The Language of the Heart

Happy Valentine’s Day! This day is set aside to let those dear to us know how much we love them. In most cases hopefully they know that every other day of the year as well. Over twenty years ago I decided to let the women in my life know this by making handcrafted valentines for each of them. The list was relatively short, as it was mostly relatives and a few close friends. I think I made about 30 at the time. Well, as the years in my life grew, so did the valentines list. Today I send out right around 100 to family, friends and my working gals. I think every year it will be my last, but alas, this year delivers one again to them all.

This year’s them has been in the creative process during the last five years. I started with an idea, sketched it out, mulled it over, reworked some parts, and then let it age for a while. I just needed to find the right time to make the virtual image a reality. This year was finally the time. The design is an around the world theme which I have also been working on for a “Wee are the World” collection.

The card does not open, it is a spinning wheel with heart windows showing two phrases as the wheel is rotated. Kind of a color wheel of the world. There is a set of words meaning “love” that each child is holding, representing the language of their nationality. As the children rotate to the right, the phrase “love makes the world go round and round” is shown in the second set of hearts (starting with the little Dutch girl). The top piece of the wheel is attached to the bottom piece with a teeny tiny little brad.

When the card is turned over there is a globe of the world, complete with yours truly and a few icons representing various places around the world. What map is complete without the “you are here” phrase? Which just happens to be in my heart. :) The outside edge finishes off the love around the world theme with a verse from the beautiful Sandi Patty song, written by John Phillip Mays and Jonathan Mark Mohr, “Love in Any Language.”

Since many of the people I send valentines to are all over the country and a few beyond, and they are as diverse as the theme, I felt it fitting to let them all know I’m sending love from the heart, a language we all can speak.

I’m sending it to you as well. Have a wonderful Valentine’s Day and share the language of the heart with those you love.