Luxury In-Studio Customization: The Real Process Clients Should Know
Thanksgiving didn’t wait for me.
Truthfully, I didn’t try to chase it this year. My days were wrapped up in caring for my daughter, completing commissions, and finally taking a breath after the marathon that teaching can be. So here we are, a little later than planned, but right on time in spirit.
Even if the post is late, the gratitude is right on time.
To my clients, brand partners, calligrafriends, and the people who quietly read my blog: thank you. Your support is the reason I get to create heirloom pieces, elevate events, and help people celebrate life’s moments with beauty and intention.
Today, I’m sharing something I don’t show often: what really goes into an in-studio commission—from consultation to finishing touches. And because I hear this question often, I’m also talking about why these pieces cost what they do, and how the in-studio experience differs from live event work.
At the end of the day, it’s slow, intentional artistry that happens behind the scenes, away from the rush and buzz of a live event.
Here’s how it goes:
1. Consultation
Every in-studio commission begins with understanding the story you want to tell and how you want to tell it. Sometimes that’s a simple phrase. Other times, it’s initials, a date, a motif, flourishes, or a color story.
Unless I am given complete creative control, we confirm:
The message and preferred style
The color palette and level of flourish
Any unique requests or sentimental elements
This first step ensures your piece is designed for you—not a template.
2. Material & Surface Assessment
A glass bourbon bottle behaves differently than a sparkling wine bottle. Leather takes paint differently than suede. Metal and acrylic each have their own needs. For this segment, you get the benefit of my years of experience in my own studio. But, for foreign surfaces, there may be extra time required for testing.
Before any artwork begins, we will discuss the possibilities of your chosen surface given what you’d like to have on it. I’ll give my professional opinion on how to proceed in terms of which inks, colors and treatment would be best for your surface.
This prep protects the final result—and your keepsake.
3. Design Drafting
Flourishes don’t just “happen.” They’re planned.
For each piece, I complete mockups, adjust spacing, and create a balanced design that fits the shape and story of the item. Bottles curve, so spacing and angles matter. When a design includes unfamiliar-to-me motifs or themes, I take time to research them so the final piece is thoughtful and true to your vision.
Some of the floral images in the collage above were found on Google to research a specific flower the client wanted on her bottle.
Mockups, planning and drafting alone can take longer than the actual execution.
It’s important to note that digital representations of an object are not a 1:1 with the actual object itself. But, your finished project will 100% keep the spirit of your chosen design.
4. The Execution: Lettering, Engraving, or Painting
This is the part that looks magical from the outside. But it’s also the most focused step of the process.
Here’s what you don’t see:
Multiple layers of paint applied with drying breaks
Controlled pressure for engraving depth
Letterforms planned stroke by stroke
Corrections made at a microscopic level
This is luxury work. And while the video recaps may be sped up, luxury work in-studio is never rushed. Well, unless it’s bulk work and strict deadlines…But, that’s a blog for another day.
This video contains music from Shutterstock, licensed by Splice video editing app.
5. Drying, Curing & Finishing
After the artwork is complete, depending on the materials, an in-studio piece may require some curing. This step is essential. A rushed cure is the fastest way to ruin hours of work—and the heirloom you’re gifting.
6. Packaging for Pickup or Delivery
In-studio pieces are packaged with the same level of care as the artwork itself.
You can always have your project returned with your original, preferred packaging. But, if not, your project will be returned with protective padding and care instructions. There are also options for gift-ready wrapping and branded touches for presentation.
By the time it leaves my studio, it’s ready to gift or display exactly as-is.
Why In-Studio Work Costs So Much
In-studio work is a true luxury experience, and the investment reflects the time, tools, and meticulous detail each piece requires. Most engraving or bottle painting commissions begin in the lower hundreds, with custom flourishes, layered paintwork, or gold detailing increasing the final cost. Calligraphy on paper goods remains one of the more accessible options, while hot foiling and pyrography—especially on leather notebooks or UGG boots—fall into a premium tier due to the specialized heat equipment, surface testing, and slow, deliberate craftsmanship involved. Pricing is always customized so every quote aligns with the complexity of your piece and the artistry behind it.
The truth of the matter is, if this blog shows you nothing else, the lettering is only one small part of the process.
The real value spans:
Time + Labor
Most in-studio pieces require 2–6 hours, and many require multiple sessions. Typically, a client wants more than one service or much longer text than what is usually requested at a live event. When that is the case, I often will complete each service on its own day. For example, for the project highlighted in this post, I completed the drafting and engraving on one day and the bottle painting on the next.
Specialized Materials
Some projects can require adhesion mediums, custom pigments, engraver bits, metallic inks, and more. Specialized materials require an additional fee beyond the actual completion of the project–as well, some items may need additional time to locate, order and get to my desk.
Custom, Intentional Design
Every flourish is planned for your story. Typically, the sentiments are more personal and can be way more extravagant than what are found at an onsite event.
Slower Pace = Higher Precision
I get to take the time with your project that live events simply don’t allow. For many requests in-studio, which tend to ask for intricate details above and beyond what I could do in 15-20 minutes at an onsite event, that slower pace is needed for the precision you need.
Studio Overhead
Testing surfaces for the best treatment, photographing work for aesthetic presentation, packing materials for safety, and the equipment needed to do this well costs time, energy and money.
The Risk & Responsibility of Client-Supplied Items
Another factor that shapes the investment that is rarely thought of is the level of responsibility involved when working on client-supplied items. In many in-studio projects, there is only one bottle, one pair of boots, or one heirloom surface—no duplicates to test on, no backups if the material reacts unpredictably. Before beginning, I test my inks, foils, or heat settings on similar materials wherever possible, but the final piece is completed on the exact item you’ve entrusted to me. That means every stroke, engraving pass, or layer of paint must be executed with absolute intention. The precision required, and the permanence of these techniques, naturally contributes to the overall value of an in-studio commission.
Labor Intensive & Unique
In-studio commissions are truly a labor of love—intimate, time-consuming, and completely hands-on. Each piece requires slow, deliberate attention at every stage, from surface prep and design planning to the final stroke. That intimacy is part of what makes in-studio work so special, and also part of why these projects are considered a premium service. When you look at the total time, preparation, precision, and materials involved, the pricing simply reflects a heightened level of professional labor, delivered in a different setting.
In-Studio vs. On-Site: The Difference Matters
Both forms of personalization are luxury experiences. They just serve different purposes.
In-Studio
Invisible labor
Slow, intentional pace
Custom compositions and layered details
Perfect for gifting, weddings, anniversaries, and keepsakes
Multi-hour/multi-day projects with curing time
On-Site / Live Events
Visible labor
Fast production designed to keep lines moving
Simpler layouts optimized for speed
Ideal for brand activations, retail, and experiential marketing
2–10 minute turnaround per guest
See this post here for an example of the way a live event request is processed.
They’re different experiences with different rhythms and deliverables.
Both require expertise—but in different ways.
In-studio commissions are typically a labor of love.
A Note on Booking (Important!)
As we close out the year, my in-studio calendar is reserved for a small number of pre-existing clients. I’m deeply grateful for the trust already placed in my hands—both in the studio and on-site. The work I create for you is never rushed, never casual, and never taken for granted. In every bottle, every boot, every journal, and every flourish, my goal is the same: to elevate your moments with craftsmanship and care.Thank you for choosing luxury personalization, and thank you for choosing me to create it. ❤️
If you’re hoping for an in-studio piece in the future, the best time to book is well before you need it—especially during the holiday rush when onsite event requests naturally increase.
Early booking also helps you avoid rush fees and ensures availability.
Full in-studio booking will reopen in February 2026, after I complete the current batch of commissions already scheduled.
Thank you in advance for your patience and understanding as I honor these commitments with the level of luxury and care they deserve.
