The long-standing tradition of a gift made of a certain material to mark the number of years a couple has been married dates back to the Victorian era. However, in 1937 the American National Retail Jewelers Association modernized the list and named clock as the first anniversary gift. That might be so, but I still see many more references to the traditional present which warms my paper-loving heart.   Perhaps you'll be attending a wedding soon and would like to bring a unique gift or maybe you're planning to present a first anniversary gift to your partner or to a special couple. Have a look at these examples that I found on Etsy, the platform where there is no shortage of creative artisans!     

It's back-to-school time and that means new books! I've rounded up a half dozen enticing titles... some are available now and others are well worth looking forward to this autumn.    

I love coming across a paper quiller who has found her own niche... such is the case with Dr. Ritulika Patidar of Sandali by Ritulika who lives in Thane, India. How I'd missed her work until now is a mystery as she has no less than 122,000 Instagram followers! But IG worked its magic eventually and led me to her colorful feed. It's filled with perfectly executed quilling and paper sculpture.  

It's high time we look at another round up of pretty paper jewelry... my favorite type of post and judging by page views, many of you enjoy them too. As always, there's a high percentage of paper earrings - understandable, as earrings generally stay out of harm's way. That said, I wear all kinds of paper jewelry... necklaces, brooches, and bracelets as they always seem to draw nice attention.  

Today's Artist Spotlight features the cardboard sculpture and paper cuttings of Joanathan Bessaci , a French artist based in Washington, D.C. His work is on display at the revered Lucca Biennale Cartasia , underway in Tuscany, Italy through September 29, 2024. I asked Joanathan to tell us about the remarkable experience of being a chosen participant.

JR CHUO is a prolific paper cut and spray paint artist who is making a name for himself in the art world due to talent that is coupled with a strong work ethic and exceptional diligence. Paper cutting captured his attention nine years ago during a visit to Japan when he was just twelve years old. There he was introduced to ise katagami, the Japanese craft of making stencils that are used to dye cloth... for example, to print intricate designs on kimonos.