pattern from Wildwood Designs. The back is 1/4" maple plywood and the letters are walnut. I started with some rough cut walnut jointed one side and thickness planed it to a uniform thickness. I resawed it to a little over 8" and did the final thickening on the drum sander. I cut 3 layers to make 3 of the project. As some had suggested earlier I kept a journal of the time I spent cutting it, it was a total of 47 hours and 18 minutes not counting the time to prepare the wood or make the frame. They will have glass put into the frames and then I'll call it finished. I took the picture without glass so no glare would obscure the words.