The Midnight Diaries of Catty Wampus

I found these two while on a road trip this last summer. I know that I already have a Stop War in my collection, but these two seem to go a step further, each in their own way:

This second one took me a moment to actually see how the word “WAR” was created, and I’m intrigued by people using other parts of the stop sign to get their message across. By the way, notice the “Muscleman Crossing” sign behind the stop sign? This is directly across from the original Gold’s Gym in Los Angeles–stop by to see it if you’re in town!

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

I recently met a woman named Mara through a completely accidental e-mail address mix-up. I’m happy I did, though, because she pointed me towards a whole different take towards stop signs. Mara is a graphic designer, and I know that many of the animators reading this blog also work in the advertising industry. Some of this video may hit a little too uncomfortably close to home. Enjoy!

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

I think this is a message about over-developing an urban area. But the lack of an “s” on the end of “condominium” adds a bit of charm, and also a question about what the sticker was originally intended for.

In addition to that, you can just about make out a “the” underneath the left side of the sticker, and there’s not even enough left of the second word to speculate what the original graphitist had written.

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

This one was a tough call. I haven’t been taking pictures by any of the stop signs (and there are many) that have been tagged with graffiti names. I haven’t seen this one around, though. In addition, even though some of the letters bear a little resemblance to some tags I’ve seen, most tags aren’t this legible.

So it leaves me wondering: who are the Outlaws?

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

As you’ve seen, I normally don’t post more than one stop sign at a time, but these seemed to go together so naturally.

The first one is another double-up. I can only assume that the “foolin’” came first, but the addition of “Bush” turns it into a really interesting statement.

The second actually appears on all four corners of these two streets intersecting. Someone really felt strongly about getting the word out.

This messages are, of course, very nearly outdated. So enjoy ‘em while they’re still relevant, folks!

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

Stop signs deliver you a clear and direct message: “You Must Stop.” Other signs serve more as warnings than orders, but that doesn’t mean you can’t interpret them any way you want to.

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

I love this one. It’s the ultimate in stop sign defiance!

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

I’m guessing that’s an “R” on the end of the word, instead of being a plea to Stop Wad.

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

This one comes from my friend, and co-host of the Re-Animators Podcast, Rick Blankenship.

I’m surprised I haven’t come across one like this before, so I’m glad Rick did. He points out as an extra gem that that’s the Alamo Drafthouse in the background. Thanks, Rick!

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.

There have been occasions when I’ve seen “Stop” messages that I’ve already photographed. I pass these by, deciding that I would rather find new and unique messages rather than find all examples of every old variety.

But this sign caught my attention. Even though I’ve already posted about Stop It and Stop, Collaborate and Listen, this sign tells a bit more of a complicated story.

Clearly, someone had already come along to spray paint the giant “I” and giant “T” underneath the “Stop.”

Then, someone else came along with their Glarkware packet and said “Whoa, now. ‘Stop It’ is pretty clever. I’ll give you that. But I’ve got a sticker here that will Blow. Your. Mind.”

I like the idea of someone seeing some graffiti and deciding “I can do better.”

I’m even more giddy at the irony of that same person covering up a handmade effort with a bit of manufactured wit you can buy online.

Ah well. Here it is:

To see all of the posts in this collection, just click on the link for the Stop Me category

If you see any stop signs like these in your travels, feel free to take a picture and send them to eric@sabudesign.com. I’ll happily include them in a post here. If possible, make the pictures as large as possible (I’ll take responsibility for setting the right size and framing), and let me know the city and street crossing you took the picture at.