Monday 14 February 2011

Valentine's

I'm not a big fan of Valentine's Day.  It doesn't really have much of an impact on my life.  I have seen a lot of Valentine's projects blogland over the last two months, and I have to say, I'm sick to death of it!  Judging by the posts I've seen, Valentine's is BIG in the US, with people giving Valentine's to everyone they know and decorating their houses.  I'm pretty certain this doesn't happen over here.  When I first met my husband, we probably went out for Valentine's and there would have been a card, but now we're not really bothered.  Restaurants sport overpriced, fixed menus and shoehorn couples in so it's not in the least romantic.  This year we decided to just exchange a card, then forget about it!!  I only really wanted to exchange cards so I could have a go at a design I had in my head for a heart card using free motion embroidery and applique.


It looks pink in the picture, but the linen is actually natural.

I cut the hearts freehand and attached them to the linen with Bondaweb.  I then machine embroidered over them.  I wrote "love you" free hand in the corner.  I then zig-zagged the panel onto a card blank and frayed the edges before adding a simple heart brad.

I think it turned out pretty well.  The first version didn't work as I'd backed the hearts onto a blue fabric, and when I sewed the "love you" in the variegated thread, it didn't show up. 

I also made some of the little heart pouches I've seen on blogland, filling them with his favourite sweets - Midget Gems.  These are just made from two hearts cut freehand from vellum and sewn together a little haphazardly!


6 comments:

Sandra :) said...

Valentines Schmalentines - here in my house we don't celebrate it at all :D I used to buy the kids chocolates when they were little - now we don't even acknowledge it! I can't believe all the V-Day crafts and hoopla I see in blogland tho - some of the crafts people are posting should be buried and exorcised! ;)

Joysze said...

LOL, you sound like me. We've never celebrated Valentine's either. I told my hubby when we first met that I'd rather he pick me up a wildflower cos he wanted to and he was thinking of me, rather than be told he has to spend all that money because of a day someone concocted!

That said, cute card! :D

Michelle May-The Raspberry Rabbits said...

Tooo funny!!!!
Yes, folks here in the US do love this holiday. I however, believe that every day is special. My 12 of hearts BOM stitchery is hearts for every month of the year not just one day. David and I don't give presents and don't go out to eat. I have a piece of chocolate every day just because I want to and can! ;) We don't decorate the house. We simply say, "I love you." Just like we have every single day since 1989. :)
xx, shell

Nancy Lee said...

Doug and I celebrate Ground Hog Day. We have a nice dinner, exchange a small present and watch the movie, Ground Hog Day. We have been celebrating this since we met in college, and were delighted when Bill Murray made us a movie to watch.
I agree that too much is made out of a single day. But the hearts card and sweets parcels are adorable!

Ms Muffin said...

Love the card! So cute! And pretty! I love the stitching!!!!

Aunt Spicy said...

totally love that you used blue for the cute hearts filled with candy, how fun!