The Art of Sending Love: More Than Just Valentine's Cards

When carving this design, I moved away from traditional Valentine's imagery of hearts and roses. Instead, I wanted to create something that spoke to the fluid, organic nature of love itself. The abstract florals flow and intertwine, much like our relationships with those we hold dear. 

While we often think of Valentine's Day as a modern celebration of romance, its roots stretch back to ancient Rome, where mid-February marked the festival of Lupercalia. The tradition we know today began taking shape in medieval England, where the first written valentines appeared in the 1400s.

The practice of sending Valentine's cards truly blossomed in Victorian England. In the 1840s, the introduction of the "Penny Post" made sending mail affordable for ordinary people, leading to an explosion in card-sending. The talented artist and entrepreneur Esther Howland brought elaborate Valentine's cards to America in the 1850s, earning her the title "Mother of the American Valentine."

But perhaps the most beautiful evolution in Valentine's traditions is its gradual expansion beyond romantic love. The rise of "Galentine's Day" (celebrating female friendships on February 13th) is just one modern example of how we've recognised that all forms of love deserve celebration.

Why Handcrafted Matters

Each card begins as a hand-carved linocut design, bringing the warmth of traditional printmaking to modern correspondence. There's a certain poetry in using an age-old artistic technique to help people express timeless emotions.

Whether sent for Valentine's Day or any other day of the year, these cards carry not just your words, but also the spirit of artistry and intentionality. They're an invitation to slow down, put pen to paper, and share the love that enriches our lives.