Inspiration: (Hand)Made With Love

While many people bemoan Valentine's Day as nothing more than a commercial construction meant to take advantage of consumers (and certainly this view isn't without reason), I believe that the holiday at its most basic is a truly lovely one: a day for sending kind words of love to those we care for, be they sweethearts, family, or friends. Even when we first began dating, the hubby and I have always aimed to keep the day sweet and simple ourselves. While we don't use the occasion to spoil each other with big ticket items, we always manage to make the day special by carving out time to share a really great dinner and to gift each other with a penned poem or card, sometimes a mixtape, on at least one holiday when we lived apart a brown paper package covered in a cartoons drawn by yours truly, and, almost always, gobs of chocolate. (It should be noted that this last item is one that I'm always and forever, without any shame, glad to consume in either context of the word.) And as we continue to celebrate the holiday in this fashion, I've come to realize that the tradition is rather close to what I first knew of Valentine's day as a child. Then it was a day for crafting valentine's out of construction paper, doilies, and paste smeared with a popsicle stick, a day for penning juvenile verse and writing cards for family, friends, and classmates, a day for helping to make cookies in the shape of hearts and, again, eating gobs of chocolate. And really, I think the day at it's most ideal operates somewhere along those lines, as an occasion to give something made with love to those you care for. As a child my parents always told me that the best presents were those that were made by hand, and the older I get the more I believe this sentiment to be true. Truly, there's little better than getting something made just with you in mind, even if the gift is as simple as words on a page. Indeed, in an era when email is ubiquitous, when is the last time you were given a love letter you could hold in your hands? Could there be any more marvelous a gift? Inspired by this, I was moved to create an inspiration board that was a grownup version of the Valentine's Days I knew as a child and the ones that I now aim to create. And so it's full of items made with love, in various shades of red and blush. All of the items included contain handmade elements, be they the wax paper and crayon hearts hanging in a window (similar versions of which you may have made as a child- I know I did), the paper moon constructed for a sentimental wedding, or the hand worked flower detailing on both the dress and shoes. Handmade touches always lend a certain amount of warmth and charm to any look, but this is a style that manages to be chic and elegant at the same time. The frayed edges of fabric, the curving calligraphy, the envelopes sealed with string- these crafted elements all radiate a sort of perfect imperfection inherent in their design, which is, I think, a lot like love. Much love to you all, dear readers! Happy Valentine's Day!

Clockwise from top left: Handmade Envelopes by Martha Stewart; Hand Lettered St. Valentine's Day Menu by Cynthia Warren Design; Blume Printed Peep Toes Heels in Papaya Dots by J. Crew; Needle Felted Conversation Hearts by felt cafe; Dessy Bridesmaid Dress Style 2780 in Flame by The Dessy Group; Waxed Paper and Crayon Hearts by Martha Stewart; Paper Moon via Snippet & Ink; Rose Heart Centerpiece by Martha Stewart; Genova Brass Locket by Japonicas Boutique on Etsy

ORIGINALLY POSTED AT BEANTOWN BRIDE ON FEBRUARY 12, 2010