painting canvas

[junibug.livejournal.com]

hey all, sorry for a wordy post but, i need advice. i am painting a sign for a restaurant on canvas which is meant to hang outside all year round. my questions are...what should i prime the canvas with? it has to be water resistant when finished. what type of paint should i use, it can't dry hard and flake off. and should i finish it with some kind of protective spray? any sage advice is greatly appreciated. thanks!
here's a bracelet i made, just so it's not text only. if you can solder, i'll tell you how to make it.