Coats of Arms are fashioned for FAMILIES, ACADEMIES, CITIES, TRADESMEN, COLLEGES, SOCIAL CLUBS, even DEPARTMENT STORES. Let's talk and discuss prominent aspects of your family's lives (or businesses) and we will design a fitting crest and coat of arms together. |
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WEDDING Coats of Arms
DESIGN Your Own
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When given as wedding or anniversary presents, the two crests do not have to be combined into one framed painting.
Often the bride's maiden name crest (given by her family) along with her new husband's name crest (presented to him by "his" family) are given as two distinct gifts and hung side by side in their new home.
Here is another style that is attractively used for a wedding present.
Both original coats of arms may be displayed or a more contemporary painting may be designed employing icons to "independently" represent the bride and groom, respectively.
Both original coats of arms may be displayed or a more contemporary painting may be designed employing icons to "independently" represent the bride and groom, respectively.
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Often, pieces of jewelry, not just jewels, are added.
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Ahh! Lasting Love! ANNIVERSARIES are a fantastic time to present them with their own Coat of Arms.
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What probably surprises many is the
fact that a "Coat of Arms" is simply a WRITTEN description of the elements that the Coat of Arms should contain. It is left up to a heraldic artist (or yourself) to interpret the description and create a pleasing graphic design. This description is called a "Blazon". Therefore there is not a single design for any family. |
The design (three red stars over two horizontal red bars on a white field) is often said to have inspired the Stars and Stripes flag, and has been used since 1938 as the coat of arms and flag of the District of Columbia.
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Why did I customize my family's (Rutland ) "Coat of Arms" ? Yes!
I'm sure you know "Fleur de Lis"
translated from French to English, is simply "Lilly", and I did so in honor of my mother. 
Therefore, I chose to PERSONALIZE my own family's coat of arms by transposing the "fleur de lis" into Day Lillies to honor my mother.
This personalization makes me smile. Fleur de lis designs, as any other element, may vary drastically.
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Three "fleur de lis" > horizontal across the top of shield 
My mother in her garden. She was an avid gardener who grew daylillies all my life. She loved them.
 
REFLECTIVE LIONS - Painted for Left and Right Handed Identical Twins:
To Personalization these, what I did to distinguish each IDENTICAL TWIN was to represent the opposing paws (hands) each twin favors while writing. |
CUSTOM DESIGNED CRESTS:
This COAT OF ARMS I DESIGNED as a memorial to two dear friends of mine, Thomy and Teresa, a brother and sister who both have died in recent years and were their mother's only children is a representation on my home page.
Centered in the shield you'll find a BEJEWELED CROSS as both were Christians.
I set out to design a coat of arms representative of the full, though short lives of Thomy and Teresa. I accomplished my objective with flair, did I not?
BELOW: The PLANNING AND DESIGN OF Thomy's and Teresa's Memorial Crest:
- The DAFFODIL was included as it was her daughter's favorite flower
- She was also an author, so I brought down the chair's center back and had it splayed into a PEN NIB with pink flowing ink (her favorite color) at the base of the shield to represent this aspect of her life.
- The TUREEN (between jaguars) is to symbolize that both enjoyed cooking and fine dining and were both most gracious and hospitable.
- At the center of the torse, or wreath, I painted a RISING SUN on whisper thin gold leaf. This is to remind their mother a new day will dawn in which she will be reunited with her children in heaven.
I set out to design a coat of arms representative of the full, though short lives of Thomy and Teresa. I accomplished my objective with flair, did I not?
BELOW: The PLANNING AND DESIGN OF Thomy's and Teresa's Memorial Crest:
Planning
Both enjoyed their work and hobbies and their lives were replete with both. I combined as many aspects as could. The result is this contemporary, yet elegant design.
Thomy bought and sold antiques and the CHIPPENDALE CHAIR BACK was perfect for the shield!
I chose a MOVIE "FILM"unfurled as the BANNER beneath the shield. Teresa was also "behind the scenes" as a stunt driver in several major movies. 
When I met Tommy, he was driving a Jaguar. What better animal to represent him than this? He sailed the Caribbean, so I chose my first color, a bright turquoise blue to begin my color vision of the shield, and to also represent this particular sea. |
Laying out the Design
Brainstorming ideas, cutting and pasting, deleting....
Rough "cartoon" sketch on simulated embossed leather fabric (not canvas)- Can you see the chair back at the top of the crest?
GOLD and SILVER LEAF were both applied in this painting. I placed the thin sheets of this precious metal both under and also on top of my brush strokes of the helm.
I happened upon a fabric simulating TOOLED LEATHER and was thrilled. Not only was this a lovely texture, but I could use it as a tribute to Teresa, whose dream it was to raise miniature horses. She never fulfilled that dream, but was quite the cowgirl. This was my rationale for incorporating rusty BARBED WIRE in the lower left quadrant of the shield.
The Austrian Crystals were placed along the bottom half on both sides of the shield, each as a symbol of Teresa's 10 fingers that clutched PARACHUTE LINES while a paratrooper in our war with Iraq. |
Deciphering Icons from written description of a French Aristocrat's Family Coat of Arms
From Louis XVI's Court
Not EXACTLY a "Design Your Own"
but one that took much study!
I was sent this tattered xerox copy of an insignia that had come from the cover of a diary owned by one Louis Chachere, contemporary relative of the king of France, Louis XVI just prior to the French Revolution. Luckily, he escaped the guillotine by gaining entry into Canada. By the early 1800's he had made his way to Opelousas in South Louisiana. His name having been changed to "Chachere" to escape detection, was in part his original name and part of his new wife's name. |
South Louisiana's Aristocrats-
This crest was commissioned to be colorful & to pull as much from the diary insignia as could be gleaned:
*Laurel Wreath *Crown *Torch *Kissing Birds *Lyre *Prayer Book *Shell *Arrow *Plant -stylized into a Fleur de Lis denoting France **Garnet rosary with cross pearl of true nacre was added with artistic license as lagniappe as the commissioner of this piece is Catholic- garnet being his birth stone. Much of this was given me orally by the patron, with other information taken directly from Daily World (newspaper), Sunday, August 15, 1971 |
WEBSITES TO ASSIST DESIGNING YOUR OWN
http://www.heraldryandcrests.com/heraldic_symbols.htm
http://www.fleurdelis.com/meanings.htm
http://www.allfamilycrests.com/makecoatofarms.htm
EXAMPLES OF VARIOUS COATS OF ARMS I have found on the web:
PERSONAL, BUSINESS, CITY, ACADEMY OR DEPARTMENT STORE COATS OF ARMS
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NEW YORK CITY DEPARTMENT STORE
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MILITARY MEDALS COAT OF ARMS
*Note the military medals hanging BENEATH the banner |
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Great Sites to find designs you might like to incorporate are believe it or not,
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