Holiday Crafts & Ideas Blog

Happy Valentine’s Day! All the preparations have come down to today. I’ve got my red placemats out and my pink napkins for tonight’s dinner. I’m expecting flowers from my husband at any moment. My son has already given me a kiss and told me he loves me. What more could I want?

No matter what your plans are for the day, take a little time to actually say the words. All the flowers in the world don’t equal one heartfelt sentiment expressed in words. Just TELL someone how you feel and how much they mean to you. Don’t rely on a card. Make sure you say how much you care to someone’s face—and make sure you do it with meaning. It doesn’t have to be your spouse. It could be your sister, your friend, your parents. Think about it, and then do it. 

It’s the best gift you could ever possibly give.

Happy birthday Charles Darwin! How interesting that one of the world’s most pre-eminent thinkers on nature’s diversification should be born so close to Valentine’s Day. Darwin may have shone the light on the process of natural selection, yet Love still remains one of life’s great mysteries. Who knows why we choose the people we do, or if it’s even a choice? And honestly, I like the mystery. I’d rather have that than an analytical discussion of survival of the fittest and whose genes are stronger. That steamy attraction between you and a stranger (maybe he looks like Keanu Reeves—at least he does to me!) as your glances meet across the room… the unbreakable bond between mother and newborn child… the strengthening intimacy that grows among friends who have known each other since birth… all the permutations of an emotion that make life a tapestry of joy. It’s either completely random, or completely destined. What do you think?

In that spirit, I propose we all indulge in a little thinking about what love really means to us. Like that airport scene in Love, Actually, it’s true—love really is all around. I’ll leave you with a quotation from the time of Julius Caesar, and sometimes ascribed to Catullus, according to Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations:

Let those love now who never loved before;
Let those who always loved, now love the more.

Are you thinking about flowers this week? I know I am. I’m lucky in that my husband buys me flowers for special occasions, and I always receive a bouquet that’s not full of red roses and baby’s breath, which is fine by me. I’m not a big fan of roses on Valentine’s Day, especially since what I really want is a breath of spring to ease the pain of winter. I’d much rather receive tulips, or freesia (which smell heavenly), or lily-of-the-valley, even hyacinths in a pot. And part of the fun of giving—and receiving—a bouquet is that they mean something to both parties. So in that spirit, why not give something this year that has meaning in the Language of Flowers?

Anemones, for example, mean Expectation (a little saucy, buy why not on Valentine’s Day?)

Fritillaries mean Power, while Artemisia mean Happiness, Amethyst Violets mean Admiration and Geraniums represent True Friendship and Comfort. Ooh, or how about a bronze Chrysanthemum, which means Trust Me, or some purple Pansies, which mean You Occupy My Thoughts. Why not get creative with your message and try something new? You don’t need a lot; even one bloom with the right sentiment behind it will do the trick.

First off, I’m including a photo of my little knitted hearts (sorry, they’re still unfinished, but you get the idea).

Just a little something for new February babies

So, as I said, I’ve got a bunch of new babies to give things to this month, and these little knitted gems are heartfelt keepsakes. My co-worker Karina just gave me a great idea! I’m going to hang a bunch of these in a row to make a little bunting for the season… or maybe that’s an idea for next year!

Okay, on to the 10 things I love this February. I was at Walmart this weekend and picked up some really fun stuff. Such as, you ask? Check this out:

POP this!

These are little individual packets of popcorn that pop red. I’m attaching them to the Valentine’s cards my son is sending out at school this week. Also:

Martha gets it right!

I love the Martha Stewart craft line at Walmart. So many fun things. I think these tissue paper pompoms were actually in the wedding section, but they’ll be perfect for over my dining room table on Saturday night.

Other things I love:

The Diamonds exhibit at the Royal Ontario Museum. A perfect outing for those people with more love than cash.

Pretty tea towels. Get some to give to those in your life you’d like to say Thank You to this weekend.

My new book about Robert Burns, probably one of the most romantic men who ever lived. If you have any Scottish blood at all, you know what I’m talking about.

The Bard: Robert Burns, a Biography

The man who penned “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose” knew how to work Valentine’s Day. This new biography by Robert Crawford tells all about this master of the written word.

My neighbours. I have two super neighbours that I can call on for anything, so I’m giving them a shout out on Saturday with a pretty potted spring plant.

The new John Legend CD, Evolver. Hello, lover!

The perfume Falling In Love. Philosophy makes it, and it is, indeed, lovely. Get it at Sephora.

My favourite perfume

A new plant I’m ordering today from Dominion Seed House: the Begonia Boliviensis ‘Bonfire’. Can be grown in full sun or partial shade and it doesn’t care if it’s wet or dry. It’s a stunningly gorgeous shower of bright red orange flowers and blooms from May to October.

My family.

My boys in London last year

Did you know that February is one of the sunniest months of the year? Maybe that’s why we love to celebrate Valentine’s Day… we see more sunshine this month, which makes us happier, which makes us feel like celebrating, and what’s better to celebrate than love?

I found tiny heart-shaped pasta today  in the Kosher section of my grocery store, so I’ve decided that that will be my Valentine’s Day meal for my family. I’d love to hear if anyone has a great recipe… And I’ve been knitting these small hearts (I found the pattern in a book called Vintage Hearts & Flowers by Kate Haxell (Cico Books, $15.95). I’ll try and post a picture tomorrow) that I’m going to give to my friends who have new babies. I’ve got to work fast!

There are so many fun paper embellishments and scrapbooking bits and pieces out there right now, and I think Valentine’s Day is a really fun time to use them. Think of it: You only have to come up with one or two great ideas for cards and greetings, instead of 50 or 60 like you’d have to for Christmas. So you can go all out and create some really fun cards. Use pretty scalloped paper, stickers, sparkles, ribbon, stamps, and fabrics. I still love taking squares of tissue paper and putting them on the end of a pencil, then gluing them onto your card in heart shapes and flowers. I remember doing it in public school, and I think that was my favourite activity. Also those origami fortune teller things (I’m sure we had another name for them when I was young, but I can’t remember it!). You know, those square folded paper things you’d make, and you would ask someone their favourite colour or number and spell it out and then fold up the flap to reveal the fortune? Also super-fun for Valentine’s Day. So fun, and kids love them! That’s what I’m doing tonight, and I encourage you to get out the glue and construction paper, felt and fake flowers and have a great time.

It’s also a good time to take stock of the vases in your collection (even if you have to buy yourself the flowers to fill them). There’s nothing like a spring bouquet, especially as the days are growing longer. You can really feel like the warm weather is on its way.