Quaker Marriage Certificate (deux)

Perhaps you remember a previous post about the quilled Quaker Marriage Certificate I created for a former student and her fiancé. Well, what a nice surprise... an engaged couple came across that entry this summer, liked what they saw, and emailed to ask if I would do a similar certificate for their September wedding. Of course!

Quilled Quaker marriage certificate

Elizabeth and Bill commissioned calligrapher Carole Foster of Running Dog Letters [site no longer available] to hand letter their document. Not only did Carole do an incredible job with the script, she also embellished the header with a graceful flourish of doves.

Quilled Quaker marriage certificate - top elements
Liz and Bill requested I quill a similar design to the one I'd created for the first certificate, but with black filigree. Ordinarily I prefer to quill a different motif for each project, so even though I went with a similar curved design, I altered some of the floral elements. I also suggested adding a bit of silver-gilded black paper to heighten the dramatic effect, showing them black and silver paper quilling examples.

Quilled Quaker marriage certificate - side view
When the certificate was shipped, I included a provenance paper... if you aren't familiar with this practice, it's an artist-signed document that can be kept with the art work or separately. It tells when and where the piece was made and by whom, and gives a brief description and materials used. I also like to include a short history of paper filigree. A provenance paper is a simple touch that makes what may someday be an heirloom piece that much more valuable.

Quilled Quaker marriage certificate - right side elementsQuilled floral Quaker marriage certificate
Recently Elizabeth forwarded pictures of the wedding to me. How nice it was to see photos of the guests adding their signatures to the lines Carole had penciled below the wording.

Best wishes, Elizabeth and Bill!


Ann Martin
Ann Martin

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Comments

  1. Ann, this is gorgeous! I love, love your design :) What a wonderful keepsake for E&B! Thanks for sharing. hugs ~ Molly

    (Had no idea there is a black guilded paper available. All mine is white.)

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  2. Thanks so much, ladies.

    Molly, the gilded black paper is from Jane Jenkins - it has such a nice shine. Not positive about this without checking her site, but I think she will gild any color you want as a special order. The black with silver or gold is one of their standard papers though.

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  3. Ohh! So elegant and the design is perfect for the script! I love the black gilded I will have to purchase some to play with! Thanks for sharing.

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  4. This is so beautiful Ann - truly a family heirloom to be treasured by the present and future generations.

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  5. Oh, my. So beautiful. I adore the look of the black filigree.

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  6. I LOVE how this turned out!!
    Is this the paper from your last order???

    Keep on Quillin',
    Denise ~ Custom Quilling Supplies
    http://www.customquillingbydenise.com/shop
    Largest Selection of Quilling & Punch Supplies
    http://customquilling.blogspot.com

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  7. Thanks, everyone! Yes Denise, the paper was from CQ.

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  8. Black, white and silver make for an elegant certificate! I love all those filigree shapes/flowers and I love how you have used symmetrical patterns at the top and asymmetrical designs at the sides...giving a great contrast. I am sure E & B will treasure this masterpiece!
    Licia

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  9. Ann!! It´s so gorgeous and elegant as every quilling work you do!!!
    Thanks a lot for sharing.
    Hugs
    Regina

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  10. Ann:

    Your work is stunning.

    Gail

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  11. Wow - very striking! You always do such lovely work, Ann.

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  12. Both the quilling and the lettering are beautiful!!

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  13. Ann - Love, love, love the black filigree! So stylish and so perfect with the calligraphy. Beautiful work.

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  14. Wow, this is so beautiful! You're very talented :D

    Thank you for sharing.

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  15. That's really lovely. Thanks for sharing.

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