What kind of questions do you ask yourself when brainstorming ideas to make a coat of arms for you, your family or for someone else?

Anything helps.:D;)

I ask those I am helping questions similar to the following:

1 ) Would you like to attempt to cant on your surname?

2 ) What is your favorite color (among the available tinctures)?

3 ) What is your favorite metal (among the available tinctures)?

4 ) Would you like to include other colors/metals or are two tinctures enough?

5 ) Is there a symbol or animal which alludes to your profession, ideals, religion, philosophy, identity, etc., which you would like to impress upon your descendants?

6 ) Is there an event which you feel marked your life which you would like to symbolize.

7 ) Do you want to incorporate a nod to ancestors or relatives in your arms?

8 ) Have you seen existing arms which you would like yours to be vaguely similar to?

Thanks! This will help out greatly.

Anything for a fellow Washingtonian! :yarr:

RE: #7 above—I’d make that 7.a and add 7.b "how wide a destination would you want to allow?"—i.e. just you?  you & immediate family (parents/siblings/offspring)? cousins? all descended from (& bearing surname of) immigrant ancestor? or whatever…