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JACKIE RIPLEYJenny Rockhoff leaves the corporate world to start her own engraving business, with lucrative results.
NORTHDALE - The wine was priceless. But not because of the length of time the vintner had left the grapes to cool, ferment or age. What set it apart was the request engraved simply on the bottle's side.
Valerie, will you marry me? read the hand-crafted inscription.
Love Tom.
December 25, 2003.
"And I suggested he tie the engagement ring on a ribbon around the bottle," said Jenny Rockhoff engraver of the message, and more often than not, bearer of glad tidings.
"When I go to bed at night I'm happy," Rockhoff said. "I've got the kind of job I love to go to."
And well she should. The 39-year-old Northdale artist has carved out a creative and lucrative niche for herself, one stroke at a time.
"I'm thrilled and I haven't even scratched the surface," said Rockhoff who started her engraving business, Jens Engraving four months ago, inscribing personalized messages on wine bottles at local wine stores. Before long she was hired by upscale department stores from Naples to Tampa to engrave perfume bottles and Estee Lauder compacts.
"I usually work 8 hours a day in a store, doing 20 bottles an hour," Rockhoff said. "At the end of the day I'm spent, but it's a great feeling."
That wasn't always the case for Rockhoff, who until late last year worked for a credit card company in Tampa. She rose from phone associate to manager, had a good salary with benefits, but was lacking the creative outlet she craved.
"I had done painting when I lived in Minnesota," said Rockhoff. Ten years ago she moved to Northdale with her husband, the Rev. Roger Rockhoff, pastor of Northdale Lutheran Church. "I wanted to get out of the corporate world and into the creative."
Enter Ken Brown, internationally known calligrapher, engraver and teacher. Rockhoff quit her 9-to-5 job and paid $5,500to learn from Brown. "It was a huge investment and leap of faith," she said. But "from the first class, my life changed."
Rockhoff prepared for the three-day seminar by practicing lettering every day for five hours in the month prior to the workshop. Once she was there, Brown taught her to use a dental drill to engrave on delicate glassware and metal.
Brown, who concedes his expertise doesn't come cheaply, said there are financial rewards for anyone with talent and drive.
"Literally, in 10 working days doing events such as at Bloomingdales at $600 a day, she will be able to pay back that $6,000 free and clear," said Brown.
It helps that Rockhoff was an apt student. "I've only certified 13 engravers out of 100," Brown said, "and she did it quicker than anyone else."
Rockhoff, meanwhile, has not limited herself to the typical "Best Wishes," kind of scroll. In addition to inscribing messages for birthday's, anniversaries, and Valentine's Day, she has engraved messages and monograms on such items as doctor's stethoscopes and police officer handcuffs.
She's even sent out greetings from family pets.
"One customer told me he and his wife agreed not to get each other Christmas gifts this year but they didn't say the dogs couldn't," said Rockhoff. She took a bottle of Vera Wang perfume, engraved a paw print on its side, and inscribed: From Chloe and Sam.
"The possibilities are endless," said Rockhoff. At the Wedding Library on E Busch Boulevard, a bride recently commissioned her to engrave 150 wine glasses, as well as bridesmaid's gifts.
"She did a ton of Christmas ornaments for out-of-town family members," said Mindy Collins, who lives in Carrollwood and picked up Rockhoff's business card at a local wine store.
"They were beautiful. Now there are a zillion things I want her to do."
For more information, call (813) 960-0529.
- Jackie Ripley can be reached at 813 269-5308 or ripley@sptimes.com
What do you do when you're not working?
"I like to relax at the end of the day with a cup of tea and do lettering, making ornamental flourishes that take a long time.
What is the style of lettering used on your engraving?
Chancery Cursive, more commonly known as italics.
What do you hope the future holds?
I want to teach calligraphy. I want other people to experience the same joy.
What are some good things about being the boss?
I can make my own schedule. Even if I'm traveling out of town I can get home in time for church on Sunday. That's very important to me.
Are you surprised by your success?
I had a dream and set a goal. But never in my wildest dreams did I think it would take off so quickly.