Wedding Anniversary Tradition - Year 1 - Paper

Have you ever wondered why certain wedding anniversaries are celebrated with particular gifts? There are many suggestions for the origins of these customs in the UK, but most seem to agree that the earliest known examples date back to the Germanic region of medieval Europe, when a wife was given a silver wreath on reaching her 25th year of marriage and a gold one on her 50th. Over time a number of other yearly traditions were added, especially by the Victorians, inspired perhaps by the Queen's Golden and Diamond Jubilee celebrations. But it was in 1937, that the American National Retail Jeweler Association issued a more complete list, no doubt spotting the commercial possibilities. 

Debrett's lists the UK choices as follows:
1 paper                  
2 cotton   
3 leather   
4 flowers, fruit   
5 wood   
6 sugar   
7 wool, copper
8 bronze, pottery      
9 willow, pottery                 
10 tin      
11 steel   
12 silk, linen
13 lace                     
14 ivory    
15 crystal 
20 china
25 silver
30 pearl
35 coral
40 ruby
45 sapphire
50 gold
55 emerald
60 diamond
70 platinum

 It probably seemed natural that the longer the marriage, the more valuable and durable the gifts should be, hence the choice of paper for the first year. It has also been suggested that paper is symbolic of the marriage being still fragile and easily torn, but also that it is an affordable option for struggling newlyweds. 

In the first of our series, we look at some ideas for gifts for the Paper Anniversary.

The first thought that springs to mind is of course just to send a lovely romantic card. We can do funny...

1st Anniversary Card

classic...

With Love Anniversary Card

romantic...

Red Rose Anniversary Card

or cheeky!

'Sweet Cheeks' Card

'You Make My Heart Go Boom' is a paper gift with a message; a neat little volume full of quotes, messages and musings to tell your other half that they rock your world.

You Make My Heart Go Boom Book

Here is a little novelty paper anniversary gift just for saying 'I love you'. Sitting in a red foiled heart box, it opens out like a concertina, each page with a message, beginning 'There's been something on my mind' and ending with 'I love you'.

Another popular choice is an original newspaper from the day you were married. See what other momentous events took place alongside your wedding!

Original Newspaper - Any Date

Some think that one of the reasons for choosing paper for the first wedding anniversary is the idea of documenting the marriage. So why not keep a diary especially for recording special moments, words and events of your early married life? Choose from a traditional leather five year One Line A Day diary...

One Line A Day A Five Year Memory Book

or this quirky One Tweet A Day version.

One Tweet A Day: A Five Year Memory Book

 Here is another sweet token for a paper wedding anniversary. Inside the pretty red heart foiled box is a little message that opens like a concertina, each page with a message, beginning with 
'There's been something on my mind' and ending with 'I Love You'.
 

Mini 'Three Little Words' Boxed Paper Book

A piece of Word Art could be a really appropriate choice as a paper anniversary gift. This A3 size print has a sweet message and can hang as it is or you can frame it to suit your home.

'I Love You Simply' Word Art A3 Print

These framed Word Art blocks make real statement! They are framed in the recycled antique timbers from Victorian roofs for a rustic, distressed effect. These two messages are particularly suitable to celebrate your first year.

'You Had Me At Hello' Framed Word Art

'Love Makes The Ride Worthwhile' Framed Word Art

No-one but you knows just why you chose the one you did, so why not write your own book? Inside this one are 50 prompts for you to fill in, such as 'I never get tired of your...'You have the greatest taste in...' and 'I love now you believe in...'. You can make it cheeky, romantic or a bit of both but you'll end up with a really personal, unique paper anniversary gift.

What I Love About You

Take a look here at all our gorgeous ideas for your 1st Wedding Anniversary; there is sure to be something that is just right for your new life partner.
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Introducing...Shine Greetings Cards

Our regular customers will know that our founder Sarah has graphic design as her background and when sourcing new greetings cards is always on the look out for quirky and original styles that reflect her love of design and quality printing.

New to our pages this spring is a collection of cards from an exciting company called 'Shine Publishing', which was launched by artist and designer Jane Tonkin, a textile designer by training. She decided to specialise in traditional printmaking techniques, using the greetings card as a medium for small works of graphic art.

Although Shine now has nearly 150 different designs, we decided to start with a selection of beautifully printed cards with messges of romance and friendship.

On Jane's website she explains: "The designs are developed through a variety of printmaking techniques, including etching, monoprint, collograph, linocut and screenprint. The fact that each card has these elements in them, where you can see the hand of the artist, gives people a truly individual product."

We always like cards with meaningful messages, so we were particularly taken by Shine's signature 'Words are all I have' collection, featuring stylish monoprinted backgrounds with vintage, handprinted letterpress blocks; see if you can play "Name that tune!" with some of these!

Something else we had in common with Shine is our preference for working with UK based design companies. These cards are, like our own branded cards, designed, printed, hand finished and packed in the UK. The card itself is made from eco-friendly pulp and comes from a paper mill based in the Lake District.

We are sure our discerning customers will appreciate the care and inspiration that goes into making each of these unique cards, with their messages of love and friendship.

We like.....Su Blackwell

"A passion for paper" is our strapline, so we are always on the look out for artists and designers who share our enthusiasm for book-art of all kinds. We just love beautiful books and journals, fine quality paper and stunning graphic designs. 

Alice, A Mad Tea Party

When we came across the work of English artist Su Blackwell we were overwhelmed by what she could create just using paper as a medium for sculpted book-art. Woodland scenes, children, birds and castles all take shape and spring lifelike from the pages of her book sculptures.

Birds, Beasts and Fishes

Her work is inspired by her childhood, much of which was spent playing in the woodland around her Sheffield home, surrounded by trees that she named for protection. It was not until she happened on a Textiles course that she found her inspiration, going on to study for an MA in Textiles at London's Royal College of Art.

The Secret Garden

Her paper sculptures began after a visit to Thailand, where she bought a second-hand book aand, using a craft knife cut from it the moths, representing lovers' souls, that formed her first paper sculpture, The Quiet American.

The Quiet American

Much of her work is derived from the world of fairy tales and folklore. She begins by reading the book until an idea takes shape which she cuts and glues into a paper sculpted reality, a process she describes as "tediously slow". Here, in her blog, Su describes the process.

”I often work within the realm of fairy-tales and folk-lore. I began making a series of book-sculpture, cutting-out images from old books to create three-dimensional diorama’s, and displaying them inside wooden boxes”.
”For the cut-out illustrations, I tend to lean towards young-girl characters, placing them in haunting, fragile settings, expressing the vulnerability of childhood, while also conveying a sense of childhood anxiety and wonder. There is a quiet melancholy in the work, depicted in the material used, and choice of subtle colour.”

Now based in London, Su published an illustrated book of fairy tales ‘The Fairytale Princess’, written by Wendy Jones, and published by Thames & Hudson in October of 2012.                                                                                                     

Su has also turned her hand to larger scale works, using similar techniques and inspiration to create a series of theatrical sets.

Set-design for 'The Snow Queen' , Rose Theatre, Kingston, 2011

 Another stunning series of works was installed in 2010 at the Bronte's Haworth Parsonage.

The Children's Study (details). Installation at the Bronte Parsonage Museum, Haworth, 2010

We  are keen to see what else is on the horizon from Su, and hope we can get the chance to see her work in person at some time. In the meantime I'll sign off with a few of my personal favourites. I love the fairytale feel of this piece.

2008, The Castle

The Little Prince, 2012

2009, Edensor, Derbyshire, A Guide to

But this is the piece I keep coming back to, a beautifully detailed explosion of wild flowers that just erupt from the page in a blaze of colour and form.

Nature in Britain, 2012

You can see more of Su Blackwell's work on her blog and  here at her website