Creative Valentine Planning

I have a plan to make Valentines Day a special remembrance this year. I have been married almost 40 years, and it's about time to retrieve a celebration out of our own history to help create a new memory this year. First, let me share with you what I did for Valentines Day almost 23 years ago. Then, I want to invite you to help me plan my tribute this year by way of a little contest with a PRIZE! I will share that at the end of this post!

Twenty-three years ago, I wanted to do something special for my husband for Valentines Day. We were pretty broke but I longed to get away on a little overnight. If you had 6 boys and the youngest was 6 months old, wouldn't you? I knew it wouldn't be likely we could afford much and shared that with my mother. She suggested that we could trade houses for the evening and overnight -- and she would throw babysitting into the mix. That set me to doing some brainstorming.

Of course, I planned a nice meal and thought about candles and a great movie we could watch. But, I was a little frustrated that it might not have much pizzaz just going to my parent's house even then. That's when I got to thinking of something my husband had done that was really romantic when we were dating. He would pen little notes and hide them in fun places that would lead me to a gift.

I knew a lot of the people where my husband worked, so I collected a bunch of leftover kiddie Valentines and wrote little messages on them. I took them to his work and distributed them around, including taking one to a flower shop nearby where I purchased a single long-stemmed red rose. I baked the last message into a heart-shaped cake and took it with special instructions for his office mates.

On Valentines Day morning as I kissed him goodbye, I told him I knew there was a message for him in his mailbox he needed to check right away. He was a bit puzzled, but did as I requested. That message led him to all the other messages different co-workers had for him, and finally to the rose and then to the cake. His instructions then were to share the cake with everyone to help him retrieve the final message. When he discovered it, he was led back to his mailbox (he was to arrive no later than 5 p.m.)  -- just in time for a friend to walk in carrying a silver tray lined with a doily. On the tray was a chocolate and a goblet with wine. She announced, "Limo for Mr. Brandow!" and proceeded to whisk him to her little Honda Civic.

She played the part royally! He was told he was being whisked off on a romantic rendezvous. When he worried he hadn't packed, she told him his suitcase was in the rear. They pulled up to a number of luxurious hotels and inns, after which she would state simply, "no, not this one." Finally, he arrived at the door of my parent's condo where I was dressed to the nines and had soft music playing and candlelight. It was most memorable -- in fact, so memorable, I have not been able to top it!

Now, I think it's time. It's another one of those years when the money is very tight -- but we need some special time together more than ever! So, I have decided to have a contest. If in your comments on this post you would leave me suggestions on inexpensive or free ideas for my Valentines Day evening this year, along with a way to contact you, I will put them into a drawing to be done on Saturday, February 6th this week! The winner will receive one of my handmade Valentines -- zipped off in the mail right away so you have plenty of time to give it as a token yourself. You can see more in my Etsy shop -- and you will have your choice of any of the 6 styles of "Secret Message" handmade cards there. Pass the word along! I really need lots of suggestions to help me out! And, of course, others reading the comments will enjoy discovering some special ways to do some creative Valentine planning themselves!

Creating for the Holidays

If you are planning on making this a "handmade" holiday season (creating gifts for loved ones rather than purchasing -- or maybe shopping handmade to support independent business), it's time to get started! In fact, for some it may be way past time to get started.

I first "caught" the bug to make gifts when I learned how to sew at about the age of 14. My dad was in graduate school, my mother was working full time -- and money was scarce. I knew my parents were not going to be able to purchase many gifts that year. I was babysitting in the neighborhood and was a latch-key kid. Perfect combination! -- a little money and time on my hands. That Christmas I made my dad and my two little brothers each a set of pajamas, my mother a three-piece suit, my little sister a nightgown, my grandmothers each a "duster" (light housecoat), and my grandfathers each a chef's apron with "chef" hand-embroidered in red on the bibs. I set myself up to be -- "sewing superwoman!!!"

From there on out, rather than stop to think about how much time I had on my hands back then to enable that sewing marathon, I would make decisions to make it a handmade Christmas far too late to enjoy the process.  I found myself up all hours of the night, feverishly stitching -- and there were many times some poor family member received a box with fabric, a pattern and a promise to create inside. My husband eventually got me the little sign you see in the picture, "Caution, Crisis in Progress!" that now sits in my sewing room.


I have learned a few things since then. If you have a deep desire to make something for several people on your list, how do you do it without it becoming the crisis I described? We have a very large family now (five of our six sons are married -- with four grandchildren in the mix). If I were going to make something for each person, I would calculate how much time each gift might take, add an hour to each project (for cushion),  then count back that many weeks/months to give myself a starting point. Because "life happens" (sickness, emergencies, etc.), it is wise to back the entire process up by at least another 2 weeks. Now, look at what you see. Is it realistic? What can you cut? For example, maybe instead of knitting a sweater, you could knit a scarf or hat. Be sure you are also taking into account your need for free time!

There is still time to make this a handmade Christmas or holiday season! If you realize it is too late to make something yourself -- use these tools as an opportunity to plan ahead for next year. Then, take advantage of the many wonderful handmade gifts available for sale by other talented artisans. Etsy shops are a great place to start! I have listed a number of handmade gifts for men $10 and under on my other blog, and you can read about our own family's plan for making this a simpler Christmas there.

Bring Your Creativity Home

I just adored watching this youtube video on taking a run down cottage and making it live again. I hope it will inspire you as well!