I received the most beautiful Valentine's card from my mom this morning! She sent me the gorgeous, handmade, pressed flower card which you see above. It was made by Hope For Women, a Fair Trade Federation business that provides sustainable employment to economically disadvantaged, women artisans worldwide. This card in particular is from the Portraits of El Salvador collection which features the work of outstanding, female artists from the highlands of El Salvador.
Each card depicts the empowering portrait of a beautiful woman with a sensational hairstyle created from dried leaves and flower petals. Not only are each of these phenomenal cards framable pieces of art, they are also wonderful ways to contribute to talented women across the globe who are working hard to support their families and communities. The way I see it, there's no better way to celebrate an awesome woman in your life than with a conscientious purchase. I am certainly smiling ear to ear. Check out the website and you might find the perfect gift for that special someone. May there be Hope For Women year round! Happy Valentine's Day all!
It's no secret that among my obsessions, record collecting is a top priority. Being a singer I have always had a special admiration for the late Etta James- a woman whose outsized talent left a massive imprint on the world of music and my personal musical DNA. Moreover, Valentine's Day wouldn't be Valentine's Day without some Etta James love songs. So, I thought it fitting to share a 45 record that I recently added to my collection: The Etta James single, "Seven Day Fool," which was released by Argo in 1961. It has quickly become one of my favorite Etta jams, getting lots of play on my turntable. I always envision it wafting over the speakers at spring's first rooftop barbecue while overlooking the Manhattan skyline... Well, you can never go wrong spinning a great tune from a legendary artist at any party. Immediate gratification is available as a downloadable mp3, or you can troll eBay for a lovely vinyl find.
The fine braiding of Soutache is used in many ornamental ways- to hide seams in clothing, as decoration in tapestries and curtains- but it's not often that you see it in gorgeous jewelry. With Valentine's Day just around the corner, I thought these Soutache earrings from soStudio on Etsy would make the perfect addition to any jewelry aficionado's collection! The subtle hearts and touch of pink hit just the right note for a romantic Valentine's date without being kitschy. Plus, they offer enough versatility and personality to wear in the workplace year-round. Good luck getting ahold of this pair, as I might have bought them by the time this post is done. Still, Jovita's collection offers many other beautiful options, so I'm sure you'll find the perfect dash of Soutache to add to yours!
