Here is my little goody to share and a little lesson too. I got this fantastic book of Victorian clip art from my good friend Janice in Texas. I haven't done much with Victorian style images, and so I started doing a little research. What I found has entertained me for weeks - here are a few tidbits about Valentines in the Victorian era!
- Handmade Valentines were HUGELY popular in the Victorian Era (1830-1901) - so much so that they were more of a big deal in their time than Christmas cards. The people of Victorian times would spend hours, even days. . . and sometimes a small fortune making these very special cards for their loved ones. New technology during this time - like beautiful embossed and sanded papers, colorful lithographs from Europe, and fancy calligraphy were all beautiful parts of these early hand made cards! Victorian Valentines were such a big deal that it was common for ladies to recieve one as the means of a marraige proposal. . . elaborate Valentines that were several inches thick were sometimes given in boxes along with gifts like gloves, pressed flowers, or if you really wished to show someone your affection, you included a lock of your own hair!
- Girls made Valentines for their sisters. Mothers made Valentines for their children, and young men made them for ladies who were the object of their desire. It was not considered to be proper for a young single lady to make a Valentine for a man - but if she recieved several, she might have to choose which suitor's Valentine was the best! There are tales of ladies sending Valentines to their husbands who were gone to war - and of sailors making Valentines for their wives using sea shells and coral. What a fantastic likening to our cause at Operation Write Home!
- I spent a lot of time pondering the other materials of the time - Victorian Valentines would have been made from pieces of tissue, exquisite lace, satin ribbons. . . I found references to the use of balsa wood, feathers, beads, gems and gold leaf. . . a card makers' stash of supplies must have rivaled what we have available even today! Oh what I would give to travel back in time to see some of these things! Victorian Valentines could include pop-ups, spinning parts, birds' wings that flutter - a mirror in the center to reflect the face of the recipient, and verses and sentiments - lovingly penned in a time when penmanship was considered to be in itself, a work of art.
A little blog candy: leave me a comment today if you have enjoyed your stay and in return I will choose randomly one winner to get a Victorian Valentine Kit. Be sure to leave me a way to contact you via blog or email. Due to cost I will only be able to provide shipping within the USA.
Now off you go Boni's page - Dude Time Doodles!!! . . . and thank you for stopping by!
If you have a moment, stop here to see some more examples of some beautiful Victorian cards. The Candice Hern website itself is amazing, I could spend forever just reading and learning . . .
62 comments:
Nancy the kit if FAB!! Love all the vintage details!
Ohwowowowow! Beauuuuutiful vintage card, Nancy! YUMMMY!
Onh my goodness, your Valentine is exquisite, Nancy! And thank you for all the background info--it's a treat to learn some of the traditions of this pastime. . . .
This card is beautiful!! I know the recipient will love it!
wow that card is so pretty!
I've been interested in the vintage look myself lately, but I can never get the cards to look as great as yours
thanks for sharing
Lovely card! I used some heart doilies on some of the cards shown in my slide show on today's hop. What fun!
Howdy neighbor...my placement of html to embolden your link disabled it apparently but it's working correctly now. My apologies!!! I love your fun blog and Valentine history lesson. It has inspired me to find my Victorian images and get busy. Thanks so much.
OMGosh this is stunning!!! Well done :)
Thanks for the inspiration!
Your card is beautiful! Thank you for sharing the info about Victorian cards :)
Beautiful card, I love that vintage style.
I love the vintage look!
cwins89203@aol.com
Wow, what a great card. TFS.
Your card is beautiful. Great design and embellishments.
Fabulous kit!! Thanks for the chance to win one.
bautiful card!!! i love this style!!! great job!! =o)
Hello Nancy, I adore your card. Beautiful all these layers and the frame around the rose. Greetings from The Netherlands.
Oh my goodness, that card is beautiful! Very victorian era.
spunkycrayon at yahoo dot com
Beautiful card! Thanks for the lesson too :)
Doris
MomsBeenScrappin at yahoo dot com
How pretty! The doilies and roses add a special touch to the card. Thanks for sharing!! :)
Thanks for the info on Victorian Valentines! I think I have some doilies around and will have to experiment with them. My e-mail is pearx2 at zoominternet dot net.
Gorgeous card and what interesting information. Thanks for joining in the blog hop.
Beautiful card! THank you for sharing, I am going to try some of those ideas. I love the old vintage cards, and I think this really hearkens back to those.
Absolutely breathtaking! THis is gorgeous!
Hi friend. Just had to tell you how much your cards rock :) I would sure like to be the recipient of a card as beautiful as yours. Thanks for sharing the history, fascinating times indeed xxx
Wow....this is simply stunning! You are going to make someone very happy with this card. Love it.
Gorgeous card, love the victorian image and lace! Hugs, Karen
Absolutely beautiful!! Love the vintage look!
Oh... wow.. beautiful! Thanks for the inspiration.
Wow!! That card is breathtaking! Thank you for sharing!
Your card is beautiful. A lot of work went into that card.
Amazing! I love Victorian cards, and have a few cherished family heirloom ones. Lovely work!
Elin K.
kovash001@hotmail.com
You have really captured the Victorian style! Beautiful card.
mum2eight(at)hotmail(dot)com
ANother beautiful creation!! I love all of the doily layers and the pearls look perfect with the roses! TFS!!
A beautiful victorian Valentine! OWH rocks -- and I voted!
Elegant and lovely!!
Fantastic post Nancy! That Valentine is truly a work of art. Stunning! I am so glad you joined the OWH hop.
Love the card.....it is so Victorian!
Very vintage and very beautiful! I agree with Paula in it being a work of art!
wow! what a beautiful card!
Nancy, you truly captured the Victorian style and colors!! Your card is just beautiful. I enjoyed what you wrote about the history of Valentines; thanks!!
Nancy, I loved learning about the Victorian Valentines! This hop has been educational in so many ways! Like you, I'd like to travel back in time and see some of those Valentines. Your card is simply gorgeous! Thank you for hopping with us today!
Thanks for the Victorian lesson. We are going to be staying in a Victorian B&B soon so that will be added inspiration.
annjerryk at aol dot com
Thanks for supporting OWH! Fun blog!
BobbisTreasure@aol.com
So elegant. I love all the info you included it was so interesting. Thanks for the chance to win
Kelly1801us@hotmail.com
Your card is gorgeous. I love the Victorian look. Thanks for the chance to win & thanks for the research.
suly312@gmail.com
Beautiful card. Thanks for sharing the information about Victorian valentines!
Love your blog! I, too, am so excited to find others who are passionate about OWH, but to find a CTMH sister who is... WOW!!! Love it! There needs to be more of us!
Wow Nancy... your card is just gorgeous! I had to click to make it bigger to I could fully appreciate it ;), I love it!
Thanks for telling us about the Victorian Valentine's too. I have a box of Valentine's that were my grandma's from the early 1900's they are really something.
great card and thanks for the little Victorian history lesson - thanks for supporting OHW
An exceptional lovely card. Love the Victorian!
This is an exquisite Victorian card....love it. It is elegant and feminine. (xyzcaseyatyahoo.com)
Oh my - I would love to have supplies and be able to learn to create something like your exquisite creation. Thank you for sharing and for this fun opportunity.DianeL
loyaz at wbhsi dot net
http://loyaz1.blogspot.com/
Gorgeous card, Nancy. And, thanks for sharing the history of Valentines.
What a beautiful Valentine!
Oh my goodness.....this is so gorgeous and elegant....love it!!! I really liked learning about Valentines too;)
Love your card it's ver beautiful. Thank you for sharing.
I am not commenting to get in on the candy. I am very late to the party! I just wanted to stop by and let you know that I think it is so wonderful to see so many people get together for a wonderful organization such as OWH. Your Victorian card is BEAUTIFUL!!!
God bless.
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