Sunday, February 14, 2010

St.Valentine's Day Surprises!
The Pink Sweet Shoppe!
Today I would like to wish everyone a Happy Valentine's Day! As tribute I will touch on the brief history of the day, followed by the earliest Valentines, Valentine Dollies, Sailor's seashell valentines: examples and free Valentine images!
The Pink Sweet Shoppe! 3
The Pink Sweet Shoppe! 9 These dolls are now available!

History:
Saint Valentine's Day aka Valentine's Day is an annual holiday held on February 14 celebrating love and affection between intimate companions. The holiday is named after one or more early Christian martyrs named Valentine and was established by Pope Gelasius I in 496 AD. It is traditionally a day on which lovers express their love for each other by presenting flowers, offering confectionery, and sending greeting cards known as "valentines". The holiday first became associated with romantic love in the circle of Geoffrey Chaucer in the High Middle Ages, when the tradition of courtly love flourished.

Modern Valentine's Day symbols include the heart-shaped outline, doves, and the figure of the winged Cupid. Since the 19th century, handwritten valentines have largely given way to mass-produced greeting cards.
Little Obelia ValentineLittle Obelia Valentine 2
Vintage Valentine: Carnival Love!
Visit the Craft-Critique Blog for the Valentine Blog Carnival:
http://www.craftcritique.com/2010/02/valentine-blog-carnival-call.html

Note: Many of my paper valentines that you see here are made from my recycled papers, newspapers and trims, somewhat of scrapwork valentines. This is a great recycle project for left over papers from a scrapbooking or assemblage project, its a great way to use newspaper and left over holiday trims.

Earliest Valentine Cards/Giving Tradition:
The sending of Valentines was a fashion in nineteenth-century Great Britain, and, in 1847, Esther Howland developed a successful business in her Worcester, Massachusetts home with hand-made Valentine cards based on British models. The popularity of Valentine cards in 19th century America, where many Valentine cards are now general greeting cards rather than declarations of love, was a harbinger of the future commercialization of holidays in the United
States. It's considered one of the Hallmark holidays.
Vintage Valentine: Ozma of Oz!
Marie Antoinette Valentine
The U.S. Greeting Card Association estimates that approximately one billion valentines are sent each year worldwide, making the day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year, behind Christmas. The association estimates that, in the US, men spend on average twice as much money as women.The Queens Seashell!
The Butterfly Seashell!
Sailor's Valentines:
A sailors' valentine is a type of antique souvenir, or sentimental gift, originally brought home from a sailor's voyage at sea for his loved one between 1830 and 1890. Sailor valentines are typically octagonal, glass fronted, hinged wooden boxes ranging from 8" to 15" in width, displaying intricate symmetrical designs composed entirely of small sea shells of various colors glued onto a backing. Patterns often feature a centerpiece such as a compass rose or a heart design, hence the name, and in some cases the small shells are used to spell out a sentimental message.

Although the name seems to suggest that the sailors themselves made these objects, a large number of them originated in the island of Barbados, which was an important seaport during this period. Historians believe that the women there made the valentines using local shells, or in some cases with shells imported from Indonesia, and then the finished products were sold to
the sailors.
Sea Pageant Seashell! 2Sea Pageant Seashell!

In his book Sailors' Valentines, John Fondas concludes that the primary source for sailors' valentines was the New Curiosity Shop, located in McGregor Street, Bridgetown, Barbados, and a popular shop where sailors would purchase souvenirs. The shop was owned by the English brothers B.H. and George Belgrave. Fondas' research tells of a sailors' valentine reconstruction, during which the reconstructing artist found pieces of a Barbados newspaper inside the backing.

Today, antique sailors' valentines are collectables, valued for their beauty and unusual qualities. Collector interest has sparked a resurgence in sailors' valentines as an art form, and shell kits and patterns are now sold at craft shops. Many sailors' valentines, both new and old, can be found on Nantucket, Massachusetts.

For more info on seashells and history visit:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seashell

My Sailor's Valentine in Cloth Paper Scissors January/February 2010:
Cloth Paper Scissors! Published In!Cloth Paper Scissors: My Valentine!Cloth Paper Scissors: My Valentine! 3Cloth Paper Scissors: My Valentine! 2This valentine was made from an old pie pan, vintage image from my collection which I digitally altered, my clay doll parts (which can be found in my etsy store and website), various shells, found objects, Prima felt borders, vintage piano paper and more!
Here are my original photos:
Sea Shell Pageant Greetings4
Sea Shell Pageant Greetings
Enjoy these 2 free images, many more can be found on my flickr site:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/moonfaires16/sets/72157603511546861/

Butterfly Catcher
Valentine Follies

Happy Valentine's Day,
Magic and Joy,
Lisa!

6 comments:

Vintage Blue Studio said...

Happy Valentines Day!

Unknown said...

Happy Valentines Day to you dear. ope your day is filled with lot's of LOVE!Hello to your Mama too!! Hugs, Mica

deb famularo said...

All of your work is gorgeous Lisa! And you always inspire me!

You ToTaLlY made my day with your sweet comments!!!!!! Thank YOU for that! xOxO deb

chinamommy said...

always ❤ your blog sweetie-girl! Hope your Valentines Day was full of love!
~cm

Lisa Kettell said...

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you! Each of you are a true inspiration!
xoxo
Lisa!

Catherine said...

I didn't know any history of Valenine's Day! Thank you!

I love all your Valentine's cards and gifts! Really delightful and beautiful!!