how do you "mark" your work?

[ljfrompa]

just wondering how you "mark" your work before you give it away or sell it....or DO you?

 

i definitely wouldn't want to put anything out for sale that didn't have some identification on it....

but even a small 'return address' label on the back wouldn't fit on some of the fretwork pieces.

 

i printed up a few labels that just said "Lori's wood crafts" to put on the back of a couple things i gave away.

 

any ideas?

 

[realfEZ]

Hi Lori,

I stick small black and white printed labels, with initials, name, e-mail, Blog address, etc... on the back or invisible parts (if that is) of the object.

I usually don't, when my work goes a gift to family members of close friends.

I essentially do it in a mere marketing perspective, cause you never know how an order can be placed...

[Clayton717]

I have a stamp that I use. It says about the same as my business card. Name, phone number email , and some of the things I do. I also sign and date each piece.

[Travis]

I don't usually mark my stuff either, but I keep most everything I do. For portrait style cuttings, I spray on my clear coat, then with a pencil I sign my artwork, then finish off with a couple more coats of clear coat.

 

For my toys, sometimes I'll put on the clear coat, then with a fine tipped sharpie, I write a quick message and date. Then finish it with a couple more coats of clear coat.

 

The first clear coat keeps the sharpie from bleeding. For pencil, the first clear coat gives it a nice surface to write on. Subsequent clear coats is just for protection.

 

I've seen some people use mailing labels on the back of their artwork. I think that would be a pretty cheap alternative, and if you design it with your business in mind, pretty professional too!

[Gray]

i've seen those branding irons with your logo in catalogs. i think it would be neat to have one. but at $100 or so, i change my mind quick. sometimes i just write out on a piece of paper and glue it to the backer board. only works for stuff you have framed, though.

[Fran]

I use the smaller address lables with e-mail address. Also on my intarsia I will glue a small piece of paper telling what woods are used and where.

Fran

[Travis]

I use the smaller address lables with e-mail address. Also on my intarsia I will glue a small piece of paper telling what woods are used and where.

Fran

 

I bet those 3x4 printable address labels would really work well for intarsia! Or do you suppose most would prefer a handwritten list of woods used?

[Fran]

I type the list and where used on regular paper since each project will be different. Then cut it out and paste with tacky glue to the back. I use masonite for a backer, some people use bb and write on the wood itself. BB is more expensive and since I seldom sell a project it works just fine.

Fran

[Christina]

I've only done a few gifts at this point. But I use my woodburner and burn my signature, the date, and occasionally a small message. For instance, my father in law passed away last May and I woodburned a memorial plaque for every member of the family..............bibles, sobbing angels, jesus, etc... On the back I wrote "In Loving Memory of Tom Brumley (my father in law) and his birth and death dates and a small bible verse about loss. I wanted to create a memory to make everyone smile everytime they read it. So it really depends on what the item is, how large, whether it's for sale or a gift, etc...

I think if I were to do sale items I would create a small logo with my name, address and phone # and print it on a tiny label or use a branding iron. Or possibly I would just sign it with my signature and the date. I guess I won't know until the time comes lol.

Christina

[Travis]

A woodburner sounds like a neat idea. I bet that'd add a bit of charm to the piece. I'm going to have to remember that. Thanks!

[ljfrompa]

thanks for the ideas everyone

 

i guess a lot depends on how big the piece is.

an email address is a good idea...providing you will have the same one years down the road...

on my psalteries i glue a small label inside (visible from the sound hole) that just has my name and zip code...if someone get their hands on one somewhere else in the country and wanted to find me, i think with just that info they could do it.

 

i think the woodburning would be a good idea...and i do have a small woodburner. at least that would be a 'permanent' mark where a label could be removed or fall off.

 

now i need to practice a "small" siggy or 'mark'

[Cashmere Scroller]

I sign the front after the first coat. Then finish away. On the back I use a small label to list:

 

The designers Name

Pattern Name

My name (I cut it)

and the Date.

 

Ron C.

[LarryEA]

On some pieces I scroll a little tiny hawk soaring. Some others I scroll my initials, I kinda hide it.

Most, I sign the back. One place I went would not consign unless you signed your work.

And I do have stickers but on some work stickers just don't 'work.'

 

Larry

[Phantom Scroller]

Two things a stamp and as Christina before me a woodburning pen because some things are to small for my stamp. That was easy to answer.

 

Roly

[ike]

Steve Good has a small HAND CRAFTED label on his web site that I use. Use my name, date and email address. you have to print small but it looks good to me.

[amazingkevin]

Free i sign and date .I did over 800- 4.5 inch tall names and numberd them ,also.gift things i leave alone.

[Doug]

Most of my work is on 3/4 to 5/4 wood and I have an electric branding iron I use.  I did not intend to mark my work at all until some folks started insisting on it.  I found a source for a custom branding iron and to suit my personality it is just two lines "Done by Doug - Live Long and Prosper".  People get a kick out of it.  It is a little bit of personalization, a message from Mr. Spock, and it can never be traced back to me.

 

With my handwriting it makes no sense for me to try and write something.  Apparently Travis has legible handwriting.

[oldhudson]

I sign my first name with a Sharpie (a fatty on a large piece and a fine point on a smaller one) and I drill out a shallow 3/4 hole and epoxy a penny from the current year in place. If there's not enough material to drill out a spot for the penny I'll add the year with the Sharpie. Neat thread it's interesting to see how folks approach this subject. I did a mail box post for myself 15 years ago and while my name has long since weathered away you can still see my penny (at least when the snows not covering it).

[Jim Finn]

I sell all of my work and I figure folks do not want my name on their stuff so I sign only when asked, (Two times in seven years.)  I put a business card in each box I sell.  I have talked to people about the woods used in the Intarsia and the boxes but very few are interested.  I no longer bother unless asked.

[Clayton717]

I now use small address labels that matches my business cards. As well as signing and dating each project. On my intarsia I also write what woods I used. all this is on the back.
If its to small for the label I sign it somewhere where its not easily seen.
An artist always signs his work.

[bandaideman]

I have a stamp with a hand saw on it I found at Michaels several years ago. Over the top of the saw it says handcrafted for you by, I then sign my scroller name grampa sawdust and five them a card with the address etc. to the customer. I do not stamp everything usually just if I can find a place not real noticable and large enough area.

[Ron Johnson]

Hi Lori

 

I use a branding iron that says (HANDCRAFTED BY RON JOHNSON), and a burning tool. All my work is signed. Any items I sell a business card is attached. You're the artist so all your work should be signed. Your item then looks more professional.

[wombatie]

I use labels on the larger things like this  and on smaller things I either attach a business card or find an out of the way place to sign it.

 

Marg

[Nick@tinkers-cove]

All of my work goes out branded. I have a 'Peter Child' pyrography machine and I use a simple symbol on everything. I'm not really interested in adding my name, so I just brand as shown in the photo below. For anyone unsure, it is the fundamental symbol of Jainism and is thousands of years old. It represents 'Total Non-Violence' to everything living and means a great deal to me.

Regards,

Nick.

 

Edited February 17, 2014 by Nick@tinkers-cove

[tjcebula]

I usually sign my work and date it when I'm completed with it, I had boughten some cheap business cards something 250 of them for 10 bucks, so for every one that I finish also I place my business card on the backside also, Hope this helps out