A Day in the Spotlight
Often times, our blogs feature a single design element that multiple pins share or they’re about a customer who has a unique and interesting story that we want to tell. But every so often, we get an order in that’s so impressive we think it would be a mistake not to share it with you.
Maybe they aren’t pushing the boundaries of what’s typical in the world of custom pin design, but they do showcase what’s possible when the different options we offer are utilized to their greatest effect. These pins are our Signature Spotlights.
The Shipshewana Ice Festival Pins
When the holidays roll around every year, we have the opportunity to design custom Christmas pins for all sorts of special events. This year, we decided to put one of our favorite holiday designs in the spotlight and talk about what makes the artwork so special.
There were a lot of options to choose from, but our favorite design is this limited edition Christmas pin created for the Shipshewana Ice Festival. The first thing that most people notice is the crisp and clear cloisonne design. Cloisonne is well known for its jewelry-quality finish and colorful detail. The yellow banners and red ornaments wrapped around the Christmas tree almost sparkle as you turn the pin over in your hand and let the light bounce off the surface of the artwork.
When you look a little closer, you’ll notice the silk screen text inscribed on the yellow banners, which is one of our favorite details in the design. The black letters are too small for cloisonne or soft enamel, so we had to take another route. After the pins were struck, colorfilled, plated and polished, we used a silk screen stencil to add the letters to the yellow banners.
Screen printing allows our production team to add small, colorful details directly to the surface of the pin. In this case, it was the only way to create legible text that would fit in the center of the tree.
Another unique aspect of this design is the custom backstamp. Normally, no one thinks to look on the reverse side of a pin. However, it’s always worth a look in case you find a special message hidden back there.
Only 300 of these pins were made for the 2019 Shipshewana Ice Festival. Making a small number of pins each year gives each new design a heightened sense of value. If you’re hoping to get your hands on one of the limited edition pins, you need to move quickly.
The contact on this project really wanted to capture the spirit of Shipshewana, which is why the design takes the shape of a brown horse. Shipshewana is well known for its horse-drawn carriages, and during the snowy winters, families make it a point to enjoy a nighttime sleigh ride through Main Street. Taking home a custom pin like this is a great way to commemorate the season and help the memories live on long after all the snow has melted away in spring.
Put Your Custom Lapel Pin in the Spotlight
The Shipshewana Ice Festival pin earned a place in our Spotlight Series thanks to it’s crisp and clear cloisonne design, it’s expert use of silkscreen, and it’s unique backstamp. Ordering a limited edition design is a great way to increase the value of your pins, especially when they’re created for a seasonal event. The lucky few who get a hold of one of these pins will have a beautiful collectible pin that will help memories of the event last a lifetime.
If you think your custom pin design is deserving of a spot in the Signature Spotlights (Pins Edition) series, let us know in the comments, or shoot us an email. And be sure to continue creating interesting and unique designs that catch our eye.
