Happy Happy!

Happy Valentines Day and Happy Chinese New Year!

I love: conversation hearts...

... such a sweet Valentine's Day tradition! It's hard to resist the charming messages on the little pastel hearts.

If you're more inclined to indulge in a heart shaped box filled with gooey chocolates or a pink m&m on Valentine's Day, you can still take part in the conversation heart tradition with a calorie-free version - create your own virtual candy hearts, perhaps to send to your special Valentine in a sweet email!

Inspired: Scherenschnitte (papercutting)

I am completely fascinated by beautiful, intricate scherenschnitte, and am so pleased that it's made a comeback in recent years, both in traditional patterns and more modern form. One amazing artist that I adore is Rob Ryan, who has completely captured the vintage charm of this art form, while giving it a bit of a current twist.

I tried my hand at papercutting several years ago - making some lovely framed pieces and sweet ornaments... I loved the process as well as the final outcome, but especially enjoy the design process - working with symmetry, silhouettes and the use positive and negative space, as I also do in so many of my prints.

The papercut above is from Rob Ryan's book, This Is for You (which would make a very sweet Valentine's day gift, by the way...).

xo

More new goodies!

For quite some time I've been considering offering initial note cards, but hadn't come up with a design that inspired me enough to carve 26 intital blocks... until recently. After getting such positive feedback on my new valentines, I decided to do something inspired by those designs. So I now introduce Twig, Blossoms and Vine Initials.

I'm still working on carving all the letters, but here are the first few that I started out with!

(Will be available in the coming week in my etsy shop.)

{SWAK}

seal with a kiss, that is.

This little guy is available in my etsy shop, for your Valentine sweetie, or just because.

New Goodies...

...for Valentine day, or any time you want to send a little love! These three lovelies coordinate with my tins, so you could put a little gift in the tin and add a matching card! These new designs are currently available in my etsy shop... and there are loads more sweet valentines on my site as well.

Sweet Valentine, will you be mine?

With Valentine's day just over a month away, it's the perfect time to start planning - of course starting with the perfect card and sentiment! Sweet or sassy? Cute and cuddly? What will you choose? When I think Valentines, I am inspired by the the whimsical little cards from my childhood....

How about our little bee card? Add a very simple message: Bee Mine! Delightful for the kiddos, or your sweet love.

One of my favorites is the heart breathing dragon, for the hottie in your life. Pen a little note inside like You Set My Heart Afire and send it on it's way.

Another cutie (and customer fav) is the little squirrel with heart card. And what better message to send your sweetie than I'm Nuts About You!

... and lastly, Hoo Loves You, Baby? says our wise owl, or you to your sweetheart.

But of course, for all of you traditionalists, there are always hearts and roses!