Jo Malone Fragrance Engraving - Houston

I love this travel size bottle of Jo Malone. I am not the only person that believes in traveling with my signature fragrance (while refusing to check a bag), so I can completely relate to the need for a small travel size. This particular bottle was to be a gift for a lady’s mother. Because the bottle is smaller, she was doubtful that I could engrave “Mom,I love you” without the message appearing cramped. I told her that it would be my pleasure and she was delighted with the result.

Jo Malone Fragrance Bottle Engraving - Houston

It is that time again. I will be engraving for Jo Malone London in the River Oaks District just in time for Valentine’s Day. See you there 9 February 2022 from 12-6pm.

Bumbu Rum Bottle Engraver - Houston

It is always nice when you are introduced to something new. Prior to this year, I was completely unaware of Bumbu Rum. I was immediately attracted to the bottle based on aesthetics alone. It is a very cool bottle upon sight. This bottle was presented at an engraving event awhile ago by a gentleman that desired to have a bottle engraved to commemorate his wedding anniversary. Engraving this bottle was very simple as the glass was cooperative and relatively smooth. Interestingly, this may have been the first bottle of rum that I have had the pleasure of engraving….possibly…

A little bit about Bumbu Rum:

Unlike most Caribbean islands (formed by volcanos), Barbados was created by coral reefs. Here, our ground water is purified as it’s forced through our natural limestone, making Barbadian water some of the finest in the world. Distillers elsewhere must filter their water before using it in their process – not so here.

This exceptionally pure water, coupled with carefully selected sugarcane from across the Caribbean and South America, lends the lightness and smoothness that’s central to Bumbu’s remarkable drinkability.

The ultra-heavyweight glass bottle is a work of art on its own, adorned with a tarnished metal "X" in front and map of the Caribbean across the back. Our favorite part is the old-fashioned, oversized cork – you’ll hear a celebratory POP each time you crack open the bottle. 

We like to sip our Bumbu straight, but try it over ice or in your favorite cocktail.

Cheers

Veneno Tequila Bottle Engraver in Houston

The story of Veneno Tequila is quite interesting. On the website they mention that as legend has it, the people of ancient Mexico cultivated civilizations around a mythical deity known as Quetzalcoatl the “Plumed Serpent” — the god of wind, air, & learning — offering fortune, health, and wisdom to his believers. Today, the legend is referred to as Veneno, the poisonous venom of his bite so sought after that people are willing to die in return for its luxurious rewards. Luckily, you don’t have to die for it, but they say that you will want to possess it.

Born in the small town of San Ignacio Cerro Gordo, Jalisco, Mexico, Veneno Tequila blends the magical with the mythical. This exceptionally smooth tequila is handcrafted using 100% blue agave grown in “la tierra de tequila” following the time-honored distilling techniques of true craftsmen. Then, it is carefully aged in oak barrels to produce a taste like no other. One sip and they say you are transformed forever.

I became a bottle engraver for Veneno Tequila here in Houston about a year ago and every experience has been a pleasure.

Cheers!

Slinging Ink® Calligraphy & Engraving

Houston Wine Bottle Engraving

When I am asked what I do for a living (penman & wine bottle / fragrance bottle engraver), the responses range from inquisitive looks to the occasional laugh. I’ll reserve my thoughts regarding those that laugh and focus on the inquisitive look. The responses are usually along the lines of “that still exists” to “how do you make a living at that”. The inquisitive look & questions are completely understandable. Before I became a penman, calligrapher or engraver, I had never met one. In our digital world, many people do not see the need for what I do (until they need one :). But people like me (engravers and calligraphers) do exist and some of us make a full-time living at it. If you meet an engraver that does it for a living, I assure you that they love it. There is no other reason that they do it :).

I absolutely love engraving, especially in wine, spirit and fragrance bottles. When I fell in love with Spencerian lettering and Ornamental Penmanship, that was it. I still offered Copperplate and other calligraphy hands for a while, but I learned the hard lesson that mentors tried before to teach me. Focus on what speaks to you and the rest will follow. The calligraphy lettering on this wine bottle would fall into the category of Ornamental Penmanship. Cheers!

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