Glass Engraver Question

I have been approached by a number of new engravers in Houston with a similar question. “What do I do when I am onsite and the client or vendor asks for a lettering style that I do not do or do not do well?” My response is always the same. Respectfully, but politely decline. Here are the reasons why:

You were hired to do what you do well. You were not hired to experiment on their dime. I have to assume that the lettering styles that you execute were visible on your website and were viewed prior to hiring the engraver. If something that diverges from that is desired, then there are other engravers that specialize in that & should be engaged. Even provide the referral information. That goodwill always comes back.

Another aspect to consider is that, if you proceed to provide something of which you are not familiar on a $500 bottle of fragrance and it is anything but beautiful, then you have shifted their perspective of your work. Most of the time, this will not be verbally expressed. However, the unsaid message is that “you are not good.” It is the equivalent of being disappointed that an impeccable steak restaurant did not provide a beautiful kale salad. It’s not what they do. The product is diminished because the expectation was misguided. Now, if you decided to work on that lettering style and become proficient after that event, by all means, begin to offer it once you are comformable, but not before. You have a reputation to uphold and it will stick with you for forever.

I remember the first time that I was in this situation. I was asked to provide lettering that looked similar to the computer font that you see here. With all of my lettering training and experience being in cursive, specifically Spencerian and Copperplate, Trajan lettering is not something that I had even attempted, let alone beautifully. I was a new engraver and desired to please the client so I attempted it. I still regret it to this day, but it provided a valuable lesson. I never did it again. I became very comfortable with explaining that I provide the lettering styles as shown on the website. I am always delighted to provide referrals to other engravers that create other styles beautifully. It’s that simple.

Be true to yourself and your interests. Remember that this is your art, no-one else’s. You want clients to come to you because of what you do beautifully, not what others do or can be found anywhere.

The best advice that I can offer to new engravers is to find what lettering style or styles that speak to you and become master of that one or those few. You will become sought out for that style & you will become as indispensable as food and drink. This will happen because you become the “go-to” person for that look. Finding an engraver that engraves whatever style to suit whomever is easily found. Finding an engraver that does, for instance, Spencerian lettering and does it beautifully is not easily found. This expertise within your industry will keep you in demand. Also remember that you started engraving because you fell in love with some particular lettering style. If you find yourself engraving in a style that you do not like, it becomes a chore and that is no way to live.

Do it beautifully or not at all.

Cartier Fragrance - Houston Engraver

I’ve had the pleasure of engraving fragrance bottles for Cartier for a number of years now. To say that it is always a pleasure would be an understatement. Cartier is nearly the epitome of service, aesthetics and grace conspiring together to create a feeling that you cannot quite describe, but everyone who enters feels. From the manner in which you are greeted to the kindness of every individual present, it is a pleasure.

The bottles pictured above have compelled me to post because recently an engraver asked me how to engrave them. Pasha is one of those bottles of fragrance that ranks among Cartier’s best-sellers. If you engrave for Cartier, I guarantee that this bottle will be placed on your table. From an engraver’s perspective, you have to know how to work with this material. This is one of those situations where “glass is not glass”. This glass is textured AND dark, hence it is extremely unforgiving. No old burs here. Only a fresh bur will do. On top of that, the space that you have to engrave is small and most of the bottle is covered in ridges. With that said, I love this bottle….now. As a new engraver, this bottle can be intimidating. However, as with anything, time and experience makes everything easy. With the right thoughts in mind, this bottle can engrave beautifully. Just remember that it is not your garden variety glass and you can not approach it as such.

Congratulations - Houston Onsite Fragrance Bottle Etching

As life returns to normal, friends and family are returning to events such as graduations, weddings, birthdays etc. We are finding more reasons to say “congratulations”. This was one of the bottles engraved at an event at the Cartier boutique. As I understand it, this bottle will be retained by the client in preparation for future events as there are always reasons here and there for a “congratulations gift”. How smart! I love planning ahead. Cheers!

Tiffany & Co Fragrance Bottle Engraving - Houston Engraver

Our sense of smell is a blessing as it can transport us to another time, another place. It’s interesting how you can catch a certain smell and it reminds you of a scene 20 years ago. Scents are seductive as they can arouse a memory or erase a sentiment. it naturally follows that when the right scent is given to the right person, that becomes set in the recipient’s memory.

These bottles of Tiffany & Co. Intense were gifts amongst friends to simply celebrate their friendship. I engraved these fragrance bottles with a garden variety round carbide bur and used my signature script which is a play on Spencerian penmanship. Cheers!

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving

Fragrance Engraving in Houston

This Burberry fragrance bottle was a pleasure to engrave. As it was a rectangular bottle, there were no curves to consider. It was just as simple as engraving on flat glass. The scent itself is beautiful. I recall noticeable hints of bergamot & geranium.

The engraving requested for this bottle was quite simple and I believe that the simplicity of it attracted me. It was simply “My Darling”.

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving

Houston Wine Bottle Engraving - Engraving

Ah wine bottles….what joy you bring! Who doesn’t like to receive the beautiful gift of wine? Once you add to that the benefit of having a personalized wine bottle hand engraved with the recipient’s name, it becomes even more special.

I am proud to say that I have been engraving wine bottles here in Houston for almost 10 years. It is amazing how the time flies, but I have enjoyed every moment of it. My engraving business has changed in many ways since the beginning, but with each step I feel as though I have learned many lessons.

Wine is such a beautiful entity in that it is constantly changing and changes even more rapidly once you open it. Engraving wine bottles has been somewhat similar in that respect in that I have seen the hand engraving business change in some ways over the years. However at the end of the day, it is still a pleasure just like wine. Cheers!

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving - Houston

Houston Calligraphy - Fragrance / Perfume Bottle Hand Engraving

Engraving fragrance bottles has become one of the aspects of my business that I enjoy the most. Generally, the events that I am involved with occur in Houston at various boutiques and department stores such as Macy’s & Neiman Marcus. The smoothness of the glass varies from bottle &/or brand, but on the whole, most fragrance bottles engrave pretty smoothly.

I recall this bottle above from this summer as it was a bottle that engraved very nicely. The alignment of the metal bars on the bottle allowed for a vertical layout of the calligraphy engraving. This glass bottle was simple as the message was short and simply a name.

Hugo Boss is always such a joy to work with as their team is knowledgable and exude all that is involved in customer service and has a genuine desire to understand the desires of their clients. As always, it was a pleasure.

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving

Jo Malone Fragrance Engraving Event

As always, it is a pleasure engraving for Jo Malone London fragrances here in the Houston area. This was a fragrance bottle engraved with calligraphy a few weeks ago at an event in anticipation of Mother’s Day. Every event is always so wonderful as I have the ability to watch these talented ladies customize the perfect scents for their clients. The ability to layer these scents makes each one special. Cheers!

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving

Shiseido Cosmetic Compact Engraving - Houston Engraver

It is always so nice to find new canvases for engraving calligraphy. Makeup has become a canvas with which I enjoy engraving. Why not? Makeup is transformative and has the power to lift your mood. Who doesn’t appreciate that?

This compact was engraved for the cosmetics company known as Shiseido. One aspect of their compacts that anyone would appreciate is that they are reusable. You simply replace the makeup inside of the compact. The concept is genius and cost-effective. Ladies appreciate that especially here in Houston. Cheers!

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving

Anheuser-Busch Stella Artois Engraving Event - Houston Engraver

When I was contacted by my friends at Anheuser-Busch to engrave calligraphy in Stella Artois glass chalices last weekend, I must admit that it completely escaped me that it was for the St. Patrick’s Day celebrations at the various Mo’s Irish Pubs in the Houston area. Naturally, many chalices of beer and Irish whiskey were consumed by the joyous crowds.

To say that it was fun would be an understatement. That night, I had the pleasure of engraving just under 200 chalices wth names in calligraphy. As always. it was a wonderful time.

Toward the end of the last event, there was a gentleman that approached my table and said “I’ve never seen a calligraphy engraving “booth” before”. I responded that there was a first time for everything :) I love my job.

Cuando mis amigos a Anheuser-Busch me contactaron sobre un trabajo para fin de semana pasado para grabar copas de Stella Artois, olvidé que lo era día de San Patricio. Ellos estuvieron celebrando el día a los Mo’s Irish Pubs en la area de Houston. Naturalmente, se disfrutan muchas copas de cerveza y whiskey.

La noche era muy ocupada pero he sido un placer para grabar nombres en las copas con caligrafía. Esa noche, tuve el placer para grabar 200 copas con nombres. Como siempre, lo era divertido.

Al fin de la noche, un hombre me dijo que nunca ha visto una barraca para caligrafía. Primer tiempo para todo. Me encanta mi trabajo. Que tengas un día maravilloso!

(Favor de aceptar mis sinceras disculpas para cualquier errores en español…estoy aún aprendiendo.)

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Wine Bottle Engraving

Lunar New Year Johnnie Walker Blue Spirit Bottle Engraving - Houston Engraver

It has been my pleasure over the years to engrave spirit bottles for various companies. One time of the year that I eagerly anticipate is Lunar New Year. I have the opportunity to go to Houston’s amazing Chinatown area in Bellaire and engrave cognac and whisky bottles throughout January & February. If you have not ventured to any of the restaurants in Houston’s Chinatown, you should stop what you are doing and treat yourself immediately. Upon first impression, you may find incredibly unassuming restaurants with service that may not be exactly five star. But the food…….the meticulous care that is taken in the preparation of food that, from the menu description, seems pedestrian is often mind-blowing and exceptionally inexpensive. Yes… as a vegan diner, give me Chinatown any day of the week. Truly.

At an engraving event last week, there was a bottle of this Johnnie Walker Blue that was presented to me. I have learned that every year, Johnnie Walker Blue creates a beautiful bottle to commemorate each Lunar New Year. This year is the Year of the Pig. The artwork on 3 sides of that whisky bottle is exceptionally beautiful. You have to remind yourself that “this is a spirit / liquor bottle” and not a painting.

I was asked to simply engrave “Chuc Mung Nam Moi 2019” which is Vietnamese for Happy New Year. (Please forgive my lack of proper accents over the vowels. My keyboard is not exhibiting them.) I was pleased with the result. The client was so pleased that she purchased a second bottle to be engraved as well.

Happy New Year 2019

Slinging Ink®

Houston Calvin Klein Fragrance Engraving Event - Calligraphy Engraver

Years ago, the prospect of engraving at events here in Houston was one of those ventures that I initially approached with hesitation. At the core, I would consider my personality to lean more towards introversion. I am not shy, but I am an introvert. Granted, people that meet me provide a look of bewilderment when I state this but alas it is true. So the idea of engraving on the spot as clients watched and trying to keep pace with the high volume of requests that can result in a fragrance, grocery or wine shop initially seemed daunting my first year in business. However I will say that over the years, it has become one of the preferred aspects of my business and I think nothing of being watched anymore. Having the opportunity to interact with clients and provide work for them relatively quickly and at a location that is convenient for them creates a perfect synergy for me, my clients and, by proxy, their clients.

I have a genuine passion for ornamental penmanship and Spencerian script. That, or a derivative of that, is the vast majority of what I do & adore. I am grateful everyday that this passion has resulted in a business where I am paid to express my passion. I love the idea of living my life in ornamental letters. It has become my signature in a sense.

The engraved fragrance bottle above by Calvin Klein was engraved at a Macy’s event in Houston last weekend. This particular client simply desired to have her beautiful name engraved on the bottle.

I liked the result with this engraved fragrance bottle for a number of reasons:

1) The desired message was short which allowed for a small ornamental calligraphy flourishes with the entrance and exit strokes. It isn’t ostentatious, but just enough to not be considered as plain. It can easily be distinguished from the engraving or etching that a machine will produce for a fragrance, wine or liquor bottle engraving.

2) Although some people may not care, I believe that the ornamentation provides an aspect of personalization that takes the “human factor” into account.

With the human factor in mind, I have absolutely had events where another engraver engraved at the same location the day before me and there are still tester bottles from their work at the store. I love that I can see someone’s work on an engraved fragrance bottle and know exactly which hand engraver was there. There are only a few hand engravers here in Houston (literally about 4-5) and I KNOW their work. It is our signature. A trademark. I had the pleasure this last weekend of following a seasoned engraver and was in awe of an intertwined monogram that she engraved on a fragrance bottle as she had downtime during the event. Her work was her signature and since it was engraved in glass, it will literally endure forever. How can you not experience chills upon considering this? I love that….

I love the result of this engraved fragrance bottle above and I hope that you do too. Cheers!

Peace & Love while Slinging Ink®

Jo Malone Engraving - Houston Engraver

Engraving calligraphy in fragrance bottles is definitely a highlight to my work.  Seven years ago, I recall thinking "yes, I like to write, but who is going to pay me to do that?"  And here we are!  AND I love providing calligraphy & hand lettering in fragrance bottles via engraving because the entire time that I am there, the scents are DIVINE.  It really is hard to ask for more.  

Engraving in fragrance bottles provides an easy gift regardless of the occasion as the gift is automatically personalized and is a simple purchase for the "gift giver".  I'm certain that there is a more elegant word for that, but I digress.  

What I love about Jo Malone in particular is that their fragrances are unisex and can be mixed and layered.   Cheers!