valentines

It would be nice to post the amazing hand-stitched sweeties I made for my valentines this year, but...I didn't do. Preoccupied with the boxes of pottery and project superstar. And snow days. The girls have had the last 2 days off of school and we accomplished zero. Marian hasn't even made a Valentine for her dad this year. Although we have Valentine making parties every year and see the glory of a handmade Valentine, the girls actually like the novelty of picking out the boxes of classic little preprinted cardstock nonsense. This year, Audrey chose Tweety Bird and Marian some motion valentines. Not quite as adorable as my young friend Miles' Valentine sentiments.

They did, however, give soap as an alternative to candy. I'm hoping the heart-shaped, pink, & glitter components make it seem a little less party-poopery. They made it themselves and stamped the backs of still-soft soap with rubber stamps of their initials that we had made a couple of weeks ago. Anne Marie of Bramble Berry donated a big ol' chunk of white melt-and-pour for project superstar, and it's quite lovely to work with. I did buy some official soap-making stuff at Michaels, but have found that the best we have to work with we already had: these silicone ice cube trays from IKEA were marvelous molds, and, unimpressed with the soap scent I bought, realized I could use the Bath and Body Works home fragrance oils I had to mix with the base. So Marian's hearts were scented Cucumber Lime Verbena. I love that smell. Audrey's piano teacher had CLV soap, and I used the bathroom every lesson just so I could use it :).

I'm remembering more things I have, and am starting to feel a little better. If I can just pull it all together... I have a bunch of little porcelain hearts I made to label with reasons I love them. Packaged, of course, in wee origami boxes. Made with red glassine. I also bought some little albums at the ArtCo factory outlet to fill with photos of family love (this will certainly be a late valentine's gift), and am framing separate copies of the valentines I bought for the girls from ouou.
I love this because I love her bold graphic illustrative style, and also because it looks so like my girls. Especially appropriate is the title: "In this together", and the older sister helping and protecting the younger. Audrey is the willing donor for Marian's bone marrow transplant this spring. I want them each to have one while they're apart, a reminder of each other and their sweet love. They're really fantastic sisters.

N gets this good etsy find from chewing the cud: Appropriate, 'cause he's that way.