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  <title><![CDATA[Engrave Refuge]]></title>
  <link>https://engraverefuge.com/</link>
  <description><![CDATA[Engrave Refuge is a small engraving studio in Porto, Portugal. Brass, slate, hardwood, and glass commissions for gifts, signage, and commemorative pieces.]]></description>
  <language>en</language>
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    <title><![CDATA[Summer garden markers: a short note on slate in outdoor conditions]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/</link>
    <description><![CDATA[With the summer season bringing a wave of garden party and outdoor event commissions, we have been thinking about how Valongo slate performs in direct sun and coastal air. A few observations from the past three seasons of outdoor pieces.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-06-30</pubDate>
  </item>
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    <title><![CDATA[A commission for the Douro: engraved slate tasting boards for Quinta da Veiga]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/</link>
    <description><![CDATA[In April we completed a run of forty-eight slate tasting boards for Quinta da Veiga, a wine estate in the Douro Superior. The boards are now in use in their new tasting room. A few notes on the project.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-05-14</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[New material in the studio: cork oak veneer from the Alentejo]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/</link>
    <description><![CDATA[We have been testing cork oak veneer as an engraving surface for the past four months. It is now available for commissions. Here is what we found during the testing period and what it is suited for.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-03-22</pubDate>
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    <title><![CDATA[What we learned from 2025: a short year-end note]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/</link>
    <description><![CDATA[2025 was the busiest year the studio has had. We took on more architectural signage than in any previous year, added cork veneer to our materials range, and made one significant mistake that we want to be transparent about.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-01-09</pubDate>
  </item>
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    <title><![CDATA[How to choose the right material for an engraved gift]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/choosing-material-for-engraved-gift.html</link>
    <guid>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/choosing-material-for-engraved-gift.html</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[The most common question we receive from new clients is not about fonts or layouts. It is about material. Brass or slate? Wood or glass? The answer depends on three things: where the piece will live, how often it will be handled, and how long it needs to last without maintenance. This guide works through each material honestly.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-04-10</pubDate>
  </item>
  <item>
    <title><![CDATA[Caring for an engraved brass piece over time]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/caring-for-engraved-brass.html</link>
    <guid>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/caring-for-engraved-brass.html</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Brass changes. That is one of the reasons people choose it. A brass door plate or a pocket watch back that has been handled for ten years looks different from the day it was engraved, and in most cases it looks better. Understanding what is happening to the surface helps you decide when to clean it and when to leave it alone.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-02-18</pubDate>
  </item>
  <item>
    <title><![CDATA[Architectural signage in brass and slate: what to specify]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/architectural-signage-brass-slate-portugal.html</link>
    <guid>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/architectural-signage-brass-slate-portugal.html</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Architects and interior designers who contact us for the first time often have a clear visual idea of what they want but are uncertain about what to specify in a brief. This guide covers the decisions that matter most: material, fixing method, letter style, and lead time. It is written for professionals but is equally useful for anyone commissioning signage for a renovation or new build.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-05-05</pubDate>
  </item>
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    <title><![CDATA[Engraving for wine estates and hospitality venues in Portugal]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/engraving-wine-estate-hospitality-portugal.html</link>
    <guid>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/engraving-wine-estate-hospitality-portugal.html</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Wine estates and hospitality venues have specific requirements that differ from personal gift commissions. The pieces need to be consistent across a run of dozens or hundreds of units, they need to withstand regular use in a commercial setting, and they often need to be ready before a specific opening date or harvest event. This article covers what we offer for this sector and what to plan for.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2026-03-01</pubDate>
  </item>
  <item>
    <title><![CDATA[Commissioning a memorial or commemorative engraving]]></title>
    <link>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/commissioning-memorial-engraving-portugal.html</link>
    <guid>https://engraverefuge.com/notes/commissioning-memorial-engraving-portugal.html</guid>
    <description><![CDATA[Memorial commissions are a significant part of the work at Engrave Refuge, and they are the commissions that require the most care. The brief-taking process is slower, the revision rounds are open-ended, and the finished piece needs to be right in a way that other pieces do not. This article describes how we approach this work and what clients can expect.]]></description>
    <pubDate>2025-10-20</pubDate>
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