Issue link: https://nbm.uberflip.com/i/1425980
54 graphics-pro.com S T A R T H E R E 2 0 2 1 Sandcarving N ot too long ago, a previous customer of ours approached us to create another award for a golf tournament. OK, I thought, remembering the one we had done for her multiple times: a Martini glass with the winner's name etched into it. But no — she said this time it was going to be different. One of the ladies playing at her golf club had passed away and there was going to be a memorial golf game in her honor. She described the woman as a very colorful one in many ways, but she had one defining identifier: she always wore colorful high heels to the club house. These shoes were her trademark so to speak, and the customer wanted me to include that phenomenon in the award. Little did I know at that time that the "award" was not one in the general award sense, but it was going to be a fairly expensive crystal decanter from Villeroy & Boch, with very convex surfaces. This decanter was an elegant and obviously expensive item, and the thought of adding a colorful shoe to it did not sit well with me initially. But it was for a good customer, and so I was not going to say no right off the bat. We said we would think about a concept and get back to her with a layout. Assessing the Layout First of all, we needed to get an actual decanter from her because of all the curves in the glass object and the group had already purchased them ahead of the tournament. So, in view of COVID-19 and all, we met like masked bandits in a parking lot halfway between our locations to receive the decanters, seven in all. With over 40 years in the glass business, Ruth Dobbins offers experience in all glass-etching techniques as well as in fused and cast glass. Ruth holds a master's degree in art and has been a partner in an art glass wholesale supply and studio company in Europe, which also placed great emphasis on a training program, before join- ing forces with Norm. You can reach Ruth by email at ruth@etchmaster.com, or by phone at 505-473-9203. A colorful, niche golf award project HOW TO The decanter with all the curved surfaces. (All images courtesy Ruth Dobbins) Sandcarve a Unique Gift By Ruth Dobbins The stencils applied, and the decanter covered with shrink wrap and tape ready for blasting .