Monograms are a great way to personalize anything from hand towels to luggage to pendants. Here is a look at a cool monogram by hand engraving artist Tira Mitchell.

Tira has a great eye for ambigrams and monograms like this one on a large and shiny belt buckle. Designing these can be tedious work because the process involves scale, readability, and how each letter works with the others. But actually putting the letters together by hand produces great results that are better than computer-led monograms and ciphers.

Whether the monogram is small or large as the "Glendo" design shown here, giving it the artistic edge that turns it from initials into monograms is a special talent. However, even if you aren't an artist, you can rely on the heraldic designers of old by downloading a free monogram every week from GRS. Check out Monogram Mondays and get the copyright free art before it expires — a new one is posted every Monday!