Personalized Gifts: Engraving and Calligraphy
Personalized gifts. Hiring for Engraving and/or calligraphy makes you a bit nervous and excited at the same time. It’s like purchasing fine art. It is not something you do often, yet you love being surrounded by beautiful things.
Actually, both engraving and calligraphy are considered fine arts. Both are heirloom quality, and both are timeless. Hence, the name for this website. It’s the ageless duo of two longstanding arts.
Uncovering these kinds of personalized gifts on this site is not only immensely aesthetic, but is admired for the tedious detail involved.
"Are calligraphers an unnecessary added expense for weddings? I mean, you can print everything off yourself".
This is a good question. It has varying opinions.
Ultimately, the best answer rests with you. The golden thread woven throughout answers is that if you can afford a calligrapher, do it. You will not regret it in the end. Calligraphy makes fabulous and meaningful personalized gifts.
Anything made by hand will always evoke a stronger emotion than something made without care. There is something about hand-written calligraphy that brings a touch of honor. The recipients feel as though you took the time and cared enough to add that special touch, expertise, and expense.
On the other hand, engraving requires a skilled professional. It is tradition for glasses and serving sets to be handed down from generation to generation. I’ve even re-engraved the inscription that had been worn off over many years. Talk about tedious!
You must appreciate these two arts and the feeling they evoke, or you would not be here. Three main reasons you are visiting Ageless Duo are:
-What personalized gifts are available
-pricing
-what the artist’s work looks like
-how to commission an engraver and/or calligrapher
No secrets here. I am transparent with my fees. You will see photos throughout Ageless Duo of my work. You will learn all about the details to commission me.
This is my pricing page. (Link coming very soon).
"I have been running my business for decades. If there is one thing learned, it is to make my clients feel welcomed, relaxed, and to make the ordering process as seamless and streamlined as possible. I pride myself on this".
Personalized Gifts with Engraving and Calligraphy: Who is Behind Ageless Duo?
My name is Jeanita, Nita for short. Calligraphy has always been my passion. Couple this with the other time-honored art form, custom hand engraving, and it provides most any heirloom for life. I have been writing in calligraphy for 44 years. Goodness, how time flies! My interest was sparked at age 13 when I first held a dip pen. I am now 57.
In 1997, I also became skilled in custom hand engraving. I worked my way up to be a master engraver. Incorporating calligraphy with it seemed the natural thing to do. You can read deeper into my journey on the About Jeanita page.
Understandably, you would not trust just anyone for such important work. Granted! For 29 years, I have held my own engraving business. It started under the name Design Impressions, which I still have in the physical world. I finally started this website to incorporate both arts.
What Kinds of Materials Can Engraving and Calligraphy Be Applied To for Personalized Gifts?
Engraving:
-glass
-metals
-bone
-horn
- Basically, any material other than plastics. Plastic materials let off a poisonous odor when engraved.
Being on retainer for three years, I very much enjoyed writing calligraphy on certificates for graduates of a massage therapy organization. I truly enjoyed, and still do, making and writing certificates with the fancy folders that I also emboss. They make such a lasting impression and evoke memories for years to come. It's like taking a snapshot in time.
Other items of experience:
-many Bibles (filling out the pages in the front)
-embossing the covers of Bibles, books, and journals
-matted photo frames
-wedding invitations and envelopes
-place cards
-family reunion invites and envelopes
-poems, verses, letters, and much more
Turn Around Time for Ordering Personalized Gifts
How long it takes to receive your items will depend on the season, how many bookings I have, and the size of the order. Weddings, graduation, and the holiday seasons remain my busiest times.
The general rule of thumb when ordering for any event is:
"When you know the date, book."
This will ensure a smooth transition from the placement of the order to receiving it in a good and relaxed time. All of this will be explained in detail. I will offer you an important free download that you may want to print off and keep.
Traditionally, for weddings, the invitations need to be sent two months before the special date, unless it is a destination wedding. Ideally, calligraphers and engravers prefer 4-6 months' bookings in advance...at least. This will allow time to order paper, ink, stationery items, etc., have the engraver/calligrapher complete the work, and ship them to the client. A rush fee is generally incurred for short notices to offset the artist's rescheduling, stress, and perhaps late nights to complete the order in time. Often, there are times when you have to be pushed ahead of another customer who was already on the schedule.
Have a look around and get to know me. Does my work and pricing make a good fit for you? I would love to work with you. You are more than a customer to me. I seek clients for a deeper and long-term relationship. I look forward to building that trust with you!
Tap the Contact Jeanita tab if you have more questions or would like to start a custom order.
Many Blessings.