Créé à la main

Created by hand.

Créé à la main is built on the belief that details matter and quality is paramount. 

To create by hand is not just about how something is made, but how it is approached. It means working with intention, staying close to the process, and choosing quality over shortcuts. It means building something steadily, thoughtfully, and with pride in the outcome.

That philosophy guides everything we do, from how we design and engrave our work to how we run our studio, serve our clients, and build our business.

Thoughtful Engraving, Designed to Be Presented

We are a Redding Connecticut based engraving studio specializing in bespoke, ready to present gifting for events, brands, and relationship-driven businesses. We work with event planners, marketing teams, and real estate professionals who value quality, intention, and consistency and who understand that the right gift strengthens relationships long after the moment it is given.

Founded by Michele and Ryan Offenhartz, Créé à la main was created to fill a void left by mass-produced, overseas goods. When details are handled with care, they create lasting impressions.

Today, Créé à la main operates as a full-scale studio, producing both small-batch and larger engraved projects for partners shaping events, brands, and lasting client relationships. Every piece is designed, engraved, and assembled in-house, allowing us to maintain consistency at scale while remaining grounded in uncompromising quality.

Our Studio & Approach

Every piece we create is designed, engraved, and assembled in our Connecticut studio. We do not outsource our work, and we do not treat engraving as an afterthought. From initial concept through final presentation, our process is intentionally managed so our clients receive gifts that arrive ready to present, without the need to manage details or logistics.

Ryan brings a Bachelor’s degree in Studio Art and more than twenty years of creative and technical experience, blending traditional design sensibilities with modern engraving technology. Michele brings a business and finance background, along with a refined eye for style and a natural ability to translate stories into objects that feel personal, elevated, and appropriate for the moment.

Together, we bring the perspective of both makers and business owners, which allows us to serve clients who need reliability, consistency, and thoughtful execution at scale.

Designed for Relationships, Not Transactions

As parents of three young children, we understand the importance of milestones, trust, and long term relationships. Those values shape how we run our studio and how we work with our clients.

We believe gifting should feel intentional, not transactional. Whether a project involves dozens of pieces or several hundred, our goal is the same, to create work that feels considered, appropriate, and lasting without adding complexity to your day.

Every business under the Créé name is proudly closed on weekends. We believe honoring family time, for ourselves, our team, and our partners, leads to better work and businesses built to last.

“Experience is simply the name we give our mistakes.”  Oscar Wilde

What Sets Créé à la main Apart

Studio Led, Intentionally Managed

All work is handled in house, allowing us to maintain consistency, quality, and control from design through presentation.

North American Sourced

All of our boards are sourced from North America, and we source from North America whenever possible.  Some materials selected thoughtfully based on availability, quality, and longevity.

Designed to Be Presented

Our pieces are thoughtfully designed and curated so they arrive ready to present, allowing our clients to focus on the relationship, not the logistics.

Giving Back Through Engraved 4 Good

Through our Engraved 4 Good initiative, we donate ten percent of revenue from select projects to local charities and food banks, supporting real families in our community. Giving back is built into our work, not added on later.

Part of the Créé Brands Family

Créé à la main is part of Créé Brands, our family office dedicated to building thoughtful, long lasting businesses. Operating with a centralized team allows us to treat our people well, operate ethically, and create opportunities for growth from within.

We are fully family owned, with no outside investors. That independence allows us to prioritize people over volume, quality over shortcuts, and relationships over transactions.

Family Owned. Studio Led. Relationship Focused.

Every piece that leaves our studio represents more than a finished product. It reflects a story, a relationship, and a shared commitment to doing things the right way.

If you are looking for an engraving partner who understands presentation, consistency, and the role gifting plays in long term relationships, we would love to work together.