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Puzzle Purse Valentines

{All have been sold. Look for more in mid-January 2012}

I'm honored to have been chosen for 3 years in a row for Early American Life's Holiday Directory for my puzzle purse valentines. Each valentine will come with a signed EAL directory tag.

These love tokens are inspired by the ones originally made in the late 1700s and the early 1800s. Messages of LOVE are written on the valentines which are folded in a precise intricacy so that as you open it according to the numbered sections, you read a verse or a phrase, and tiny hand painted pictures are revealed. The very inner most part of the Valentine may have woven paper hearts or a woven paper heart and hand. They are sometimes tricky for the recipient to re-fold, which is part of the charm of the puzzle purse.

All artwork, which is a combination of naive / schoolgirl art / fraktur influences, is done with watercolors and India ink on aged parchment paper. I have referenced American folk art books for ideas for flowers, birds, and other early American designs. I use poems of the 1700s and 1800s along with some of my own original phrases. Keep in mind these are hand done, so each one will be unique.

The valentines measure 2 ½” square closed and 7 ½” square when fully opened. Many steps are involved in the process of making these one of a kind tokens of love. I'm sure you and your loved one will appreciate the time and care it takes to create them.

Each valentine comes with a papier mache box decorated with a heart in hand and tied with a matching ribbon. The boxes with shredded paper and coordinating tops are my own idea that I began using a few years ago. As far as I can tell by research, the puzzle purses were not delivered in boxes.

Photos show 4 views of valentine: box and front, back, partially open, fully open.

$35 each

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