SIGNS & LETTERING

How long does a custom signage project take?

Every order is different, and turnaround time depends on the complexity of the project as well as how busy I am with other work. For smaller individual pieces, allow at least one to two weeks. For larger/business projects, allow at least one month. For weddings, allow at least two months. If you need your custom work done ASAP, you won't know if I can accommodate you until you ask! Expediting premiums may apply.

Will sales tax be added to my order total?

Yes. Yes, unfortunately, yes.

I found someone on Etsy who will do the same project cheaper. Why does your work cost more?

The simple answer is that there is a difference in processes. The exact difference varies between projects and between artists, but here is a short list of the things that make my work cost (and be worth) more: - This is a one-woman show. I have no employees, no assistants (except the dog, who really doesn't pull her own weight), and a full schedule of clients who all want my time--and my time is valuable! - I HAND. LETTER. EVERYTHING. At the time of writing these FAQs there are no stencils or vinyls in my studio, which means more focused, skilled energy is spent on your project than if I were to trace someone else's artwork or cut out some stickers for your sign. While I do make use of printed templates (NOT stencils) for large-scale or detailed logo work, if you want perfect, uniform fonts with crisp, clean edges, hand-lettered work is not for you. (But my graphic design services might be! See my Business Services page or send me an inquiry.) - I have invested hours, days, and YEARS of my time and efforts, formally and informally developing my skills and my style. While other artists or shops may be able to make the same claim, I certainly hope our styles are different. If you like their price AND their style better, then they're your people and I would much rather miss out on your project because my style didn't fit with yours than because the price wasn't right.

I got a notification that my signage quote expired. What now?

Project proposals, including quoted prices, recommended rental items and contract terms, automatically expire 30 days after initiation, and that's simply because I need to stay on top of my prices, policies and scheduling. The cost and availability of materials and rentals, as well as my workload and business practices, can all change over time. If we didn't move forward with your project proposal soon after I cooked it up, I will need to reevaluate the supplies and labor required to produce your signage and that could mean increased (or decreased) pricing and/or an adjusted timeline and policies to boot.

Do I have to pick up and drop off my order, or will you deliver?

Orders exceeding $250 (including custom and rental items) qualify for free one-way delivery within a 30-mile radius of Brentwood, CA. If your order doesn't fit these criteria, we'll talk about ways to maximize convenience and minimize cost.

Can you do any font I want?

Yes, I can, but do I want to? Not always. If a specific font is part of your logo or brand, I can absolutely incorporate, replicate, and/or approximate it in our project depending on the medium. For wedding and personalization projects, I strongly encourage you to consider whether my signature script is the style you're looking for. (My upcoming Galleries page will have a convenient collection of samples, or I can email you a few images, or you can search the hashtag #letterlyscript on Instagram.) If you have some other script font or handwriting style in mind, we can still discuss your project but there is a possibility that I will decline to deviate from my personal style. It's nothing personal... except that it's 100% personal. See what I did there?

Can I schedule a private workshop or lettering party?

Of course! Private events must meet a minimum total of $250 before taxes, and depending on the lesson plan that could mean anywhere from 4 to 8 seats must be filled. A 50% deposit will be collected in order to schedule your event, and travel fees may apply if you can't host the workshop in the Brentwood area. Contact me for more information!

Do you have stencils for me to use in your workshops?

Not really. My workshops are all about hand-lettering, and about the skills that need to be developed in order to use decorative lettering in creative projects. I'm teaching you how to fish here, not just giving you the fish! With upcoming workshops I am shifting toward offering more assistance in designing your project--for example I'm willing to sketch "girl gang" for you on your jacket before you start painting--but my workshops are for lettering education. If you want something lettered for you, please place a custom order.

Do you offer group rates?

For most workshops, yes! The threshold is usually four people. Contact me before registering to tell me about your group size and which workshop you would like to attend.

Do you have kid-friendly workshops?

Yes! Sort of. My curriculum is best suited to adults and more mature teens, but most of my workshops are held at kid-friendly venues, and if you have an artistic or curious child who wants to try out hand-lettering I won't turn you away from those venues. However:

1. You, the parent, must thoughtfully determine the child's capacity to sit through a two- to three-hour workshop with limited breaks.
2. A liability and photography waiver is to be signed for each workshop attendee, and a child must have their parent or legal guardian sign their waiver.
3. Letterly Workshops are not a childcare opportunity, and they're way more expensive than a sitter anyway. Children under 18 shall be accompanied by a responsible adult of 18 or older, and only paid ticketholders will be allowed to participate in the workshop at hand. (So you don't have to pay to stay with your child unless you're participating.)

I got a notification that my signage quote expired. What now?

Project proposals, including quoted prices, recommended rental items and contract terms, automatically expire 30 days after initiation, and that's simply because I need to stay on top of my prices, policies and scheduling. The cost and availability of materials and rentals, as well as my workload and business practices, can all change over time. If we didn't move forward with your project proposal soon after I cooked it up, I will need to reevaluate the supplies and labor required to produce your signage and that could mean increased (or decreased) pricing and/or an adjusted timeline and policies to boot.

Will sales tax be added to my order total?

Yes. Yes, unfortunately, yes.

I found similar wedding signs for purchase online, at the same price or lower than your rentals. Why should I rent instead of buy?

Unless the signs you found were previously used for someone else's wedding, buying them either adds to the waste going into our landfills or increases the work you will need to do post-wedding... or both! Renting your signage from Letterly allows you to hand the signs back to me after the wedding rather than turning perfectly good decorations into trash, or going through the process of finding a buyer and completing a transaction with them to sell the signs when you're done with them. Plus, my rental signs are as high in quality as my custom signs and are all hand-lettered for more hand-crafted style and character than a mass-produced or stenciled sign from who-knows-where on the internet ;)

How long do I keep the rentals for?

For most events, we'll plan on a four-day window (e.g. if your wedding is on a Saturday, you might pick up the signs Friday and return them Monday). Rental windows are fairly flexible, though, so if you have different needs just ask!

Do I have to pick up and drop off my rentals, or will you deliver?

Orders exceeding $250 (including custom and rental items) qualify for free one-way delivery within a 30-mile radius of Brentwood, CA. If your order doesn't fit these criteria, we'll talk about ways to maximize convenience and minimize cost.

Can you provide easels for my rental signs?

Easels will be included upon request, when available. Please be sure to request as early as possible in case your rental period is busy with other renters who may also need easels!

Will you produce work for styled photo shoots?

Hell yes! I love getting the opportunity to flex my creative muscles with unseen work and get fantastic images of that work alongside other stellar vendors. HOWEVER, please note the operative words in bold... I am by no means a snobby, exclusive artist who insists on special treatment. I just need to save my energy and resources for projects that benefit my business or the creative community at-large! So before reaching out, think about these points: - Does your concept have the space for me to show off my range? If not, you may be interested in some of my existing rental signs or previously produced tablescape items. - Will I be encouraged to produce NEW work that squashes the possibility of a "Been there, done that" situation? If not, my interest in the project drops significantly, but if the shoot reaches outside the box in general, that helps get me back on board. - Is there a professional photographer committed to highlighting ALL participating vendors with detail shots? It's one of the worst feelings as an event industry creative to finally get that gallery link and find that only a couple lame snaps of your work are included, or because something like a placecard is small, maybe it's never seen close up. If my contribution doesn't elevate the project, you probably just don't need me. - Will there be a lineup of likeminded, talented vendors involved? If you don't have a full roster yet, that's okay. I would love to help flesh it out through my network of friendors, but it's always great when I can make a new connection ;)