I know it's not even February, but I'm already crazy-excited about Valentine's Day. Not just the fluffy, romantic stuff (although I do love a nice V-Day dinner date), but also about the cute tokens of affection I get to send to love ones.

To me, Valentine's Day is about more than celebrating your relationship with just one person (or however they celebrate the day in isolated polygamist communities --hair braiding competitions?), it's also a great time to say thank you to the people who make every day awesome.

I'm not huge on expensive store-bought gifts for this holiday. I prefer to get away for the weekend, or to receive something sentimental and from the heart. That's why I am smitten with the adorable valentines below -- they're sweet, thoughtful and almost one of a kind. What more could you want? Did I mention how cute they are?

Vintage:
Clockwise: 1. 1880s Valentine (Forgotten Papers) 2. and 4. Props from Bright Star 3. Circa 1920s Children's Homemade Valentines (Pink Grapefruit Style)

Pen and Ink:
Clockwise: 1. Custom Calligraphed Letter (Via Paddington) 2. and 3. Custom Love Letter (Linea Carta) 4. Regency Valentine with Swallows (Hello Handmade)

In Stitches:
Clockwise: 1., 2. and 4. Embroidered Valentines. Fave is "Elephant Shoe." Remember that?? (Pink Mist Industry) 3. "Be Mine" Cross Stitch and Embroidery Sampler (Julie Ellen)

Make, Bake or Grow:

If you're feeling really ambitious, nothing is sweeter than a valentine made by you. All are Martha-approved craft ideas. 1.Heart-covered Wax Paper for Baked Goods 2. Heart-Shaped African Violets 3.Quilled Valentine Cards 4. Paper Heart Wrappings 5. Quilling Stationery 6. Seed-Starter Valentine

Crafty:
Clockwise: 1. Be Mine Milagro Heart Ornament (Paloma's Nest) 2. Banner Necklace and Valentine (Monkey Puzzle) 3. Arrow Candy Container (D.Sharp) 4. I Adore You Bouquet (Emerson Made)

The Best of the Rest:

Clockwise: 1. I Love U card (Smith Letterpress) 2. Love all Lovely Card (UpUp) 3. Conversation Hearts Flamingo Postcard (Garden Angel) 4. Set of Six Arrow Cards (Stern Illustrations) 5. Ten "Do You Like Me?" Mini-Cards (Sweet Harvey)

Well this was in the October issue but that how quick I am!
The truth is that things have been so busy that I haven't had a chance to check all our press but yesterday I got an email from Mia-Louise, the talented designer of these beautiful, handmade prints who was over the moon and very grateful that we managed to get her work featured in Harper's Bazaar. Personally I would like to thank Emma Love who put this Mono Mania featured together. Don't you love Harper's Bazaar!? I wish I had copy of this issue :-(

I remember perfectly when Mia-Louise and I started working together. She contacted me to see if I was interested in stocking her prints on B&F and one look at them and I was like......Hellooo!! Yeah! I just thought they were really beautiful and unique. We got them featured first in The Independent around October 2 years ago and gosh...the response was absolutely amazing. I think we were selling something like 40 a week....I was emailing Mia-Louise almost every day to top up our order. In the end, her press didn't take the pressure and died on her. So she had to find another press to keep the production going so we would get all the prints to customers in time for Xmas....It was really stressful but good stress!
If you want to find out a bit more about Mia-Louise and her work, you can read the interview we did with her.
Bises...I'm off to the restaurant.

Kristina is/was studying at Camberwell College of Arts. This handmade, hand-embroidered jumper was one of her degree projects. This one was about memory and nostalgia and she embroidered words taken from her diaries when I was 16. Isn't this gorgeous?

She is also trying to finish a children book to enter the Macmillan Prize and does wonderful illustrations which she sells on Etsy.