inga clough falterman
Frequently Asked Questions
I just caught a swordfish. Where do I cut the head of the swordfish in order to preserve the bill?
Congratulations on your catch! Cut the head from the body of the fish, behind the eyes. The forked part of the swordfish bill, giving its arrow shaped end, are what attaches the bill to the skull. If you cut behind the eyes, you won't cut the bill.
How do I keep it so you can carve it?
Please keep the bill on ice or frozen, if possible. The bill gets difficult to clean if you allow it to dry out.
Do I have to clean my swordfish bill myself before I ship it to you?
You do not have to clean your bill. I can do that for you. You can freeze the bill and ship or deliver it to me frozen.
What if I want to clean my bill myself?
Have at it. Feel free to ask me for guidance. Do not use bleach, as this can destroy your bill. Do not heat your bill, as this will warp the bill. Do not use ammonia, as this will make your bill brittle. Do not heat up ammonia, as this is particularly dangerous.
If you do give me a cleaned bill, know that I will still soak it and wash it prior to carving, just to be thorough. Sending me a cleaned bill will not lower the price of a carved bill.
How do I contact you for process and prices?
You can email me and I will send you a price bracket and information on process.
How do I ship my swordfish bill to you?
Please let me know when you are shipping me a bill, so I can look out for it. Freeze your bill hard for a few days prior, tightly wrap in plastic bags, and duct tape thoroughly. Do not allow the plastic bags to leak. Box up your creation and send it to me.
Do I pay for shipping or do you?
You cover shipping.
How do I pay?
Venmo, check, or cash. I do not ask for payment until I begin carving your bill.
How do you decide what goes on the bill?
You decide what goes on your bill! If you want me to surprise you, I'm good with that too! I draw out your bill and send a picture for your approval before I start carving. Often I engrave name, date, weight on the front or back of the bill.
Does AI help?
It does not. Please do not send AI generated ideas. The results are often subpar and set a poor precedent for expectations. I much prefer you communicate with me directly with your ideas through words. I do not carve on your bill until we are both satisfied with the plan.
Where can I see examples of bills?
You can see most bills I have carved on my instagram page, and you can find some on Facebook.
When can I expect to get my swordfish back from you?
If you have a deadline, please let me know. Turnaround depends on how many bills are in front of yours. Generally, expect a year for a finished bill. I start cleaning bills as soon as I receive them.
Can I send you a bill to just clean, not carve?
Yes, of course. I will clean bills for a nominal fee.