LIVE PERSONALIZATION
I am based in Bern City, Switzerland, and yes, I do travel across Switzerland and abroad for my live personalization clients.
After calligraphy, engraving is the fastest technique I practice. When I am alone I can engrave an average of 20 items per hour, for 1 word per item. When live hot foiling, I can personalize 15 to 20 items per hour.
This output can be slightly increased by for example limiting the personalization options, having an assistant help manage the queue and requests, etc. These parameters can be discussed and agreed upon before your event.
For high volume events we take care of sourcing additional artists to meet your objectives.
The space needed depends on the size and amount of items to personalized. The minimum size table is about 60x60cm
Onsite I don’t need much material:
We mostly work on metal and glass. Some ceramic and wood items can be engraved.
Most of surfaces can be personalized, with an adapted technique, wether with hot foiling, engraving, painting or burnt.
GeNeRAL
I primarily collaborate with companies and PR agencies, but I also enjoy working with private individuals.
Feel free to contact me by email at hello@sandaletter.ch or via my contact form. I would be delighted to discuss the feasibility of your idea.
Unlike a font, which is designed to be repeated, or calligraphy, which focuses on the art of beautiful writing, lettering consists of creating and drawing letters in a unique style.
In other words, lettering means hand-drawing letters to build words and texts that convey a specific style or emotion. Composition, layout and decorative elements often play a key role.
A bit of history is helpful here…
Calligraphy is defined as “the art of producing decorative handwriting or lettering using a pen or a brush.” There is a difference between neat handwriting and calligraphy. A calligrapher intentionally seeks to make writing visually appealing, often using techniques inspired by historical writing styles.
Today, this ancient art form remains very popular. Many artists enhance handwritten text with expressive ink work, and several styles exist: English calligraphy, Spencerian, Madarasz, and modern calligraphy—the style currently practiced by Sanda Letter.
engraving
For a single word, engraving takes approximately 2–3 minutes per item, including gilding.
During live events, it usually takes 3–4 minutes, including interaction with guests.
For floral or more complex illustrations, the time can vary between 2 and 20 minutes, depending on the surface and the level of detail.
Engraving with a pen engraver produces a light sound, similar to a small rotary tool.
It is consistent but much quieter than traditional chiseling. The more rigid and resistant the material, the louder the sound may be.
Engraving requires good working conditions. A chair or stool and a flat surface (table or workbench) are sufficient.
The engraving equipment itself takes up roughly the space of a shoebox.
For high guest traffic, a larger table is recommended to safely place items and avoid accidents.
Access to a power outlet is required for the engraving pen.
Hand engraving is suitable for materials such as metal, glass, plastic, wood and even clay.
Due to the wide variety of plastics and their textures, it is recommended to send test items or carry out tests in advance to ensure the desired result.
With a few exceptions (notably certain plastics and frosted glass), most engraved surfaces can be colored afterward.
Gold or silver wax fillings are available and enhance the engraving on many materials.
Unfortunately not. Due to internal pressure, engraving can cause the glass to crack or explode during or after the process.
However, sparkling wine bottles can be beautifully personalised using gold markers or bottle paint, which elegantly enhance the bottle.
The main advantage of hand engraving lies in its adaptability.
It allows engraving in areas that machines cannot reach and requires no lengthy calibration process—an experienced eye is often faster than a machine.
Machine or laser engraving is more precise and faster for large series.
However, when it comes to flexibility, creativity and live event engraving, hand engraving remains the best option.
chalkboard
Absolutely. After our initial exchange, I send a digital mock-up showing the final result in its intended environment. You can then provide feedback before execution.
Two revisions are included at no extra cost.
From the third revision onward, a fee of CHF 20 per revision applies.
CALLIGRAPHy
Not at all. From shape, paper color, ink, pen or fountain pen, all place cards are fully customized.
You can share your inspirations, and we will bring them to life together.
Bonus: I am not limited to paper—projects on semi-precious stones, tiles or shells are always welcome.
storefronts
Yes. I use acrylic paint, which offers the perfect balance between durability and removability.
It is more resistant than chalk markers yet can be removed with a sponge, hot water or window cleaner if needed.
Absolutely. Once dry, acrylic paint resists water splashes and light contact.
Storefronts are painted from the inside to ensure maximum durability.
