VHDL: practical questions: beyond just hobbies

[Neil Zanella]

Hello,

I would like to design a digital circuit for a digital device with LCD and
sound output and data input. The data input connects to a PC from where
the data is loaded. The data consists of a small program written on the PC
using a custom compiler. Once the program is downloaded the FPGA
interprets it. I would like to use VHDL to program the interpreter so that
it displays the current time and other stuff and output sound. Is this
reasonable or is VHDL not the right technology for the task at hand? Also,
how does one go from prototyping some device on some board to
manufacturing an actual gadget with plastic on the outside and of the
right dimensions (e.g. a digital wrist watch or similar)? Is VHDL suitale
for this task and what components would I need to purchase for
prototyping? How do I carry it from there to the manufacturing process?

Would the above qualify for an application of VHDL or are there better
ways? Would I be nuts to use VHDL in the above process? Has anyone
tried doing anything similar, by any chance?

Thanks,

Neil