My daughter's preschool class has been learning that Valentine's Day is about showing love to the people you care about, your family and friends. They had a great class party and they took turns delivering valentines to their friends. However, the Valentine Decorating Guild was apparently on strike for the past week, until the strike was broken by an artistic babysitter, so Carolina's valentines to family members didn't hit the mail until yesterday. Better late than never.
When I was little, my mom sewed valentines for me and my sister. I remember two heart-shaped pillows in particular. One was pink calico with lace on one side, and the other was a patchwork of flannel, lace-trimmed, with my initials in the middle. I wanted to show pictures of them, but they are still at my parents' house, and my sister reports that hers are still there too. I'll be sure to bring them here next chance I get.
So I think of Valentine's Day as a day to make fun, low-key presents for my family. Last year I made Carolina a little purse. This year, I made her a felted flower.
The pattern is Felted Flower Child (I skipped the hat part) from Itty Bitty Hats. It is made with various colors of Lamb's Pride Worsted and Mauch Chunky. It started as a pin, but it's rather big, and when I tried to pin it on her this morning, I managed to stick myself. I yowled, and she jumped away and absolutely refused to have it pinned anywhere on her clothing for fear it would stick her. We discussed making it into a barrette, but as I mentioned, it's rather big, and I don't think she has enough hair to hold it. So, we've decided that I will remove the pin, sew the flower on a headband, and then she will feel safe wearing it.
After I had started making the flower, I saw this pattern on Ravelry, and decided that my husband must have a handful of hearts. So I made the little hearts for him, and the big one for Arden (so he can chew on it without choking).
The red hearts are Cascade 220, done on size 6 needles. The blue heart is Manos del Uruguay, two strands held together, done on size 11 needles. I spent all my kid-free moments for the past week knitting, felting and sewing up, and what fun! How nice to have such tiny projects that even a distracted knitter can finish them quickly!
My husband and I have a tradition of making fondue for Valentine's Day. We've done it every year since we first started dating. Last year, we let Carolina join us. She had fun, but ... umm ... it wasn't the same. He had to work tonight, so we're having our fondue night on Saturday and I made Valentine pizza for dinner tonight.
Before baking:
And after:
I happened to buy little Valentine cookie cutters at A.C. Moore yesterday when I went in to get the stuffing for the hearts. I thought I might make cookies, but didn't, and decided that the cutters would be great for making Valentine pepperoni.
Oh, and my Valentine's present? A lovely bouquet of white and purple daisies that turned the water purple. It looks really cool in a crystal vase.
Happy Valentine's Day!
