[Alyson Kuhn] Bev and Phil Dittberner are celebrating their 25th wedding anniversary today. Well, actually, they celebrated yesterday, at their home in Grass Valley. Every year, Bev comes up with an anniversary party invitation so rich in personality and letterpress finesse, that it renders me mute with delight. This recurrent muteness is my pathetic excuse for never, until now, properly xoxpressing my admiration.
This year’s invitation {swell on Strathmore Pastelle} is highly illustrated, typographically multi-faceted, humorous, harmonious – and just sweet enough. I love it. Its companion A-8 envelope features a suitable silver lining {by Bev, natch}. The envelope front bears what, at first blush, seems to be two stamps. But, no, the 44¢ lighthouse provides all the necessary postage…and the adjacent “stamp” has in fact been created by Bev, complete with undulating edges and a silver border motif that just might represent a pair of wedding rings. Yes, it is a photo of the Bride and Groom, 25 years ago. Bravo!
Bev works with Judith Berliner at Full Circle Press. As I am fond of paraphrasing {though I can’t remember from whom}, the power of the press belongs to those who have one. Letterpress printers in particular tend to send beautifully-printed things at the slightest provocation. Bev’s anniversary invitations always include a Bev-and-Phil story, of which my favorite is the one about how she and Phil first met. Bev, thanks for wearing your heart on your sleeve and putting your love on paper!
Alyson Kuhn hopes to make it to the Dittberners’ punch-and-pie party next year.
