BLOG – 35 YEARS AGO BLOG 11

I’m not a glass engraver but I engrave. Usually letters and figures. I learnt a long time ago that people liked personalised gifts. Something unique and what better way to “stamp” a special memory on something than by marking a permanent identification sign.

People may buy glass from me and treat such as just objects but really, they want to own a piece of me as is experienced by all creative people. To enforce this experience, I always sign (by engraving) by initials on the base of all glass items. “IRP” is the sign to look out for when scrummaging through Bric-a-bac in charity shops! For special commissions then I usually add the date as the glass should reflect a moment in time. For standard items I don’t add dates in case the items don’t sell in one year and no one wants to buy last year’s models.

I use a flexi-drive engraver with diamond burrs. My studio is situated in a road where at one end sits a dentist surgery. I know the dentist and one time he would pop into my workshop offering me used diamond burrs. They had some life left in them as he told me he only used them once for each patient. I did use a couple but was put off when I spied blood on the tip of one burr!!!

I engrave as I write with a biro or pencil. Usually in capitals and with diamond burrs revolving fast on the glass surface its tempting to think I would need a coolant. I did try this at first but couldn’t see where my marks were so now engraving dry. I do use a felt tip pen to write on the surface of the glass first before engraving so I know what the result will be. I then engrave over the pen markings. If I make a mistake with a pen, then I can easily erase the errors. Not so easy once I have engraved a glass! Can be done if you know how but I’m not telling!!