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etching by hand

Engraving Drills: Brushless Motor vs. Not 0

Engraving Drills: Brushless Motor vs. Not

Angie Mendez is the artist behind Letter This Letter That. Through live lettering in a range of mediums, Angie collaborates with teams to deliver truly personalized guest experiences.

A former classroom teacher, she understands the importance of human connection and creating a warm, inviting environment. Angie is the final flourish (pun intended!) on your positive customer impressions, further fostering lasting relationships between you and your clients.

This is bittersweet… announcing the last of my S This is bittersweet… announcing the last of my Southern California events 🥺

Stop by South Coast Plaza Nordstrom on June 10 or July 15 for complimentary calligraphy with purchase ✍🏼

Or come hang out and learn to engrave with me June 23! Link to workshop tickets is in my profile 🎟️

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#onsitecalligraphy #learntoengrave #engravingworkshop #handetching
Hey hi! 👋🏽👋🏽 I’m Angie (if you didn’t know already). Thank you so much for being here!

I’m a calligrapher and engraver ✍🏼 specializing in onsite events, with a soft spot for anything education-related. 

People tell me I have a fun way with words and a knack for making others feel special. I don't know about you, but I'd be hard-pressed to think of any bigger compliments. ☺️

We're currently based in Orange County, but moving up to Northern California this summer. I'm excited, but I also often think about how/if I'll be able to translate my business 500 miles away. 😥

Anyway! That's my little ramble for today. If you read all the way through this, truly: the biggest thank you for taking the time to do so. See ya around!

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#onsiteengraver #sonomacalligrapher #marincalligrapher #learnengraving #liveeventartist #asianownedbusiness #latinxsmallbusiness 
📸: @bykarissamraya 
📍: @casabloomstudios
Went back and forth about offering one last SoCal Went back and forth about offering one last SoCal class before our big move this summer… and decided to go for it!

SO excited to present a ✨date night✨ workshop to you all next month!!

Friday, June 23, 6-7:30pm @casabloomstudios in DTSA. 

You’ll learn a fun new skill and leave with two completed projects— including a wine glass you can take home (or out!) to dinner with you. 😀

Who would you bring?? Your bff? Your favorite auntie? Lmk and tag them in the comments! I’d love to see you there. ☺️

Tickets and more info at the 🔗 in my profile!

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#learnengraving #etchingworkshop #engravingworkshop #handetchedglass #learnsomethingnew #creativeworkshop #alwaysbelearning #onsiteengraving #liveeventartist #asianownedbusiness #latinxownedbusiness 

📷: @wanderingwillow.photography 
📍: @casabloomstudios
I used to be so intimidated by frosted glass! 😰 I used to be so intimidated by frosted glass! 😰

Unlike smooth/shiny glass, most frosted glasses can't be filled with gilding wax, so there's no hiding imperfections behind a coat of color. 🫣

It's taught me to really slow down and focus. Spend a little more time on the draft, go a little more slowly while I engrave. 😌

Now it's one of my favorite materials to work with. 😁

How about you? Is there anything you love now, where that def wasn't always the case? 🤔
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#onsiteengraving #eventartist #livecalligraphy #experientialmarketing #etchedglass #brandactivation #luxurygifts #luxurygifting #jomalonelondon #learnengraving
Watch these ladies absolutely rock their first tim Watch these ladies absolutely rock their first time engraving! The biggest thank you to @hadleyandren for hosting us in your beautiful space. 🤎

I’m always in awe of how quickly students seem to pick up engraving during these workshops... MUCH more seamless than my initial attempts. 😅 

So excited to see where they take their new skills!!

#learnsomethingnew #engravingworkshop #learnengraving #handetching #alwaysbelearning
Spent the past weekend filled to the brim with fam Spent the past weekend filled to the brim with family time. 

We celebrated our daughter’s birthday, enjoyed a wonderful Mother’s Day visit to my mom’s, and fit in several video and phone calls to family.

Trying to make the most of our time left in Orange County and the reality of moving is starting to really set in— only two months out! Lots of planning, scheduling, and coordinating being done. 😵‍💫

Wish us luck!
One week to our next in-person engraving workshop! One week to our next in-person engraving workshop! 

These are photos (by the amazing @bykarissamraya) from our last Intro to Glass Engraving class @papermintpress. Next Saturday 5/20, we’ll be at the lovely @hadleyandren inside @socoandtheocmix!

For your convenience, there are TWO times slots to choose from 😯. For more info and to purchase tickets, follow the 🔗 in my profile. 

Hope to see you there!!

#learnengraving #creativeworkshops #engravingworkshop #handetched #etchingclass #engravingclass
@jomalonelondon @nordstromtorrance @delamofashion @jomalonelondon @nordstromtorrance @delamofashion know how to throw a party! Last Sunday they had TWO event artists on deck personalizing items for their clients.

Guests received complimentary engraving (by me) AND bottle painting (by @aminalei). You know you’re doing something right when multiple guests purchase, are delighted by their personalizations… and then just have to get a little extra something. ☺️✨

#experientialmarketing #brandactivations #eventartist #onsiteengraving #onsitecalligraphy #luxuryevents
The woman who bought herself a perfume and had it The woman who bought herself a perfume and had it engraved with a message from her late husband. He used to always gift her beautiful fragrances, and she wanted something special to remind herself of him at Mother’s Day.

The sweetest, happiest, couple that bought matching bottles, and how their little son’s eyes lit up when I offered to engrave one of their sample vials with his name so he could be like Mommy and Daddy.

The bride-to-be who treated herself to a new fragrance with her wedding date and new name etched into the surface; a special memento to be photographed for her big day.

The father and his two children I couldn’t turn away, even though my shift was over and I was already packing up. They just wanted to do something special for Mami, from her 3 Amores. 

In this day and age where anyone can buy anything at any time, an onsite artist turns a business transaction into an opportunity to connect to ourselves and one another. 

We’re encouraged to pause

Think about how we want to convey our feelings

Talk to each other

Share stories

Be reminded of our humanity. 

Always an honor and a pleasure, @nordstrom.brea @shopbreamall @sundreamsproductions. Thank you so much for having me. 🤍
Today we’re sharing a few tips covered in our In Today we’re sharing a few tips covered in our Intro to Glass Engraving workshop! 

1. Using bur lubricant. I use it to prolong the life of my burs when I’m engraving glass, especially when I’ll be working for longer periods.

2. Elevate / level your wrist. Think about how we normally write on a sheet of paper: our wrist is resting on the table, at the same level as the paper. We want to mimic that while we engrave. Sometimes a few notebooks under your hand is enough. In this video, I’m using a pencil box. When I’m engraving onsite and in-studio, I use a microbead pillow to accommodate a whole range of items I may encounter. 

3. Turn the working surface as needed. One of the things I love most about engraving is how forgiving it is. You can turn your hand, rotate the drill, reposition the item… anything to achieve the most comfortable angle to execute your design.

4. Fixing / smoothing out wiggly lines. Because unwanted squiggles WILL happen— trustttt. 😆 You can see me going back and shaving just the tiniest bit more out of the end of the ‘g’ to make it look a little smoother. Sometimes you can’t fully perfect the mishaps (like here 😉) and that’s ok!!

Any other questions? Drop them below or send a DM. I’m here to help. 😊

#realtimeengraving #engravingtips #learnengraving #handengravingworkshop #etchingclasses #creativeworkshop #thingstodoinorangecounty #learntoengrave #learntoetch #engravingbyhand #realtimelettering
The cutest Teacher Appreciation commission!! 🩷🧡💛💚💙💜

Teacher Appreciation Week starts Monday; don’t forget to show your educators some love!

And if you’re looking ahead to end-of-year and graduation gifts, I can help with that! Just contact me through the email button in my profile (hello@letterthisletterthat.com) and we’ll get the ball rolling on your project. 

#teacherappreciationweek #engravedtumblers #teachergifts #engravedgifts #realtimelettering
Have you heard? We’re offering two workshops @ha Have you heard? We’re offering two workshops @hadleyandren inside @socoandtheocmix on Saturday, May 20th!

Here’s a preview of our second project of the class: engraving glass bud vases!

This was a gift for my mom, so I etched “bà ngoại” and added two little line drawings for the years her grandchildren were born in. ☺️

After engraving, I opted to purchase a custom arrangement featuring my mom’s favorite color. 💜 Cynthia (owner and floral artist at Hadley & Ren) is drop-deaddd talented. 🤯

BUT you can also try your hand at designing your own bouquet— the shop has a DRIED FLOWER BAR. Can’t handle how cute that is!!

Workshop tickets can be found at the link in my bio. Hope to see you there and can’t wait to help you learn a new skill. 💛

#learnhandengraving #learntoetch #creativeworkshops #engravingworkshop #thingstodoinorangecounty #creativeworkshop #learnsomethingnew #alwaysbelearning
Happy May! Mother’s Day is around the corner and Happy May! Mother’s Day is around the corner and I’m happy to help with your gift-giving 😊

Take advantage of complimentary engraving at Nordstrom this weekend. Saturday I’ll be @nordstrom.brea engraving for the entire beauty department, all brands! Then catch me Sunday in Torrance at the Del Amo Nordstrom etching exclusively for Jo Malone. 

And if gifting experiences is more your speed: how about tickets to our upcoming workshops? 

Nothing like spending time with the special mom(s) in your life, learning a new skill in the cutest setting— @hadleyandren inside @socoandtheocmix ☺️ Tickets available at the link in my bio.

Cheers to celebrating all the positive female figures in your life! ✨

#orangecountyengraver #liveeventartist #onsiteengraving #learnhandengraving #creativeworkshop #engravingworkshop
The only thing better than offering your guests li The only thing better than offering your guests live personalization at your next event?

… Giving them OPTIONS. 🤩

Vertos @mildprocedure guests chose between having a whiskey glass engraved, or a charcuterie board wood-burned! The party favors were a hit and, as you can see, Jess and I had a blast too. ☺️

The biggest thank you to @inkandrhythmcalligraphy for bringing me on to tackle this event with her! Just two OC kids, doing what we love, where we love. Best thing ever!

#liveeventartist #corporategifting #employeeappreciation #onsiteengraving #onsitewoodburning #onsitecalligraphy #onsitepyrography #activation #experientialmarketing #allabouttheexperiences #ocevents @lido_house
A little recap from our class held at @papermintpr A little recap from our class held at @papermintpress last weekend! 

Interested in trying hand engraving? Are you the kind of learner that does best with in-person instruction? Maybe you’re looking for a fun creative experience to share with a pal?

Join us for the next Intro to Glass Engraving workshop!

No prior calligraphy or engraving experience necessary. Just bring yourself, an eagerness to create, and a face mask. (glass dust and lungs? 🙅🏻‍♀️)

The link to May’s workshops is in my bio. Can’t wait to help you learn a new skill!! ☺️

Huge shoutout to @bykarissamraya (AMAZING photographer, check her out!) for this footage bc teaching totally took over and I was not thinking about capturing content. 😆

#learnhandengraving #thingstodoinOC #creativeworkshop #learnsomethingnew #learntoengrave #learntoetch #OCworkshops #thingstodoinOrangeCounty
I engraved for Cartier yesterday?? When I started I engraved for Cartier yesterday??

When I started this business, my (then) end-goal was to book an etching event at our local wine shop. I never, ever, set out to be part of the luxury market… but here we are.

It’s that pesky Imposter Syndrome browbeating you into thinking: I can’t. I’m not good enough. Don’t dare dream that big. 

Nah, friend.

The universe has other plans for you. Put in the work and let things run their course. You will be pleasantly (not so? 😉) surprised. 

♥️♥️♥️

@cartier @bloomingdales @southcoastplaza #liveeventartist #luxurygifting #engravingartist #ocengraver #occalligrapher
Today @bykarissamraya hosted another uplifting co- Today @bykarissamraya hosted another uplifting co-working session at @casabloomstudios and had a spring-themed discussion starter for us at break time. She, @hireellas, and I had such fruitful conversation. 

So I’ll share her questions here with you, and hope that reflecting on your own answers is as inspiring for you as it was for me. 

1. What are you currently composting in your life? (letting go of things that don’t serve you anymore in order to turn them into something that will help you thrive)

2. What are you currently planting seeds for? 

🌱🪴🌿

#liveeventartist #glassengraving #etchingglass #ocworkshops #learnengraving #handengravingworkshop 
📷: @wanderingwillow.photography
Two weeks until our Intro to Glass Engraving Works Two weeks until our Intro to Glass Engraving Workshop @papermintpress in Old Town Tustin!

Wanted to share one of the two projects we will be working on: engraving a 4”x6” photo frame (horizontal or vertical)! How sweet of a Mother’s Day gift would this be??

I printed this photo for $0.13 and it was ready for pickup within two hours. Feel free to bring your own photo to the workshop!! 😄 No lettering experience? No problem! You can totally draw a cute little design, or trace one of the provided templates.

If you haven’t signed up yet, the link is in my bio. 🤗 Hope to see you there!

#learnhandengraving #learnsomethingnew #engravingworkshop #creativeworkshop #creativeworkshops #orangecountyart #etchedglass
📷: @wanderingwillow.photography
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