My obsession with paper
(and a love of stationery)
It probably won’t come as a surprise that my love affair with paper started young – and it came hand-in-hand with a full-blown obsession with stationery. Paper, pens, notebooks, folders, sticky notes – I adored it all. One of my favourite times of year as a child was the end-of-summer stationery shop before the new school term began. I still remember the excitement of choosing fresh pencils and new notebooks, and I can’t wait for the day I get to take my daughter to pick out her own supplies.
Just a small selection of my ever growing collection of pens and pencils … and books.
That sense of excitement never really went away. Paper has always held a kind of magic for me – the texture, the colours, the possibilities. It wasn’t just a material; it was a spark.
The college years: creativity takes root
Fast forward to college, where I studied Graphic Design, and it became clear to everyone around me that paper was more than just a passing phase. My tutor once described me as "the girl sitting on the floor surrounded by paper" – and she wasn’t wrong! I loved filling sketchbooks, collecting scraps, building up layers of ideas by hand.
I still have all of my favourite sketchbooks – the ones I created out of envelopes are particularly special and still give me inspiration.
While most of my classmates dove straight into creating digitally (on the computer), I preferred to stay tactile – sketching, cutting, glueing, and photographing my work to bring it into the digital world later. In fairness, it was partly out of fear that I stayed with what I knew – most of them had already done courses in the digital software but I had no experience at all. However, what I thought was a weakness, turned out to be one of my biggest strengths and shaped my creative style in ways I didn’t fully realise until much later.
From hobby to more
At first, paper was just a hobby. I made things for friends, played with ideas, and explored purely for the joy of it. But somewhere along the line, it began to shift. People started asking me to design things – cards, invites, little handmade pieces – and I realised this love for paper could become more than a personal passion.
I didn’t really know what I wanted to be creating or selling at the start. I just knew it had to be paper based and fun!
Friends, family and people I met at Craft Fairs, were asking me to create wedding stationery for them … and I found a deep love for it.
Those little projects planted the first seeds. I began to wonder: what if I could build something from this? What if this could actually be my job?
A Digital Drawer Full of Paper
When I’m looking for inspiration now, you’ll still find me rummaging through my boxes of paper treasures – searching for textures, colours, or tiny details that spark an idea. But I also have a digital ‘box of paper’ – my carefully curated Pinterest boards and digital files, filled with everything from vintage book covers to colour palettes and folds I want to try.
Pinterest can be such a valuable tool for seeing the patterns, inspiration and direction for designs.
Fun fact: I was actually one of the very first people to use Pinterest during its Beta phase – by invitation only! One of my amazing friends got me in early, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. It’s like a visual playground where ideas take shape.
Whether physical or digital, surrounding myself with things I love is how I stay inspired – and it’s something I encourage my couples to do too. Even if it feels like a mishmash, I can usually spot the thread that ties it all together.
Origami Fox: Turning Passion Into a Business
Origami Fox was born from that blend of handmade love and thoughtful design. The name reflects both the playful, folded-paper side of my work and the storytelling behind each piece. When I started out, I had no grand plan – just a deep love for paper and a desire to create meaningful, personal designs for people who care about the little details.
Now, every design begins with a couple’s story. I work closely with them to translate their personalities, ideas, and inspirations into something beautiful they can share with their guests. Whether it’s a folded origami piece or a postcard-style save the date, each one starts with the same spark: joy.
Every design tells a story and is tailored to each couple – their story, their wedding, their loves.
Credit: Holly Hock Photography
Designing for Love Stories
There’s something incredibly special about being trusted with someone’s wedding stationery. It’s often one of the first glimpses guests get into the couple’s day – a little preview of what’s to come. I love helping couples find their voice through design, and it’s always a privilege when someone chooses me to be a part of their story.
Each design is a chance to blend meaning with beauty, personality with practicality. From the tiniest detail to the overall feel, I want it to reflect who they are.
My years as a graphic designer helped me see the possibility for wedding stationery to do more – it can add a whole other layer to your wedding.
Credit: Shona Nolan Photography
It is an absolute privilege when someone chooses me to design their wedding stationery and tell part of their story.
Looking Back (and Forward)
Looking back, I feel so lucky that my childhood obsession turned into something I now get to do every single day. What started as sketchbooks and stationery shopping trips has grown into a business I’m deeply proud of.
And as for what’s next? This autumn marks 10 years of Origami Fox and I have so many ideas – more paper adventures, more stories to tell, and hopefully, many more couples to create for. Thank you for being here and letting me share a little bit of my journey with you.
Want to see where your love story could begin? Explore my full range of wedding stationery designs.