Hello again Mary,
When you first send in your application you send it to the Lyon Clerk, All preliminary business of your matriculation is done through her. It is the Lyon Clerk who will check you application and scrutinize the documents that you send.
You have to send a covering letter with your application stating if you have any particular suggestions, especially in regard to crest and motto, as these are regarded as very personal to your arms. I was told that The Lord Lyon is happy to listen to any ideas you have, and that he will advise you on the best course to take.
Only after the Lyon Clerk is satisfied that all is in order with your documentation and application will your petition be placed before Lyon.
The Lord Lyon will write to you noting any suggestions you had and will describe to you what he has come up with as a design for your arms for your consideration.
Please note at no point in this process is there any drawings of arms shown to you, as it is the Blazon of arms that is considered important, not the actual drawing, so it helps if you have a little understanding of the language used, although Lyon does try to describe it in plain English too.
At this point if you are unhappy with the design or unsure of anything Lyon will advise you and amend the the design as appropriate. Lyon of course has final say.
Once you are happy with the design as described, the Lord Lyon will sign off on your petition and have the Lyon Clerk send you out a copy of the text of your Letters Patent for you to agree to.
Once agreed your letters patent will be sent to the Court painter for your Grant of Arms to be painted up on vellum, with a painting of your Coat of Arms also included.
Personally I only made a suggestion on what I wanted for crest and motto, I decided to leave the actual design and colours of the shield up to the Lord Lyon to give him as much scope as possible in their design, I knew if didn't like them Lyon would consider any further suggestions I had. I didn't need to have any amendments to Lyon's original design as what he came up with was absolutely perfect for me.
Lyon suggested the Stag as the main element as "most appropriate to Thomson", and it was also Lyon who suggested the use of the O'Brien Lion and the millrind.
I couldn't have been happier with the service of everybody at Lyon Court.
Hope this helps.
Feel free to ask any more questions, I'm happy to answer
Scott.