Greetings world joins in jubilee celebrations to mark Queen’s 70th anniversary
There’s plenty of pop and circumstance going on as the greeting card community starts celebrating Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
At Cardies in Stevenage, they’ve been busy recycling plastic pop bottles into glorious crowns which bring a flavour of the royals’ traditional pomp to the High Street.
And shop owner Jo Sorrell has even got her family in to help with her clever auntie Pamela and her friends busily knitting and crocheting fabulous post box toppers.
Jo told PG Buzz: “We’ve been busy upcycling old pop bottles into glorious crowns to decorate our railings and High Street in partnership with Caroline Moody, the amazing landlady of Old Town Bar, the pub directly opposite the shop.
“We have a town-wide jubilee postbox toppers event which will help to fundraise for a local charity which specialises in helping those dealing with cancer hair loss – crowns being significant to them for obvious reasons. There’s a team of incredibly talented knitters/crocheters creating woolly wonders across Stevenage for various occasions and charities.”
Jo is also involved in the plans for a community Platinum Picnic Party on the High Street Bowling Green on Sunday, June 5, with many small businesses supplying food, cakes, drink, entertainment and decorations free for locals to enjoy.
“We bought our crowns and flags from GO International which is our local balloon and party wholesaler who has supplied us for over 30 years,” said Jo.
As one of the lucky publishers whose cards made up a Diamond Jubilee display at Sandringham 10 years ago, Wendy Jones-Blackett was determined to get in on the action for the Platinum party.
“PG’s Jakki Brown reminded me,” Wendy said, “and that inspired this celebratory re-design – 70 years as Queen, that’s quite an accolade. Let’s hope for good weather and party celebrations!”
Jessica Hogarth is also in jubilee mood, and has gone all out with a full range of tea towel, bone china mug, ceramic coaster, magnet and keyring in her distinctive illustrative style, which complements the London scenes cards she already publishes.
Having worked with Temple Island Collection previously, Jessica knew it would be a good fit when the company approached her to licence some Jubilee designs back in February 2020: “Cue Covid and lockdowns which inevitably meant that things didn’t get going as quickly as planned. I’m delighted to now be developing work with them for multiple projects and the Jubilee collection is the second one to launch.
“I’m absolutely thrilled to be working with Justin and the team at Temple Island who really do produce some fantastic giftware collections. I’m passionate about creating location-based illustrations and our relationship will allow me to develop more work of this nature and see my designs go on to products and into locations I wouldn’t necessarily have been able to achieve myself. “
As well as stocking the full range in her own Robin Hood’s Bay shop Jessica is supporting The Queen’s Green Canopy Plant A Tree For The Jubilee initiative by donating £1 from her sales of each tea towel and mug.
At Red Card in Petworth, owner Sally Matson is all set to embrace the four-day village celebrations – including beacon lighting, church service, big screen showing of the Buckingham Palace concert, and a big lunch – with gusto, her shop’s jubilee window display is already in situ along with a celebrations and souvenirs wall.
“We’ve found some fabulous products from all different companies,” Sally told PG Buzz. “The most popular thing so far has been the gorgeous fabric crown and Union Jack bunting from Powell Craft. Made in India, it’s really beautiful and can be used for all royal celebrations in years to come. Talking Tables has done a good range of tableware and decorations and we have also bought lovely souvenirs from various other companies.
“It’s really exciting to have such a special occasion to celebrate after a really challenging couple of years.”
Sally is also offering her bespoke local souvenirs including I Drew This’ Landmarks cards and gifts, and items from Louise Mulgrew, Chichester Graphics, Bluebell 33, Julia Gash, and Weekend 365.
What are you doing for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee? PG Buzz would love to hear from everyone about their jubilee plans and celebrations, please send in pictures of your window display and details of what you’re planning to traceyb@max-publishing.co.uk.
