Valentine’s Day! Work it out, people! And really, you need to get it done by the 13th, not the 14th, because ashes and chocolates just don’t mix.
If you’re in the market for a gift for the one you love (or the friend you like), here are some lovely choices — all handmade.
Affiliate disclosure: Most of the links below are affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission of sales made through these links.
And now for the gifts!
Handcrafted luxury yarn from Threads and Tales
Does your true love knit? How about a few skeins of luxuriously soft, ethically sourced yarns, some hand-spun (“on a spinning wheel like a legit pilgrim”), all hand dyed with safe, edible dyes? Em Ro and her family (including kids ages five and two, who help choose color pairings) have deliberately priced their goods much lower than similar yard of this quality. Here are a few that caught my eye:
100% Merino wool in “Little Red Riding Hood:”
Deep scarlet reds with cayenne pepper and paprika with very slight tones throughout, offering the beauty of tonal without a rainbow of colors.
Here’s a hand-spun and hand dyed selection in subtle, evocative tones, called “Moby Dick:”
Gorgeous. Threads and Tales also offers sturdy little handmade stitch markers in cute designs, including the Wonder Woman logo.
Door Number 9 puts the Saint back in St. Valentine’s Day
My love for Elisa Low’s work is legendary, and she’s always coming up with something new and quirky. This year, she has a valentine for everyone, with these moving and heartfelt Song of Solomon Valentines:
How can you possibly go wrong expressing your love with direct quotations from the Bible? How??
Set of eight valentines (with envelopes) with quotes from the Song of Songs.
More of Elisa’s antic humor: This St. Valentine Icon Magnet helps us remember the real reason for the season: Gory martyrdom.
Wie romantisch!
Elisa also offers a wide array of unusual, geeky handmade goods, from medieval bestiary tea wallets, to her very popular “Heretical nonsense: For research purposes only” stamp for the reader who knows better, to the replica of the Hamiltons’ interlocking wedding ring.
Molded leather cigar cases from Lavish Expressions
Ooh, aren’t these swanky? Almost enough to make me want to smoke a cigar. These handmade molded cigar cases can be monogrammed for free.
Molded full grain leather three finger cigar case, 3.75″ X 7.5.” Made of premium full grained vegetable tanned leather and stitched with bonded nylon thread.
Handmade in Arkansas by Tanya and Gerrod Desselle of Lavish Expressions. Order soon; they take a few weeks to make. Also many other sumptuous leather handmade goods, including iPad covers, messenger bags, journal cases, and more.
Dark chocolate whiskey truffles from Sweet Addict
Well, chocolate, of course. Here are a dozen handmade truffles for a very reasonable price, guaranteed fresh upon arrival, filled with a dark chocolate ganache infused with Jameson Whiskey.
Many other truffles and fancy pants handmade treats available, including Red Velvet Truffles, S’Mores Valentine Gift Sets, and an assortment of fabulous caramel sauces.
Chain mail jewelry from Iron Lace Design
Spend $30 at IronLaceDesign and get 30% off your order!
So popular, and for good reason: feast your eyes on this opulent steel and green jasper chain mail choker.
I have a version of this magnificent necklace, and when I put it on, it makes me feel like the empress of the universe. It’s heavy, sleek, strong.
Or take a look at this sweet, bright little bracelet, silver plated chain mail with a fiery crystal nestled inside:
Many more styles at Iron Lace Designs, including heirloom-quality rosaries, plunge necklaces, pendants, earrings, and steampunk jewelry made of intricate watch findings.
Brilliant sacred art from Brightly Hude Studio
Blank inside, and I think it’s framable.
Also check out the many other brilliant prints and original artwork, some with 23K gilding. I like this cheerful giclée image of John Paul II.
Hammered tin Sacred Heart wall ornament from Mexico
Okay, yes, this is a Day of the Dead wall ornament. But it has a heart. The Sacred Heart. And flying skeletons! Are you going to argue with that?
Hand-hammered tin, hand painted in Mexico. I bought one of these with my birthday money last year, and it’s now in my kitchen. It makes me think of that line from Flannery O’Connor’s story “Revelation:” Yet she could see by their shocked and altered faces that even their virtues were being burned away.
It was bigger than I expected, almost nineteen inches from tip to tip. I love it. Also see this unpainted tin Sacred Heart Milagro.
Bright flower jewelry in February from Smile With Flower
Ah, I love this resin jewelry made with real flowers, so your love can bring a bit of summer with her wherever she goes.
“You Are My Sunshine” card by Timothy Hodge
I admire the intensity in this solar flare card!
Leather wrap beaded boho bracelets from Long Lane Jewelry
Isn’t this wrap bracelet lovely? Fresh, subtle shades of agate with silver and leather.
Stunning skyscapes by The Crain Wife Art
part of the “Faithfulness Collection.”
Here’s another splendid one: “Bright Hope.”
The Crain Wife Art is fairly new as a professional artist. One to watch!
Custom fashion portraits by Samia Lynn
Here’s a thoughtful and romantic gesture: transform your photo into a hand-drawn portrait. Here’s a sample of one fashion illustration Samantha made for a bride and groom:
Samantha also does portraits for graduations, engagements, family portraits, anniversaries, and more.
Morse code secret message necklaces from Apple and Azalea
Copper jewelry from Cherokee Copper
Simple, classic designs by a Cherokee artist (and Catholic deacon!).
Original art prints by Kabuki Girl
. . . also known as (stifles screams of pride with some difficulty) my daughter, Lena Fisher. Here are my two recent favorites:
From her RedBubble store, you can order this image as a print, as a journal, as a phone case, and more.
and here’s Mary:
