Love in the time of Covid

 

It was new years day and my daughter had woken me up at 5am, I couldn’t get back to sleep, my brain was switched on and thinking business. I had made it through the Christmas sales rush, it was now 2021, what was my next business marker?! Valentines day.

Whilst Valentine’s Day is a celebration of Love traditionally between married couples, lovers or partners, after this shocking last year that we have had I thought; why not celebrate our love for everyone near and dear to us. Why not give a unique Valentine’s Day card to our family members and friends, our children and grandparents? What better time has there ever been to show our love for everyone we love and miss, who we can’t see at the moment, who we can’t hug?

My Grandpa used to send me a Valentines Day Card very year when I was little (even as a teenager in fact), I remember thinking it was a bit funny; Valentines Day wasn’t for a Grandpa and his Grandaughter! Was it?! But now I look back very fondly with the understanding of the love that went into sending a Valentine’s day card to me. And isn’t that what it is all about?

So, back to New Years Day 2021. For some reason I had a fox in my head, I wanted to draw a fox. A handsome one. So at 5am on New Years Day, and I’m at my desk doodling my first unique Valentine’s Day Card of my new collection. Foxy had a costume change over night and became Foxy Fitzwilliam, (Fitzwilliam after Mr Darcy, no less!). He was named by my instagram followers - we have a poll and naming ceremonies for my animals monthly - it’s much fun! Come and join us!

My second design; ‘I Love you this Mush’ is a pure self indulgent Valentine’s Day card design. I have this thing for mushrooms. They fascinate me. It all started on honeymoon in 2013. We were travelling for 3 months and had stopped off in New Zealand to see some family in Abel Tasman. We went on an amazing hike around the coastline which was abundant with mushies; one was bright blue and had a sort of cage like structure to it. My husband was beginning to question our marriage only a month in! Ha! You know which of my Valentine’s Day card designs he is getting this year! Judging by my sales so far I can see that I’m not alone in this love of mushies and I’m actually thrilled that this rather unique Valentine’s day Card design is such a hit!

‘I Whaley Love you’ stemmed from a doodle I did for International Whale Shark Day back in the Summer of 2020. My dream is to one day dive with whale sharks. Such magnificent creatures. My doodle was much appreciated over on instagram, and I longed to paint some more magnificent whales and sea creatures so I put my best “pun hat” on and came up with ‘I Whaley Love you’. I crossed over into some surface pattern design as I intertwined different whales (okay and a couple of sharks if we are being accurate!) together into a heart shape. And there you have it; a whale themed unique Valentine’s Day card!

‘Scooter Love’ came from a doodle I did for The Enchanted Nanny (you can read more about our collaborations here), for one of her phonics packs. It was such a cute little retro scooter; I revamped it to appeal to all with little hearts pop pop popping out of the exhaust! I do rather adore this cure and unique valentine’s day card design too. Brmmmm brmmmm beep beep! Love coming through!

My last unique Valentine’s Day card design is my go to; Flamina. Flying the flag for Galentine’s day, and all fabulous people world wide.

Who says Valentine’s Day is just for lovers?! Not me, not Flamina! It’s for all of us, for your friends, family, children, parents, Grandparents, Uncles, Aunties, Uncles and Aunties who aren’t actually your Uncle or Auntie but are just called that… you know what I mean! Love is love. And love is for all xx

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Valentines Day Ideas for all

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Designing a hand illustrated versatile yet unique birthday card