Honeysuckle Lane Valentines & Love Tokens

~ Valentines & Love Tokens ~

(all artwork and photos of artwork are protected by (c) law; please do not reproduce my original artwork in your designs by hand or digitally)

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~ Red Velvet Victorian Love ~

I have been saving this antique Victorian frame for quite a while. If I'm not mistaken, I purchased it from a lady that buys and sells antiques and who lives in Pennsylvania. The frame is pressed cardboard covered in a gorgeous deep red velvet. As you can see, much of the velvet has worn off, but that is what makes it so lovely to me. The metal oval has a beaded design. I have backed the frame with mat board and attached a wire hanger. You may hang it from the ribbon, or take the ribbon off and use the hanger alone. It measures 7 1/4" x 9" and is 12" long including the ribbon.

The focal point, if you can take your eyes off the velvet frame, is a paper love token that I made from parchment papers. These papers have been aged, stained, water colored, and printed with a copy of a late 1700s letter. I hand cut the heart and hand, wove them together, and pleated a paper cuff to embellish it further. The paper artwork is protected with a matte sealant. This piece is signed and dated, Lana Manis 2010. The back states that it is inspired by 19th century love tokens.

$60

SOLD~ thank you!

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~ COBWEB VALENTINES ~

Often called cobweb, birdcage, or beehive valentines, these delicate tokens of love were popular during the early to mid 19th century. Most featured a watercolor or lithographed image on the front, then opened to another work of art (or a poem) on the inside. This work of art was cut in intricate detail and had a string attached to the center. When the string was carefully lifted, the artwork magically spiraled open to reveal a third image underneath. All images are hand painted with watercolors and India ink and are signed and dated by the artist. You may write your own message of love or friendship inside the front cover, or below the cobweb.

As with the puzzle purse valentines, I have aged, stained, painted, and printed parchment papers to use for the artwork. These designs include original watercolor paintings and hand cut, hand woven, paper whimsies such as double hearts and heart in hand motifs.

The cards are suitable for matting and framing after initial receipt of the card if one so chooses.

The black cards and the ivory cards measure 5" x 6 1/2". The brown cards measure 5" x 7". Matching envelopes are included.

These will be shipped priority mail unless 1st class is requested.

$30 each

PURCHASE a Cobweb Valentine

Available ~ D & E

A. SOLD~ thank you!

Keep a green tree in your heart and perhaps a singing bird will come.

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B. SOLD~ thank you!

Though absent, still within my heart

Thy memory holds its place,

Too firmly fixed for time or change

To ever it efface.

19th c.

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C. SOLD~ thank you!

May our hearts forever be ~

As closely bound in Unity.

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May friendship's constant kiss be thine

from this sweet day of Valentine.

ca.1840

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With fond affection true

I write these lines for you,

By this token you may see

I still remember thee.

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F. SOLD~ thank you!

Where we love is home ~

Home that our feet may leave ~

But not our hearts.

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G. SOLD~ thank you!

Hand and heart shall never part ~

When this you see remember me ~

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~ PUZZLE PURSE VALENTINES ~

Please specify by letter when ordering.

(each puzzle purse will come in a box with a heart in hand motif and tied with matching ribbon)

I'm honored to have been chosen for the 3rd year in a row for Early American Life's Holiday Directory for my puzzle purse valentines.

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 front, back, open, fully open.

Click on each photo for a larger view.

$35 each plus priority shipping

PURCHASE Puzzle Purse Valentine

Available ~ B, G, H, M

A. ~ SOLD, thank you!

My dear the heart which you behold

Will break when you the same unfold

Even so my heart with love such pain

Sore wounded is needs breaks in twain. ca.1790

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With fond affection true

I write these lines for you

By this token you may see

I still remember thee.

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C. ~ SOLD, thank you!

May our hearts

forever be

as closely bound

in Unity.

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D. ~ SOLD, thank you!

Will not my sighs and pity move thee?

Say that thou wilt be mine;

Then bless the heart that fondly loves thee

And be my Valentine ~

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E. ~ SOLD, thank you!

To love is painful it is true,

Not to love is painful too;

But oh it brings the greatest pain,

To love and not be loved again.

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F. ~ SOLD, thank you!

Love to faults is always blind

Always to joy is inclined,

Lawless, winged, and unconfined,

And breaks all chains from every mind.

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A heart for an old friend

A hand for the new

Love can to earth lend

Heaven's hue.

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The ring is round ~

It hath no end ~

And so is my love ~

To you, my friend ~

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I. ~ SOLD, thank you!

With fond affection true

I write these lines for you ~

By this token you may see

I still remember thee. ~

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J. SOLD~ thank you!

May friendship's constant kiss be thine ~

From this sweet day of Valentine ~

ca.1840

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K. SOLD~ thank you!

Forget me, ah, forget me not

When evening shades decend,

For then my thoughts still turn to thee ~

My fondly cherished friend.

(note the spelling of "decend" ~ this is as it was on the original valentine)

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L. SOLD~ thank you!

Will not my sighs and pity move thee?

Say that thou wilt be mine;

Then bless the heart that fondly loves thee,

And be my Valentine ~

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Love to faults is always blind ~

Always is to joy inclined;

Lawless, winged, and unconfined ~

And breaks all chains from every mind.

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The following valentine will be listed in my etsy shop later tonight:

SOLD, thank you!

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~ LOVE TOKEN PAPERWEIGHTS ~

All on this page have been sold, but I have more to my Etsy shop and at Simply Primitives.

These paperweights are made with one-of-a-kind collages (not photocopies) that I have made from aged, stained, and water colored parchment paper. Some of the papers have been printed with copies of a late 1700s letter. Artwork is signed and dated Lana Manis 2010.

I use crystal paperweights imported from France. The oval glass piece is 4" x 2 3/4" x 3/4". It is backed with black felt.

$30 each plus priority shipping.

SOLD, thank you!

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~ HEART in HAND LOVE TOKEN CARDS ~

"An offering of love ~ the heart in hand. This paper symbol is placed on an old script background copy; the red script heart is woven through the aged parchment hand; pale aqua scalloped cuff adds the perfect romantic, feminine touch!"
That was the description for my original artwork which is reproduced for these cards.

These valentine cards feature high-resolution copies of my original art. They are printed on ivory parchment paper, cut with scalloped scissors to mimic the scallop on the cuff, then affixed to a card. This set consists of 6 factory made blank ivory cards and envelopes (4" x 5 1/2"). A small clear label with the artist's information is on the back of the card. They will come to you bound with vintage seam binding ribbon, carefully packaged, and mailed in a 6" x 9" kraft envelope. Large orders will be shipped in priority boxes.

$10 per set

$2.00 1st class shipping ($4.95 for large orders)

Purchase Heart in Hand Cards

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~ LOVE TOKEN PAPER WREATHS ~

You may purchase Valentine wreaths and framed Love Tokens

from my Etsy shop by clicking on the following link: Simple Joys Paperie.

These make unique gifts for weddings, anniversaries, to celebrate a friendship, and more.

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Orders:

Payment ~ credit card, PayPal, check, or money order; please call me (423~628~2426) when paying with credit card.

Shipping ~ Priority (insurance required on some items); In stock items will mail within 3 days of receiving cleared payment. Please allow 3 - 4 weeks for the creation and delivery of your special orders.

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MAILING LIST: When signing up for my mailing list, please make sure these addresses are in your safe list and not going to your junk folder or being bounced. They are the ones I use when sending out updates or individual messages:

honeysucklelane@hotmail.com

lanamanis@gmail.com

Thank you!

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~ And let the beauty of the Lord be upon us:

and establish thou the work of our hands upon us;

yea, the work of our hands establish thou it. ~

Psalms 90:17