Glenlivet Scotch Bottle Engraving - Houston Calligraphy Engraver

Interestingly enough, I don’t believe that I have ever had Glenlivet Scotch. However, I can absolutely say that I have engraved quite a few bottles of this spirit here in Houston. The glass engraves relatively easily with carbide. As the labels on the front of the bottle occupy a vast majority of that space, I typically will only engrave the front of this bottle if it is specifically requested. Cheers!

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Martell Bottle Engraving Event - Houston Engraving Calligrapher

Over the holiday season, I engraved an obscene quantity of spirit bottles. I genuinely rarely know how many bottles I engrave at events especially if there are a lot of bottles. I just engrave. This event was one of those where I engraved every Martell cognac spirit bottle that was placed in front of me. At the end, I was informed that I engraved 4 cases during the 3 hour event. It was a productive day and, as always, a pleasure.

I do often wonder if when people are enjoying the pleasurable, smooth liquid inside the glass bottle if they appreciate the lettering & engraving on the outside of the wine or liquor bottle. i believe that they do. Hopefully, it adds a little bit of joy on top of the happiness inside of the bottle. Cheers!

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D'ussé Cognac Bottle Engraving - Houston Calligraphy Engraver

It is truly difficult to grasp that 2019 is almost over. We are already saying “Happy Holidays”….

This bottle of D’ussé cognac was presented to me at an engraving event here in Houston. The client had doubts that I would be able to engrave it due to the curved nature of the glass bottle. That is one advantage to engraving by hand. The surface generally doesn’t matter. As long as I can reach it with my hand in a handwriting position, it’s simple. Glass engraving is glass engraving. And spirit bottles are one of my favorites. Cheers!

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Houston Wine Bottle Engraver

I recall engraving this bottle at a Kroger event in Houston for a gentleman that just simply wanted to have a wine bottle engraved to say congratulations to a friend that had recently graduated. When we give gifts to friends or loved ones to say “thank you” or “congratulations”, we don’t always recognize the impact that such a gesture makes. Let’s be honest…how many things have you purchased for others because you felt obligated to do so. We’ve all done it. At the same time, how many gifts have you given to someone only to see their face light up with surprise and genuine appreciation. We forget how these little gestures matter especially to those that may not have been expecting it. There is a human element that goes along with realizing that someone cared enough to think of you. Who doesn’t love and appreciate that?

With that in mind, I love that many times ,especially this time of year, I become a part of that process. The ability to personalize and engrave something as simple as a wine bottle seems minor, but in the scheme of things it brings people joy. I am delighted and overjoyed to be a part of that. Cheers!

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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!

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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.

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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.)

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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

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Writing is a Relationship - Houston Calligraphy

Handwriting fills a human need. “It involves us in a relationship with the written word which is sensuous, immediate and individual. It opens our personality out to the world, and gives us a means of reading other people.”    ~ Philip Hensher in "The Missing Ink"

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Hennessy Bottle Engraving - Houston Engraver

So I haven't done a calligraphy or engraving project for Hennessy in about a year or so.  So it was a delight to be presented with this bottle of Paradis at an event.  The client said "have fun with it".  Of course to me, that is just an invitation :).  We decided to do the lettering at an angle and connect the names.  Done!  

Avión Tequila Engraving Event - Houston Engraver

So I must admit that I swore off tequila in college about 20 years ago.  I had a disagreement with Jose Cuervo...and he won.  It took a few years before I was brave enough to chat with another tequila.  Then I moved to Texas and it became an inevitability.  

Avión Tequila is a beautifully, smooth tequila...very different from my college days :).  It's no secret that I LOVE working with wine and spirits for calligraphy engraving.  It has TRULY become one of my favorite things to do.  So imagine my elation when I was contacted by Avión Tequila for Christmas 2017 engraving events.  These were so much fun and frankly a breeze for calligraphy.  WHAT?!  You mean that the bottle has flat sides and is clear.  Done!  Placing calligraphy in these was easy and such a pleasure!  Cheers!

Engraving Events - Houston Engraver

December was amazing!  Estaba muy ocupada!  I was insanely busy!  As of the last few years, I have made it a habit to close my Etsy shop from late November through December due to the busy engraving/calligraphy calendar outside of the Etsy shop.  It is truly an honor and a pleasure to engrave at events all around the city for fragrance companies and wine & spirit companies.  The last wine event that I worked for Kenwood wines at Spec's Midtown had an unexpected request.  There was a client that purchased bottles for her loved one, but also purchased a corkscrew to include as a gift.  Makes sense...  While I was engraving her bottles, she asked if I could engrave the corkscrew as well.  When it comes to these requests, I ALWAYS direct them to the company representative that is paying for me to be there.  At the end of the day, I want for all parties involved to be pleased...especially the party that is paying me :).  The representative said, "sure, why not?"  So to make a short story shorter, I engraved her metal corkscrew with the gentleman's last name as she watched.  Voila!  Cheers!

'Tis the Season for Kenwood Wine Bottle Engraving by Hand - Houston Engraver

Hello Wine Lovers!  It's that time of year again!!!  I will have the immense pleasure of engraving for Kenwood Wines this month.  So far, I have engraved calligraphy in wine bottles for this company at Randall's grocery stores in the Houston area and they have been well-received.  

So if you know anything about my style of penmanship, you know that I have a preference for derivatives of Spencerian style script.  It's rare that I will go with a Copperplate....usually when I desire a change of pace.  I'll either go with Copperplate or go to an upright script Copperplate.  I digress...  

So this bottle was for a client that wanted to get an early start on Christmas bottles for friends and family.  Hope she liked it!!!!  

I look forward to seeing you at the next few Kenwood events (Dec 9-11).  Click here for the event calendar and locations.  Cheers and have a groovy day!

Kenwood Wine Bottle Engraving

All last weekend, it was my pleasure to engrave wine bottles for clients of Kenwood Vineyards as they watched and/or shopped.  As always, it was a great time.  This was one of the bottles.  Cheers and have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Wine Bottle Engraving - Deutsch Family Wines: Josh Cellars

It was such a pleasure engraving calligraphy in wine bottles this weekend for the Deutsch Family Wines (Josh Wines).  As usual, it was so busy that I forgot to take a picture until the VERY end.  This was the very last wine bottle.  I believe that we engraved about 40 bottles that day in 3 hours.  It was a busy day!  Cheers!